The Canonization of JPII

Monday, April 28, 2014

Lord,

When I look at Pope Saint John Paul II I am overcome by how the entire world was pulled in by him and his passion for Christ. Lord, I really want to reach all different people who walk on all corners of the world in a way not unlike JPII. I don't want only upper middle class white girls to relate to me (or rather, not only them!).  Moreover, I haven't ever exactly conceived of myself as fitting into some social mold. I have always "felt an outsider" (to quote a hilariously-translated title of a letter to Traces) among the different circles with whom I have walked. Is that what it is like to carry You faithfully? Lord, let this paradox become my certainty: that if it be your will, people of all upbringings, backgrounds, languages, faiths, and passions may see me as a beacon of hope, light, real beauty, and love in the world. Answer my prayers in the way you know best and, through your mercy on my fragile humanity, give me human relationships that help me understand my prayers. 

Your Divine Curiosity and Sensitivity

Thursday April 24, 2014

Dear lord,

Help me get outside of my head. Open my eyes. Infuse in me a natural curiosity and true passion for the things that I encounter.  Make me want to always learn more and know enough to share and educate others about the most true way of looking at things in our world. 

Help me to be passionate about the hearts of others; carve in me a natural sensitivity that perceives another's feelings, stress, thoughts, and how they are doing. Give me your sensitivity and pulse on the human people in front of me. I just want real human friendships.  Amen. 

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, 1599: Detail of The Calling of St. Matthew.  San Luigi dei Francesci, Roma, Italia.  Photo courtesy of http://www.stephanielandsem.com/

Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014

Sunday, April 20, 2014
6:16 pm

Thanks Jesus for sacrificing yourself for me today! Also, happy birthday anniversary to mommy! Thanks to both of you for showing me these beautiful trees along my run this afternoon.  

The Wedding Favors

Friday, March 21, 2014

We drove to New York this evening for Nichole's bridal shower, which is tomorrow. I became very aware while making the bomboniere (wedding favors) with my sisters and Natalia that these moments are precious. I think the prospect of my vocation, living that life, has become so real, so vivid and so present that it makes me want to be more attentive to things in the present. For example it could have just been an annoying thing to get done but instead I told my sisters "this is a really precious time. Let's love these moments presently. This is the only time we will all together prepare a bridal shower like this, the four of us plus Nichole." Sure maybe there was a girly nostalgic dimension but more than anything I don't want the time spent this weekend to be wasted. I want everything to remind me of you, Christ, if it be your will. 

With you on my mind, I am a changed person. I am a different person. With my sisters I think I am happier and more patient. I may be goofier but it's because I sense you near and so I sense myself as loved. If I am loved it's because you’re near and if I am loved and you are near, anything is possible. 

I love you lord, stay always sooooooooo close to me. 

Vss Vpm

Real things

On this 11th of March 2014 in today's 70° weather, while on my run, the first thing I saw was a father teaching his 4 or 5-year-old how to ride a 2-wheeler.  I gave her a thumb's up as I passed.

The next thing I saw was the most incredible sunset I've ever seen running around my neighborhood! It was really breathtaking; I couldn't stop looking at it. Then, I passed another father and daughter pair. I felt like the girl from before had aged 10 years; it was seriously reminiscent of a country song. It was my sister Christine Allaire and Uncle Keith, and he was outside watching her learn how to parallel park along the road outside their house. 

I love running because it's impossible to avoid these encounters with real things! I just need to keep my eyes open!

<3  

March 11, 2014

8 pmish

God needs us

Wednesday Feb. 5, 2014

Mark 6:1-6: today at St. Elizabeth the priest said that Jesus went to Nazareth with expectation and enthusiasm to see the people he knew. "He was not able to do any good deeds or Miracles among those in his native place."

This strikes me because it implicates my freedom to yes to Him, it implicates the necessity of our faith, for God to really be able to do any work among us. It some way it's almost like His presence and manifestation depends on our desire to recognize Him! He made man so great! 

Rembrandt Van Rijn, 1652: Jesus Preaching ("La Tombe").  Rijksmuseum Amsterdam.

Photo courtesy of http://commons.wikimedia.org/