NCYC: I'm back!

Wow! NCYC was really fun, Very inspiring, and super amazing.
I got to listen to a lot of great people, and talk to a lot of great people. I met people from all over. There were even people there from Alaska and Hawaii! I did not have the pleasure of personally meeting any of them, but I met a lot of other people!

There were a lot of great talks. My favorite talk was "The perfect trap". The person giving the talk was trying to teaching us that comparing ourselves to others is a trick of the evil one. He also told us a touching story about I boy who has Down Syndrome. I instantly connected with it because my own little sister has down syndrome. It was a very nice story (with a happy ending!)  and I think nearly everyone in the room was a little teary eyed by the end.

There were also a lot of great musicians there. My favorite was Matt Maher. He seemed like a really nice guy, and seemed to be very humble, and looked actually a little nervous. It was actually nice seeing a big name Christian musician seem a little nervous. That probably seems odd to you, but I get really nervous when I have to do a public speaking thing, so it doesn't make me feel so awkward. During part of the show he said "I didn't come here to preform. I didn't come here so that you'd like me" I can't remember what he said after that, but just that line was so great.

On Friday morning we helped pack meals for the poor. We were only packing for about maybe a half hour, but during that time our group, along with lots of other people, packed almost 5000 bags! each bag serves 6 people, so you do the math. That alot of people! During the entire conference, people packed more and more bags. I can't remember what the total number of bags packed was (I am still super tired!) but it was A LOT!

My favorite part? Well, it's a long story that starts out sad, but ends real happy!
So I bought an official NCYC hoodie, and i also bought an NCYC patch. I thought it would be cool to put the patch on my AHG uniform. I'd be the only on in the troop with that patch! Anyway, some time around lunch I lost the whole bag, hoodie and patch. I went back to look for it, and couldn't find it. I checked with lost and found, they didn't have it. I gave them my phone number, they never called. Someone must have stolen it or something. Well, the next day, one of our youth leaders, whom we will call P., asked me if i would like to go back to Inspiration Junction and get a replacement. Having food allergies, I had to bring my own food, so they had leftover money for my food. Our leaders decided that I could use this money to replace the stuff I had lost. (We have the best youth leaders, just saying.) anyway, we went back to both of the NCYC official stores in the inspiration junction, and both of them were out of both small, and medium hoodies! A large or above would be way too big for me. ah, disappointment.

 So, P. and I walked around the junction to see if there was any other cool stuff that I could get in replacement of the hoodie.  As we were walking, these nuns were handing out yoyos saying something like "if you already have a yo-yo, take another! Take a whole bunch! Give 'em to your friends! Give 'em to your friend's friends!" so P. took a few, and I took one for each of my younger siblings. Then I saw some cool t-shorts, and the guy there offered me a deal, I could get 2 t-shirt, a cd, a poster, some buttons, and a guitar pick for $25 bucks! that was really great, and I really liked the t-shirts. (Now things actually start getting interesting.)

So, P. and I are walking around with a bunch of yoyos, and I've got my little bag of stuff, and we are probably going to drop something any second. So we are walking around, and we see this Priest with a bunch of bags! P. walk over and asks if he's giving them out. He is, so we each get one with great relief that we don;t have to worry about dropping everything now. I realize that this priest is a Redemptorist priest! "The redemptorists were started by St. Alphonsis, right?" I ask. Well, the answer was yes, and then we got to talking a little about St. Alphonsis (who is one of my favorite Saints) and then P. made me explain my Halloween costume (I went as St. Mellangel.) and the guy looked pretty impressed that i knew so much about Saints that "weren't in the top ten" as he put it. Then he asked me if I had ever considered  a religious Vocation. I told Him yes, and this is what he replied. "It's there. You just need to. . .  Massage it a little"
Funny way of putting it, but it got the message across! He took my name and said He'd pray for me, and we parted ways.

So, all of this may not make much sense to you, so i'm going to try to make it a little clearer. I really am seriously considering a religious vocation. I was going through alot of stress about the trip before hand, and I just remember thinking to God something like, "Oh God, I am so stressed out about this, Maybe you'll just let me know my vocation while i'm there?" I was trying to we hopeful, I was really stressed.
 St. Alphonsis is one of my favorite Saints. I'm going to share something with you that is a little uncomfortable for me. I suffer with something called Scrupulosity. Long story short, Scrupulosity is religious OCD. St. Alphonsis is the patron Saint against scrupulosity, because he suffered with it too. Anyway, this message about my vocation, coming from someone in the order that St. Alphonsis started really hit me. Later on, P. brought to my attention that Losing my hoodie may have been Divine Providence, because if I hadn't lost that hoodie, I would never had met that priest. it was really cool, and I am so glad to have had that experience.  Thank you God!

isn't it so cool when God sends you a message in the little details that only you would notice, or that would only have meaning to you? I LOVE when He does that! I admit, I didn't think of losing the hoodie as Divine providence until after P. had mentioned it, but I do believe it was. I was just so excited to have met a Redepmtorist Priest, I didn't even think of it!

Well, I had a great time. There were some weird part, but most of the event was really fun. I had a great time. God is just so amazing!

NCYC!

I am very excited (and blessed!) to be going to the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) this year. My Parish is starting a youth ministry program, and I was selected to be in the leadership. All 7 of us leaders are going to NCYC to get really motivated and Set on Fire with the Holy Spirit so that when we come back, we can start up our youth group and share that fire with others.

I am very excited. I am also quite nervous. I admit that I have never been to anything like this before. I also admit that it is a bit out of my comfort zone. But I really want to go and learn more about my Faith, and I really really want to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and I am sure that He will be there to fill each of our hearts, who ever will ask for Him to come to them.

I am also hoping to learn more about discerning ones vocation. There are several workshops there that are made to help youth learn to discern, and learn more about the vocations that they may be called to. Over the last year or so, I have really been thinking about what my vacation may be. I am quite drawn to the Religious life, and I think about what it might be like everyday. I am thinking that I may be called to that, and I hope that this event will help me discern what God wants me to do.

 I am trying to stay as open as possible to anything that God wants me to do, and not get distracted by dreams. It's hard, and I admit that I do have a preference. I am more attracted to the religious life or chaste single life, but I am trying to be more open to whatever God's will may be for me.

I am very excited.  This will be my first Youth Ministry trip, and I hope to get to know the other leaders more. I pray that the other Youth of our Parish will be inspired to join us when we come back, so that we can share the fire with them. Wouldn't it be great if we could get all the youth of our Parishes to join us! I hope that we can help a lot of other youth learn more about their Faith and grow closer to God!

Well, I hope to write an update about my experience(s) when I return, and let everyone know how it went, and somethings that I learned..

Come, Holy Spirit!

Maggie Monday!

HEWOOOO!!! Long tym no see! errrrrr, post. . . . . . . Incas you forgeted, Dis is Maggie, and today is monday, and dat means maggie monday. Da day weyr i gets to post on dis blog!

Wel, i keeps heering abowt dis "Trick for Treating" tingy coming up. Eveybody is eksited. Dey is al going to dres up and do dis "trick for treat" ting!

What in da world is dis? Trick for Treat!? I does dat all da tym! I sit down, or i wave, or i lay down, or somting lik dat, and i get a treat!  trick for treat! So, on dis trick for treat ting, maybe dat meens dat al da hoomans dres up lik dogs, and get treats wen dey does a trick? I hope dat i don't has to shar my treats wif da hoomans. . .. .  maybe dey get dier own treats. . .  i hope so. And maybe dey will even share wif small dogs! It is called trick for treating, so nobody sayd dat small dogs dont cownt!

So. . . . .  Dis trick for treat ting hapens on dis "howl oh wee" day. . . .  ..  Howl oh wee. .. . . . . .  I tink dat dis must be a shorted werd for "Howl, oh wiener dog!" day. . . . . .  Hmm. . . .So, sinse i is part wiener dog, does dis meen i get to bark and howl al day on "Howl oh ween" day? Dat woold be grayt!


So, i is doing som thinking. . .  . On "Howl, oh wiener dog!" day, evey wiener dog gets to howl and bark, and evey body get to go "trick for treating" and get treats. And hopfuly dey wil shar wif small dogs, lik me, Maggie!

Dis sownds lik da won of da bes days eber! A day where i gets to bark all day and get treats?! I tink yes!

wel, i will hopfuly chek in next monday, and maybe tel you how dis whole "Howl, oh wiener dog!" day went wif all dis "Trick for Treating"! It sownds lik it is going to be berry fun.

I hop i gets som steak . . . . . .

-Maggie :0)

How do they feel

Have you ever been rejected by someone? Have you ever felt that your presence was unwanted? Have you ever felt like you must be a total nut because everyone is treating you like an object instead of a person? Have you ever felt like you just don't matter, and you feel like everyone wishes you didn't even exist? 

Felt like You are just a good for nothing? Like you are a blob of mush that isn't really a human? Like an alien being? Like an unwanted price of trash? 

(Disclaimer, you are not any of these things!!!) 

Doesn't drive you nuts sometimes, when someone totally ignores you or dislikes you, except when they think they can get something from you? And then If they find out they can't et it from you, dump you again?

Doesn't it feel terrible to be unloved, unwanted? Doesn't it make you feel bad when you are running late, and someone pesters you about it? Or perhaps you show up somewhere unplanned, like maybe your car broke Down and you need help, and someone makes a big fuss about it, or maybe even refuses to help you?

Yeah, I'd say these will make you feel like you just wanna go curl up in a ball in your'e bed and cry.

Well, have you ever thought about how an unborn child feels? Maybe their thoughts aren't quite as complex as these yet, but they are humans too. They can feel. 

People say that they are just a blob of cells, they aren't really human, thy are more like an alien, they don't matter, they aren't good for anything, etc etc etc!

And once they are born, they instantly become human because they can finally  do something when they grow up. (They've been a human the whole time, people!!) but if they have a disability, well, they go right back to thinking like they are just an alien or something. 

If people can convince a mother that the CHILD within her is really just a blob cells that she needs to get rid of, or that it's really just a part of her own body that she is allowed to reject, they can convince her to KILL this CHILD through abortion. 

If we can convince her of the truth, that this CHILD within her is really a human, it's not just a part of her own body, that it is another person, with his/her own heart, his/her own mind, his/her own soul, perhaps they will bring the child to term and let it live. 

Life is always the right choice. Not always the easiest. Who ever said that the right thing to do was easy? Um, Iv'e heard quite the opposite on several different occasions! You have to give up somethings. It's in giving that we receive. It's gonna be tough at times, but the reward is worth it. It's gonna make you cry, but it's gonna make you laugh! 

Always, always chose life... It's brave. It's unselfish. It's hard. But it's always right. 

God: Master of Life

God is the Master of Life.

He is the one who created Life in the first place. Then, He gave live to All living things. He is one one who gives life, and the one who takes it away, the Master of Life. At least that's how it is intended to be.

 Contraceptives prevent, or at least limit, the possibility of conception, the start of life. These interfere with God's plan of the Giving of Life. 

Abortion is the killing of a child before it is born. This premature taking of a human life, this Murdering of a child, interferes with God's plan for the life and death of this child. 

Euthanasia is the so called "mercy killing" of sick or elderly persons. First off, there is no such thing as a "mercy killing." Murder is murder and that is that. Secondly, no matter what the person maybe gong through, God already has a plan. Maybe they have to suffer patiently for a time. But God will eventually Call them ack to Himself, and they will die in a natural way. Euthanasia, the so called "mercy killing" of elderly, sick and handicapped persons, this murder, interferes with God's plan for the Life and Death of this person. 

God always has a plan. Although we may suffer now, there is a saying who h i find most comforting, although it's not always %100 accurate, i think that if we trust in God and strive to do His will it is. 

"Everything will be ok in the end. If it's not ok, it's not the end yet." 

I don't know who said it, i saw it on Pinterest once and adopted it as a favorite saying. 

We might have to suffer through an unplanned or crisis pregnancy. Don't abort the child. We might have to suffer through a terminal illness, or watch a loved one go through it,  which i admit might be worse, but don't end the life because of the suffering. There is always Hope! 

God is the Master of life and death. Let Him take care of that matter, don't interfere.  and let us keep trusting in His plan. 

Pro-life month! and Guardian Angels!

Well, October is pro-life month, and i'm a day late! AH!
As you may have notices, I've totally re-done my blog! It really looks alot better now, i think.

So what are you going to be doing for Pro-life month? Are you going to some Pro-life Masses? Saying some Rosaries for the end of abortion? Writing some extra blog posts about life?. . . . .  Hehehe. . .

I'm going to be doing the last mentioned thing (or at least trying!) for sure. I'm also going to try to do the one in the middle. I don't know if I will have the chance to do the first mentioned, but if I can, I will!

So here marks the start of my pro-life blog posts for the month of October. They won't be everyday, but i
m going to try to do it at LEAST once a week. knowing me, we'll see how long that lasts. It's the thought that counts though ;)



Today is the feast of the Guardian Angels. Did you know that it is sometimes believed that each person has a guardian angel from the moment of conception?

"So by a natural law, each human being at conception is under the tutelage of a divinely chosen guardian angel. By God's will, each person's angel is distinct from every other and has complete knowledge of his charge, of you, and your needs." - Rev. Alfred Boeddeker
see Also here

Some don't believe this. Some believe it's at Baptism that they are assigned. See Here

I think they are assigned at conception. It seems more probable to me, because God cares about each of us, even if we aren't baptized. And perhaps a person's Guardian angel could help bring them to the Faith.

I'm not really sure where i'm going with this, other than the fact that Life starts at conception. And if we are assigned our guardian Angel at conception, How cool is that? That Angel is there to guide that child, even thought he/she hasn't been born yet.

Even If you chose to give a child up for adoption, that Guardian Angel will still be with that child, always. To light, to Guard, to rule and Guide as the prayer says. They will always be watching out for you, even if you don't feel it. And if you keep the child, the same applies!

What an awesome God we have, that gives us such protectors and Guides!

Memorare

Today I'm gonna do the "Memorare". I've been reading a book by St Alphonsis ligouri (one of my favorite Saints!) called "The Glories of Mary". I have an abridged version, but it is an incredible  book and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to change, want to learn more about Mary and her relationship with God, or wants to be helped in some way, such as reduction of temptations. 

And now, our feature presentation…

Remember, oh most Gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided.

Mary wants to help us. We are her children. Remember when Jesus was on the cross, he looked down at His Mother and his disciple (John) and said to His Mother "Behold thy son" and to the disciple (John) "Behold thy Mother"? That's when Mary became our mother, and she loves us with more love than any mother on earth ever could. You'll see where I'm going here. Anyways, like any good mother, she wants the best for us. When you pray to Mary, you are certain to have you prayer fulfilled. Mary will pray for you to her Son, to God, and since she is His mother (as we learn in the above mentioned book. Please read it!) He will grant it as a favor to Mary. Not to mention that all graces pass from God, through Mary's hands to get to us (also in the above book).

Inspired by this confidence, we fly unto thee, o Virgin of Virgins our Mother! To thee do we come, before thee we stand, sinful and sorrowful.

Since we have learned that Mary is in God's favor, and that He will answer her requests, why should we not fly unto her, like little children running to their mother when something scares them, or hurts them, or when they are sorry for something. Why should we not ask for her protection and prayers, if we are so certain of being protected and prayed for!?

Oh Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in thy mercy, hear and answer them. Amen. 

Mary is the Mother of Jesus, the Word incarnate. Here humble ourselves to implore that she may take our requests and in her mercy, for God has made her merciful, to hear them, and answer them. 

Again, I highly recommend you read "The Glories of Mary"! It has helped me understand so much more about who Mary is, what her relationship with God is, what she can do for us, and much more. 

9/11

Remember 9/11,
The day the twins were felled.
The flames rose high,
the smoke rose higher,
thousands of people were killed.

Remember the tears the were shed that day,
of children who lost a parent.
Remember the mourning wails of wives,
who that day lost their husbands.
Remember the panic, the terror and fear,
that in the air was imminent.

Remember the Compassion of Firefighters,
Police officers and others.
The plunged among the burning flames,
They went and risked their lives,
to come to the aid of the burning people,
 to the aid of those trapped inside.

Remember the gasp of the nation,
And the panic that then ensued.
Remember the great uncertainty,
and the grief that hence pursued.

Remember to pray for the people,
who lost a loved one that day.
Remember to pray for every soul,
whose bodies lost life that way.
For every person who joined in grief,
everyone who shed a tear.
For all the selfless rescuers,
who stood up to the fear.

Prayer for the ones who lost a relative,
a friend,  pray for them all!
Pray for those who lost a piece of their hearts,
when they got that last phone call.

Pray for those who sent the planes.
God grant them a change of heart!
Oh please Lord, Rescue them!
please save them from this deed.

Pray for all affected that day,
by the events that we call 9/11.
Pray for the people who died that day,
May Eternal light shine upon them.

The our Father

 Today I'm going to do the Our Father, or the Lord's Prayer.

Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name 

God the Father is, well, our Father! In an adoptive sort of way. "Art" basically means are, so when we say "Who art in Heaven, we are pretty much saying "Who is in Heaven" therefore, we are attesting to the fact that God is in Heaven. Hallowed mean Holy. God is so Holy, that even His name is Holy! Our human minds are incapable of fathoming how great His Holiness is. 

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth, as it is in Heaven.

When we say "Thy Kingdom come" I am honestly not sure if we are just acknowledging the fact that God's Kingdom is coming, or if we are, in a sense, Welcoming it. Maybe both. We are Also basically telling God that we want His will to be done like it is in Heaven. Which means we want what He wants to be done, done, and we want it done perfectly, like it should be, and is being done in Heaven. 

Give us this day our Daily Bread,

Here we are asking God to supply for our needs. I think we may also be asking Him to give us our spiritual bread (The Eucharist) as well as our physical bread (food)

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Here we are asking God to forgive us, like we forgive others. It is debated on wither or not a person holding a grudge should say this prayer because of this particular line.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Here, we are not implying that God leads us to temptation. He allows us to be tempted, but He doesn't do the tempting. We are simply asking Him to lead us away from the temptations, and deliver us from evil. 

In Mass, it is added at the end:

For the Kingdom, The power, and the Glory are yours, now and forever.

Here we are attesting that The Kingdom belongs to God. All power belongs to God. All Glory belongs to God. They are His now, and will be forever. 

The Hail Mary

I don't have much time for a long  post right now, so this week I'm going with a shorter prayer; The Hail Mary.

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. 

We Hail Mary, because she is queen of Heaven. She is full of grace, because she never sinned. The Lord is with her, because The Lord was born of her, and she is now in Heaven with Him. 

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit if thy womb, Jesus.

Mary is blessed among women, because God chose her, out of all the women on earth he could have chosen. He made her special, He protected her from the stain of original sin which everyone else is born with. 

Jesus is the "Fruit of her womb". He is blessed above all, the Son of God and The word made flesh. 

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 

We Mary the "Mother of God" because she was Jesus' mother. Jesus is God, so that makes Mary the "Mother of God". Here, we ask her to pray for all of us, who are sinners, now and when we die. Mary is a great intercessor for us in Heaven.