Forgiveness

During the seasons of Lent and Easter we see many examples of forgivness from the thief on the cross to St Peter. In opposition we have Judas Iscariot who despaired and took his own life instead of seeking and excepting God's forgiveness. In the novel, The Harvest of Grace, Cindy Woodsmall explores the necessesty of not only seeking forgiveness of God and others one must also forgive one's enemies and oneself. Sylvia Fisher finds herself in the same place as Judas not willing to accept God's forgiveness for a sin she thinks is so great that not even God can forgive her and she closes herself off to God's grace. Cara also finds herself in need of forgiving her father for his abandonment and protection when she needed it most. The resolution of these two stories follow these two women as they struggle with God's grace until they allow Him to work in them and there is a "harvest of a grace".
Have a good read, Nina

A Seminarian in the SS

While this seem like an impossibility this is part of story Fr Gereon Goldmann. In The Shadow of His Wings Fr Gereon tells the story of how he survived, thrived, and shared his faith in Hitler's Army during WWII. Fr Gereon credits this to God's grace, prayer, the sacraments, and the prayers of Sister Solana May and her community of sisters. Fr Gereon was one of many seminarians who were drafted into the German army and among those who were fellow seminarians of Gereon's only one lost his faith. Now Gereon had only finished his philosphical studies when he was drafted into the SS yet through the prayers of Sister Solana May he ended up being ordained during wartime and his work as a priest brought many souls back to the Catholic Faith of their childhood. Even some ferverent Nazi's reverted back to their faith. His story has many more suprises and I suggest you read the book to get his whole story which include meetings with Himmler, a near execution, and his involvment with the plot so assinate Hitler.

Have a good read, Nina

St Joseph's Feast Day

On St Joseph's Feast Day today I am reminded of the gift of faith and God's grace. When Mary is greeted by the angel Gabriel who told her she was full of grace. While St Joseph was told by an angel to not be afraid. He is not told like Mary that God's with him or that he is full of grace. All we are told is that "he was a righteous man". In some ways St Joseph is the most like us in the fact that he was not born without sin, like his wife Mary and he is not fully God and fully man. like his adopted son Christ. He was a lot like us. He had an important part to play in the plan of salvation. It was through him that Christ came to be in house of David, he protected Mary and Joseph from Herod's murderous rage. Without him Mary could have been stoned to death as she was pregnant out of wedlock. In addition, Mary and Jesus needed the protection and care of a man while, Jesus was growing up. In many ways the gift of faith and grace is displayed in St Joseph in the way it can be displayed in our lives. We might not acutally do much of note in our lives but, if we follow God's will our little acts of faith can be woven into the divine plan in ways we can never imagine.
Have a blessed day, Nina

Happy St Patrick's Day

Happy St Patrick's Day I hope you are enjoying this lovely feast day. While most people focus on the Irish side of St Patrick's Day he was quite a biblical scholar. During my senior year of high school I read St Patrick's Confessio in my Latin class. I remember being surprised at his use of scripture which is sprinkled liberally throughout his writings. While he never mentioned the book chapter and verse it was readily apparent that he viewed everything through the lens of the Scriptures and explained many things through scriptural references . I was luckily able to buy it as an ebook today so I can reacquaint myself with this great Saint.
Another book that is great for reading on St Patrick's Day is called The Secret of the Ruby Ring by Yvonne MacGrory it's a book I received as a child and I occasionally reread it. It is about a young Irish girl named Lucy who receives a ruby ring from her grandmother on her eleventh birthday. she finds out that night that it will grant two wishes and Lucy being the eleven year old she is wishes for a bigger house and the next this she knows she wakes up in 1885 and and finds herself a servant at a "big house". Lucy of course looses the ring accidentally and the fun that ensues helps her to grow up a little and appreciate the life she had.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

-Nina
Don't forget the Feast Day of St Joseph on Monday. He is the patron saint of fathers and is also known for his intercession on behalf of those seeking work.

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

People always talk about how you do not know what someone elses life is like until you walk a mile in their shoes. That is what Margaret Macy discovers as she is forced to become a maid in order to support herself until she reaches her majority. In The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen Margaret Macy is thrust into a position which gives her a different view of life from belowstairs. This gives her an appreciation for her previous servants as well as a former suitor she rejected. Add a pirate, an evil stepfather, and a bit of romance and you get a great story.
Have a good read, Nina

Movies with a message

This past year has been a boon of good Christian and Catholic movies such as There Be Dragons, The Mighty Macs, Of Gods and Men, The Way, and Courageous. The only movie I have not seen so far is The Might Macs. If you have not seen any of these yet go to your local redbox or Netflix and rent these movies we need to show Hollywood there is a market for these faith based films. Due to the nature of There Be Dragons, Of Gods and Men, and The Way these films should only be watched by mature audiences.
Two other movies I would like to recommend are Gran Torino and 16 Blocks two movies that have come out in the last few years while not stricly faith based have a message of redemption and change of heart that is appropriate for this season of Lent. Again both of these are rated R for violence and language but at least for me watching these movies with their pieces of truth gave me joy and peace.
May God watch your comings and your goings, Nina

Starlighter by Bryan Davis

"You will recognize love when you see someone sacrificing himself for the sake of a pauper".
Starlighter is the first book in a series by Bryan Davis called The Dragons of Starlight it follows three main characters, Jason, Koren, Elyssa,on two different planets connected by a secret passage. The planets of Starlight and Major 4. Both planets suffer under different types of oppression: slavery and a controlling government. Jason and Elyssa are trying to get over to Starlight to save, "the lost ones," humans who were enslaved by dragons long ago and brought to Starlight. They have to do this while running from their own government who consider it treason to mention "the gateway" to the dragon planet.
All three characters are fighting against overwhelming odds only hanging onto what they know is right. There only guide being a book entitled, the Code,which has been banned on both planets. The story is about bravery and self sacrifice in the face of great danger and certain death. If you like fantasy and scifi you will like this book.
Have a good read, Nina
click on like to watch an amusing youtube video

Save the Date by Jenny B Jones

Lucy Wiltshire, has one desire, to save, Saving Grace, a home for girls who have aged out of the foster care system and still need help. In Save the Date Lucy is the modern geek girl who participates a bimonthly group called the Hobbits. This aptly named groups watches everything from Lord of the Rings to Doctor Who. But in order to save the home she runs she is willing to play the girlfriend/ fiance to Alex Sinclair who is running for Congress. While both worthy goals the deception they both have to practice wreaks havoc on their lives and hearts.

I thoroughly enjoyed the character of Lucy Wiltshire as her love of all things scifi and fantasy mimics mine. Such aspects as the Star Wars theme playing during the proposal scene will please scifi lovers. Other themes found in this book include the message of self worth, and trusting God and not, man's machinations. This is great chick lit book with some beautiful gems of wisdom thrown in.
Have a good read, Nina

Silence by Shusaku Endo

Silence by Shusaku Endo asks the age old question, "Why does God let us suffer?". Silence follows two young priests Fr. Sebastião Rodrigues and Fr. Francisco Garrpe who journey to Japan in response to the story that their mentor, Fr. Cristovao Ferreira, had apostatized. Their journey takes nearly two years and is inhibited by the fact that Christianity has been outlawed and certain countries such as Portugal were therefore, forbidden to trade with Japan. Once there they depend on a Japanese man named Kichijiro to lead them to the Christians.

The faithful Christian waiting them in Japan our mostly found among the peasants whose desire for the sacraments and leadership of priests is great. The villagers lives are always under threat due to the governments persecution of the Christians and eventually the little village where the priests were working was informed on and from the three hostages that were taken one, Kichijiro apostatized. On the other hand Ichizo and Mokichi two of leaders of the church in that village suffer martyrdom while the priests look on. This event causes the priests to go off in two directions because the villagers are afraid and because they are the only two priests on the island they want to make it harder for the government find both of them. Their journeys eventually lead them to the choice, martyrdom or apostatize? Always before them is the martyrdom of Ichizo and Mokichi and the bravery of other Christian they have met on their journey through Japan. Their answer to this question reveals many truths. Kichijiro also continues to pop up in the book as he goes through a cycle of apostatizing and seeking forgiveness from Fr. Rodrigues. Kichijiro asks the priest, "why would God put a man as weak as him through this persecution when he would have happily been a Christian is whole life if he was never tortured"? Could we undergo such persecution and remain true to our faith? This is a question we will get to answer over the next few years as our consciences our being targeted by the health care bill. The message in the book is clear, God is never silent, we just need to keep listening.

I highly recommend this book as reading during this Lenten season as we seek to grow closer to God.

Have a good read and blessed Lent, Nina