My friend Barb came over and we started working on putting a little brochure together that we can send out with the free books... basically a list of suggestions. We decided Mister Duck here would be the best bird to be in charge of the book promotions. He has that proper worried look of someone who is just not real sure its all going to work out.. but he'll do his best.

Well, yesterday I decided I had had it with my office and I decided no matter how many deadlines I had - I was going to take a break and clean my office, or at least make an attempt. It was definitely starting to wear me down. Besides when one is tired and grumpy what better time to make decisions on what to keep and throw away? Throw everything! Who cares. Just get rid of it for heaven's sake.

I spent an hour yesterday and half an hour today.. and I already feel better. In fact, I have made this resolution to clean a half hour every day. Wouldn't that be something? Well, you know the thing is they say the average person spends an hour a day looking for stuff they can't find and of course I'm way below the average person. So who knows how much time I spend.. and I decided it would be better to spend a half hour cleaning than an hour looking!

Course I don't have much confidence in sticking to it... every single day.. because life just sort of gets in the way of all my best intentions.. but even a few times a week would definitely be an improvement. Anyway I will keep it up till Sr. Colleen gets back and I can make a new 2 miniute video of the New and Improved Office! (Have to wait till she gets back cause she took the camera).

An excerpt taken from "101 Inspirational Stories of the Power of Prayer"

by Lillian J. DeOliveira
East Providence, Rhode Island

I have experienced so many miracles in my life that I could sit you down and talk for days about them. Miracle after miracle. Some people may say they are just coincidences, but to me they aren't. I will share two of them with you, both of them having to do with home heating oil.

One evening when my finances were at a very low point, I was deeply discouraged and didn't know what to do. I went to a prayer meeting that night and Father Bob approached me. He must have noticed how low I was feeling.

"How are things going, Lill?" he asked.

I half mumbled a discouraged reply. "I need oil and I don't know how to get it."

I was expecting a few words of consolation but instead he laughed! Just laughed, right out loud. That made me mad; I mean, I sure didn't think this was funny.

Then he told me the good news. That very afternoon a gentleman had come to him and said he wanted to give a hundred gallons of oil to someone in need. "Lill," the priest said, "That oil is for you."

Another time, soon after having heart surgery, my finances and my spirits were the lowest they had ever been. My husband had just been fired from his job because of his drinking, and I had quit my job because of the heart operation. We had no income. On that cold winter night, I sat at the kitchen table with my checkbook, trying to figure out how to pay the electric bill, and how I was going to get some oil. I had received a notice that the electricity would be shut off the next day, and I had no oil to heat our home. I only had enough money to pay for one or the other. Everything seemed totally overwhelming. We had two small children, and I knew they would freeze without heat in the house. But I knew that even if I did get oil, I wouldn't be able to use it because I needed electricity to start the heater. I had to have the electricity. I sat there for hours trying to figure out what to do.

Around eleven o'clock that night, I finally gave up. I took the checkbook, threw it in the drawer, and shouted at the Lord, "You said you would take care of us, so do it!" and went to bed.

The next morning, around eight thirty, I got a phone call from my ex-boss. He said he had a check waiting for me and told me to come pick it up. It was from profit sharing, and because I had worked there in January, they had to give it to me. It was for $1,777.68.

I was so excited I could hardly believe it! I knew it was a miracle. It had happened so quickly, so fast. Part of me was upset that I had gotten angry with God, but a bigger part of me was filled with joy that He took care of us so promptly!

I must have floated on air for months. Never had I felt God so near, so caring. It made a wonderful difference in how I faced the weeks of recovery, taking care of my kids, and staying with my husband through very hard times.

The Lord rescued me even though I was angry, and He gave me more than I needed. I was able to pay the electric bill, get oil, and even had some left for groceries.

So you see, once I turned my troubles over to God, He worked them out. I have never forgotten those miracles, and I know that God is always there for us. Not that I don't have bad times--I could share a lot of those with you too--but time after time I continue to receive miracles, small ones and big ones, that see me through life's challenges.

St Isidore the Farmer

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Quote for the Day: Prayer means a launching out of the heart towards God; it means lifting up one's eyes, quite simply, to heaven, a cry of grateful love, from the crest of joy or the trough of despair; it's a vast, supernatural force that opens out my heart and binds me close to Jesus. St. Therese of Lisieux Quote from the book, "101 Inspirational Stories of the Power of Prayer"

It's been a long, long day. I got Sr. Colleen to the airport by five o'clock as planned. Make good time at that hour of the morning as all the stoplights are flashing yellows rather than actual red, green and yellow stops. Nice. Not usually out at the hour of the day so forgot about that.

I didn't get a lot of sleep... four and a half hours which is not bad considering Sr. Colleen only got three. I hope she wasn't as grumpy as I was. Geesh. I just do not do well toughing it! I did get an hour's nap later which got me through the day. Thank you Lord.. I'm sure the rest of the community was thankful too!

Sometimes I read Danielle's blog and the whole realization of how "little" sleep parents often get.. fills me with the greatest admiration! The Lord knows whose doing the real penance in the world. Tain't necessarily in the Monastery!

It's definitely Spring over here. Pi is determined to be on the move. I have an old window screen to sort of contain her to her part of the office. She's figured out how to break through....so I put a big, heavy phone book in front of the screen to hold it tight. Didn't work. She just works her little beak in a narrow slot between the wall and the screen.. then pushes, pushes, pushes till her head is through and then wiggle, wiggle, wiggle AND we are free!

Then she's so happy with herself for her breakout that she starts chortling about it. So I have to be careful not to step on her as I run and close the office door so she doesn't head out down the hall. I usually let her stay out for a little bit and then sort of herd in back into confinement again and try to reinforce the screen even better! So far she's sort of content after one breakout to maintain for the rest of the day.

Who knew birds had such perseverance and determination?

Blessings of Peace and All Good!
Sister Patricia.

P.S. I heard that the books should be back from the binder on Monday! So... won't be long now! Yeah!

Sharon R. Friel
San Francisco, California

from the book 101 Inspirational Stories of the Power of Prayer

I was not raised in any faith, Christian or otherwise, and did not have any idea of how much God loved and cared for me, for all of us, so what happened came as a total surprise.

It seemed that I had failed at everything I ever tried in life. I dropped out of high school with learning disabilities. I was not able to hold a job because of emotional outbursts and disorganization. I had so much emotional pain bottled inside of me that I could see no way out.

Then I made a horrible decision to start using drugs. Crack cocaine. A guy gave it to me saying, "It's not like heroin, you won't get addicted." Stupidly, I believed him. Within two days, I was addicted and became violently ill if I could not smoke it. My raging outbursts became worse, not better. I could not sleep.

It was not long before I was unemployed, homeless, and involved in crime. I was always freezing cold, starving, and thirsty. Every year I would get pneumonia. I was frequently in jail, dirty, or in the emergency room from violent assaults. I was so miserable; I was literally losing my mind. The world hates you when you are in that state, but it did not compare to the self-hatred I felt.

Crack cocaine was a life-controlling obsession. I could not go three minutes without thinking about it. Even after it burned my lungs and I had to have lung surgery to remove a lobe of one lung, I still craved the drug. The minute I was released from the hospital I went right back to chasing it.

I was full of despair, seemingly cut off from the world and any chance of a normal life. Every day I experienced violence, hatred and meanness in the streets. I wondered if there was any hope for anyone.

My first ray of light came in November of 1999 when I had a friend who actually lived in a house with a mailing address. This was very important to me because now, in the rare instance that someone needed to contact me, they could reach me using her address.
For many years, I had not heard from my identical twin sister who had moved to Tennessee. Then suddenly, out of the blue, she sent me a Mass card with a picture of St. Therese on it. The card said that Masses would be offered for my healing.
I found out that my sister had gone through RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) and was now in the Catholic Church. I loved that card because it was a sign that someone cared about and loved me. I had my friend keep it for me. However, although I loved receiving the card and thought it was very nice, I had no idea what healing Masses really meant.

Exactly four months from the day I received my sister's card (this was after six nonstop years of being drug addicted, homeless, hopeless, and in and out of jail hospitals), I caught a terrible case of pneumonia. My temperature rose to 108° and my oxygen dipped so low that I fainted in the streets. I woke up in the ambulance, once again on the way to the emergency room.

I was hospitalized for weeks and was so sick and weak I could hardly move. One day while I was there, a few of Mother Teresa's nuns (Missionaries of Charity) were making their rounds at the hospital. Two of the sisters stopped in to see me. What compassion I saw in those two women! It made me cry with happiness. They were so kind to me, and even had a sense of humor, which surprised me.

Later, I was transferred to a skilled nursing facility to recuperate. The doctor there told me I was in a very fragile state. Although I was extremely weak, they allowed me to have a two-hour leave one day so I could go with a friend to get documents from the social security office and the DMV for disability help. While we were out, I asked my friend if he would take me to the ocean. I have always loved the ocean and was afraid I would not live to see it again.

When we arrived, it was windy, cold, and overcast. My friend had to hold me tightly because I could not stand or walk on my own. As we made our way along the beach, I started looking for a sand dollar. The ones I found were all cracked and in shards, broken up from rocks and the crashing waves. I kept looking though, almost desperately, to see if I could find a whole one, knowing it was unlikely. Then, lo and behold, at my feet was a tiny, almost transparent, fragile-looking sand dollar! There was not one crack in it, nor any chips on its sides. It was perfectly shaped, round and smooth. This little sand dollar had survived when the thick big ones had not! I took it back to the hospital with me, holding it carefully as my little treasure. This small, beautiful gift of the sea gave me renewed hope for my own situation.

I was released, only to end up in the emergency room yet again. It was an infected blood clot in my chest, a stroke in progress, and I was admitted back into the hospital.
This time I asked to see a priest. I wanted to join my sister in the Catholic Church. I wanted to be close to Jesus and not alone anymore. The next day Father Vitale came to see me. He asked lots of questions and I answered them as carefully and truthfully as I could. After that I was able to receive my sacraments right there in the hospital--including my first Communion!

I was so filled with joy! It was indescribable! I was flooded with deep peace in spite of all the pain and sickness I felt physically. The priest was so compassionate, so filled with light. I knew right then and there that I was home. I was not lost anymore.
I knew God loved me. Today, almost eight years later, I never miss Mass, I love praying the rosary, and I still have that special Mass card and sand dollar. I believe God was speaking to me through that little sand dollar. I also still feel that deep sense of peace, after all these years.

Oh, and I have no more drug addictions! I have a nice apartment and still have my good friend, St. Therese. I am still in awe of the ability of Jesus and the saints to love us in whatever state we are in, and His ability to heal so thoroughly. Prayers are definitely answered. There is no doubt left in my mind.

taken from the book 101 Inspirational Stories of the Power of Prayer by Sister Patricia Proctor

St Matthias

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Quote for the Day: This is our Lord's will,... that our prayer and our trust be, alike, large. For if we do not trust as much as we pray, we fail in full worship to our Lord in our prayer; and also we hinder and hurt ourselves. The reason is that we do not know truly that our Lord is the ground from which our prayer springeth; nor do we know that it is given us by his grace and his love. If we knew this, it would make us trust to have of our Lord's gifts all that we desire. For I am sure that no man asketh mercy and grace with sincerity, without mercy and grace being given to him first. Julian of Norwich Quote from the book, "101 Inspirational Stories of the Power of Prayer"

Day by day.... that's the thing....no matter what you are doing... aiming for, striving.. it's all got to be done day by day. And there's no magical formula. This morning it was confession time. I had some stuff I wasn't too happy to discuss... which I am sorry to say happens even to nuns in monasteries. Very sad but very true. AND you also might find comfort or not.. to know that even after 26 years of going to confession on a regular basis... I still find it difficult at times. Not the actual process.. just the admitting part. Like oh.. well.. you know.. we did it again.Yep, and the biggest thing I pray for in making a good confession is that I will actually say what needs to be said. Confess what needs to be confessed.

I can relate with anyone who has difficult with confession.. because sometimes... I do too! So life goes on.... the one thing I am very glad of .. is that in the monastery its like.... when confession is scheduled.... you go.... because if you don't.... you feel like the rest of the nuns are thinking, "Well, what's up with her?" And of course you are so humble you don't want them to know... that there is something up... so you just bite the bullet and get it over with. Makes it so much more simpler than having to wrestle with the decision of "Should I go or shouldn't I?" Really, sometimes its a very good thing to have things like this built into your routine.

Tomorrow I have to get up very early to take Sr. Colleen to the airport as she is going to a Poor Clare Federation meeting. Somewhere in Pennsylvannia. We have to leave at 4:30. Which means I suppose.. I will have to get up at 4:00.. which means I suppose I should look around now for something like toothpicks to hold my eyelids open. I could try driving with my eyelids close.. but Sr. Colleen gets so overly upset if we don't stay on our side of the road.. so guess I better find something to help. I could even try going to bed like now.. instead of later... but that seems a bit radical.

Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia and all the Sisters

Here is another Clapper sent to me. It came with these comments: The clapper is wood. It's very old, and there are deep dents on each side where the hammer hit it.

See our first posting ... Clapper

Our Lady of Fatima

To send today's card:Today's Card

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Quote for the Day: O Lord, come in my heart and soul and mind, guide my every thought, word, and deed. St Germaine De Pibrac Quote from the book, "101 Inspirational Stories of the Power of Prayer"

I do not know what to write about. I set my timer for five minutes and decided to just start typing and see what happens. Before I came into my office I went into the chapel and asked God to give me something to write about that would help someone. So far nothing has popped onto the radar.

I seem to be in a praying slump. Not that I'm not praying or that God is not listening...just that it all seems pretty much more effort than anything. This afternoon I had to take a sister to a medical appointment and while she went into the doctor's office I stayed in the car and attempted to pray the rosary. There wasn't a lot of focus. Every so often I would come back to the reality... of, "Oh yes, what mystery am I on?"

So this is one of those days where... as Bishop Skylstad so plainly put it, "To try to pray, is to pray." I tried.. but it really was more trying than anything... but I think it counts. I think right now I'm too hung up on results. I want to see results!

Don't you just hate praying and praying and praying and nothing seems to be moving? [There's the five minutes!]

Anyway I'm just one of those persons who gets really hung up on wanting miracles. I know that is supposed to be step one of how many steps in the level of prayer... and I've been here 26 years and I should have moved beyond this by now I suppose. But I just love miracles don't you know?

Over the weekend we had a friend share a story of his encounter with the devil. Really. Scary. Every so often we get these stories. It's pretty easy to tell which are real and which are more mental. When you live in a monastic setting.. and prayer is pretty much your life.... you sort of pick up a sort of sense. Maybe a lot of people do. Its pretty easy to recognize evil when you are not swallowed up in it.

One of the most amazing things about these encounters is how the people describe him. So many times its almost exactly the same. Sometimes he is threatening as was the case with this person.. but often he is just gloating and sarcastic. Which is very weird you know.. because actually.... the devil sometimes gets more prayer mileage and turning to God out of me.. than just staying in the background.

Even when I can't seem to pray... knowing that the creepy weasel is a foot... helps me to keep on trying!

Today is the beautiful, beautiful feast of Our Lady of Fatima. I love this feast. I love this apparition. Wonderful things happen when we bring our Lord's mother into our praying circle. And if anyone knows the power of prayer and intercession it certainly is Mary.

Well, I am going to bed.. I'm starting to hear the clock ticking.. I only seem to notice when its late. I'm also going to pray for each and everyone of us to get a miracle tomorrow. A big one! Might as well ask for a big as a small don't you think?

Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia and all the Sisters

Holy Spirit

To send today's card:Today's Card

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Quote for the Day: I will abandon myself fully to the Holy Spirit, allowing myself to be led wherever and whenever the Holy Spirit wants, accompanying the Spirit, for my part, with effective and strong resolutions and serious discernment. The Holy Spirit descends upon us with great gentleness, never with a racket. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Quote from the book, "101 Inspirational Stories of the Power of Prayer"

Mother's Day has been very nice so far. I had my mom over for dinner and she seemed to have enjoyed herself very much. On the way back she wanted to know just where she was going to be staying. Seems every time she goes out with me she ends up in a new place to stay! Hmmmm. Then she said she must be getting old because it didn't use to bother her to go to new places. Which is true. And poor mom has been uprooted quite a bit in the last few years... as we find one new place for her to live after another as her dementia progresses. I sure hope this will be the last place for her.. It is so nice.

I have to tell you something sort of funny. I mean actually I find it VERY funny but I don't know if you will. It has to do with my 1000 free book give away. If you remember I told you I heard this small voice when I was in Chapel one day that said.. "Why not give away a 1000 books?" Well, that sounded like an exciting idea - and I discussed it with the sisters and they were fine with that so I had the "okay" to proceed. Then I heard another small voice (and this is the funny part.. because this small voice I am not sure was from God or just by cautious nature) that said, "Gosh, since you are giving away free books ... why not ask those who get one to help promote the book... sort of make it a "condition" for getting a free book?

That sounds logical doesn't it? Good business reasoning and all that. So that's what I did - announcing the Free book Publicity Squad idea. And I easily got 1000 great volunteers.. BUT then.. today I was reading in this book, "Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To" (mentioned this one last week.. but I am going slow with this one..because like I said.. It's sort of scary. I mean its Very, Very, Good.. Just sort of scary for us wimp types.) that Prayer Number Three (or chapter Three) called, "WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?" with the subtitle of "God, Outdo Me in Generosity" is all about Giving. Not with an eye for return exactly .. but giving because no matter how much you try.. God will ALWAYS outdo your generosity. And the thought came to me.... "Hmmmm.... I think you sort of fudged, Sr. Patricia!" I think that first small voice which said "Give" meant with No Strings Attached!"

Well, I don't know. Because I sort of feel the second nudge was okay, and it did feel like it was another Holy Spirit nudge... but sometimes you just don't know.. so anyway I think I better cover my bases because I don't want to be chickening out on God here - which I tend to do quite easily!

So...."If" that second nudge was more of ME than the Holy Spirit than I want to doubly state that you should only promote the book IF you like the book and IF you want to.. but I think I better make it clear... if it doesn't seem like "Your Cup of Tea" to do.. than just enjoy the book and forget it! God will handle the rest.

When I was driving back from taking my mom home this afternoon, I was sort of talking to God about this whole thing and this image came to mind of myself in the boat with the apostles. I see Jesus walking on the water and I brave, courageous soul, say to Jesus. "Lord, I want to walk on the water too!" and Jesus says, "Come!" and Sr. Patricia says, "Uh. let me just put out one little foot on this water stuff and see if it holds me first."

Pentecost - It's almost here!

To send today's card:Saint Catherine Bologna

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Quote for the Day: Satan has in fact a plan against the saints of the Most High which is to wear them out. What is meant by this phrase, "wear out"? It has in it the idea of reducing a little this minute, then reducing a little further the next minute. Reduce a little today, reduce a little tomorrow. Thus the wearing out is almost imperceptible; nevertheless, it is a reducing. The wearing down is scarcely an activity of which one is conscious, yet the end result is that there is nothing left. He will take away your prayer life little by little, and cause you to trust God less and less and yourself more and more, a little at a time. He will make you feel somewhat cleverer than before. Step by step, you are misled to rely more on your own gift, and step by step your heart is enticed away from the Lord. Now, were Satan to strike the children of God with great force at one time, they would know exactly how to resist the enemy since they would immediately recognize his work. He uses the method of gradualism to wear down the people of God. Watchman Nee Quote from the book, "101 Inspirational Stories of the Power of Prayer"

Today we had beautiful sunshine... cold....but sunshine. Yeah. Now, its almost eight o'clock and the sun is just spreading across the top of our big maple tree. Almost as if its waving goodbye before night comes.

I am continuing to work on replying to the email requests for the book ( and yes we have reached the1000 limit.. so sorry if you missed it - but the bookkeeper said I absolutely had to quit). Anyway it is a very uplifting thing to do.. because so many say nice things and share thoughts and even prayer requests. Sometimes I get particularly blessed by something someone will include as part of their "signature" or little message at the bottom of their email.

This one I thought was very nice. It's just a thought.. an imagination ...but its nice.

Perhaps they are not stars in the sky...
But rather openings where our loved ones...
Shine down to let us know they are Happy !

Do you like that? I do. It kind of reminds me of one of the stories in the Rosary book when someone was taught by their mother that when the sky was blue.. it was a Hail Mary Sky. Just a little thought trigger to help us remember loved ones or to cheer us up a bit when we are sad and missing someone.

The count down is on for the Presales. Right now you have lots of time.. 20 days... but thought I would just mention it every day.. because .... maybe you are like me... and time goes by much faster than you think!

I have also decided I would offer to autograph books for those who want that. I can only do it through Aunties Bookstore though because that is right here in town.... St. Francis Online Bookstore is in Cincinnati and that's a bit of a trip for signing books! Not sure how many I can do though.... so don't be surprised if I announce that I have reached a limit. Will try and give you a day or two warning if that's going to happen.

http://101prayer.com/autograph.html

Pentecost - It's almost here!

To send today's card:Saint Victor Maurus

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Quote for the Day: Sometimes people ask me this question: "If God does not wish us toask for material things, but for Himself, the Giver of all good, why does the Bible never say: Do not pray for this or that, pray simply for the Holy Spirit? Why has this never been been clearly expressed? 'I reply, Because He knew that people would never begin to pray if they could not ask for earthly things like riches and health and honours; He says to Himself: If they ask for such things the desire for something better will awaken in them, and finally they will only care about the higher things. Sadhu Sundar Singh Quote from the book, "101 Inspirational Stories of the Power of Prayer"

I took a little footage of Pi (my parrot) this morning and was going to share that with you.... but when I tried to upload it to the computer said it wasn't in the right format. Don't know what that is about. Always something.

It's definitely Spring and Pi is on the move. Every time I looked around she was out of her "enclosure" and chewing on my shoestrings. Very cute, but I'm always afraid I'm going to step on her or something... so then I bring her up to the desk and she decides I need a few papers shredded and gets busy. The problem is she doesn't care what the paper is, important, unimportant... all the same to Pi... lets get nibbling!

Slowly, bit by bit I am trying to reply to all the wonderful folks who replied to the Publicity Squad - if you haven't heard from me yet... stay tuned.. may take a week yet but we will get there!

Also, THANK YOU to those who sent a few words of endorsement for the books. I will get to you too! Hopefully this side of the moon phase.... but who knows... life keeps getting in the way of plans.

Blessings Of Peace And All Good,
Sister Patricia

P.S. Today I did my program for, "Faith, Hope and Action" on the fly. It was an hour to the time the program was to air and I hadn't done it or even rounded up a person to interview...SO... Sr. Colleen got roped in for the job. It was fun... off the cuff but fun. I will share it with you tomorrow for anyone who wants to listen a bit to what Poor Clare life is like - from another opinion besides myself!