tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53526525664523126632024-03-13T13:23:31.121-07:00Crucifixes & PearlsCarissima Keatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03035624065597340233noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352652566452312663.post-46066693155014111792016-11-29T16:19:00.000-08:002016-11-29T16:27:04.822-08:00On Advent<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This Advent, as Christmas approaches, I’ve realized that I
am so thankful for so many things.
I know that Thanksgiving is over, but it’s never too late to be thankful
for something! Here are a few
things I’m grateful for:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1. 33 Days to Morning
Glory</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This daily meditation
and preparation for consecration to Jesus through Mary is a wonderful and easy
way to prepare one’s heart for Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What better way than through the heart of the one who said <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fiat</i> to the <span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">LORD</span>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fr. Michael Gaitley offers inspiration and meditative prayers through
the eyes of some of the most influential and Marian-adoring saints, such as
Sts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Louis de Montfort,
Maximilian Kolbe, and more!</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The consecration is
on December 8<sup>th</sup>; please pray I may find my way deeper into the
Sacred Heart of Jesus through the love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2. Confession</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As a Catholic, I have
the most amazing opportunity to go to confession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a sacrament of the Church, confession gives you the
chance to recall all of your sins and being released from the heavy fetters
that sin brings upon us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
though it may feel nerve-wracking at some points, God will forgive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loves you. Always.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">3. Advent</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I love Advent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The candles, the purple (and rose)
vestments, the music; all of it makes me incredibly happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t until I became Catholic that
I rediscovered the “magical” feeling that the anticipation of Christmas
brings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Singing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Veni, Veni, Emmanuel</i> gives me chills
just thinking about the waiting for Christ to come as a babe for all of
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">4. Chapel Time</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Time in the chapel is
always important, no matter if you’re feeling down or ecstatic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s something about my college’s
chapel; the always-lingering smell of incense, the communion rails to pray at
in front of the Sanctuary, the creaky, old pews, and the stained-glass windows
of Christ, Mary, and the Saints. </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Even if your parish isn’t
open 24 hours, take some time in the adoration chapel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Don’t’ have one? Look
for the nearest one—it will make a difference.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">5. Family and Friends
Who Pray for You</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As someone who’s
struggled with depression, it’s easy to fall down the path of darkness and
doubt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why it’s wonderful
to have family and friends who are there to pray for you, to hug you, or to talk
to you over Skype.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be
especially difficult during the holiday seasons, so make sure you find someone
if you’re struggling, or talk to someone who is. It will make their day, maybe
even their year or life better!</span></div>
Carissima Keatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03035624065597340233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352652566452312663.post-30094185324837653612016-07-10T11:40:00.000-07:002016-07-10T11:40:13.162-07:00A Light In the Darkness<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Life in this world is not going very well right now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> With bombings, murders, wars, and more coming up just about everywhere, it's extremely difficult to remember that there is also goodness in this world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Today, I want to share some reminders that even though this world is full of sorrows, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">we can be assured and confident that we can still be and shed light into this world.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: '"\\22 trebuchet ms\\22 "', sans-serif;">© </span>Carissima Keatley</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>“<b>There is some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for</b>.” </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">–</span><a class="authorOrTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/656983.J_R_R_Tolkien" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;">J.R.R. Tolkien</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">, </span><span id="quote_book_link_15241" style="color: #181818;"><a class="authorOrTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2963845" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;">The Two Towers</a></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">"</span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">And of what should we be afraid? Our captain on this battlefield is Christ Jesus. We have discovered what we have to do. Christ has bound our enemies for us and weakened them that they cannot overcome us unless we so choose to let them. So </span><b style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">we must fight courageously and mark ourselves with the sign of the most Holy Cross</b><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">.” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– St. Catherine of Sienna</span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“The favors of the LORD are not exhausted, his mercies are not spent; They are renewed each morning, <b>so great is his faithfulness</b>.” </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">– </span>Lamentations 3:22-23</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">“Cast all your anxieties on him, for </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">he cares about you</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">– </span><span style="color: #222222;">1 Peter 5:7</span></span></div>
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<i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">“Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for <b>the LORD your God is with you wherever you go</b>.” </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">– </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Joshua 1:9</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">“Be strong and of good courage, </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">do not fear</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> or be in dread of them: for </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">it is the LORD your God who goes with you</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">; he will not fail you or forsake you.” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Deuteronomy 31:6</span></div>
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<i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">“The light shines in the darkness, and <b>the darkness has not overcome it</b>.” </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">– </span><span style="color: #222222;">John 1:5</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">Have no anxiety about anything</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">–</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;">Philippians 4:4-7</span></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><br /></span></i>
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">“It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end… because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing… this shadow. </span></i></div>
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><b>Even darkness must pass</b>.” </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">― </span><a class="authorOrTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/656983.J_R_R_Tolkien" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;">J.R.R. Tolkien</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">, </span><span id="quote_book_link_15241" style="color: #181818;"><a class="authorOrTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2963845" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: none;">The Two Towers</a></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">"<b>Do not be afraid, for I am with you</b>; do not be alarmed, for I am your God. I give you strength, truly I help you, truly I hold you firm with my saving </span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">right</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;"> hand." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">–</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Isaiah 41:10</span></span></div>
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Carissima Keatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03035624065597340233noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352652566452312663.post-31500196306713509012016-05-27T18:27:00.004-07:002016-05-27T18:27:46.004-07:00Helping Those In Need<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfG7sm0tkdcoXYELuysqEnNQ6Iqvc1EaxlS7iwc7MItJtuQ4F0ZKJcLp0P_YyfqujAZFa8iW95sLSnGumXSuUMQ8Tn9aLbPWLoPTNazbYnud4j9_kOqxJ8fz518Bu2RQ4YBpS647aMGGwT/s1600/IMG_3614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfG7sm0tkdcoXYELuysqEnNQ6Iqvc1EaxlS7iwc7MItJtuQ4F0ZKJcLp0P_YyfqujAZFa8iW95sLSnGumXSuUMQ8Tn9aLbPWLoPTNazbYnud4j9_kOqxJ8fz518Bu2RQ4YBpS647aMGGwT/s320/IMG_3614.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My parents are awesome.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I mean, they've given me life, raised me to be respectful, caring, and loving.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They also have to struggle with really hard stuff every single day, yet they continue to show me and my siblings nothing but love and support.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today, I'm asking for your help.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">See, my mom struggles from Meniere's Disease, and my dad from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It sucks.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mom has days where she can barely get out of bed, and Dad has his good and bad days, but lately bad.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They also live in a 104 year-old farmhouse that, that while I love it, it needs a lot of help.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Especially the bathroom.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That's why I'm writing this post on both my blogs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I need your help.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My siblings and I need your help, both prayerfully and financially.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We only need a small amount, but as we are all in college, it's hard to have any amount over $20.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We need to make our bathroom safe for our mom, as we are away 9 months out of the year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Having a remodeled bathroom will not only help mom, but it will also help our dad, too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Please consider donating, and you can do so by clicking below:</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/safebathfornanci"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">https://www.gofundme.com/safebathfornanci</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thank you for reading this, and may God bless you abundantly!</span></div>
Carissima Keatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03035624065597340233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352652566452312663.post-89982255620237791432016-02-10T13:36:00.002-08:002016-02-10T13:37:22.691-08:00You Are Dust, and to Dust You Shall Return...<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">"<i>Lent is a season of intense prayer, fasting and concern for those in need. It offers all Christians an opportunity to prepare for Easter by serious discernment about their lives, with particular attention to the word of God which enlightens the daily journey of all who believe.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>There are many different ways of giving up things you love and trying harder to maintain things that you need to keep</i>."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">-Pope St. John Paul II, Lent 2003</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lent is the perfect season for that; it is the time to truly reflect on who we are in God, and what he wants for us in our lives. One of the best-and simplest-ways to do this is through prayer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">St. Therese of Lisieux once wrote:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; text-align: left;">“For me prayer is an aspiration of the heart, it is a simple glance directed toward heaven, it is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy”</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lent can be a tough time for people, and I am no exception. I usually give up small things, such as sweets, but it is also the time for me to stop procrastinating or just being purely lazy. There are a lot of ways I can think of when it comes to participating in this Lenten sacrificial journey, so here's some ideas that you might want to use, too:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">>>Praying a Rosary every day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">>>Donating time to a local pregnancy center or homeless shelter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">>>Going through your closet and donating the many things you never/hardly wear</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">>>Having a Mass said for someone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">>>Praying the Divine Office, even just Morning & Night Prayer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">>>Abstaining from something you would normally use everyday, like a microwave or blow dryer. Taking the time to slow down gives you more opportunities to review and reflect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">>>Say hello to the homeless person you walk by everyday. If they ask for money, offer to get them coffee and/or food instead. They'll usually be shocked and grateful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">>>Go to daily Mass. This one makes a BIG difference, which is something I noticed when I started going at school every day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">>>Smile more. This one seems hard, but smiling not only makes you happier, it also makes others happy when they see you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">>>Make a gratitude journal, and write about one thing you are grateful for. You will be able to look back and remember everything you have to be thankful for!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These are just a few, simple ideas, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">but they are things that may inspire you to try out your own!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Have a blessed Lenten Season!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib266VkJ9_-lPn4K-r0FBqUf2ClBCW6bw__K-Ffe31rELPYj6hLCebyBQxx_jQlYruJw_hcK74b6ynLOUVJIiYpp8zDD_AVmODw4ixvZa0oEF5IrB9G1M2r1naVcQ9IlEGJkusQHu-TMaf/s1600/2d3fad03d515b3450393a227b1c176c9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib266VkJ9_-lPn4K-r0FBqUf2ClBCW6bw__K-Ffe31rELPYj6hLCebyBQxx_jQlYruJw_hcK74b6ynLOUVJIiYpp8zDD_AVmODw4ixvZa0oEF5IrB9G1M2r1naVcQ9IlEGJkusQHu-TMaf/s200/2d3fad03d515b3450393a227b1c176c9.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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Carissima Keatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03035624065597340233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352652566452312663.post-33958530016111689242016-01-29T14:08:00.001-08:002016-02-10T13:09:02.075-08:00Thankfulness and Snow<div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It has been a crazy and long week, with a blizzard bringing over 3 feet of snow, a 5-day weekend (which I was sad about, though I think people thought me a bit crazy), and many things to be thankful for.</span></div>
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<b><u style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Things to be thankful for this Week</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">•Warmth and safety through the Snowmageddon.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">•Nights of nail painting parties and laughter.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">•Sunshine coming to melt the snow.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">•Awesome kitchen crews willing to sleep in classrooms during the storm.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">•Friends to comfort and encourage me.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">•A chapel which is open until 1am.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">•Guys (and girls) taking their study-and-stay-warm-inside days shoveling snow to make paths.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">•Wifi so I can talk to my parents.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">•A Welcome Home Dance to keep our cabin fever down.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">•Rain boots with good traction.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There may be times of frustration, hardships, loneliness, even sadness. But when you stop and look at the beautiful sunset over the library, or gaze with the many wonders snow can bring, you begin to realize that there is so much around you to be happy and thankful for. As St. Anthony of Padua once wrote,</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Consider every day that you are for the first time,as it were, beginning anew; and always act with the same fervor as on the first day you began."</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Begin every day with things that make you realize that life is a wonderful thing, that it is <i>great </i>to be alive! When you can do that, it will make you thankful for this life which you have been given.</span></div>
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Carissima Keatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03035624065597340233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352652566452312663.post-5632740432155074742016-01-05T19:48:00.001-08:002016-01-05T22:02:24.364-08:00Home for a Holiday<div>
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<i>Photo from </i><i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">capturedmiracles.com</span></i></div>
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D<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">uring this holiday season, there have been ups and downs, but in the end, I realize and remember just what this season is about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The birth of our Savior is such an important reminder of the true love that is unavailable on this earth. Feeling love like that is an incredible feeling which I am nothing but astounded by every single moment of my life. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Coming home for holiday is an interesting event. There's so many people to see, events to attend, and food to eat (especially with my Italian-Irish family). There's also the wonderful chance to sing in my parish choir, work at my old job (money is always good), and enjoy the sights of the town where I've grown up. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Coming home for Christmas is a great reminder of the past moulding me into the person I've become today, and future experiences that can help mould me in days to come.</span></div>
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Carissima Keatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03035624065597340233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352652566452312663.post-76666563123119202582015-11-10T19:20:00.001-08:002015-11-10T19:20:00.620-08:00The Power of Some Beads<div>O My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love thee, and I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love thee. St. Joseph, pray for us! St. Michael, protect us!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYauAZjTJYcLcjhCHJ6UFEW81cfVtSWa_6iUBSxGhUiW-LD7wqNH2TwvofT8ST7m1RoyPMbydlOu4_-l7uqtyFuPbCkkQR0D4yB4buz2PpFX8LHmdUw-hxHWmXlzB8xTQSR4OaJmbzINrd/s640/blogger-image--906303550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYauAZjTJYcLcjhCHJ6UFEW81cfVtSWa_6iUBSxGhUiW-LD7wqNH2TwvofT8ST7m1RoyPMbydlOu4_-l7uqtyFuPbCkkQR0D4yB4buz2PpFX8LHmdUw-hxHWmXlzB8xTQSR4OaJmbzINrd/s640/blogger-image--906303550.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Have you prayed your Rosary today? Our Lady not only encourages us to do so, but also loves when we ask for her intercession. Many wonderful and powerful things can happen when you do so! There's many a saint who give great examples on this powerful and wonderful form of prayer:</div><div><br></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-style: italic;">The Rosary is the ‘weapon’ for these times.” </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">St. Padre Pio</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></span></div><div><span style="font-style: italic; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"The holy Rosary is a powerful weapon. Use it with confidence and you’ll be amazed at the results.” -</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">St. Josemaria Escriva</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-style: italic; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> “Say the Holy Rosary. Blessed be that monotony of Hail Mary’s which purifies the monotony of your sins!” -</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">St. Josemaria Escriva</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><p style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>"The Rosary is a powerful weapon to put the demons to flight and to keep oneself from sin…If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary. Let not even one day pass without saying it, no matter how burdened you may be with many cares and labors.” – </i>Pope Pius XI</span></p></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font style="text-align: center;">"The Rosary is the most excellent form of prayer and the most efficacious means of attaining eternal life. It is the remedy for all our evils, the root of all our blessings. There is no more excellent way of praying." </font></span><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">– </i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Pope Leo XIII</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">So today, pick up those holy beads and pray; saying these wonderful prayers will give you peace and many, many blessings.</span></div>Carissima Keatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03035624065597340233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5352652566452312663.post-25430437412350991342015-10-22T13:29:00.003-07:002015-10-22T13:29:57.639-07:00Empty Pews [not] Empty Altars: Adoration<div style="line-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Adoration. When I wasn't Catholic, I had no idea what this meant, other than the <i>adore</i> part. Then my mom took me to the adoration chapel at my parish, and from then on, I became a regular. The funny part about that was that I hadn't even decided if I was going to become Catholic! All I did know was that when I walked into the room and knelt down before the Blessed Sacrament, there was something mystical and strange and frankly, awesome.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then I became Catholic, and things started to get a little bit odd when I visited with Jesus. At first, I thought I was crazy, but then I talked to someone who had seen it, too: the face of Christ in the center of the Eucharist. What?!?! It was and is the most wonderful thing that has happened to whilst awake. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am so thankful for the time here at Christendom College to be able to come to Adoration Every. Single. School. Day. Every single one! Even if it's just for the half hour I'm signed up for, getting to spend it with Jesus is the most wonderful thing a girl could ask for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We may not all see His face, we may fall asleep for awhile-guilty of that myself-but all I is that to spend time with Jesus is one of the best things one can do for our lives. Try it sometime, you'll start seeing a difference.</span></div>
Carissima Keatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03035624065597340233noreply@blogger.com0