Sacred and Immaculate Hearts

Called By Name: Fr. Gregory Boquet O.S.B

This is the "Called By Name" vocations program that my Diocese has put starting at the Abbey Youth Festival in April of 2009. You can find out more about the Called By Name program here. Or you can check out the USCCB's "Year for Priests" website here.

Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity!

This is an event that I push every year!!! Please join us this Tuesday by signing up at www.silentday.org

-Jude

Back Again!

Hello all! I would like to start back out on my blog with a reflection.

Sometimes in our lives, we fall away from God. We think he's not there, we think he doesn't love us, we think he just doesn't give a care. We fall away from our true friends to hang with the "cool" people. We begin to conform to the "mold" of the world. We try to fit in. We lose sight of the things that were once important in our lives. Then we stress out. We wonder where we went worng, we wonder why we do what we do, we question our very selves. The thing we must remember is thats its a long hard road. Jesus fell on his road, three times actaully. He always got back up. Thats whats important.

Starting high school in August dramatically changed my life. I was thrown into the rush of things as a freshman. High school is a different world. People begin to realize who they are. There are many more "gay" people, dating people, theater dorks, band geeks, Mu Alpha Theata, hippies, red-necks, football players, cheerleaders, etc. High school hits you. It hit me hard.

I fell away from God, from family, from friends, and from church activities. I fell into this deep dispair. I didn;t know who I was, I didn't know what was going on. I was lost. Well I'm tired of that. I want my life back. I want God back. I take after my "father". I'm a jealous lover! ;)

Love,

Jude

A Little Suggestion.......

Although I normally write about my life or spirituality, I do like to share small things that I believe will help my readers on their path to holiness. This is a great book on the life and spirituality of St. Therese of Lisieux. You can get it on Amazon. This book has helped me tremendously and I hope it can also encourage you on the "Little Way"

Pax Christi!

Jude Graham

Carmel is Calling!

I feel my Carmel tugging at my heart! I have begun reading into the life of St. Therese of Lisieux, and her "Little Way." Just as Therese felt called when she was but fourteen, I also feel myself called. I feel called to the seperation from the world, in order to live in "the desert place" with Jesus. And although I feel this deep and strong calling that comes in waves everytime I put on my brown scapular or see it, I know that I still have many problems that I need to sort out. St. Therese has showed me the way to do that. In her biography, she shows that her improvments were made over time, years even, not like some saints who appear to have become holy overnight. She comes from a place I can relate to. She also went to a place I can relate to. But one day, I know, I will enter the Carmel beloved to many, many great saints of the past! It shall be sheer happiness as I enter, and if it is not, so be it. I will stay.

Pax Christi!
Jude Graham

Prayer........10,000 ft. in the air?!?!

One thing I can say for certain, saying the Rosary 10,000 feet in the air is deffinatly not the same as praying it on the ground! For certain, I was praying out of sheer fear that the plane would crash and burn, but it also gave me a peace. To see the clouds gently rolling by, and the blue sky. From the sky, you can't see the chaos. You can't see the wrecks on the interstate, or the house being robbed. You see a peaceful Earth, made by an all loving, all merciful God. It just really gives you a sense of peace. Sometimes, our lives are so rushed from here to there, we don't have time to think. We see things going on all around us and get distracted. But on a commercial flight from New Orleans to Minneapolis, the only connection with the green planet below is between the "tower" and the pilot. No other distractions. Just you, the people around you, and God. Prayer comes very easily in the air. It is like God's cathedral, whos roof just keeps going and going, and whos walls are never to be seen.

In Love,
Jude Graham

Divine Infant Jesus of Prague

Ever since I was child, I can remember the tender devotion that my Cajun great-grandmother had for the Infant Jesus of Prague. Over time, my grandmother inherited this devotion. I encounter the image alot at my grandmothers, but most notably the large statue she keeps in her display case. Growing up, being around the image so often, I never had a particular liking for the devotion. I enojoyed the image popular with Mother Angelica and EWTN. Recently my grandmother gave me a small statue of the Infant of Prague (left). This sparked my devotion. I have done some research on the Infant, which suprisingly, lead me back to the Carmelites! The image was thought to have orginated with St. Teresa of Avila, and if not, it is still in the care of the discaled Carmelites of Prague. The image shows the Child Jesus as king. His right hand is raised in blessing and he holds an orb topped with a cross in his left hand symbolizing his kingship over the universe. He is robed in clothes common to the aristocratic class during the time the statue was first carved. He is finally topped off with a crown wich of course symbolizes his kingship. The Christ Child now plays a major role in my life, teaching to have "faith as that of a child."

In Love,
Jude Graham