Daybook 77 and A Saint for All Times

Outside my window::

Overcast and chilly. It’s definitely fall! But that’s OK! I have a lovely bouquet of red roses in a mason jar on my counter and they make all my mornings better. (My parents gave them to me for opening night of Dolly! They’re really gorgeous.)

Wearing::

PJs, and drinking Mystic Monk coffee. 🙂 My body has been demanding lots of extra sleep lately so I’m trying to obey it, even though it makes me grumpy, because I’d much rather get up at like 8, and not 10. But….the body wants what it wants.

Reading::

I just won a book from Goodreads, so I’ll be starting that today (It arrived yesterday) and then blogging about it, so look for a review soon! Reading Benedict XVI’s general audiences on prayer as well. Really, I have a bunch of books I want to start/finish but I just haven’t yet, which is inexcusably lazy on my part.

Pondering::

The pontificate of St. John Paul II.

I was so, so lucky to spend the majority of my life under his pontificate, which also meant, sadly, that I didn’t really appreciate it until he had already been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. (Well, one doesn’t really appreciate the pope when one is a small child, to be sure!) He was elected pope on October 22, 1979, just a few months after my parents were married. My siblings and I were all born during his reign. I received all my sacraments while he was pope. His writings, so rich in so many genres (he wrote plays and poetry), and his life, so rich in so many ways, are a source of inspiration and constant study for me.

I vividly remember feeling like I was losing a father when he was dying. My father is still alive–praise Jesus–but I thought this is what it would feel like. He had always been there, always faithful shepherding the church. He had done so much to bring Christ to the world, to “open wide the doors to Christ”, and he did so much to change the world! A pope from a Communist country, who helped bring about the defeat of Communism? Prayer works, indeed. It was unimaginable for so many people. I remember the night the Berlin Wall came down. We watched it on TV in our family room. But I really didn’t understand what was happening–I was only seven and a half. But as I studied history and became more mature, I marveled at it.

For me, personally, I have only admired him more as I’ve gotten older. I ask for his help before auditions, since he was an actor. I ask for his help when writing, since he was a writer (yeah, I ask St. Francis De Sales too, but John Paul II is more immediate for me). His fearless attitude, his call to “be not afraid!”, echoes all the time in my heart. And of course, his great devotion to Our Lady, as he entrusted his entire papacy to her.

I don’t think theologians have even begun to mine the brilliance of his writings, and what they mean for us. I’ll really always consider him “my” pope, like so many other people in my generation. It wasn’t just the length of his pontificate, but the way he spoke so intensely to young people, and even remembered them on his death bed: “I have looked for you. Now you have come to me, and I thank you.” I was a young person during his papacy; I was about to turn 23 when he died.

Watching him in prayer was an intense experience. I never got to see it, personally, but I’ve read accounts and seen video. He had such intense communion with God, such a deep prayer life. You could see how it imbued his mission, how vital it was to him.

And of course–his suffering, the idea of redemptive suffering which is so unique to Catholicism–was on display for everyone to see. As a sick person, this also inspired me. He showed us that life has worth always, even when fragile and failing. His spirit never faltered.

There’s so much that could be said about him. If you want to learn more, I suggest George Weigel’s monumental Witness to Hope. 

Around the house::

(I really need to reorder these when I have such a long pondering!)

Sweeping and mopping the kitchen floor today, and dusting the furniture in my bedroom.

Creativity::

Working on my NaNo2014 novel–getting the prep done before it starts up November 1!–and also it’s the last weekend of Dolly. Come see it!

Catholic Women’s Daybook No. 57

 

 

Outside my window::

spring rain. The grass is that lovely bright early spring green and daffodils, crocus and even some tulips are appearing! The trees suddenly got their white buds and early green leaves yesterday (of course it was almost 80 degrees, so I bet that helped.)

Wearing::

jeans, grey v-neck t-shirt, silver earrings. I had an early lab draw at the Resort this morning so I chose an easy outfit.

Reading::

Just finished Letters to Malcolm, which is one of the books my brother got me for my birthday last week. It was lovely, as is everything Lewis wrote. Reading B XVI’s Holy Women now but might finish that today. Also re-reading Inside the Passion and the second part of B XVI’s Jesus of Nazareth: the Holy Week book.

Around the house:

Surprisingly, not a whole lot. I have to mop the kitchen floor and work on the master bath a bit (change the bathmats in there) but the place is in pretty good shape!

In the Kitchen::

Well Friday will be sort of short shrift, eh? 🙂 Tonight is chicken and vegetables, Tuesday is 2 bean weeknight chili (it’s amazing), Wednesday is a turkey burger and Thursday–no idea. Maybe pasta?

Working out::

Rehab M and W, not Friday. Going to yoga class tomorrow and maybe Thursday morning? We’ll see if I can get up in time. 🙂

Liturgy::

It’s a big week. Hoping to make it to adoration at my church M and W, definitely will tomorrow. Holy Thursday Mass at 7:00 and then adoration following; Good Friday service starts at noon (my parish has someone preach the Seven Last Words), and then Easter, of course. 🙂

In the CD player::

Rotating between Part II of Messiah and Lent at Ephesus. Really, part II of Messiah is so overlooked. And it’s great music.