40 Bags Inspiration from the Gospel

Last Lent I mentioned this same scripture as something of an inspiration for this challenge.  I found it rather fitting that this was the scripture reading the last Sunday of Ordinary Time.  I meant to write about this earlier, but alas the day to day activity of a young family prohibited it.  So here is my inspiration for our continued journey to de-clutter this Lent.  

Gospel MT 6:24-34

Jesus said to his disciples:
“No one can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink,
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds in the sky;
they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns,
yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are not you more important than they?
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
Why are you anxious about clothes?
Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.
They do not work or spin.
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was clothed like one of them.
If God so clothes the grass of the field,
which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow,
will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’
or ‘What are we to drink?’or ‘What are we to wear?’
All these things the pagans seek.
Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.
Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”

Much of our life revolves around our quality of life.  For many of us this quality of life centers around our house, our belongings, our clothing and for our little children the number of toys they have compared to their siblings.  As the gospel points out we cannot serve two masters.  So the question is, are we serving our desire's hold over us to attain a certain status with stuff, or are we serving our Lord with the blessings he has gifted us.  

So this Lent, as I've mentioned before, I'm eliminating duplicates.  I have two knife stands on my counter.  Do I need both?  NO!  I do use knives from both, but I can get by with one so another family can use the one I don't NEED.  My closet has a couple of items that look similar.  Do I need both of them or are they similar enough to be interchangeable?  My children have too many toys.  Does my son really need matchbox cars and the Tonka cars?  No.  So I will be teaching my children the lesson of simplifying our lives.  

Good luck on your 40 Bags.  I hope you are able to use this as a teaching/evangelizing lesson for your family or community.  

Are your 40 Bags ready for use?

As I mentioned yesterday I'm trying to get my home life in order after my disastrous 2013 (home organization/time speaking).  With that, I'm constantly looking around my home to see what needs to be done in order for my life to operate more efficiently.  With that thought process in mind I determined my new goal for this 2014: 40 Bags Challenge.  I will be eliminating duplicates.  I plan to purge/donate/sell anything that I have double of.  Last year I was focusing on everything having a home.  It was going fairly well until it wasn't. I still plan to do that as we all know from toy organization (or lack of), a home base for all items is essential to organization.

Duplicity is evident in every area of my home.  My kitchen has two butcher block knife sets.  I have a tendency to own multiples of one kind of clothing item.  Books on the same topics, coats, pans, crafting stuff, cookbooks.  I'm sure some of you will find that is true in your home too.

In years past I've gone room by room.  With my new goal in mind for this year I am going by bag count.  That way if I have an unexpected event that causes me to miss a day I won't be bound by room delegations.

What are your plans for this years Challenge?  If you haven't thought ahead maybe you should start.  Lent will be here before you know it!

Jessica

Novena St. Monica Day 4

Novena to St. Monica

For Fallen Away Catholics and for Full Communion of all Christians

Day 4

O glorious St. Monica, you see in our world today mothers and wives who are suffering a lot for their husbands and children. You know how they feel because you yourself underwent this same torture but you managed to breeze through all this because you believed that your problematic husband and child were challenges that God gave you. You suffered, and you prayed for them without ceasing. God touched the hearts of your husband and child, Augustine. Grant us the same perseverance and faith so that we, too, may be able to convince God. Amen.

Daily Prayer







Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine,you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wild threats but with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day so that they may learn to draw their children to God.







Teach them how to remain close to their children, even the prodigal sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray.







Dear St. Monica, troubled wife and mother, many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime. Yet, you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence, and profound faith, you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine.







Grant me that same fortitude, patience, and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, that God may favorably hear my plea for all Catholics who have fallen away from or are not fully living the faith and all Christians to join in Full Communion with the Church and grant me the grace to accept his will in all things, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.








3 Hail Mary







3 Glory Be







St. Monica Pray for Us

Novena St. Monica Day 3

Novena to St. Monica
For Fallen Away Catholics and for Full Communion of all Christians

Day 3

O glorious St. Monica, after a lifetime of tearful prayers, fasting, and sacrifice, you were at last granted the happiness of witnessing both your husband's and son's conversion. After your son Augustine returned to the faith, you said: "God has granted this to me in more than abundance. What am I still doing here?" A few days later, you died happily at peace with God and his world. Grant us that same peace, faith, and acceptance of God's will, that we may live all our years in serenity and go joyfully to our heavenly home, secure in the knowledge of eternal salvation. Amen.

Daily Prayer





Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine,you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wild threats but with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day so that they may learn to draw their children to God.





Teach them how to remain close to their children, even the prodigal sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray.





Dear St. Monica, troubled wife and mother, many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime. Yet, you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence, and profound faith, you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine.





Grant me that same fortitude, patience, and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, that God may favorably hear my plea for all Catholics who have fallen away from or are not fully living the faith and all Christians to join in Full Communion with the Church and grant me the grace to accept his will in all things, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.






3 Hail Mary





3 Glory Be





St. Monica Pray for Us

Novena St. Monica Day 2

Novena to St. Monica
For Fallen Away Catholics and for Full Communion of all Christians

Day 2

Great St. Monica, patroness of fathers and mothers, please take our children, especially those who have turned from the ways of God and his Church, under your protection. Let them always remain faithful to their baptismal vows. Give them strength to walk always in the ways of the Lord, despite the temptations and false values they find in the world today. Grant that they may share with you in the joys of eternal life in God. Amen

Daily Prayer



Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine,you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wild threats but with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day so that they may learn to draw their children to God.



Teach them how to remain close to their children, even the prodigal sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray.



Dear St. Monica, troubled wife and mother, many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime. Yet, you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence, and profound faith, you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine.



Grant me that same fortitude, patience, and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, that God may favorably hear my plea for all Catholics who have fallen away from or are not fully living the faith and all Christians to join in Full Communion with the Church and grant me the grace to accept his will in all things, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.




3 Hail Mary



3 Glory Be



St. Monica Pray for Us

Novena St. Monica Day 9

Novena to St. Monica

For Fallen Away Catholics and for Full Communion of all Christians

Day 9

O glorious St. Monica, on this last day
of our novena, we bring to you the
concerns of many young mothers, teenage
mothers who are not yet prepared for the
motherhood. Unwanted pregnancies are a
big problem in our time. Many young people have to stop their schooling and assume
responsibilities that they could not tackle
because of this problem. Enlighten our young people and give them teachers that will make them understand that sex outside of marriage is dangerous and sinful. Inspire them to enjoy their youth without sinning and lead them to
the joy of spiritual things. Amen.

Daily Prayer









Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine,you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wild threats but with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day so that they may learn to draw their children to God.









Teach them how to remain close to their children, even the prodigal sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray.









Dear St. Monica, troubled wife and mother, many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime. Yet, you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence, and profound faith, you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine.









Grant me that same fortitude, patience, and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, that God may favorably hear my plea for all Catholics who have fallen away from or are not fully living the faith and all Christians to join in Full Communion with the Church and grant me the grace to accept his will in all things, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.










3 Hail Mary









3 Glory Be









St. Monica Pray for Us

Novena St. Monica Day 8

Novena to St. Monica

For Fallen Away Catholics and for Full Communion of all Christians

Day 8

O glorious St. Monica, you accompanied Augustine when he was beginning a monastic life with some friends. You delighted in a life dedicated to prayer, and you were happy because you knew that your son made a good decision. You, too, wanted to spend the rest of your life praying, in close contact with Jesus. Guide us so that we may also be led to a deeper life of prayer and make prayer our life. The path to this type of life begins when we start to simplify our needs. When our hearts are calm because desires for material riches have died, then we open ourselves to a deeper life of prayer which you and your son started. Lead us to
this path. Amen.

Daily Prayer









Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine,you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wild threats but with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day so that they may learn to draw their children to God.









Teach them how to remain close to their children, even the prodigal sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray.









Dear St. Monica, troubled wife and mother, many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime. Yet, you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence, and profound faith, you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine.









Grant me that same fortitude, patience, and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, that God may favorably hear my plea for all Catholics who have fallen away from or are not fully living the faith and all Christians to join in Full Communion with the Church and grant me the grace to accept his will in all things, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.










3 Hail Mary









3 Glory Be









St. Monica Pray for Us

Novena St. Monica Day 7

Novena to St. Monica

For Fallen Away Catholics and for Full Communion of all Christians

Day 7 

O glorious St. Monica, your son Augustine on recalling his steps towards his conversion could not forget your tears and prayers. He saw you awake during nights as you prayed to God to touch his heart and repent of his sins. He described his conversion as your work because even God could not withstand your fidelity and patience in praying for his sake. Now in heaven, we know that Jesus listens to you and would not be able to resist your prayers. Intercede for us and listen to our petitions. May we also be converted and change our bad habits into good. Amen.

Daily Prayer









Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine,you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wild threats but with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day so that they may learn to draw their children to God.









Teach them how to remain close to their children, even the prodigal sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray.









Dear St. Monica, troubled wife and mother, many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime. Yet, you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence, and profound faith, you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine.









Grant me that same fortitude, patience, and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, that God may favorably hear my plea for all Catholics who have fallen away from or are not fully living the faith and all Christians to join in Full Communion with the Church and grant me the grace to accept his will in all things, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.










3 Hail Mary









3 Glory Be









St. Monica Pray for Us

Novena St. Monica Day 6

Novena to St. Monica

For Fallen Away Catholics and for Full Communion of all Christians

Day 6

O glorious St. Monica, you worked hard for the conversion of your husband and son because you wanted them to enter eternal life. Heaven was your obsession and you traveled big distances in search of your son and prayed long hours because you desired that your family may have a grand reunion in heaven. Earthly success did not at all attract you as Augustine your son became famous for his eloquence and intelligence. You wanted him to spend the rest of his life preparing for heaven, and that was precisely what you and your son did. Hearken then to our petition that the thought of heaven may pervade our life. Let not earthly success blind us. Guide us to Jesus and prepare us to our grand reunion with him. Amen.

Daily Prayer







Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine,you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wild threats but with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day so that they may learn to draw their children to God.







Teach them how to remain close to their children, even the prodigal sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray.







Dear St. Monica, troubled wife and mother, many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime. Yet, you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence, and profound faith, you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine.







Grant me that same fortitude, patience, and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, that God may favorably hear my plea for all Catholics who have fallen away from or are not fully living the faith and all Christians to join in Full Communion with the Church and grant me the grace to accept his will in all things, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.








3 Hail Mary







3 Glory Be







St. Monica Pray for Us

Novena St. Monica Day 5

Novena to St. Monica

For Fallen Away Catholics and for Full Communion of all Christians

Day 5

O glorious St. Monica, we present to you the stories of many mothers who are working abroad in search for a better life for their families. They sleep daily remembering their husbands and children, wishing to be near their loved ones. But they have to sacrifice in order that their children may go to school and have a better future. We ask you to protect these mothers and inspire their children to study hard. We ask your intercession that the husbands and children of these women may learn to communicate with each other and bridge the distance among them. May the physical distance that they suffer need not become a hindrance for a happy family life. Amen.

Daily Prayer







Exemplary mother of the Great Augustine,you perseveringly pursued your wayward son not with wild threats but with prayerful cries to heaven. Intercede for all mothers in our day so that they may learn to draw their children to God.







Teach them how to remain close to their children, even the prodigal sons and daughters who have sadly gone astray.







Dear St. Monica, troubled wife and mother, many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime. Yet, you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence, and profound faith, you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband, Patricius and your beloved son, Augustine.







Grant me that same fortitude, patience, and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, that God may favorably hear my plea for all Catholics who have fallen away from or are not fully living the faith and all Christians to join in Full Communion with the Church and grant me the grace to accept his will in all things, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.








3 Hail Mary







3 Glory Be







St. Monica Pray for Us

Novena for Full Communion with the Church

One of the mothers in our group was inspired recently by an article on CatholicMom.com regarding adult children not fully living in communion with the faith.  This inspiration has led to a commitment from our group to pray a Novena to St. Monica with the intention of all fallen away Catholics and for the Full Communion of all Christians.

Please Join us in praying beginning Ash Wednesday for the next 9 days as a kick off to this Lenten Season in the Year of Faith. The Novena will post at 5am PST each day with a new beautiful prayer.  

Thank you and God Bless!

Prepping for 40 Bags in 40 Days

Its that time of year again.  I wonder if this pregnancy has been keeping me sick just long enough for my house to be a total disaster right before I start this challenge. Perhaps this is the type of task to get my lazy bum off the pity party I'm having for my stomach not agreeing with me after every meal. Just means the baby is doing well. Right?

Well in looking up what others do for their 40 Bag challenge I found a site that seems to have begun this tradition.  There are several wonderful quote and ideas.  So please take the time to look it over and plan your own.  Simply Catholic

Over the next several days I'll be cementing my own plan and posting it here for you to follow along.  My own advice from last year is to think rationally about the time commitment! All of us are busy, all of us don't want to feel burdened by yet another task to complete this Lent.  The rooms that will take more than simply a day I plan for several.  Frankly, my basement gets a week and so does my garage.  Nic's room will probably get a day and so will Amelia's, but my closet could get its very own day.  Look on Pinterest for those of you in need of some organizational inspiration.  I have what I think is a great board organization tips. I'm not sure if this link will work if you're not currently following me (I've never tried) but here it is. Organization 

Oh and don't forget about your car.  One tip I read and followed through with was the clean my car on day one.  This enabled me to take the bag directly out of the house and place it in my car the day I completed it.  I'd go once a week to  the Union Gospel Mission and donate my items.  Maybe we could all be the Catholic invasion into their great  charity. I like the people I've dealt with there, and frankly its just an easy drop off location for me.  I go to the one on Sprague west of Pines.

So to finish this introduction I'll finish with how I began last year's challenge:

“Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature.” Thomas Kempis