Daily Donna-Marie: A Dose of Inspiration: Jesus in the "distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor" as Mother Teresa always said

Friday, December 21, 2007

Jesus in the "distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor" as Mother Teresa always said

My dear friend and spiritual director, Fr. Bill, as some of you know, passed away a couple of months ago. According to his niece, he is still receiving Christmas cards at his house. She emailed me this morning and told me of a person who sent Fr. Bill a card and hand wrote this note inside:

"Dear Father,

Everyone I’m sure has always looked to you and ask for prayers! I am first wondering how you are doing and I hope that you are well? I sure wish you were around (she must mean that he is no longer at our parish because he retired several years ago).

At this time I am totally and permanently disabled. I do not quality for SSDs due to 2 injuries. I don’t get Social Security, too young and have no income. I’m using the little bit I have to try to save my home, no health insurance, meds are $6,500.00 and more per year. Car broke down, now no refrigerator. Problem with my son, I have a workers compensation case and injury but they maybe too late coming to save me and my home and my animals and son. I need a St. Jude Novena and am too ill in bed to get to Church to meet the requirements. Would you please pray to St. Jude and baby Jesus to get God’s help. I want to live out my life with peace of mind and own roof over my head and better health for us. So sorry to have to ask you for help. I have no family left. Love, ****"(I have left her name out).

This woman apparently did not know that dear Fr. Bill had died. But, now we have before us "Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor" as Mother Teresa has always said. I have this woman's address from the card and I will find her and go over to see her. I have also alerted my pastor so that we can arrange meals and help. PLEASE pray for this woman and of course, all of those who are in difficult situations right now at Christmas time. Pray also for the mother I told you about that is planning to abort her baby today. PLEASE, please pray for all of the poorest of the poor who surround us and have so many needs. Calcutta is in our midst. We have to open our eyes and ears to see and hear their pleas. We need to respond in love, especially when we are so busy. They are JESUS living in one another. Will we go to greet HIM? Will we show HIM our love?

God bless you!

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Immaculate Conception, Mary, my Mother. Live in me. Act in me. Speak in and through me. Think your thoughts in my mind. Love, through my heart. Give me your dispositions and feelings. Teach, lead and guide me to Jesus. Correct, enlighten and expand my thoughts and behavior. Possess my soul. Take over my entire personality and life. Replace it with yourself. Incline me to constant adoration and thanksgiving. Pray in me and through me. Let me live in you and keep me in this union always. – Pope John Paul II

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With all the mixed messages that women receive from society today, women can be distracted from--and even unreceptive to--the deep and abiding love that Christ has for them. Whether single or married, religious or consecrated, parenting children, or spiritually mentoring others, women need to know that the Lord understands the many challenges they face, their desire for inspiration, and, above all, their need to be affirmed as women.Through this book of original and traditional prayers from one of the top ten most fascinating Catholics of 2009 as rated by Faith & Family Live, women can realize God's divine Love, thrive in inspiration from Saints and the Church and rest in the affirmation of the "feminine genius." (order by clicking on book image above)

My radio segments with Teresa Tomeo on "Catholic Connection" on Ave Maria Radio

First,*** Second,*** Third,*** Fourth,*** Fifth - Prayerfully Expecting and how I met Mother Teresa,*** Sixth - Addressing the comments in the media about Mother Teresa's supposed "crisis of faith,"*** Seventh - Culture's pressure on our girls,*** Eighth - Halloween, All Saints and All Souls Days,*** Ninth - Thanksgiving: Keeping it sane, simple, & holy,*** Tenth - Christmas reflections*** Eleventh - Discussing the International Women's Congress in Rome*** Twelth - Discussing our Vatican trip as delegates of the United States*** Thirteenth - Discussing Holy Week*** Fourteenth - Interview with Teresa about my new book, Catholic Saints Prayer Book *** Fifteenth - summertime prayer and proper summer attire for Mass, among other things, you can listen here. My two newest books coming out in early October, Teresa's new book and our EWTN segments airing all throughout August by clicking here. Teresa Tomeo and me discussing my new books and other topics brought up by the callers who called in to the show and won copies of my books, just click here. You can click here to listen at any time. Teresa and I chatted about the new book I am writing as well as taking the time to pause and recharge your "batteries" by going on retreat and with prayer. Pressures on Moms these days and some prayer strategies. Just click here. Back-to-School - Just click here to listen. Here's an Autumn theme - Halloween, All Saints Day, retreats, news, helping the youth, and more. Just click here to listen. A Christmas theme: "Jesus at the Post Office," Just click here to listen.

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"Donna Marie Cooper-O’Boyle, also a member of the U.S. delegation, left Rome feeling energized and willing to do her part to spread the message.'We feel so blessed to have been given this message but we represent everyone,' O’Boyle said.'We’re over there trying to absorb it all so that we can bring it back for everyone else.' The mission for everyone who attended the conference is to bring this message of healing and hope to women in the homes and communities and parishes and dioceses of the world. O’Boyle said.'And when they feel confident in their own dignity they’re going to be able to carry their head high and be that example and spread the message. That’s how it will be spread, one by one by one.' "(excerpt from "A New Season of Grace for Women" by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS)

In addition to my books, I have written for...

I have written for the English edition of L'Osservatorie Romano (Vatican newspaper)
The National Catholic Register (national), Our Sunday Visitor (national) newspaper, The Catholic Transcript, The News Times, The New Milford Times, Hearth magazine, Canticle magazine, Lay Witness magazine, Faith & Family magazine, CarbLite magazine, On the Web - Catholic Exchange, and Catholic Online. I have columns at Catholic Mom.com and Catholic Outpost. I wrote a parenting column for Irish Family Press (print edition), a Catholic weekly newspaper published in Ireland, a new weekly Mother Teresa reflection may coming up!
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Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle 2007-2012.
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