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Email a FriendPosted by Mary Lou on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 1:39 AM (EDT):
Amazing how many faithful nuns are buried at Spokane….I pray every day for more Sisters for Spokane!
Novena for the Feast of Pentecost - Day 5
Posted by Sr. Patricia Proctor, OSC in Family on Monday, May 25, 2009 10:31 PM
Today is the Fifth day of the Novena for Pentecost
I’m trying to think of a specific time when the Holy Spirit spoke to me. One of those big knock you off your horse moments but I can’t say as any come to mind. I do get lots of little nudges though.
I am learning more and more to trust the little nudges and to act upon them immediately. One of the way the Holy Spirit helps me a lot is in planning the music for Mass. I ask for help and almost immediately a song will pop into my mind that I should use. Sometimes when the hymn seems really far out I wonder for a second… but I go ahead and use it and it will be just what Father talks about in his sermon and it fits perfectly.
Even things like what to make for supper when its up to me to plan it or what kind of little gift I could take for my mom.
Sometimes I’m not so quick to follow the nudges and I then am always sorry. It’s usually not major things. but little tasks that I am nudged to do right now .. but I slither away and do something else with the faint thought that of course I will come back and do it very soon! And I don’t. And then there is no one to blame but myself. Sigh.
Today we had our first barbecue! It was a bit of a push getting the patio ready because it was loaded with wheelbarrows and all sorts of gardening stuff - plus the winters load of dust, dirt and leaves but… we got it clean and we ate before we all starved to death. Barb barbecued the hamburgers and then we ate them with great gusto. Hope its the promise of many more to come.
Below is a picture of our Sisters graves that we decorated yesterday for Memorial Day. Only one of our sisters was in the military (Navy) but we decorated them all.
Comments
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I also have received lots of nudges that I ignored at various times, like a feeling or thought that I should call my sister and I would dismiss it at the time, saying to myself, Oh she is at work anyway. A couple days later she would call me and say I was home on Tues, (the day I got the nudge to call her), because one of her kids was sick. I would kick myself, why didn’t I respond to that nudge! Lately, I have been putting off calling my Dad….think I should do that today! Thank you for reminding me to listen to the Holy Spirit’s prompts!!! Peace!
Posted by Motheroftwo on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 2:11 AM (EDT):
I will admit i have not been praying this novena ( shame on me) but i have story to share . Last year on my birthday i found out i was pregnant my first DD was 7 months - we were not using nfp or anything else for that matter) . I was confused , i had just started a new job and DH had enrolled for graduate school.
I prayed to God the Holy Spirit to comfort me and said the novena to the Holy SPirit several times asking for a son. On Nov 25th i gave birth to a healthy baby boy ...Iam still giving thanks
In addition the new job i took over Had medical insurance that covered DH, DD , me and our new child ... Iam still giving thanks
Right now am asking the Holy Spirit to grant me two years pregnancy free so i can finish my masters and look after my mother and children
Posted by Florence Hedges on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 8:08 AM (EDT):
If you want to say cemetaries are pretty I would say the one at the monastery is beautiful. Saturday the local VFW and Auxiliary had services at our local cemetary and we recognized all the wars and our fallen comrades. We too had crosses and flags on each. Our own Fr. Dan Atkins gave the Bendiction and we all prayed together. We even had one of the auxiliary members to sing the Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America. It was beautiful. Thanks for sharing your dedication.
Posted by Pat S on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 8:18 AM (EDT):
yes, some of those nudgings of the Holy Spirit are rather subtle & don’t always act on them….. then there are the really, really strong ones that I try to act on…..
I recall one inparticular many years ago…. I was in my 40’s and when I had a problem, I felt i needed some advice on, I would call on my dad. This one day I had such a problem, but kept tellin myself , it’s time I grew up and used my own head ....etc….
But I kept hearing/feeling ‘call on your dad’....and I kept arguing with myself , so to speak…..finally , I gave in and went to see him. We had a nice little chat,walkin around the garden and he gave me good advice as always….. a few hours later,I left feelin pretty good. Next day my dad passed away. T’was sooo glad to see him that one last day & the Holy Spirit knew it.
My sister told me later, she had a similar experience only with a phone call.
Posted by Linda on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 8:20 AM (EDT):
I am glad to be reminded of following the Holy Spirit’s “nudges”. Years ago, the Holy Spirit and I argued all morning. I was asked to pick up a friend’s child from kindergarten because she was not feeling well. All morning I kept hearing (in my mind) to ask to take the child and a sibling home so the mom could rest. But all morning, I kept telling the Holy Spirit I couldn’t because I had to many things to do. The arguing got more and stronger as I drove the child home but as I pulled away, I gave in and finally said okay and parked the car, went back inside and asked to take the children home so mom could rest. Surprisingly (?) she was so happy I offered. Her children and mine had lunch and a great afternoon playing so happily and I completed those household tasks. A win win situation.
Sr. Patricia, I know you have alot going on right now, but how about a book on “101 Inspiritional Stories on the nudgings of the Holy Spirit” ?
Posted by Sr. Patricia Proctor, OSC on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 8:30 AM (EDT):
wow, as I’m reading these comments - I couldn’t agree with you more. That would be a very fun book. Maybe the next one. 
Posted by Judie on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 10:10 AM (EDT):
I have such regret in my life the last 12 years for not heeding to the nudging of the Holy Spirit. My Mother & I always had a very tough time getting along, even as a small girl I always had the feeling my Mother disliked me & she always would hurt me. As I grew up I was always determined to please her to make her love me. For some reason it never worked & it just always frustrated me. I finally came to the realization that it was not me with the problem & my grandmother had not given my Mother love so therefore it was very difficult for my Mother to give love to me. I went through many years of counseling. After my Dad died I was left to care for my Mother with no siblings. For 2 1/2 years it was a constant turmoil between us. One day we were out in the car & I heard & felt the Holy Spirit tell me to talk to her & tell her I loved her & that I understood. Several times while we did errands I would feel this. I didn’t do it. Only 2 weeks later I went over to my Mother’s & I found her dead on the sofa from a heart attack. What I went through for several years after her death was far worse with guilt. I have finally comes to terms & God in His infinite love & wisdom has brought me to a better place. I have to work at my feelings daily, even at 63 years old. I will never “NOT” listen to the nudges of the Holy Spirit again in my life.
Posted by Linda on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 2:16 PM (EDT):
Judie
I also had a similar Holy Spirit encounter when my mother died. The difference with my situation is that I got along with my mom and did everything I could for her. I loved her with my whole heart. I have 6 siblings, 5 living close to also help care for her, especially after my father passed away, (8months prior). My siblings and I all helped, but my brother was named executor and thus had given instructions to only go through him, not for each of us to keep talking with doctors. My mom was in and out of the hospitals alot. Of course as with most difficult situations, life is also stressful other places too. The evening she had passed, I had gone to visit with her, but something was terribly not right. I knew in my heart something was wrong (the Holy Spirit, right?) but because of conflict with siblings I also knew I couldn’t “do anything”. So I told her I would see her later, (she couldn’t hold a conversation because she indeed had begun to die, but I didn’t know it, I was so blinded). Her roommate in the hospital (really it was an angel) even asked me if I wasn’t going to stay with her, surely I would stay with her and not leave, but, I didn’t listen to the Holy Spirit :( I left, stopped at he nurses station and relayed what I saw and left only to be called back to the hospital 4 hours later. She died 16 hours later. I was not there for my mom when she really needed me the most. :( :( Eleven years later, I still feel guilty about leaving her. I hope God forgives me and hope she has too.
I agree, sometimes we just don’t understand it is the Holy Spirit speaking to us. I think my daily prayer should be for the Holy Spirit to open up my eyes, ears and heart to His Holy Word and Holy Will and to hear Him when He speaks.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Oh yes, there is a good story along with this. While my mom was dying and in ICU, there was this nurse who was extremely calm and compassionate with my mom and my siblings and my self. After the funeral and such, I called the hospital to get the name of the nurse who had cared for my mom, (only knew her first name), I had wanted to send a thank you card. The staff at the hosptial told me there was no such nurse that worked on that floor nor a nurse to fill in that evening with that name. 
At least my mom had an angel with her.
Posted by Viv on Saturday, May 30, 2009 2:19 AM (EDT):
Dear Judie,
I have just returned from a three-day counselling session. I have the same problem with my mother that you had with yours. Reading your comment was like reading my own story. My urgent need for counselling was not so much to deal with the lack of love from my mother, and the many many hurts she has dealt me over the years, but more out of need to help myself and prevent myself from doing the same to my own two daughters and son. Now I realise it is so much more than that. Thank you helping me realise that my mother needs me to tell her love her. I hadn’t realised that it was necessary to say it when I have been doing it all these years. Thank you so much. Thank you Holy Spirit, this is if anything, definitely a Holy Sprit nudge I think…
Vivienne
Posted by VIRGINIA SCHMUCK on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 6:47 PM (EDT):
At one time I had an abundance of your book, 101 INSPIRATIONAL STORIES OF THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILLIATION, and I had a “nudge” to take some to Mass each Sunday. As I would sit through the service, I would feel a nudge to give one to one or more people, most of whom I didn’t know. One was a visitor to our parish; one was a person struggling with that particular sacrament. There were others as well.
Posted by Sr.Mary Alphonse Stachowski on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 7:05 PM (EDT):
I JUST LOVE THE WAY YOUR CEMETARY LOOKS AND SO NICELY DECORATED ON MEMORIAL DAY. WE USUALLY PUT FLOWERS BY OUR GRAVE SIGHT TOO FOR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. WE USUALLY HAVE A CLEBRATION AND SERVICE ONCE A YEAR FOR ALL THE DECEASED SISTERS THERE.
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) Sr. Mary Alphonse Stachowski
Posted by Jennifer on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 7:48 PM (EDT):
I too have a story about death and the Holy Spirit. My family and I have a tradition to visit my parents on Sundays after Mass. This one Sunday I was really tired and didn’t feel like visiting with my parents, you know, there was stuff to do at home, etc. but we went anyway. I just had this feeling that I should be there. Sure enough, after spending a few hours visiting we got home, only to receive a call that my father suffered from a massive heart attack and died. I am so truly grateful that I went to see my parents that day, that I didn’t give in to my laziness and indifference and listened to that little voice inside me. Thank you! God dwells within us, we just have to hear His Voice.
Posted by Rosemary on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 10:30 AM (EDT):
I want to share a story my sister sent me today. It’s not really relevant to the topic (except that maybe I feel that the Holy Spirit is ‘nudging’ me to share it)- but it is relevant to the graves and what they signify…
You may have received it before (as I had) but it’s worth a second read, I think you’ll agree…
~DEATH~
WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY
TO EXPLAIN IT ...
A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to
Leave the examination room and said,
‘Doctor, I am afraid to die.
Tell me what lies on the other side.’
Very quietly, the doctor said, ‘I don’t know.’
‘You don’t know? You’re a Christian man,
and don’t know what’s on the other side?’
The doctor was holding the handle of the door;
On the other side came a sound of scratching and whining,
And as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room
And leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.
Turning to the patient, the doctor said,
‘Did you notice my dog?
He’s never been in this room before.
He didn’t know what was inside.
He knew nothing except that his master was here,
And when the door opened, he sprang in without fear.
I know little of what is on the other side of death,
But I do know one thing…
I know my Master is there and that is enough.’
I hope that this may be of help to someone who is grappling with the fear of death - either their own or that of a loved one.
God Bless!
Posted by le corbusier on Thursday, Jul 2, 2009 11:35 PM (EDT):
the holy spirit makes our church alive. it is like a battery only the difference is that it does not emptied. it makes our relationship to God more alive.
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