Just Some Quotes

"the greatest gift he can give us is his friendship, his presence, his love. He is the precious treasure we should ask for and treasure always." -Pope Benedict XVI


Each one of us is called to understand that in the prayer of petition to the Lord, we must not expect an immediate fulfillment of our requests, of our will; rather, we must entrust ourselves to the Father's Will, interpreting each event within the perspective of his glory, of his design of love, which is often mysterious to our eyes," -Pope Benedict XVI


"This seems to me to be very important: before the gift is given, to adhere to him who gives; the Giver is more precious than the gift." -Pope Benedict XVI

Be peace-loving. Peace is a precious treasure to be sought with great zeal. You are well aware that our sins arouse God's anger. You must change your life, therefore, so that God in his mercy will pardon you. What we conceal from men is known to God. Be converted, then, with a sincere heart. Live your life that you may receive the blessing of the Lord. Then the peace of God our Father will be with you always. -Saint Francis of Paola

Not the goods of the world, but God.
Not riches, but God.
Not honors, but God.
Not distinction, but God.
Not dignities, but God.
Not advancement, but God.
God always and in everything.

-- Saint Vincent Pallotti

The gate that gives entry into these riches of his wisdom is the cross; because it is a narrow gate, while many seek the joys that can be gained through it, it is given to few to desire to pass through it.

-- Saint John of the Cross

In my heart there is only one vacant seat. It is for God and nobody else. Temptation in like fire in which gold is purified. So we have to go through this fire. The temptations are allowed by God. The only thing we have to do is refuse to give in. If I say I do not want it, I am safe. There may be temptations against purity, against faith, against my vocation. If we love our vocation, we will be tempted. But then we will also grow in sanctity. We have to fight temptation for the love of God. -Mother Teresa

Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. -Romans 12:2

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.”
― Mother Teresa

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
Psalm 34:19, 23

‎"The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness."
— Pope Benedict XV

St. John of the Cross

Here are some awesome quotes from our dear friend, St. John of the Cross.

The gate that gives entry into these riches of his wisdom is the cross; because it is a narrow gate, while many seek the joys that can be gained through it, it is given to few to desire to pass through it. 

-- Saint John of the Cross 


If you do not learn to deny yourself, you can make no progress in perfection.

Where there is no love, pour love in and you will draw love out. 

In detachment, the spirit finds quiet and repose for coveting nothing.

To be taken with love for a soul, God does not look on its greatness, but the greatness of its humility.

The Lord measures our perfection neither by the multitude nor the magnitude of our deeds, but by the manner in which we perform them.

I wish I could persuade spiritual persons that the way of perfection does not consist in many devices, nor in much cogitation, but in denying themselves completely and yielding themselves to suffer everything for the love of Christ.

Live in the world as if only God and your soul were in it; then your heart will never be made captive by any earthly thing.

O you souls who wish to go on with so much safety and consolation, if you knew how pleasing to God is suffering, and how much it helps in acquiring other good things, you would never seek consolation in anything; but you would rather look upon it as a great happiness to bear the Cross of the Lord.

In giving us His Son, His only Word, He spoke everything to us at once in this sole Word -- and He has no more to say ... because what he spoke before to the prophets in parts, he has now spoken all at once by giving us the All Who is His Son.

God desires the smallest degree of purity of conscience in you more than all the works you can perform. 

With what procrastinations do you wait, since from this very moment you can love God in your heart?

There is a God who Loves you Just the Same

Today's Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
"What is your opinion? 
A man had two sons. 
He came to the first and said,
'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' 
The son said in reply, 'I will not,'
but afterwards he changed his mind and went. 
The man came to the other son and gave the same order. 
He said in reply, 'Yes, sir,' but did not go. 
Which of the two did his father's will?" 
They answered, "The first." 
Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the Kingdom of God before you. 
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did. 
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him.


As humans, with free will, it is easy for us to say no to God's will and choose what we want to do over what God has planned for us. Luckily, our God is patient, and merciful. Luckily, our God can work with our decisions, and do His best to make the best out of every situation. 

Sometimes we will make choice, and upon re-evaluation, make a change, just as the son in today's Gospel. Being a young adult, college student, this something that is often done. I've successfully completed my first semester of college. There are girls in my dorm who are transferring to other schools, majors are being changed, decisions were made - and now, with re-evaluation changes are being made. Often times, it is scary to do this. Making decisions are scary. Choosing to take a year off school and to serve is scary. Choosing a college is scary. Choosing a major is scaring. Choosing to do declare yourself single for a season is scary. Choosing to enter into a relationship is scary. Becoming engaged is scary. Getting married is scary. Having your first child is scary. Sending your first child to kindergarten is scary. Sending your children off to college is scary.

 Life is all about making decisions. Things rarely turn out as you expect. But it's all a part of growing up. It's all a part of living. And being 18, and a freshman in college, living on your own for the first time, away from parents, is the perfect time to learn. You make mistakes, and learn from those mistakes. Just remember, there is a God who loves you despite every good or bad decision you may make - You will be loved just the same.

May the Lord guide us and lead us to make prudent decisions. May we humbly follow the son in today's Gospel, and not be afraid to change. May we seek to choose God always.  Amen. 

Times Gone by

My heart weighs heavy

As I long for times gone by

Crafts with grandma

Silly stories around the fire

While roasting marshmallows

Fish with grandpa,

And learning how to cook the fish

Splashing in the lake

And building sand castles

On the memories of times gone by

My heart weighs heavy

As I long for times gone by

Careless wonders of a child

A carefree love

A first kiss

Playing house with the neighbor kids

The ones with whom we spent our time

Creating a make-shift theater on rainy days

And paying mom in pennies for our candy

Oh the memories of times gone by

My heart weighs heavy

As I long for times gone by

Family dinner every night

And waiting to eat until dad comes home

Then closing the night as a family with a show

Oh the memories of times gone by

My heart weighs heavy

As I long for times gone by

When mom would make me dolls

And hold me when sick

Learning to make perogies

And baking chocolate chip cookies

Ending with a burnt chin

Oh the memories of times gone by

My heart weighs heavy

As I long for times gone by

Before stress, anxiety, and depression

Before jobs and choosing your education

Before the ever so common question:

            What are you doing with your life?

Oh the memories of times gone by

My heart weighs heavy

As I long for times gone by

When cookies and milk fixed all problems

And a hug from your daddy.

Oh for the memories of times gone by

My heart weighs heavy

As I long for memories of times gone by

The innocent trust of a child

Linked to the side of our parents

When we did not question why

But simply went about embracing childhood

Oh for the memories of times gone by.

Prayer for Students

Here's a prayer for students, preparing to study, by St. Thomas Aquinas - just in time for the end of the semester or quarter :)

Creator of all things,
true source of light and wisdom,
origin of all being,
graciously let a ray of your light penetrate
the darkness of my understanding.

Take from me the double darkness
in which I have been born,
an obscurity of sin and ignorance.

Give me a keen understanding,
a retentive memory, and
the ability to grasp things
correctly and fundamentally.

Grant me the talent
of being exact in my explanations
and the ability to express myself
with thoroughness and charm.

Point out the beginning,
direct the progress,
and help in the completion.

I ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

It is Good to Praise the Lord

It is indeed good to praise the Lord. It is indeed good to serve the Lord.

Often times, as humans, and particularly as a woman, it is easy to put "me" aside, and continue living our lives. There's work, school, service, community, etc.

A lesson the Lord has truly been putting on my heart is though it is good to praise Him, it is good to take rest in Him. It is good for Amber to take time for Amber.

Last weekend I went on a woman's retreat. It was a very relaxed retreat with talks focused remotely on being a woman of God. Saturday night we had a chance to just grow in sisterhood, but often times on retreat I need time to process or stop for a few moments, and the opportunity presented itself to me. I love bubble baths. I love relaxing and soaking in a tub filled with hot water and bubbles. It smells good. It feels good. It causes me to relax and gives me an opportunity to block out the world. I went back from the retreat refreshed, rejuvenated, and renewed. I knew I needed to keep fighting the good fight, and was encouraged to continue striving for holiness. This week I had an opportunity to go to confession, and only had 2 days of class. It was a very stress-free week. Even work wasn't all that stressful. Then today, we had Thanksgiving dinner at my house and it was the first year we haven't traveled for Thanksgiving, and it was so wonderful. I was able to sleep in, hang out with my dad, eat lots of food, and watch Disney movies to embrace the child in me and just relax. It was so perfect.

As I was lying here watching Cinderella I was thinking about this important reminder God has integrated into my life. I was hitting my breaking point. I was ready to hit a wall, but the good Lord helped me to stop before I was too far gone. He caught me just in time, another reminder in how perfect our God is. He has given me a multitude of opportunities to relax, rest, and care for my body in order to best be able to serve Him.


My dear sisters, and brothers, in Christ, I encourage you to remember to care for yourself amongst serving the Kingdom of God. Remember to serve yourself. It is good to take time for yourself, and even praise the Lord during this time set aside for just you. The weekend of the retreat, I was convicted to sing praises to the Lord while taking my "Amber" time. I encourage you to simply open your heart to the Lord, to His perfect love & mercy, and take that time to care for your body so you may be at your best to fully serve the Lord.

God bless!

We're all Sinners

Lk 17:1-6:
Jesus said to his disciples,
"Things that cause sin will inevitably occur,
but woe to the one through whom they occur.
It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck
and he be thrown into the sea
than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
Be on your guard!
If your brother sins, rebuke him;
and if he repents, forgive him.
And if he wrongs you seven times in one day
and returns to you seven times saying, "I am sorry,"
you should forgive him."

And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you would say to this mulberry tree,
'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."




Today's Gospel struck me with the reminder we are all imperfect, thus we should all be merciful towards one another. This year I moved out of my parent's house and into dorms, got a job, go to school full time, and make time for social things as well. I've been trying to do it all, as one may say. Anxiety and depression are a part of my struggle, my cross this time of year, and this year has been worse than in the past so far. Last year, it wasn't too bad. It did cause me to break up with my boyfriend at the time, but not as bad as this year. So when I had an anxiety attack last week it was really easy for me to be hard on myself, and to attempt analyzing what was causing and to ask how did I mess up this time? What did I do wrong? 
I wanted to blame myself, but really God just wanted me to give this suffering as a sacrifice to him. 


Friday I talked with my friend Nicole about my anxiety and what was going on, she reminded me that there is nothing wrong with having a simple prayer life. Sunday, when I finally made it to mass, the priest said in his homily, how we are to strive to live for the kingdom of God. As long as we try, as long as we have faith, and as long as we are giving all that we can give to serve the Kingdom, the Lord will be pleased. 


I had to be reminded when time for judgement comes the Lord won't look at me and be like you failed this chemistry exam, you skipped class this many times, you did poorly on this quiz; rather, he will look at me and see you loved this person well, by staying up late you helped this person, by offering this anxiety to me you saved this soul. He will ask how well we loved his people, not how well we succeed by worldly standards. 


May we always remember each of us is imperfect, forgive one another of our mistakes, and seek to love our God and others above all things. 


God bless!