I HUMBLY SUBMIT THIS POST

I would first like to give a mighty big THANK YOU to my commentors. I love my photographed subjects and it's nice to know others appreciate the pics (they're worth a thousand words...each!)

It's been quite a week here. A childhood friend's mother passed away. I went back to visit the old home town to see a major renovation going on at the house I grew up in, people I haven't seen in years grow older, my dear Aunt Gladys will be 91 in Sept., my cousin Kelly was in from Michigan, ( one of her boys is to join the Marines in Dec, so please pray for him and all like him), I knitted my first preemie burial gown, bonnet and booties set, and you know, it's just a tough row to hoe some days. I guess I'm sad at how the world is at this time and space. I wonder what would happen IF...we could all live in peace and harmony, IF we all said a prayer for our enemies, IF we all just came to realize we are not in this journey alone, IF we could have a vision of what heaven is like and try to make it so here as best we could, IF we could have enough FAITH, HOPE, and CHARITY to do one kind thing to a stranger and realize they were our neighbor since we like kind things to happen to us. Oh, thank you Heavenly Father for those "random" acts of kindness! In the words of the prophet Micah(6:8), "what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Does it make YOU think about what YOU could do today that would make at least a small part of the world a slice of heaven?!

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I'd like to share one of my favorite litanies to close. God Bless and if you can't be kind at least don't go out of your way to hurt somebody, 'kay! SHALOM! PEACE! LOVE!

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Memorial Prayer For the Suffering Souls in Purgatory

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Almighty God, Father of goodness and love, have mercy on the poor suffering souls, and grant Thine aid:

To my dear parents and ancestors;

Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To my brothers and sisters and other near relatives;

Jesus, Mary, Joseph! My Jesus, mercy.

To my benefactors, spiritual and temporal; etc.

To my former friends and subjects;

To all for whom love or duty bids me pray;

To those who have suffered disadvantage or harm through me;

To those who have offended me;

To all those who are especially beloved by Thee;

To those whose release is at hand;

To those who desire most to be united with Thee;

To those who endure the greatest suffering;

To those whose release is most remote;

To those who are least remembered;

To those who are most deserving on account of their services to the Church;

To the rich, who now are the most destitute;

To the mighty, who now are as lowly servants;

To the blind, who now see their folly;

To the frivolous, who spent their time in idleness;

To the poor, who did not seek the treasures of Heaven;

To the tepid, who devoted little time to prayer;

To the indolent(lazy), who were negligent in performing good works;

To those of little faith, who neglected the frequent reception of the Sacraments;

To the habitual sinners, who owe their salvation to a miracle of grace;

To parents who failed to watch over their children;

To superiors who were not solicitous for the salvation of those entrusted to them;

To the souls of those who strove for hardly anything but riches and pleasures;

To the worldly-minded, who failed to use their wealth and talents in the service of God;

To those who witnessed the death of others, but would not think of their own;

To those who did not provide for the great journey beyond, and the days of tribulation;

To those whose judgment is so severe because of the great things entrusted to them;

To the popes, rulers, kings and princes;

To the bishops and their counselors;

To my teachers and spiritual advisors;

To the deceased priests of this diocese;

To all the priests and religious of the whole Catholic Church;

To the defenders of the Holy Faith;

To those who died on the battlefield;

To those who are buried in the sea;

To those who died of stroke or heart attack;

To those who died without the last rites of the Church;

To those who shall die within the next twenty-four hours;

To my own poor soul when I shall have to appear before Thy judgment seat;

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V. O Lord, grant eternal rest to all the souls of the faithful departed,

R. And let perpetual light shine upon them.

V. May they rest in peace.

R. Amen.