All posts by Vicki Scheenstra

Vicki Scheenstra is a former Catholic Bookstore owner and has been active in Catholic Education.

Reflecting on the Epiphany

Quote January 4, 2020 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The Christmas season ends with the Feast of the Epiphany. The celebration takes place on January 6th. It is time to reflect on the journey of the Three Wise Men, bearing gifts for the Christ-child…Jesus.

Are we searching for Jesus? We will have difficulty finding God if we look for him as a scientist would…through a microscope or a telescope. We can find him in creation, but I have found that letting God know I am open to the truth and asking Him to reveal the truth to me has helped me on my journey towards God. God is Truth. God is Love. God is mercy. Let Him lead you.

What gifts do we give to Our Lord? The wise men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. These gifts symbolize the importance of the gifts of time, talent and treasure. Do we spend time in prayer? Do we offer God the gift of our life? If our talents are given to us by God, do we use our talent to serve Him?

The three gifts also symbolize the royal priesthood of Jesus. Gold symbolizes a kingdom. Myrrh symbolizes bitterness, suffering, and affliction. Frankincense is considered a symbol of prayer. (Let my prayer rise like incense!)

Life is a journey…a pilgrimage. The wise men followed a star. They knew it would lead them to God. How are we letting God lead us? Do we have the wisdom to know that we need help? Do we have the wisdom to ask for help in making decisions on our pilgrimage? What does God want us to do for Him? How Does God want us to serve Him?

The answer to these questions are different for everyone. God is a personal God. He knows us by name and wants to speak to us. Listen!

Follow Me!

Quote of Jesus Christ

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference!

Lead me Lord!

Faith, Feast Days, Our Lady, Spirituality

Prayers, Quips and Quotes; Feast of the Holy Family

Quote December 15, 2019 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

The feast of the Holy Family is celebrated the first Sunday after Christmas. It is a time to reflect on the love and tenderness Jesus, Mary and Joseph had for one another. How can we improve our own family lives to be more loving?

One way to celebrate the Feast Day of the Holy Family is to make an act of consecration. An act of consecration is a sacred act and should be done in a very prayerful way. It needs to be prayed deeply. and slowly..from the heart.

Consecration to the Holy Family Prayer

O Lord Jesus, you lived in the home of Mary and Joseph in Nazareth. There you grew in age, wisdom and grace as you prepared to fulfill your mission as our Redeemer. We entrust our family to you.

O Blessed Mary, you are the Mother of our Savior. At Nazareth you cared for Jesus and nurtured him in the peace and joy of your home. We entrust our family to you.

O Saint Joseph, you provided a secure and loving home for Jesus and Mary, and gave us a model of fatherhood while showing us the dignity of work. We entrust our family to you.

Holy Family, we consecrate ourselves and our family to you. May we be completely united in a love that is lasting, faithful and open to the gift of new life. Help us to grow in virtue, to forgive one another from our hearts, and to live in peace all our days.

Keep us strong in faith, persevering in prayer, diligent in our work, and generous toward those in need.

our home, O Holy Family, truly become a domestic church where we reflect your example in our daily life. Amen.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us!

Short Prayer to the Holy Family

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul; Jesus Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony; Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you.

“If you want to bring happiness to the whole world, go home and love your family.”

Quote of St. Teresa of Calcutta

January is the Month of the Holy Name

Faith

Prayers, Quips and Quotes; St. John Henry Newman, Feast Day Oct. 9

Quote October 16, 2019 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

St. John Henry Newman was born in London in 1801. He was raised in the Anglican faith. He first studied law and then decided to become a priest. He was ordained in the Anglican Church after studying at Trinity College in Oxford. As an Anglican priest, John Henry was influential in the Oxford Movement. Eventually, he converted to the Roman Catholic faith and was ordained a priest in Rome in 1848. Pope Leo XIII named him a cardinal.

St. John Henry Newman was known for writing many books and poetry including the poem Lead kindly light.

He pondered and preached about many theological questions including:

significance of Our Lady
the authority in the church
spirituality during difficult times

St. John Henry Newman died in Birmingham in 1890. He was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. He was canonized by Pope Francis on October 13, 2019.

Lead Kindly Light

Lead, kindly Light, amid th’ encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on;
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path, but now
Lead Thou me on;
I loved the garish day, and spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will; remember not past years.

So long Thy pow’r has blest me, sure it still
Wilt lead me on,
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile

Learn to do thy part and leave the rest to Heaven.

Quote of St. John Henry Newman

October is the Month of the Holy Rosary

Faith

Quotes and Reflection on the Sacred Heart of Jesus

June 15, 2019 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

June is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is celebrated on Friday, 19 days after Pentecost. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is very popular…it touches our hearts in many ways.

When I ponder on the mystery of the Sacred Heart, I see the image and marvel at the wounds of Jesus. He suffered and died for our many sins. The art shows Jesus’ heart on fire for His love of all of us. It shows His heart wounded by the crown of thorns and the lance that pierced His side. I see the rays of light coming forth from His heart, showing that He is the Light of the World! The suffering of the world (the cross) is supported by His heart…His love for us. The wounded heart of Jesus supports each of us if we turn to Him for mercy and love.

God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. (John 3:16)

The following quotes from the saints are inspirational and helpful for meditating on the Mystery of the Sacred Heart.

Love overcomes, Love delights, those who love the Sacred heart rejoice!

St. Bernadette Sorbirous

Do not let the past disturb you, just leave everything in the Sacred Heart and begin again with joy.

St. Teresa of Calcutta

Let the soul who is desirous of advancing in perfection hasten to my Sacred Heart.

St. Gertrude

Consider often that it is only the humble of Heart that can enter into the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ and converse with Him, Love Him and be Loved by Him.

St. Margaret Mary

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, teach me an entire forgetfulness of myself, since that is the only way one can find entrance into You.

St. Claude La Columbiere

Behold the Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing.

St. Margaret Mary

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, fountain of eternal life, Your Heart is a glowing furnace of Love. You are my refuge and my sanctuary.

St. Gertrude

No matter what my sufferings may be, I will never complain and if I have to undergo any humiliation, I will seek refuge in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

St. Alphonsas

Oh, how good and pleasing a thing it is to dwell in the Heart of Jeus! Who is there that does not love a heart so wounded? Who can refuse a return of love to a heart so loving?

St. Bernard

Most merciful Heart, pitying heart, loving heart of my Father and Savior, refuse not your help to my needy heart.

St. Margaret Mary

To suffer without complaining, to bring comfort to others and to drown my own sufferings in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

St. Faustina

JESUS I TRUST IN YOU!!!

JUNE IS THE MONTH OF THE SACRED HEART

Faith, Sacred Heart, Spirituality

Quotes and Reflection on the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Quote June 14, 2019 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

June is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is celebrated on Friday, 19 days after Pentecost. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is very popular…it touches our hearts in many ways.

God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. (John 3:16)

The following quotes from the saints are inspirational and helpful for meditating on the Mystery of the Sacred Heart.

Love overcomes, Love delights, those who love the Sacred heart rejoice!

St. Bernadette Sorbirous

Do not let the past disturb you, just leave everything in the Sacred Heart and begin again with joy.

St. Teresa of Calcutta

Let the soul who is desirous of advancing in perfection hasten to my Sacred Heart.

St. Gertrude

Consider often that it is only the humble of Heart that can enter into the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ and converse with Him, Love Him and be Loved by Him.

St. Margaret Mary

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, teach me an entire forgetfulness of myself, since that is the only way one can find entrance into You.

St. Claude La Columbiere

Behold the Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing.

St. Margaret Mary

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, fountain of eternal life, Your Heart is a glowing furnace of Love. You are my refuge and my sanctuary.

St. Gertrude

No matter what my sufferings may be, I will never complain and if I have to undergo any humiliation, I will seek refuge in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

St. Alphonsas

Oh, how good and pleasing a thing it is to dwell in the Heart of Jeus! Who is there that does not love a heart so wounded? Who can refuse a return of love to a heart so loving?

St. Bernard

Most merciful Heart, pitying heart, loving heart of my Father and Savior, refuse not your help to my needy heart.

St. Margaret Mary

To suffer without complaining, to bring comfort to others and to drown my own sufferings in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

St. Faustina

JESUS I TRUST IN YOU!!!

JUNE IS THE MONTH OF THE SACRED HEART

Faith

The Mystery of Easter Joy

April 14, 2019 Vicki Scheenstra Leave a comment

What does Easter mean to You?

When I think of Easter, I think of the surprise those who loved Jesus expressed. Mary Magdalene exclaimed, “I have seen the Lord!” When Jesus appeared to the apostles while Thomas was absent, Thomas declared his disbelief saying he needed to “see with his own eyes the wounds of the Lord”

To me, Easter means Hope. Easter means new life. Easter means new beginnings. Most of all, Easter means Joy! Joy that Jesus is alive in our life. Jesus takes away our fear and doubt. Jesus leads us in a mysterious way to new beginnings and gives us joy at the same time.

When we are hurting and depressed it is easy to lose hope, and we can lose our faith. If everything Jesus tells us is true, than there is a heaven, and it is possible that in spite of my sins I will inherit everlasting life! How we deal with suffering defines who we are as Christians. The saints were all willing to suffer for their faith. They seemed to understand the value of suffering more than those of us in the modern world.

Jesus died on the cross for MY sins. He died on the cross for YOUR sins. If we turn to him in faith for guidance, he will lead us home…to heaven.

Lead me Lord is one of my favorite prayers. It tells the Lord that I do not know the future. I need His guidance. If I am quiet and listen, He will lead me to know His will. What a difference my life would be if all my prayers had been answered YES! I heard once that God has only two answers to our prayers…Yes or …I have a better plan! I ask God to help me discover what His plan is for me.

Thank you, Jesus, for dying for my sins.

Help me to know your will and to follow it.

Help me to never be discouraged or to give up hope.

Help me to share my joy that I feel knowing that you love me.

May I joyfully serve you always.

Lead me Lord!

The Mystery of Faith

All posts by Vicki Scheenstra

Reflecting on the Epiphany

Lead me Lord!

Prayers, Quips and Quotes; Feast of the Holy Family

“If you want to bring happiness to the whole world, go home and love your family.”

January is the Month of the Holy Name

Prayers, Quips and Quotes; St. John Henry Newman, Feast Day Oct. 9

Quotes and Reflection on the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Quotes and Reflection on the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Mystery of Easter Joy

Discovering the Spirituality of Catholicism