CATCH ME ON FACEBOOK

Silver Rose Parnell

Facebook profile

Any of my readers who would like to continue with a more interactive format, please catch me on Facebook.

THIS LINK should take you to my page. If you aren't a member of Facebook, they'll ask you to sign up. If you prefer not to become a member of Facebook, you can still see what I post publicly. You just won't be able to respond, comment, and interact. If you do become a member, feel free to ask to join my friend list.

I have gotten a lot out of Facebook, personally. I have learned a lot in this medium and have made some contacts that have become spiritually uplifting for me. I would like to share it with you, particularly now that I have limited my blogging.

My daily routine is to post:

• Saints of the day information and pictures
• Mass readings for the day
• "3 good things"
• Posts similar to my blog posts here, but shorter
• Inspiring quotes from the Bible, the saints, and the Pope
• Beautiful religious art and photographs
• Limited commentary on news of the day
• Links to edifying Catholic programming and articles
• Feast of the day information, explanations and paintings

The Facebook format is easier for me to navigate with my disabilities, and it takes much less time than Blogger. This arrangement will give me greater freedom for prayers, study and creative endeavors, while at the same time supporting the spiritual life of other semi-hermits, mystics and contemplatives throughout the world.

I hope to see you there!

God bless us all.

Silver Rose Parnell

STAY INSPIRED!

The Three Archangels

Those who read my blog might think it would be difficult to keep the spiritual inspiration going, considering the illnesses and difficulty performing natural functions. The simplest logistics are maddeningly difficult, it's true, but I use both the painful moments, as well as those spent recuperating in my recliner to keep my mind uplifted so that I can approach a state of "praying always." I have written before that surrounding myself with holy pictures uplifts my soul and keeps my mind at the feet of the Lord. There seems to be no end to it, until I run out of wall space and book shelves!

My living room prayer corner

I LOVE the beauty of the icons, candles, incense, photographs, and all the accoutrements that call to mind the Lord, his saints and angels, but also speak to the heart of PRAYER. My living room prayer corner is an invitation to a very special and intimate conversation with the Lord. Whether I am praying a simple contemplative prayer or chanting the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I am entering into a spiritual union with my beloved Lord. The candles are lit. The incense is burning. The conversation begins. This little prayer corner is directly across from my recliner, and I spend a lot of time just sitting and gazing at whichever icon appeals to me at that moment. I highly recommend that every household have AT LEAST ONE prayer corner. As it happens, I have two.

Modern life has one big advantage for someone like me who is disabled and nearly home bound. The internet and television bring me the world in a unique manner that all my books can't duplicate. It doesn't replace a good spiritual book, but introduces another dimension. First thing in the morning, I usually find the Bible reading for the day and read that. Afterwards, I meditate on the meaning and significance for me personally, which is known as "lectio divina."

Often, I resort to the EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) and catch some special programming or participate in the televised mass, knowing that there are likely THOUSANDS of little old ladies like me who are participating at that very same moment. That idea makes me very happy.

Then I check out the saints for the day. There are two or three websites to which I can refer that give me those. Every day, there are MANY saints for whom we have a feast day, and it is wonderful to learn about a new saint or to reacquaint myself with a favorite. This may inspire me to recite a chaplet or some special prayers in honor of that saint. Sometimes I will write a blog post, and now that I have more reliable internet, there may be more of these.

I recommend subscribing to good magazines and circulars that are faithful to the magisterium, though I can't afford them at the moment. Being a member of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary has been a source of great joy for me. The writings included in their modest little newsletter often give me great material for contemplation. I also am a supporter of the effort to have Blessed Margaret of Castello sainted, and their regular missives bring me holy reminders. There are other groups that send daily emails. Keep your eyes peeled for signs of heresy though, folks! There are plenty of groups that are actually created for the purpose of snatching the faithful AWAY from the church and into bizarre cults that have some problem with some arcane aspect of the Church.

Vintage rosary very similar to the one given to me

by a dear friend. Etsy is a good source for these.

My standard prayers are the rosary, but even in that case, I have several different rosaries. One is the St. Benedict rosary that a friend bought for me on pilgrimage to Rome. It gives me a sense of protection, both because of the prayers of protection against Satan that appear on each St. Benedict medal that is used to recite the "Our Father" prayers and because the friend who gave it to me is like a guardian angel for me.

Another beloved friend gave me a gorgeous moonstone rosary that is a vintage French piece of art, very delicate, with a beautiful feel to the beads. The granddaughter of a friend of mine made me a turquoise colored plastic and string rosary that I love to use on the days I honor Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a saint for whom I have a first class relic that this little girl gave me.

I have a faux pearl, lightweight rosary that I carry with me in my handbag, along with some very special medals given to me by friends who have traveled to various pilgrimage places and brought me items from those places. I've attached a small silver medal of Saint Jason, which is the name of my poor departed son who died a few years ago. I use that rosary while waiting for mass to start on the rare occasions when I am able to attend mass, and I use it while standing in front of the mausoleum where my son's ashes are interred. Always, I think about my son when I use that rosary and usually dedicate my prayers to him.

Chaplets are also a solid form of inspiration. I have a small statue of St. Michael in my living room prayer corner. Next to him, I keep a box with a small St. Michael chaplet. Another favorite is my chaplet of Divine Mercy. A beautiful picture of Divine Mercy Jesus features prominently on the wall across from my recliner and I can gaze at it while I use the chaplet.

St. Olga of Kiev, "Equal to the Apostles", is my 33rd great grandmother, and my deepest inspiration. She was JUST AWFUL before becoming Christian. If she can become a saint, we ALL have a chance! Recently, I was given a beautiful icon of her, made in the Ukraine where she lived. I also found a one-of-a-kind chaplet of her that came with instructions on how to recite a "niner" chaplet.

Baptism of St. Olga

Contemplation, lectio divina, the rosary, various chaplets, Bible study, study of the saints, big prayers, little prayers, the practice of the presence of God - All of these contribute to keeping my mind in the beauty of the Lord.

I have even developed quite a few methods of walking prayer while I am taking the dog out for his numerous constitutionals. All of the prayers are internal, so my neighbors don't think I've gone nuts and am talking to myself. Sometimes I simply recite the Jesus prayer, "Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a poor sinner." Often, I recite the Ave Maria. When I am mentally sharp and there are no neighbors in the parking lot, I will recite an Ave, then a very short prayer for a neighbor or a cause...something different between each Ave.

There is no reason to imagine that these are "rote" prayers. They are only rote if you let your mind wander elsewhere. Heart, mind and spirit have to be joined, and there is nothing rote about it.

The variety of Catholic practice and prayers is amazing, and I rely upon MANY, as you can see. They are a wonderful distraction to pull the mind away from from chronic pain, suffering, and the tedium of the constant round of chores that take SO long when one is physically challenged. No matter what I am doing, whether walking the dog, doing dishes, laundry or scrubbing, it is ALL prayer, either through actual prayers said in tandem with the task OR by dedicating a more complex task to the Lord and practicing the presence of God while doing it.

Stay inspired, my friends! And pray for me once or twice during all of it, won't you?

God bless us all

Silver Rose Parnell

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DOMESTIC CHURCH

The statue of our Blessed Mother Mary that looks down upon me

when I am seated in my customary chair in the living room

For the last two weeks or so, I have been ill with a stomach bug, and I have spent more time in my recliner chair.  Being disabled, I spend quite a bit of time in it anyway, but I sort of poured myself into it a couple weeks ago when I first came down with the stomach flu and haven't budged much ever since.  In fact, one night I slept the whole night here.  On many other nights, I spent at least 3 hours sleeping in it.

When I awake from one of these naps, or when I look up from my crochet project, my computer, or my reading, my living room shrine, with its candles and icons and statue, are immediately in my line of sight and invites my contemplation.

The prayer corner in my living room

Drawing inspiration and encouragement from Jesus, Mary and the Saints, I often respond with a short prayer before I move on to my next task.  Having the Lord always in my line of sight is a reminder that He is always with me.  My guardian angel is always with me.  The saints are available to me and are ready to intercede for me.  I am not alone.

Speaking as a woman who has lived "alone" for more than a dozen years, it means a lot to be able to say that I am not actually alone, and this is part of what my Catholic faith has done for me.  The awareness that I am part of the body of Christ and that there is an awesome host of beings accompanying me through life is both stunning and soothing at the same time.  I have only to remind myself of this by gazing at the numerous signs placed around my apartment hermitage.

My living room prayer corner

Despite my numerous discomforts, I feel a welling up of joyful gratitude for everything the Lord has given and has promised me and every other Christian who follows Him.  Contemplating the icons, crosses and crucifixes throughout the house gives me fresh incentive every day to praise Him and glorify Him in all my thoughts, words and deeds.  As my eye falls upon the picture of Him, I tune into the feeling of His presence within me.  When I am washing dishes or cleaning the bathroom, I am doing it for Him.  I feel that, having mentally consecrated this house to him and his worship, everything I do, I do for Him.

Little picture of Jesus on the bedside table

On those mornings when I wake in my bed instead of my recliner, I am likewise greeted by a host of icons, and I am moved to say, "Glory to Jesus Christ!"

Part of my bedroom prayer corner

Just as in the living room, my eyes rest upon Jesus, Our Blessed Mother, saints and angels, wherever I look in this room.

The other wall of the prayer corner

Images of the Blessed Mother on another

bedroom wall

In addition, I keep Holy Water available in two fonts; one at the front door and one in my bedroom.  I used to have a third, but I gave it to a visiting Catholic who didn't have one at home and whom I thought would like it for himself and his family.

Holy Water font in the living room by

the front door

Holy Water font in the bedroom

I try to encourage people in their efforts to spiritualize the atmosphere of their homes because it is especially important to remember that, although our churches are treasured places where Jesus comes to us in a special way through the mass and through his body and blood in the Eucharist, we must carry our faith and the awareness of His presence with us throughout our lives.  Visual cues help us to do this.  They also help us to bear witness to our faith.

Whereas our secular culture is now trying to limit our religious freedom to a mere freedom of worship, which quarantines our faith within the 4 walls of our churches, we need to break out of that prison in which the culture is trying to retain us and bring our faith into the world in a visible way. We know that faith without works is dead and that all the visible signs of faith are pointless without following Christ in every thought, word and deed, but I am suggesting that, while the habit of a nun, monk or priest is a powerful visible signal, our homes can also be a silent witness to every neighbor, relative and friend who visits us while at the same time giving us strength and continual reminders of our companions who travel with us, mostly unseen.

Angels in the bedroom

What I value is not in the slightest bit in question, once someone comes to my home.  I am not advocating that everyone adopt my style of decor, however.  It would be too colorful and busy for many people.  I only suggest that evidence of one's faith be prominently displayed, for all the reasons previously mentioned, and that there be at least one corner devoted to prayer.

Icon of our blessed Mother

at the back door

It goes without saying that, having constant reminders of God scattered about one's house is a good incentive to prayer and contemplation.  Personally, I like to make liberal use of candles and genuine church incense, in honor of the Divine Person to whom I pray.  The fragrance tends to persist for some time after my prayers are finished, reminding me of the constant presence of the Lord.

Give some thought as to whether your home speaks to you and to others about your faith and your values.  Did you decorate with God in mind, or do you take your cues entirely from some style of design one might find in a secular magazine such as Better Homes & Gardens?

My front door

The wall of my foyer

I would be interested in seeing pictures of your home and prayer corners from any of you that care to send one.

In the meantime, I pray for you, as I hope you pray for me.

God bless us all,

Silver Rose Parnell
(c) 2015