This week is seeing crazy mileage put on both Tessy the Toyota and Sassy the Subaru, with hundreds of miles each foray out and about, adding up to 1000+ miles. The Day Off on Tuesday as always, went morning to night. Wednesday was all about Father Michael Kottar, RIP, his funeral. Hail Mary… Saturday there are ordinations to the transitional diaconate. Hail Mary… A couple of Saturdays later we have ordinations to the priesthood. Hail Mary…
The top photo was taken during delivery of firewood. The one just above was seen up in the back ridges of these Appalachian Blue Mountains, because, of course, these are Mountain Laurel.
Meanwhile, it seems to me that it’s a good thing to always have one’s eyes peeled for Flowers for the Immaculate Conception. It’s always an occasion to lift up one’s heart and mind to all that which is good and holy. And that, of course, provides for an occasion for an examination of conscience, contrasting the availability of nature created by God to do what it is supposed to do, and us, in our fallen human nature, whereby we cannot of ourselves be available to do what we are supposed to do with free will, you know, unless we are receptive of the grace God provides. We also have such occasions, even with trips adding up to 1000+ miles:
- “If I ascend to the heavens, you are there; if I lie down in Sheol, you are there too. If I fly with the wings of dawn and alight beyond the sea, Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand hold me fast. If I say, “Surely darkness shall hide me, and night shall be my light” — Darkness is not dark for you, and night shines as the day. Darkness and light are but one. You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! My very self you knew; my bones were not hidden from you, When I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth. Your eyes foresaw my actions; in your book all are written down; my days were shaped, before one came to be. How precious to me are your designs, O God; how vast the sum of them! Were I to count, they would outnumber the sands; to finish, I would need eternity.” Psalm 139:8-18
In other words, we needn’t travel anywhere to get Flowers for the Immaculate Conception. We ourselves with God’s grace can be flowers for the Immaculate Conception, and those flowers are most acceptable, with Jesus and His good mom working together to give us the opportunity…
ARISE! LET US BE GOING! 
This is what I love about Father Kottar’s funeral Mass:
“As the funeral Mass ended and Father Kottar’s casket was processed out of the church, parishioners wiped tears from their eyes as they shouted, “¡Viva Cristo Rey! ¡Viva Cristo Rey! ¡Viva Cristo Rey! ¡Viva la Santísima Virgen María de Guadalupe! Que la Virgen de Guadalupe lo cubra con su Sagrado manto para que entre en el Cielo.” (“Long live Christ the King! Long live Christ the King! Long live Christ the King! Long live the Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe! May the Virgin of Guadalupe cover him with her sacred mantle so that he may enter in to Heaven.”)”
He must be smiling.
Re: “We ourselves with God’s grace can be flowers for the Immaculate Conception …”
That reality is so very wonderful and brought to mind St Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, often called “The Little Flower”.