{this moment}

Spain Trip: Sr. Mary Rose's Home!

Words....words....they cannot tell or describe the feelings and emotions that Dad and I had for these beautiful grace filled days. It was a grace that we hope all parents can experience. So enjoy the pictures...they really do speak a thousand words. 

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel below. The Home of the Mother follows the spirituality of the Carmelites. If you want to know more about that you need to read St. Teresa of Avila's works. Notice the other parents standing outside-we are getting a tour.

 This was taken at the convent in Barcinelle where we all stayed. The radio and t.v. station are also at this location. You can see the ocean (Biscay Bay) from here on a clear day.

This in the entrance to the convent in Barcinelle. Pretty rustic looking!

This is the Zurita home, the new and the old. The printing press, study/library, gardens, laundry, cooking and chickens are here. This will be Sr. Mary Rose's home for 2 years:

Mary and I, the day we arrived, also at Zurita:

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These next two pictures are in the waiting area outside the chapel. The crucifix is typically Spanish style being more realistic and bloody. All of the stone that you see comes from around the property.

Here we are all working. Saturday was work day and the BBQ Spanish style!

   

Dad got an oil filter off the tractors that the sisters tried to do several times. He had Fr. Rafael run to the store to go get the special tool that makes it happen. It is all about the tools!

Dad is happy plowing the field!

 We found something for Grandma to do: folding the magazine. I'm helping with the magazine also!

 

Behind the scene: chefs at the bbq, chefs in the kitchen, and of course Mary modeling the wonderful bread we ate that week.

Behind the scene's scene are the awesome chickens and the garden. There is nothing like fresh eggs and produce.

The most important part of everything is Christ! I have saved Him here for last, mea culpa, mea culpa....The chapel is beautiful in a very Spanish and simple way. All the building and art work is done by the sisters themselves. Sr. Karen over sees all the artwork, paintings and stained glass. It is truely amazing. As you will see each pieces give you much to meditate on.

 

JESUS!

From this picture you can see how the sisters painted on the walls. Here are some details....

The Passion.

The words from Mother Mary's mouth are, "Do whatever He tells you."

The Queen of heaven and the humble stepfather.

My favorite painting in all the homes!!

"God love us with a Madness,"

-Fr. Rafael in several of his sermons.

I hope you have enjoyed the pictures. My next post will be of Mary's entrance in the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother. Talking and looking at the pictures still brings tears to my eyes. I have not experienced anything so beautiful this side of heaven. God blessing on all.....

"Sisters, Sisters . . . There Were Never Such Devoted Sisters . . ."

Even though I have about six loads of laundry to fold and dirty dishes, I had to write this post! The kids and I watched Mary receive her habit and enter the novitiate this morning with the Servant Sisters. I could barely contain my tears and my heart barely stayed in my chest! 

The graces were flowing, you could just tell. It was so incredible to witness a person take the first step in discerning a life totally and completely lived for God. She is doing it. The habit that she received today is a sign of the life she is living. It basically says to God, "I am completely yours, do with me as you will." There is something about the habit that is striking I think. I am often taken aback with surprise and joy when I see a religious walking around in public. It makes me want to talk to them. Tell them I am Catholic too. Tell them I support what they are doing, that I agree - and I am inspired. Inspired is the key I think. With the habit they can't "escape" their life, or try to be normal and fit in. We sure can, we can blend right in. In fact, I often want to blend right in and not be noticed as a Catholic. Not have my scapular accidentally hang out over my clothes, not be seen praying the rosary, etc. It's cowardice on my part - but the religious are a living and walking proof that they live their lives truly for God. They wear their HUGE scapulars for everyone to see. What a witness. 

Mary receiving her scapular!

All day today I kept thinking about how the religious life compliments the married life. I have heard it before but today it took on a new meaning. When Mary and others join the religious life they give up a huge sacrifice. They will take a vow to remain celibate for the rest of their life. To the world this is absolutely crazy. "Why would anyone want to be celibate?!?! And for the rest of their lives??!!" they say. Understandably so, marriage is awesome.

By giving up the married life, by choosing celibacy, the religious are making a great sacrifice. Marriage is so important to God's plan that it takes years of discerning, wearing a habit, prayers after prayers and living a life radically different than that of the world. This is the religious life and this is their sacrifice. It complements marriage by simply giving it up. It is a hard thing to do. Yes, I'm sure they long for children, for the companionship of a spouse and all the wonderful things about marriage and living in the world - but as a religious Christ is their spouse and they are married to the Church. What a perfect spouse to have! I am a bit jealous because as a Sister they can truly say this prayer and make it their own:

"I am my beloved's, and his desire is for me. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the fields,
and lodge in the villages, let us go out early to the vineyards, and see whether the vines have budded, whether the grape blossoms have opened and the pomegranates are in bloom. There I will give you my love. The mandrakes give forth fragrance, and over our doors are all choice fruits, new as well as old, which I have laid up for you, O my beloved."

- Song of Solomon 7: 10 -13

At the end of the procession the sisters came back to the Church to say hi to their families on the webcam. Each of the sisters said something different - but what was the same about all of them was their joy! They were beaming from ear to ear. The joy was almost contagious, I couldn't hold back my smile that's for sure! 

Thank you Sisters, especially our very own Sister Mary for the witness you have given to all of us!

Excuse the poor quality - but can't you tell she is beaming?! She is saying hello to all her friends and family - telling us she is praying for us all!

I wanted to add a quick note here - Mary is still discerning the religious life. This means that she does not profess her final vows for five more years. She can discern this is not her vocation - and we completely support her in that. Our excitement is simply because she has chosen to discern - taken the leap. It's a big step because not many people do it! We support her 100% in her discernment period, no matter the outcome. Please remember to keep her in your prayers because discernment isn't easy!

"The virgin's heart must be far more generous in its love than even the heart of the married; it must be inebriated by that supernatural love which destroys all selfishness...The closer a soul is united to God, Who is Love, the more it loves. Surely the bride of Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father, wedded as she is to Love Incarnate, must exceed all in love. We know now why consecrated virginity represents the most exalted state on earth: because it involves a marriage in the strictest sense with Christ; and because it is not only the state of greatest purity, but the state of greatest love. The vocation of Christ's bride is simple--to love."

                            - Dietrich von Hildebrand

Now for your viewing pleasure!

Make sure to read Clare's reflection on Mary joining the religious life here:

One Habit we Hope she Doesn't Break!

 If you want to see some pictures of Mary as a baby check this post out:

Sweet Mary Rose. . . 

One Habit we Hope she Doesn't Break!

Tomorrow afternoon (our time) Mary will be entering the novitiate and receiving her habit with the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother in Valencia, Spain. This begins a 2 year journey of prayer, study, and service with the sisters, until she comes up for her first vows. With this habit we can now call her Sister Mary! This is a monumental moment in her life as well as in the lives of her family and friends. I wonder what it would be like or feel like to take on a religious habit? Physically taking the robe of Christ for all to see and living a sacrificial life of study and service. Seeking His Love in such a selfless way. I can't help but feel so overwhelmingly happy for her, so proud she is my sister and so inspired to see so young a person give herself to God through this bold path.

During Mary's last months here in Jacksonville I got to spend as much time with her as her busy schedule allowed. And it is something I will cherish forever. This was the first time that we got to spend together as adults. Being one of the oldest of a large family, I moved away from home with a lot of younger siblings still very young and I never thought I would would miss seeing them grow up. But I have. And I was so glad I got to reconnect with Mary before she left. We had so many great conversations about life, God, old memories, what a holy family looks like, the spiritual life, the religious life, her future and so much more. I remember she told me that she was relieved when I was discerning the religious life because it meant that SHE was off the hook. She said, "Okay good, Clare will be the nun in the family and I won't have to". Isn't that too funny? God's ways are not our ways, thanks goodness! One conversation we had that really spoke to me was how necessary it is to see our faults and weaknesses for what they really are not as we see them but as God sees them. And how necessary for spiritual growth that we ask God to show us our souls with His eyes, so we many better ourselves according to His ways. How profound and yet simple this idea is, something I need to do in my own life. Mary also recommended a book she had read called 'The Spiritual Battle' not sure who it's by though. It's on my to-read-list. In one of our last conversations she was telling me about all the things she did in preparing for Spain, clean out house, pack, close bank account, cancel facebook and varies other things. She said she felt she was preparing for her death and yet she was!!! She is dying to herself so Christ may live in her. I couldn't stop my eyes from getting misty and I felt a warm flutter in my heart as I thought, 'My baby sister is all grown up and how beautiful she is, Praise be to Christ!'

Thank you, Mary for the example you have given and continue to give. May Our Heavenly Father and Our Holy Mother always give you the strength and courage to die to self so that Christ might shine through you in your new life. We will be praying for you and all the other candidates as you enter the novitiate and receive your habits. We love you so much.

Mary and Adeline meet!

 Addy grabbed Mary's crucifix when she first held her,

 and wouldn't let go.

Addy's baptism, Mary is Addy's godmother.

Mary came to visit us while we were living in Pensacola last year June.

Our final visit them Mary before leaving for Spain.

Adeline loves her godmummy.

We love you so much Mary! Can't to see you.

Sweet Mary Rose . . .

When Mom was here she gave me a few old pictures of Mary to share with everyone. Clare is also going to post something about Mary, but first, look how cute she is!

To me, Mary was the sweetest sister you could have. She was my friend in the animal loving department! There was a point where Clare and Fran decided to room together because Mary and I wanted animals in our room. - rats! We loved them. At one point they had many little babies who would crawl all over our room because the cage wire was too large to hold them in. They even crawled on us while we slept! Mary and I loved it, they were our babies! It was a fun year rooming and bonding with her.

Now she is in Spain and will be there for the next  two years. Sad and joyous at the same time! In a week she will be entering the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother. She has been VERY busy leading up to this, which explains why we have not heard from her on the blog. Mom, Dad and Grandma are on their way this very moment to spend the week in Spain and see her join the sisters as a novice. She's getting her habit! We are STOKED! (If you couldn't tell!) 

Mom sent me the information in order to watch her entrance! If you are interested in watching here are the details:

The date: Monday, July 16th at NOON! (Easter time I believe, I will make sure to get confirmation on this)

You can watch it here: http://www.homeofthemother.org/webcam

There will be reminders via facebook and the blog. Hopefully there is a recording we can put up as well. It's about the best way we can participate being so far away. Please remember to pray for her as she enters the sisters, as she will pray for you too!

If you have any special intentions for Mom and Dad while they visit shrines in Spain and Rome, please email them to: jrgallaherfamily at gmail dot com. 

Mary is the little one in the picture with a box boat. So happy and sweet!

"My whole strength lies in prayer and sacrifice, these are my invincible arms; they can move hearts far better than words, I know it by experience."

- St. Therese of the Child Jesus

My first week in Spain!

Hello everyone,

I haven't even been here in Spain for a week yet and it feels like Iv'e been here for a month. We have done many things this last week. Yesterday some of the candidates and novices, me included, went on pilgrimage with people who are visiting us from down south, to a monastery in the mountains that has the largest piece of the true cross, we got to venerate it! It was so great! We then went to a place where we could go up on top of the peaks of Europe in a type of sky train! I went! Besides being expensive, It was so amazing! I was very nervous to go at first because you are pretty much being suspended through the air in a small car type thing which hangs from two cables, nothing else is around you and let me just tell you, we weren't going to the highest peak but, the peaks of Europe are very tall!!! When we got up there, it was like nothing else, we could see so so far and everything was so tiny! I saw more of the magnificence of God! He is so awesome!

Anyway, I could tell you lots more but I must go very soon! I wanted to tell you all though that you can watch the Mass that we are having tonight and you will be able to see me there! If you want, here is the web address: www.homeofthemother.org/webcam

I think the mass will show at 2pm ET.  Make sure to put on the translation for the homily and make sure you have good internet connection. If there is a commercial, just wait it will end shortly!

I love you all and I hope you can watch it and see my little family here in Spain! If you do watch it, you will probably see our visitors here from Seville Spain(all the older people)

Ok gotta go. God Bless

Priego, Spain!

Today I was attempting to look up directions for Mom and Dad for their trip to Spain, it was very unsuccessful for many reasons. But don't worry Mom, it will all workout in the end.

While I was looking I did find some beautiful pictures of the place where the entrance will be in Spain. It will be in Priego, Spain. The place where we are staying is a 17th or 18th century monastery, very beautiful, poor and really fun to explore in! I didn't find any photos of that but I did find photos of the beautiful church in town that the ceremony will take place in, here they are:

The main Altar with the beautiful Spanish art!

The town of Priego and surrounding valley, do you see the church steeple?

A closer view of the church.

Under the Florida Sun!



We have three large pots and one tomato plant in the small pot to the right.

About a month ago, the other candidates and I started our little garden with the help of Caroline's(a candidate) mom, she gave us everything! I thought you all would enjoy seeing these pictures.


One of the many squash flowers, I am actually not sure what type of squash it is we will have to see when it grows some more!

Basil, we love the fresh basil! We just pick a couple leaves and add it to the spaghetti sauce and it addes so much delicious flavor! It grows so fast and easy!

Our miraculous cucumbers! We thought that it had died becuase of one of the many torrential downpours we often have here in Florida, but after a couple days of sickness it sprouted up again very alive and vibrant! You can see the little baby cucumbers growing at the end of the flower!

Chives! (I think), I thought that chives had little purple flower at the top of them and ours don't so now I doubt that they are chives, maybe they are just little green onions which I can never tell the difference betweent the two anyway, so I don't really know but they are growing quite well despite the fact that they also almost died in the torrential downpour. Behind the chives you can see our other basil plants and the beautiful Florida sun, constantly shining down very brightly!

The little baby tomatoes! You should have seen me when I saw these after a couple days of not being at the house, I was ecstatic! I am very enthusiastic about this garden(more than any of the other girls, I might have an obsession), but it just brings me a lot of joy to see things grow!

Italian parsely!

I was having fun taking these photos, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

I love you and I am praying for you all!

WeEkLy ThOuGhTs

So, last week Sarah inspired me to write at least every week some thoughts or a quick story, so here it goes. I am going to call it the above title: WeEkLy ThOuGhTs

I am now reading a book called The Spiritual Combat and a Treatise on Peace of Soul by Dom Lorenzo Scupoli. Its an amazing read for anyone interested in really getting holy!

A section that I read last week really made me think and I would love to share it with you all especially considering that you all live your Christian lives in the world, for me its a little more laid out what I have to do to reach holiness(which we all should be striving towards in our everyday life) sorry guys its a little more difficult for you. But Animo!(thats what we say in spanish, literally it means "take courage", "Be animated", but it kinda just means come on, don't lose hope, haha is hard to explain in english) there are a lot of really awesome married and single Saints out there to take as examples of great holiness.

Here is the quote, I will let it speak for itself:

THOSE WHO ARE COGNIZANT of the diseased character of their souls and desire to cure them are often deluded by the devil. He endeavors to persuade them that they have a long time to live, and consequently may safely defer their conversion.

He insinuates the impression that some business affair or difficulty must be cleared up before they can devote themselves sufficiently to the spiritual life and fulfill its duties without disturbance. This snare has entangled and daily does entangle many. But its success is directly attributable to their own supine neglect of a matter in which the glory of God and their own salvation should be the only considerations.

Let persons of this type say: "Now! Now!" instead of "Tomorrow! Tomorrow!" Why tomorrow? How can I be sure of living until it comes? And even if I were, would I really be trying to save my soul if I delayed my repentance? Would it look as though I sought victory if I exposed myself to fresh wounds?

Lets strive to be good Christians now and not wait till later to perfect ourselves like so many do under the influence of the devil.

I love you all and I am praying for you daily!