Virtues are formed by prayer.
Prayer preserves temperance.
Prayer suppresses anger.
Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy.
Prayer draws into the soul the Holy spirit, and raises man to Heaven.
Saint Ephraim of Syria quote:
Reply
Book Signings for book entitled TEARS
Last Sunday, at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine, I had a book signing between the liturgies and before the St. Nicholas Party. Everyone was generous and kind in their support and comments. Gratefully I sold many copies and may God be glorified.
On Friday, December 21, there will be another book signing at
Salem Storehouse on Merivale Road, Ottawa
at 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
If you are in the area, I would love to see you and share some time with you.
Blessings, Gloria
Fr. Clement Sheptytsky Prayer
Fr. Clement Sheptytsky was the brother of the late Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky. His prayer was passed to me in 1967 and I have prayed this prayer everyday since then. I love it as it covers my daily needs and it teaches me as I pray the words. When I embrace and meditate on the words, I feel strengthened in my faith and understanding and love for God. I am grateful for this prayer. May you also be blessed when you pray the following words:
Lord, grant that I may meet the coming day with spiritual tranquility.
Grant that in all things I may rely upon your holy will.
In each hour of the day, reveal your will to me.
Whatever news may reach me this day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul, knowing that all is subject to your holy will.
Direct my thoughts and feelings in all my words and actions.
In all unexpected occurrences, do not let me forget that all is sent down by you.
Grant that I may deal firmly and wisely with every member of my family and all who are in my care, neither embarrassing nor saddening anyone.
Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring.
Direct my will and teach me to pray, to believe, to hope, to be patient, to forgive, and to love.
Amen
Book: TEARS
Glory to God! My book, TEARS, has reached #1 in the category of spirituality on amazon.com.
New Posting on For His Glory blogsite:
Today I have added a new posting on my blogsite For His Glory (click on it on the right side of this page) about a special member of my family, my late father, Nykola Romaniuk, who passed from this earth on October 7, 1991. He is still missed.
I have written about a treasure that he has left with me and now it flows through our family. Hope you enjoy it!
Book reviews welcome re TEARS
If you have read my book TEARS: Healing after 18 Years of Grieving, if you enjoyed it and felt that you received something from it, would you please go to amazon.ca or amazon.com and provide a review. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
M E D I A R E L E A S E from Catholic Writers Guild
I am a member of CWG and this is release regarding a conference next month. Wish I could go! Sigh!
Any writers interested in joining the CWG? I am so glad I joined. They are a great group of dedicated writers, authors and bloggers who share their interests and encouragements with each other. I have learned much since joining.
| CONTACT: | Ann Margaret Lewis
Phone: (317) 755-2693 e-mail: cwglivecon@catholicwritersguild.com
|
For Immediate Release
Catholic Writers to Hold Conference in Arlington, Texas
Arlington, TX–The fourth annual Catholic Writers’ Conference LIVE will take place August 29-31, 2012, at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington, TX. Sponsored by the Catholic Writer’s Guild and the Catholic Marketing Network (CMN), and held in conjunction with CMN’s annual retailer trade show, the Catholic Writers Conference LIVE provides Catholic authors with a prime opportunity to meet and share their faith with editors, publishers, fellow writers, and bookstore owners from across the globe.
The conference will offer “pitch sessions,” allowing authors an opportunity to meet personally with publishing professionals and pitch their writing projects. In addition, attendees have the opportunity to sign up for critique with professional editors and writers. Some participating publishers are Ignatius Press, Ave Maria Press, Christus Publishing, Tuscany Press, Ascension Press and Servant Books. Information for this event can be found on the conference web site.
This year’s conference will focus on “Writing and the New Evangelization.” Speakers include EWTN personalities Teresa Tomeo and Father Andrew Apostoli, CFR, authors Ellen Hrkach (In NAME ONLY) and Patti Armstrong (STORIES FOR THE HOMESCHOOL HEART), Ann Margaret Lewis (MURDER IN THE VATICAN: THE CHURCH MYSTERIES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES), and author and blogger Sarah Reinhard (A CATHOLIC MOTHER’S COMPANION TO PREGNANCY: WALKING WITH MARY FROM CONCEPTION TO BAPTISM). More excellent speakers are still being confirmed.
In partnership with the Catholic New Media Conference, also taking place in the convention center, conference attendees will be able to attend a special track on blogging for $25. Information on this opportunity will be made to attendees upon registration.
“It’s not just writing, it’s not just fellowship, it’s inspiration, too!” says 2011 Conference presenter Sarah Reinhard. “It was great to share the Eucharist and evening meals in person with writers who inspire me, encourage me, and motivate me the rest of the year.”
The Catholic Writers Guild, a religious non-profit organization affiliated with the Archdiocese of Indianapolis sponsors both this live conference in August and an online conference in February to further its mission of promoting Catholic literature. Says CWG President Ann Lewis, “These events are integral to our mission of ‘creating a rebirth of Catholic arts and letters.”
Registration costs $70 for CWG members, $75 for non-members and $40 for students. There’s also a discounted combined membership. To register or for more information, go to http://www.catholicwritersconference.com.
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Graphics, interviews and further information available upon request.
Hospitality
When I was growing up, my family was well known as good “hospodar,” that is they were ready at the drop of a hat to offer a meal and smiles and accommodation to whoever came to our home. My father would happily welcome everyone to come in and begin to offer them some food and drink. My mother was well known to have a full meal for a car full of people within 15 or so minutes. I often was so in awe at her skill of impromptu meal preparation and I would ask myself, “Where on earth did she have all this food?” They were both good examples for me.
I still am learning how to be a good “hospoda/hostess” and how to have meals ready in as little time as possible. Today, I have an advantage in that a large well stocked freezer helps me to do what seems impossible.
I would ask, “Mom, how did you do it?” She would reply that when she was in prayer in the early part of her day, she had a sense to do certain food preparations, and was not consciously knowing that “company’s coming!” Now that I am older and benefiting from her wisdom, I too have had experiences of the urges to do volume cooking and before the end of the day, I end up with many friendly faces around our dining room table.
God is so good! He wants us to be ready. Whether we provide food for another’s body or another’s soul, we need to be ready! One of the best ways of being prepared for this is to be in prayer.
In Scripture it says, “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2)
The encouragement in scriptures to offer hospitality are:
Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Romans 12:13)
And
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2)
And
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (1 Peter 4:9)
And
We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. (3 John 1:8)
We are to build the Kingdom of God with one another and offering hospitality is part of God’s direction for us. Lord, teach me how to be ready to offer hospitality and treat each guest as if it were You visiting our home.
But I must not stop at being hospitable only in my own home. I must also be hospitable everywhere I go, especially at Church.
I need to remind myself to be ready to welcome new people to our parish, to offer assistance to the elderly and new parents, to smile at everyone. Sometimes this is work for me. Some days I am tired and smiling is work. Some days, I need smiles too! After the Divine Liturgy we usually go for refreshments and visiting with everyone. Part of my hospitality could be a “listening ear” or an encouraging word for the altar server or deacon. When I pray and ask the Lord to help me to be sensitive and aware of who He wants me to be with and “love” them with the graces of hospitality, I am always surprised who He will have me spend time with. I am doubly blessed by the company of the other person and God’s encouragement for me to grow in my faith and understanding of His call on my life; to be available to know, love and serve Him through everyone He puts in my path. Glory to God!
God’s direction in Scriptures is clear about hospitality. This is an amazing tool to build His Kingdom, under His direction. Another word for this beautiful grace is “evangelization!”
Lord may I become a good hostess whether in my home or Church or anywhere I am, by Your graces and mercies. Lord, I know that You love me. Lord, grant me a teachable heart!
Copyright © 2012 Gloria Winn, all rights reserved.
TEARS, now available
My new book TEARS is now available at Salem Storehouse, Merivale Road, Ottawa for $7.99 It is my story about healing from grieving for 18 years. It is also available on Amazon.com. It is also available on Amazon.ca and available as a soft cover and e-kindle version.
Also, please check out my website gloriawinn.com and click on my three blogs: For His Glory, Small Things with Great Love, and Who Am I? God’s!
Destiny
What does it mean to me that I have a destiny? This question causes many reactions in me.
The words cause me to reflect upon me, my faith, my desires, my hopes, my plans, my control, my resistance to someone else being in charge of my life.
Regarding my faith, I do believe in God, the Holy Trinity; the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. I like to check out my faith with the teachings of the church (holy tradition) and with scripture. The church uses scriptures and holy tradition for its benchmark.
The church teaches that all God’s children are to “know, love and serve” Him. Also that He has created me and all His children and it is His nature to love us. In His loving us, He provides what we need to be close to Him.
I believe that, when God thought about me, He created me, before I was placed in my mother’s womb. He had already set a plan for my life. That plan includes my relationship with Him. His plan includes His care and provision.
Psalm 139:13-16
For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;[b]
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
Jeremiah 29: 11-14a
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
I will be found by you,” declares the Lord….
I am destined to be God’s child. I feel safe with this awareness. I believe that I am being created to “know, love and serve” Him. I am a person with self-will that pulls me away from God. Only when I have surrendered my will in each moment and decision of my life am I truly fulfilling my destiny. My destiny, your destiny, is to be molded into being an icon of Christ, to be Christ for each other, and to be community for His glory. God does not force all this on me, or you, but He woos us and loves us into the Life that He has planned.
Copyright © 2012 Gloria Winn, all rights reserved.