Jeez Louise

 Word of the day: holy, hallowed be thy name! Last night, We walked to a church built in the 10th century! It is known as a place of healing. During the Black Plague, residents of Manresa flocked there for healing!                            La Salut, good health! I I only wish this good health could be extended to my great nephew.  Today, I received news that 2 year old Artemis will be taken off life support due to brain damage.  Times like this, I wonder about a “Just” God. It makes no sense why innocent children die.  No words can provide the comfort needed in times like these.   May God bless Artemis’s soul, and may his family be given the strength to get through this most difficult time

Word for the day:  Journey: the act of traveling PILGRIMAGE: Description A pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good, through the experience. It can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life.  Wikipedia Well, I would call this experience a journey, rather than a pilgrimage!  I do not feel a spiritual transformation, but success in that I accomplished this feat.  We traveled from Montserrat to Manresa, 25 km, a grueling trek.  There were many experiences of the divine along the way.               Sunrise at Montserrat                   In the plaza of the basilica  Readying for our final walk!  Our pilgrim song:            “We are pilgrims on a journey”   “we’re companions on the road” (Kathy and me)         “We are called to help each other”                 “Walk the mile”                   “And share the load” W

 Words for the day: In this sacred place! Montserrat is truly a holy, sacred and awe inspiring place, In the last week of this Ignatius Spirituality journey! The focus is on resurrection and LIGHT!   So, here is St Ignatius at Montserrat. He made the journey here, from Loyola, because he wanted to have a new life, closer to God.  So, it was here, that he gave up his sword, and placed it before Mary.  It was here that he gave up his life as a nobleman and soldier.  It was here that he committed himself to God.  And it is here, that we are asked to lay down something, physical or spiritual, at the feet of Mary.                Abbot Cisneros lived from 1455-1510.  St Ignatius was only at Montserrat for 3 days, because that was the limited time pilgrims could stay.  But during those 3 days, he studied the spirituality of Abbot Cisneros, “As one of the early Spanish mystics, he was a pioneer in the use of meditative techniques, having been influenced both by the methodical prayers of the  D

 2nd word for the day:  Gratitude.  I am so grateful for all the gifts I have received throughout my life.  Right now, I am asking all of you to pray for my 2 year old great nephew, Artemis!  He is currently receiving a liver transplant, and will be in surgery for 8 hours!  I never quite know how or why God puts such difficult obstacles in life.  How can a just God let little children suffer?  One of my many questions!  Probably won’t be answered on this Camino.   On the roads of life, we often don’t know where they end! We can view beautiful vistas, and wonder at the exam set of God’s kingdom!  Thy kingdom come! And through it all, we must believe in the rock of our foundation.  I believe my creator is that rock!            May God’s peace and love be with you today!

 Words of the day:  ON THE ROAD AGAIN https://youtu.be/dBN86y30Ufc Nothing like Willie Nelson to get me going!                On  the road again Just can't wait to get on the road again The life I love is making music with my friends And I can't wait to get on the road again! Only an  18km today, from Jorba to Montserrat 🇲🇸.  A lovely walk staring at those amazing mountains! How can you not see God or our creator here, in this place!                      Pilgrims on the road!                     We made it to Montserrat!!!!! Today we talked about the Transfiguration of Jesus. I had to think back to my Baltimore Catechism. “Transfiguration, in the New Testament, the occasion upon which Jesus Christ took three of his disciples, Peter, James, and John, up on a mountain, where Moses and Elijah appeared and Jesus was transfigured, his face and clothes becoming dazzlingly bright.” https://www.britannica.com  › topic If you look at yesterday’s blog, you will see I was a day ahead of

 Words of the day:  Dawn: the 1st appearance of light in the sky OR the beginning of a phenomenon.               Resurrection: the rising of Christ or the rising at last judgement.    We began our walk in the dark, and watched the sun/son rise.  A beautiful meditation on the      resurrection.   Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.  Isiaiah 58.    May the dawn break and the shadows flee away!   Resurrection, still remains a question for me.  I do believe that we all eventually go to heaven, or some sort of afterlife.  How can I not believe in resurrection, when my mom is with me every day.  Numerous colorful butterflies 🦋 today guiding me and encouraging me to complete the 30 km walk. So, if my mom comes to me daily in the form of a small butterfly 🦋, then it only makes sense that Jesus, too, presented himself to his disciples in some way! A

Word for the day: Creation:  the process of bringing something into existence.  So, no matter YOUR creation  story; you have to appreciate this one.  We stopped in a 12th century church in Tarrega, walking from Verdu.  Many of the churches were burned down or nearly lost during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930’s.    When this one was rebuilt, some artists painted the whole Bible stories.  So, here goes: And God made the world in 7 days! To the right  is the 🍎 tree, but the railing is blocking Adam and Eve. If you look closely to the right, you can see Cain being banished after killing Abel.  To the left is Noah’s Ark and notice the rainbow and the animals! To the right is Abraham’s sacrifice of his son, and lamb To the left, I believe, is the tribes of Israel wandering in the desert. Next is the burning bush (right), when Moses discovered the 10 commandments.  And the left is the parting of the Red Sea. And then the story turns to the New Testament.  The 3 horses on the right represe

   Word for the day: EARTH:  the world, the substance of the land, Yesterday, we walked through the farmlands of Spain.  It was a meditation on my days on our dairy farm in Homedale, Idaho.  The poignant smells of manure, silage, the harvest.  My parents were hard workers, who sacrificed their lives for their children.  My dad farmed until 96, and is still going strong.  My mom died last year at 92, and this walk is one to learn more about her abiding faith and commitment to the Catholic Church.   Mom loved butterflies and her ministry included sending magnet butterflies 🦋 to families when they lost a loved one.  Mom has been with me in spirit, and I receive her encouragement and love nearly every day when one or more butterflies walk beside me on my journey! (Except of course in winter).   Our espresso machine at the hotel yesterday, had 4 spigots. As the cafe con leche poured out, my first thought was of getting up in the mornings and placing the suction cups on the udders of the co