12 November, 2005

HB-Day Duo: Not; Having A Weekend: Two Years Of A Book!

So yesturday...I had my own plans, to play JAK II on my ps2, read the 1st half of Amata Means Beloved, do the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the Rosary. WELL Everything got switched, because I knew something was supposed to be happening yesturday. (Though I did read the first half of Amata!)

What was it? It was my best friends play at CRHS she is the drama Captain actually, and played Hermia in the play. What was the play? (BACK TO ENGLISH CLASS)

William Shakespeare's
MIDSUMMERS NIGHT DREAM

Ever since my friends were 7 (ALL of them were in drama clubs and classes and did plays EVERY YEAR in school) I've attended EVERY single play they were all in, and that 3 of my friends. One of my personal favorites that I went to see at their school (Epiphany Parish & School) Was "Bandits of Black Rock" It was sooooo cool, but yesturday...out of all the plays in my whole life that I've seen, Midsummers Night Dream was the BEST EVER/YET!

So that went well, and then my brother and sister-in-law brought my newphew over today, we have him until 7 PM, right now as I type he is sleeping. He is sooooo cute! His name is Braden, we call him Brady. Hehe. AND Tomorrow he turns two months old!

Also I'd like to celebrate a book today!

TWO YEARS OF AMATA MEANS BELOVED!


When Sister Maria Amata--the former Emily Barone--enters newly-established Mater Christi Monastery, she is eager to become a spouse of Christ--to give all she is and has to God. However, Sister Maria Amata finds that living in the monastery with the other nuns radically confronts her understanding of the life itself and her own motives. Why did she really enter the monastery? Is she instead running from facing her inability to forgive the man who murdered her brother?
The possibility of acquiring a long-desired bell for the monastery catapults Sister Maria Amata into a crisis. The novice mistress challenges the young novice by appointing her as the bell ringer for the Angelus each day. She must choose to live in the ways of freedom and love if her gift to God at first profession is to be truly one of total surrender. She can no longer hold onto her anger and lack of forgiveness.

Can Sister Maria Amata overcome her fear? More importantly, will she open her heart to God's grace and forgive?

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FROM THE BOOK:

Sister Maria Amata was distracted. "Why is she crying? I wonder if Sister Mary Elaine snapped at her. She doesn't usually get upset, though. Not like I do."

The warm breeze of the June day wafted into the choir. The scent of honeysuckle was in the air. What had Sister Zita Anne told her once?

"I was married in June." Not three months later, her husband had been killed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York. His death had tested her faith.

"I thought I could never forgive the terrorists who killed my husband. I knew I had to. It was what Jesus was calling me to do. Every day was a new effort. It took time. It took a lot of help and support from others. I was so in love! Never, and I mean never, would I have thought I'd enter a cloistered monastery. Well, here I am!"

A sudden revelation crashed into Sister Maria Amata's thoughts: "That's what is so peaceful about her. She really forgives those guys."

Sister Mary Dominic intoned the Magnificat, Mary's canticle. "My soul glorifies the Lord."

Sister Maria Amata struggled to fight back the tears coming to her eyes. She looked up at the icon of Our Lady of Tenderness that was at the front of the choir. "Mother of God and my Mother, please, help to forgive the man that killed Danny. I'm trying to, but I'm not free. Show me how to let go! Help me to be truly free, to give everything I am to God."



To purchase this book that I've read 23 times, -Amata Means Beloved by Sister Mary Catharine Perry O.P A Dominican Nun of Our Lady of the Rosary Monastery- Click on this link: http://amatameansbeloved.8m.com/custom.html

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