Three

The number three seems to be showing up a lot of places in my life lately. The Feast of the Most Holy Trinity had me thinking about our triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In March (the third month) we became a family of three. Peter is three months old now (how did that happen?), and today Michael and I celebrate three years of marriage. Three years as husband and wife. Three years of God's grace poured upon us in this beautiful sacrament.

{WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY BY A THOUSAND WORDS PHOTOGRAPHY}

The Gospel reading at our wedding Mass was from John:

Jesus said to his disciples:
"As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
       just as I have kept my Father's commandments
       and remain in his love.

I have told you this so that my joy might be in you
       and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you."

{John 15:9-12}

The way He loves is the way we are called to love. And Jesus gives us this commandment that we may receive His joy - not the joy of this world, but an eternal joy. A joy like no other.

Michael, our joy became a little more complete in this third year as husband and wife. I pray we will continue to grow in joy for the rest of our lives together. Today I renew my commitment to always strive to love you as God loved His Son, and as Jesus loves us. Thank you for loving me even when I fail to do that, and for being so quick to forgive. I am forever grateful you chose me to be your bride.

Happy Anniversary. I love you more than I can say.

  P.S. Just for fun: our two year anniversary post // our love story

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Two Years as One

June sixteenth, two thousand twelve was the happiest day of my life. 

Two years ago today I made a vow. I made a vow to Michael and to God that I would be true to my husband in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I vowed to love him and honor him all the days of my life. 

That's quite a promise to make, especially in the broken world we live in today. Thankfully though, I married a man who, with me, is striving (and failing and striving again) not to live for this world, but for the next. As a married couple we try to lead one another towards heaven. We encourage one another to become more and more the man and woman - the husband and wife - that God calls us to be. Marriage is our vocation, which means "a call." We believe we were called by God to be a living example of His love for the world. We can only do this by God's grace, and heaven knows we mess up (a lot). We are far from perfect; we have so much to learn. But what a gift to be united as one in marriage with my one true love and my very best friend. Thank you, Lord.

Thank you for the most wonderful two years, Michael. Thank you for being my husband, and thank you for choosing me as your bride. I can't wait to see what God has planned for us.

{ALL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY BY A THOUSAND WORDS PHOTOGRAPHY}

Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one Body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, 
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, 
giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

                        {Colossians 3:12-17} - the second reading at our wedding ceremony, 6.16.12

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Father's Day {with a child in heaven}

First I want to wish a very happy Father's Day to my dad and my father-in-law! I count myself so, so blessed to have such an amazing dad. He has always made sure I know I have his endless love and support, and that is a true gift. I also must say just how much I adore my father-in-law. Really. I am a lucky girl.

Today I am also wishing my husband a blessed Father's Day.

Goodness, how I love this man. 

We never imagined our first baby would be in heaven for our first Father's/Mother's Days, but nevertheless, that's where our sweet Thomas Gianna is. At home with our Heavenly Father. Thomas Gianna, pray for us.

Speaking from our experience, the father has a difficult role in the event of a miscarriage, a role I think is often overlooked and undervalued. While the father does not have the physical burden to bear, this is no reason to discount his experience. The reality is, we had a miscarriage. We lost our child. Miscarriage was traumatic not only for me, but us.

Michael has told me how unbelievably helpless he felt throughout the whole experience. Wanting to make it stop, to bring me some relief, to do something - anything.

But I have something to tell you: He may have felt helpless, but he was heroic. Michael never left my side. He jumped at every opportunity to serve me. He prayed for me. He fought for me. He was patient - so, so patient. He held me in our suffering. He was the hands and feet of Christ. He loved me in the bad times, as he does in the good. He loved me in sickness, as he does in health. I would not have made it through that experience without my husband, who is a wonderful father.

Michael, thank you. There is no one else I would rather have as the father of our children. I am praying God blesses you in a special way this day.

Lord, please bless all fathers. Bless those who yearn to be fathers. Bless our spiritual fathers.
And thank you, Our Father, for loving us so very much. Amen.

7 Quick Takes {no. 20}

Happy Friday! Here are my quick takes (with Theme Thursday in take no. 5!):

{1}
Today is the feast of St. Anthony. I found this quotation of his this morning, and thought I would share it here:

St. Anthony's words ring truer than ever in today's world. How often external noise - noise that comes in many forms - distracts me from seeing the face of our Lord Jesus. St. Anthony, pray for us. 

{2}

I had an NYC first (and hopefully last) this week, friends: I was hit by a biker. My guardian angel must have been watching over me because somehow I didn't even fall down and the biker didn't fall off his bike. My hand got scratched up from his handlebars and I have a big ugly bruise/goose egg on my calf, but it could have been so much worse. Moral of the story: always double check that no one is coming, even when you have the right of way to cross the street. Oof.

{3}

On Wednesday my 5 favorites were about my favorite flower. I know there's been a lot of peony-love around this place lately, but I just can't help but share this picture with you:

God's creation is glorious.

{4}

Did you see this awesome post by Meg with 100 ideas for serving your church? It's a great read, and gave me a lot to think & pray about as I examine how I am serving the church in this season of life.

{5}

When I heard Cari's Theme Thursday yesterday was old-fashioned, something immediately jumped to mind: When Michael & I first moved to NYC we were engaged, but not married. We were living in different parts of town; Michael lived in Manhattan, near Columbia, and I lived in Astoria. I remember so many people being (very) surprised that we weren't living together. I'll never forget when one person said, "Wow! That's so old-fashioned!" He paused before continuing, "I like it!" Yes! Me too. Would it have been more convenient or cheaper to share an apartment, or less annoying than commuting a total of two hours a day to see each other? Yes. If I could go back, would I change what we did? No way. I wish that our choice to wait wasn't thought of as old-fashioned. I wish everyone could see the beauty of waiting for marriage to live with one another.

#proudtobeoldfashioned
{photo by A Thousand Words Photography}

The joy of marriage: completely worth the wait!

{6}
Speaking of marriage...Monday is Michael's & my two-year anniversary. Stop back then for a special post...if you like that sorta thing. :)

{7}

I'm fresh out of takes, my friends. It's a little quiet around here these days without my love. Counting down the days to seeing him again!

Linking up these quick takes with our guest hostess with the mostess (and that she is), the birthday gal, Kathryn at Team Whitaker!

Have a beautiful weekend!

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St. Gianna Novena {Day 3}& the Vocation of Marriage

On Sunday we started a novena to ask St. Gianna Beretta Molla, patron saint of mothers, unborn children, and physicians, to pray for us. We will finish the novena on St. Gianna's feast day, Monday, April 28th. If you missed any of the other days of prayer, no worries! I'd love for you to join us in prayer today. {For a little history behind the novena prayer see Sunday's post.} 

Yesterday I shared a little about St. Gianna's youth. Picking up where I left off...

In 1942, Gianna began her medical studies, specializing in pediatrics. Upon completing her studies, Gianna considered moving to Brazil to be with her brother who was there serving as a missionary priest. She soon discerned, however, to stay in Italy and open her own medical clinic. 

At a Catholic Action Mass in December 1954, Gianna met a man named Pietro Molla. They quickly became close friends, and just over four months later they were engaged. Gianna Beretta and Pietro Molla were married in September 1955 by Gianna's brother, Fr. Giuseppe. In reading about Gianna's life, I found the following story about their wedding ceremony: 

Gianna was dressed in a white satin gown with a tulle veil pinned at the nape of her neck. As Gianna began to walk down the aisle on the arm of her brother Ferdinando, everyone in the church was struck by her beauty and expressed their admiration with an applause that broke out through the quiet of the church. Gianna walking down the aisle tuned with her big wide-open eyes surprised at the response from her friends and family. 

Gianna and Pietro knelt together and promised to remain united to each other forever with the words of the vows of the Sacrament of Matrimony. They would soon show that the oath of love they made on that day would be stronger than any adversary, stronger even than death. 

Pietro later wrote Gianna:
“The memory returns of that sudden outburst of applause that began upon your entrance to the church that lasted until you reached the altar. Your brother, Giuseppe, who Saint [sic] our union, exhorted us to give witness to the Gospel and to holiness.” 

The happy couple took an extended honeymoon to Rome and all over Italy and Europe. Pietro wrote in a letter a few weeks after the wedding: 
“Her holy virtue, the gentle goodness and affection of Gianna, all her cares, give me the full joy and serenity which I asked of Jesus on my wedding day. With Gianna I am sure of forming a truly Christian family on which she will know how to draw the most beautiful heavenly graces… 

{source} 

Pietro & Gianna Molla on their wedding day
{source}

What a beautiful witness to the true vocation of marriage. A Catholic marriage is more than just a social or legal union; Catholic marriage is a response to a call from God. And those of us who have answered that call have a great responsibility: to love our spouse as the Lord first loved us, and to grow in holiness by God's grace in this often challenging and ultimately rewarding sacrament.

For our intention today, let's pray for all those who are still discerning their vocations, that they might be open to wherever God is leading them. I pray for all women & men who are called to the vocation of marriage, and for married couples, that like Gianna & Pietro we might "give witness to the Gospel and to holiness" in the way we live and love. And as always, we lift up each other's personal intentions for this novena (feel free to share yours in the comments).

Please pray with me:

God, our Father, You have granted to Your church the gift of Gianna Beretta Molla. In her youth she lovingly sought You and drew other young people to You, involving them, through apostolic witness and Catholic Action, in the care of the sick and aged, to help and comfort them.

We thank You for the gift of this young woman, so deeply committed to You. Through her example grant us the grace to consecrate our lives to Your service, for the joy of our brothers and sisters. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

Jesus, Redeemer of mankind, You called Saint Gianna to exercise the medical profession as a mission for the comfort of bodies and souls. In her suffering fellow men and in the little ones, deprived of all support, she saw You. 

We thank You for having revealed Yourself to this servant as “one who serves” and who soothes the sufferings of men. Treasuring her example may we become generous Christians at the service of our brothers and sisters, especially those with whom You deign to share Your Cross.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

God, Sanctifying Spirit, who love the Church as Your Bride, You poured into the heart of Saint Gianna a share of Your Love so that she could radiate it in her family, and thus cooperate with You in the wonderful plan of creation, and give life to new children who could know and love You.
We thank You for this model wife and, through her encouraging witness, we beg You to grant to our families the serene and Christian presence of mothers committed to transform their homes into cenacles of faith and love, rich with generous activity and sanctifying service.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

O God, Creator and lover of mankind, You were close to Saint Gianna when, affected by illness, she was in the painful dilemma of choosing between her own life and the life of the child whom she was carrying in herself, a gift long-awaited. Trusting You alone, and aware of Your Commandment to respect human life, Gianna found the courage to do her duty as a mother and to say “yes” to the new life of her baby, generously sacrificing her own. Through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Jesus, and after the example of Gianna, inspire all mothers to welcome with love the sparkle of new life. Grant us the grace we are praying for {say your intentions} and the joy to find an inspiration in Saint Gianna who, as a model spouse and mother, after the example of Christ, gave up her life for the life of others. 

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

{novena source}

•     •     •

I'm so glad you stopped by to pray with me. I hope you'll come back tomorrow for day four of the novena, and five of my favorite St. Gianna quotations!

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