A World Map Means A Lot

On my way to British Columbia, I was interested in looking at a world map from a magazine on the plane and all its complexities, intricacies and dimensions. I love learning about different countries and cultures and seeing it all visually. I have been teaching and informing my students about various countries and continents and the interesting facts and information that go along with it. I am happy and grateful to showcase one of my passions in my tutoring sessions.

One of my personal goals was to memorize a world map, and try my best first to label what I already know. I think I got a good amount accurate more or less, but I obviously need more practice with South East Asia, South America and Africa. :)

Labeling an unlabeled map, I realize how large Canada really is. After traveling to Vancouver, I was able to see what it's really like. The natural beauty, the greenery, the majestic mountains, the city life, and the peaceful waters. How grateful I am to experience another part of North America, a place I've been interested in seeing for some time. Traveling gives you another perspective, outlook, and appreciation regarding the place you're visiting as well as back home. I'm happy to be back home, but I very much enjoyed Vancouver, British Columbia. My unique bracelet and some sea shells from this beach bring me back and make me appreciative and thankful.

A Long Lost Friend

As of recently, I have found and met a new friend. It was unexpected as most friendships usually are. I met her about 10 years ago initially, but didn't think much of it. It was 10 years ago that I was introduced through my dear soul sister, and that only makes sense because she knows me very well. I have rekindled a friendship with this new friend of mine. I am very blessed and grateful for it. Her name is Gemma Galgani, better known as Saint Gemma Galgani of Lucca, Italy, and also known as the Gem of Christ.

I have become interested in knowing more about her over the last few weeks. I felt an inspiration, a nudge to read about her life again through a small booklet. Like I mentioned, my dear sister gave me this little booklet about this saint, and since the middle of April, I have reread her story numerous times always gaining many things from it. Although Saint Gemma has been deceased for over 100 years, her life is still relevant, important and dare I say interesting! Hence, why I have been so intrigued by her story. I have also come to learn that we have a few things in common. She died when she was at the ripe ol' age of 25, and I am currently 25 years old. She sometimes had severe back pain and I can attest to my back hurting more than I would like. She was a young woman of faith, and I am as well. Her pitfalls and weaknesses I could/can relate with, and I find her more inspiring and essential to pray to and develop a friendship with. After a few days of struggles and my own falls of weakness, I prayed to her as well as her devotional saint when she was alive (St. Gabriel of our Lady of Sorrows), and the next morning I slept so well and felt very much at peace, knowing that they were interceding for me.

There are a number of things I admire about this beautiful saint. These include her great and deep love for Jesus, his sacred heart, as well as Mother Mary. I admire her simplicity in all things and sacrificing a life of glamour, honor and prestige to that of a simple life full of pain and suffering that mirrored Jesus's 5 wounds and the crown of thorns, also known as the stigmata. I greatly admire her bravery in conquering the devil and the prince of lies and death's attempts of temptation. I very much admire her dear friendship with her guardian angel, as well as a lovely soon to be saint she learned about and had visions of, Saint Gabriel of our Lady of Sorrows. Overall, there are many things I have learned and gained from Saint Gemma. I have felt a connection with her that I only want to nurture and develop, she has taught me many things.

There are many interesting things that I am learning from reading a detailed book about the life of Saint Gemma Galgani. One of them in particular is about another Catholic saint who is more well known than St. Gemma, yet this saint is equally as important as St. Gemma. Her name is St. Therese of Lisieux, and she is my patron saint of the year. These two saints' lives are similar as the books states, "Therese lost her mother when she was a child, had a complicated relationship with death and the desire for Heaven, and replaced her earthly mother with the Blessed Virgin, had a vivid imagination, was different from other children, had a privileged relationship with God, passionately in love with Jesus, desired and loved suffering, died in her mid-twenties, her photographs attest to her beauty, did nothing of importance to her life." These two beautiful saints had similar lives and turn of events that happened to them. I feel that I have a deeper devotion to St. Therese of Lisieux, seeing that her life wasn't that much different from St. Gemma's.

While at a coffee shop this afternoon, enjoying the ambiance, sipping my coffee and reading this moving and insightful book about St. Gemma, I came across something that made me stop and think a little. St. Gemma's guardian angel was always at her side, assisting her and protecting her (which is true for all of us). Gemma couldn't eat, it seemed that her body did not wish it, linking and merging her longings, her needs, her wants to Jesus' own. "And when , after eating, she feels unwell, the angel offers Gemma 'a cup of coffee so good that I was healed instantly."

I don't think I've ever been healed spiritually from coffee, not ever will. However, like this afternoon, I needed that cup of coffee and that inspirational time at the coffee shop to process, to recharge, to think, to learn, to hope. All of these important things I usually need a couple of times a week to stay sane, happy and healthy. It also gave me the reminder of how my dear guardian angel should become more of my best friend and confidant, because he/she (I named mine a boy's name) is always looking out for us. St. Gemma even joked around with her guardian angel, which I found to be cool and amusing.

I am grateful and blessed to learn more about  St. Gemma Galgani's life and journey of faith. It only encourages and inspires me more to be bolder, stronger, and braver in my faith. I am grateful to have rekindled a friendship with a beautiful soul and example.

Memories of Peace

"Peace,  I leave you, my peace I give to you." These words are from the Gospel reading today. I can't help but reflect upon a year ago on May 1st. It was my first time volunteering at my local senior center. It was something that I felt called to do and an experience in which I was longing for for quite some time. I felt a surge of peace while walking into the facility and a wave of welcome and belonging. I knew deep down that this volunteer work was something I was meant for. It may seem like a small endeavor, but to me it was so much more. I knew all the hardships and pains that I had endured throughout the recent months had meaning and the endless wait was worth it. My prayers were answered.

May 1st, I have recently learned is dedicated to St. Joseph. A common name for him is St. Joseph the Worker. Weeks prior to gaining volunteer experience, I had been praying for a job, some kind of work that I desperately needed not just financially speaking but also for the social and mental benefits. I was aiming prayers to St. Joseph because I knew he was a man of diligent and committed work, a man of virtue. On his intercession day, my prayers and desires for work were answered. Though it wasn't a job with money being earned, my needs were met with meeting and talking with new people, learning new tasks and serving others. I was so happy to serve others, and instead of focusing on my needs, the concerns and satisfaction of local seniors were more important, and everyone was better for it. Every time I left after serving and cleaning up and taking off the brown OHK apron, the blue-gray greyhound hat that I borrowed from my Dad and the disposable plastic gloves, I felt a large wave of contentment and peace.

St. Joseph is the patron saint for various causes and places. I was interested to know that St. Joseph is the patron saint of Canada! It just so happens I will be traveling to Canada in a matter of days. I have learned much more about St. Joseph than I knew about him a year ago, and have seen his working hand in my life. I only want to continue to draw closer to him, and receive the peace that I need from him as well as his beloved Son.