Looking Through Windows of Grace 1-18-21

Looking Through Windows of Grace Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel Bear all for Me Sometimes you look for great things to do for sufferings to bear for Me but I say to you...each day brings what you need so be at peace and rejoice in the beauty of each day Open your eyes to see the good I am allowing as the events of life minister to your soul for you are being blessed at every moment so when you are rebuked when things don't go your way when you hear of the sufferings of others or that evil appears to be triumphing do not run and hide or think that I have abandoned you remember that this is what I am asking you to bear so bear all for Me Be patient in suffering Be patient with yourself and with others Do not judge...do not criticize others Do not speak without thought to get attention but speak only the words My Spirit gives you Speak to bless or encourage When you are tempted to criticize...pray silently for the grace that soul needs Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel The Prayer of Thy Holy Will The only prayer I really need to pray is... Thy Will be done Thy Will be done because You have a plan for our world and our times and for me and I want to enter into that place of Trust that carries me from the fears at what I see happening to our world and in my body and frees me from the delusion that makes me think that I can change what is occurring with a perfect prayer The prayer I want to offer must flow from Your Heart into my soul a prayer that allows me to participate in bringing about the Eternal Kingdom and brings grace to souls so everything You desire for our world will come to be and those open to the Grace You offer will be saved Let my desire to pray carry me into an encounter with You where I rest in Your Goodness and reflect with awe and gratitude upon Your Faithfulness where I ponder Your desire to save and heal this fallen world where I humbly realize that You have already done all for that to happen May Your Will be done Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel When Your Heart is Joined to Mine Do not despair at your weakness your inability to be perfect as you desire For your inadequacies only point out your need for Me and your times of failure remind you how often you leave me and go off on your own Signs of anger, impatience, and times of disquiet should immediately remind you that you have left my side and once again sought your own will...your own way For when your heart is in Mine you experience a deep peace within and nothing can disturb your heart There is very little you can do on your own But when your heart is joined to Mine you receive the wisdom, insight and grace to handle every situation that touches your life So no matter what happens everything receives My touch and souls are brought into My Grace When you are one with Me you become an instrument that helps to accomplish an eternal work in the souls of others Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel An Offering I offer myself to You as a living sacrifice of praise that in surrendering to You, my Heavenly Father Christ may live in me by the power of the Holy Spirit bringing me into an experience of the Divine that In Christ I may be so purified that I may see the world through His eyes that I may speak with words that flow from His Heart that I may touch and heal and comfort with His Hands Immersed in His Heart and in the Immaculate Heart of Mary may my heart be filled with perfect love, compassion and tenderness so as I reach out to those lost in darkness of sin they may be healed and set free...coming to know Christ in Spirit and in Truth May my will be lost in Your Will so the Kingdom may come and the world be sanctified through Christ's saving work May the mind of Christ fill my mind with Truth so every lie is exposed and every darkness and delusion banished so my spirit, soul, mind, heart, and physical body may be washed anew in baptismal grace so Christ who is fully alive in me invites the Spirit to renew my faith and redeem my every fault so I will dwell now and forever in the healing fragrance of Your love Ilona Frances Weise January 2020

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty A Prayer of Comfort Be at Peace, my little one... Rest in Me and let me lift your worries and fears for the future Time holds no power over you so do not live in the torments of the \"what ifs\" Instead live in My Presence... assured that what is being allowed is a gift for your soul that I am perfecting you in virtue through the trials you are experiencing Never doubt My love for you but stay close to Me... showing Me throughout the day many little signs of your love: offering to Me the thoughts, prayers, and the fruit of your grateful heart in this way you are aware of Me in the ordinary moments of life and I can carry you into My Love which often comes to you in little treats that I surprise you with Be present to each moment and you will find the grace I am offering It will help you to Listen to the Spirit who has been given to guide you Do not think that you can change anything by yourself Instead realize your poverty and surrender to the Holy Love that creates virtue for humility is sweet and it endears you to Me...it teaches you to trust I do not want you to live under self condemnation or worry about the past let it go so you can live more fully in the present and see what I am doing now so you can receive grace to make holy choices that will free you so you will have peace of heart and be able to rest in My Presence Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel The Sacred Place of Love You have received My Body You have received My Blood You have entered a sacred place where you and I are one where Love reigns supreme and the nearness of My Presence transforms you Here My Light illuminate the darkness so you can see clearly that I am everything you need Here I satisfy you so you are lost to the world so in this Holy Moment you experience the great I Am Each time you receive Me in this Sacrament of Grace you enter this place and here in the sacred silence of your heart I am binding you to myself reminding you that I am with you always taking you into the depths of Holy Love feeding your body and your soul My Love radiates light and truth and hope It is a sanctifying fire that calls you out of yourself helping you to let go of selfish ways so you are freed from what holds you back so you can become perfect in Holy Love so you become more and more aware of the glory of this Tabernacle that fills your being Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Winter Thoughts Winter arrived with a blast of icy cold that reminded me of a New England's winter day The sun poked its head through the heavy layered clouds which were at times a mottled lavender-gray The silhouettes of barren trees were striking against the backdrop of this winter sky There seemed to be a longing as their fingerlike branches reached to the sky They seemed in the posture of prayer as if they were praying for this earth as if they too longed for God and peace on earth For a moment I was aware that we are not alone in seeking God that all creation longs for the One who formed its being and makes all things new For all creation is a witness to the Glory of God It reminds us that we are moving ever so slowly toward our eternal destination toward the perfection promised by our Faith toward the One who invites us out of earthly fear into the perfection of His Healing Love Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel A Prayer for Grace in the New Year In this new year...we pray for Grace for that unseen strengthening that flows from You Grace that will transform our world and heal our hearts We need this Grace to remain faithful to the Truths You have planted within us so we are assured that all will be well We need this Grace to see clearly so we can let go of all that is harmful and do the good that is ours to do so we can be kind and gentle and patient with others showing them Your Love and praying for their souls so we can be at peace with ourselves and find joy in the present moment It is through this unseen work of our God that we are being healed, freed from sin and transformed so we may delight in who You have created us to be not looking for the earthly glory that fades but content with the work You have given us to do willing to be little in the eyes of the world because we know we are loved by the Most High God who is with us always and provides all we really need Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel Surrender to Me Do not be afraid to surrender to Me Remain little and let go of grand plans Trust me to open doors and lead you as I desire Be obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit for you are living in grace and I will provide you with whatever you need to do all I ask of you Do not worry...do not fear...do not think about tomorrow Be fully present to today Let me love and care for you so you may live in the love I offer You now so you may live in My Presence throughout this day so you may cling to Me in this moment Become a living prayer offered not to get answers but to please Me so My Will is done so My Kingdom comes in you and in the world I will take care of everything Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel A Prayer for 2021 Father in Heaven... In this new year...as we continue on the unknown path set before us we ask for healing from the trauma of 2020 we ask You to walk before us to light the darkness...to strengthen our souls so we will face whatever happens with the light of our Holy Faith Thank You that You have an eternal plan for the good of the world Thank You that You are watching over us and preparing our souls for eternity Thank You that You give us time to examine our hearts help us to discard our robes of self-love, self-indulgence and self-righteousness help us to open our eyes to our hidden sins and obvious faults so we can repent and be wholeheartedly devoted to You May 2021 be a year of Great Grace where we sincerely respond to You with childlike hearts May 2021 be a year where our eyes are open to see clearly the glory of our Catholic faith May 2021 be a year where the people of God with unwavering faith proclaim You as God We desire to be holy...we desire to be faithful...we desire to shine so the world will be in wonder of the Christians they encounter We desire to remain close to You...so we may obtain grace for ourselves and for our world so our prayers are answered through the power of the Holy Spirit so we become \"the people You have longed for\" We are aware of the healing we yet need \"to put on love\" and so we humbly pray: Lift our fears...lift our anxieties...lift our distrust Carry us into the Infirmary within Your Heart and tend to us there Heal the wounds not seen by human eyes and restore our hope so we may walk with Faith into this new year Ilona Frances Weise December 30, 2020

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel A Prayer for Christmas Hope Oh God of Wonder You revealed Your Love for us in the gift of a Babe renew that love in the fire of the Holy Spirit burn from our hearts the worries of this world We need a fresh encounter with the Holy Babe so our souls may be washed in His grace We need to look upon the innocence of His face to know true purity of heart We need the Christmas Hope that comes from His Presence within us to find joy in the chaos of life so we may dwell in the Kingdom While we long for what will satisfy we have so often stuffed our hearts with things that cannot satisfy and so we feel alone and insignificant Fill our emptiness with the fullness of this Holy One so in union with Him the disappointments and wounds of life may be healed Quench our thirst with the living water that still flow from His side so we may be washed and cleansed and restored in this hope so as we drink from this holy water we may be fully redeemed to walk as children of hope Take us into the timelessness of Holy Silence where in prayer we may encounter Christmas Hope and be renewed through its power so we do not give into fear but see all things in the light of our faith so like the Shepherds we listen to the message of the Angels so like the Magi we search for the child so like Mary and Joseph we hold Him close and make Him our own Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel A Christmas Prayer Most High God Creator of all things Father of Love It was out of a pure and holy love that You sent Jesus to earth to dwell among us as the perfect offering for our sin He made a way for us come home to You He became the author and finisher of our faith mingling His Divinity with our humanity infusing us with an undying hope that cannot be shaken by the unholy in this world In seeing Christ…we have seen You In hearing Him…we have heard Your voice In following Him…we journey deeper into the Kingdom of this Love In this Christmas Season as we contemplate His coming as a tiny babe we ask you to open our eyes to see Truth Carry us into this Holy Love and let it hold us until our wounds are healed and we are transformed until every stain of sin has been cleansed away until we are like Him and walk in holiness of heart Let the Peace promised on that first Christmas Morn settle into our hearts so with great joy…we welcome the message of the Angels that to us a child is born that to us a son is given…Christ the Lord Ilona Frances Weise May you have a Blessed and Merry Christmas

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Oh Come...Let Us Make Time Each Christmas invites us to stop...to linger...to ponder to enter anew the awe of the first Christmas Let us make time to behold the Child Let us lay aside our earthly toys and steel away into the silence where we may hear anew the song of the Angels and follow that radiant star where in a moment of grace we may behold the Christ Child and be lost in His love Let us draw near to Him to worship...to adore...to ponder remaining with Him gazing upon His Holy Face until we see the Father and experience the love we were created to know looking deeply into His eyes to find the mercy, forgiveness and love we may need so we may become like Him so the joy of Christmas may be planted in our hearts and Christmas Grace may strengthen us for the days to come Ilona Frances Weise \\

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel Christmas Memories We should not be afraid of the Christmas Memories that dwell within our hearts for they are steeped in love and bring comfort each one reminds us of past joys each one assures us that God is good and will continue to care for us We should not hide away or be afraid to let the lights twinkle… to listen to the laughter of little children or to sing with the Carolers who come our way There is a kind of magic in this season for in its grace…we can find new meaning and hope even though our hearts may feel numb even though we are aware of our losses Christmas is a place where God meets us to heal our fears and our deepest wounds In cherishing the memories of our loved ones we make these memories part of us Our connection with our loved ones can never be lost and so we bring into each new celebration all that has gone on before We hold sacred our past experiences and receive as gift whatever God sends our way so no matter what happens or doesn’t happen Christmas remains a gift of love from our God It is in this healing love that we find the courage to go on to adapt and face the changes yet to come Somewhere along the way the healing grace of Christmas touches us assuring us that God is moving us to a better place that He has gifts that yet remain to be opened Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel A Prayer to Our Mother of Grace Sweet Mary…Mother of Grace you shine with a beauty earth cannot behold so precious is your soul Your humility is like a garment of white that covers you not to hide a human flaw but to cover a glory that earthly eyes could not endure You never drew attention to yourself because you existed in God and for God Your eyes could not remain long on earthly things because your soul beheld the Father’s face because your body carried the Holy Son because you were one with the Holy Spirit You were humble not because you found shortcomings in yourself because you never looked inward You were humble because your eyes were always upon God you were immersed in the Greatness of God and it is to Him alone that all glory belongs It is to Him alone that your being gives praise Holy Mary, Mother of God mother our souls may we become like you so our eyes…beholding the glory of God might shine with a light that pierces the darkness so we…lost in God’s Goodness… would reflect His glory and live to sing His praise Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel Somewhere in the Darkness When our dreams do not come to pass when our hope is dashed we often find ourselves in a struggle to understand it is then that we wrestle with our false images of God and somewhere in the darkness...in the struggle we encounter the God of Unknowing only to discover that He cannot act apart from His Goodness It is in this encounter that we experience our littleness It is in this time of suffering that our complacency is challenged accomplishing in us what years of answered prayer could never do It is here that humility befriends us and we are able at last to sit in silence before the Grandeur of God who alone can hear those deep questions within us who alone can calm the storms within our souls He comes to bring life to those areas of faith that walked like dead men into the night He comes to assure us that His Will is not only a safe place for us it is a blessed place He comes to place our feet on the narrow path where grace is assured so our journey can continue so flooded by grace our faith once more leads us on Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty An Advent Prayer Advent is about waiting…about hoping…about longing for God It is a longing that cannot be satisfied with the physical for we long for God…who cannot be seen with our eyes …only with our hearts Father in Heaven, Bless us in this Advent Season and walk with us as we prepare our hearts for you We ask for the graces we need to make room for You in our busy lives Help us to let go of our endless lists of ‘musts’ so we slow down…smile more…and are gentle to all Help us to begin to see that all the things that touch our lives and all the people we encounter are opportunities to encounter You Lift the stress of these days and take from our hearts the fears and worries that weigh us down so as we make our way through Advent… we will have the strength and wisdom to be generous in showing love and doing good so we may dwell each day in the peace You offer and ponder more deeply the mystery of the Incarnation Like little children may we be filled with wonder and anticipation as we wait…as we watch…as we hope so we are transformed as we gaze upon this mystery so like the newly fallen snow… we are open to receive the grace of Christmas Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Preparing Our Hearts for Christmas Lord Jesus...in this season of preparation we desire to see afresh…and to look with innocence at the love that moved You to come to earth… to become like us and to offer Your life for us We ask for the healing we need to become like children so like a child…gazing upon the Christmas Star for the first time our hearts can be filled with awe and wonder so we may be filled with the same hope, joy and love that awakened the sleeping world on that first Christmas Morn Lord…we are in need of great grace so we may love You with our whole hearts and please You in all that we do We need a deeper encounter with the Holy Spirit who comes to convict us of sin and cleanse us of all unrighteousness We need our souls to awaken from the deep sleep of boredom so all things become new for us so emptied and cleansed and freed from darkness we may be filled with the fullness of the Father Son and Holy Spirit Restore our sense of childhood wonder and fill us with Christmas Grace so we may encounter the Truth so like Mary, Our Mother we may ponder anew the Christmas Story being drawn into each detail of its timeless truth to experience more deeply the gift of Christmas Love…Amen Ilona Framces Weose

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty A Little Advent Prayer Father in Heaven, We thank you for the opportunity to journey closer to You this Advent As we light the candles of our advent wreath…the light grows brighter… Let this light help us to see those things that yet remain as a diversion as a distraction as an impediment to our journey to You May this light remind us that one day the darkness will be gone and we will live forever in the light of Your Presence May it raise our level of hope and strengthen our determination to continue on the path we have begun We wait with a joyous anticipation of the wonders you have for us of the work you are doing within us for even now we taste of Your Goodness and catch a glimpse of Your Glory Make us willing to let go of all we cling to and free us of all that holds us bound so that emptied of earthly desire we may come to know You and experience the joy of abiding in Your Presence…Amen Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty A Prayer of Blessing for Our Christmas Tree Father in Heaven…Giver of all good gifts we thank You for the time to prepare our hearts and our homes for the great feast of Christmas As we await the celebration of the first coming of Christ make us ready for His second coming We have gathered today with family and friends to dedicate our tree to You We ask You to bless this tree and make it a living symbol of Your Love Let all who gaze upon this tree… see deeper … to the wood of the Cross …to the everlasting love offered to us through Christ As we decorate this tree with ornaments dear to us let us decorate our souls with virtue, sacrifice and love As we light this tree may Christ, the light of the world, shine through us so we become living trees of light whose lives honor You and brighten our world Bless all who have gathered here with the peace proclaimed by the Angels with the joy of the journeying Magi and with the love and hope that filled the heart of Mary …Amen Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel A Thanksgiving Prayer On this day set aside for giving thanks we remember Your kindness in forgiving our sins and healing our wounds and we give thanks for all You have done in creating us, sustaining us and bringing us to faith We are grateful for the beauty of our world which feeds our souls and draws our hearts to You and we are grateful for the loving people You have placed in our lives for the good work You have given us to do and for always providing for our needs Even in times of hardship You have strengthened us and reminded us that we are not alone You have sent brothers and sisters to walk by our sides and pray for us giving us the courage to hold on We thank You for our country, for our freedom and for all who work to make it good Continue to bless our country and protect us from all evil Help us to be a nation that will work for justice and bring peace and hope to all people Make us willing to sacrifice and do our part to make a difference in the lives of those around us As we gather around our table today we cannot be with all those we love so we ask You to bless our loved ones wherever they may be Bless the food we have prepared and bless those we are able to gather with May our day be filled with joy May our hearts be filled with gratitude and may our lips praise and thank You in the love we share…Amen Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel Thanksgiving Grace Triune God on this day set aside for giving thanks...we ask for Thanksgiving Grace a Grace that will open our eyes and our hearts to all You have done for us in giving us life and sustaining it in creating a world of wonder and celestial beauty in planting Truth in the deepest recesses of our being On this day of giving thanks we acknowledge You as our God and we praise the Sacredness of Your Name We offer our love and thank You for inviting us to be Your People called by Your Name and dedicated to live in the love and forgiveness You offer You have washed us clean...redeeming us with the Blood of Jesus You have opened Heaven to us pouring into us the grace meant to perfect us May our hearts become a true place of Thanksgiving where You are worshipped and reign supreme as Mighty God where You dwell in an unspeakable Glory that cannot change where You are at work making our hearts Your Holy Temple May we respond to You with humility of Heart and an openness to Your Divine Will so we bring forth the Kingdom in our lives and in our world May You be glorified in our works of love as we surrender to the Thanksgiving Grace we now pray for...Amen Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel The Journey of Prayer You take me into the vast Garden that is my soul so vast it can hold the Universe and within it I encounter many who love and adore You as Lord God Sometimes I am taken to a place where You are being praised where Heavenly Music soothes my soul... where I am lost in the reverence and adoration of others...so I may learn from them Sometimes I journey to places where Truth is being taught where I encounter Wisdom and feed upon it...where I am taught without words by Love Sometimes I rest beside quiet waters where the only sound I hear is the praise being offered as the waters gently flow over jutting rocks with a praise so pure and holy it sings of the Lord our God Prayer is a journey into the depths of our souls where in our desire to be with Him we enter into the place of His Presence Drawn by His Love we come alone...leaving behind the things of earth emptied of self-love and self interest our eyes long only to see and encounter Him We are on a mission to be with Him and even if in our prayer time we do not find Him as we desire we are in a place where He finds us and makes us His Own Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in times of uncertainty Life is a Wonderful Gift Don't be afraid for Life is a wonderful gift and it is different every day some days the sun shines some days it rains some days the sky is azure blue but some days it is gray It is good that things are not always the same because I don't want you to be bored but excited at what the new day will bring You must open your eyes to see Me, your God in the gifts I bring to you each day it doesn't matter what is going on in your world when you look to Me you will have the assurance that I am here for you So look for Me today I am bringing good...even out of the evil done by others I am pouring My Grace into your heart and into your world so you can remain happy and at peace If you look... You will always find Me in all that is loving and in all that is good and beautiful and true Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel Holy Dust What is expected of a particle of dust? ….nothing…except to be so it is with you…as you come into God’s Presence it is enough that you are there Dust has no pride It cannot exalt itself… praise itself or demand…it just is It lays in a silent stillness…unable to rouse itself It is not corrupted by its own beauty or talent or desires But you are like the dust a particle so small you are unnoticed in the Universe yet God sees your nothingness and loves you for you have eyes that see your God and you have a mouth that proclaims His Praise and you have a heart that loves Him above all Enter your time of prayer as Holy Dust seeking nothing for yourself focusing all of your attention on God Do not allow your thoughts to focus on your needs…your worries or your fears Instead trust that God knows all that troubles you Instead give yourself to God and be content to be to wait in the august mystery unfolding before you to wait in the silent awe that pleases God In time…your eyes will adjust and you will find in the darkness what your heart has longed to see Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel The Glory To Come You are living through a time of great darkness where evil has invaded your world and contaminated every area of life where those living now place their trust in created things...but not in their Creator Wait, My Child...wait in peace Do not give up hope Do not give in to fear Hold on to each other and comfort one another with faith Trust in Your Lord who will help you prepare for the trials to come Remain steadfast in your faith in all the travail that will flood your world for in an appointed time... this present darkness will give way You are coming into the dawn of a new era where the Sun shall rise and the darkness will be dissipated where Grace will stream as the rays of the sun bringing healing, restoration and hope where those who belong to Me will return to their faith and all shall know Me intimately for their eyes will no longer be blinded by the trinkets of the world for they shall know the Truth and they will see with new eyes I will be their God and they will know Me and live to please Me I will dwell in the hearts of the faithful in power and each heart will be in perfect unity with Me no longer needed to be taught for they will live in My Presence and on My Words I will restore to each heart... everything that has been taken through fear, doubt and sin The old will pass away and all the prayers of the Saints from all times...will herald in a time of Peace...a time of Grace...a time of Joy Ilona Frances Weise Written at The Cathedral of St Peter in Chains, Cincinnati, Ohio 3-1-98

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel A Prayer for Our Departed Loved Ones Father in Heaven We ask you to remember our loved ones who have passed from this world Take the love in our hearts for them and receive it as prayer Use the tears we have cried the sadness we have felt the loneliness we have endured to give them light We ask that the merits of this and all Masses be an expiation for them Let our prayers shorten their time away from You Let our prayers comfort them Let our prayers for their souls bring them closer to You so they are freed from all fear and their brokenness healed so every weakness is strengthened with grace and every defect repaired so in every way they are made perfect for You as they journey into full union with You Carry them into Your Holy Presence where the longings of their hearts can be satisfied as they encounter anew the love that formed their being the love that now brings them deeper into truth and fills them with eternal joy Bring them into that beatific mystery where they will live and have their being in You dwelling forever in eternal joy Amen Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel The Journey of the Faithful After Death The stone has been rolled away Our loved ones who have loved and served God are not locked in the tomb of death They walk now into the fullness of light...drawn by their Beloved For some the journey is long and there is some suffering to endure that is why we pray for their souls so they may be given strength to complete the journey that is why viaticum is so important for them it alone provides food for the journey They walk with joy knowing they are going to the Father who before time knew and loved them knowing that they are being made ready to be One with Him who is so Great and Glorious They walk with joy as light from Christ's Resurrection guides their way they are patient in their journey as there is much that needs to be done All along the way they are being healed, perfected and transformed the damage from their sins is being repaired they are being made perfect so they may enter fully into the love they have longed for the love that makes them whole... the love they were created to know... the love they will dwell in forever Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel My Little Ones...Remember You belong to God...you were formed in His Image formed as the crown of all creation created to know your God and be like Him He has placed immortality within your soul so when your earthly life comes to an end you will spend eternity with Him bathed in unending light...kept in His Divine Love so live each moment of your life with these realities in mind Do not be worldly wise and eternally foolish...do not blindly follow the crowd Be careful how you spend your time and who you choose to walk with for each action either draws you near to God or carries you far away Be mindful that life here and now is a passing shadow and while you have no control over the future you can hold fast to your faith and live in light you can love Him...love others and follow His Commands You are being asked to remember who you are to remember where you are going to remember to whom you belong Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel Let Us Gather In this time of beauty and splendor when the trees burst forth in colors that bathe the world in hues of crimson and gold we are invited to drink in this gift and bathe our souls in moments of glory for soon those very leaves...once alive in the fullness of their beauty will fall and be no more Soon and very soon the branches of the trees will discard their celestial dress standing in their nakedness to face the austerity of the Winter Winds We too will face the winter so like the trees we too will allow ourselves to be stripped of the earthly glory that once covered us so like the squirrels who gather the acorns while they are plentiful we steep within our souls the truth that God never fails that He is at work to bring life when our eyes behold only death Let us gather these moments of Truth and store them for the times when we face the darkness Let us gather our strength and do good and like the trees hold on to nothing for ourselves Let us gather our resolves to be better...to go that extra mile so as we face whatever hardship that may arise in our world we will be the ones able to bring light to the darkness we encounter so we may become givers of hope... reminding each soul that the Eternal promise of Spring is just beyond the cold of Winter We surrender our lives to Him knowing that good will come for the seasons proclaim the faithfulness of God and His promise for new life The beauty we seek to store...is faith in Our God it is seeing His Goodness and trusting in His Generosity it is recognizing that His Presence can still be found in our fallen earth Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel My Little Ones Don't linger in darkness or in fear or in wondering about the future Enter the Kingdom of Light within your soul and encounter Me there Allow Me to calm the storms...to silence the lies... to cast out fear with an infusion of My Love Entrust your little hearts to Me for as the Father has loved Me...so I also love you I ask that you to enter more deeply into My Love I want you to know that you are safe in My Heart... that the Holy Spirit comes to make My love real for you so don't be afraid of the purifying fire for it brings grace to transform your body and your soul... a grace that heals and a grace that empowers I am aware of all within you that is in need of healing and transformation I am aware of your sins and failures and weaknesses...they are a sign of your need of Me Be willing to see your poverty for your poverty will carry you into My Abundance where I will lavishly provide all you need your poverty will help you to let go of self love and self sufficiency so you depend on Me for your life and for your breath I love a soul that is little in its own sight that knows that it lives by God's grace alone that has stomped on pride and delights in the virtue of humility that lives and responds to the fire of My love...Be such a soul Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel There Are No Bad Days Because you belong to God...everyday...every moment everything He allows to happen is blessed and eternally good for your soul You are learning to see His Hand in everything and that will give you peace When something disturbing happens close your eyes and ask for help Be like a little child who when scared grabs hold of her mother's hand Reach out for the Lord then you will know that He is with you... you will feel His strength flowing into you He will give you wisdom for the situation and peace of heart and you will be assured that you are not alone in whatever you are facing Wisdom is the gift that helps you to understand things hidden in God's Heart It guides you in your affairs so you know what pleases Him and gives you grace to see and conform to His Will It speaks to your soul so you walk along the path that brings life It helps you look beyond what you see with your eyes for you have a glimpse of what is in His Heart and you are assured that it will be good in His time and in His way Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel Why We Pray We cannot control others or know what is in their hearts It is fruitless to be upset by how they act all we can do is pray for them... that they draw closer to the Lord that they experience His Love that they receive grace to see their faults and be given grace to change Do not allow yourself to judge Do not become involved in the drama of their lives just pray for them and allow your heart to draw close to the Lord with great reverence knowing He is the source of all power and grace for it is the Lord who dwells within You and He desires you to forgive them and entrust them to His Care As you enter more deeply into His Love and Peace your heart is set free and without knowing it...you also carry them there Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel Do You Want to be Holy? As we grow in grace and the desire to be holy the Lord often helps us to see a fault hidden from our own eyes but it takes grace and an understanding of what He is doing to respond graciously... it is always a spiritual challenge for us because we want to defend ourselves Each time you are attacked...receive the criticism as if allowed by the Lord for your humility Thank the Lord for pointing out your weakness and pray for the grace to change Ask for forgiveness for annoying someone else then entrust the entire matter to God who will be pouring sanctifying grace into your heart and soul to bring about a good and holy change in you something you could never do by trying for He is freeing you from self-love... which alone thwarts our journey to Holiness Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel Beyond Self-Love We are growing into God so we cannot stay where we are we cannot remain the same because we are being called to something greater we are being stretched beyond what we think we are capable of so our hearts will not be stilted or lost in self-love We are to learn to look beyond to the Universe of Love that surrounds us for God desires to fill us with His Presence with the very Presence that not only fills the Universe but keeps all things in being He has gifts for us...Invisible gifts that make our lives and our world beautiful The gift of listening to another's heart The gift of affection where we share our heart's warmth The gift of laughter which brightens any day The gift of a note written with love The gift of participating in a game and allowing the other to win The gift of a cheerful disposition that weathers all that is rude The gift of a compliment honestly given The gift of solitude, silence and prayer where one encounters God to receive these amazing gifts Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty A Prayer in Summer Lord God...You have created the earth and all that is in it You continue to renew it and fill it with unmatchable Beauty Help us to turn our hearts to You Help us to grow in faith so we may live in hope We want to know the deep joy of a child We want our hearts to be pure and capable of deep love We want to know that we belong to You and that You care Help us …like a child…to trust You May Your forgiveness and grace heal and restore us so we may reflect Your Goodness to our World We come to you in prayer this day to be with You so we may be transformed in Your loving Presence so the beauty of our summer world may dwell in our souls May our closeness to You renew our determination to live as Children of the Most High so our life here is a mere stepping stone to that day when summer will never end and love will make the world fragrant in an endless sea of flowers...Amen Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel The Need for Grace Oh Lord, we are in need of Grace We need Grace to take that next step of faith to say yes to what you are asking of us When we look at Jesus in His great trial in the Garden of His Agony we see it began by contemplating the sufferings that lay before Him by allowing His human nature to see what He would have to endure We also enter an agony when we open our souls to fear...wondering what lies before us Jesus went deeper into His agony...beyond His bodily suffering He saw the sins of the whole world He saw those who would reject this saving work He saw the betrayals of His beloved children throughout time and He saw the great apostasy of the end times and the souls who would still go to hell despite His suffering and death In the end, He chose the Father's will and so must we Once again we must plunge ourselves into the Goodness of God reminding ourselves that whatever God allows... He gives grace for so let us been unafraid of seeing our need for grace Let us ask the Father for the Gift of Grace as we walk through the fog of uncertainty Let us trust Him to bless our bodies and our souls to keep us safe in His Love to light the way through any darkness to walk with us in the unknown days that lie ahead Ilona Frances Weise 3-28-20

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty The Garden in God's Heart Come my little one to the secret garden of prayer where you have access to all that I am where you are safe from the enemy It is a place of great grace… a time for you to receive mercy and healing for I am at work in the silence and in the quiet I am about a good and holy work in you…purifying your desires and turning your heart toward the eternal helping you to detach from those things that pull you from grace So be still in My love Let your prayer be made without words Instead bring your heart and fully entrust it to Me so I may stir the embers of love within you that a great fire may spring forth to consume everything that is unholy Be still and know that I am God Look upon Me with eyes of longing and pure love and I will look at you with eyes of mercy and compassion so you may be formed anew in Me Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel Stop to Rest On our earthly journey it is good to climb a spiritual hill to stop...to rest and look over our lives perhaps to enter into an all encompassing moment where we dare to remember... the good and the evil that has touched our lives We remember the good that has come to us in the love we have received so formed in love we have learned its ways for it is this love that lives on forever it is the love given and the love received that prepares our soul for heavenly encounters The evil that has come to us through our sins, our sorrows and the injustices we have faced can be forgiven through God's mercy This evil has only made us stronger for it has sparked our determination to fill our lives by birthing good By letting go of our anger, our bitterness and our resentments there is only room in our hearts for God and the graces He desires to pour into us so our journey may continue in love so we are bound to no one except God When our hearts are free we taste the Glory that awaits us in our union with God making the remains of our journey sweet Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel On Retirement Retirement is a wonderful time of life when having been freed from some of our earthly work sp we can free lance for God It is now that we have time to smell the roses to take long walks…to chat with friends We are not so much about doing… as learning the art of being learning to appreciate the gift of life and the uniqueness of each new day In this new phase of life the focus is no longer on us on what we do…on who we are Suddenly the experiences of our lifetime which have formed us now become the backdrop for how we serve And the service God calls us to is both little and profound where we use all we are to bless others for God’s work is the work of love and it cannot be described only by deeds In this time of our lives we experience a freedom we have never known before The world is no longer able to press us in its mold because we know who we are and we know where we have been We have seen the face of Truth and now we are invited to dwell in it Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel That Time of Life I am in that time of life where I am meeting the needs of my children and caring for my aging parents where there seems to be no time for me and I am aware of the ticking clock of my own life where I wonder where I will find the strength to go on Then I remember that all of this is God's Plan What better way to honor God than to serve Him in my children...in my parents using my life to do good rather than spending it on the selfish pursuits of fleeting pleasure Too soon I will stand before God I want to tell Him that I chose to love sacrificing my personal desires so others could thrive I want Him to tell me that I did not waste my life that He will meet my unmet needs and multiply what I have given up Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel A Quiet Place Come my little ones...heed the call to prayer I provide for you...a quiet place to come away with me a place where you may come and walk with me a place free from fear and worry and doubt a place where you may listen to the beating of My heart and find wisdom for your soul Here you are washed in grace and all of the love and mercy and forgiveness you need is poured upon you Here you understand that you are My Beloved and I will never deny or betray you Here healing flows into your being for no one who comes into My Presence...remains untouched In this place you have my full attention and I have yours you are fully present to Divine Love and you see Me with the eyes of your soul Here your heart enters My Heart and calmed by its gentleness you taste the mystical gift of My Peace Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel The Gift of Prayer Dearest Lord Please give me the Gift of Prayer Invite me into the Sacred Place of prayer where I may encounter and be with You where I am stilled in Your Presence and awed by You where I receive the graces I need to come into Holy Order where my body and my soul are healed in Your love and I am freed from fear where I receive a continual inflow of the graces I need to bring healing hope and grace to others where I experience the freedom that belongs to the children of God so my eyes are open see You always and everywhere so I love you with all of my heart and rest in the love that redeems all that is lost in me...Amen Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel May I Dearest Lord Can You stir the embers of my love for You and set my heart on fire so I may love You with a pure and holy heart so I may be still and peaceful in Your Presence May all the moments of my life please You May I accept with a welcoming heart all that You allow to touch my life content with whatever You send always thankful...always grateful always seeking You May I long for You alone and live in such a way that I am always docile to Your Will trusting my sanctification and the healing of my body and my soul to You alone May I grow in the knowledge of the Truth You teach so I may grow in wisdom in grace and in love so I am kind and speak words people need to hear so I am patient with their frailties so my sufferings joined to Yours bring forth a great good May I ask You to heal my hidden wounds so they do not keep me from prayer or from my ability to love May I love You above all and may I become all You desire me to be...Amen Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel The Best for Last I believe in God and in His Goodness I have marveled at His faithfulness for each morning the rising sun offers us a new day of grace a new opportunity to experience our God and to begin again and each evening we experience His Glory in the spectacular sunsets that awe our hearts He has given us a world of incredible beauty to remind us of His Greatness For as we experience His Creative Genius in the sheer grandeur of the mountain heights in the refreshing wonder of a hidden forest stream in the face of an endearing doe we are given a glimpse of Him so fear no longer has power over us and the unknown no longer holds our hearts As we see the miracle of life unfolding before us each spring we are assured that He can bring life out of death He can cause what appears to have no life to bloom again for we belong to a God who works miracles to a God who has gifted our souls with immortality saving the best for last saving the best for what is to come Nothing we have experienced here on earth can prepare us for what we will find in God’s Heart something so wonderful, so beautiful, so beyond us that it must be held for that time when we will be in perfect union with Him for that time when the hurts of life will be no more for that time when the God who has loved us into Life will carry us into a new world and our joy will be full Ilona Frances Weise

Looking Through Windows of Grace reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Entrust Yourself to Her Heart Entrust yourself to the heart of My Blessed Mother for her love for you is perfect and her desire to bring you Grace never ceases She watches over you tenderly guiding you closer to God helping you to make wise choices exemplifying all that is good, holy and pure Do not resist her love or the Grace she offers Let her carry you like a babe in her arms Live in the protection of her Mantle of Grace for though she is gentle and humble of heart she is mighty and powerful and her prayers are always heard Entrust your life to Her and let her prayers for your life fill the Heavens for she knows the depth of your darkness and she brings the perfect prayer for you to the Heart of God She comes to bring the Light of Christ so that all within you is Light and you are One with Christ Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel On Suffering No one wants to suffer and yet suffering is part of life and no one is exempt from the tiny baby to the elderly It seems when we are young we are not so much aware of the sufferings around us but as we age we begin to see the hardships of others but hope it will not happen to us and try very hard to avoid them Life has a way of breaking our protective bubble Suddenly something happens and we are caught in a whirlwind either because suffering has called our own name or it has touched someone we love dearly Because we belong to God and love Him...we run to Him in prayer knowing that we will receive from Him the grace and strength we need to make it through this storm we now face When we pray sometimes the storm lifts and our ordinary life returns yet this experience has profoundly changed us and woven into our hearts a compassion, understanding and a willingness to pray for others but sometimes the Lord desires us to walk with Him along the path of suffering The Lord himself accompanies us and often helps us to understand that all sufferings are His we share but a moment of it No matter what suffering will always be a part of earthly life How blessed to know that with it comes Grace to strengthen and see every soul through How blessed to know that offering our sufferings to the Lord allows them to be joined to His Sufferings so nothing is wasted and His Eternal Work of Redemption continues How blessed to know we are never alone on the path of suffering the prayers of our friends on earth, the prayers of the Saints in Heaven, the accompaniment of the Angels always light the path so the way is clear and the Lord God Himself journeys with us infusing our souls with hope Ilona Frances Weise

LOOKING THROUGH WINDOWS OF GRACE reflections and prayers in a time of uncertainty Denzel The Miracle of Sustaining Grace Beloved of God’s Heart...sometimes life is very hard and God who sees all you are going through desires to minister to you He often sends others to offer a word, a smile, a small comfort but they are little gifts from His Heart...grace poured into your soul As you begin to see that He is behind these little gifts you grow in Trust As you allow others to care for you their love breaks the power of fear and unleashes the Miracle of Sustaining Grace which comes to hold you to keep you in Peace and to enable you to endure your cross This Grace helps you to become the carefree little child who is at play while its Father is near So you can experience with wonder things your heart has only dreamed of things so pure, so holy, so profound no earthly words can describe for you are being carried into Divine Love This Grace will break the restraints life has placed on your soul so you will experience the deep comfort of your faith so the truths you have believed will become real and this time of darkness will become a blessed time where your heart discovers the deepest form of prayer that comes without words as your spirit encounters glimpses of God where you are ministered to by the Angels and Saints who are at work to make all things ready The One who loves you perfectly will not abandon you now He will carry you and be a sweet companion on this journey you must make He will clear the mist so you will see Him clearly and He will provide the Grace you need Ilona Frances Weise

In the quiet moments of life when we reflect upon the Goodness of our God we can clearly see that Fathers have been one of our greatest gifts God entrusted us to their care and they have been faithful in loving us in providing for us in protecting us It has been by their example of hard work that we learned the joy of a job well done and because of their generosity and sacrifice we have learned how to care On this day set aside to honor Fathers we, as your family, honor you and thank you for all that you have done and for all you have sacrificed We ask the Lord to bless you to lift from you...the heaviness that earthly life often brings we ask our God to hold you in His Heart and refresh you so you may be renewed in His Joy May you always know how much we love you May our appreciation and deep respect be an everlasting crown of glory Ilona Frances Weise from the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Ministry