Finding . . .

Here we go: Divine Mercy. Here is what I used to think of this devotion: lovely, but not for me. It's that simple. I used to think it was "just another devotional time-waster". I know! But I did not "know", you know? Please. Jesus cut me some serious slack here, so please do me the same favour. It gets better (my story, I mean).
Last week, I went to confession. I had much to shed and did so with a priest whom I trust and admire greatly. I decided to stay for Mass. Having the privilege to lector, I really let the words sink in when I got back to my pew and listened to the homily. In a nutshell: If we can help mere animals in tricky situations (because we want only their own good), the angels are no different in helping us. It was the Feast of the Archangels. I believe I heard the Holy Spirit tell me to attend the Divine Mercy talk at the upcoming conference in San Antonio. I readily agreed, wanting to be obedient. Mind, I wasn't thrilled about it, because I figured, having read the Diary (finding it beautiful) and having prayed the chaplet before: bor-ring. BUT, I would go.
A couple who have been on EWTN would be speaking about family and I really wanted to go to that talk. And, it was not going to be a repeated talk; they were doing the one session and would be leaving. It was a "now or never" situation. I promised to go to Divine Mercy.
Leaving my nine companions with the Family speakers, I went to Divine Mercy.
It pierced my heart with many truths. I bought an additional copy to gift to someone at some time in the future. When the Spirit guides me "just so".
Other events I am not at liberty to write about here, because it is just for me. And, it's too personal. But, let's just say that everything pointed out clearly to a priest to tell me he felt the Holy Spirit was telling me to be a Divine Mercy Apostolate.
Mind. I did not go there to "pick up" any more "jobs". I figure God's keeping me pretty busy with other stuff. But, I am not anxious about it. Either I am or I am not and only pursuing it and being open to it can tell me that. I would not be surprised in the least if it were to be so, because God does things in patterns (ever notice that?) and He's done this kind of work in me before. So.
I was given a very special rosary by this priest . . . But, what moves me the most in this gesture is what the priest said to do with the rosary: Pray for vocations, not just for your children. If either of my kids become a priest or religious, I am to give the rosary to the first one to do so. If neither of my children decide God is calling them to the Priestly or religious vocations, then I can keep it myself or find a spiritual child to gift it to.
It is difficult to share this wonderful life-changing stuff without profound, tearful gratitude to God Who has assured me of His Love and Mercy.
It is in the searching that we have the finding.

P.S. I spoke with my mother today. Apparently, my brother rang her up Sunday, not feeling well enough to have dinner up at his house, and, then asked her what time Father Corapi came on EWTN. Now, that is something. She came into the Church five years ago and Dad followed this year. I just prayed at the first class relics of St. Therese (at San Antonio on Sunday) for the conversion of my brother, my sister and her daughter . . . how incredibly wonderful of St. Therese to get to business straight away!

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Pray for us.