Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Feast Day

Posted on December 12, 2021 by M. E. Murray

Our Lady of Guadalupe/memurray.com/wordpress.com — **Our Lady of Guadalupe**

Dear Readers: Today I will talk about the Blessed Virgin Mary and the places where she graced us with her presence: Rue de Bac in Paris in 1830 (the Miraculous Medal), La Salette in 1846 and Lourdes in 1858; Pontmain, France (1871), Knock, Ireland (1879), Fatima, Portugal (1917), Beauraing, Belgium (1932), Banneux, Belgium (1933), and in 1531 Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared four times to a humble Native Indian, Juan Diego, on Tepeyac Hill.

Most of you know that I was raised a Roman Catholic. So, today is a very special day. Christ’s mother is looking at me from Heaven as I beg her to perform some special miracles: cure my sister who has Alzheimer’s, protect my dear husband from any illness (He has been taking care of my sister, me, Marty, our cat, and Twister, our foxhound). It is a yearly custom to greet the Virgin at St. Patrick’s Cathedral early in the morning with the mariachi, the Virgin’s fans, and parishioners singing “Las Mañanitas.” This morning was too chilly for me. My fibromyalgia pain intensified. I asked the Blessed Virgin to heal me and other folks who have this dreadful disease. I also asked her to cure my spinal column pain. I need to be well to take care of my family.

Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

There are several facts that I didn’t know about the Virgin of Guadalupe, so I am including them in this blog.

“The lady from Heaven”

Did you know?

Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Saint Juan Diego on December 9, 10 and 12, 1531.
The image left on Saint Juan Diego’s tilma is the only true picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe in existence.
The image has remained intact with all its original vibrancy for 475 years. The natural life span of a cloak made with fiber from the gave or maguey plant is only about 30 years.
The image is a pictograph which could be read and understood by the Aztec Indians.
Our Lady appears as a beautiful young Indian maiden and Queen.
Her eyes are looking down with humility and compassion. She is human, not God.
She is wearing a blue-green mantle (the color worn by royalty) covered with stars.
The stars signify she comes from heaven – the Queen of Heaven. The constellations are in the exact position as appeared before dawn on the morning of December 12, 1531.
Her robe is colored rose or pale red and covered with Aztec flowers, symbolic of an Aztec princess.
In the center of her robe, overlying her womb, is a four petal quincunx flower in the shape of a cross which is the sign of the Divine and the center of the cosmic order to the Aztec. The Virgin’s Baby, Jesus, is Divine and the new center of the universe.
Her hands are joined in prayer and, therefore, she is not God but clearly there is one greater than she and she points her finger to the cross on her brooch.
Her fur cuffs symbolize royalty.
She wears a black maternity band signifying she is with Child.
A black cross is on the brooch around her neck. This signifies she is a follower of the God of the Spanish Missionaries, Jesus Christ who died on the cross for all.
She stands in front of the sun. The sun symbolizes the greatest Aztec god – Huitzilopochtli. She announces the God who is greater than their sun god.
She stands on the moon. The crescent moon symbolized the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent moon god. She has clearly crushed and defeated him.
An angel with eagle’s wings supports the Mother of God. The eagle was the “bird of the sun.” Here the eagle is the servant of the Virgin. She holds her mantle in one hand and robe with the other, signifying the Son she bears is from both heaven and earth.
To date the image cannot be explained by science.
The image on the tilma was able to do what up to that time the missionaries were not able to do significantly. Namely, clearly explain Christianity to the Indian people. The proof is in the fact that after the apparitions, eight million natives of Mexico converted to Catholicism from 1531 to 1538.

Guadalupan Expert: Msgr. Eduardo Chávez Sánchez

Msgr. Eduardo Chávez Sánchez is co-founder and rector of the Institute for Guadalupan Studies, and is a canon of the Basilica of Guadalupe. Born in Mexico City, he studied philosophy and theology in the Institute for Ecclesiastical Studies at Mexico’s Conciliar Seminary. He was ordained on Aug. 15, 1981, in the Archdiocese of Mexico. He holds a diploma in philosophy from the Universidad del Valle de Atemajac in Guadalajara and, a doctorate in Church history from the Pontifical Gregorian University.https://videos.sproutvideo.com/embed/d39dd9bb131ae5c65a/16dcbacb7a14eb41https://videos.sproutvideo.com/embed/449dd9bb131bedc4cd/00a9862158a9924b

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Dear Readers: Have a wonderful day! Don’t forget to thank Our Lady of Guadalupe for all the things she has done for you, even though you may not know it.

Labor Day

Posted on September 6, 2021 by M. E. Murray

**Maria resting with Klyban during a fibromyalgia flare-up**

Dear Readers:

As usual, I’m behind schedule. I haven’t been able to discuss Labor Day, an important federal holiday, for many reasons, illness and taking care of my sister, who has Alzheimer’s. Fortunately, Labor Day is not over until midnight.

Before I talk about the history of Labor Day, I want to mention that I had a wonderful surprise from my dear neighbors. I was trying to relieve the pain in my back by lying down on cold packs on my bed when the phone rang. It was Jessica Woerner. This afternoon, about 2 p.m. the crew that regularly takes care of her yard was mowing my front lawn, and she called because they needed access to my backyard. I cried while I talked to her on the phone. (My husband hurt his back and hasn’t been able to take care of our yard, shrubs, etc.) What a lovely Labor Day this has been!

It’s almost time for supper, but I need to talk about my childhood and labor. I have mentioned that I grew up in an impoverished neighborhood and participated in the Medicaid program. I’m not sure how old I was when my affluent aunt needed help to pick cotton. Something had happened to the mechanical cotton harvester. That’s what I remember when she asked my family for help. I recall that we worked for a week, maybe more. I’m not sure since I was the youngest kid.

Every morning, mom, and four kids ( 2 boys and 2 girls) got a huge white bag.(Dad couldn’t help. He had to keep his shop running.) I swear it was the size of two large pillow cases. I was okay early morn, but as the day got old, that sack grew heavy, and it became a difficult object to drag through the rows of cotton plants. At the end of the day, the bags were weighed and we were paid a certain amount. I don’t remember how much we earned, though. But I’m sure I earned the least amount since my bag was not very full. What I recall is plucking cotton, from rebellious plants that scratched my delicate hands; being thirsty; and sweating buckets under that hot Rio Grande Valley sun. Plus, I was not dressed appropriately, no hat, no gloves. I sympathize with anybody who had to earn a living in this manner for years.

The following information comes from History.com,

Labor Day 2021 will occur on Monday, September 6. Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers and is traditionally observed on the first Monday in September. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894. Labor Day weekend also symbolizes the end of summer for many Americans, and is celebrated with parties, street parades and athletic events.

Why Do We Celebrate Labor Day?

Labor Day, an annual celebration of workers and their achievements, originated during one of American labor history’s most dismal chapters.

In the late 1800s, at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the average American worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks in order to eke out a basic living. Despite restrictions in some states, children as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories and mines across the country, earning a fraction of their adult counterparts’ wages.

People of all ages, particularly the very poor and recent immigrants, often faced extremely unsafe working conditions, with insufficient access to fresh air, sanitary facilities and breaks.

As manufacturing increasingly supplanted agriculture as the wellspring of American employment, labor unions, which had first appeared in the late 18th century, grew more prominent and vocal. They began organizing strikes and rallies to protest poor conditions and compel employers to renegotiate hours and pay.

Many of these events turned violent during this period, including the infamous Haymarket Riot of 1886, in which several Chicago policemen and workers were killed. Others gave rise to longstanding traditions: On September 5, 1882, 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square in New York City, holding the first Labor Day parade in U.S. history.

The idea of a “workingmen’s holiday,” celebrated on the first Monday in September, caught on in other industrial centers across the country, and many states passed legislation recognizing it. Congress would not legalize the holiday until 12 years later, when a watershed moment in American labor history brought workers’ rights squarely into the public’s view. On May 11, 1894, employees of the Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago went on strike to protest wage cuts and the firing of union representatives.

Wishing you a wonderful time today and forever. I hope we get rid of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Take care of yourselves, Dear Readers. Good Night.

Help for Tough Times

Posted on October 4, 2020 by M. E. Murray

This morning does not differ from my usual schedule—thank Jesus I made it to another day; take my medication, get dressed, make the bed. Ahead the bedroom door is closed. It used to be open so my Kitty (Klyban) had access to the bedroom, food, water, and his litter box. I try not to sadden myself because I no longer have him, but I have his brother, Marty.

Prayer is part of my daily schedule, especially today, because it is St. Francis’ feast day. I ask him to take care of my husband, sister, Marty (our cat), and Twister, (our dog). Furthermore, I pray for animals and people who are on their own. They need our help to survive during these tough times. I finish my prayers asking Jesus for the usual things, and then I try to do some work on the computer. These days computer work mostly involves trying to help my sister who has Alzheimer’s and lives with us.

Breakfast time comes around so I open my bedroom door with thoughts of visiting my website to tell the world that today is St. Francis’s feast day. With the help of my Rollator walker, I head to the kitchen to make breakfast. Along the way, I visit with Marty for a few seconds as he scurries to the bedroom for food and water. Meanwhile, I fix cereal and oatmeal for my sister. (My husband has a different meal plan, his own.) As I eat breakfast Assisi, Italy, comes to mind. Yes. I was there. For a few hours, I treaded on holy ground. A feeling of holiness drifts into my body as I realize that Jesus walked around that holy city, too.

I don’t have a picture of St. Francis, but I selected a few pictures of my former and present pets. I’m sure St. Francis played a part in their care and in my life. He helped me learn to use my time more efficiently in spite of having Fibromyalgia. I’m not perfect. Because of the pain, I have my moments, but Jesus, St Francis, and their friends have helped me through some very rough times.

Here are the prayers that I daily say to St. Francis and Jesus when I wake up in the morning.

Prayer to Jesus

Dear Jesus, thank you for letting me live another day, and please help me make today a beautiful day.

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Have a nice day! Stay safe, and thanks for visiting my website.

Happy New Year!

Posted on December 31, 2019 by M. E. Murray

It is that time again. The end of another year is fast approaching, and a lot of folks are probably making New Year’s resolutions but not me. Fibromyalgia controls my life. For example, my husband and I were supposed to spend Christmas with our relatives in San Antonio. From there, I hoped to visit my family in Brownsville. Unfortunately, two days before Christmas, something happened to my right hip. The pain was unbearable. I couldn’t take a step. (I can only imagine how Lady Gaga, who has fibromyalgia, must’ve felt when she fell on the stage during one of her performances.) Anyway, my husband brought me my walker, and I gradually made it to the bedroom, squawking from pain each time I took a step, to lie down with hot packs that he strategically placed around my hips. Needless to say, we canceled our trip.

Regarding of how I feel, I will continue writing. I will use every minute, wisely. Quitting is not my style. With God’s help, I will finish my children’s book and illustrations, and even if I didn’t get to see my sister, who is exhibiting signs of dementia, I know that I will see her next year and that she will be okay because God is taking care of her.

Twenty nineteen hasn’t been very kind to us. My husband experienced some serious medical problems, but he is a private individual, and I cannot elaborate on his ailments. I, on the other hand, am very outspoken when it comes to discussing my medical condition.

In addition to our medical problems, our beloved Kitty, Klyban, was diagnosed with lymphoma. He passed away June 26. He was being treated by an oncologist who did not listen to us. He was just supposed to see Klyban for a checkup, but he went ahead and gave him chemo. He was supposed to call us but didn’t. In my estimation, the doctor killed our Kitty. I say this because we had a rescue cat a few years ago that also had lymphoma, but he was treated with prednisone and enjoyed a happy life for a year.

There are more unpleasant things that happened to us, but I don’t want to bore you with negative thoughts. New Year’s Eve is meant to be a happy occasion. And I am more than happy to leave 2019 behind. Regardless, of the year, I am always thankful that I am alive, and that my husband, our pets, and relatives are okay.

Happy 2020! May it be a wonderful one for you, your family, and ours.

A letter to Benjamin Isaac Castaneda Floran

Posted on December 5, 2019 by M. E. Murray

Blessed Virgin/www.memurray.com/wordpress.com — Blessed Virgin Mary, Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Brownsville, Texas

Dear Ben,

Thanksgiving week my invisible illness (fibromyalgia) started attacking me. The only time I watch TV is while I eat. I was eating breakfast. (My husband always prepares it.) I was watching the news, when I heard about your tragic death. The devastating news was even worse when I heard that you were a member of Fort Worth’s North Side High School Mariachi Band, a group that I love and admire.

Ben, I did not have the pleasure of knowing you, but the numerous folks who have honored you and your family with beautifully expressed condolences, tell me that you must have been a wonderful person. You are in Heaven now with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus, and all the saints. You are probably entertaining them with your music. If it’s possible, please alleviate my sadness by playing and singing, ”El Son de la Negra.” It is my favorite song.

Please forgive me, but I don’t know if I can attend your funeral services Friday morning. The cold temperature will worsen the fibromyalgia pain. God bless you and your family!

Fibromyalgia and Writing

Posted on November 19, 2019 by M. E. Murray

I took this picture during a trip to the Rio Grande Valley. I love cloud formations, and this photo captured an interesting one. Also, the highway, a bit blurred because it was taken from a moving vehicle, is inspirational. I compare the highway to the writing world which at times seems to be an impossible road to publication. Getting published is not easy. But regardless of my illness, I won’t quit writing.

I learned so much from my parents about getting up when life didn’t quite go my way. Whenever I fell down, I learned to get up, dust myself off, and keep on going.

Words to live by for writers(from Thomas Edison): “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

Red Jacaranda Blooms

Posted on November 3, 2019 by M. E. Murray

Admiring a picture of these beautiful flowers helps me cope with Fibromyalgia (Fibro) a painful, chronic illness. Recently, a Fibro flare up kept me from participating in Halloween, and attending church functions celebrating All Saints Day and All Souls Day (El Dia de los Muertos). But the pain didn’t keep me from praying to the saints, the Blessed Virgin, and Jesus, for folks who are no longer with us. I miss my beloved parents, my older brother who passed away in 2016, relatives, and friends.

Red Jacaranda Blooms

Posted on November 3, 2019 by M. E. Murray

Admiring these beautiful flowers helps me cope with Fibromyalgia (Fibro) a painful, chronic illness. Recently, a Fibro flare up kept me from participating in Halloween, and attending church functions celebrating All Saints Day and All Souls Day (El Dia de los Muertos). But the pain didn’t keep me from praying to the saints, the Blessed Virgin, and Jesus, for folks who are no longer with us. I miss my beloved parents, my older brother who passed away in 2016, relatives, and friends.

Pumpkins and Halloween

Posted on October 28, 2019 by M. E. Murray

Pumpkins remind of the holidays. Halloween is rapidly approaching!

Saturday afternoon, I attended a local meeting of SCBWI. I enjoyed making new friends and the published authors’ presentations. The only problem I had was trying to ignore a nagging fibromyalgia pain of 5-6 on the pain scale. This pain made me forget to bring my camera and a few items, so I apologize for not posting pictures of the attendees. Instead my readers get treated to a picture of delightful pumpkins; they serve as decorations for the upcoming holidays and as baking ingredients. Oh! I can already taste a pumpkin muffin and pie.

Mother’s Day Mexico

Posted on May 10, 2019 by M. E. Murray

In the United States, Mother’s Day is always celebrated the second Sunday in May; however, my mother was born in Mexico, where the official day to celebrate mother’s day is always May 10th. Therefore, our family always celebrates Mother’s Day, (El Día de las Madres) on May 10th. I miss my mother and think of her everyday. She was a strong woman. She had to be! Living with an incurable illness (epilepsy) must have been very hard. I didn’t understand how much she must have suffered when I was growing up, but now I do since I have the severe form of fibromyalgia.

Mom loved flowers. She enjoyed working outdoors taking care of her plants. Unfortunately, one day Mom fell down on the front porch. Luckily, my sister was at home and immediately took her to the hospital for a checkup.

At the time I was living in Fort Worth, too far away to help immediately. Yet, I knew my mother loved flowers, so I called a florist and ordered a bouquet of flowers to be sent to my mother’s hospital room. She told me that she loved the flowers, and that she was fine, but the attending physician recommended that she stay overnight. The following day as my sister was getting ready to take Mom home, she told me that my mother loved the flowers, said the bouquet was huge, and that they had to take it home. There was no way my mother was going to leave the flowers behind.

I talked to her that morning. Mom said that she was fine. I was grateful that nothing serious had happened to her when she fell, but she wasn’t worried about the fall. She was delighted by the flowers; hence, I thought placing pictures of flowers on my blog was a great way to honor her today.