Tag Archives: Marty

Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Feast Day

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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.

Where did the “feral attribute” go?

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Marty enjoying a relaxing moment in front of my upright piano.

Dear Readers, We lost our five indoor cats to various illnesses: kidney failure, intestinal cancer, cancerous tumors, and thyroid issues. We suffered along with them, and took care of them as well as we could. A friend of mine used to tell me that animals let you know when it’s time to put them away. She said that they gave us a lot of joy while they were with us, and that now it was our turn to perform that last act of kindness which most animal lovers know as euthanasia. Our last kitty was 19 years old when he passed away comfortably in our doctor’s office. Probably a year went by before we adjusted to his loss. Then the next phase of assuming roles as animal caregivers appeared.

  • Mama Kitty
Mama Kitty

A lifetime ago, my husband and I enjoyed barbecuing chicken breasts, pork chops, baked potatoes, and vegetables of all types. While my husband barbecued, he threw pieces of meat that he didn’t approve of on our patio. Sometimes he barbecued close to nighttime and it was hard to see what was in our backyard. But he still continued to throw the rejected meat onto the patio and the yard. At the time, he thought it was a good idea to do this because hungry animals could feast on the pieces of meat that we were not using.

Klyban and Marty relaxing on top of my sewing machine cabinet.

One morning when we were watering the backyard with hoses and attached sprinklers (We don’t have a sprinkler system.), we noticed a mama cat and her offspring laying on the grass a few feet away from the sprinklers. The cats were enjoying the cool breeze generated by the water droplets and the gentle wind. We did not chase them away, but when we turned off the sprinklers, they sought refuge under our storage shed. It took us a while, days, to decide whether we would take care of them or find them homes through the Humane Society. It was a difficult decision to make, but we chose to take care of them.

Klyban taking a nap on our sofa.

Eventually, a black and white kitty (Klyban) became our first friend. We took him inside, and he never saw the outdoors again. His mother (Mama Kitty) and his brother (Marty) were next. However, there was only one kitty that did not want to become our friend. He was a beautiful, yellow and white cat, unfortunately, we never saw him again. As animal lovers, my husband and I always hoped that the kitty had found himself a good home. Meantime, Mama Kitty, Klyban, and Marty were happy inside our home. Our vet examined them and told us that they were part of the Fort Worth Spay and Release Program. That’s when we realized that our pets were feral cats. Worried that we might attract more needful animals, we quit barbecuing.

Marty resting on my bed.

The years went by. Mama Kitty and Marty were still not very friendly, but Klyban was. He spent a lot of time on my lap and slept with me. Eventually, about 3 years ago, I got Marty to share my lap with Klyban. When we lost Klyban and Mama Kitty, our hearts broke, and tears flowed down our cheeks. They had been our friends for a long time, about 12 years. Three years ago, Marty became extra-friendly. I suspect it’s because he misses Klyban. Now, without any coaxing, he sits on my lap when I eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner on my recliner near a small occasional table. (Fibromyalgia is responsible for this eating procedure.) When it’s time for me to go to bed, Marty hops on the bed to be by me and gives me a bunch of gentle head-butts. I give him a bunch of pats, and tell him that I love him. However, I don’t let him sleep with me because Marty has not learned that his claws are retractable. I know he means well, but I have a few scratches on my arms and legs.

Marty is probably 16 years old, and in good health. Unfortunately, he has had dental problems. In a few days, he will have a dental consult. Depending on the findings, he might undergo dental surgery or a teeth cleaning. I pray that if he needs anesthesia, he will be okay because he is a senior Kitty. Even though, it took him a long time to show us that he loves us, he has become a lovable, friendly Kitty. And I often wonder: “Where did his ‘feral attribute’ go?”

Dear readers, please pray that Marty’s dental visit is successful and that the blood work shows that he is well. Thank you for reading my blog. Stay healthy and have a wonderful day! Maria E. Murray

Today is National Pet Day

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I have two adorable pets, a cat, Marty, and a foxhound, Twister. We love them!

Marty is probably 14 years old. He used to be a feral cat, but we turned him and his brother, Klyban, and their mother into indoor cats. Klyban and Marty were very fond of each other, almost inseparable. They played, and when they rested, slept together.

                                Marty and Klyban sleeping together

Mamma Kitty

Klyban playing inside a cardboard box

One morning, about 3 years ago, Mamma Kitty suddenly vomited blood. My husband rushed her to our vet, but he called me to give me the sad news: ” Mamma didn’t make it.”  We miss her a lot. She was an amazing cat, who loved to play with her toys. Many times we heard her meowing to them as if they were her children.

Unfortunately, last year we lost Klyban to lymphoma on June 26, 2019. Losing him hit me and my husband very hard. I’m sure that his death affected Marty, also. Marty was not himself for several months, and I realized that this behavior was probably due to missing Klyban. I can understand how Marty must have felt. I cried rivers when Klyban passed away and found it very hard to not see him sleeping on my bed, on the recliner, and sofa;  walking around the house; and playing with Marty. For several months, every  time I thought about him, tears flowed from my eyes because I no longer had him. ( I experienced the same feelings when Mamma died, but at least she didn’t suffer from undergoing cancer treatments.)

My husband and I spend as much time as possible with Marty after Klyban’s passing because we understood that there was a possibility that he was still grieving. It wasn’t until recently, perhaps this past month, that Marty started to act like himself. He sleeps and has become very affectionate. This behavior probably means he has accepted the loss of  his sibling. (I’m not done with losing Klyban or Mamma; however,  Marty and my husband keep me happy, and so does our foxhound, Twister.

Twister/www.memurray.wordpress.com

Twister

Twister is a rescue dog. When we found him in our backyard, he was very sick.  We took him to our vet and learned he had steroid responsive meningitis. Twister underwent treatments and survived, and now he’s been part of the family for approximately 11 years. 

My final comment or recommendation on National Pet Day is to love and take good care of your pets. They love you unconditionally and make your life merrier when it hits a rough spot. 

Happy Thanksgiving Day

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Apple Pie

Thursday is Thanksgiving Day, a time to give thanks for everything that God has given us: life, food, lodging, a job, friends, a family, and living in the USA!

Every morning when I wake up, I thank God that, even though, I have a chronic illness I’m alive to see my husband, Twister, my dog, and Marty, my cat. Moreover, I thank God for giving me the strength to make everyday a wonderful day!

Marty’s Eyelid Update

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Marty’s eyelid after surgery.

Marty had been scratching or rubbing on the sutures because the strands formed loops that pestered his eye. My husband got brave (Marty will scratch you without warning.), and trimmed some threads.

The eyelid looked irritated. That was worrisome, so we took Marty for a checkup. But apparently Marty was okay. In three weeks, the sutures should dissolve, and the eyelid should heal.

Marty’s stitches were removed!

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Marty

 Marty’s eyelids were partially sewn together. He had a small opening at the side of his eye next to his nose. He could see through this small aperture. Now that the sutures have been removed, he’s probably more than happy that he can open his eye.

Marty’s eyelid tumor

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Marty sitting in hall.

Marty recently had surgery to remove a growth on his left eyelid. He’s due for a checkup with his surgeon this week. I’ll have more information about the status of his eye and the results of the tumor biopsy. I hope his tumor is benign. Please pray for Marty. Thank you!

The Swinger

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Marty/www.memurray.com/www.wordPress.com

Marty

Marty

“The Swinger” is the nickname that my husband and I gave to our cat, Marty.

When Marty lived in our backyard as a feral cat, we tried to befriend him by trying to pat him. But each time we tried, he would quickly turn around and swing at us with a paw. Hence, that’s how he acquired the nickname. Now, he’s strictly an indoor cat, but his swinging habit hasn’t disappeared, yet, he loves pats!