Our Lady of New Helfta - Journal / News

May 15, 2012 Today my youngest niece, Annie Huynh turned one month old. May God bless and shower special graces on this little girl for she has a challenging life ahead of her. Amen.

Last Saturday, we went to Wind Gap, Pennsylvania for my youngest nephew, Andrew’s First Holy Communion. It was a beautiful and blessed time for all of us. It was edifying to witness the little ones welcoming the Lord in the Eucharist for the very first time in their life. Andrew goes to Sacred Heart of Jesus parish of the Diocese of Allentown. Andrew was chosen from the group to do the first Gospel reading. He sure read it well with the heart of his soul. Praise You, Lord for bestowing this gift on him and his brother. They are recognized and taught as gifted children in their school. During the homily, Fr. Francis Nave asked the children a question: “What is more important than First Holy Communion?” Even I tried to find the right answer that would watch with his, but I could not. “The second Holy Communion”, he told them after they tried but failed to read his mind. “It is because you do it for the love of Jesus”, he explained his answer. I thought that was very insightful. With that line of thought, I would say that the last Holy Communion we received is more important than the one before that. The one I am going to receive tomorrow is more important than the one I received today. May You give us, especially those who are wavering in faith and the little ones, the grace to perceive your ever loving and presence in our life, in every moment and step we take while traveling on this spiritual journey, O Lord. Amen.

My sister Diem does well to encourage Andrew and his older brother, Jerod, my God-son to learn and practice their faith. Besides attending Sunday Masses, weekly they go to religious classes. “The best gift you can ever give to your children is to teach them about God and to help them perceive that their love and their faith in God will help them achieve all things in this life”, I often remind her of this sacred truth. Parents play a very important role in the life of faith of their children. May You bless the parents abundantly as they try to guide and bring the children closer to You, dear Lord. Amen.

April 30, 2012 Here I am apologizing for being absent for so long.

Christ has risen indeed. Alleluia!

There have been so many blessings. I am growing through everything whether at prayer/studying or staying active/giving talk; spending time with friends or visiting the sick/the elderly in hospitals/nursing homes. When I say growing, I mean I have learned to recognize my weaknesses, to be humbled by them and to see the need to convert for the love of Him who loves us unconditionally.

Witnessing the ups and downs of elderly friends, their flight and suffering, with them I contemplate often on our human limitation and infirmity: “man, who is merely a breath whose life fades like a passing shadow” (Psalm 144:4); You, O Lord “Make us know the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart.” (Psalm 90:12) Yes, I see: “Common folk are only a breath, great men an illusion. Placed in the scales, they rise; they weigh less than a breath” (Psalm 62:10)

What is the meaning of life? to lose oneself in perfect love for the salvation of all mankind who is to return to their original state in God’s image and likeness by love and for love… We pray for the grace, O Lord!

I have also been writing icons almost daily whenever I have time. It can be fifteen minutes, an hour or a longer period of time. My Godparents generously allow me to use a corner of the sunroom which was recently renovated. The morning sun is ever perfect for an art studio. Most of all, I am free from being bothered by the cats J. With my busy schedule, this is the best I can do if I want to write icon daily. It is not so convenient to go to my studio when I do not have a long period of time. On the third Saturday of Lent, I gave a talk at Morgan Estates the Assisted Living community in town. It was beautiful to be with the residents. I brought several of my icons to show them. By Easter Sunday, I finished four new icons: Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Francis of Assisi, St. John the Baptist and the Crucifixion (I started the last two about four years ago). Accompanied by the saints and angels whom I did awhile back, they were on display in Merton Hall at Genesee Abbey for the community who has helped nourishing my spirit and soul. Then a few weeks after, they were with me when I gave a talk to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) students. “I saw her tears”, said one student about the icon of Our Lady of Tender Compassion as he shed his own when disclosing his struggling as an exile to me…

Yes, it seems I now have a traveling icon chapel. I am grateful for whatever You give me, dear Lord.

I am writing a crucifix shape icon at the meantime (like that of the Abbey Crucifix). My next ones will be St. Bernard, St. John the Forerunner (full size), St. Clare and St. Gertrude. God willing they all will be done by August 2012. I am happy to be able to offer up whatever I endure while writing these icons for those in need.

Thank you all for your support and prayer. God bless us all! Amen.

February 25, 2012 The Lenten season has started. This year it is more special than the year before, and I am sure next year it will be even more special because we are one year closer to our Heavenly HOME!

Today Mother Marija of Holy Annunciation in Sugarloaf, Pennsylvania wrote me: “I wish you a blessed Sunday of the Holy Images and Icons - celebrating the victory of the Church over the iconoclast persecution. You are a prime inheritor of that struggle - and giving us what the holy Fathers wanted - beautiful Images of Christ the Incarnate Word, and so describable in His human nature…” Thank you dear Mother Marija.

Earlier I shared with Mother Marija:

“In my case, however, I am not at all a hermit, and I am neither a true iconographer by definition. I am just trying hard to live the life of the Gospel with all the prayer and the help I can get, and this is my priority. I am almost always busy. However, somehow, the Lord graces me with writing icons. I, therefore, do it in faith and not in confidence that I have become a real iconographer.

We define what an iconographer is, but only God can see to it that the works of our labor through love will bear fruit. I believe, if one has a call, she will see that the Lord has a way to lead her toward that path, including having a desire to serve him through writing icons despite the many obstacles such as thinking she has no artistic talent; no resources; no time, etc. I have gone through so many trials to arrive at this stage. As Abba John Eudes shared with me once that the Spirit will put a desire in a soul so he/she can be ready to accept and respond to the invitation once God begins to shower his graces upon him or her. If the Lord wills it, and we desire to respond generously to it, his holy will will be done! As Saint Bernard emphasized it: "Without doubt the beginning of our salvation is effected by God... But consent and act even if not from us, do not occur without us."”

Yesterday I was inspired to write an icon of our beloved St. Francis of Assisi. Thank you Lord! (Sorry St. Francis. It took me this long to begin writing an icon of yours. You are one of the most humble saints so I know you would not mind at all J ) The same day, I received devastating news that our dear friend Miss Keating fell and broke her hip. She is in her mid 90's. She was living alone in her own home where she was born! There is no close relative! She is the oldest devout Catholic friend I know who always cares for others through prayers and contributions. She is always eager to help those who are in need. No one is a stranger to her. All her life, as a holy lay person, she loves and serves the Lord with joy and grace. I am sure the Lord and his Blessed Mother are taking good care of her. Her surgery was successful, and she is doing well (as of today news). Even though it will be a long recovery, I trust with God's grace, she will endure it for her spirit is strong, and so is her faith. May the Lord have mercy on our dear sister! Then our Br. Christian went through a painful and serious surgery also. Please pray for them both and for all who are suffering as we stay united in God’s love through the Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins and carries our burden.

February 8, 2012 Yes, it has been awhile since I last updated the site. I apologize. The truth is I am getting busier as I grow J and therefore I must take time out and set my priority straight. Besides, most of you who know me well do hear from me via email anyway. Yes, I finally finished Our Lady of Intercessor right before New Year. On January 1, 2012 on the feast of the Mother of God and my 4^th Anniversary of Solemn Vow, Abbot John Denburger blessed the icon in the Abbey Chapter room. I am now working on another icon of the same subject and also of St. John the Baptist.

Right after Christmas, I took Our Lady of Meliore icon home to oil it. That whole process took exactly one month. Soon I will update the link with new pictures. Some of the pictures are of the oiling process and the others are of the written texts in the back of the icon. Then, I got ready for my talk at Holy Annunciation in Sugarloaf, Pennsylvania last weekend. Thank you all for your prayer. My next sharing will be with the Newman students of the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Things are coming along well, and so are my encountering new people and learning experiences. When I was younger and had very little experience in living the faith, I received many consolations directly from the Lord. Now He raises the bar because I get older and I seem to be more mature in spirit. Lately, I often find Him in those whom I encounter, and I have to respond to Him through my dealing with people whether they are easy to deal with. We cannot stand still. We have to grow one step at a time to reach the steps of spiritual perfection where the Lord awaits us in contemplation.

"We seek after virtues for the sake of the reasons of created things, and from these we pass on to contemplation of the Logos who gives them their being. And the Logos is accustomed to manifest himself in the state of prayer. The state of prayer is the condition of passionlessness, which by a supreme love snatches up on high the mind in love with wisdom, the spiritual mind." -- Evagrius Ponticus’ Chapters on Prayer: 52, 53.

Journal (cont.)

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