My first blog ever!!

First let me introduce myself. Hello out there my name is Gregory Mussmacher, I created this blog to share with all of you some great advice from a catholic priest named Father Leo, I'll tell you more about him and his effect on my life later, and hopefully great stories that will interest you and inform you as well. Please be patient with me as this is the first time I am attempting this. I will publish every week Father Leo's weekly e-mail blast and write some fictional short stories of my own, I am an amature writer and welcome your comments and feedback on the short stories. I enjoy writing horror and suspense stories, but sometimes a love and romance comes to me, not very often though. I enjoy conversation on theology and politics. I am a devoute catholic and a dedicated to my family. I have a wife and three sweet loveable children.
Now more about Father Leo, he is a catholic priest in the Maryland area and has published a book called "Grace Before Meals". His website is gracebeforemeals.com, I strongly recommend you check it out. He has a tv show and appears all over the country speaking about Family Values and eating. His belief is that famalies should spend more time together in the kitchen preparing meals as well as eating together and sharing there day with one another. This country is failing in many ways I believe because family values are not what they should be or used to be. I'll speak more on this topic at a later date. I wish you all so long for now, God Bless and Semper Fidelis!!




The Healing Power of Family// by Father Leo
This past week I personally witnessed the healing power of a loving family. I’m proud to say, it was my own family! Last week, on the same day as the March for Life, I was torn between going to DC for the March or staying at the Hospital to be with my mother during a major back surgery – a spinal fusion. Needless to say, the whole family was very concerned for her. Originally, I intended to stay at the hospital – just in case. Mother insisted I go to the March. She just asked for my blessing. How humbling is that! I felt more confident going knowing she would not be alone. At a recent family meeting, we all agreed someone would be with mom at every moment. In a special way, my siblings not only took care of mom, but also helped keep my nervous father calm. As a physician, my dad knew the delicate nature of this operation and the difficulties that could ensue. Therefore, my whole family had to rely on the healing power of God more than anything or anyone.

After the surgery, my sisters took the lead in caring for Mom. Please know that all of my family helped in some way, including my aunt who came from Canada. But the girls in the family really brought a special touch to the healing process. The maternal instinct is real! They brushed Mom’s hair, fed her the ice chips, and talked “girl things” just to keep her mind occupied. The early morning after the surgery, I went to the hospital intending to relieve my sister who stayed with Mom all night. My sister, however, decided to stay just a bit longer. It was moving to see my sister’s devotion to mom, even reciting morning prayers for her from Mom’s well-worn prayer book. Then Dad came, followed by my aunt, and later, my brother and other sister would be on hand – a changing of the guards, so to speak.
Even though there was little we could do for my mother on a “physical” level, I could sense how the presence of her family, and the spiritual support gave her some consolation, encouragement, and yes, healing. My gosh, watching my family’s attention to mom even “healed” and consoled me! Maybe that’s the way it is in prayer. Even though we may think prayer has no effect, I realize that just being in God’s presence, as my family was simply with my mother, is efficacious!
I don’t write this blast to brag about my family. We will be the first to admit we’re far from perfect. In the midst of all of our concern for mom, it was easy to become frustrated with one another. But even in those tense moments, when we focused on caring for mom, I also saw the hand of God – even in the messiness of our lives. I recognize how God does not intend for His children to be alone. He wants his children to have a family. He wants His family to have “compassion” – a word that literally means, “to suffer with.”
When watching my sister brush Mom’s hair, or when I saw Dad looking at this patient with more than a doctor’s love, or the grandkids just giving her a hug, I could sense God’s presence in the hospital room. At the same time, I couldn’t help but feel sadness for those people in hospitals, nursing homes, or assisted living who don’t have family members to visit them. I also sensed a deep appreciation for those church volunteers and pastoral visitors who participate in a ministry to visit the lonely and sick members of God’s family. After all, visiting the sick is a virtuous act, a corporal work of mercy.
It is not easy to put our days on hold and take care of the sick, aged, and lonely. It is never easy caring for someone else! Yet in dealing with sick family members, we have an opportunity to be instruments of God’s healing love. Sure, we can get on each other’s nerves. Yes, there are days when we don’t have the time to help as much as we want. True, our patience can always run thin, because we just want that person to get better now. We must admit that a family – because we’re human – will never be perfect. BUT, as God’s family, we can try to be faithful. After all, the solemn vows at weddings remind us that true love for each other does not happen exclusively in good health! In fact, we can “prove” our love when the other is sick.
A family’s love for another is a great source of healing. I can see how God’s family – the Church – is a source of healing love. This past week, I definitely saw how my family, imperfect as we are, helped bring some healing and consolation to Mom. There really is a healing power of the family.
Separated Baby Back Ribs – Fusion Style!
Mom, please forgive me. But in trying to think up a recipe for this week – especially in light of your back operation, the separated bones in your back, and spinal fusion to heal you – a seminarian and I came up with a recipe called: SEPARATED Baby BACK Ribs - FUSION Style! Get it?
Fusion is a culinary technique that blends different cultural ingredients to create, or rather recreate, a recipe with layers of flavors. Now that I think of it, it’s kinda’ like my family. We all bring something different because of our personalities, but in the end, it all comes together.
I decided to use ribs, because this meat can take on many flavors, such as southern barbecue or even Asian-spiced marinade. In this recipe, we’re going to combine sweet and sour, and spicy and cool. This recipe reminds me of my very “spicy” family. It’s also a a light-hearted way to remember mom’s back operation and spinal fusion.Folks, I hope my “making light of the situation” doesn’t come across as “insensitive.” In fact, when I told mom of my recipe idea, it made her laugh! For the recipe, [click here].
A Family Prayer for the Sick
I appreciate all of the people who offered prayers for my mom, especially the people at the March for Life. Mom is doing much better despite some pain and the long road of physical therapy ahead of her. When family members are sick, we may sometimes feel helpless. I know that feeling. The only thing I knew I could really offer my mom were my prayers for her. Thank God for prayers! They work!
I would like the Grace Before Meals families to join me in a prayer for those sick members of God’s family who may feel lonely because no one in their families visit them. Perhaps this prayer will encourage some of our readers to join the local parish ministry that visits the sick in hospitals or nursing homes. We can show how God’s Family consoles the sick with our prayers and our presence!
Let us Pray:
Father in Heaven, help us become Your witnesses of healing love by our prayers, our presence, and our care for the sick. Help us to find You in our sick and lonely brothers and sisters, so that, like the saints who cared for the sick, we can grow in holiness and love. In a special way, heal our sick loved ones. Bring them to good health. As you allow them to share in the sufferings of Your Cross, let the grace of the Cross bring them to eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.Sphere: Related Content