Ruth .... Retreat

I will be on retreat all weekend.  Leaving in about 2 hours... heading to Kansas City.  Let's keep each other in prayer.

Week 6: Reading (p.106-133) & Discussion Question

Reading Assignment:

Week 6: April 9, 1911 – End of February 20, 1913 (p. 106-133)

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you have a difficult time focusing on Eternity? If so, why do you think that is, and what do you think you can do about it?

2. Feel free to comment on anything from this past week!

Read More: http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/topics/book-club

For More Information on the Book Club: http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/csd-book-club

Read more: http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2013/09/03/from-here-to-eternity#ixzz2drUUdwM2

Corrine…week 5…pgs. 80 to 106

This is the time period when her life became sedentary and her resolutions included recollectedness, being an apostle by prayer, practice and accept mortifications, let her actions be words and example, “abandonment and full consent to His will in present illness and inactivity”.   She said that “God alone can make of this emptiness (inactivity when ill) …a work of redemption for me and for others”.  She knew she’d have to be on guard for agitation and irritability.  Later she could see that God had been working in her and a “mysterious work of grace” had been taking place in her soul.  Then she even says Thank You!  “Blessed art Thou, O Lord, for all this pain, through which Thou hast allowed me to expiate my faults, draw near to Thy Heart, and also to obtain, I hope, many spiritual graces for souls and for those I love.”  She is certainly an example of how to accept and praise God for illness or suffering or any cross and to work WITH it instead of fighting it.  And she said “let none of this precious grace of suffering be lost to me or to the souls Thou lovest”.  Again Elisabeth said “There are moments in life when we must look neither ahead nor behind nor to the side, but contemplate only the cross God offers us, from which will flow great graces for ourselves and others.”    And she said, “O Lord, I offer Thee all; make of my trials a work of expiation, reparation, and prayer; help me to practice complete renunciation and to preserve peace of heart”.     “I bind these things into a sheaf, Lord, and come humbly behind the shepherds to lay it in the manger…Accept my burden of afflictions and use them for the good of souls and for Thy glory.”  Oh to be recollected like her and to be able to focus on reparation for sin and for the good of souls and God’s glory!

On pg. 95 when she said “I want one thing only: that Thy Will may be done in me and by me. More and more, I seek, and desire to seek, only one end: to promote Thy greater glory by the realization of Thy designs for me.”    This reminded of what I’d read in Navarre Bible commentary concerning Matthew Ch. 2…  I’ll backtrack a bit….    In the beginning of the gospel of Matthew I noticed how many “dreams” affected Joseph’s actions.  When Mary was with child of the Holy Spirit and Joseph considered sending her away quietly….an angel appeared to him in a dream giving him direction.  After the Magi came through and Herod was threatened by a “king” being born….  After the Magi departed, and angel appeared to Joseph in a dream….telling him to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt.  Later, in Egypt, another dream and they were to return to Israel.  Then he was alerted in a dream to not go to Bethlehem for fear of the ruler, so they settled in Nazareth.  Okay….back to the Navarre commentary….Joseph had “learned to work within the divine plan”. Just think how many times “his” plans were changed….and he listened…and he did it right away.  He didn’t mull it over and think about it and……  Sorry so long winded…but when I read Elisabeth’s “realization of Thy designs for me” it reminded me of Joseph following God’s designs for the Holy Family.  How slow I am, mulling things around and looking for excuses!

It was something to think about when Elisabeth meditated on the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves.  “Jesus Christ takes this lifeless thing, this tiny, coarse object, this bread, and by His blessing, it becomes food and life for the entire crowd. Why should I not be, in these same divine hands, the poor instrument for another such work? Why should I not be given by God to souls to uphold and revive them?...I will let myself be distributed by Him to souls…..Multiply my prayers, sacrifices, and acts of charity! Let these fragments of Thy love in me become warmth and comfort for the spiritually starved, until the blessed time when Thou, the one living Bread, shalt come Thyself to revive and save them.”  We creatures were created in the image and likeness of God.  Just think of the possibilities for us helping the spiritually starved if we would learn to work with in His divine plan.

Elaine-week 5

Elisabeth refers to her illness as a spiritual retreat.  (I hope I remember this the next time I am ill.)
She considers herself a "prayer apostle".
She vows to be cheerful at all times, to pray without tiring.  She resolves to be silent and to exercise humility.  She wants her "interior joy to shine forth".
She believes there are two foundations for all christian life: penance and humility.  She expresses her love for the church, its history, and its traditions.
Her resolutions revolve around prayer, penance, charity and almsgiving.

Question for the week:
I do not talk about myself.  I hate being the center of attention.  I prefer to sit back and observe and listen.
I have never been vocal about my faith.  I've always felt that the way I live and the way I treat others and the example I set tells more about my faith than if I try to vocalize it.  For one thing, it turns people off if they are in a different place regarding their own faith.

Ruth - Week 5 p 80-106

Week 5:  Reflection

p. 80:   I had never thought of taking a motto for my whole life. Elisabeth took "to reestablish all things in Christ." No small task.  She attacked the implimentation of this motto by seetting "goals".
  *  1st, to re-establish her soul in Christ, by prayer, Communion, and meditation; then, her whole life, by penance, charity and the exercise of humility.
  *  To re-establish in people's minds the idea of duty and of family, to prepare their sould .... to solicity the sivine summons by fervent prayers, sacrifices, and her trials.
  *  to make Jesus loved and His Church known, to pour out all efforts untiringly without looking for any results.
Now I wanted to halt and say, "WOW!".  That last line really did not to pour out all efforts untiringly without looking for results.  We are results people but we do know that all results are in the Lord's hand and in His perfect timing.   (But don't we want everything in OUR time?)
While sick, stating that a new life was imposed on her by the Divine Will, she still resolved and committed to deeper recollectedness, to be an apostle of pryaer, to make amends by suffering, sacrifice and mortifications. She wanted to act by words and example upon those who came to her.  She wanted to keep her soul always open to those souls to wished to confide in her, to welcome daily visitors with serenity, to be pleasant and to work and read seriously.
Okay, ladies!  Doesn't this describe what we all want to be and how we all want to live while sick or in good health.  She was always about the care of souls, her own and that of others.   Is that our focus? I have to admit that that is not always in the forfront of my thoughts always I desire and yearn for it.

On p. 82
Elisabeth gives.......
The two foundations of all Christian life:
   Penance and humility
The formula of all Christian life:
   Contemplation, then action, in sacrifice
Is that not something to remember?  ....application is not easy but what fruit this would bear in each of our lives.   We are on the narrow path if we impliment these.
I also liked the statement that "Prayer is the highter form of activity; through it we act directly upon God.  I thought this statement was worth reflecting on.
I loved how Elisabeth wanted to do all for God rather than for the respect or notice of others. She desired to look to Jesus alone for everything.
She desired to hunt down "self" to its last perfidious hiding place and to speak as little as possible of herself.
p. 84 States that while ill she still did not allow herself the slightest movement of impatience, and she fought unceasingly against every inner temptation to irritability. She even wanted to punish and humble herself afterward failing in this area.
I think I can use this as a bit of my Examiniation of Conscience.

p. 85  Powerful thought......"Is there no sweetness in being on our Savior's Cross and, so close to Him, obtaining the grace of salvation or conversion for others, for souls that are greatly loved?  

Maybe I will post more on this section later but this last line calls me to stop and meditation again. It is powerful.

Corrine Week 4 pgs 51-79

There is so much that it is hard to sort out what is most striking to me….but here goes……

Elisabeth said....Pg. 53 “I want to be a Christian, Christian to the marrow, and transformed by grace.”  I need to be open to God’s grace that is there “waiting” for me to open up my heart.

Elisabeth said....Pg. 55 “With Felix I should be more even-tempered; with everyone kind and forgetful of myself.”  Do I ever need lessons in this area!  I seem to be getting more selfish as I age and that is scary. 

Pg. 68 Elisabeth speaks of the total necessity of meditation, each day, as daily food or I will be weak. She says “Meditation prepares the daily toil; to be alone with God helps us later in the midst of people, and enables us to distribute among them some of our morning provision.” That goes along with what I mentioned in my last post concerning St. Francis de Sales morning exercises.  I notice a difference when I don’t start my day with Mass….I kind of just wander into the day and I certainly need direction.

In her Resolutions….after she speaks of piety resolutions she next…………”First my duty to my dear husband…”  I now recall hearing somewhere else that our husband should be high on our priorities, not just if they aren’t in our faith.  As to our two children who are away from our faith….one lives 400 miles away, the other only 90 miles but may as well be 400 for the few times we see him…..we aren’t face to face real often, so it is phone calls and emails. When we are together it is usually multiple people instead of on individual basis.  I don’t know that our children, at this point in life, push my tolerance, but as I said above, I need to be more even-tempered with my husband, who retired  5 years ago and I’m still adjusting, selfish me.

Elisabeth keeps saying in different ways…..we have “to await the hour willed by Him for the souls I love”.

My hope and my prayer-----Pg. 78 as Elisabeth said..  “To learn from the Heart of Jesus the secret of love for souls and deep knowledge of them: how to touch their hearts without making them smart and to dress their wounds without reopening them; to give oneself to them and yet reserve oneself; to disclose Truth in its entirely and yet to make it known according to the degree of light that each soul can bear. The knowledge required for the apostolate can be had only from Jesus Christ, by encountering Him in the Eucharist and in prayer.”

Ruth: Week 4 reflection & discussion question pp. 50-79

Did I tell you earlier in a post that I am totally enjoying our book and your posts?  Well, if I did not before, I am now.  

This book blog is a real shot in my spiritual life as I can relate so much to Elisabeth's committment, struggles and efforts.  She is definitely on a deeper walk with the Lord but the Lord is always challenging us to go deeper.  Elisabeth realizes that the work that must be done is on the inside.

Three phrases that Elisabeth repeated from the depths of her soul were:  I believe, I adore, I hope.  She wanted "to be Christian, Christian to the marrow, and transformed by grace."  Isn't that what we all want? ...to be able to say that we no longer live but Christ lives in us.

Elisabeth did not want outside circumstance to affect interior resolutions. She did not want others to see the hurt some offenses caused her.  She was a silent sufferer who intentionally hid her pain while making the lives of those she loved more pleasant. That is tough to do!  What a challenge but I think her depth of prayer and God's grace allowed her to desire and accomplish this difficult feat.

On page 56, I found a challenge for us.....  "May this be a good year for souls and for me; may at least one heart know and love Jesus Christ through me. For that it would be well worthwhile to live and suffer and wait.".... and on p. 57.... "and ask for me only the grace to love God more and more and to be a most humble apostle of Jesus Christ."   Yes, Lord!

She offered:
  1.  Silence in regard to trials
  2.  Silence about her interior life and what God has done unceasingly for her
  3.  Silence about her soul and all supernatural things, about her hopes and faith.
  4.  Resolution to do what God wills, not desireing the task that does not belong to her.
  5.  Preach Jesus Christ only through prayers, sufferings and example.

"But how we need God! And how quickly we should be conquered without His grace!"  We can't live the above without God.

I think we can all work on these but we must also discern what God is calling us to in the circumstances of our lives.  Basically, following Elisabeth's example, we should be living our lives so that people will want to know the source of our strength and love.

Our former pastor emphasised that we should offer penances throughout each day.  Here, on page 59, she says, "Apart from penances prescribed by the Church, I must perform my own, unlike other people's.  I will accept and offer to God those visits and receptions, the contact with indifferent people, those material occupations that are more painful to me than ever during this month.... I will do it so that God alone will know."  She is basically offering up the struggles of her daily life in silence which is something we can all do.  I think the encouragement of this book and the example of others helps me to remember to do this.  The Spirit works in many ways.

There is so much to touch on but one last thing that I want to highlight was the idea of a "wholly interior retreat".  She says, "no one shall know what I am doing or suffer for my spiritual gain. I must, on the contrary, try to be more cheerful and serenely gentle, so that if anyone should by chance guess that God has been this way, such a discovery would not dishonor Him."  Wow!  Making a daily totally interior retreat... not going anywhere special, not saying special prayers but offering each moment, everything we are doing, suffering, etc. to the Lord in an attitude of special unity of spirit with Jesus.  In a way this is the call of daily life but this daily interior retreat phrase make it sound even more intentional.  We can "preach by prayer, sacrifice, and example"daily.

p.63  "O Jesus Christ, my Savior and my God!"

Yikes!  I just see Elizabeth's "Rule of Life" which is she intented to practice each day. Her Rule of Life here was listed as:
  1.  Morning and evening prayer.
  2.  Meditation
  3. Attend Mass often especially on Fridays.
  4.  Go to Confession and Communion often...whenever it can be done without troubling or displeasing anyone.
  
We belong to Teams of Our Lady, a marriage enrichment national organization, and one of the endeavors we are suppose to do is to have a "Rule of Life".....Intentional improvement....
People often struggle with having a "Rule of Life" so I think I will share this page with them.  

Discussion Questions:

1. Are there loved ones in your life that push your tolerance beyond normal limits?  How do you ensure that you provide light for them, as opposed to pushing them further into darkness?

 ..... Yes, there are loved one who I struggle with and tend to avoid rather than shower with love. For my "Rule of Life" with Teams, several time I have intended to have greater contact with the loved ones  so that I could, by my actions, show the Lord's love but my good intentions don't accomplish much. Maybe this is a call to recommit to this "Rule of Life".

 

Week 5: Reading Assignment & Discussion starters

Reading Assignment:

Week 5: August 23, 1907 – End of March 17, 1911 (p. 80-106)

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you speak too freely about yourself? If so, what do you think about the notion of Silence?

2. Feel free to comment on anything from this past week!

Read more: http://rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/2013/08/27/feeling-like-expressing-yourself-think-again#ixzz2eFZUfBYU

Elaine-week 4

Elisabeth had been deeply hurt by someone who had betrayed her confidence.  (which I'm sure we can all relate to).  She vowed to be more careful in the future as to who she let into her heart. 

I liked her expression of not wanting to be a "spiritual chatterer".  She vowed "to pray, to act, to work, and to love".

She talks about a spiritual retreat- practicing penance and charity without being noticed.  She feels like a "privileged child" because of all the graces and blessings God has bestowed upon her.

Elisabeth doesn't complain about her sufferings, but instead feels that they have made her life exceptional.  She always puts others first.

Concerning this week's question:  I have a certain family member who repeatedly says hurtful things.  I've gotten to the point of my life when I choose to no longer allow myself to be a punching bag.  So I tend to distance myself from that person.  I love her very much and pray for her.  I ask that God relieve the turmoil inside her that is obviously causing such negative behavior.

Carol -- Week 3

The more I read this book, the more I am amazed at how mirrored my home life is to Elisabeth's.  I offer up daily all blessings (these include the crosses He sends to me) in thanksgiving and praise to Him for everything He has done for me past, present and future.  Of course, Elisabeth is one better than me.  She tried not to let on about her problems, and I can't seem to whine enough about them.  This is one area I need to improve on.

Elisabeth tried to never offend anyone while professing her faith.  My kids think I'm a crackpot if I suggest they offer up their problems.  I pray daily for them, also.  Elisabeth states on pg. 26 "to live is to fight, to suffer, and to love."  Hopefully, I am following this advice.

Ruth once told me that her spiritual advisor said that we should read and meditate more on the Bible during Adoration.  Elisabeth made the comment about meditating on the Bible and understanding it better (pg.34).  I am also reading a book about the Rosary right now and it states in there that we should say it slowly and meditate on the mysteries.  It takes me almost the whole hour just for the Rosary now, but I feel the Lord working in me even more these days.  Since the mysteries are based on the Bible, I kill two birds with one stone.

Week 5: delayed.

I am waiting until Saturday to post the reading assignment for Week 5 because none of us have had the time to post on Week 4 yet.  
Life is busy but I am really enjoying and being challenged by our book.
Let us prayer for one another.
Ruth

Ruth: Week 3 .... part 2

On the top of page 27 Elisabeth tells that she is at a turning point in her life and wants to better serve the holy cause of God  and of souls.   She tells that the changes in her soul were WILLED by God and she went where Jesus led... He who desires her whole soul.  He lead her in to Himself by unlooked-for ways.  .... Isn't that for all of use in various degrees.   There is a prayer I like in which I pray that others may be made holier than I as long as I become as holy as the Lord desires.
There is so much union between God and Elisabeth.  It is beautiful and she had a deep unalterable respect for souls.
I love how Elisabeth calls the pope the "trustee of the Eternal Word".  That phrase contains alot.
Like so many of us Elisabeth suffered by the complete indifference of those around her toward the greatest things of life and the soul.
Elisabeth prayed that God work in her so completely an interior renewal that others shall feel its influence.  Wow!
I want all these things but still pass by the interior call to spend more time in prayer, etc.  .... Yet the Lord uses this faulty soul.  How much more could he use me?
Elisabeth's secret is no secret.... she tried as much as possible not to sacrifice her daily meditation time.
Her life was filled with suffering showing that a life of prayer and service, of close union with the Lord, does not guarantee an easy life.  Elisbeth offered her suffering to God in silence for those she loved and for all souls.
Lord, help me, as you did Elisabeth, to "hole firmly each day to my resolutions: daily meditation, regular and thorough work, and quiet action."

Discussion Starters:

1. Do you have loved ones that have left or have never been in communion with the Church?  What has your approach been for leading them Home?  

Ruth's response:   I guess I have neglected their souls in many ways. I continualy pray for them but have neglected to maintain intimate contact with them.  They do not live close and their is often so mockery of the faith or aspects of it.  In Cursillo there was a saying that I think is so true yet I neglect it when it comes to family members (Make a friend, be a friend, bring that friend to Christ.) I have failed to live up to short lived efforts to call one of them each week or write one card of letter a week, etc.  All nice thoughts but useless if I don't follow through. .... Time to recommit.  Lord, please direct me.

Ruth: Week 3 (Response.... part 1)

Ruth:  Week 3  (Response... part 1)

One of the nice things about getting my blogging done is that after I post my reflection I read the blogs of the other authors on the same readings.  It is always interesting to read the thoughts of others on the same readings.  It reminds me of how all the Catholic priests in the world preach on the same scriptures each Sunday yet all the homilies are different.   Anyway, I look forward to reading all the posts on week 3.

Right at the beginning of this section I underlined on p. 21 that, "One must have acquired in youth the habit of work, organized one's life and assumed the interior governance of oneself...."  Well I can say that I have these for the most part yet I am not disciplined enough when it comes to maintaining my prayer and scripture reading time.  In this week's section I found that Elisabeth also had to recommit herself to these over and over. It gave me a bit of comfort and challenge to be like Elisabeth ....to stay committed and to recommit when I falter.

Elisabeth, on p. 23 stated that she recommitted herself "to spread more life and light among the minds and souls I encounter along my way."  For years I have prayed "Here I am Lord, use me" and He has but it is still an interior hunger to help lead souls to the Lord and His Church.  Elisabeth also desired to work for the Lord and souls without her even realizing she was doing so. She wanted all her actions to be used for the good of others.  Do I "listen and respond" to al the inner promptings so as to be used without even realizing it?  I want to.

Elisabeth handled suffering so well.  She offered her suffering for the souls of those dear to her. She states (p. 23) that she knew that "Nothing is lost, not one grief or one tear." I have so much growing to do in this area.  To turn everything over so quickly as to not loose one tear or grief.   Wow! I am certainly not there yet.

Elizabeth, was an involved woman. A woman in the world but not of it. A woman who loved her husband, socialized, traveled yet she recommitted herself to "better serve the holy cause of God and of souls" in the mist of her life. (p. 27). She solemnly consecrated herself to God and renewed her consecration.  She was following our Lord where ever the Spirit lead.  Her union with the Lord brought her into the living presence of Christ ..... who took possession of her soul for all eternity ... to whom she gave her future.   She was grounded and lived out of that grounding.

Too many interruptions.  I will finish tomorrow.   Good night.

Corrine, Week 3   p. 21 to 51

Elisabeth sure wants to open up her heart to Felix so her deep spiritual life would be known and shared with him…but she goes to God to pour out her soul, since she is resolved to not nag him.  The great spiritual separation between her and Felix is painful.

 

Her journal entry March 9, 1904 (pg. 35-36) certainly summarizes Christian Living!    Then in parag. 2 “Those things are better carried out that have first been prepared in deliberation with the Master and the Friend”…………that reminded me of the Morning Exercise in St. Francis de Sales’ The Devout Life, Ch. X, summarized:   Morning prayer is a general preparation for all the duties of the day.

1.       Thank and adore God for His mercy in preserving me through the night.

2.       Ask pardon if I’ve offended Him in the night.

3.       This day is given to me that I may gain the future day of eternity. Use this day to that end.

4.       Anticipate the tasks and occasions that I will experience today for serving God.

5.       Consider potential temptations that I may be in danger of offending my God.

6.       Make a resolution to embrace all means whereby I may serve God and to resist all that may hinder my salvation and the glory of God.

7.       How am I going to carry out this resolution. Consider beforehand how I will execute it….people I will encounter…  “For instance, if I know that I shall be obliged to come into contact with some hasty, passionate person, I will not only resolve not to be irritated, but I will prepare to meet him with gentle, soothing words, or provide the intervention of someone else who can control him.”

8.       Humble myself before God…by myself I can do nothing. Offer my heart and all its desires to His Divine Majesty, ask that He will take it under His protection, strengthen it for His service.

9.       Call on the BVM, Guardian Angel, and saints to help me

10.   All these spiritual acts should be performed before leaving my room.

In her journal entry that day she also mentioned…..”to love without tiring”.   The virtue of fortitude is needed in that case.  I do need that virtue to be developed!  Or is it zeal also!

In her May 3, 1904 entry……She mentioned confidence in the Church and a great hope for her country.  Then proceeds “My God, give us ‘sons of light’; let there arise apostles with burning hearts to go to the little ones wholeheartedly and bring them truth and love. Thou alone canst save and transform. Give to me, weak and little as I am, some of Thy divine strength, and come to me so that I may do much good to souls.”  That sounds like 2013….in our Church, our country, my family!!

Our oldest son (37) is married and has our two grandchildren. They practice the Faith.  Our daughter (34) is married…before they got married 5 yrs. ago by an officiant, she said God would not be mentioned in ceremony so her husband wouldn’t be uncomfortable. During her college yrs. I thought her Sunday Mass going or not going, was laziness. She’d attend with us when home.  So this was a blow.  Our youngest son (31) lost his faith in college also, but I can’t see a glimmer there. He is science and very well read.  My kids and husband are accepting of me and my bible studies, etc.  Youngest son will even sort of discuss some “scholarly thing” from bible if I bring it up, but he has his answers to my short discussions about faith. I’m short on words.  Our daughter, I periodically send a well thought out email with scripture ….so she has time to digest it….she doesn’t like “in the face” stuff and I can’t think on the spot either.  I pray allot because I don’t know what else to do.  They all live away from here so I am not alone with them very often…so once in awhile I bring up our Faith, but I know I can’t cram it down their throat, nor nag because that would really close the door.  Prayer, prayer, prayer AND work on my interior!

 

Elaine- week 3

Elisabeth loved learning and expanding her knowledge.  It helped her to know more about other cultures and to understand their differences.

It struck me when Elisabeth mentioned that she didn't always feel the joy and peace of God's presence.  This I can relate to.  I have felt God's presence the greatest in times of extreme duress.  During those times, I've had such a warm feeling of peace and tranquility flow over me.  God is there with me letting me know that all will be well.  Regardless, like Elisabeth, I know God is always there whether I feel him or not.

I truly believe as Elisabeth did that we touch more souls by example than by words.

I admire Elisabeth's ability to outwardly project joy while suffering extreme sadness internally.  Unlike her, when I am upset, my whole being projects despair.

Her daily meditation gets her closer to God.  She also mentions how peaceful she feels after confession.

A recent homily mimicked one of Elisabeth's prayers.  Our priest said that we should ask Jesus to shower us with his love and blessings and ask the Holy Spirit to shower us with his graces daily so that others may see Jesus shining through us.  She in turn asked God to use her as a vessel to give forth his light and warmth.

We need to continue loving in spite of disappointment and indifference.  I'm sure we have all experienced being hurt or embarrassed by our children or others who are closest to use.  We just have to keep praying, and praying, and praying.  Sooner (or perhaps later),  God will see that they come around.  It's all in his time.

I also have grieved the loss of a sibling which was extremely difficult for me.  It has only been two years, but I still miss him terribly.  My brother was such a kind and gentle soul.  He suffered many hardships and difficulties in his lifetime, but his faith never wavered.  He had nothing, yet he had everything.  He touched everyone he met.  I know God has rewarded him greatly for his devotion and love.

To touch on this week's question,  we have four children, the oldest is 39 and the youngest is 29.  Only the oldest has remained faithful to the Catholic faith.  It hurts us deeply, but again, we just continue to pray for them.  Our youngest did tell me that even though he doesn't practice, he is still thankful that he was raised Catholic as it taught him right from wrong and taught him respect for others.  I have immense respect for my son-in-law.  His father was Catholic and his mother was Jewish, yet religion did not play a role in his upbringing.  He attends mass faithfully with our daughter and truly loves the liturgy.   He is being such a wonderful role model for our twin granddaughters.  I am hoping that someday he will convert.