Kathy’s Quiet Hour

Dear Diary, 

This morning Robert picked us up as usual and right on time for Holy Mass at St. Mary’s — Sister Mary Claire, Mini, and me. It was a quiet ride, and I was glad to begin the day with Jesus.

Father LeRoy read the Gospel where Jesus speaks after washing His disciples’ feet. He said Jesus was teaching us to be humble and to serve others, because even Our Lord knelt down like a servant. Father said it is not enough to understand Jesus’ words. We must try to do them.

On the way home, Robert and Sister Mary Claire talked about how Jesus sends people in His name. Sister said Father LeRoy is one example, because he brings us the Mass, the Gospel, and the sacraments. She said a good teacher or a kind Christian friend can be sent by Jesus too, when they help us know Him better. That made me want to be quicker to listen and kinder in little things.

Mini stayed close all evening, and I thought how nice it is to love faithfully in small ways.

Evening Prayer

Dear Jesus, make me humble and helpful. Help me to receive You in those You send, and to follow Your words with my whole heart. Amen.

Love,

Kathy

Today’s Gospel Reading

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 13:16-20

When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me. From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Jesus Came as Light

Dear Diary,

Today Robert picked us up for Church, and Sister Mary Claire, Mini, and I were glad to go to St. Mary’s together. Mini stayed close, and everything felt quiet and peaceful, like Littlemore was listening.

Father LeRoy read the Holy Gospel from Saint John. Jesus said, “I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.” Father explained that Jesus did not come to condemn the world, but to save it. That made my heart feel very safe.

On the way home, Sister Mary Claire said that when Jesus speaks, He is giving us the words of the Father. His words are not ordinary words. They are words that lead to eternal life.

I thought about how a lamp helps a person walk through a dark room without being afraid. Jesus is much more than a lamp. He is the true Light. I want to believe Him, listen to Him, and follow His light every day.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, Light of the world, shine in my heart today and always. Help me listen to Thy words, obey them with love, and never choose darkness when Thou art calling me into Thy light. Please bless Father LeRoy, Robert, Sister Mary Claire, Mini, and me. Amen.

Love,

Kathy

Today’s Gospel Reading

Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.

And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.

Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.

And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Kathy’s Diary Gospel Page

The Gospel for Tuesday, April 28, 2026 is John 10:22–30.

Dear Diary,

This morning started at 38 degrees, and it felt like winter had come back for one last look at Littlemore before going away for good. The grass looked cold, and Mini hurried along as if she thought spring had forgotten its manners.

At Holy Mass, Father LeRoy read the Gospel where Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice.” In his homily, Father said that belonging to Jesus means learning to know His voice, not only when everything is easy, but even when the air is cold and the world feels uncertain. Jesus does not speak like a stranger. He speaks like the Good Shepherd, and He holds His sheep so safely that no one can snatch them from His hand.

I thought about that after we came home. Mini knows our voices so well, and she can tell when I am calling her with love. Father LeRoy said our souls must become that way with Jesus. We have to listen for Him in prayer, at Mass, in the Gospel, and in the quiet little moments of the day.

Tonight I am glad Jesus did not say His sheep must be clever or brave all by themselves. He said they hear His voice and follow Him, and He gives them eternal life. That makes me feel safe, like being held in hands that never get tired.

Evening Prayer

Dear Jesus, Good Shepherd of my soul, help me know Thy voice and follow Thee every day. Hold Sister Mary Claire, Robert, Father LeRoy, Mini, and me close in Thy hands, and never let us wander far from Thee. Amen.

Love,

Kathy

Today’s Reading — John 10:22–30

At that time the feast of the dedication was kept in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. The Jews therefore came round about Him, and said to Him: How long dost Thou hold our souls in suspense? If Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

Jesus answered them: I speak to you, and you believe not: the works that I do in the name of My Father, they give testimony of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep.

My sheep hear My voice: and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them life everlasting; and they shall not perish for ever, and no man shall pluck them out of My hand. That which My Father hath given Me is greater than all: and no one can snatch them out of the hand of My Father. I and the Father are one.

I am The Good Shepherd

Dear Diary,

This morning it was 53 degrees when Robert picked up Sister Mary Claire, Mini, and me at the mailbox for Holy Mass at St. Mary’s.

At Mass, Father LeRoy read today’s holy Gospel from Saint John, where Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.” Father said that Our Lord did not only say He would watch over His sheep, but that He would lay down His life for them. That made the whole church feel very still to me, because it means Jesus did not love us from far away. He came close to us, knew us, and gave Himself for us.

Father LeRoy explained that a hired man runs away when danger comes, because the sheep do not really belong to him. But Jesus never runs away from us. He sees every wolf that frightens our souls, every temptation, every sorrow, and every danger. He stays. He guards. He calls us by name. Sister Mary Claire said that is why we must learn His voice in prayer, in the Gospel, and in our conscience, so we will not follow strange voices that lead us away.

On the way home, Robert said he liked how Father LeRoy explained that Jesus laid down His life freely. Nobody forced Him. He gave His life because He loved us. Sister Mary Claire said that is one of the most beautiful parts of the Gospel, because Our Lord is not only strong enough to save us, but loving enough to want to save us.

I held Mini close and thought about sheep knowing their shepherd. Mini knows my voice even when I speak softly, and she comes running when I call her. I hope my soul can be like that with Jesus. I hope I will know His voice right away, and not wait until I am lost or frightened.

Tonight I am thankful that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He knows His sheep, and He knows me too.

Evening Prayer

Dear Jesus, my Good Shepherd, please keep me close to You. Help me hear Your voice and follow You every day. Do not let me run after strange voices or wander away from Your love. Watch over Sister Mary Claire, Robert, Father LeRoy, Mini, and all Your sheep tonight. Amen.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 10:11-18

Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Good Shepherd Sunday

Dear Diary,

Robert picked the three of us up for church this morning—Sister Mary Claire, Mini, and me—and we were glad to be together for Holy Mass at St. Mary’s. Mini sat close and behaved so nicely, as if she knew it was Good Shepherd Sunday.

Father LeRoy read the holy Gospel from Saint John, where Jesus says that the sheep know the shepherd’s voice and follow him because he calls them by name. He said Our Lord was teaching us that He is the Shepherd who knows every soul. Jesus does not frighten us or trick us. He calls us lovingly, and He walks before us so we will know the way.

After Mass, Sister Mary Claire explained it some more. She said Jesus also called Himself the gate for the sheep. A gate keeps danger out, but it also opens to good pasture. That made me think how safe it is to belong to Jesus. He is the way in, the way out, and the One who gives life to our souls.

On the way home, I thought about Mini too. She knows my voice right away, even if I only say her name softly. If a stranger called her, she would not trust it the same way. Sister said our souls should be like that with Jesus. We must listen for His voice in prayer, in the Gospel, and in the Church, and not run after voices that lead us away from Him.

This afternoon I thought I would have to keep waiting for Sister to translate the next prayer for me, because old German words take time, of course, and Sister never hurries holy things. But then she surprised me. She came to my desk with her gentle smile and said she had something ready after all. It was the 23rd Psalm, though in the old German Catholic Bible it is called Psalm 22.

I could hardly believe it, because that is the very psalm about the Lord being my Shepherd. Sister had written it in simple English for me, so I could understand it and record it in my own little voice. She said sometimes Our Lord gives a person just the right prayer on just the right day, and I think He did today. It felt as if Good Shepherd Sunday had followed me all the way home from St. Mary’s and right into my room.

So I set the tape recorder on my desk, smoothed the paper with both hands, and practiced the words softly. Mini lay nearby, with her little ears listening, and I thought how beautiful it is that Jesus can lead souls with a voice quieter than the wind in the grass.

Tonight I feel glad that Jesus knows His sheep by name. Even little me.

Evening Prayer

Dear Jesus, my Good Shepherd, thank You for calling me by name and staying close to me. Help me know Your voice and follow You. Keep me safe at Your gate, and lead me always to the green pasture of Your grace. Bless Sister Mary Claire, Father LeRoy, Robert, and Mini. Amen.

Love,

Kathy

He Stays With Us

Dear Diary,

This morning was soft and cool, about 58 degrees, with a quiet sky over the fields. Robert picked us up as usual and right on time at the mailbox, and Mini hopped right up onto my lap like she always does. We rode down the gravel road to St. Mary’s in Littlemore, and everything felt still and peaceful, like the day was waiting for something important.

At Holy Mass, Father LeRoy talked about something that stayed with me all day. He said Jesus didn’t just promise to help us from far away… He promised to stay with us. Not an angel, not just a memory—but Jesus Himself. That made me sit up a little straighter in the pew. I tried to imagine that… that the same Jesus who made everything and conquered death is still right here with us.

Father said that means we are never really alone. Even when things are hard, or we feel worried, Jesus is right there, watching over us, thinking of us, and helping us. He said Jesus knows all our little thoughts and sees even the small things we try to do for Him—and that He is pleased when we try.

On the ride home, Sister Mary Claire explained it in a way I could understand even better. She said, “Kathy, if Jesus is truly with us all the time, then every moment matters. Even the quiet ones.” Robert nodded and said it’s like having the best protector you could ever imagine riding along with you always.

I held Mini close and looked out at the fields. Everything looked so ordinary, but it didn’t feel ordinary anymore. It felt like Jesus was there too… in the fields, in the sky, even right there in the truck with us.

I think if I remembered that more, I wouldn’t worry so much about little things. I’d try harder to be good too, knowing He sees and cares.

Tonight, I want to remember that He didn’t just promise to come back someday—He promised to stay.

Evening Prayer

Dear Jesus,

thank You for staying with me and never leaving me alone.
Help me remember You are near, especially when I feel small or worried.

Please watch over me tonight and help me love You better tomorrow.

Amen.

Love,

Kathy

His Power Is Gentle

Dear Diary,

It was a lovely day today, soft and bright, and just right for going to Holy Mass. Robert picked us up as usual and right on time, and Mini came along too, sitting so nicely like she always does.

Father LeRoy talked about how Jesus has all power in heaven and on earth—not just because He is God, but also because He became man and gave His life for us. He said Jesus doesn’t use His power to force anyone, but instead waits for us to love Him back freely. I liked that part very much. It made me think of how kind He is, even though He could do anything at all.

On the ride home, Robert, Sister Mary Claire and I talked about it some more. Robert said how comforting it is to know that nothing can happen to us unless Jesus allows it, and that He is always watching over us. It made the fields look extra peaceful somehow, like everything was being gently taken care of.

I’ve been excited because Sister Mary Claire helped me understand a morning prayer from the old book, and I made a little recording of it on the tape recorder. It felt special saying the words out loud like that.

Mini is doing just fine—she was very good in church and seemed happy all day.

It was a quiet, beautiful day, and I feel very safe in Jesus’ care tonight.

Evening Prayer

Dear Jesus,

You are so strong and so gentle at the same time.

Help me to trust You with my whole heart and to follow You freely because I love You.

Please watch over us tonight and keep us safe in Your care.

Amen.

Love,
Kathy