OCTOBER IS A MONTH...

 ...when quite a number of my good friends celebrate birthdays. October 14 is Tom Leopold's birthday. 

October 13th is Archbishop Charles Brown's birthday. + Brown was appointed as Papal Nuncio to the Philippines in late September. 

Melissa Presser celebrates hers on October 12th, and as you know if you watched her interview on The Journey Home, Melissa is honored to share a birthday with Edith Stein. 

A few years back I was inspired to write a poem for Melissa:

Thank You God for the gift of Melissa, 

Melissa's soul a masterpiece of Your hands, 

A fine vessel of grace, 

Thine image Your likeness seen on her face, 

Your Son took His Flesh and Blood from His Mother - Melissa's race -

Melissa goes in search of souls who may adore Your Holy Face, 

That You may restore and keep them in a state of grace,

So we may avail of Jesus's promise:

Everlasting life in the "prepared" place, 

Thank You God for the gift of Melissa, 

Melissa's heart of rarest gold,

She gives so generously to others that they may join her in Your fold,

Thank You God for the gift of Melissa, 

Melissa's mind a precious diamond,

A prism through which the Holy Spirit pours His light, 

The rays fall on others in their dark night, 

When in the pain of great plight,

They may seek the Source of Melissa's light, 

So they may spend eternity with You in Heaven's great white.