aeternus

“The spirit of meekness is peculiarly the spirit of God (Eccles. xxiv. 27.) Hence, the soul that loves God, also loves those who are loved by God, that is, all men. It seeks every opportunity to assist, comfort, and gratify all to the utmost of its power. St. Francis of Sales, the master and model of holy meekness, thus expresses himself on the subject. Humble meekness is the virtue of virtues, which God so earnestly recommends to us; and for this reason we should practice it at all times, and in all places. Do that which you see you can accomplish by love, and omit what cannot be done without dispute; of course we speak of that which may be omitted without sin, because as long as we are bound to prevent an offense against God, we should constantly, and to the utmost of our power, oppose it.

We should particularly practice meekness towards the poor and the sick ; towards the poor, because, generally speaking, they are ill treated on account of their poverty; towards the sick, because they are afflicted with their illness, and are often without succor. But above all, we should be meek towards our enemies. (Rom. xii. 21.) We must overcome hatred by love, and persecution by meekness. It was thus the saints acted, and in this manner they conciliated the regard of their most inveterate enemies.

St. Francis of Sales says, that nothing edifies our neighbor so much as meekness in our conduct. Hence every thing in him partook of this beautiful virtue ; his air, his words, his manners, all was meekness. St. Vincent of Paul said of him, that he never knew any man more meek; and added, that he seemed to find him the living image of the meekness of our Savior. If he was obliged in conscience to refuse any favor, he accompanied the refusal with so much charity, that the unsuccessful applicant went away satisfied. He was equally meek to every one, superiors, equals, inferiors, and in the midst of his family, as well as amongst strangers; far different from those of whom he says himself, that they are angels abroad, and devils at home. He never complained of the deficiencies of his domestics; it was with difficulty he sometimes reproved them, but he always did it with mildness. This is most laudable in a superior, who should use all possible meekness towards those committed to his care; and who, imposing a task upon them, should rather intreat than command. St. Vincent of Paul says, that superiors cannot employ a better means of making themselves obeyed, than meekness; and St. Jane Frances de Chantal: I have used various methods of governing, and discovered none more effectual than that which is founded on forbearance and meekness.

A superior should use meekness even in his corrections. It is one tiling to reprove strongly, and another to reprove’ angrily. We should sometimes give a strong reproof when a fault is great, and when it has been repeated after due admonitions; but we should take care never to reprove bitterly in a passionate tone, because this would do more harm than good. This would be the angry zeal, which St. James condemns. There are some who boast of keeping all their family in order by this means, and who say that it is thus they should be governed. But St. James says quite the contrary. (James iii. 14.) If, on a rare occasion, it be necessary to speak with some severity, in order to make a grievous crime be felt, we should always at the conclusion of the rebuke add some kind words. We must heal wounds as the Samaritan did, with wine and oil. But as oil floats above all other liquors, so, says St. Francis of Sales, meekness should predominate in all our actions. If the person whom we have to correct be in a passion or disturbed, we should defer the correction until he becomes more tranquil—for otherwise we should only irritate him more. St. John, Canon Regular said: when the house is on fire, we should not throw wood in the flames.

Jesus Christ himself teaches us this spirit of meekness. (Luke ix. 55, 56.) You know not of what spirit you are, said he to his disciples, James and John, when they wished him to punish the Samaritans, who had driven them out of their country. Ah! said the Savior, what manner of spirit is that? It is not mine; my spirit is one of meekness and benignity. I have come not to destroy, but to save souls; and you would have me destroy them! Be silent; and never ask me any similar requests, which are opposed to my spirit. And, indeed, with what mildness did he not treat the woman that was taken in adultery? (John viii. 10, 11.) He contented himself with telling her to sin no more, and he dismissed her in peace. It was the same meekness that converted the Samaritan woman. First, he asks her for a drink, and then he says to her: Oh,! if you knew who it is that asks you for a drink! He afterwards reveals to her that he was the expected Messiah. What meekness did he not employ to convert the wicked Judas! He received him at his table, he washed his feet, and at the very moment he was betrayed by him, he said to him: Judas, is it by a kiss that you betray me? Peter denied him ; and how did Jesus make an impression upon him? He did not reprove him; but when he was going out of the house of the high priest, he gave him a look of tenderness, and converted him; and converted him in such a manner, that during his whole life, Peter wept for the insult, which he had offered to his Master.

We gain much more by meekness than by severity. St. Francis of Sales said, that at first there is nothing more bitter than almonds, but that when dressed, they become sweet and pleasant; it is precisely the same with corrections: disagreeable as they are, they become amiable and useful when they are given with meekness and tenderness. St. Vincent of Paul tells us, that he made during his whole life, but three severe reprimands, and that he was afterwards sorry for them; because, although he thought he had good reasons for using them, they were not attended with a happy result; whereas those which he made with meekness always succeeded.

St. Francis of Sales obtained from others any thing that he wished, by his meekness, and he even had the happiness to convert the most obstinate sinners to God by this means. This was also the spirit of St. Vincent of Paul, who gave this amongst other lessons, to his missionaries. Affability, love, and humility have a wonderful efficacy in gaining the hearts of men, and inducing them to embrace things that are most repugnant to nature. This saint once sent a great sinner to a father of his society for the purpose of being converted; but without any effect The priest begged the saint to undertake the task. He did so, and succeeded. This sinner afterwards declared, that it was the saint’s charity and meekness which had gained his heart. Hence, St. Vincent would not suffer his missionaries to treat their penitents with severity, and he declared to them, that the devil made use of the severity of some priests for the destruction of souls.

We should be mild and affable with the whole world, at all times, and in all places. St. Bernard observes, that there are some who are affable and meek only as long as things go on according to their wishes; but if a contradiction, or a cross befall them they are immediately inflamed, and emit smoke like Mount Vesuvius ; they resemble burning coals, that are concealed under ashes. He who is anxious for his sanctification ought to be in this life, like a lily among thorns ; although the lilies are pricked by the thorns, they do not cease to be lilies; that is, to be equally beautiful and agreeable. He that loves God preserves peace in his heart, and displays it in his countenance, which is always equally calm, both in adversity and prosperity.

t is in adversity that men are known. St. Francis of Sales tenderly loved the Order of the Visitation, which had cost him so much trouble. He frequently saw it in danger, on account of the persecutions which it had to endure. But the saint always preserved an unalterable peace, and an entire submission to the will of God, if it was his will that this order should be suppressed. It was then he spoke these words: The oppositions and contradictions which I have endured for some time, have made me experience a profound peace; they are a presage of the immediate union of my soul with God, which is the only desire of my heart.

When we have to reply to any one who has insulted us, we should be careful to do it always with meekness. A soft answer extinguishes the fire of wrath. (Prov. xv. 1.) If we feel ourselves angry, it is better for us to be silent, because we should speak amiss; so that when we become tranquil, we see that all our words were culpable.

We should also use meekness towards ourselves, when we have committed a fault. To be in a passion with ourselves after a crime, is not humility but pride; it is refusing to acknowledge that we are weak miserable creatures. St. Teresa said, that all humility which afflicts the soul, does not proceed from God, but the devil. To be angry with ourselves, after the commission of sin, is a greater fault than the former—a fault, which brings many others in its train; such as the omission of our usual devotions, of prayer, of communion, or the imperfect performance of them. St. Aloysius Gonzaga said, that the devil fishes in troubled waters. When the soul is in trouble it has but a weak knowledge of God and of its duty. When we have committed a fault let us address God with humility and confidence, and ask his pardon: saying to him, with St. Catharine of Genoa, O Lord, these are the fruits of my garden. I love you with my whole heart. I have offended you. I am sorry for it, and will never do so again. Grant me your holy grace.”

** Alphonse de Liguori – The Love of our Lord Jesus reduced to practice.

** May crown placed upon Our Lady of Mount Carmel

“I know that I will give God the glory He expects of me if I try faithfully I want to live in the spirit of faith. I accept everything that comes my way as given me by the loving will of God, who sincerely desires my happiness. And so I will accept with submission and gratitude everything that God sends me. I will pay no attention to the voice of nature and to the promptings of self love. Before each important action, I will stop to consider for a moment what relationship it has to eternal life and what may be the main reason for my undertaking it: it is for the glory of God, or for the good of my own soul, or for the good of the souls of others? If my heart says yes, then I will not swerve from carrying out the given action, unmindful of either obstacles or sacrifices. I will not be frightened into abandoning my intention. It is enough for me to know that it is pleasing to God. On the other hand, if I learn that the action has nothing in common with what I have just mentioned, I will try to elevate a loftier sphere by means of a good intention. And if I learn that something flows from my self -love, I will cancel it out right from the start.”

** Saint Maria Faustina – notebook 5  of her diary.

** photo from All Saints church on Easter Vigil night (and during yet another encroaching storm).

(p.s. Today in the Novena to Divine Mercy we pray:  ”Today bring to Me THE MEEK AND HUMBLE SOULS AND THE SOULS OF LITTLE CHILDREN, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. Only the humble soul is capable of receiving My grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence.”)

My poor soul can not relate the goodness it received in reading the Diary of St. Maria Faustina.  I read short passages daily when I would pick up the children from school.  I would go early to get  them so I could spend some time with spiritual reading and then pray the chaplet at the 3 o’clock hour.  I treasure those times and thank God for allowing me to have experienced them.  I think I will share some readings for the next several days from the Diary as we are in the midst of the Novena to Divine Mercy.  Today we are praying for the Souls of those who have separated themselves from the Church.

Here is a meditation:

Faustina:

“Where there is genuine virtue, there must be sacrifice as well; one’s whole life much be a sacrifice. It is only by means of sacrifice that souls can become useful. It is my self-sacrifice which, in my relationship with my neighbor, can give glory to God, but God’s love must flow through this sacrifice, because everything is concentrated in this love and takes its value from it.

O Lord, You who penetrate my whole being and the most secret depths of my soul, You see that I desire You alone and long only for the fulfillment of Your holy will, paying no heed to difficulties or sufferings or humiliations or to what others might think.”

Jesus:

“This firm resolution to become a saint is extremely pleasing to Me. I bless your efforts and will give you opportunities to sanctify yourself. Be watchful that you lost no opportunity that My providence offers you for sanctification. If you do not succeed in taking advantage of an opportunity, do not lose your peace, but humble yourself profoundly before Me and, with great trust, immerse yourself completely in My mercy. In this way, you gain more than you have lost, because more favor is granted to a humble soul than the soul itself asks for it…”

** photo from the grotto at All Saints parish in St. Peters, MO

Happy Easter Monday!!!

It has been an interesting Holy Week here in St. Louis.  I am sure the world knows of the terrible storms which took place on Good Friday evening.  My family and I were attending the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion when the tornado sirens sounded.  Every young child at the liturgy whispered to their mother “Mommy, the tornado sirens!”  Calmly each mother replied, “it is o.k. , we are with Jesus in the safest place on earth”.

I think each mother was happy to hear each of the others repeating this spoken and trusting phrase.  Perhaps we each calmed each other as we calmed our children!  Nevertheless, these words of assurance were spoken another 4 times before the liturgy concluded.  It was only when we all left to drive home  and turned on the radio did we start to learn of the destruction of the storm.  At a local parish the church was full when the steeple blew off from the storm!    But the Lord is good and merciful and no one was seriously hurt even though some 750 houses have been compromised or destroyed.

It seems appropriate that many souls in the church are entering into the 9 days of prayer to celebrate and embrace God’s Divine Mercy.  As Jesus told St. Faustina, “so that every soul will praise My goodness. I desire trust from My creatures. Encourage souls to place great trust in My fathomless mercy. Let the weak, sinful soul have no fear to approach Me, for even if it had more sins than there are grains of sand in the world, all would be drowned in the unmeasurable depths of My mercy.”

I pray, as I’m sure we all do,  in thanksgiving for the mercy given to St. Louis as His almighty hand saved so many lives by protecting souls in the path of the tornado…

If you would like to participate in this novena to Divine Mercy, you may love this website.  It is dedicated to novena prayers for the faithful…praymorenovenas.com.

** Photo above is of the Blessed Sacrament chapel on Easter morning at the Cathedral Basilica.

“As in all the following visits to the Most Blessed Sacrament a spiritual communion is recommended, it will be well to explain what it is, and the great advantages which result from its practice. A spiritual communion, according to St. Thomas, consists in an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament, and in lovingly embracing Him as if we had actually received Him. How pleasing these spiritual communions are to God, and the many graces which He bestows through their means, was manifested by our Lord Himself to Sister Paula Maresca, the foundress of the convent of St. Catherine of Sienna in Naples, when (as it is related in her life) He showed her two precious vessels, the one of gold, the other of silver; He then told her that in the gold vessel He preserved her sacramental communions, and in the silver one her spiritual communions. He also told Blessed Jane of the Cross, that each time that she communicated spiritually she received a grace of the same kind as the one which she received when she really communicated. Above all, it will suffice us to know that the holy Council of Trent greatly praises spiritual communions, and encourages the faithful to their practice.

Hence all devout souls are accustomed often to practise this holy exercise of spiritual communion. Blessed Agatha of the Cross did so two hundred times a day. And Father Peter Faber, the first companion of St. Ignatius, used to say that it was of the highest utility to make spiritual communions, in order to receive the sacramental communion well.

All those who desire to advance in the love of Jesus Christ are exhorted to make a spiritual communion at least once in every visit that they pay to the Most Blessed Sacrament, and at every Mass that they hear; and it would even be better on these occasions to repeat the communions three times, that is to say, at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end. This devotion is far more profitable than some suppose, and at the same time nothing can be easier in practice. The above-named Blessed Jane of the Cross used to say, that a spiritual communion can be made without any one remarking it, without being fasting, without the permission of our director, and that we can make it at any time we please: an act of love does all.

Act for a Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that Thou art truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love Thee above all things, and I desire to possess Thee within my soul. Since I am unable now to receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace Thee as being already there, and unite myself wholly to Thee; never permit me to be separated from Thee.”

** Visits to the most holy sacrament and the blessed virgin Mary | St. Alphonsus Ligouri

** Photo of morning light is near Augusta, MO

“The soul may place itself in the presence of Christ, and accustom itself to many acts of love directed to His sacred Humanity, and remain in His presence continually, and speak to Him, pray to Him in its necessities, and complain to Him of its troubles; be merry with Him in its joys, and yet not forget Him because of its joys. All this it may do without set prayers, but rather with words befitting its desires and its needs.

This is an excellent way whereby to advance, and that very quickly. He that will strive to have this precious companionship, and will make much of it, and will sincerely love our Lord, to whom we owe so much, is one, in my opinion, who has made some progress. There is therefore no reason why we should trouble ourselves because we have no sensible devotion, as I said before. But let us rather give thanks to our Lord, who allows us to have a desire to please Him, though our works be poor. This practice of the presence of Christ is profitable in all states of prayer, and is a most safe way of advancing in the first state, and of attaining quickly to the second; and as for the last states, it secures us against those risks which the devil may occasion.”

** Saint Teresa of Jesus

**  St. Teresa of Jesus of the Order of Our Lady of Carmel: embracing the Life, Relations, Maxims and Foundations written by the saint, also, a history of St. Teresa’s journeys and foundations, with Map and Illustrations.  Edited by John J. Burke, C.S.P.

Paging through a periodical this early afternoon as the family ate a late brunch, I spotted an oil painting above a fireplace in a photograph.  The canvas scene seemed a bit out of place in the well designed room of expensive furnishings and accouterments of sumptuous quality.  The painting showed a rather chunky and poorly dressed  airborne fellow who was being chased down by several other poorly dressed fellows.  The aeronautical soul was halfway floated up a forrest of trees and quite out of the grasp of his followers who seemed so evidently frustrated at not catching their brother before he soar too high for their reach.

You must certainly already know that this enamored soul who was elevated by God’s love is none other than Saint Joseph of Cupertino.  The painting of the little Franciscan presented a wonderful teaching moment with the children, and we talked about the holiness of a simple soul and the humility which must be found after having been so publicly honored by the love of God.  ”It would have been so embarrassing Mom,” they said, “I bet he wished God would only love him that much when he was alone and away from everyone else’s sight!”  Alas, perhaps it is very good to see God’s miracle of love in action especially for those who through their own poorness of faith feel so unloved and perhaps even abandoned by Him.  Let us pray for those who feel so alone this day…

Here is a little synopsis of St. Joseph’s life:

“While, in France, the rising spirit of Jansenism was driving God from the hearts of the people, a humble son of St. Francis, in Southern Italy, was showing how easily love may span the distance between earth and heaven. And I, if’I be lifted tip from the earth, will draw all things to myself,1 said Our Lord; and time has proved it to be the most universal of his prophecies. On the feast of the holy Cross, we witnessed its truth, even in the domain of social and political claims. We shall experience it in our very bodies on the great day, when we shall be taken up in the clouds to meet Christ, into the air.2 But Joseph of Cupertino had experience of it without waiting for the resurrection: innumerable witnesses have borne testimony to his life of continual ecstasies, wherein he was frequently seen raised high in the air. And these facts took place in what men are pleased to call the noonday of history.

Let us read the account of him given by holy Church…

Josephus a Cupertino was born of pious parents at Cupertino, a town of Salentines in the diocese of Nardo, in the year of salvation one thousand six hundred and three. Prevented with the love of God, he spent his boyhood and youth in the greatest simplicity and innocence. The Virgin Mother of God delivered him from a long and painful malady, which he had borne with the greatest patience; whereupon he devoted himself entirely to works of piety and the practice of virtue. But God called him to something higher; and in order to attain to closer union with him, Joseph determined to enter the Seraphic Order. After several trials he obtained his desire, and was admitted among the Minor Conventuals in the convent called Grotella, first as a lay-brother, on account of his lack of learning; but afterwards, God Bo disposing, he was raised to the rank of a cleric. After making his solemn Vows he was ordained Priest, and began a new life of greater perfection. Utterly renouncing all earthly affections and everything of this world almost to the very necessaries of life, he afflicted his body with hairshirts, chains, disciplines, and every kind of austerity and penance; while he assiduously nourished his spirit with the sweetness of holy prayer, and the highest contemplation. By this means, the love of God, which had been poured out in his heart from his childhood, daily increased in a most wonderful manner,

His burning charity shone forth most remarkably in the sweet ecstasies which raised his soul to God, and the wonderful raptures he frequently experienced. Yet, marvelous to tell, however rapt he was in God, obedience would immediately recall him to the use of his senses. He was exceedingly zealous in the practice of obedience; and used to say that he was led by it like a blind man, and that he would rather die than disobey. He emulated the poverty of the seraphic patriarch to such a degree, that on his deathbed he could truthfully tell his superior he had nothing which, according to custom, he could relinquish. Thus dead to the world and to himself Joseph showed forth in his flesh the life of Jesus. While in others he perceived the vice of impurity by an evil odour, his own body exhaled a most sweet fragrance, a sign of the spotless purity which he preserved unsullied in spite of long and violent temptations from the devil. This victory he gained by strict custody of his senses, by continual mortification of the body, and especially by the protection of the most pure Virgin Mary, whom he called his Mother, and whom he venerated with tenderest affection as the sweetest of mothers, desiring to see her venerated by others, that they might, said he, together with her patronage gain.all good things.

Blessed Joseph’s solicitude in this respect sprang from his love for his neighbor, for he was consumed with zeal for souls, urging him to seek the salvation of all. His love embraced the poor, the sick, and all in affliction, whom he comforted as far as lay in his power, not excluding those who pursued him with reproaches and insults, and every kind of injury. He bore all this with the same patience, sweetness, and cheerfulness of countenance as were remarked in him when he was obliged frequently to change his residence, by the command of the Superiors of his Order, or of the holy Inquisition. People and princes admired his wonderful holiness and heavenly gifts; yet, such was his humility, that, thinking himself a great sinner, he earnestly besought God to remove from him his admirable gifts; while he begged men to cast his body after death in a place where his memory might utterly perish. But God, who exalts the humble, and who had richly adorned his servant during life with heavenly wisdom, prophecy, the reading of hearts, the grace of healing, and other gifts, also rendered his death precious and his sepulcher glorious. Joseph died at the place and time he had foretold, namely, at Osimo in Picenum, in the sixty-first year of his age. He was famous for miracles after his death; and was enrolled among the Blessed by Benedict XIV and among the Saints by Clement XIII. Clement XIV, who was of the same Order, extended his Office and Mass to the universal Church

While praising God for the marvelous gifts he bestowed on thee, we acknowledge that thy virtues were yet more wonderful. Otherwise thy ecstasies would be regarded with suspicion by the Church, who usually withholds her judgment until long after the world has begun to admire and applaud. Obedience, patience, and charity, increasing under trial, were incontestable guarantees for the divine authorship of these marvels, which the enemy is sometimes permitted to mimic to a certain extent. Satan may raise a Simon Magus into the air: he cannot make a humble man. O worthy son of the seraph of Assisi, may we, after thy example, be raised up, not into the air, but into those regions of true light, where far above the earth and its passions, our life, like thine, may be hidden with Christ in God!”

** The Liturgical Year: The time after Pentecost, v. 5-6. 1903 by Prosper Guéranger

** There is a nice essay on Saint Joseph at EWTN if you would like to read more.

“This poem was occasioned by the inspection of an ancient MS. in the British Museum, London. The MS. describes the wanderings of the monks of Lindisfarne with the body of St. Cuthbert during an invasion by the Danes, A. D. 875, and the loss and recovery of a valuable copy of the Gospels, written in honor of St. Cuthbert. The monks endeavored to cross over into Ireland, carrying the saint’s body and the book with them, but were driven back by a storm. In this storm the copy of the Gospels, adorned with gold and precious stones, fell overboard (the vessel having capsized) and sank into the depths of the sea. Some time afterward the sacred MS. was washed ashore and found when the tide was low, on the beach, “exhibiting all its outer splendor of jewels and gold, and all the beauty of its pages and writing within, as though it had never been touched by water. And this is believed to have been due to the merits of St. Cuthbert himself; and the book is preserved to this day, and as before stated, no sign of damage by water is visible in it.”

Of an old friar and his all-beauteous book

One of our poets in a lay hath told;

Picturing the monk, as with ecstatic look,

By a dim taper, in his cell of old,

He wrote God’s Word in crimson and in gold.

Whiles, ‘twixt the text, with unremitting care,

He traced initials, delicately bold,

And seraphs’ heads, and saints with silver hair.

A monument to his prodigious skill

The volume yet remains, a work of wonder still.

Thus the Epistles, all in gold, were done,

And the Apocalypse in red and blue;

Surely Christ’s ransom for his soul was won,

Who for the Lord so sweet a task could do;

Clothing the Word in loveliness anew;

Feasting the eye while nourishing the soul;

Humbly he wrought who did such toil pursue,

But grav’d his name on Fame’s eternal scroll.

At Cuthbert’s bier, when that great saint was dead.

The Gospels, thus adorned, lay open at his head.

It was a tome all precious to the sight

With colored capitals of rare designs,

By Eadfrid painted, the skill’d anchorite;

The text embower’d in a mass of vines;

Lilies and roses nestled ‘mid the lines;

A songbird here seemed warbling hymns of praise;

There a bright star, the fairest orb that shines,

The Star of Bethlehem, shot down its rays;

And on each leaf, with meek and lowly look,

A pale, sweet face of Christ lent pathos to the book.

The work, a model of the goldsmith’s art,

With precious stones was thickly studded o’er,

Bound and embellish’d by some grateful heart,

In honor of the good saint now no more.

No pains were spared, nor was there dearth of store,

To make it worthy of the honored dead.

Bilfrid, the bishop, with his own hand bore

The book, and laid it at St. Cuthbert’s head.

In the soft light that o’er the bier did stream,

The jewels on the book like twinkling stars did gleam.

Dear in God’s sight, as David doth record,

Is a saint’s death,—a holy life’s calm close;

Enoch ascended, living, to the Lord,

Triumphant o’er Death’s sting, and the world’s woes;

Elijah, too, attained Heaven’s pure repose,

Borne thither in a chariot of flame.

Not in the pomp in which it came to those,

The final summons to St. Cuthbert came.

Death like a shadow o’er his pathway crept;

The Saint, among the Just, on Abraham’s bosom slept.

Albion had claimed the ashes of her dead,

And for her loss her gentle tears did flow;

Oft for her faults his tender heart had bled,

And for her merits oft his breast did glow;

His blessings on her did he oft bestow;

His prayers for her ascended night and day;

Now that Death’s dart had laid the sweet Saint low,

What soil but hers might claim his hallowed clay?

In an old church wrapped’round with peaceful shade,

Until the Judgment Morn, let him at rest be laid.

In Durham church, within a cloister’s gloom,

In a sweet spot, apart from noise and din,

They were resolved to build a sculptured tomb,

Laying the book thereon, the bones within;

Making a shrine where, kneeling, they might win

The special favor of the Saint by prayer;

Might gain deliverance from the toils of sin,

Wherewith the Arch-fiend doth our souls ensnare.

When pious lives thus reach their earthly close,

‘Tis meet in some old church their relics should repose.

No tongue the beauty of that fane could tell;

On a great hill the minster towered high,

With lofty dome, and soaring pinnacle,

And taper spire that seemed to prop the sky;

A church to charm the pilgrim, passing by;

Of rock and wood the House of God was made;

Had many an archway pleasing to the eye,

And long, dim aisle and dusky colonnade.

Oft for the dead had Cuthbert there sung mass;

Death now had mowed him down; for lo, all flesh is grass.

There had he preached Christ’s Kingdom with great power,

And many converts to the Faith had won;

There had crowds thronged to hear him, hour by hour,

From there his fame throughout the world had run;

He was of Christendom the morning sun,

Whose broadening beams the Church’s way illumed;

Now that at last his bright career was done,

It seemed that Night her ancient sway resumed.

This verse, a flower of pure, poetic speech,

Is from a sermon culled, which there he once did preach:

“Satan (he said) hath sprynges, notte a fewe,

Snares to entoyl us, and oure peace destroy;

Redd wyne was ever hys most temptyng brewe,

And womankynd hys most approved decoy;

Ye who would cleave to ynnocence and joy,

Reck ye the rede, theyre blandyshments eschewe;

With purer pastymes the fleet hours employ,

And pleasure’s lyght by safer paths pursue.

Sylver and goulde are roots of grievous ill,

Botte wyne and woman’s wyles are perils deadlier still.”

Britain at that time by a barbarous host

Gravely was threaten’d; for, with sword and brand,

The Danes were thundering at her chalky coast,

Swarming in legions to invade the land;

‘Twas then that faithful, heaven-directed band,

The monks of Lindisfarne, made haste and came,

And took the corpse and holy book in hand,

And to the seashore safely brought the same.

A boat lay moored beside the beach meanwhile,

Waiting to waft them thence to Erin’s sheltering isle.

The monks had placed the corpse and book on board,

And put to sea; and all seemed going well;

When suddenly a tempest burst and roar’d,

And the deep yawned as yawns the mouth of Hell;

And fear and trembling on the oarsmen fell,

As the mad elements did rush and rave;

And some by prayer, and some by charm and spell,

Sought to subdue the wildly rolling wave.

But prayer and magic were alike in vain;

Beneath the foaming flood, the boat went down amain.

How did it chance? What answer may be made?

The sea grew still; God’s hand was stretched to save;

A passing sail bore down with timely aid,

And no man found that day a watery grave.

The Saint (’twas said) upon the surging wave,

Walk’d as Christ walk’d on stormy Galilee,

And succor to the floundering oarsmen gave,

And pluck’d them forth from the devouring sea.

But of the Book? Again what tongue shall say?

A thousand fathoms deep the precious volume lay.

Yet safe the corpse lay on the stranger ship,

Unchanged, save that the book was there no more,

And wondering awe kept silent every lip,

And no man spake of what had gone before.

Long afterwards upon the bleak seashore

The book was found without a scar or stain;

No trace of its deep ocean bath it bore,

Though long beneath the billows it had lain.

No mark of wave or wind or salt or sand;

‘Twas fresh as when, new-made, it came from Eadfrid’s

hand.

‘ Here was a miracle, as grand as those

The Prophets wrought of old in Palestine.”

A mystery that, rightly pondered, shows

The immortality of Truth divine.

Not since our Lord changed water into wine,

At Cana, was God’s power evinced more sure;

‘Twas Heaven itself that gave an added sign

That evermore the Gospel should endure.

Truth shall not pass, whatever else may fail,

Nor shall the gates of Hell against God’s Word prevail.

Some say the jewels gave the Saint offense

(Seeing that poverty he most had loved),

And that their loss was proof and evidence

To make vain show it illy men behoved;

And having thus their lavishness reproved,

He did again the jeweled tome restore,

That from the lids the gems might be removed,

Sold, and the price bestowed upon the poor.

At Cuthbert’s tomb the poor aye succor find;

Many are healed thereat,—the maim’d, the halt, the blind.”

** A miracle of St. Cuthbert, and sonnets by Robert Edward Lee Gibson

“I. To understand how powerful is the inteicessioc of Saint Joseph with Jesus Christ, we need only know what the Gospel says, “and he was subject to them.” For thirty years, then, the Son of God attentively obeyed Joseph and Mary. Joseph had only to indicate his will by a word or a sign, and he was immediately obeyed by Jesus. This humility if Jesus in obeying, teaches us that the dignity of Saint Joseph was above that of all the Saints, with the exception of the Divine Mother.

II. Let us now attend to what Saint Teresa says of the confidence which we should have in the protection of Saint Joseph: she says. ‘Our Lord seems to have granted power to other Saints to help in one necessity; experience proves that this Saint, helps us in all; and that our Lord wishes us to understand, that as on earth He was subject to him, so also in heaven He refuses him nothing that he asks. Other persons whom I advised to recommend themselves to him have experienced this. I never knew any one who served him, by practising some particular devotion in his honour, who did not always progress in virtue. I entreat those who do not believe what I say, to try it themselves. I cannot understand how it is possible to think of the Queen of Angels, and of all the labours which she underwent during the childhood of Jesus, without returning thanks to Saint Joseph for all the services he rendered at that time to the Mother and the Son.‘

III. We should especially be devout to Saint Joseph, in order that the Saint may obtain us a good death. He, on account of having saved the infant Jesus from the snares of Herod, has the special privilege of delivering dying persons from the snares of the devil. Moreover, on account of the services which he rendered for so many years to Jesus and Mary, having by his labours provided them a dwelling and food, he has the privilege of obtaining the special assistance of Jesus and Mary for his devout clients at death. My holy protector, Saint Joseph, on account of my sins I deserve a bad death; but if thou defendest me, I shall not be lost. Thou wast not only a great friend of my Judge, but thou wast also His guardian and adopted father; recommend me to thy Jesus, who loves thee so much. I place myself under thy protection; accept me for thy perpetual servant. And by that holy company of Jesus and Mary, which thou didst enjoy on earth, obtain that I may never more be separated from their love; and, in fine, by the attendance of Jesus and Mary, which thou hadst in death, obtain for me, that at my death I also may have the special assistance of Jesus and Mary. Most holy Virgin, by the love which thou didst bear to thy holy spouse Saint Joseph, help me at the hour of my death.”

** The Glories of Mary – Saint Alfonso Maria de’ Liguori

“What does to seek distraction mean?  It means to wish to somehow fill the sickly emptiness of the soul, which was created for activity, and which cannot bear to be idle.

Let all knowledge relating to religion or faith be as though always new to you, that is, having the same importance, holiness, and interest…

Bring your heart in sacrifice to God, give it wholly to the Almighty, renounce yourself, and all sinful inclinations: malice, hatred, pride, disobedience, and self-will, envy, malevolence, malignancy, avarice, covetousness, gluttony, fornication, uncleanness, stealing, deceit, fulness, slothfulness, and others; and continually force yourself to be kind when others exasperate and offend you, to pray for your enemies, for meekness, humility, gentleness, true benevolence, generosity, disinterestedness, abstinence, chastity, alms-giving, truth and righteousness, industry, obedience, and others. It is difficult to conquer the passions, which become as though our natural members (” Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth”), but by being continually watchful over yourself, by constant fervent prayer and abstinence, with the help of God you will be able to conquer and eradicate them.”

** My life in Christ – By Saint John (of Kronstadt)

** Photo: Old St. Ferdinand Shrine is the oldest Catholic church west of the Mississippi and was the home of St. Philippine Duchesne and her convent.

“WEARY hearts! weary hearts! by the cares of life

oppressed,

Ye are wand’ring in the shadows—ye are sighing ioi a rest:

There is darkness in the heavens, and the earth is bleak

below,

And the joys we taste to-day may to-morrow turn to woe.

Weary Hearts! God is Rest.

Lonely Hearts! lonely hearts! this is but a land of grief;

Ye are pining for repose—ye are longing for relief:

What the world hath never given—Kneel, and ask of God

above,

And your grief shall turn to gladness—if you lean upon

His love.

Lonely Hearts! God is Love.

Restless Hearts! restless hearts ! ye are toiling night and day,

And the flowers of life all withered, leave but thorns along

your way:

Ye are waiting—ye are wailing till your toilings all shall ce’ase,

And your ev’ry restless beating is a sad—sad prayer for peace. ‘

Restless Heart! God is Peace.

Breaking Hearts! broken hearts! ye are desolate and lone,

And low voices from the Past o’er your present ruins moan!

In the sweetest of your pleasures there was bitterest alloy—

And a starless night hath followed on the sunset of your joy.

Broken Hearts! God is Joy.

Homeless Hearts! homeless hearts! through the dreary, dreary years,

Ye are lonely, lonely wand’rers, and your way is wet with

tears;

In bright or blighted places, wheresoever ye may roam,

Ye look away from earth-land and ye murmur “where is

home?”.

Homeless Hearts! God is Home.”

**  Fr. Abram Joseph Ryan

** photo above was taken inside an emergency homeless shelter last evening in St. Louis.

“Fresh temptation sometimes arises with affliction and oppression a hardness numbness and insensibility of the heart to everything true good and holy we feel like a stone or a block without faith without the capability of praying without hope in God’s mercy without love. How sad it is to feel like a stone or a log without faith and love when we were created to believe feel hope and love. And we must bear this patiently and pray to God to roll away the stone of insensibility from the doors of the tomb of our heart that He may take away from us a heart of stone and give us one of flesh. But what does this hardness or numbness in us signify? It shows the presence in our heart of the Devil, who having forcibly taken possession of our heart through our incredulity, thrusts out from it every good thought not allowing it to rest there and destroys all faith and every good feeling making the man a burden even to himself. This really does happen to men. Let them learn what it signifies…

When you are praying watch over yourself so that not only your outward man prays but your inward one also. Though you be sinful beyond measure still pray Do not heed the Devil’s provocation craftiness and despair but overcome and conquer his wiles. Remember the abyss of the Saviour’s mercy and love to mankind. The Devil will represent the Lord’s face to you as terrible and unmerciful rejecting your prayer and repentance but remember the Saviour’s own words full of every hope and boldness for us: “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out.” and “Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden” – with sins and iniquities and the wiles and calumnies of the Devil “and I will give you rest”

Man – the Creator’s omnipotence wisdom and mercy which were poured out upon the visible and invisible world are ready to be bestowed in all their infinity upon you also, if you endeavour to be a true child of the Heavenly Father, if you fulfil His commandments to love God and your neighbour. Give yourself up then untiringly and with all your might to good works and deeds.

Fervent, tearful prayer not only cleanses from sins but also cures bodily infirmities and maladies it renews the whole of a man’s being and makes him so to say born again. (I speak from experience). O what a priceless gift prayer is! Glory to Thee, the Only Begotten Son of God, Who hast obtained for us, through Thy mediation, the endless pardon of our sins. Glory to the All Holy Spirit, Who maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Who gives us ardent prayer with groanings and tears. Who warms our cold souls and gives contrition and sorrow for sins cleansing sanctifying pacifying strengthening and renewing us. Glory to Thee Holy Trinity, which has no beginning. Life giving eternally glorified by all reasonable creatures!”

** Saint John (of Kronstadt) – My life in Christ

On the feast of the martyr Saint Polycarp …

“With the increasing storm, and rise and roll

With white lipped fury foaming; so the crowd,

Each one desiring to behold the game,

And see the crowning glory of the sport,

Rose surging up, and rolled in billowy waves,

With thunderous execrations, white and wild;

And as the rock, against whose hoary sides

They, threatening desolation, madly dash,

Smiles calmly grand to see them at his feet

Break into harmless spray : so looked, so smiled

The dying man upon that multitude

Of up turned faces, cursing mocking him,

And pressing to behold his awful doom.

But he was strong in God.”

** excerpt from “The Death of St. Polycarp” – John Alfred Langford

“I should like to add another word to the remarks I made the other day on the exterior reverence which we ought to have when we pray. Our Mother the Church indicates all the postures she wishes us to assume in reciting the Office:

Sometimes she will have us standing, sometimes sitting, then kneeling; sometimes with the head covered, sometimes uncovered; but all these positions and postures are nothing other than prayers. All the ceremonies of the Church are full of very great mysteries, and humble, simple, devout people find the greatest consolation in assisting at them. What do you think that the palms which we carry in our hands today signify? Nothing other than our asking God that He render us victorious by the merits of the victory which Our Lord won for us on the tree of the cross.

When we are at the Office we must be careful to observe the postures prescribed for us by the rubrics; but in our private prayers, what reverence ought we to have? In private prayer, we are before God as in public prayer, although in public prayer we ought to be particularly

attentive on account of the edification of our neighbor; exterior reverence is a great aid to the interior. We have many examples which witness to the great exterior reverence which we ought to have when praying, even though it be private prayer. Listen to St. Paul: I kneel, he says, before the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ for you all. [Cf. Eph. 3:14]. And don’t you see that the Savior Himself, while praying to His Father, is prostrate to the ground? [Cf. Mt. 26:39 and Mk. 14:35].

Here is one more example. 1 think you know that the great hermit St. Paul lived for many years in the desert. St. Antony [of the Desert], having gone to see him, found him in prayer. After speaking with him, St. Antony left him. But having come a second time to visit him, he found St. Paul in the same position as before, his head raised and his eyes fixed on Heaven, kneeling upright, with hands joined. St. Antony, having already waited for him a long time, began to wonder, because he did not hear him sigh as usual; he then raised his eyes and looked into his face and found that he was dead. It seems that St. Paul’s body, which had prayed so much during life, continued to pray after his death. In short, it is necessary that the whole person pray.

David says that his whole face prayed [Cf. Ps. 27:8], that his eyes were so attentive in looking upon God that they failed [Cf. Ps. 69:4 and 88:10; also Is. 38:14], and that his mouth was open like a little bird who waits for its mother to come to fill it. But in any case, the posture which affords the best attention is the most suitable. Yes, even the posture of lying down is good, and seems to be a prayer in itself. For do you not see that the holy man Job, lying on his dunghill, made a prayer so excellent that it merited to be heard by God? [Cf. Job 42:9-10]. But this is sufficient.”

**  Saint Francis de Sales — a homily on prayer

** photo at sunset at the Basilica of St. Francis | Piazza Inferiore San Francesco in Assisi Perugia, Italia

“That the whole substance of religion is faith, hope, and charity; by the practice of which we become united to the will of GOD: that all beside is indifferent and to be used as a means, that we may arrive at our end, and be swallowed up therein, by faith and charity.

That all things are possible to him who believes, that they are less difficult to him who hopes, they are more easy to him who loves, and still more easy to him who perseveres in the practice of these three virtues.

That the end we ought to propose to ourselves is to become, in this life, the most perfect worshippers of GOD we can possibly be, as we hope to be through all eternity.”

** Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection

On our day to remember that most beautiful example of sisterly love, Saint Scholastica, I found this lovely pilgrimage description of a trip to the Benedictine home of Monte Cassino. The photo of Scholastica was taken inside the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls in Rome.

“Monte Cassino round whose rugged peak

The very cloisters in their beauty climb

Souls on this summit still perfection seek

Beholding at their feet the things of time

As forests from this mountain top arc seen

Dwarfed into littleness The grave calm rule

Of holy Benedict is here their school

To win each thought each wish from scenes terrene

While I a pilgrim from a land afar

Have claimed the gracious privilege as mine

To visit and at their shrine Saint Benedict and Saint Scholastica”

Written in the Monastery book July gin 1876

“And now that we have made whole circuit of these chapels stand once more before the flight steps leading to the high altar us throw our whole souls into depths of that sanctuary where beneath that altar built as we said over the highest point of mountain summit where once a temple to Apollo reposes all could die of St Benedict St Scholastica.

Twins as were by birth they also lived according to the same religious rule sight of each other and the between their most happy deaths counted by days. From that tower at whose base we still enter the monastery of Monte Cassino. St Benedict looked off into the plain which stood the convent of St Scholastica and saw the soul of sister from whom he had parted only three days before into heaven. Immediately his are summoned and sent down steep path of the mountain to the body of his sister to the which he had prepared for himself and in which he will be laid in days.

You have seen the picture this procession bringing the body St Scholastica to Monte Cassino on the wall close by the sanctuary.  Now you will see their tomb with its thirteen lamps with its vases of fresh flowers and itself adorned with every symbol peculiar to the saints themselves inlaid with untiring skill while they are represented as sleeping in a sitting posture face to face exactly as they were found in their tomb by the Abbot Didier in 1066. Above this tomb enriched by designs in mosaic in which shines the precious verd antique the lapis lazuli and mother of pearl the variegated marble of Spain is this touching inscription:

Benedictum ct Scholasticum

Uno in terris partu editos

Una in Deum pistate coelo redditos

Unus hic excipit tumulus

Mortalis deposit pro aeternitate Custos

Which we may translate thus: Benedict and Scholastica One on earth by nativity One in God through piety together they ascended to heaven United here this tomb keeps their mortal remains For eternity. Above this inscription is the head of an angel who seems to guard their resting place.

You have seen beautiful heads of angels in every one of these chapels at Monte Cassino but this one you will say is the most angelic of all in its celestial gravity. And Father Boniface will not hurry us here .He knows that we have come to Monte Cassino for this very spot that it was one of the magnets which drew us across the ocean gave us courage to ascend the steep mountain path. Beautiful as everything is around us magnificent as are these mountain ranges pure as the air may be on Monte Cassino and wonderful as we know to be the treasures of its far famed library and archives still these alone could not have drawn us. We came to the tomb and the shrine of St Benedict and St Scholastica and once here have really accomplished our pilgrimage. It is not alone that a great saint and the founder of a great order here lived and died or that here the most beautiful example of the love between a brother and sister ever given on earth has been kept before the world.  It is the union of these two facts in a supernatural degree and the continuity of the tradition itself with all that has flowed out of the rule of St Benedict to bless the world which gives to this shrine its surpassing charm.

The tradition of St Benedict and St Scholastica contains the monastic traditions of Christendom for fourteen hundred years. Our own convents in America are associated to this one at Monte Cassino for whether called this or that the spirit of St Benedict has entered into all. He was appointed by God to give a monastic rule to the world and that rule however modified by circumstances of time or country is the one to which America as well as Europe owes its present civilization. Father Boniface will not hurry us therefore we shall be allowed to make our thanksgiving under God to St Benedict for all the benefits we have received from him individually and to St Scholastica for having been our example in all womanly virtues and all womanly graces and we shall be allowed also to make our petitions for ourselves and for others petitions which we cannot help feeling will be joined in and assisted by Sts Benedict and Scholastica here if anywhere on earth.”

** THE Catholic Record October 1876

In remembrance of Sr. Dolorosa, OCD

November 14, 1922 – February 4, 2011

“Love, thou art absolute sole lord

Of life and death. To prove the word

We’ll now appeal to none of all

Those thy old soldiers great and tall,

Ripe men of martyrdom that could reach down

With strong arms their triumphant crown;

Such as could with lusty breath

Speak loud into the face of death,

Their great Lord’s glorious name to none

Of those whose spacious bosoms spread a throne

For Love at large to fill spare blood and sweat;

And see him take a private seat,

Making his mansion in the mild

And milky soul of a soft child.

Scarce has she learn’t to lisp the name

Of martyr yet she thinks it shame

Life should so long play with that breath

Which spent can buy so brave a death.

She never undertook to know

What Death with Love should have to do:

Nor has she e’re yet understood

Why to show love she should shed blood,

Yet though she cannot tell you why,

She can love and she can die .

Scarce has she blood enough to make

A guilty sword blush for her sake;

Yet has she a heart dares hope to prove

How much less strong is death than love.

Be Love but there let poor six years

Be posed with the maturest fears

Man trembles at you straight shall find

Love knows no nonage nor the mind;

‘Tis love not years or limbs that can

Make the marytr or the man.

Love touched her heart and lo it beats

High and burns with such brave heats,

Such thirsts to die as dares drink up

A thousand cold deaths in one cup.

Good reason for she breathes all fire;

Her white breast heaves with strong desire

Of what she may with fruitless wishes

Seek for amongst her mother’s kisses.

Since tis not to be had at home

She’ll travail to a martyrdom

No home for her confesses she

But where she may a martyr be.

She’ll to the Moors and trade with them

For this unvalued diadem;

She’ll offer them her dearest breast,

With Christ’s name in it in change for death;

She’ll bargain with them and will give

Them God teach then how to live

In Him or if they this deny

For Him she’ll teach them how to die:

So shall she leave amongst them sown

Her Lord’s blood or at least her own.

Farewell then all the World! adieu!

Teresa is no more for you.

Farewell all pleasures sports and joys

(Never till now esteemed toys)

Farewell whatever dear maybe,

Mother’s arms or father’s knee:

Farewell house and farewell home!

She’s for the Moors and martyrdom.

Sweet not so fast! lo thy fair Spouse

Whom thou seekest with so swift vows

Calls thee back and bids thee come

To embrace a milder martyrdom

Blest powers forbade thy tender life

Should bleed upon a barbarous knife;

Or some base hand have power to raze

Thy breast’s chaste cabinet and uncase

A soul kept there so sweet O no,

Wise Heaven will never have it so.

Thou art Love’s victim and must die

A death more mystical and high

Into Love’s arms thou shalt let fall

A still surviving funeral.

His is the dart must make the death

Whose stroke shall taste thy hallow d breath;

A dart thrice dipped in that rich flame

Which writes thy Spouse’s radiant name

Upon the roof of Heaven where ay

It shines and with a sovereign ray

Beats bright upon the burning faces

Of souls which in that Name’s sweet graces

Find everlasting smiles so rare,

So spiritual pure and fair

Must be the immortal instrument

Upon whose choice point shall be sent

A life so loved and that there be

Fit executioners for thee,

The fair’st and first born sons of fire,

Blest seraphim shall leave their choir,

And turn Love’s soldiers upon thee

To exercise their archery

O how oft shall thou complain

Of a sweet and subtle pain

Of intolerable joys:

Of a death in which who dies

Loves his death and dies again

And would for ever so be slain

And lives and dies and knows not why

To live but that he thus may never leave to die.

How kindly will thy gentle heart

Kiss the sweetly killing dart

And close in his embraces keep

Those delicious wounds that weep

Balm to heal themselves with thus

When these thy deaths so numerous

Shall all at last die into one,

And melt thy soul’s sweet mansion

Like a soft lump of incense hasted

By too hot a fire and wasted

Into perfuming clouds so fast

Shall thou exhale to Heaven at last

In a resolving sigh and then

O what Ask not the tongues of men;

Angels cannot tell suffice

Thyself shall feel thine own full joys

And hold them fast forever there.

So soon as thou shalt first appear

The moon of maiden stars thy white

Mistress attended by such bright

Souls as thy shining self shall come

And in her first ranks make thee room;

Where mongst her snowy family

Immortal welcomes wait for thee

O what delight when reveal’d Life shall stand,

And teach thy lips Heaven with His hand;

On which thou now mayest to thy wishes

Heap up thy consecrated kisses.

What joys shall seize thy soul when she,

Bending her blessed eyes on Thee

Those second smiles of Heav’n shall dart

Her mild rays through

Thy melting heart Angels thy old friends there shall greet thee

Glad at their own home now to meet thee

All thy good works which went before

And waited for thee at the door

Shall own thee there and all in one

Weave a constellation

Of crowns with which the King thy Spouse

Shall build up thy triumphant brows

All thy old woes shall now smile on thee

And thy pains sit bright upon thee

All thy sorrows here shall shine

All thy sufferings be divine

Tears shall take comfort and turn gems

And wrongs repent to diadems.

Ev’n thy death shall live; and new-

Dress the soul that erst he slew.

Thy wounds shall blush to such bright scars

As keep account of the Lamb’s wars.

Those rare works where thou shalt leave writ

Love’s noble history with wit Taught thee by none but Him, while here

They feed our souls shall clothe thine there.

Each heavenly word by whose hid flame

Our hard hearts shall strike fire the same

Shall flourish on thy brows and be

Both fire to us and flame to thee

Whose light shall live bright in thy face

By glory in our hearts by grace

Thou shalt look round about and see

Thousands of crowned souls throng to be

Themselves thy crown sons of thy vows

The virgin births with which thy sovereign Spouse

Made fruitful thy fair soul Go now

And with them all about thee bow

To Him put on He’ll say put on

My rosy love that thy rich zone

Sparkling with the sacred flames

Of thousand souls whose happy names

Heav’n keep upon thy score: (Thy bright

Life brought them first to kiss the light,

That kindled them to stars) and so

Thou with the Lamb thy Lord shalt go

And whereso’ere He sets His white

Steps walk with Him those ways of light,

Which who in death would live to see,

Must learn in life to die like thee.”

** A HYMN TO THE NAME OF THE ADMIRABLE SAINT TERESA — Richard Crashaw

“At the hour of our death, when life, like a false friend, is about to forsake us, we must, in a special manner, increase our confidence in the heart of Jesus.

It is said that our Lord appeared one day to a holy soul who had conjured him to grant to a pious person a happy passage from this life, and addressed to her these consoling words:—

” My daughter, where is the pilot who, having brought into port a vessel laden with precious stones, throws it into the sea at the moment of his arrival? Can you suppose that, after having granted so many graces to this soul in the course of her life, that I shall abandon her at the end thereof?”

Let us lean on the heart of Jesus; and driven on the stormy sea of this world, under the protection which he grants to those who love him, we shall one day triumphantly enter the desired port, and enjoy the eternal blessings of that holy guidance.

Death was always precious in the sight of God, for Jesus was to pass through its portal; it is precious to him still, for Jesus has died.

No one who is devout to the heart of Jesus will fail to find at the moment of his death more excellent and abundant treasures than he had ever expected to receive. Death, to himself precious, will not our Lord render it inexpressibly so to us. Faith cannot mistake the proofs of his tenderness. If we may venture to say so, the exile of the being he created is a sorrow to him as much as to the soul itself: for, like a tender father, God desires that his children should be with him in his kingdom. Of all the hours of life, this is the one which is the most precious in the sight of God, exerts the greatest power over his love, and for this very reason has such a mighty influence over his mercy and justice.

In order to receive the fulness of the new life to be merited by repentance through the divine reparation, every man must undergo the frightful trial of death; but is not this trial, caused by sin, like all other trials, a token of love on the part of God? Without death, life could not attain to its end; without death how could the soul ever reach eternal life.

The rebel angel escaped the sentence of death, but for him there was no resurrection. It is decreed that man should die, or rather, the soul cleansed by the blood of our Lord, and vivified by his love, passes into eternity before the body which it shall one day glorify, and united together, are called by Jesus to reign in heaven in a state so exalted that it could not have been won by primeval innocence.

Even in this world, without awaiting the eternal glorifying of humanity, the most beloved amongst the friends of God experience through their whole being a marvellous transformation which robs death of its terrors, and wholly disengages them from this transitory world. The interior light hy which they are led is no longer human, but divine, through Jesus, and a supernatural love is substituted for that natural love which they made their law; and not only are their criminal affections destroyed, but the love of God above all things, gives them, even in this life, a foretaste of heaven. They feel no longer that engrossing care for the preservation of the body, but sigh after death, crying incessantly to God, with St Paul, Cupis dissolvi et esse cum Christo. They exult when they hear the clock strike, at the thought that one hour less remains for them to pass in this exile; death is no longer a passage of sorrow, but the desired way by which they shall go to the Lord; they sigh after it, they desire it, and would fain hasten the moment of its approach by the ardour of their desire for the enjoyment of a never-ending eternity. One single thing restrains them ; it is when the perfection of love imposes on them a law of charity yet stronger, which would detain them in this world for the glory of God, and the good of their brethren; “for,” says St Theresa, ” thus do souls arrive at a strict union with Jesus.”

Thus ardently they have desired to die, in order to enjoy the presence of our Lord; this is their martyrdom at their exile being prolonged ; yet they are so inflamed with the desire of knowing him, of making his name hallowed, of being useful to the souls of others, that far from sighing after death, they would wish to live for many years, even amidst the greatest sufferings, too happy in being able to add to the glory of their divine Master.

Perfect submission in death is an act of entire adoration, a magnificent profession of faith and praise ; its beauty consists in the cheerful and ready sacrifice which the creature makes to the Creator of the life which he had given, shadowing forth God’s power in all its grandeur. Death beholds the soul already in adoration annihilated at the thought of the near approach of eternity; this, we may well imagine, is the kind of death the angels love to contemplate. The soul takes to itself no merit, places no trust on the way in which it has served God, and desires to possess even the smallest consolation the Church can bestow. It is specially attracted by the sanctity of God, which makes it aspire to become pure, pure almost beyond conception, in order to appear before the inviolable majesty of God, relying only on his mercy, never losing its confidence in the greatness of the divine compassion, but fearing lest its offences may be beyond the reach of pardon—dying the death of a child, fixing its eyes on the countenance of its tender Father. Why then, when in a state of grace, should we entertain a fear of death? ” Whosoever dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God abides in him.” He who loves God is then sure of his grace; and dying in this state, is certain of enjoying for ever the sovereign good in the habitations of the elect. And can such a one fear death 1 David has, however, said, that no living man is entirely pure in the sight of God. Thus no one should have the presumption to hope for salvation through their own merits; for except Jesus and Mary, no one was ever exempt from sin. But we need not fear death when we have a true sorrow for our faults, and place our confidence in the merits of Jesus, who came on this earth in order to redeem and save sinners, for whom he shed his blood, for whom he died. ” The blood of Jesus Christ,” says the apostle, ” cries more loudly in favour of sinners than the blood of Abel for vengeance against Cain.” Grace transforms into a brilliant light that which by its nature was plunged in darkness and obscurity, and the plaintive cry of our misery is changed into a song of triumph; for the fetters which yet separate the soul of the dying from the heavenly Jerusalem are so near being severed asunder, that the triumphant alleluias of heaven mingle with the lamentations of earth, and the last gaze of repentant love is tenderly fixed on the crucifix, till earth fades from its view.

The transit of the creature from time to eternity is dear to the Creator; for ” precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Let us throw aside, then, these vain fears of death, and regard it as a tribute which all must pay to nature. Let us be ready cheerfully to leave this world when our Lord shall call us to the land where the saints await us, and where we shall meet those who have instructed us in the faith, and whose victory will in some measure supply for the negligence with which we have performed our own duties towards our heavenly Father.

Let us unite ourselves to these glorious troops of blessed spirits who are seated in the kingdom of God with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; into which the good thief entered in triumph after a life of sin, and now enjoys, in the company of the elect, the ineffable delights of paradise; where there is neither darkness nor storms, intense heat, excessive cold, sickness, nor sorrow; and where there is no need of the light of the sun, because the Sun of Justice alone enlightens the heavenly Jerusalem.”

** The manuel of the Sacred Heart 1866

“The Sacred Heart of Jesus, though it is a true human heart, yet it is not the heart of any human person. His human nature subsists in His Divine personality. Hence His Sacred Heart has the dignity which belongs, in virtue of His Divine nature, to the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. It is, so to speak, absorbed in the glory of the Divinity, though without losing its character of a true human heart, just as a piece of iron does not cease to be iron because it glows with the heat of the fire into which it is plunged. Rejoice in the glory of the Sacred Heart, and adore the Divinity which dwells there.

The Sacred Heart is also bound up in the closest union with the Divine nature of Jesus Christ. It is endowed with divine qualities which flow into it from the Godhead. It has authority without limit over the hearts of men. They are all its subjects whom it has the right to command. It has in itself the power of working miracles. It loves God as only those can love Him who see Him face to face.

In the Sacred Heart of Jesus are centred all the supernatural powers which the nature of man is capable of possessing. The Sacred Heart of Jesus shares the Divine prerogative of unbounded mercy. As from the sun flow light and heat, so from the Heart of Jesus flow all possible supernatural graces. What glory, then, of saint or angel can be compared to one ray of glory from the Sacred Heart?

The sanctity of the Sacred Heart is the sanctity of One who is God as well as man. The Sacred Heart of Jesus hates sin as God hates it, loathes it with inexpressible loathing. How, then, can I, who am so full of sin, venture to appeal to the Heart to which sin is thus foul with a foulness that knows no bound or limit ? At least I can pray that I may share in a greater degree this hatred of sin, and so learn to avoid it.

Happily for us the Sacred Heart of Jesus, by reason of the Divine nature of Our Lord, has also unbounded love for sinners. His infinite sanctity makes Him long after them with an inexhaustible love and an unceasing desire to see them rid of the sin that defiles them. If sins still cling to me it is not His fault, but my own. It is owing to my want of correspondence to His constant invitations to come to Him to be healed of all sin.

There is also communicated to the Sacred Heart a boundless store of created graces of the same kind as those bestowed on us, but immeasurably higher in degree. In this store is contained the grace necessary for every need, and among them the special graces which I need, and which are there ready to flow into my soul if I put no hindrance in the way.”

**  Fr. Richard Frederick Clarke, S.J. – 1893

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For more good news check out  the Anchoress’s report on Vocations Awareness Week here.

“The angels, looking with undeviating gaze into the profound abyss of the divine judgments, are filled with inexpressible joy at the sight of their supreme righteousness; it is their glory that, through their ministry, these judgments are put into operation and made known to men. For this reason they so rightly love the Lord Christ. Scripture says: “The truth is they are all spirits whose work is service, sent to help those who will be the heirs of salvation. And the archangels — whom we must regard as differing in some degree from those called angels — experience a delight that is filled with awe as they enter more closely into the counsels of eternal wisdom, and are commissioned to execute them with supreme skill at the proper place and time. Here you have the reason why these in turn love the Lord Christ. Other blessed spirits are named Virtues because their God-given vocation is to explore and admire with a happy curiosity the hidden and eternal causes of signs and wonders, signs that they display throughout the earth whenever they please by the powerful manipulation of the elements. As a consequence, these naturally burn with love for the Lord of Hosts, for Christ, the power of God. For it is an occupation full of sweetness and grace to contemplate the obscure mysteries of wisdom in Wisdom itself, a source of the greatest honor and glory that the effects produced by causes hidden in the Word of God should be revealed for the world’s admiration by their ministry.” — Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

Because of the beauty of children’s voices and the power they have to move a soul I thought I might share this story.  It is just a glimpse at the way my family was so blessed to spend their Christmastide.  What a great grace it was for us (especially our little chorister and her lovely young voice).  I still can not believe we where there!  Click the play button to see the story.

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http://stlouisreview.com/article/2011-01-05/pueri-cantores

I have been reading this beautiful passage from the Daily Office all week as it is so beautiful.  It comes from the writings of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.

“I will tell you what is my own great help. I once read or heard that an interior life means but the continuation of our Savior’s life in us; that the great object of all his mysteries is to merit for us the grace of his interior life and communicate it to us, it being the end of his mission to lead us into the sweet land of promise, a life of constant union with himself.

And what was the first rule of our dear Savior’s life? You know it was to do his Father’s will. Well, then, the first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner he wills; and thirdly, to do it because it is his will.

I know what his will is by those who direct me; whatever they bid me do, if it is ever so small in itself, is the will of God for me. Then do it in the manner he wills it, not sewing an old thing as if it were new, or a new thing as if it were old; not fretting because the oven is too hot, or in a fuss because it is too cold. You understand – not flying and driving because you are hurried, not creeping like a snail because no one pushes you.

Our dear Savior was never in extremes. The third object is to do his will because God wills it, that is, to be ready to quit at any moment and to do anything else to which you may be called….

You think it very hard to lead a life of such restraint unless you keep your eye of faith always open. Perseverance is a great grace. To go on gaining and advancing every day, we must be resolute, and bear and suffer as our blessed forerunners did. Which of them gained heaven without a struggle?…

What are our real trials? By what name shall we call them? One cuts herself out a cross of pride; another, one of causeless discontent; another, one of restless impatience or peevish fretfulness. But is the whole any better than children’s play if looked at with the common eye of faith? Yet we know certainly that our God calls us to a holy life, that he gives every grace, every abundant grace; and though we are so weak of ourselves, this grace is able to carry us through every obstacle and difficulty.

But we lack courage to keep a continual watch over nature, and therefore, year after year, with our thousand graces, multiplied resolutions, and fair promises, we run around in a circle of misery and imperfections. After a long time in the service of God, we come nearly to the point from whence we set out, and perhaps with even less ardor for penance and mortification than when we began our consecration to him.

You are now in your first set out. Be above the vain fears of nature and efforts of your enemy. You are children of eternity. Your immortal crown awaits you, and the best of Fathers waits there to reward your duty and love. You may indeed sow here in tears, but you may be sure there to reap in joy.”"

How wonderful a day and how amazing to have a white Christmas in St. Louis!!!  Happy and Holy Christmas to you!!

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

“No one is shut out from this joy; all share the same reason for rejoicing. Our Lord, victor over sin and death, finding no man free from sin, came to free us all. Let the saint rejoice as he sees the palm of victory at hand. Let the sinner be glad as he receives the offer of forgiveness. Let the pagan take courage as he is summoned to life.

In the fullness of time, chosen in the unfathomable depths of God’s wisdom, the Son of God took for himself our common humanity in order to reconcile it with its creator. He came to overthrow the devil, the origin of death, in that very nature by which he had overthrown mankind.

And so at the birth of our Lord the angels sing in joy: Glory to God in the highest, and they proclaim peace to men of good will as they see the heavenly Jerusalem being built from all the nations of the world. When the angels on high are so exultant at this marvellous work of God’s goodness, what joy should it not bring to the lowly hearts of men?”

** A sermon of Pope St Leo the Great

NIGHT’S solemn orbs were rolling
Beyond the zenith high;
No angry clouds were strolling
Across the vaulted sky;
Each zephyr ceased its motion,
Each star with lustre shone;
The earth, the air, the ocean,
Were mute, with God alone.

All mute in holy wonder
O’er evils that were done;
Will heaven and earth now sunder,
And man to ruin run;
Or, is there grace in waiting,
This ruin to prevent:
Where is the promise, stating
Salvation’s great event?

When shall we hail the story
His coming will unfold,
In the bright age of glory
Of olden prophets told?
Our faith, sublimely waking,
Perceives the blessing nigh,
And waits the morning, breaking
On yonder eastern sky.

Desire of every nation,
Is this the coming day
Of glory and salvation,
For which thy people pray?
While life and death are pending,
The wonders of the scene,
And hope and fear are blending,
In silence all serene.

Seraphs of burning brightness
Are skirting round the air,
And forms of snowy whiteness
Are congregating there:
On what august condition
Come these celestial things?
Have they received a mission,
From the great King of kings,

To smite the earth with blindness,
For sins so often done;
Or herald forth the kindness
Of the Anointed One,
To finish up transgression,
And make an end of sin,
Where death-like, dark oppression
Triumphantly hath been?

Hark! hark! angelic voices,
With gracious accents fall,
And heaven and earth rejoices
Before the Lord of all.
Through all surrounding regions
The glorious sounds descend,
And strong angelic legions
In choral sweetness blend,—

To God on high be glory,
Peace, peace shall reign on earth,
Hail, hail, the joyous story
Of a Redeemer’s birth;
For lo! an infant stranger,
The Babe of Bethlehem,
Is lying in a manger,
Without one princely gem!”

“And yet the crowns of glory
Were resting on his head,
Ere yet the hills, now hoary,
Their deep foundations spread;
And ere the stars of morning
Had seen the new-made world,
‘Twas his command gave warning,
That light should be unfurled.”

High o’er the towering mountains.
Bright angels fill the sky;
And all the heavenly fountains
Are gushing forth on high;
So lavish of their treasure
On sinful, fallen woe.
That blessings without measure
Roll o’er the world below.

To anxious shepherds, waiting,
These messengers of God
Come, joyfully relating
The advent of their Lord,
In tones of wonder published
On Judah’s happy plains;
“Death, death is now abolished,
And life immortal reigns!”

With joy and gladness bounding
Throughout the realms of space,
With heavenly songs resounding,—
Resounding with the grace,
The love beyond conceiving,—
Mysterious sons of God
Make known to the believing,
The meek Almighty Lord!

Far in the orient reaching,
His star of glory shone,
And wise men, in their teaching,
Soon made His advent known,
Then bowing down before Him
Whose mercies were of old,
Their willing hearts adore Him
With incense, myrrh and gold.

All hail, thou King of nations,
Of David’s royal line;
We join in these oblations,
And honors all divine;
Allegiance and thanksgiving
Encircle all thy fame,
Each thought its tribute giving
To thy beloved name.

O Jesus, our salvation,
Thou glorious Prince of Peace;
Through every age and nation,
Thy kingdom shall increase:
Accept our glad devotion,
On this thy natal morn;
When mercy’s boundless ocean
In Bethlehem was born ; —

And born to flow forever
With an increasing tide,
From life’s own affluent river
Out-spreading far and wide,
O’er all the heights of story
With an immortal wave,
The brightness of His glory,
He comes, He comes to save.

*** The Advent, and other poems and hymns By William D. Murphy 1873