aeternus

My daughter is the girl who does not run with the crowd. At 7 years old she is not fascinated with “Hanna Montana” and could care less about “American Girl” or “fashion” or the “Disney Channel” like the rest of her little friends. Of course, this makes me very happy.

When this little one gets home from school her most favorite thing to do in the world is go out front in our yard to play on her big tree swing. She will be there for hours entertaining herself by admiring nature and singing to it. And when I say sing, I really mean sing. She does NOT stop. I am thankful that we live on a hidden little Lane with zero traffic. If not, she would obviously have become the city curiosity by now!

In any case, she is just lovely in her little solitudes of song. I love to be making dinner in the late afternoon while being entertained by her musical performance. I look out the window while cutting up some vegetables and smile at her and her little companion - our dog Obi (she’s a Jedi dog you know!).

In short, this is a genuine little girl. Not a wannabe teen and not a distracted child who’s every over scheduled moment in life is booked from now until death. One might imagine that this girl who spends quite a bit of time in her own imaginary world among the trees and squirrels would be one to not partake in the social activity of school, but by thinking that you would be incorrect. As content as she is, it must be some sort of attraction to the other girls for they flock to her like bees to honey and she is a glad to be with their company as she is to be alone in her own solitude.

So this is the girl we are talking about who was preparing for her First Communion last week. She is a girl with a couple of ants in her pants when it comes to mass (age seven and some figets are inevitable) but she comes with a understanding of the mass which is quite beautiful. As we studied the catechism together over the past few months (the old St. Joseph’s edition of the Baltimore Catechism is wonderful!) she began to see things in a new way. She already has a great fondness for Saint Therese of Lisieux and I caught her reading her “St. Therese Autobigoraphical comic book” many times lately. I was happy to see that Therese too was playing a part in our little girl’s preparation.

To be honest, I try to never pester our little girl or try to get her to talk about spiritual things but rather like to wait for the thoughts and occasions to come from her. Casually, over time, as I was trying to prepare her for the Eucharist, there were these amazing little moments which were like the white fluffy happiness of a dandelion seed floating through the air in a gentle breeze. This child would speak beautiful little whisperings from her young lips and from her soul which would float around in the air to land square between the muscles of a mother’s heart. Every word of these musings was filled with the Holy Spirit and how I would have to hold back tears sometimes at the beauty of her words. In these moments I was sure that our dear Lord was shedding these tears in joy for me!

As the “big day” was approaching, there was much occasioning in the classroom at school in preparation for the Eucharist. The children were quite practiced in processing into the chapel (at snail pace) and they had had a “taste” of some wine and a bit of bread and had even drawn a life size banner representing the Last Supper which was attached over the doorway of the chapel. Our little girl drew St. Andrew at the Last Supper and gave him lots of freckles because another little boy she admires has such a face! At home we had been ready for First Communion in our hearts a little more quickly than we had managed to collect the proper First Communion “attire” of a dress, veil, gloves, shoes, etc. There was a little rush at the end, but all was quite well. It seemed all would continue to be well when she came home from school crying one day.

“They won’t let us wear gloves or a veil Mommy!!!”

I tried not to show my dismay, but I was upset too. I could not imagine why a Catholic School would not want their beautiful little girls to wear veils? Is it so outdated a custom? Are we suppose to throw away our heritage so quickly? Will these girls grow up and be married without veils too? Did our Holy Mother not wear a veil 24/7? Is humility of a women so defunct a modern action?

I tried to lie low for a few days hoping the situation would resolve itself so I would not have to go into school and make a fuss with the faculty. Then the next day she came home to say:

“Mommy, they want us to receive Jesus in our hands and not on our lips! I don’t want to have my first communion at school, I want to do it at Carmel with the Sisters and Saint Therese!”

This was just too much for me. I could not stand to see her so distraught. She would not find consolation in my words so I marched her and myself up the hill to Carmel for a pow wow with the Extern Sister who is our friend.

Words of wisdom flew from dear Sister’s mouth as she made it clear and precise to our girl that she must offer these things (the veil, gloves, communion in hand, ect.) to Jesus as a sacrifice. Sister expertly explained to this Innocent that He knew what she wished and how she loved Him. Sister beautifully navigated this little one’s troubled thoughts and worries and disarmed each of her fears and sadnesses. In a final aplomb she said, “you must go and take your First Communion with Jesus with your schoolmates on Saturday afternoon and do it just the way your teachers want. Then on Sunday morning you wake up early and put your dress back on, this time with your veil and gloves and come up to Carmel with your Mommy and Daddy and have a Second Communion with Jesus here with the Sisters and St. Therese”

I was astounded by the goodness of dear Sister. She was wonderful. Our little girl was so very happy and her soul was filled with happiness. Our plan was set, all worries were gone and nothing was to be done but anticipate the happiness to come. The Carmelite wisdom of “suffering in silence” was pure beauty.

So the big day was almost here, but first we had to get to sleep that night! Getting to sleep seemed to be a bit of a trial. Our dear girl was just so excited that she had the greatest of trouble falling asleep. I usually sit with her after her prayers until she drifts off, but this night was a little more difficult. She would have her eyes closed and just about to fade off when the eyes would pop back open to say something more to me. This happened a half dozen times before I was certain she would finally be at peace. Her breathing became bigger, and her little hand grasped mine in reflex before her eyes popped back open again. I think she was asleep, or at least not quite awake, when she muttered the most profound little sentence to me. I want to so much share this little speech of hers, but I have locked its beauty away in my heart to be kept in a safe place for eternity. I will say that these words were truly, truly beautiful with an understanding of the Eucharist which could only come from the purest soul of a child.

It was a lucky thing my Mother came to visit us from Pennsylvania for she was so very good in helping iron out any wrinkles which may have accumulated on the communion dress and made sure her shoes were shiny and bright. When we started to leave the house our little girl asked if she could just take her veil in the car with us. Of course I said. When we got to the school chapel a photographer was there taking pictures. Upon seeing this we agreed that she could be photographed with her veil on and so my husband dutifully ran out to the car to retrieve it. When we placed it on her head our girl looked so beautiful and her happy smile filled the room. She seemed to beam so brightly that I could not dare ask her to take the veil off (so much for suffering in a Carmelite silence!) I looked across the room to see the School Principal and walked over to her. I said as nicely as I possibly could, “please, you would not ask her to take off her veil, she is so happy in it”. The Principal aghast replied, “Oh no, I am not the veil police. Of course she can wear it. Is there some reason she should not! She looks beautiful in it!”

Now, I ask you, dear reader, is there some reason I should not have trusted all along that heaven would not intercede on the part of a young soul who it loves so very much! Shame on any doubt I may have had!

I will not say too much more about the ceremony. It was beautiful. The children processed into chapel with grace and reverence (at their practiced great and amazing snail’s pace) and I am sure they were an inspiration to all in attendance. At the proper time of the mass the Eucharist was given to these handsome young souls and the Holy Spirit was swiftly flying throughout this holy persuasion.

When mass was over we gathered for a few pictures as we took our time to leave the chapel. I don’t think any of us wanted for the occasion to be over and our dear girl only complained that the mass seemed to last only 5 minutes. As we were finished and perhaps some of the last left in the building, we started to walk down the hallway of the school towards the statue of Mater Admirabilis (our school’s most favorite Mother and a model for the religious of the Sacred Heart of our school) for one more photograph. There were no other people in the hallway but our family when a small little call came from beyond for our dear girl. It was the Principal calling her name. She drew close to our girl and presented her with a wrist corsage of white roses.

O.K. now, WHOA! Did I just say white roses?!!

Mother and daughter (in front of Our Lady mind you) stop dead in their tracks with open mouths of wonderful joy and an amazing look of knowing passes between the both of us. I ask you again, dear reader, is there some reason I should not have trusted that our dear Saint Therese would not be with us on this day?!! As our dear Therese has said ” I wish to pass my Heaven in doing good on earth,” and also “After my death I will let fall a shower of roses.”

I do hope gentle reader, that you have had a chill of holy hope run through your veins learning about yet another little miracle sent down to earth from above!

As this is perhaps my LONGEST blog entry ever, I feel I had better wrap it up. The story ends with a “Second Communion” early Sunday morning at the Carmelite chapel. Our dear Carmelite sister’s were so gracious and good to our girl. Perhaps they could not contain their happiness at seeing this little one in her white dress and veil sitting up the front of the chapel chaperoned by her family and our super hero Extern Sister. There were a couple of smiles and perhaps a few little winks and waves between the Sister’s choir stalls and our dear little girl. The Sister’s mentioned our girl in the Petitions of the Mass and prayed for ALL those young souls who would be meeting Jesus for the first time in the Eucharist this Easter-springtime.

I am so thankful to these wonderful Carmelites who live a life of seclusion interceding to our God on behalf of the world. They give up their every desire to unite themselves completely to Christ their Bridegroom. Their prayers and self-mortification no doubt steadies the hand of Divine Justice and this selfless homage of their own souls goes unnoticed and un-thanked by millions and millions of other souls. From my heart I thank them for everything they do. God reward their goodness and kindess.

Praise be Jesus Christ, Now and Forever!

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I am so very happy after the MOST wonderful weekend spent here in St. Louis.  My daughter’s First Communion was so very special and filled with lots of little stories I should very much like to write about.  However, my Mother is visiting and it seems I will not have time to write for a few more days.  I thought I would say thank you for the prayers and put up this photo while she is busy reading…

Deo Gratias!

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“One morning in May
or June, 1829, the aged clergyman came to our
house very early. Looking immediately for mother,
he withdrew with her to the garden. Presently
mother called me, and the reverend gentleman took
my hand and said: “Child, I had a very peculiar
dream concerning you last night. You must be
prepared as soon as possible to receive your first
holy Communion.” Mother remarked that I was
still very young, but withal no dunce ; she would
therefore make no objections. Then she inquired
on what day it was to take place. The clergyman
answered that it must occur on no other day than
the feast of St. Francis. Mother consulted the
almanac and was rejoiced to find that in that year
the feast of the saint coincided with that of Our
Lady of Victories, which was celebrated in a
solemn manner in our parish church, and, in a
sense, was also my mother’s (Mary Louisa Victoria)
patronal feast. It was now decided that I
should receive first Communion on that day
together with my sister Julia Ottilia, who was
about a year and a half older than I.  A priest
gave us the necessary instruction. The immediate
preparation for Communion was well made. I
yearned for the happy moment when Our Lord
was to give Himself to me. I was greatly moved
when I received the Blessed Sacrament. My sponsor,
the aged canon, gave it to us and to our whole
family, who all approached the holy table at the

same time. When he ministered the sacred host
to me his tears flowed copiously, and he was so
moved that his voice almost failed him. I was
moved to tears also, but I do not remember
whether it was solely because Our Dear Saviour
came to me, or whether it was not also because I
saw the good old priest weep. I was very recollected
and filled with spiritual joy ; but the day did
not pass without some interior distractions caused
mostly by outward circumstances. This saddened
me the more because I had not expected it.”

– from THE VENERABLE MOTHER FRANCES SCHERVIER, FOUNDRESS OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE SISTERS OF THE POOR OF ST. FRANCIS.

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And, now for the most beautiful (and perhaps most famous) of First Communion stories. I’ve been waiting all week to post this for it is my favorite. It is from Saint Therese of Lisieux…

“I shall always remember my First Communion Day as one of unclouded
happiness….

At last there dawned the most beautiful day of all the days of my
life. How perfectly I remember even the smallest details of those
sacred hours! the joyful awakening, the reverent and tender
embraces of my mistresses and older companions, the room filled
with snow-white frocks, where each child was dressed in turn, and,
above all, our entrance into the chapel and the melody of the
morning hymn: “O Altar of God, where the Angels are hovering.”

But I would not and I could not tell you all. Some things lose
their fragrance when exposed to the air, and so, too, one’s inmost
thoughts cannot be translated into earthly words without instantly
losing their deep and heavenly meaning. How sweet was the first
embrace of Jesus! It was indeed an embrace of love. I felt that I
was loved, and I said: “I love Thee, and I give myself to Thee for
ever.” Jesus asked nothing of me, and claimed no sacrifice; for a
long time He and little Therese had known and understood one
another. That day our meeting was more than simple recognition, it
was perfect union. We were no longer two. Therese had disappeared
like a drop of water lost in the immensity of the ocean; Jesus
alone remained–He was the Master, the King! Had not Therese asked
Him to take away her liberty which frightened her? She felt
herself so weak and frail, that she wished to be for ever united
to the Divine Strength.

And then my joy became so intense, so deep, that it could not be
restrained; tears of happiness welled up and overflowed. My
companions were astonished, and asked each other afterwards: “Why
did she cry? Had she anything on her conscience? No, it is because
neither her Mother nor her dearly loved Carmelite sister is here.”
And no one understood that all the joy of Heaven had come down
into one heart, and that this heart, exiled, weak, and mortal as
it was, could not contain it without tears.

How could my Mother’s absence grieve me on my First Communion Day?
As Heaven itself dwelt in my soul, in receiving a visit from Our
Divine Lord I received one from my dear Mother too. Nor was I
crying on account of Pauline’s absence, for we were even more
closely united than before. No, I repeat it–joy alone, a joy too
deep for words, overflowed within me.

During the afternoon I read the act of consecration to Our Lady,
for myself and my companions. I was chosen probably because I had
been deprived of my earthly Mother while still so young. With all
my heart I consecrated myself to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and
asked her to watch over me. She seemed to look lovingly on her
Little Flower and to smile at her again, and I thought of the
visible smile which had once cured me, and of all I owed her. Had
she not herself, on the morning of that 8th of May, placed in the
garden of my soul her Son Jesus–”the Flower of the field and the
Lily of the valleys”?

On the evening of this happy day Papa and I went to the Carmel,
and I saw Pauline, now become the Spouse of Christ. She wore a
white veil like mine and a crown of roses. My joy was unclouded,
for I hoped soon to join her, and at her side to wait for Heaven.

I was pleased with the feast prepared for me at home, and was
delighted with the beautiful watch given to me by Papa. My
happiness was perfect, and nothing troubled the inward peace of my
soul. Night came, and so ended that beautiful day. Even the
brightest days are followed by darkness; one alone will know no
setting, the day of the First and Eternal Communion in our true
Home. Somehow the next day seemed sorrowful. The pretty clothes
and the presents I had received could not satisfy me. Henceforth
Our Lord alone could fill my heart, and all I longed for was the
blissful moment when I should receive Him again.”

– St. Thérèse’s First Communion 8th May 1884 From a Story of a Soul [St. Thérèse’s autobiogrphy]

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“FROM the moment you were old enough to understand
what is meant by the adorable Eucharist, you
should look forward with a holy impatience to you:
first Communion, and never pass a day without humbly
and fervently begging the Almighty to prepare
you for that happiness. Each time that you see your
elder companions communicate, you should make a
spiritual communion, by an act of Faith in the adorable
Eucharist, an act of hope, of love, and ardent desire
to communicate yourself; looking on those who
enjoy such a happiness as objects of that holy envy
which is very allowable and innocent, since the angels
themselves would envy a Christian the felicity and
if these were your dispositions with regard to the
holy Communion, so long as your extreme youth,
ignorance of the Christian Doctrine, or any other
cause, deferred your first Communion, you need not
be told to rejoice from your heart, now that you have
been chosen to prepare for that most solemn duty;
you will naturally feel delighted at the prospect of
soon enjoying the happiness you so much desired
Your first care should be to make your most humble
and grateful thanksgivings to God.

There is reason to hope that
it is He who has selected you for his
temple, since that choice was not made without consulting
his Divine Majesty, and imploring the light
of his Holy Spirit by prayer. But that sentiment
which should predominate over all others on this occasion,
is a holy fear of the awful duty for which
you are now going to prepare, and a deep sense of
its great responsibility. This disposition is of the
utmost importance, so much so, that the first Communion
is always deferred until children are old
enough to discern the body of the Lord; that is, as
your Catechism says, until they are of an age to
understand what the blessed Eucharist is; how they
snould prepare to receive it worthily; the terrible
misfortune of an unworthy Communion, and the risk
those run who prepare negligently for an action of
such importance, that thereby they may learn to tremble
at their own weakness, to trust unreservedly in
God’s grace, and at the same time to leave noth
ing in their own power undone for rendering themselves
less unworthy of the happiness of communicating.
You have now attained that age, and you do not, it
is hoped, resemble many children, who are more delighted
at the thoughts of making their first Communion, than
impressed with the necessity of sparing
no exertion to make it well. But as so much depends
on this sentiment a holy fear, which should honour of
receiving the Almighty, if it were possible for them
to desire any thing they do not possess.

You should most earnestly beg of God to enlighten your
understanding, and penetrate your heart, that yoy
may know and feel what you are about, and never be
so thoughtless as to prepare lightly for a Sacrament,
which no created being could dare to receive, had
not the command proceeded from God himself. Endeavour
likewise to conceive a just notion of this
great work, by reflecting seriously that your first
Communion is without comparison the most important
action you will ever have to perform. This is
the action on which perhaps your eternal salvation
or misery depends, because nothing more directly
lea^ds a soul to heaven or to hell, than the good or
bad use of this Sacrament; now, that is often decided
by the first Communion. Those who are so happy
as to make it worthily, begin well, and receive in the
first visit of their Saviour abundant graces and
special assistance for persevering in his holy service;
whereas those who are so truly unfortunate as to
profane the precious body and blood of Jesus Christ
the very first time they receive it…

How many perhaps of the blessed in heaven owe
their happiness to the care, the fervour, and purity
of heart with which they approached, for the first
time, the holy communion!”

– From The Ursuline Manual: Or A Collection of Prayers, Spiritual Exercises

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WHITE maid, like snowflake at my door,
Why comest in such weed ?
Thy pure sweet face is fresh with joy,
Thy hands with flowers.
Say, hast thou ended life’s annoy
By one brave holy deed ?
Amid life’s showers,
Say, hast thou leave to sit in waveless calm for evermore?
Not so; thy cloudless day must die,
Thy stainless garb wax dim;
But fed with Hidden Manna still,
Thy strength shall last.
Thy violets, wash’d by living rill,
Shall purple o’er its brim;
Thy lot is cast,
And thou with whiter lilies shall be crowned by and by.

– from: The three kings, and other poems By Emily Bowles

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Here is an excerpt from a book on St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the preparation she maintained for her “first communion” as she was living among the Poor Clares for her education.

The silence of this sacred cloister, the austerity and
continual prayer of the religious, their nocturnal devotions,
their modesty and recollection, made an extraordinary
impression upon Margaret. She became conscious
that this was the kind of life God desired of her.”
I thought,” she said, “were I a religious, I should become
holy like those around me. I conceived so great
a longing for the life that I breathed but for it. I did
not find the convent in which I was retired enough for
my taste; but not knowing any other, I thought I must
remain there.”

Let us note this new feature. This
convent of Poor Clares, enclosed by austere grates,
shrouded in silence and fervor, was not sufficiently retired
to satisfy the craving after a hidden life already
experienced by this young child. From the cradle to
the tomb, that desire of hers was to go on increasing.
Hardly had she entered with the Poor Clares, when
they prepared her to make her first Communion. She
was only nine years old; but her angelic dispositions
supplied the defect of age. The results were extraordinary.
Margaret was gay, lively, naturally given to
play and amusement; but from this day, she no longer
found in them the same attraction. “This first Com-
munion,” she said, ” infused so much bitterness into all
the little pleasures and amusements of my age that I
could find no relish in them, though I still sought them
eagerly. When I desired to share my companions’ games,
I always felt something restraining me, something that
called me apart; and I had no peace until I obeyed.
The same impulse made me begin to pray, almost always,
provided I was not seen, on my bare knees, or making
genuflections. To be observed was for me inconceivable
torment.”

A very serious illness at this time endangered the
child’s life, and obliged her family to withdraw her
from the Poor Clares. She returned to Lhautecour,
where she was surrounded with the tenderest care by
her mother and brothers, who loved her dearly. They
did everything to promote her cure, but in vain. “They
could,” said she, “find no cure for my malady till they
gave me to the Blessed Virgin. They promised her, if
I were cured, I should some day be one of her daughters.
I had no sooner made the vow than I was cured.
I ever after experienced the Blessed Virgin’s protection
in a manner altogether marked, as of one belonging entirely
to her.”

This was the first public sign of the special love of God for
the holy child. She was deeplymoved by it, and resolved
more firmly than ever to belong to Him without reserve.

— from the Life of Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque

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This is a letter from Elizabeth Ann Seton to a friend about to receive her first communion…

“DEAR THERESA:
I only write to you to put you in mind of the great
action you are going about; and do, my dear love, try to prepare
your heart to receive our blessed Lord. Oh, think how
good he is to you in granting you such a favor! Spend,
every day till Christmas, a quarter of an hour in the chapel,
to offer your heart to our blessed Lord and beg him to prepare
it. You know you cannot do it yourself. Offer yourself
to the Blessed Virgin ; beg her to make you her child.
Pray our dear Lord to be born in your heart, as he was in
the stable of Bethlehem for our salvation. Oh, remember,
Theresa, you can make your first communion but once : try
to make it well, then. Think, my love, how happy you will
be if you receive him for your salvation. Oh, when death
comes, how you will wish that you had made it well ! but it
will be too late then, and how dreadful if you have made it
ill I Take care : throw yourself, in spirit, at the foot of the
cross; say to our Lord you are a weak child, you can do nothing
of yourself. Beg him to send the holy spirit of his love
in your heart, to consume it with this blessed fire; beg him
to enlighten your faith, that you may receive him worthily.
Oh, how happy would I think myself if 1 could again make
my first communion ! I would think I could never
prepare myself enough. In the course of the day, while you
are at your lessons, sometimes think, ‘ Oh, how happy am I !
Jesus, my dear Jesus, is coming to me. O dearest Lord,
prepare me for yourself.’ Try to serve him, and make resolutions
to do your best. Try, when you think any thing
will make you angry, to reflect, ‘ Is this preparing to receive
my Jesus ?’ When you are at your prayers, keep your head
bowed down and your hands joined, and do not look about
the chapel, because you need not think our Lord will listen
to your prayers when you do not even think of what yea
are saying to him. . . . Oh, my love, if you knew what I
feel for you and the girls who are to make their first communion !
All I ask of you is to beg Him to prepare your
heart and to give you a true sense of what you are going to
do. I know I need say nothing if our Lord pleases to make
you his; all I wish is to put you in mind, because I would be
so happy to think you would be forever his. Pray for me,
dear love ; beg our dear Lord to make me his and to teach
me how to love him.”

– from: Life of Mrs. Eliza A. Seton, Foundress and First Superior of the Sisters Of The Daughters of Charity IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

– image above: lithograph of Christ the Redeemer given to Elizabeth Ann Seton by William Magee Seton, her husband, sometime between 1774 and 1803. The Eucharistic theme of this print reflects Elizabeth Seton’s deep devotion to the reception of Holy Communion and her reverence for the Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

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As our family is in the final week’s preparation for our little one’s first communion, I thought I would focus on that theme this week as I post. The theme may be geared towards the prayer of children, but the meditations for us “older folks” is the same. May we see and love with a childlike trust and may we value our communion in a most appreciative way as such a gift given to us from above…

Here is a snippet from a book on first holy communion. It is helpful in getting our souls ready for battle and ordering our hearts towards goodness for a state of grace to receive the Most Blessed Sacrament…

“My dear Angel Guardian, guardian of my soul and body, how hard I make your work for you by thinking so much of my body and so little of my soul. You must envy the Guardian Angels of the Saints. Pray for me that I may be more like them, more in earnest about the work of my salvation ; that I may have the courage to say “ No” to myself when I ought to say it, and to bear patiently the pain that comes of saying it. The pain will grow less as I grow more expert in battle, so that what seems hard now will come to be easy. Besides, a soldier of Christ must not mind a little pain. The pain will pass, but the reward in Heaven and the joy of having given glory to God will not pass. Stand by me, dear Angel, in all my battles, and when the last struggle is over, present me to my King. Your reward as well as mine will be to see His smile and hear Him say, “Well done.”"

– The photo above is another from Mepkin Trappist Abbey in South Carolina. The landscape is truly unbelievable in its early spring beauty!

P.S. Just in case the Holy Father is reading (insert snicker and roll eyes here at my brash presumption!) Dear Holy Father we are so excited for your visit. May you travel in safety and know we are eager for your apostolic visit to us tomorrow!

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Today we heard in the Gospel Jesus’ High Priestly prayer where He lifts His eyes up to heaven and pours out His heart interceding between humanity and His Father in Heaven. With this beautiful prayer he is trying to teach us what IS and what IS NOT important. He is teaching us about LOVE. Unselfish, unblemished, pure, holy LOVE! Boy, if we could just get our simple little minds around this concept and see the big picture of our lives only through this perspective of love!

Jesus knows His time is short and so he prays to His Father in earnest to watch over the souls of the Earth and to protect them from the evil one. As Jesus was Divine, He was also man, and in His humanity He knew just how hard it was going to be for us all. He says that as He is consecrated in the Father, so may we be consecrated in the Father through Jesus. This consecration, of course, is through love.

Jesus says to His Father:

“They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth…. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.”

Is this not the best news of the day?!! Let us not think of the world and its backward ways, but think of the truth and the beauty which is Jesus Christ our most perfect Savior in love. He tells us we do not “belong” to this world. That is the truth and it is to be trusted. If we realize that our souls are only on a journey and one day we will all be One in the Father with Jesus, what could trouble us? When you encounter any trouble today, just keep saying in your mind… I do not belong to this world, I do not belong to this world, I do not belong to this world…

Really truly this is great news.  Chapter 17 of John’s Gospel is just so “Carmel” as it talks about all the best Carmel subject matter like “perfection” and “not belonging to the world” - I’m psyched!

Here is yet another beautiful view of a pond on the grounds of Mepkin Abbey in South Carolina. I have a few more to share…

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I happen to be in another prayer novena for the Divine Mercy (can’t help it because it is just so overwhelmingly beautiful!!!). I know many of you have just participated in this most beautiful prayer as the feast of Mercy was only a few weeks ago. Nevertheless, because the prayers are so beautiful surely they can be offered continuously all year long…

For today:

Jesus said to St. Faustina:

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. I favor humble souls with My confidence.

And so we pray:

Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, “Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart.” Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father’s favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages.

Amen
Link tip of the day for mothers…

This is the best little booklet I have seen in a long while! I use the St. Joseph’s Baltimore Catechism with my children but this is a great version too. I am going to print it out for my little ones..

http://sjtbre.org/penance%20booklet.pdf

Thank you St. John the Baptist Church for your valiant efforts to catechize our beautiful children!

This photo is another taken at Mepkin Abbey when I kinda got “lost” from my family and lingered behind soaking in the fragrance of the place and feeling a few moments of solitude. It is hard to believe, but spring was only just beginning to come to South Carolina and yet the foliage was so beautiful and the landscapes so lush. It was like Eden!

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I thought I would pass along my homework assignment today. After a beautiful holy mass at the monastery this morning, Father (who is a visiting Carmelite priest from Oregon) gave us a “homework assignment” (which after he translated this statement means only a “meditation for the day”). He gave us 4 words for those who don’t like homework and 5 words for those who don’t mind a little extra credit. The words of the meditation are:

I A M W I T H Y O U

and

I A M W I T H Y O U A L W A Y S

Father mentioned that if we understand this and come to learn that our Lord is with us at every moment, in every situation and in every person, then we can not but walk in trust and love and faith as a true disciple of His Majesty.

Pretty good food for thought…

This photo is from Mepkin Abbey Chapel, a Trappist monastery near Charleston, South Caronlina. It is their Easter Cross. It was taken on our family trip to visit my husband’s parents during the Easter break. I really should write more about this wonderful piece of earth because it was truly marvelous…

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Some thoughts from St. John of the Cross…

“‘I should like to persuade spiritual persons that the road leading to God does not entail a multiplicity of considerations, methods, manners, and experiences - though in their own way these may be a requirement for beginners - but demands only the one thing necessary: true self-denial, exterior and interior, through surrender of self both to suffering for Christ and to annihilation in all things

A person makes progress only by imitating Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

First, during his life he certainly died spiritually to the sensitive part, and at his death he died naturally. He proclaimed during his life that he had no place whereon to lay his head [Matthew 8:20]. And at his death he had less.

Second, at the moment of his death he was certainly annihilated in his soul, without any consolation or relief, since the Father had left him that way in innermost aridity in the lower part. He was thereby compelled to cry out: My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? [Matthew 27:46] . This was the most extreme abandonment, sensitively, that he had suffered in his life. And by it he accomplished the most marvelous work of his whole life, surpassing all the works and deeds and miracles that he had ever performed on earth or in heaven. That is, he brought about the reconciliation and union of the human race with God through grace. The Lord achieved this, as I say, at the moment in which he was most annihilated in all things: in his reputation before people, since in watching him die they mocked him instead of esteeming him; in his human nature, by dying; and in spiritual help and consolation from his Father, for he was forsaken by his Father at that time, annihilated and reduced to nothing, so as to pay the debt fully and bring people to union with God.

I will not enlarge on this, though I would like to continue discussing the matter because from my observations Christ is little known by those who consider themselves his friends. For we see them going about seeking in him their own consolations and satisfactions, loving themselves very much, but not loving him very much by seeking his bitter trials and deaths.”

– Saint John of the Cross, Ascent of Mt. Carmel, Book II chapter 7.

–Photo of the Cooper River at Mepkin Trappist Abbey, Moncks Corner, South Carolina.

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My daughter is to receive her first communion in a few weeks and when we were talking at bedtime the other evening she asked me if there was a special novena we could pray for the event. I thought that was such a sweet request and certainly a beautiful gracious thought to come to her. I have gone in search of such a novena. I was hoping to find one quite specific for a FIRST communion but was not able to. However, I did find this beautiful novena dedicated to “Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament”

If anyone knows of another such novena, please pass it along. I am going to make copies of this prayer and distribute it to all the second graders at school. During this “Easter Season of the Eucharist” would it not be great to spread this throughout all our parishes and schools!

Here is the prayer:

FIRST DAY
THE TITLE OF OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God!
O Virgin Immaculate, Mother of Jesus and our tender Mother, we invoke thee under the title of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, because thou art the Mother of the Savior who lives in the Eucharist, and because it was from thee that He took the Flesh and Blood with which He there feeds us! We invoke thee under that title because, again, thou art the sovereign dispensatrix of all graces and, consequently, of those contained in the august Eucharist, also, because thou didst first fulfill the duties of the Eucharistic life, teaching us by thy example how to assist properly at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, how to communicate worthily, and how to visit frequently and piously the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Versicle:Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Response: That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!
LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God, who having become Man to make us sharers in Thy Divinity, art truly our Bread in the adorable Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee, that in venerating so great a Mystery, we may be mindful of the most sweet Virgin Mary, of whom Thou didst will to be conceived by the operation of the Holy Ghost! Grant, also that we may imitate the worship that she rendered while on earth to this most august Sacrament, so we may behold Thy Eucharistic Kingdom spread and flourish throughout the whole world! O Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever!
Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be worthy to receive Holy Communion every day. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate, and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

SECOND DAY
MARY AND THE HOLY MASS

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God!
O Virgin Immaculate, after having been present at the death of thy Divine Son on Calvary, where thou didst unite thy immense sorrow to the Redeemer?Ts sacrifice, thou didst frequently assist at the real, though mysterious, renewal of that adorable sacrifice in the celebration of the Holy Mass. Teach us by thy example to esteem as it deserves the divine action performed at the altar, and obtain for us the grace to be able often, and even daily, to assist piously at the Holy Sacrifice.

Versicle:Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Response: That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!
LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God, who having become Man to make us sharers in Thy Divinity, art truly our Bread in the adorable Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee, that in venerating so great a Mystery, we may be mindful of the most sweet Virgin Mary, of whom Thou didst will to be conceived by the operation of the Holy Ghost! Grant, also that we may imitate the worship that she rendered while on earth to this most august Sacrament, so we may behold Thy Eucharistic Kingdom spread and flourish throughout the whole world! O Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever!
Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be worthy to receive Holy Communion every day. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate, and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

THIRD DAY
MARY AND HOLY COMMUNION

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God!
O Virgin Immaculate, thy Communions were the most fervent, the most holy that were ever made! When thou didst possess thy Divine Son in thy breast, thou didst love Him with a love exceeding that of any other creature soever for his God. Teach us to make Holy Communion the center of our life, and may that life be spent in preparing us for so great an action and in thanking God for so inappreciable a benefit!

Versicle:Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Response: That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God, who having become Man to make us sharers in Thy Divinity, art truly our Bread in the adorable Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee, that in venerating so great a Mystery, we may be mindful of the most sweet Virgin Mary, of whom Thou didst will to be conceived by the operation of the Holy Ghost! Grant, also that we may imitate the worship that she rendered while on earth to this most august Sacrament, so we may behold Thy Eucharistic Kingdom spread and flourish throughout the whole world! O Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever!
Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be worthy to receive Holy Communion every day. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate, and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

FOURTH DAY
MARY AND THE REAL PRESENCE

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God!
O Virgin Immaculate, who after the ascension of thy Divine Son, didst console thy exile on earth by thy Real Presence of Jesus in the Sacrament, and didst spend before the tabernacle the greater part of thy days and even thy nights, make us comprehend the treasure we possess on the altar. Inspire us to visit often the God of Love in the Sacrament in which He abides to receive the homage that He deserves by so many titles, and to guide, protect, and console us in this exile!
Versicle:Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Response: That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God, who having become Man to make us sharers in Thy Divinity, art truly our Bread in the adorable Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee, that in venerating so great a Mystery, we may be mindful of the most sweet Virgin Mary, of whom Thou didst will to be conceived by the operation of the Holy Ghost! Grant, also that we may imitate the worship that she rendered while on earth to this most august Sacrament, so we may behold Thy Eucharistic Kingdom spread and flourish throughout the whole world! O Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever!
Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be worthy to receive Holy Communion every day. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate, and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

FIFTH DAY
MARY, THE MODEL OF ADORERS

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God!
O Virgin Immaculate, thou art our perfect Model in the service of the Divine Eucharist. With the most lively faith and the most profound respect thou didst adore Jesus hidden under the sacramental veils. After thy example, we desire to render to the Sacred Host all the honor due the Divinity and the glorified Humanity of the Son of God made Man. We wish to maintain at all times in the holy place the modesty and recollection becoming true adorers.

Versicle:Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Response: That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God, who having become Man to make us sharers in Thy Divinity, art truly our Bread in the adorable Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee, that in venerating so great a Mystery, we may be mindful of the most sweet Virgin Mary, of whom Thou didst will to be conceived by the operation of the Holy Ghost! Grant, also that we may imitate the worship that she rendered while on earth to this most august Sacrament, so we may behold Thy Eucharistic Kingdom spread and flourish throughout the whole world! O Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever!
Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be worthy to receive Holy Communion every day. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate, and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

SIXTH DAY

MARY, THE MODEL OF THANKSGIVING

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God!
O Virgin Immaculate, who didst return to Jesus so perfect Thanksgiving for the institution of the Divine Eucharist and the ineffable Gift in which the Savior exhausted His power and the treasures of His Heart, teach us to thank thy Divine Son for this great benefit, and especially to make our thanksgiving well when we have had the happiness of receiving Him in Holy Communion.
Versicle:Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Response: That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God, who having become Man to make us sharers in Thy Divinity, art truly our Bread in the adorable Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee, that in venerating so great a Mystery, we may be mindful of the most sweet Virgin Mary, of whom Thou didst will to be conceived by the operation of the Holy Ghost! Grant, also that we may imitate the worship that she rendered while on earth to this most august Sacrament, so we may behold Thy Eucharistic Kingdom spread and flourish throughout the whole world! O Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever!
Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be worthy to receive Holy Communion every day. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate, and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

SEVENTH DAY

MARY, THE MODEL OF REPARATION

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God!
O Virgin Immaculate, thou didst adore thy Divine Son in His state of perpetual Victim, always immolated on our altars, incessantly demanding, by His death, grace and mercy for sinners. We unite with thy dolors and thy perfect reparation. We desire to accept our daily trials for love of Him, and with thee to console Jesus for the ingratitude of men and the outrages He daily receives in the Blessed Sacrament.

Versicle:Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Response: That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God, who having become Man to make us sharers in Thy Divinity, art truly our Bread in the adorable Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee, that in venerating so great a Mystery, we may be mindful of the most sweet Virgin Mary, of whom Thou didst will to be conceived by the operation of the Holy Ghost! Grant, also that we may imitate the worship that she rendered while on earth to this most august Sacrament, so we may behold Thy Eucharistic Kingdom spread and flourish throughout the whole world! O Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever!
Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be worthy to receive Holy Communion every day. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate, and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

EIGHTH DAY

MARY, THE MODEL OF PRAYER

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God!
O Virgin Immaculate, while the Apostles went to preach the Gospel, thou didst remain close to the tabernacle, supplicating for them the goodness of the Savior, and thy prayer obtained for them the grace to convert the world! Teach us to pray, above all, to pray near the tabernacle, where Jesus wills to abide continually in order to hear our petitions. Teach us to pray for the extension of the Eucharistic kingdom, for the salvation of the whole world, for the exaltation of the Holy Church, and most especially for the sanctification of the clergy and the conversion of sinners.
Versicle:Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Response: That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God, who having become Man to make us sharers in Thy Divinity, art truly our Bread in the adorable Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee, that in venerating so great a Mystery, we may be mindful of the most sweet Virgin Mary, of whom Thou didst will to be conceived by the operation of the Holy Ghost! Grant, also that we may imitate the worship that she rendered while on earth to this most august Sacrament, so we may behold Thy Eucharistic Kingdom spread and flourish throughout the whole world! O Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever!
Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be worthy to receive Holy Communion every day. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate, and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

NINTH DAY

MARY, THE DISPENSATRIX OF EUCHARISTIC GRACES

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God!
O Virgin Immaculate, Mother most loving and admirable Model of adorers of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, thou art also the dispensatrix of the graces necessary to fulfill that great duty! Grant us, then, we beseech thee, as the fruit of this novena, the virtues that will render our adoration less unworthy of thy Divine Son. Teach us to honor so well this Mystery of mysteries that we may receive here below the graces it contains, in order to enjoy in heaven the eternal life of which it is the pledge!

Versicle:Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Response: That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God, who having become Man to make us sharers in Thy Divinity, art truly our Bread in the adorable Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee, that in venerating so great a Mystery, we may be mindful of the most sweet Virgin Mary, of whom Thou didst will to be conceived by the operation of the Holy Ghost! Grant, also that we may imitate the worship that she rendered while on earth to this most august Sacrament, so we may behold Thy Eucharistic Kingdom spread and flourish throughout the whole world! O Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever!
Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be worthy to receive Holy Communion every day. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate, and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

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I really loved reading from St. Isidore’s Book of Maxims this morning. He gives me hope that although I may not have the most “clever of minds” it is o.k. As long as we try our best, all will be well. Getting to heaven is not about great mental capacity. It is about a mind which knows its weakness but which has a heart devoted in love to its Creator.

Isidore says:

“If a man wants to be always in God’s company, he must pray regularly and read regularly. When we pray we talk to God; when we read, God talks to us.

All spiritual growth comes from reading and reflection. By reading we learn what we did no know; by reflection we retain what we have learned…

Some people have great mental powers but cannot be bothered with reading; what reading could have taught them is devalued by their neglect. Others have a desire to know but are hampered by their slow mental processes; yet application to reading will teach them things which the clever fail to learn through laziness.

The man who is slow to grasp things but who really tried hard is rewarded; equally he who does not cultivate his God-given intellectual ability is condemned for despising his gifts and sinning by sloth.

Leaning unsupported by grace may get into our ears; it never reaches the heart. It makes a great noise outside but serves no inner purpose. But when God’s grace touches our innermost minds to bring understanding, his word which has been received by the ear sinks deep into the heart…”

Photo of the children walking along the shore in South Carolina.

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