aeternus

I found a little flyer left in a pew. It had the following prayer on it (which seemed very much like a prayer of protection from all that was contrary to goodness). The flyer recommended this prayer to be recited before sleeping as one would ask that the heavenly protector remain with your soul and pray in union with you for the intentions of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for their intentions and your own, all night long as you sleep. The prayer implores the almighty light of Christ to bind your soul up in through His Holy Name as you adore Him from the foot of His most Holy Cross…

Lord, let your presence within me burst forth like a bright light.
Pour into me your holy love,
filling any holes, cracks or spaces within my soul
and seal them up with your love forever.

From this center, may your light burst outward to surround me
to form a barrier.

Close and seal it completely around me and make it impenetrable
to any evil presence.

Lord, pour your precious blood over me and send to my aid as many
angels and saints as I need right now for protection, guidance and strength.

Grant that they may remain with me as long as they are needed,
and that we may all pray together to give you glory.

“Pray, hope and don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your payer. Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God’s heart. You must speak to Jesus not only with your lips but with your hear; in fact on certain occasions you should speak to Him only with your heart.”

– Padre Pio

In commemoration of a blessed event for Carmelites which is celebrated today, the Transverberation (piercing) of the Heart of St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of our Church in the order of Prayer…

“Our Lord was pleased that I should have at times a vision of this kind: I saw an angel close by me, on my left side, in bodily form. This I am not accustomed to see, unless very rarely. Though I have visions of angels frequently, yet I see them only by an intellectual vision, such as I have spoken of before. It was our Lord’s will that in this vision I should see the angel in this wise. He was not large, but small of stature, and most beautiful—his face burning, as if he were one of the highest angels, who seem to be all of fire: they must be those whom we call cherubim. Their names they never tell me; but I see very well that there is in heaven so great a difference between one angel and another, and between these and the others, that I cannot explain it.

I saw in his hand a long spear of gold, and at the iron’s point there seemed to be a little fire. He appeared to me to be thrusting it at times into my heart and to pierce my very entrails; when he drew it out, he seemed to draw them out also, and to leave me all on fire with a great love of God. The pain was so great, that it made me moan; and yet so surpassing was the sweetness of this excessive pain, that I could not wish to be rid of it. The soul is satisfied now with nothing less than God. The pain is not bodily, but spiritual; though the body has its share in it, even a large one. It is a caressing of love so sweet which now takes place between the soul and God, that I pray God of His goodness to make him experience it who may think that I am lying.

During the days that this lasted, I went about as if beside myself. I wished to see, or speak with, no one, but only to cherish my pain, which was to me a greater bliss than all created things could give me.

I was in this state from time to time, whenever it was our Lord’s pleasure to throw me into those deep trances, which I could not prevent even when I was in the company of others, and which, to my deep vexation, came to be publicly known. Since then, I do not feel that pain so much, but only that which I spoke of before,—I do not remember the chapter, —which is in many ways very different from it, and of greater worth. On the other hand, when this pain, of which I am now speaking, begins, our Lord seems to lay hold of the soul, and to throw it into a trance, so that there is no time for me to have any sense of pain or suffering, because fruition ensues at once. May He be blessed for ever, who hath bestowed such great graces on one who has responded so ill to blessings so great!”

St. Teresa of Avila, The Book of Her Life, Chapter XXIX. Of Visions. The Graces Our Lord Bestowed on the Saint. The Answers Our Lord Gave Her for Those Who Tried Her.

One might accuse Mother’s of being too “harsh” sometimes.  With all the discipline that falls under our domain as educators of our children in their formative years it is easy to criticize her as the one who “always dampens the fun” or “chills the spirit”.  

Mother’s are no censors of fun mind you, we only admonish in love and to teach but when we say “eat your peas or you can not have desert” it seems we are always the bad guys! Now, I am really hopeful that I will not always appear the “bad guy” and dare I imagine that one day they will thank me for loving them so much!  But as I see it, Mothers (and Father’s) will be held accountable for the “deposit of faith” they try to instill in their charges as they rear them in life to deploy them into the world as good little independent souls ready to make their own way to eternity.  

This, I think, was also the philosophy of Blanche.  Mother of Louis, she was devoted to his upbringing and wished him to become a man of upright moral character.  Apparently she used to say to him quite often during his formative years, ”I love you my dear son, as much as a mother can love her child; but I would rather see you dead at my feet than that you should commit a mortal sin.” Now, could we say Blanche was trying to “spoil the fun” of her son or “dampen his spirit”?!  And before you answer, you may also want to know that Blanche was the Queen of France and Louis became Louis IX a King and even more importantly a SAINT!

I wish Blanche had written a book for us.  And maybe St. Monica too.  Surely they would be helpful to us all.  But I suppose we will just have to mutter through and prayerfully try to do the best we can as mothers.  We must just remember to call upon these good ladies in heaven as often as we need them.  Surely they will help us!

So for St. Louis, Missouri it is not just a feast day but a Solemnity to  our City’s Patron.  I’m not sure the local media will mention it but surely we have reason to celebrate him today.  I was truly thankful today at mass (at a new church for me since I am getting into a new routine with my son going to a new school this year… more on this later) this morning.  When I bowed down before receiving the Eucharist, I noticed an inscription on the floor at the altar.  I had only a glance at it but it said something quite like “this church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and St. Louis, King of France.”  I was happily surprised and thankful for that brief encounter with the Saint’s memory and felt thankful to him for his inspiration.  

For more on St. Louis, I would direct you to a great article at EWTN’s website.  It starts out this way: “In Louis IX of France were united the qualities of a just and upright sovereign, a fearless warrior, and a saint. This crusading king was a living embodiment of the Christianity of the time: he lived for the welfare of his subjects and the glory of God….”

Also, if you have not ever read the letter that St. Louis wrote to one of his own 11 children, please read it here below.  Maybe you would like to print it out for a special “Father” in your life as I am sure it would be an inspirational and perhaps motivational bit of writing for them in their role as spiritual educator.  Its a long letter (a little bit edited) with some “kingly” stuff in it but I am sure you will agree how beautiful and wonderful it is and how he taught much in the same manner his Mother taught him!

“Dear son, since I desire with all my heart that you be  well instructed in all things, it is in my thought to give  you some advice by this writing. For I have heard you  say, several times, that you remember my words better  than those of any one else. 


Therefore, dear son, the first thing I advise is that  you fix your whole heart upon God, and love Him with all your strength, for without this no one can be saved or be of any worth.  

You should, with all your strength, shun everything which you believe to be displeasing to Him. And you ought especially to be resolved not to commit mortal sin, no matter what may happen, and you should permit all your limbs to be hewn off, and suffer every manner of torment, rather than fall knowingly into mortal sin. 


If our Lord send you any adversity, whether illness or other thing, you should receive it in good patience, and  thank Him for it, and be grateful for it, for you ought to believe that He will cause everything to turn out for your good ; and likewise you should think that you have well 
merited it, and more also, should He will it, because you 
have loved Him but little, and served Him but little, and 
have done many things contrary to His will. 


If our Lord send you any prosperity, either health 
of body or other thing, you ought to thank Him humbly 
for it, and you ought to be careful that you are not the 
worse for it, either through pride or anything else, for 
it is a very great sin to fight against our Lord with His 
gifts. 


Dear son, I advise you that you accustom yourself 
to frequent confession, and that you choose always, as 
your confessors, men who are upright and sufficiently 
learned, and who can teach you what you should do and 
what you should avoid. You should so carry yourself 
that your confessors and other friends may dare confidently 
to reprove you and show you your faults. 


Dear son, I advise you that you listen willingly and 
devoutly to the services of Holy Church, and, when you 
are in church, avoid frivolity and trifling, and do not 
look here and there ; but pray to God with lips and heart 
alike, while entertaining sweet thoughts about Him, and 
especially at the mass, when the body and blood of our 
Lord Jesus Christ are consecrated, and for a little time 
before. 


Dear son, have a tender and pitiful heart for the 
poor, and for all those whom you believe to be in misery 
of heart or body, and, according to your ability, comfort 
and aid them with some alms. 


Maintain the good customs of your realm, and put 
down the bad ones. Do not oppress your people and do not burden them with tolls or failles, except under very 
great necessity. 


If you have any unrest of heart, of such a nature 
that it may be told, tell it to your confessor, or to some 
upright man who can keep your secret ; you will be able 
to carry more easily the thought of your heart. 


See to it that those of your household are upright 
and loyal, and remember the Scripture, which says: ” 
Elige viros timentes Deum in quibus sit justicia et qui 
oderint avariciam ; ” that is to say. “Love those who 
serve God and who render strict justice and hate covet- 
ousness ; ” and you will profit, and will govern your kingdom 
well. 


Dear son, see to it that all your associates are upright, 
whether clerics or laymen, and have frequent good 
converse with them ; and flee the society of the bad. And 
listen willingly to the word of God, both in open and in 
secret ; and purchase freely prayers and pardons. 


Love all good, and hate all evil, in whomsoever it 
may be. 


Let no one be so bold as to say, in your presence, 
words which attract and lead to sin, and do not permit 
words of detraction to be spoken of another behind his 
back. 


Suffer it not that any ill be spoken of God or His 
saints in your presence, without taking prompt vengeance. 
But if the offender be a clerk or so great a person that 
you ought not to try him, report the matter to him who is 
entitled to judge it. 


Dear son, give thanks to God often for all the good 
things He has done for you, so that you may be worthy to receive more, in such a manner that if it please the 
Lord that you come to the burden and honor of governing 
the kingdom, you may be worthy to receive the sacred 
unction wherewith the kings of France are consecrated. 


Dear son, if you come to the throne, strive to have 
that which befits a king, that is to say, that in justice and 
rectitude you hold yourself steadfast and loyal toward 
your subjects and your vassals, without turning either to 
the right or to the left, but always straight, whatever may 
happen. And if a poor man have a quarrel with a rich 
man, sustain the poor rather than the rich, until the truth 
is made clear, and when you know the truth, do justice to 
them. 


Love your brothers, and always wish their well- 
being and their good advancement, and also be to them 
in the place of a father, to instruct them in all good. But 
be watchful lest, for the love which you bear to one, you 
turn aside from right doing, and do to the others that 
which is not meet. 


Dear son, I advise you to bestow the benefices of 
Holy Church which you have to give, upon good persons, 
of good and clean life, and that you bestow, them with the 
high counsel of upright men. And I am of the opinion 
that it is preferable to give them to those who hold nothing 
of Holy Church, rather than to others. For, if you 
inquire diligently, you will find enough of those who have 
nothing who will use wisely that entrusted to them.

In conclusion, dear son, I give you all the blessings 
which a good and tender father can give to a son, and I 
pray our Lord Jesus Christ, by His mercy, by the 
prayers and merits of His blessed Mother, the Virgin 
Mary, and of angels and archangels and of all the saints, 
to guard and protect you from doing anything contrary 
to His will, and to give you grace to do it always,so that He may be honored and served by you. And 
this may He do to me as to you, by His great bounty, so 
that after this mortal life we may be able to be together 
with Him in the eternal life, and see Him, love Him, and 
praise Him without end. Amen. And glory, honor, and 
praise be to Him who is one God with the Father and the 
Holy Spirit ; without beginning and without end. 

Amen.”

You can read more of the letter here: From Saint Louis’ Advice to His Son, in Medieval Civilization, trans. and eds. Dana Munro and George Clarke Sellery (New York: The Century Company, 1910), pp. 366 -75.

Photographs are from the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis after yesterday’s mass.

When the phone rang after 9:30 last evening I was hoping that is was not bad news.  I always feel it must be bad news if it rings anytime after 8 p.m. because most of the people I know already know I am “early to sleep and early to rise”!  Also, most know that I have a “phone-a-phobia” and as a fact do not like using that particular communication device except in necessity.  But I digress…

The call actually came from a friend of mine who wanted to invite me to mass in the morning at a parish well across town — St. George’s in Afton.  That wonderful invitation was hardly the “bad news” I had premonitioned to myself when the phone rang!

The Holy Mass, offered on this most beautiful feast day of Our Blessed Mother, Queen of Heaven, was to be given in special regard to a new religious community who has come to St. Louis and will establish themselves under the name of The Daughters of Mary, Mother of Israel’s Hope.  The Daughter will be a contemplative and active community with a teaching and evangelistic focus. The community has as its foundress familiar Catholic teaching personality and Evangelist, Rosalind Moss. 

Rosalind, known well for her work with EWTN and “Catholic Answers Live” is a convert to Catholicism. She came to St. Louis this summer at the invitation of our wonderful Archbishop Raymond Burke.  (Now since the Archbishop is now “Emeritus” and the faithful of the Archdiocese are now awaiting a new Archbishop the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Isreal’s Hope will have to await formal inauguration for their community, which would come once a new archbishop is appointed. However, its all in Gods time and in His most loving Hands!)  

There is an obvious support for the new community as the 8 a.m. mass filled most of the giant and beautiful church of St. George (where the new community will make as their home).  The a cappella hymns of Immaculate Mary and Sing of Mary were sung so joyously by all it was hard to hold back the tears!  Throughout the mass I just kept remembering the quotation from this morning’s office of readings (and which I posted about earlier today) that through the holiness of Mary our Queen and “with divine assistance she has redirected these waters and made them into streams of peace and pools of grace.”  What a beautiful meditation, “Streams of peace and pools of grace” — these holy waters were certainly invisibly flowing during this holy mass!

The name Daughters of Mary, Mother of Israel’s Hope reflects Rosalind’s religious heritage. She was raised Jewish and later, as an adult, embraced “Jesus as the Messiah of the Jewish people”.  Rosalind initially joined an evangelical Protestant church but over time came to know and love not only Christ but convert to His Holy Catholic Church in the mid-1990s. 

At today’s Holy Mass Rosalind and two other women who seek to form the community, were clothed in Postulant’s habits as they will now make a retreat to learn about living in religious community from an already established religious community in the South of the U.S.

Rosalind reports that she received about 300 inquiries from interested women who are interested in her community but plans to start with a membership of about a dozen. 
For more information on the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Israel’s Hope, call the community’s convent at (314) 352-LOVE (5683) or e-mail Rosalind Moss at rosalindmoss@gmail.com.

One final comment which is interesting and unique to her order is the lack of an age limit for entrance.

“I’ll take anyone from 18 to 118, as long as they can keep the rules,” Moss said.

“Just as she was borne from virtue to virtue by the Spirit of the Lord, she was transported from earthly renown to heavenly brightness…

…In her abundant goodness she has channelled the spring of reason’s garden, the well of living and life-giving waters that pour forth in a rushing stream from divine Lebanon and flow down from Mount Zion until they surround the shores of every far-flung nation. With divine assistance she has redirected these waters and made them into streams of peace and pools of grace. Therefore, when the Virgin of virgins was led forth by God and her Son, the King of kings. amid the company of exulting angels and rejoicing archangels, with the heavens ringing with praise, the prophecy of the psalmist was fulfilled, in which he said to the Lord: At your right hand stands the queen, clothed in gold of Ophir.”

— From a homily by St. Amadeus of Lausanne, bishop   (who learned and followed St. Bernard of Clairvaux and who eventually became Abbot of the Monastery himself).

“While we should strive for spiritual perfection of mind, purity and peace in God, it will be found to be not a little beneficial to this that we should return quietly into the inner secret place of the mind in the face of everything said, thought or done to us. There, withdrawn from everything else and completely recollected within ourselves, we can place ourselves in the knowledge of the truth before us and undoubtedly discover and understand that it does us absolutely no good, and rather the contrary, when we are praised or honoured by others while we recognise by the knowledge of the truth about ourselves within that we are blameworthy and guilty. And just as nothing is any help if externally people praise someone if his conscience internally accuses him, in the same way on the contrary it does a man no harm to be despised, maligned and persecuted when he remains internally just as innocent, blameless and without fault. On the contrary he has all the more good reason to rejoice in the Lord with patience, in peace and silence. After all no adversity can do any harm where evil is not in control, and just as no evil goes unpunished, so no good goes unrewarded. Nor should we wish a reward with hypocrites or expect and receive profit from men, but from the Lord God alone, not in the present, but in the future, and not in fleeting time, but in eternity. It is clear therefore that nothing is greater, and nothing better than to enter into the inner secret place of the mind always and in every tribulation and occurrence, and there to call upon the Lord Jesus Christ himself, our helper in temptations and tribulations, and to humble ourselves there by confession of sin, and praise God and Father himself, the giver of correction and the giver of consolation. Above all one should accept everything, in general and individually, in oneself or in others, agreeable or disagreeable, with a prompt and confident spirit, as coming from the hand of his infallible Providence or the order he has arranged. This attitude will lead to the forgiveness of our sins, the deliverance from bitterness, the enjoyment of joy and security, the outpouring of grace and mercy, introduction and establishment into a close relationship with God, abundant enjoyment of his presence, and firm cleaving and union with him. But let us not copy those who from hypocrisy and Pharisaism want to appear better and different from what they are, and to make a better impression and appearance before men of being something special, than they know in truth inside to be so. For it is absolute madness to seek, hunger for and aspire to human praise or renown, from oneself or others, when one is in spite of it all inwardly full of cravings and serious faults. And certainly the good things we have talked about above will flee him who chases such vanities, and he will merely bring disgrace on himself. So always keep your faults and your own incapacity before your eyes, and know yourself, so that you can be humbled and not try to avoid being held as the lowest, vilest and most abject scum by everyone when you are aware of the grave sins and serious faults in yourself. For which reason consider yourself compared to others as dross to gold, weeds to the wheat, chaff to the grain, a wolf to the sheep, Satan to the children of God. And do not seek to be respected by others and given precedence before others, but rather flee with all your heart and soul the poison of this disease, the venom of praise, the concern for boasting and vanity, lest, as the prophet says, The wicked is praised in his own heart’s desires, [Psalm 10.4] and Isaiah, They who speak good of you, deceive you and destroy the way of your feet, [Isaiah 3.12] and the Lord in Luke, Woe to you when men speak well of you! [Luke 6.26].”

–St. Albert the Great  (1193?-1280) - On Cleaving to God

By now perhaps many have already heard of Fr. Thomas Pandippallycmi a Carmelite Priest who was martyred this past week in India.  There has appeared a lovely blog from his friends which I thought I would share.  The prayers for him are from the heart and so very beautiful.  The entry which caught my souls attention started off this way…

“Heavenly Father, as time is no barrier to You, I ask that Your Spirit of love and courage fills and surrounds Fr Thomas in his terrible, lonely, frightening ordeal. Please Jesus let Your presence be real and tangible to him as he goes through physical and mental agony like Your own on Your last terrible day. Let thoughs of love and forgiveness fill his mind and heart. Comfort him Jesus. Let the angels surround and comfort him. Give him overflowing grace to fix his whole heart and soul upon You and for the sake of souls. About him I sing the fourth song of the Suffering Servant. (Isaiah 53)…”

http://frthomaspandippallycmi.blogspot.com/

“But the believing soul longs and faints for God; she rests sweetly in the contemplation of Him. She glories in the reproach of the Cross, until the glory of His face shall be revealed. Like the Bride, the dove of Christ, that is covered with silver wings [Ps. 68.13], white with innocence and purity, she reposes in the thought of Thine abundant kindness, Lord Jesus; and above all she longs for that day when in the joyful splendor of Thy saints, gleaming with the radiance of the Beatific Vision, her feathers shall be like gold, resplendent with the joy of Thy countenance.”

– St. Bernard of Clairvaux “On Loving God”

My dear Novena Secretary has once again come to my rescue to remind me of the Novena which starts today to Our Lady of Czestochowa. I took the photo above when she and I visited the Black Madonna Shrine here a couple of summers ago. I am sure it would be a wonderful time to visit the National Shrine in Doylestown, Pennsylvania and I am just sorry I was not able to make a visit there last month when I was visiting my family.

According to tradition, it is believed that Saint Luke the Evangelist is the original artist of this painting in which Mary is depicted holding the Christ Child. This sacred picture, enshrined and venerated at the renowned Marian Shrine in Poland, was brought from Jerusalem through Constantinople and was bestowed to the Princess of Ruthenia. It was brought to Poland in 1382 through the efforts of Ladislaus of Opole who discovered it in a castle at Belz. To ensure its protection, he invited the Monks of Saint Paul the first Hermit from Hungary to come to Poland to be the guardians of the Picture.

Now, there are several different Novena Prayers to Our Lady of Czestochowa which I found online and you can use. Click here for one and click here for the Pauline Father’s Novena Prayer (they maintain the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Pennsylvania. There is a nice collection of prayers here and a history on the Black Madonna.

Novena Prayer

Under your bejeweled mantle, I seek refuge Most Holy Immaculate Virgin and Mother. How sweet it is for me to venerate you under the title of Our Lady of Czestochowa and Queen of Jasna Gora.

We fly to your patronage, O Holy Mother of God; despise not these our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

My most holy Mother, I behold the graces that you have already obtained for me, and the ingratitude that I have shown toward you. The thankless soul is no longer worthy of blessings, but not even on this account will I lose confidence in your mercy. O my mighty advocate have pity on me and obtain, I beseech you, this favor for me if it be for the glory of your Divine Son and the good of my soul.

(Pause and name the favor sought)

Speak for me, Queen of Jasna Gora. Your Son will do whatsoever you shall ask of Him. I beg you, take me under your protection and this is enough for me, to be one of your ever faithful servants. Amen.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired
with this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of Virgins my mother; to you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful; O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions; but in your clemency hear and answer me. Amen

O Mother of the Divine Infant in your arms, through your sacred image in Czestochowa you remind us of the constant presence of your Son and of your own motherly solicitude as a source of strength and courage in our daily trails, difficulties and labors.

we praise you and we love you.

O Queen whose image bears the scars of enemy attacks, you are to us a sign of hope, unity and victory,

we praise you and we love you.

O Virgin Helper, you aid us in ovecoming all evil and weakness,

we praise you and we love you.

When we are oppressed by doubts and temptations against faith,

be our help and our protection.

When we feel lonely, abandoned, and threatened,

be our help and protection.

When we are in danger of yielding to our evil habits and sins,

be our help and protection.

That you may strengthen us in faith and obatin for us the power to renew our lives in the spirit of God’s commandments and the Gospels of Christ,

we beseech you, O Lady of Jasna Gora, our Mother.

That you may continue to reign in our lives, on the personal, family , social and national levels.

we beseech you, O Lady of Jasna Gora, Our Mother

That you may obtain for us from your Son the special grace that we implore in this novena.

we beseech you, O Lady of Jasna Gora, our Mother.

O Almighty and merciful God, You gave the Polish Nation a wondrous help and defense in the most holy Virgin Mary and you honored her sacred image at Jasna Gora with remarkable veneration of the faithful. Grant in your mercy that under her protection, we may struggle confidently throughout our lives and, at the moment of death be victorious over our enemy.

We ask this grace in the name of Jesus, your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen

Matko, ja kocham Cię
(Mother I love you!)

I never got a chance to post some photos from the Poor Clares Abbey in Belleville, Illinois where the children and I journeyed earlier this week. It is such a big treat to visit these lovely nuns. The chapel, while modern, is able to evoke a sense of mystery in its well tasted design and architecture. The swirling iron grill which separates the public chapel from the sister’s cloister is light and ethereal. It is wonderfully open on the circular interior and so you can pray along with the nuns. They are never rushed and every prayerful word is chanted with a love so deep and strong that it pierces your heart. No doubt, the beautiful Sacred Heart of our Lord is pierced through their devotion too!  There prayer is a testament to the pure beauty of ultimate truth and to pray here with them is pure joy!!!

I am on my way today to photograph a newly restored statue of St. Clare at the Poor Clare Monastery in Illinois. I thought I would do some reading on her life to inspire my thoughts as I get ready to go. I found this old book on her life to read and will share this selection:

“As this virgin was mortified and estranged in flesh, so was she estranged from the world. She was ever in holy prayer and holy meditations, and employed all her time in praising God. After Compline she was with her sisters and melted in tears, by which the others were amazed and moved to pity ; and when the others, full wearied, went to repose themselves in their hard beds, she watched thus ever at night and was never weary of praying to God, and when the others slept, then she felt the sweet feeling of God’s presence, and it often happened that she stretched herself upon the earth and wept so tenderly that it seemed as though she wept on the feet of Jesus Christ, and that she held Him in her arms and kissed His feet.

One night it happened that the devil appeared to her in the semblance of a black child and said to her :

“Weep not so, lest thou lose thine eyes.”

And she answered him :

“He who will see God will not be blind,”

and immediately the enemy departed all confused. And that same night after matins St. Clare was in prayer, all bathed in tears, when there came to her the wicked tempter and said to her :

“Weep no more, lest thy brain should fall and thou shouldst blow it through thy nose, for thy nose would be twisted ; …”

and immediately he vanished.

Such signs showed well that God renewed her in the furnace of fervent prayer and of His goodness made her feel the good savour of His goodness. For when she left her prayers she came forth from them so joyously and spoke to her sisters words so glowing that she warmed their hearts with the fire of the love of God. They marvelled greatly, for it seemed to them that from the mouth of St. Clare issued a sweetness and that her countenance was more beautiful and more bright after her prayer than before. Truly God, who is the true light, valued this good lover of poverty, and with sweetness filled her heart and mind in prayer, so that its proof was shewn outwardly. Thus was she united firmly to her Spouse, Jesus Christ, and thus she delighted in communion with Him and with the things above. And thus was she strong and virtuous and stable in the path of the fortunes of this world, and she enclosed in her earthly vessel the high treasure of Paradise; and her body and her flesh were lowly in humbleness as her heart was high in Paradise.

It was her custom to arise at matins before the others and to awake the other young sisters and move them to go to God. And when the sisters slept, she went to light the lamp and to ring the bell with her own hands. And at no time or season was she ever idle, nor was she ever lukewarm in her cloister, nor with any sister, for the good lady inflamed them to such good deeds by her words and by her example that they were so strenuous that no sloth could enter. All their time was given to serving God and to praise and prayer.”

from The Life and Legend of the Lady St. Clare By Clare, Charlotte Cornish Balfour, François Dupuis, Cuthbert, Thomas, Thomas of Celano Translated by Charlotte Cornish Balfour Published by Longmans, Green and co., 1910 Original from the University of Wisconsin - Madison

Just time for a quick post today on this wonderful feast day.

… To suffer and to be happy although suffering, to have one’s feet on the earth, to walk on the dirty and rough paths of this earth and yet to be enthroned with Christ at the Father’s right hand, to laugh and cry with the children of this world and ceaselessly to sing the praises of God with the choirs of angels this is the life of the Christian until the morning of eternity breaks forth ….

After note:

Please have a read of the post at Tea at Trianon for the MOST wonderful blog entry and quotations from Edith Stein!