|
|
“What honey is sweeter than to know the wisdom of God? others, if they will, may possess riches, drink from a jewelled cup, shine in silks, and try in vain to exhaust their wealth in the most varied pleasures. Our riches are to meditate in the law of the Lord day and night, to knock at the closed door, to receive the `three loaves’ of the Trinity, and, when the Lord goes before us, to walk upon the water of the world.”
St. Jerome — a letter to Paula, written at Rome a.d. 384.
It was some 96 years ago that my Grandfather was born. Not expected to live the night the priest was immediately called in and he was baptized and given the name Michael in honor of St. Michael our great and valiant warrior for God whose feast day it was. Well, my grandfather certainly did live (Praise God) and managed to have a son Michael of his own. That Michael had a Michael (who has a Michael) and in all the decendents of my Grandfather there are now some 7 Michaels!
May that one who spoke for God protect us all this day as we praise his name and rely on his help. Here is an excerpt from the book of Daniel:
“But at that time shall Michael rise up, the great prince, who standeth for the children of thy people: and a time shall come, such as never was from the time that nations began, even until that time. And at that time shall thy people be saved, every one that shall be found written in the book.
And many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth, shall awake: some unto life everlasting, and others unto reproach, to see it always.
But they that are learned, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament: and they that instruct many to justice, as stars for all eternity.” — Daniel 12 1-3
“Prayer is the light of the spirit. Prayer and converse with God is a supreme good: it is a partnership and union with God. As the eyes of the body are enlightened when they see light, so our spirit, when it is intent on God, is illumined by his infinite light. I do not mean the prayer of outward observance but prayer from the heart, not confined to fixed times, or periods but continuous throughout the day and night.
Our spirit should be quick to reach out toward God not only when it is engaged in meditation; at other times also, when it is carrying out its duties, caring for the needy, performing works of charity, giving generously in the service of others, our spirit should long for God, and call him to mind, so that these works may be seasoned with the salt of God’s love, and so make a palatable offering to the Lord of the universe. Throughout the whole of our lives we may enjoy the benefit that comes from prayer if we devote a great deal of time to it.
Prayer is the light of the spirit, true knowledge of God, mediating between God and man. The spirit, raised up to heaven by prayer, clings to God with the utmost tenderness; like a child crying tearfully for its mother, it craves the milk that God provides. It seeks the satisfaction of its own desires, and receives gifts outweighing the whole world of nature.
Prayer stands before God as an honored ambassador. It gives joy to the spirit, peace to the heart. I speak of prayer, not words. It is the longing for God, love too deep for words, a gift not given by man but by God’s grace. The apostle Paul says: “We do not know how we are to pray but the Spirit himself pleads for us with inexpressible longings.” Rom. 8:26.
When the Lord gives this kind of prayer to [someone]; he gives him riches that cannot be taken away, heavenly food that satisfies the spirit. One who tastes this food is set on fire with an eternal longing for the Lord: his spirit burns as in a fire of the utmost intensity.
Practice prayer from the beginning. Paint your house with the colors of modesty and humility. Make it radiant with the light of justice. Decorate it with the finest gold leaf of good deeds. Adorn it with the walls and stones of faith and generosity. Crown it with the pinnacle of prayer. In this way you will make it a perfect dwelling place for the Lord. You will be able to receive him as in a splendid palace, and through his grace you will already possess him, his image enthroned in the temple of your spirit. ”
– JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
I received an email from a friend concerning the upcoming Presidential Election in the U.S.A. The contents of the email referenced the good and holy works of Fasting. I know that the word and certainly the act of fasting in prayer would be quite easily laughed by most of society, and perhaps even a few good church going people. But I see the act of fasting as so very beautiful, noble and holy. I thought I would share with you the email….
BLESSED THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD
Fasting for the Election
As we approach the most crucial election in the history of our country, we must be most
dedicated to protecting Christianity, human life, justice and freedom of religion in America.
A serious situation mandates a serious, persevering and fully committed response. Salvation
history is replete with examples of the efficacy of prayer and fasting. Prayer and fasting
comprise a unit and cannot be separated. Fasting is praying with our bodies, and, if we do not
fast, a whole part of us isn’t praying. Let us not minimize the essential link between the two.
In times of great importance and great danger, the people of God always proclaimed a fast.
A few examples:
• In order to succeed in her intercession to save her people, Queen Esther ordered Mordecai to be told,”Go and gather together all the Jews, whom you shall find in Susa, and pray for me. Neither eat nor drink for three days and three nights”. Of course, Esther did the same and then saved her people.
• A passage in The Book of Judith reads, “And every man of Israel cried out to God with great fervor and they humbled themselves with much fasting…. So the Lord heard their prayers and looked upon their affliction for the people fasted many days.”
• Moses fasted for forty days at the end of which he was given the Ten Commandments. We can see that fasting preceded most important events.
• When Nineveh was threatened with destruction, the people of God proclaimed a fast and Nineveh was saved. Fasting is pleasing to God and most efficacious.
• Jesus fasted for forty days in the desert and this fasting gave Him strength against the temptations of the devil. It also served as preparation for His public life.
• In The Acts of the Apostles, the apostles always prayed and fasted before making important decisions about the early church. They never separated the two. Neither should we do so.
Our beloved Pope Benedict xvi, when he was Cardinal Ratzinger, wrote in 1985 in his
Dialogues Upon Faith, “Fasting means accepting an essential aspect of Christian life. It is
necessary to rediscover the corporal aspect of faith….. to know how to fast periodically is to
testify that Eternal life awaits us.”
Prayer and fasting together are the means, given to us by our loving God, to avert destruction.
There are many ways to fast— bread and water on Wednesdays and Fridays, not eating between
meals, fasting from favorite foods, not using condiments, etc. etc.. Please pray about the
particular way in which the Holy Spirit is calling you to fast and ask your guardian angel to help
you. Our country faces great peril. May we embrace this most loving, merciful and efficacious
gift from God. He will hear our plea.
Prayer and Fasting can overcome!
Blessed Mother Teresa liked to say, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” I think the violence in India shows us this. A Security Guard at the Carmelite convent in Banduha was shot three times last night protecting the Sister’s from being assaulted. (story here) This is just stunning to me, but I should expect that when the enemy is on the “prowl” as it is, he would be quite eager to attack those who do him the most harm…
The Missionaries of Charity have been praying and fasting as a prayer for peace and I found part of a prayer they have offered up for this peace through the intercession of Blessed Teresa:
“Jesus, you made Blessed Teresa an example of steadfast faith and ardent charity, a remarkable teacher of the value and dignity of every human life. Grant that she may be venerated and imitated as a Saint in the Church. Hear the prayer of those who seek her intercession. Today, we ask you for and end to the violence and a return to harmony among the people of Orissa. We ask this in your name and through the intercession of Mary, your Mother and ours. Amen.”
At Catholic Action they are sponsoring a Virtual Vigil of Prayer and Solidarity for the Persecuted Church in India which all are asked to prayerfully unite themselves with. You can find their Petition here.
Perhaps though it may be good also to honor the church in India by simply following the advice of Mother Teresa as she said, “Let us not use bombs and guns to overcome the world. Let us use love and compassion. Peace begins with a smile–smile five times a day to someone you don’t really want to smile at all–do it for peace. So let us radiate the peace of God and so light his light.”
I am quite confused by the violence against Christians in India right now. It has been going on for awhile and since the news died down I had “hoped” that perhaps peace was restoring itself. This morning though brings news of more violence in Kerela. My ears pricked up upon hearing this part of the country mentioned because we have beautiful Carmelite Sisters of St.Teresa who work at the Seminary here in the city and they are from this area of India.
Today I wish to unite my prayers with others who wish to pray for peace and understanding to come upon this nation and peoples. May the Holy Spirit sweep through the land and inspire souls to love and to work together for the good of all humanity in love of our Heavenly Father.
Here is a prayer from Pope John Paul II. It is called “Prayer for Peace To Mary, The Light of Hope”.
Immaculate Heart of Mary,
help us to conquer the menace of evil,
which so easily takes root in the hearts of the people of today,
and whose immeasurable effects
already weigh down upon our modern world
and seem to block the paths toward the future.
From famine and war, deliver us.
From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, from every
kind of war, deliver us.
From sins against human life from its very beginning, deliver us.
From hatred and from the demeaning of the dignity of the
children of God, deliver us.
From every kind of injustice in the life of society, both national
and international, deliver us.
From readiness to trample on the commandments of God, deliver us.
From attempts to stifle in human hearts the very truth of God,
deliver us.
From the loss of awareness of good and evil, deliver us.
From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us.
Accept, 0 Mother of Christ, this cry laden with the sufferings of all individual human beings,
laden with the sufferings of whole societies.
Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit conquer all sin: individual
sin and the “sin of the world,” sin in all its manifestations.
Let there be revealed once more in the history of the world the
infinite saving power of the redemption: the power of merciful love.
May it put a stop to evil.
May it transform consciences.
May your Immaculate Heart reveal for all the fight of hope.
Amen.
Its Tuesday so I thought to post a reminder about the novena and election prayer we can participate in. I also found this video from Grassroots films. I tried to embed the video into the blog but I could not get it to work so you’ll have to click the link to see it. It is quite beautiful…
I was searching for some poetry to meditate on our Lady of Sorrows today and found a wonderful book online from the Sisters of Mercy at St. Catharine’s Convent, New York City. I’m not sure if they are still in New York or not but I thank them for their book entitled “Poems for Catholics & Convents: And Plays for Catholic Schools” It was written in 1874 and they dedicated it “To the Service of the Poor, as it may be promoted by the protection, education and tender care of their defenceless children and young daughters these verses are affectionately inscribed by their devoted servants in Our Lord’s Love. … The Sisters of Mercy”
TO OUR LADY OF SORROWS.
MATER Dolorosa! be my Mother now,
In tears and sorrow at thy feet I humbly bow,
And ask thine aid life’s every pang to bear
It is but meet that with thee I should share
They weight of woe.
Shield me! the tempest winds blow fierce and cold —
Save me! lest I should stray from His dear fold,
Where suffering borne for Him, with thee, is blest,
E’en though the heart must bleed, for me ’tis best.
Dost thou not know,
Dost thou not see the struggle?
Stay the tears, Upholding, by the memory of the years
In which thine eyes were dim, thy heart all sore,
For every thorn of His pierced thee still more —
And led thee on,
On to the heights where all His love was shed
For souls so wilful. When those words He said
That made me even then, thine own, thy child,
Did’st thou not claim this heart, so proud and wild,
From Him, thy Son?
Mother of Sorrows! claim me now, as then,
And take me to thy heart of hearts again,
Do not reject these wandering words I pray —
Remember, that I must be thine to-day,
And thine alone.
Sorrowing Heart! shed o’er my life thy grace
And welcome me in suffering’s fond embrace,
Bind to the Cross this shrinking soul and bless
The heart that thirsts for love and tenderness,
Beneath thy throne.
– Image: MATER DOLOROSA Seated, dressed figure of the Virgin Mary in a vitrine Spanish, 19th Century
“WE SHOULD enjoy much peace if we did not concern ourselves with what others say and do, for these are no concern of ours. How can a man who meddles in affairs not his own, who seeks strange distractions, and who is little or seldom inwardly recollected, live long in peace?
Blessed are the simple of heart for they shall enjoy peace in abundance.
Why were some of the saints so perfect and so given to contemplation? Because they tried to mortify entirely in themselves all earthly desires, and thus they were able to attach themselves to God with all their heart and freely to concentrate their innermost thoughts.
We are too occupied with our own whims and fancies, too taken up with passing things. Rarely do we completely conquer even one vice, and we are not inflamed with the desire to improve ourselves day by day; hence, we remain cold and indifferent. If we mortified our bodies perfectly and allowed no distractions to enter our minds, we could appreciate divine things and experience something of heavenly contemplation.
The greatest obstacle, indeed, the only obstacle, is that we are not free from passions and lusts, that we do not try to follow the perfect way of the saints. Thus when we encounter some slight difficulty, we are too easily dejected and turn to human consolations. If we tried, however, to stand as brave men in battle, the help of the Lord from heaven would surely sustain us. For He Who gives us the opportunity of fighting for victory, is ready to help those who carry on and trust in His grace.
If we let our progress in religious life depend on the observance of its externals alone, our devotion will quickly come to an end. Let us, then, lay the ax to the root that we may be freed from our passions and thus have peace of mind.
If we were to uproot only one vice each year, we should soon become perfect. The contrary, however, is often the case — we feel that we were better and purer in the first fervor of our conversion than we are after many years in the practice of our faith. Our fervor and progress ought to increase day by day; yet it is now considered noteworthy if a man can retain even a part of his first fervor.
If we did a little violence to ourselves at the start, we should afterwards be able to do all things with ease and joy. It is hard to break old habits, but harder still to go against our will.
If you do not overcome small, trifling things, how will you overcome the more difficult? Resist temptations in the beginning, and unlearn the evil habit lest perhaps, little by little, it lead to a more evil one.
If you but consider what peace a good life will bring to yourself and what joy it will give to others, I think you will be more concerned about your spiritual progress.”
“O adorable face of Jesus, sole beauty which ravisheth my heart, vouchsafe to
impress on my soul Thy Divine Likeness, so it may not be possible for Thee to look at
Thy Spouse without beholding Thyself. O my Beloved, for love of Thee I am content not
to see here on earth the sweetness of Thy Glance, not to feel the ineffable Kiss of Thy
Sacred Lips, but I beg of Thee to inflame me with Thy Love, so that it may consume me
quickly, and that soon Teresa of the Holy Face may behold Thy glorious Countenance in
Heaven.”
– St. Therese of Lisieux
To remember our Mother, the most beautiful and fairest of all women, I thought to post this poem from Gerard Manley Hopkins entitled, “The Blessed Virgin Compared To The Air We Breathe”. His words are so beautiful and far greater than any I could try to write….
Wild air, world-mothering air,
Nestling me everywhere,
That each eyelash or hair
Girdles; goes home betwixt
The fleeciest, frailest-flixed
Snowflake; that ’s fairly mixed
With, riddles, and is rife
In every least thing’s life;
This needful, never spent,
And nursing element;
My more than meat and drink,
My meal at every wink;
This air, which, by life’s law,
My lung must draw and draw
Now but to breathe its praise,
Minds me in many ways
Of her who not only
Gave God’s infinity
Dwindled to infancy
Welcome in womb and breast,
Birth, milk, and all the rest
But mothers each new grace
That does now reach our race—
Mary Immaculate,
Merely a woman, yet
Whose presence, power is
Great as no goddess’s
Was deemèd, dreamèd; who
This one work has to do—
Let all God’s glory through,
God’s glory which would go
Through her and from her flow
Off, and no way but so.
I say that we are wound
With mercy round and round
As if with air: the same
Is Mary, more by name.
She, wild web, wondrous robe,
Mantles the guilty globe,
Since God has let dispense
Her prayers his providence:
Nay, more than almoner,
The sweet alms’ self is her
And men are meant to share
Her life as life does air.
If I have understood,
She holds high motherhood
Towards all our ghostly good
And plays in grace her part
About man’s beating heart,
Laying, like air’s fine flood,
The deathdance in his blood;
Yet no part but what will
Be Christ our Saviour still.
Of her flesh he took flesh:
He does take fresh and fresh,
Though much the mystery how,
Not flesh but spirit now
And makes, O marvellous!
New Nazareths in us,
Where she shall yet conceive
Him, morning, noon, and eve;
New Bethlems, and he born
There, evening, noon, and morn—
Bethlem or Nazareth,
Men here may draw like breath
More Christ and baffle death;
Who, born so, comes to be
New self and nobler me
In each one and each one
More makes, when all is done,
Both God’s and Mary’s Son.
Again, look overhead
How air is azurèd;
O how! nay do but stand
Where you can lift your hand
Skywards: rich, rich it laps
Round the four fingergaps.
Yet such a sapphire-shot,
Charged, steepèd sky will not
Stain light. Yea, mark you this:
It does no prejudice.
The glass-blue days are those
When every colour glows,
Each shape and shadow shows.
Blue be it: this blue heaven
The seven or seven times seven
Hued sunbeam will transmit
Perfect, not alter it.
Or if there does some soft,
On things aloof, aloft,
Bloom breathe, that one breath more
Earth is the fairer for.
Whereas did air not make
This bath of blue and slake
His fire, the sun would shake,
A blear and blinding ball
With blackness bound, and all
The thick stars round him roll
Flashing like flecks of coal,
Quartz-fret, or sparks of salt,
In grimy vasty vault.
So God was god of old:
A mother came to mould
Those limbs like ours which are
What must make our daystar
Much dearer to mankind;
Whose glory bare would blind
Or less would win man’s mind.
Through her we may see him
Made sweeter, not made dim,
And her hand leaves his light
Sifted to suit our sight.
Be thou then, O thou dear
Mother, my atmosphere;
My happier world, wherein
To wend and meet no sin;
Above me, round me lie
Fronting my froward eye
With sweet and scarless sky;
Stir in my ears, speak there
Of God’s love, O live air,
Of patience, penance, prayer:
World-mothering air, air wild,
Wound with thee, in thee isled,
Fold home, fast fold thy child.
It has come to my attention, from a most good and faithful source, who happens to be my official “novena reminder” and prayer coach (I love this lady and her beautiful brown scapular!) that starting today we in America can begin a novena for the Presidential Election. If a soul would so wish to dedicate the following Nine Tuesdays to this novena prayer most surely it would have a great efficacious value. Also it was suggested to dedicate this prayer through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother under the title of the Immaculate Conception (Patroness of Our Land). Even if a soul could not remember the entire Novena Prayer and just prayed from their heart “Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee” I’m sure our Mother would find that prayer very pleasing.
The following prayer was written by Fr. John Hardon. S.J. and has found its way into many a vestibule and pew in St. Louis. (Where I found mine.) I thought it would be good to share…
Prayer for the Election
Lord Jesus Christ,
You told us to give Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar
and to God what belongs to God.
Enlighten the minds of our people in America.
May we choose a President of the United States
and other government officials according to
Your Divine Will.
Give our citizens the courage to choose leaders
of our nation who respect the sanctity of unborn human life,
the sanctity of marriage,
the sanctity of marital relations,
the sanctity of the family
and the sanctity of the aging.
Grant us wisdom to give You what belongs to You, our God.
If we do this as a nation, we are confident You will give us
an abundance of Your blessings
through our elected leaders.
Amen.
I did not know about our saint today , St. Brocard, and so I thought to find out a little. The good work by the Benedictines over at Christ Desert had this to say about him…
This 12th century saint was of French ancestry and a hermit monk at Mount Carmel, near the Fountain of Elias, in Palestine. The superior of this community, St. Berthold, died about the year 1195 and Brocard or Burchard as he is sometimes known, was elected superior.
At this time in its history, the Carmelite hermit community had no common rule of life. Brocard approached St. Albert, the papal legate and Latin Patriarch of Palestine for assistance. St. Albert was a canon regular and at some time between 1205 and 1210 he composed a brief, 16 chapter rule, which Brocard imposed on the community. The rule obliged the hermits to live alone in their cell, to come together daily for Mass, to recite the Divine Office, to support themselves with the work of their hands and to follow the observance of poverty, perpetual abstinence and silence. They were to be obedient to Brocard as their prior during his lifetime and to his successors.
In the early part of the 13th century, the 4th Lateran Council had passed a resolution that no new orders could be founded. The community at Mount Carmel was flourishing and spreading throughout Palestine. Attempts were made to suppress it on the grounds that it had not received papal approval, but only the approval of the legate of Palestine. Tradition tells us that originally Pope Honorius III had intended to suppress the order, but in a dream or vision was asked by the Blessed Mother to approve their rule instead, which he did about the year 1226.
During this time of struggle, Brocard was a true example of prudence and virtuous living. He took seriously the example of monasticism as lived by Elias and other Old Testament Prophets. Tradition tells us that he was well-versed in Scripture and that St. Albert planned to take him to the next Lateran Council, but Albert was murdered before the Council took place. Brocard died about the year 1231. He was revered for his holy life and is credited with the healing and conversion of a very prominent Moslem Emir, as well as with the stabilization of the new Carmelite community during its founding and subsequent expansion throughout Palestine and beyond.
With an increase in school tuition, it seems a new sacrifice is in order for my life. It is something that I had been so grateful that I had been able to avoid for many years now, but unfortunately I must face the facts… It seems I will have to abandon much volunteer work and instead go back to running my own business. I am so very sad and it seems to my poor mind that I could be of greater service to the Lord doing various volunteer works as they glorify His name, but the reality is bills need to be paid! As I said, this dilemma is more than a bit of a disturbance to my brain, and my soul is uncomfortable because it is confused too! However, I guess I just need to trust MORE that making money to send my children to good schools is a cross worth carrying. If it be God’s will and if it glorifies Him than I will try to do what ever it demands.
So it was today, Labor Day here in America, that I finally realized that all I need to do is ask St. Joseph for his help! What a beautiful and admirable job he had and in its humility and simplicity this job provided for the needs of that most Holy Family. I pray that he will help me find meaningful work and that this work will not take away from my family or my best efforts to love and serve them. That is my real “job”– I am mother. I want only to do my Mothering with the greatest effort and every ounce of ability. I do not want to give up for a minute this duty and honor and blessing. St. Joseph help and guide me please…
Glorious Saint Joseph, you are the pattern of all who work.
Obtain for me, please, the grace to work conscientiously and to put devotion to duty before my selfish inclinations.
Help me to labor in thankfulness and joy, for it is an honor to employ and to develop by my labor the gifts I have received from almighty God.
Grant that I may work in orderliness, peace, moderation and patience without shrinking from weariness and difficulties.
I offer my fatigue and perplexities as reparation for sin. I shall work, above all, with a pure intention and with detachment from self, having always before my eyes the hour of death and the accounting which I must then render of time ill-spent, of talents unemployed, of good undone, and of empty pride in success, which is so fatal to the work of God.
For Jesus through Mary, all in imitation of you, good Saint Joseph.
This shall be my motto in life and in death.
Amen.
Powered by StBlogs.com | Theme by Roy Tanck
