aeternus

“The kindness and love of God our saviour for mankind were revealed. Thanks be to God, through whom we receive such abundant consolation in this pilgrimage, this exile, this distress.”

– A sermon of St Bernard of Clairvaux

Oh, the grace, thanks be to our Creator, Redeemer and Friend!  I believe St. Bernard’s words from this mornings Office of Readings to be so very true.  It was a bad night for my worry as my Nana lay helpless in hospital but it seems as if the worst is over.  Though she suffers and has many tubes in her these will be taken out tomorrow and the doctors say she may even be playing Wii bowling again by the weekend!  We shall continue to pray for her.

Reporting from Bethlehem, Christmas City U.S.A.

The family embarked upon our annual Christmas pilgrimage to Bethlehem (Pennsylvania).  We arrived early last week to meet some of our young nieces in Philadelphia for a Holiday tour of the city and Christmas cookie baking at their beautiful little home.  As we drove from downtown in the frigid cold my heart yearned as we drove past where the Pink Sister’s reside near the Art Museum.  How I wanted to stop at their chapel but it was past well past visiting hours…

Christmas Eve brought us to the family party at my sister-in-laws house on the lake for the 81st birthday party for my husband’s mother.  We were happy that she had just had a clean bill of healthy lungs from her doctor the previous day.  She struggles these past few years.

The happiest part of the evening came at Midnight where we celebrated Christmas mass with the Carmelite Nuns.  The modest chapel was quite colorful with many red poinsettias and twinkling lights upon the shrine of the Infant Jesus.  I’m not sure how my daughter kept awake so late (or me for that matter!) but the mass was quite lovely and it was a joy to hear their singing and smell the lovely incense burning.   I’m sure my photographs do not do justice to the splendor of the chapel but it was quite late when I was taking them!  Oh, and I must mention of course, that the most favorite Christmas Carol in town and which is sung in every Christian Church this day is “O Little Town of Bethlehem”.

My mother, who likes to exert her dominion over me as Grandmother to my children, indulged them greatly by giving them a Wii video game for a Christmas present.  No one was more shocked than myself that she would do such a thing but I guess I should not be surprised by it!  I suppose I will allow the games since they are fun family ones and besides, it was such a hoot to see my Nana beating everyone in Wii bowling!  (See the photo below).  Anyone who knows me knows that my dear Nana is my most cherished and valued buddy.  She is a most beautiful soul and she has always been my sanctuary from the earliest days of my life.  Oh, she is just the best!!!   But the tragedy of the hour is that Nana was just rushed to the hospital.  She has been through some horrible physical battles in her long life (she turns 95 next Friday).  She has a triple blockage in her very short belly area (most of it had been removed a few years back after one of her near fatal battles).  I am waiting for the phone to ring to get an update on her condition.

I will post any good news and thank you all in advance for your good prayers.

I have been forgetting to share this photograph above.  It was taken at St. Francis De Sales Oratory during their novena to the Immaculate Conception.  This tapestry was just so beautiful and this church so very stunning that despite the frigid temperatures (you could see your breath when reciting the prayers!) I really wanted to just hide away in the pew after mass and spend the night hidden in its beauty!  Why not, St. Francis will tell us it is a good thing (when you read the meditation below) I wish everyone could experience the holy mass prayed here!

Here, in the meantime, is a meditation for the day…

“Palladius, the author of the “Lives of the Fathers of the Desert,” experiencing great disgust in prayer, went seeking advice from the abbot Macarius. The saintly abbot gave him this counsel: “When you are tempted in times of dryness to give up praying because you seem to be wasting your time, say: ‘Since I cannot pray, I will be satisfied just to remain on watch here in my cell for the love of Jesus Christ!’ “Devout soul, you do the same when you are tempted to give up prayer just because you seem to be getting nowhere. Say: “I am going to stay here just to please God.” St. Francis de Sales used to say that if we do nothing else but banish distractions and temptations in our prayers, the prayer is well made. Tauler states that persevering prayer in time of dryness will receive greater grace than prayer made amid great sensible devotion.

Rodriguez cites the case of a person who persevered forty years in prayer despite aridity, and experienced great spiritual strength as a result of it; on occasion, when through aridity he would omit meditation he felt spiritually weak and incapable of good deeds. St. Bonaventure and Gerson both say that persons who do not experience the recollection they would like to have in their meditations, often serve God better than they would do if they did have it; the reason is that lack of recollection keeps them more diligent and humble; otherwise they would become puffed up with spiritual pride and grow tepid, vainly believing they had reached the summit of sanctity.”

– St. Alphonsus of Ligouri — Uniformity with God’s Will

My daughter has been coming home from school every day this week asking me if I knew the story of Santa Lucia.  Then she would repeat how this saint is from Sweden.  I tried many times to tell her she meant St. Lucy.  She insisted I was wrong for some reason. (a very independent little  8 year old girl in ALL matters is she.)  I think it was because there is a new boy in her class from Sweden and he told her the saint was from his homeland.  This sweet young boy is always sharing with the class his culture and tradition which is wonderful!  I just wonder that maybe today is a very special day in Sweden because I just don’t know.  (If any body has a clue on this please let me know.) However, and in any case, she is one of my favorite saints and whose name I hold dear.  I found a wonderful write up of her in an old book I thought I would share…

Abridged from her Acts, older than St. Aldhelm, who quoted them in the seventh century. A. D. 304.

The glorious virgin and martyr St. Lucy, one of the brightest ornaments of the church of Sicily, was born of honourable and wealthy parents in the city of Syracusa, and educated from her cradle in the faith of Christ. She lost her father in her infancy, but Eutychia, her mother, took singular care to furnish her with tender and sublime sentiments of piety and religion. By the early impressions which Lucy received, and the strong influence of divine grace, Lucy discovered no disposition but towards virtue, and she was yet very young when she offered to God the flower of her virginity. This vow, however, she kept a secret, and her mother, who was a stranger to it, pressed her to marry a young gentleman, who was a pagan. The saint sought occasions to hinder this design from taking effect, and her mother was visited with a long and troublesome flux of blood, under which she laboured four years without finding any remedy by recourse to physicians. At length she was persuaded by her daughter to go to Catana, and offer up her prayers to God for relief at the tomb of St. Agatha. St. Lucy accompanied her thither, and their prayers were successful. Hereupon our saint disclosed to her mother her desire of devoting herself to God in a state of perpetual virginity, and bestowing her fortune on the poor: and Eutychia, in gratitude, left her at full liberty to pursue her pious inclinations. The young nobleman with whom the mother had treated about marrying her, came to understand this by the sale of her jewels and goods, and tha distribution of the price among the poor, and in his rage accused her before the governor Paschasius as a Christian, the persecution of Diocletian then raging with the utmost fury. The judge commanded the holy virgin to be exposed to prostitution in a brothel-house ; but God rendered her immovable, so that the guards were not able to carry her thither. He also made her an over match for the cruelty of the persecutors, in overcoming fire and other torments. After a long and glorious combat she died in prison of the wounds she had received, about the year 304. She was honoured at Borne in the sixth century among the most illustrious virgins and martyrs, whose triumphs the church celebrates, as appears from the Sacramentary of St. Gregory, Bede, and others. Her festival was kept in England, till the change of religion, as a holiday of the second rank, in which no work but tillage or the like was allowed. Her body remained at Syracusa for many years ; but was at length translated into Italy, and thence, by the authority of the Emperor Otho I. to Metz, as Sigebert of Gemblours relates. It is there exposed to public veneration in a rich chapel of St. Vincent’s church. A portion of her relics was carried to Constantinople-, and brought thence to Venice, where it is kept with singular veneration. St. Lucy is often painted with the balls of her eyes laid in a dish: perhaps her eyes were defaced or plucked out, though her present acts make no mention of any such circumstance. In many places her intercession is particularly implored for distempers of the eyes.

It is a matter of the greatest consequence what ideas are stamped upon the ductile minds of children, what sentiments are impressed on their hearts, and to what habits they are first formed. Let them be inured to little denials both in their will and senses, and learn that pleasures which gratify the senses must be guarded against, and used with great fear and moderation : for by them the taste is debauched, and the constitution of the soul broken and spoiled much more fatally than that of the body can be by means contrary to its health. Let them so taught that, as one of the ancient philosophers said: Temperance is the highest luxury ; for only its pleasures are easy, solid, and permanent. It is much easier to conquer than to satisfy the passions, which, unless they are curbed by a vigorous restraint, whilst they are pliable, will be harder to be subdued. Obstinacy, untractableness, sloth, and voluptuousness, are of all dispositions in youth the most dangerous.

Children, like tender osiers, take the bow,

And as they first are fashioned always grow.

There are few Lucies now-a-days amongst Christian ladies, because sensuality, pride, and vanity are instilled into their minds by the false maxims and pernicious example of those with whom they first converse. Alas ! unless a constant watchfulness and restraint produce and strengthen good habits, the inclinations of our souls lean of their own accord towards corruption.

– The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints (Alban Butler 1866)

Painting: Caravaggio - THE BURIAL OF SAINT LUCY 1608-09

“Have a great love for Jesus in his divine Sacrament of Love; that is the divine oasis of the desert. It is the heavenly manna of the traveller. It is the Holy Ark. It is the life and Paradise of love on earth.”

– Saint Peter Julian Eymard

Today begins the “countdown” to a very special solemnity for Carmelites, the feast of Saint John of the Cross. His feast falls on a Sunday this year so for the general calendar of feast days he is passed over. However, for Discalced Carmelites, his feast may be transfered to Monday and mass celebrated for him.

It was well over 10 years ago now when I first picked up John’s “Dark Night of the Soul” and tried to read. I remember purchasing the book, setting it next to my chair and eagerly anticipating my starting the book the next morning after prayer. (You can see I was really very excited about this book, though this was well before I really even knew what Carmelite Spirituality was.) The next day I opened the book and began to read. It was like my eyes were crossed and my mind was filled with goobldy-gook! I could not read a single sentence! I was so sad and had to put the book down. I tried again the next day and the next and the same thing happened! I was very disappointed and so I gave up. I thought it was my deficient mind not able to comprehend the words and I was more than a little disappointed with myself.

Well, fast forward some 10 years to the present day. I was under obligation to read this same text and I can’t tell you how I was dreading having to try again!

By this time, I had now read John’s other books, “A Spiritual Canticle”, “Living Flame of Love” and “Ascent of Mt. Carmel” and found them beautiful beyond description. His poetic phrase and keen understanding of the hearts prayerful desires astounded me. However, having to face reading “Dark Night” again worried me. I really did not want to feel “stupid” and “uneducated” again as I remember clearly the trials of trying to read this spiritual masterpiece the first time! Alas, on a quiet day when all were gone from the house but myself (and the dog)  I cracked open the book and began to read…

Let me tell you all something maybe not so completely amazing but a little miracle none-the-less. When I started to read this book I was so overwhelmed with joy and excitement I could hardly contain myself! It was a good thing nobody was home because I was howling with such a fierce knowingness at John’s wisdom and guidance that even the dog was looking at me funny! (I mean really, imagine this crazy scene of a middle aged woman “whooping it up” reading about mystical theology?!  Who ever could come up with that one!  Certainly it should give you a good belly roll laugh!)  In fact, I was turning pages so fast I thought the book would catch fire! It was like I was reading a mystery thriller and I just had to find out how the story ends. (Which by the way, for all you who already know, the book ends in mid sentence. It is a classic and most fitting end to a journey that never ends…)

Oh, God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts not ours. How funny that I see His plan for me to read this book was to come at the time when I needed it most! Praise be God our Father!!! It was not my mind which was deficient the first time but my heart. The heart is where real intelligence lives. In the heart a soul is merged with the Divine Love and purified through faith, hope and charity. It is a intermingling spot where lies the door which opens to eternity….

I will say no more on this subject but will encourage all who are seeking to have a read of Dark Night of the Soul. Just remember, I may or may not be your time to read!

Day One

Beginning Prayer to be said each day:

O glorious St. John of the Cross, through a pure desire of being like Jesus
crucified, you longed for nothing so eagerly as to suffer, to be despised,
and to be made little of by all; and your thirst after sufferings was so
burning that your noble heart rejoiced in the midst of the cruelest torments
and afflictions. Grant, I beseech you, O dear Saint, by the glory which
your many sufferings have gained for you, to intercede for me and obtain
from God for me a love of suffering, together with strength and grace to
bear with firmness of mind all the trials and adversities which are the sure
means to the happy attainment of all that awaits me in heaven. Dear Saint,
from your most happy place in glory, hear, I beseech you, my prayers, so
that after your example, full of love for the cross I may deserve to be your
companion in glory. Amen.

First Day: Unwavering Faith

Prayer:

My glorious father St. John of the Cross; overflowing with love for Mary and
for the cross of her divine Son by which you merited to become the protector
of afflicted souls, obtain for me from Jesus and Mary, I beseech you, an
unwavering faith and a love of the cross so deep and so valiant that no
possible misfortune will ever be able to separate me from the love of my
God. Obtain for me also the special grace I ask through your intercession
during this novena if it be for the glory of God and for my salvation (make
request).

Three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys.

“Let us abandon ourselves to God:  if we are bling His light will guide us; if we are weak, His strength will uphold us; if we are inconstant, His firmness will preserve us.  Let us rest entirely in His infinite mercy which never fails one who hopes and trusts in Him.”

- Blessed Mary Josephine of Jesus Crucified, OCD

Read More:

(Blessed Mary Josephine was afflicted with tuberculosis of the spine, which completely paralysed her. She owes her miraculous cure to the intercession of St Francis Xavier, whose relic was brought to her cell and who appeared to her in a dream.

Although she would have been glad to live in solitude, when the news of her miraculous recovery became known outside the Community, priests, seminarians and persons of every social class came to Ponti Rossi to receive counsel and consolation from her)

I have been much delayed in telling a little story… my heartfelt excuses to those who have been waiting patiently for me to write!

A few weeks ago I was invited by a dear friend, who happens to also fall under the beloved title of my “novena secretary”, to make a pilgrimage to her little town.  It seems the faithful of this town, Quincy, Illinois have been making so many petitions to our Lord that He heard their cry and has awarded them a great blessing.  While I do not know the whole entire history I have now seen the fruits of their prayerful labor.

The former parish of St. Rose of Lima (a most beautiful, beautiful church) which had been a parish closed and dismantled has now been resurrected. (Who said that such things could never happen!)

The Bishop has given the parish back to the people under the careful watch of a priest from the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter who will live at the rectory and offer the Traditional Latin Mass.  In preparation for the new priest coming the entire church had to be “reassembled” as everything from the Stations of the Cross to all statuary and sacramentals had long left the premises.  However, the faithful assembled and their labors have proof in the splendor of a church re-invigorated and decorated with beauty.  It was a very happy and holy pleasure to kneel at the newly created altar rail and upon the plush white kneeler cushion.  How beautiful it is to receive the Lord humbly upon ones knees.  Certainly we are so very undeserving such a gift as the Eucharist but where would our poor souls be without it!  To kneel during reception of this gift is a posture most fitting a soul whose disposition of thanksgiving and gratitude is burning within them.  Amen! that this practice (which is how I received my first communion) is to be experienced again for the faithful at St. Rose of Lima!

For those who have not heard of The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, their website says they are “a Clerical Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical right, that is, a community of Roman Catholic priests who do not take religious vows, but who work together for a common mission in the world.  The mission of the Fraternity is two-fold:  first, the formation and sanctification of priests in the cadre of the traditional liturgy of the Roman rite, and secondly, the pastoral deployment of the priests in the service of the Church.”

I am so very happy for the people of Quincy to have such an opportunity to worship and pray in the traditional form at St. Rose of Lima church.  On the first Wednesday of their newly designated noontime daily mass schedule I counted over 60 prayerful souls in attendance.  Most daily masses I have attended are lucky to have half that number present.  I think this assembly is off to a great start for sure and I pray for their success of growth and love in His name.  I also thank my novena secretary for inviting me to pilgrimage to her town.  I was so very happy to travel with another good soul who provided me with much appreciated spiritual talk and prayer on our 3 hour trek North of St. Louis.  I was happy also to see the shrine built to Our Lady in the back yard of her rural home.  Blessed be her talented husband who created this beautiful stone grotto in the open fields.  If there is ever an earthquake one could easily take shelter in its sturdy construction!

Enjoy the photos…