Two more quotes before I go...

from a reflection on Martha and Mary:

“The external world is inclined to consider itself the real world; it accepts the inner realm as a remote, somewhat degenerate addition in which the weakling takes refuge when he can go no further. One day the correction will be made. What is now silent will be clearly evident as the stronger thing; what is now hidden as the decisive. The heart will prove itself mightier than the hand, a man’s essence weightier than his works. But things will not be entirely right until both worlds meet and blend. Then as much of the extrinsic will remain as is justified by the intrinsic; the rest will fall away. Only that will be received into the new creation which the spirit upholds as true.” (Guardini, Romano. The Lord, p. 228)      

This is how I hope to cross the threshold this afternoon, by the grace of God...                 

“So with no regrets and a heart filled with joy, I walked through the Catholic monastery enclosure door...With a heart overflowing with gratitude I gave myself forever to the Lord.”

(from Sr. Mary Mannes O.P.’s vocation story in Vocation in Black and White, p. 14...Sr. Mary Mannes is one of the sisters at my convent)

Our Lady of the Rosary

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Today is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary,

and my last full day at home.

Here is a quote from a Benedictine monk, which a friend sent me a few years ago on the Rosary and which I have never quite forgotten (my emphasis in bold): 

"Be not afraid of distractions, provided you are willing to struggle against them.  Our heavenly Mother understands so well our weakness, our tired feelings, our weariness at times.  Hail Mary's multiplied never displease her. She appreciates your murmurings of faith, hope, and love. Do your best. But, never give up your beads. To carry them on your person . . . is that not as if you were saying them all day, all night secretly? 

 Keep them, at times, especially in time of trial, in the hollow of your hand. That is to clasp Mary's hand."

out of curiosity, I just googled the first line, and (as I suspected) found a longer version on Vultus Christi. 

Go there for the rest of it!

P.S. The Dominican Friars have redesigned their website (I thought I was lost for a minute!), and just posted a brief note for today's feast here.

Pope Benedict XVI on Sainthood

Following some advice given by the good Abbot last night at Bible Study,
I read Pope Benedict XVI's recent address from the Vigil with young people,
given at Fair, Freiburg im Breisgau on Saturday, 24 September 2011.

The whole thing is indeed well worth reading, but here's a long quote of my favorite part:

Often it is thought that a saint has to be someone with great ascetic and moral achievements, who might well be revered, but could never be imitated in our own lives. How false and discouraging this opinion is! There is no saint, apart from the Blessed Virgin Mary, who has not also known sin, who has never fallen. Dear friends, Christ is not so much interested in how often in our lives we stumble and fall, as in how often with his help we pick ourselves up again. He does not demand glittering achievements, but he wants his light to shine in you. He does not call you because you are good and perfect, but because he is good and he wants to make you his friends. Yes, you are the light of the world because Jesus is your light. You are Christians – not because you do special and extraordinary things, but because he, Christ, is your life, our life. You are holy, we are holy, if we allow his grace to work in us.

Amen!

E.E. Milne, Papa Haydn, and Song of Songs...

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In other words, it's been a beautiful evening!

I just finished reading A.A. Milne's masterpiece Once on a Time, just for fun between other things.

Here are some (rather long) excerpts from my favorite part:

(background first) Wiggs is a young girl who has always dreamed of being a beautiful, graceful dancer. One day, a fairy gave her a magic ring that would grant her a good wish if she managed to do only good for a whole day, and a bad wish if she managed to do only bad for a whole day. After being good for a whole day, she makes a very difficult decision, a decision which she thinks will help another but prevent her dearest wish from coming true, and then she runs away from the castle, into the forest...

It was very quiet in the forest. At the foot of her own favorite tree, a veteran of many hundred summers who stood sentinel over an open glade that dipped to a gurgling brook and climbed gently away from it, she sat down. On the soft green yonder she might have danced, an enchanted place, and now—never, never, never...

            How long had she sat there? It must have been a long time—because the forest had been so quiet, and now it was so full of sound. The trees were murmuring something to her, and the birds were singing it, and the brook was trying to tell it too, but would keep chuckling over the very idea so that you could hardly hear what it was saying, and there were rustlings in the grass—“Get up, get up,” everything was calling to her; “dance, dance.”

           She got up, a little frightened. Everything seemed so strangely beautiful. She had never felt it like this before. Yes, she would dance. She must say “Thank you” for all this somehow; perhaps they would excuse her if it was not very well expressed.

            “This will just be for ‘Thank you,’” she said as she got up. 

“I shall never dance again.”

            And then she danced...

(Milne, A.A. Once on a Time, 156)

 Of course I can't help reading into this beautiful passage a bit, bringing my faith into it. I love the sacramentality of nature in what Wiggs experiences here. The beauty of the world, compelling us to dance, to sing, to praise. We must say "Thank You" to God in whatever way we can, even if it is "not very well expressed."

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This reminds me of some lines from a song I got to sing in choir two years ago; 

Haydn's "The Heavens are Telling":

The Heavens are telling the glory of God,
The wonder of his work displays the firmament...
In all the lands resounds the word,
Never unperceived, ever understood.

And there is one more passage that I have to share from Milne, which appears shortly after the one quoted above...

...There is blue magic in the morning; the sky, deep-blue above, melts into white where it meets the hills. The wind waits for you up yonder—will you go to meet it? Ah, stay here! The hedges have put on their green coats for you; misty green are the tall elms from which the rooks are chattering. Along the clean white road, between the primrose banks, he comes. Will you be round this corner?—or the next? He is looking for you...
(Milne, A.A. Once on a Time, 158)

Sadly, I was unable to find a picture to capture these words, but maybe some more words from another book might do?

Hark, my Lover, here He comes!...My Lover is mine, and I am His!

Enough said.

Lest I ever Confuse the Two Again (II)

(edited re-post from the end of July, because hanging out with beautiful children takes precedence over blog originality right now...)

+  +  +  +  +

Saint Peter Chrysologus is decidedly not the same as Saint John Chrysostom. But I must admit, I get the two mixed up rather easily. It's a good thing I have the Patron Saint Index to get me un-confused. Here's what I've learned (hopefully some of it will stick):

Today's saint is John Chrysostom
 He lived from 347 until 407
In 398 he was appointed bishop of Constantinople
Because of his beautiful sermons, people gave him the nickname "Chrysostom" or "Golden tongue" (now you see why I get the two mixed up so easily?!)
In 451 he was recognized as a Doctor of the Church
He is the patron saint of Constantinople/Istanbul, orators, preachers, and speakers
He is also invoked against epilepsy

Peter Chrysologus is remembered on July 30.
He lived from 406 until 450
In 433 he became the Bishop of Ravena, Italy
Fought Monopyhsitism, which is the heresy that Jesus only had one nature
Because of his beautiful sermons, people gave him the nickname "Chrysologus" or "Golden word"
However, he was not proclaimed a Doctor of the Church until 1729
He is the patron saint against fever and against mad dogs.

Here's a quote from John Chrysostom:

"God asks little, but He gives much." 

And another one, from today's Office of Readings:

"If God wants something, let it be done! If he wants me to stay here, I am grateful. But wherever he wants me to be, I am no less grateful." (from a homily by Saint John Chrysostom, bishop)

Amen! Blessed be God forever, in all His angels and all His saints! Amen!

Three Women Named Mary

On Saturday morning, I wear my blue "i love babies" t-shirt,
and after Mass, I wait for the woman who asked me to help out at a yard sale.

I make my thanksgiving for Communion,
for the gift of the Lord's presence in my heart by the statue of Mary.

And the widow stops to say hello.
Holding out her hands to me, she tells me that I am so beautiful, that God must be pleased with me,
and she wants to keep in touch when I go away...we will exchange addresses soon.

Only later do I realize that what she sees is not what I see,
and I am humbled by her praise,
because God only let her see the beautiful in me--His gift,
though I can often only see the ugly in me--my sins, my weaknesses, my faults, my brokenness.

+  +  +  +  +

On that sunny Saturday afternoon, at the yard sale, I see a woman in blue stop and bend over.
She cannot take another step.

I ask, "are you all right ma'am?" but she does not respond.

A tall man catches up with her, and she begs him to let her have a smoke.
We are on school property, a parish school, and he says to her,

"no, Mary. You can't smoke here."
 She pleads and pleads, but he will not let her,
so she goes and sits on the curb, alone,
until it is time for them to go.

My heart is breaking, for her, for him, for all who struggle in this world...
"is this what addiction does, Lord?"

And as I look from one to the other, the man notices my worried stare,
my curiosity that I cannot contain, and apologizes to me.
He apologizes, and I can see how much her pain hurts him, though he tries to hide it.
I realize that he has to deal with this every day, and he can do it, but he can't.
And I don't know what to say, what to do, but I pray.

Sweet Jesus, blessed Mary, pray for us and give strength to her, patience to him, grace to all!

Later, I realize that this Mary was obedient, even at the cost of suffering,
and I am sure that our encounter was not an accident or a coincidence.

Blessed Pope John Paul II says, "In the designs of Providence, there are no coincidences."
(Weigel, George. Witness to Hope, p. 440)

+  +  +  +  +

Today is the feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

After the name of Jesus, the name of Mary is the holiest, most beautiful name in the history of the world.
This is because Mary is the holiest, most beautiful woman who ever lived.
And we should never be afraid to take her as our Mother, to call on her name for help.
She will not take us to herself alone, but will lead us to her Son, for our salvation and the glory of God.

For Mary knows our joys, but she also shares in our struggles, our weaknesses, our burdens...
more than any other woman, she knows all this.
She was with me and the widow in church, looking with a mother's love on both of us.
She was with me when I realized how unworthy I am of the widow's love, let alone Mary's and God's!
She was with Mary on the curb, helping her to be obedient,
and with the man who cares for Mary, helping him to love patiently.
She watches us all bear our crosses behind our Lord,
intercedes for us with a mother's love,
and will be with us, rejoicing when we rise with Him.

 +  +  +  +  +

I rejoice with Mary on this, her nameday, and I give thanks to God the Father through her...

1000+x+22...and still counting...

for my mother's broken toe on the mend day by day : : the Abbots' reactions and her rebuttal

joys of nanny work : : red baby jogger : : just-in-time diaper change : : "Daddy Loves Me" onesie

oddly familiar laugh lines on an unfamiliar face : : sister's help : : yard sale ladies in leis 

knots, knots, knots : : good children : : lighthouse ring-toss : : a secret surprise for my helper in the works

more K'nex adventures : : the last hurrah : : "zi-ba-zi-ba-zib-zib" she sings and we laugh

banana cake with chocolate frosting : : crows summoning us to the picnic : : swooping swallows-bug control!

sister time : : new year at the high-school begins tomorrow : : more nanny work this week

Joining the Gratitude Community at A Holy Experience today and every Monday:

 

Blessed be God forever!

Some beautiful quotes from Saint John Vianney

Saint John Vianney, the Cure de Ars, is the patron saint of priests.


Here are some quotes from the Catechetical Instructions by Saint John Mary Vianney ( the Second Reading from today's Office of Readings)

"If you pray and love, that is where a man's happiness lies."

"My little children, your hearts are small, but prayer stretches them and makes them capable of loving God."

"I often think that whenever we come to adore the Lord, we would receive everything we ask for, if we would ask with living faith and with a pure heart."

Saint John Vianney, pray for our priests that they may pray, love, and adore the Lord!

on Walking on Water and Falling into His arms

Reflection on Mt 14:31a

"Like Peter, I do not in the end ever actually enter into the Lord's embrace as his love and mine blissfully and serenely proceed toward one another with unfaltering step. No: I will always fall into the Lord's arms gasping for breath after a close brush with death and having had to be rescued by Jesus from impending annihilation...He is my savior because he has in fact saved me: he has laboriously earned the title, and there is no time when this name can be shed by him in favor of something more exalted and flattering to my ego. Jesus can become Lover only because he has first been and remains Savior. He is the Bridegroom who has purchased me with his blood."

(Leiva-Merikakis, Erasmo. Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word II, 386)

How true this is! And timely, too, as I draw near to my monthly day of remembrance (I choose Life!)...how many months has it been, Lord, since that first Wednesday of the November when I was a sophomore? And how much grace and love have I received since the day You drew me away from the edge and set my feet on solid ground once more? There is no time to count or calculate, but I can give You thanks every day of my life! Like Peter, I have been lifted out of the whirlpool of doubt and fear by the strong hand of Love. Like Peter, I have been gently chided: "Little child, why did you doubt? Do not doubt, but believe--I love you!" And Lord, You know everything; You know that I love you, too. Thank You for catching me; thank You for the gift of my life.

John on St. Martha

My thesis does not count as the QoD...here's St. John:

"Jesus told her [Martha], 'I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?' She said to him, 'Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.'" (John 11:25-27)


Yes, Lord, I have come to believe...like Martha, I believe. I will never forget how you healed my Lazarus two summers ago--I thought he was dead to us after the accident at work, but he came back sooner than I dared hope. How I praised You then, You who restored sight to the blind and raised the dead to life again! Lord, I ask only this of You-- if it is Your will-- raise him higher still, to know, love, serve You alone. He searches for the truth, let him never cease to search until he finds it in you, who are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Sweet Jesus, Jesus Love, I love You, I trust in You! Let not one of Your little ones be lost, especially not through my negligence, poor witness, and lack of fervor. Let all be saved through Your grace alone. By Your Love alone. Sweet Jesus, Jesus Love!

More beautiful commentary on Matthew's Gospel

On Matthew 13:48--
"When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good (τα χαλα--beautiful) into buckets. What is bad (τα σαπρα--rotten) they throw away."
(the Greek notes are from Leiva Merikakis, Erasmo. Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word II, 307)

 "The judgment occurs, not on the basis of any respect of persons or subjective favoritism, but strictly on the primary evidence of the senses. Goodness and badness are equated, respectively, with beauty and rottenness, that is, with the ability or inability of a fruit or fish to please the eye, delight the palate, and nourish the body. In other words, those who are considered worthy of the Kingdom are admitted into it on the basis of their capacity to contribute their whole being to the Kingdom for the benefit of all." (Leiva Merikakis, Erasmo. Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word II, 308)

I love the parable of the fishermen, which is the Gospel for today. The net "collects fish of every kind," and that is a great source of consolation and hope. There are good-beautiful fish and bad-rotten fish in every family, every community, every faith and walk of life. All the good ones, the ones who lived integrated lives, making the most of their gifts and circumstances, will be saved, and will shine brightly in the kingdom of Heaven. But the bad ones--rotten to the core, who did not live up to their potential but wasted all, will be thrown away (please, Lord, have mercy and let the number of these be few! The Love of Your Heart is great, I know, and You desire that all be saved. Save us, then, Lord, and let not one of Your little ones be lost!) But which group will I be in? It is my decision to make: by every thought, word, and action of my daily life I determine my final destiny. Lord, help me to choose wisely and follow the course You have laid out for me in love this day!

two 5 minute quotes for today and tomorrow...

...because that's all the time I have right now...

From Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word II, reflection on Matthew 13:38b

 "The real surprise comes at the master's reaction when the servants, overcome by anxiety, want to dash into the field and pull out the weeds on the spot. Rather than becoming obsessed like them with the presence of evil, the serene farmer at once ponders something far more important: the welfare of the wheat. He at least does not think that the power of the weeds to choke is superior to the power of the wheat to grow and thrive." (Merikakis, 276)

This quote relates to the Love War and my recent thoughts about anxiety attacks. I particularly love the image of the serene farmer (God). He offers me a share in His serenity, if only I have the heart and will to accept it! This probably has something do do also with abandonment to Divine Providence...head in a sack...serenity. Something to think about...

*****

From Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word II, reflection on Matthew 13:39

 "the Church [on earth] necessarily has within her both the good and the bad, not statically but dynamically, that is, the sinners hopefully growing more and more by the action of divine grace into their full stature as saints. This is the era of the patience of God, of the maturing of the harvest, of the mutual aid that saints and sinners are to bring to one another: yes, even the sinners, by giving the saints the opportunity to collaborate with Christ in their redemption and thus merit their unfading crown."(Merikakis, 285)

This is Christ's Body at its best: saints and sinners working together with Christ for the salvation of all! And God is patient indeed! Praise and blessings be to Him forever and ever, amen!

(ok, so that was more than 5 minutes, but that’s all right—I had more time than I thought...God is merciful and I love Him forever!)

Desert Fathers!

The Desert Fathers say, "If you have a heart, you can be saved."

Unfortunately, when I jotted this quote down at some point during my last year at college, I failed to keep a note of the reference. It might be from Becoming Fire, but I have no clue what the page # is. Oh well. At least this isn't a term paper, right?

At any rate, I love this quote and keep it on a little card in a visible place at my desk because it is a good reminder that salvation is always close at hand. Yes, I have a heart. Yes, I can be saved--if I cooperate with God's mercy, grace, and above all, love which He is always extending to me.

Blessed be God forever, for ages unending, amen!

another pearl from my 'light reading'

 " 'Why is it,' I asked, 'that some things now seem lovely and just that not so long ago were so forbidding?'

'My dear Queen, for the teller of the tale, gratitude, love, and hope remain, because no matter what the story, the teller lives.'

'Is that all?'

'No. It is also your duty to look with a loving eye upon all you have been given. This is what you have done, and you have done well.'" (Helprin, Mark. A City in Winter, 107-108)

I had a long-ish, somewhat introspective reflection on why this particular quote struck me as I read it earlier this evening, but when I tried to publish it, it didn't go through for some reason. I think Someone has just subtly told me that I was about to publish TMI about my life, things He wants me to hold in my heart for now. Thankfully, there is not enough time tonight to re-gather all those words and write them out again. Suffice it to say, this quote could easily be applied to my life, especially over the last few years.

I give thanks to You, Lord God of Heaven and Earth, for all that I have been given: Forgiveness, Love, and grace to live in their light.

St. Lawrence of Brindisi on the word of God

Today is the feast day of one of the Doctors of the Church, St. Lawrence of Brindisi (1559-1619).

In the second reading from the Office of Readings this morning, I read these words from one of his sermons:

" The word of God is replete with manifold blessings, since it is, so to speak, a treasure of all goods. It is the source of faith, hope, charity, all virtue, all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, all the beatitudes of the Gospel, all good works, all the rewards of life, all the glory of paradise...For the word of God is a light to the mind and a fire to the will. It enables man to know God and to love him. And for the interior man who lives by the Spirit of God through grace, it is bread and water, but a bread sweeter than honey and the honeycomb, a water better than wine and milk. For the soul it is a spiritual treasure of merits yielding an abundance of gold and precious stones. Against the hardness of a heart that persists in wrongdoing, it acts like a hammer. Against the world, the flesh and the devil it serves as a sword that destroys all sin."

Quote of the Day

Here's an important reminder from Erasmo Leiva Merikakis’ reflections on Matthew’s 13:10-17         “Jesus has come to enlighten and save all, yet not all at the same time or in the same way. The disciples’ humble approach and Jesus’ own free election of each off them is the basis for their growth in understanding divine mysteries. They must abide humbly and lovingly close to the living Word if they are to enter into the mind of God.” (Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word II, 198)

This is why my recent neglect of Lectio Divina is so tragic and needs to be rectified asap...I have no excuse. Lectio should be at the top of my priority list, and should be a given every day, as much as morning Mass is, more than the daily recitation of the Rosary. Yet I have not made ample space or time in my life to be faithful to this most vital source of grace in my prayer life...
 
Lord have mercy! From now on, with the help of  Your grace, I want to set aside at least half an hour. Yes, half an hour. I cannot promise--you know how easily I break my promises, but I want to do this. But above all, in succeeding or failing, I want to praise You forever! No ifs, ands, or buts. Love knows no conditions or bounds. You have given me all, all that I am belongs to You, Lord. And I ramble...My words are nothing. Your words are spirit and life, You have the words of everlasting life. Help me, I beg You, to come to know You and appreciate Your ineffable love as it is revealed in Holy Scripture. You who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, Amen.


Today will be given over to reviewing Ephesisans 1:1-14...If I can recite it slowly from memory at least 5 times without any mistakes, I will move on to Ephesians 1:15. If not, I will take my failure as a sign that I need to keep working on 1-14 some more...I am not in a hurry: the key is spend a regular + significant amount of time each day mumbling, repeating, ruminating the Word...seeking God's Face, God's Heart, hidden in the text out of love for me. 


Blessed be God forever, for ages unending, amen!

Think about it...he's right, of course!

Today's quote is from Mark Helprin's version of Swan Lake (beautifully illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg). I was reading it for fun last night, and got hit over the head with this one...had to stop and read it a few more times...beautiful!

“This was long ago, and in many ways the time was so different that you would hardly know it, except in your heart—for your heart is quick and right to tell you that all things that matter are more or less the same as they have been and will be, and that however young you are, however happy you may be, somehow you know them, somehow you know sadness; somehow, you have been there.” (Helprin, Mark. Swan Lake. p.3) 

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto,

Sicut Erat in Principo, et Nunc, et Semper, et in Saecula Saeculorum.

Amen. Fiat.

Here's an interesting suggestion:

Don Angelo Roncalli (later known as Bl. Pope John XXIII) "wished to follow his spiritual father and superior among the Priests of the Sacred Heart, who always loved to repeat, 'Let us go...with our heads in the sack of Divine Providence.'" (from Mario Benigni and Goffredo Zanchi. John XXIII: The Official Biography, p.105)

Oh, to seek only to do the will of God, and to learn to see things aright:  to be able to discern and believe with our whole hearts that everything that we experience in this life takes place in accord with God's plan of love and mercy for us...yes, I want to live with my head in the "sack of Divine Providence," too!

...Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me!

More evidence...and Quote of the Day

I’ve already counted beyond 1000, but I keep losing track of God’s superabundant gifts of love that have graced my life over the last few months down to today, and it's always good to begin again...so here’s the latest count from recent days:

1000+X+1...22

1. time to marvel at the yellow swallowtail butterfly in my own backyard
2. swallows (“birds of the air”) reminding me every time I see them: God loves and cares even for me!
3. Letter from a dear friend, with news and lots of love and laughter, and yes, even prayer!
4. Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis says, "The Eucharist is the ordinary means by which God's kingdom on earth is multiplied" (Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word II, 254)...I had to think about that one for a bit...ordinary?!!! Depends on what you mean by 'ordinary,' I guess! (He's right, though, from a certain point of view, thanks be to God for that!)
5. precious family time, more and more precious every day
6. chance to speak with my father on the phone, sharing memories of yesterday and stories of today...remembering Adam. (May he rest in peace!)
7. borrowed flip-flops (she wore them on her honeymoon!) carry my feet on an errand of love in the morning
8. talking about the amazing bean plants and heliotropism with my mother (no, I never stopped being homeschooled...!)
9. wineberries to share with sister and brother at the Bay
10. sister who plays the “Ode to Joy” at full volume on the stereo over and over in the afternoon...
11. ...and walks with me down the rails in the evening.
12. patient brother who doesn’t seem to mind my confused commentary and questions about LotR as we watch it together on a lazy summer Sunday
13. flying chocolate ice cream...
14. on hands and knees cleaning it up...remembering the Novitiate Stairs (Tuesday morning cleaning! I miss Tuesdays in the convent, too! Especially Confession Tuesdays!)
15. looking forward to my father’s homecoming tomorrow night!
16. it's all in the technique... whether I'm peeling potatoes just in time for breakfast, cutting Cranberry Chocolate Chip Banana Bread, or sweeping the floor of the Convent's Laundry (how I miss Wednesday mornings there!)...but I've so much to learn about techinque!
17. beautiful weather for a walk after dinner on Sunday...fallen tree by the dam for quiet prayer time and preparation of the next day’s Mass readings
18. humility to realize that I am fallen too...only by grace do I live and love!
19. I am God’s possession, only in this do I find my dignity, my redemption (Ephesians 1:14)...
20. ...committing myself to try to be more faithful to Ephesians Lectio and memorization in the coming days, weeks, and months. Lord, have mercy and help me!
21. God’s quiet whispering in my soul over and over again, as many times as I need to hear it: “Slow down...breathe...you are mine, and I love you!”
22. Love always wins over hatred in the end. Always. Even if the weeds are allowed to grow with the wheat for a time...Love always wins! 

Update: Monday's gifts...1000+X+11...

1. another Psalm added to my list of favorites...if I had a list...hm, should I have a top ten list? If so, which would they be? 118 for sure, and now 73, too...and there are others. I'll have to look them up later.
2. the appearance of CFR's--two of them! And the two discerners are still here, too, if only for a time...(Lord, help them to persevere in seeking and doing Your will!)
3. robins. Even though it's not spring, it still makes me happy to see them outside my window.
4. first day of work graces...
5. office ladies 
6. names of friends and strangers flashing before my eyes, all invitations to prayer
7. his joking "let there be light"
8. finding of a system, falling into a rhythm
9. corner office breezes
10. walking home with midday prayer psalms on my lips
11. ...and many more gifts to come, straight from His Heart!

Joining the Gratitude Community at A Holy Experience today and every Monday:

Fighting the "Love War"

This is the front of my War Folder...

 

...this is the back...

...and this is the last thing I look at before and after working with my stars...

 ...yes, stars. My negatives are now written on post-it stars. And I am using my blue marker board as a training space. So now I've got a pile of yellow stars with ugly red words on them...

Call me incredibly grateful...not only am I part of the Conspiracy of Love, but now I am also part of the "Love War." It's about time.

Oh yes, I have two quotes for today: 

Jesus says, "Walk while you have the light, so that darkness may not overcome you." -John 12:35b...and I pray: walk with us, Lord, all through this day, all through our lives, as we learn to live in the light of Your love!!!

Westly says, "We are men of action, lies do not become us." "The Princess Bride"

St. Bonaventure's beautiful reading

This  is the page on which Fr. Z. reads one of the most beautiful readings in the cycle of readings for Office of readings (how many times can I use the word 'readings' in one sentence?). My other favorite reading is the one from one of St. Bernard's homilies about the Annunciation, (the text can be found here.) But I always look forward to Bonaventure's day, just so I can read about Christ the Door...

Anyway, here are the first few lines of Bonaventure (full text here, thanks, Hermit Brother!):

"Christ is both the way and the door. Christ is the staircase and the vehicle, like the throne of mercy over the Ark of the Covenant, and the mystery hidden from the ages. A man should turn his full attention to this throne of mercy, and should gaze at him hanging on the cross, full of faith, hope and charity, devoted, full of wonder and joy, marked by gratitude, and open to praise and jubilation."

and it only gets better from there!

I love St. Bonaventure!