July 5, 2009: The Norman Church

Mold’d arch and window-frame
Enshrin’d within a painted pane,
That fashion’d form and colour bright
To be a reliquary of Light.

A Saint smil’d on a moulder’d stone
An errant soul was drifting home
Sunbeams lit a bleeding face
The form of God to dimly trace—

A man hung limp upon a tree
A woman wept below his knee,
His eyes, clouded dark with pain
Briefly smil’d, and wept again.

The birds without chirp’d and peck’d
Between boughs with blossoms deck’d
The green turf softly lay between
The earthen world, the world unseen.

The morning spread its diamond trail
About the kirkyard’s dewy pale,
One beam of golden, eastern grace
Touch’d upon an angel’s face.

In one moment in one day begun

A tapestry of years is spun.

June 28, 2009: Sidewalk Revelation

Sometimes you are so busy looking up, you don't notice God below you.

June 7, 2009: I Have No Idea Where I Am Going

"My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from the desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

--Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude

May 30, 2009: 'Vocation to Love'

From David Werthmann's 'Novena Meditations to Saint Therese of Lisieux':

"In September of 1886, Therese wrote in her diary, 'At last I have found my true vocation: It is love!' Like the mystics and desert fathers and mothers, she believed that love is worth more than any sacrifice or ritual. Thus, she encourages us not to keep track of how many good deeds we perform, but simply to do everything--whatever it is--with love. Consider all the chores you must do in a typical day...perhaps taking out garbage, scrubbing floors, cleaning up after a sick child, sorting laundry. Make a resolution to do each task with as much love as you can. (pause)

Therese realized that God calls each person to a life of love. She wished that everyone understood that. Her own love was nourished by Jesus. At every Mass, she received the host as if it were a 'kiss of love' from Him. Therese truly felt Christ's love for her, so she tried to approach each moment with as much love as possible. Her whole preoccupation in life was to die so as to live in the love of Jesus. On her deathbed, her very last words were, 'My God, I love you.'

Bring to mind the person you love most in the whole world. Now close your eyes and imagine that your love for him or her is Christ's love for you. (pause). It's true! Vow that from now on you will strive to love God in every person whose path crosses yours."

May 29: Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

"My God, I offer You all my prayers, works, joys and sufferings in union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, for the intentions for which He pleads and offers Himself in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in thanksgiving for Your favours, in reparation for my sins, and in humble supplication for my temporal and eternal welfare, for the needs of our holy Mother the Church, for the conversion of the sinners, and for the relief of the poor souls in purgatory.   Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Kyrie eleison! (Lord have mercy) Christ, hear us. Christ graciously hear us.   God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.   Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mother, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the Word of God, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, sacred temple of God, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of Heaven, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of charity, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, abode of justice and love, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, king and center of human hearts, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, in Whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, in Whom dwells the fullness of Divinity, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, in Whom the Father was well pleased, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, of Whose fullness we have received, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, patient and most merciful, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, enriching all who invoke You, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, loaded down with opprobrium, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, bruised for our offenses, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, obedient to death, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, victim for our sin, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, salvation of those whotrust in You, have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in You have mercy on us.   Heart of Jesus, delight of all the Saints, have mercy on us.   Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world; spare us, O Lord.   Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world; graciously hear us, O Lord.   Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world; have mercy on us.   Jesus meek and humble of Heart Make our hearts like Yours."     --Litany of the Sacred Heart

May 29, 2009: Choose Wisely

Jenna, a Flickr contact of mine, recently lost her sister, Debby, who died after a long battle with leukemia. Her death has reminded me of Pope Benedict's recent words, that the digital technologies of today are 'truly a gift to humanity,' because of the way they enable us to slip into each other's lives when needed, and turn small words into great actions.

Of course, I didn't know Debby or her family. She was a bedridden blogger for a long time, and there were a few last words she wished for her sister to transcribe for her. I think they are worth sharing, especially since with these words, Debby has turned her death into a positive action:

"In my blog, I often give assignments for people to do. Here's the ones that are on my mind....

1. Appreciate everything. Even stupid stuff. Since I've been sick, I've communicated with a number of service members abroad. We understand each other well because we both know how much we miss just the normal stuff that most people take for granted. Driving. Driving in traffic. Complaining about stupid stuff is for people who have no idea how good they have it.

2. Be a force for good. There's enough bad stuff in the world without adding to it. Forgive people and leave grudges for others. Do kind things just because. Figure out what you are good at and do good with it.

3. Seek a higher power. I believe Jesus Christ is my savior and this gives me comfort. As it takes faith to believe, it takes faith not to believe. I believe God doesn't want us to live our lives on an island, and that finding a community of faith that is uplifting and supportive to you can make a huge difference in your life. If you have that cool. If you don't, consider it. But don't wait until you are looking death in the eye because you will miss out on some neat things. (Love you ACTS community!)

4. If you have kids, squeeze them. And then squeeze them again. Give yourself a pat on the back if you are responsible and work hard to give your children a good life and better opportunities. Sometimes you don't give yourself enough credit. If you have people in your life that you love, tell them that. Often. Don't save your I love you's for a rainy day.

5. Take care of yourself. I understand more than most that there are injuries and illnesses that you can't prevent by eating well and moving, but that doesn't mean you should be fatalistic. Nothing like being hooked up to a respirator to make you appreciate just getting going, doing and breathing. Treat yourself at least as well as you treat your car--you put the right type of fuel in your car and you drive it safely most of the time--you are more important than a car so treat yourself that way.

6. Enjoy life. Life is meant to be enjoyed, and as long as it isn't hurting yourself or others, go for it. Bring joy to others. Find passions in your life that make you want to get out of bed in the morning, unless your passion is sleeping and then go ahead and sleep in.

7. Be open to new things. Listen. Doesn't mean you have to change your mind, but who knows, you might learn something.

8. Support sensible health insurance reform. I'm not sure what that ends up looking like, but injuries and illnesses shouldn't fate people into a life of insurmountable debt and bill collectors. I spent the last “healthy” months of my pre-hospital stay, worried and scrambling to find insurance because my COBRA insurance ran out. Patients should be able to focus on getting better and not crushingly large mountains of papers telling them that their credit is forever screwed.

9. Ask for help. This is a hard assignment. For a lot of people, it isn't easy to ask for help when you need it. But what I've discovered is that it is a part of the human condition for people to want to help those in need. People enjoy helping others. Sometimes you get help where you don't really expect it. So if you need help with something, go to the appropriate people and get it.
I sometimes think that the bad stuff that happens in life is one of the few things that bring people together. It still sucks, but maybe it sucks a little less.

There are too many people to thank for the help they gave me and my family over these difficult times. I would list you individually but am afraid I would leave someone important out. My last days have not been easy at all, but it has been a great comfort to know about all those who gave me prayers and love.

In my life, I've looked for love in a lot of wrong places, and as I die, it is nice to know I am surrounded by love.

10. Last assignment. There is no last assignment. You create your own assignments every day. Choose wisely."


Debby died on May 18, 2009.

May 28, 2009: Only Love

"Only love has meaning. It raises up our smallest actions into infinity."


--Divine Mercy in my Soul, Saint Maria Faustina

May 16, 2009: Smile on the world.

Lord,

You are the source of all love,
You showed it through Jesus
Who shed His blood for us.
We ask you:
open our hearts,
make them as generous as Yours.
Give us a heart eager to serve others.
Let us be the expression of Your smile on the world.

--Prayer from Heilig Bloedbasiliek, Brugge, Belgium

April 20, 2009: A little belated.

My grandmother is getting pretty old now. (No offense, Granny, I’m just going by the statistics.) At 89, she doesn’t feel like herself anymore. “This isn’t my face,” she says to me from beneath a pair of reading glasses and a wrinkled frown, “This isn’t my hair.”

Maybe when we get old, we feel like sleeping blossoms, hid beneath crumpled autumn leaves. We know spring will bear the fruits of winter, but this knowledge requires a very special faith from us. Only faintly in our ears do we catch the hallowed tones of our Saviour’s voice, upon His Cross, gasping beneath His fading strength, to us calling,

‘Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’

Was He ever so beautiful as when He triumphed upon His Cross? My grandmother is beautiful too. Her eyes are like two amethysts, spakling when she smiles at me. I don’t want her to worry about a few wrinkles. Beauty isn’t in the eye of the beholder, it’s in the heart. I know she spent her life turning heads. But now she is turning hearts towards her in love. Her beauty glances with stories untold, love given and received.

Granny, you are still pretty. Don’t say, ‘this isn’t me.’ I love this you, and someday hope, that I will be beautiful like you.

Happy Birthday.

April 11, 2009: How much do I love you?

Have you asked yourself, what you would suffer for your spouse, your child, your parent, your sister or brother? For their sake, what would you be willing to bear?

I have just heard a charming story, told by Jimmy Segers on Radio Maria, which I would like to share with you. It is about a father who asks his child, 'How much do I love you?'

He holds his hands in front of his heart, maybe six inches apart.

'This much?' he asks.

'No!' cries his little daughter.

He widens his hands a little more. 'This much?' he asks again.

Still she cries, 'No!'

A little more he widens his arms, but still it is not enough. Finally he stretches his arms wide, and asks at last, 'This much?'

A bright smile and 'yes!' is his reply.

One day at mass, this father stood next to his daughter, and asked her, 'How much does Jesus love you?'

She opens her arms as wide as she can, and says, 'This much!'

But her father asks, 'How do you know?'

Well, according to Jimmy, his daughter didn't know how to answer this question at first. She had not thought of this yet.

A moment's thought suffices. She points to the large crucifix which looms above the altar.

'Look!' she says, 'His arms are wide open!'



Easter blessings to all.