7 Quick Takes Friday

1) Please join me in praying for Haiti which has recently been devastated by a horrific earth quake. Their already poor country has been destroyed by an earthquake of 7.0 on the Richter scale, killing 100,000 people.
2) There are various organizations that are in Haiti helping the people there. If you feel so moved, you can donate to Catholic Relief Services, Doctors Without Boarders, Filter Pure (provides clean water), Friends of Haiti, and Cross International, (different from the Red Cross.)

3)I've been thinking about sin lately.  It is so discouraging to sin again and again and to be able to say with Saint Paul, "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver me from this mortal body!" Romans 7:15, 24

4) I've also been thinking of Divine Mercy.  I was in adoration the other day, and I read their booklet, The Divine Mercy, Message and Devotion.  Even though I have read it before, as is often the case with spiritual writing, certain passages stood out that had not before, especially the prayers written by St. Faustina.  Some examples are below.

5) I fly to Your mercy, Compassionate God, who alone are good.  Although my misery is great and my offenses are many, I trust in Your mercy, because You are the God of mercy. 

Jesus, friend of a lonely heart, You are my haven.  You are my peace.  You are my salvation.  You are my serenity in moments of struggle and amidst an ocean of doubts. You are the bright ray that lights up the path of my life.  You understand the soul even though it remains silent.  You know our weaknesses and, like a good physician, You comfort and heal.  

O Most Holy Trinity! As many times as I breathe, as many times as my heart beats, as many times as my blood pulsates through my body, so many thousand times do I want to glorify Your mercy. 

6)  For the Grace to be Merciful to Others


     Help me, O Lord, that my eyes may be merciful so that I may never suspect or judge from appearances, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbors' souls and come to their rescue.


     Help me, that my ears may be merciful, so that I may give heed to my neighbors' needs and not be indifferent to their pains and moanings.


     Help me, O Lord, that my tongue may be merciful, so that I should never speak negatively of my neighbor, but have a word of comfort and forgiveness for all.


     Help me, O Lord, that my hands may be merciful and filled with good deeds, so that I may do only good to my neighbors and take upon myself the more difficult and toilsome tasks.


     Help me, that my feet may be merciful, so that I may hurry to assist my neighbor, overcoming my own fatigue and weariness.  My true rest is in the service of my neighbor.


     Help me, O Lord that my heart may be merciful so that I myself may feel all the sufferings of my neighbor.  I will refuse my heart to no one.  I will be sincere even with those who, I know, will abuse my kindness.  And I will lock myself up in the  most merciful heart of Jesus.

7)  The above prayer reminds me of the prayer/poem written by St. Teresa of Avila, my patron for 2010.



Christ has no body but yours, 
No hands, no feet on earth but yours, 
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world, 
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, 
Yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world. 
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, 
Yours are the eyes, you are his body. 

Christ has no body but yours, 

No hands, no feet on earth but yours, 

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

Compassion on this world, 

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.