All Adorable Saints Day

Today at Mass, Fr. let the kids dress up as saints.  They were SO adorable!!

One mom had three boys.  Her youngest was St. Patrick.  She made the costume from adult sized green t-shirt and used glitter glue to make a cross on the front and back so it looked like a vestment.  She made him a bishop's mitre out of cardboard with a gold cross on it.

The best part (if you are a 2.5 year old boy) was the green snake he got to carry.

Her other son had a Franciscan robe on.  When I first saw it, I assumed he was St. Francis.  DH asked me, "Why does he have a cell phone?!"

Then we noticed the keys...I'm thinking "St. Peter, maybe?"

Then DH realized...it wasn't a cell phone.  It was a TV remote, keys, a wallet and eye glasses attached to the robe.

He was St. Anthony, finding lost items!!!!

Ingenious!  

All Adorable Saints Day

Today at Mass, Fr. let the kids dress up as saints.  They were SO adorable!!

One mom had three boys.  Her youngest was St. Patrick.  She made the costume from adult sized green t-shirt and used glitter glue to make a cross on the front and back so it looked like a vestment.  She made him a bishop's mitre out of cardboard with a gold cross on it.

The best part (if you are a 2.5 year old boy) was the green snake he got to carry.

Her other son had a Franciscan robe on.  When I first saw it, I assumed he was St. Francis.  DH asked me, "Why does he have a cell phone?!"

Then we noticed the keys...I'm thinking "St. Peter, maybe?"

Then DH realized...it wasn't a cell phone.  It was a TV remote, keys, a wallet and eye glasses attached to the robe.

He was St. Anthony, finding lost items!!!!

Ingenious!  

Sunday Snippets, A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing.

Hello everyone!  This week began with a post about The Jesus Prayer. Then our normally scheduled blogging got underway with a Japanese folk song set to beautiful fall scenery, followed by a post about my late friend, Eddie on the anniversary of his death.

A Molly update was followed by Kazu Shimura painting some flowers for us, and a late autumn haiku continued the theme.

I have a fascinating Youtube video about the concept of "energies" in Eastern Christianity and our Scripture Saturday talked about Asian translations of scripture and Christ being The "Word/Tao/Way" for all people in all times.

Have a blessed week!

Sunday Snippets, A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing.

Hello everyone!  This week began with a post about The Jesus Prayer. Then our normally scheduled blogging got underway with a Japanese folk song set to beautiful fall scenery, followed by a post about my late friend, Eddie on the anniversary of his death.

A Molly update was followed by Kazu Shimura painting some flowers for us, and a late autumn haiku continued the theme.

I have a fascinating Youtube video about the concept of "energies" in Eastern Christianity and our Scripture Saturday talked about Asian translations of scripture and Christ being The "Word/Tao/Way" for all people in all times.

Have a blessed week!

Scripture Saturday--The Word

In the beginning was the Word

and the Word was with God

and the Word was God

John 1:1

The Word became flesh, 

and pitched His tent 

among us. 

John 1:14

In these scripture passages from John, the English rendering Word comes from the Greek Logos which means "universal divine reason, unchanging truth, a unifying and liberating force."¹

In many Asian bibles, Word in these passages is translated Tao or The Way.

Inherent in the idea of both Tao and Logos is existence from the beginning and having no beginning or ending.² According to Practical Christian Mysticism, when Jesus says "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life," he is not claiming religious superiority, but universality--He is the "ultimate Truth" that all search for.  He unites East and West in right thought, actions (Tao) and understanding (Logos).

The philosophical implication of Christ being the Tao/Logos is that the "ultimate truth" of the Universe is also a conscience entity.  It means that the Tao/Logos of the Universe interacts and reacts with us on a personal level.  Every time a Christian performs an act of charity, compassion or self-sacrifice he does so directly with the person of Christ.³

Jesus is not here to conquer but to unite. He is not here to force, but to awaken all to what already exists and has always existed. We are not called to hate, but to love, to become love and to unite with Love, for, Love has existed from eternity and will continue to exist for all time.

Scripture Saturday--The Word

In the beginning was the Word

and the Word was with God

and the Word was God

John 1:1

The Word became flesh, 

and pitched His tent 

among us. 

John 1:14

In these scripture passages from John, the English rendering Word comes from the Greek Logos which means "universal divine reason, unchanging truth, a unifying and liberating force."¹

In many Asian bibles, Word in these passages is translated Tao or The Way.

Inherent in the idea of both Tao and Logos is existence from the beginning and having no beginning or ending.² According to Practical Christian Mysticism, when Jesus says "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life," he is not claiming religious superiority, but universality--He is the "ultimate Truth" that all search for.  He unites East and West in right thought, actions (Tao) and understanding (Logos).

The philosophical implication of Christ being the Tao/Logos is that the "ultimate truth" of the Universe is also a conscience entity.  It means that the Tao/Logos of the Universe interacts and reacts with us on a personal level.  Every time a Christian performs an act of charity, compassion or self-sacrifice he does so directly with the person of Christ.³

Jesus is not here to conquer but to unite. He is not here to force, but to awaken all to what already exists and has always existed. We are not called to hate, but to love, to become love and to unite with Love, for, Love has existed from eternity and will continue to exist for all time.

Energies in Eastern Christianity

This is part of an Orthodox theology series on YouTube.  I love this concept of the Uncreated Energies of God and sin being a misuse of our energies.  This is SO common today--it is so easy to misuse our energies today--and our energies come from God and are a part of God--*and* energy is relationship and Grace, not something nebulous that lets us do something  for ourselves.

Energies in Eastern Christianity

This is part of an Orthodox theology series on YouTube.  I love this concept of the Uncreated Energies of God and sin being a misuse of our energies.  This is SO common today--it is so easy to misuse our energies today--and our energies come from God and are a part of God--*and* energy is relationship and Grace, not something nebulous that lets us do something  for ourselves.

Poetry Wednesday--Up in Vermont

Today's poem is a haiku written by Up in Vermont.  Visit Vermont's blog, PoemShape.  

Poetry Wednesday--Up in Vermont

Today's poem is a haiku written by Up in Vermont.  Visit Vermont's blog, PoemShape.  

Art and Beauty Tuesday--Kazu Shimura

Today we revisit our friend Kazu Shimura, a Japanese artist from Tokyo as he paints for us a Mallow, which blooms in October in Japan.

Art and Beauty Tuesday--Kazu Shimura

Today we revisit our friend Kazu Shimura, a Japanese artist from Tokyo as he paints for us a Mallow, which blooms in October in Japan.

Molly Update--Big Day Tomorrow

Molly has been having her Novalung turned off little by little and over all has been doing well.  She has been on steroids which have kept her awake and agitated.

Today she squeezed the nurse's hand when asked for the first time!

Tomorrow she goes under general anesthesia and intubation to have the Novalung removed completely.  Please pray that she handles this operation well and that her body can breathe on its own and that she can become strong enough to undergo a transplant, or strong enough not to need one.

Fr. Theodore Foley, pray for her!!

Molly Update--Big Day Tomorrow

Molly has been having her Novalung turned off little by little and over all has been doing well.  She has been on steroids which have kept her awake and agitated.

Today she squeezed the nurse's hand when asked for the first time!

Tomorrow she goes under general anesthesia and intubation to have the Novalung removed completely.  Please pray that she handles this operation well and that her body can breathe on its own and that she can become strong enough to undergo a transplant, or strong enough not to need one.

Fr. Theodore Foley, pray for her!!

Rest in Peace

A year ago today, my friend Eddie passed away from pancreas cancer.

This YouTube video shows Eddie and his twin brother performing in a musical based on The Prince and the Pauper they wrote while still in high school.  This performance is a year after they graduated.

Here, Eddie's lines introduce the song Free as a Bird and he sings the majority of the song.

Rest in Peace, Eddie.

Rest in Peace

A year ago today, my friend Eddie passed away from pancreas cancer.

This YouTube video shows Eddie and his twin brother performing in a musical based on The Prince and the Pauper they wrote while still in high school.  This performance is a year after they graduated.

Here, Eddie's lines introduce the song Free as a Bird and he sings the majority of the song.

Rest in Peace, Eddie.

Music Monday--Sakura

Enjoy these beautiful fall pictures accompanied by the Japanese folk song, Sakura, which means Charity in Japanese.

Music Monday--Sakura

Enjoy these beautiful fall pictures accompanied by the Japanese folk song, Sakura, which means Charity in Japanese.

The Jesus Prayer

In today's gospel from Luke, the Tax Collector utters the most beautiful and heart felt prayer in the midst of his feelings of inadequacy in the Presence of God--

Oh God, be merciful to me, a sinner. 

This prayer forms the basis of the Jesus Prayer which is said by Eastern Christians.  The practice uses the Holy Name of Jesus, which is very powerful, to begin this prayer of the heart, and is said continually throughout the day to fulfill St. Paul's admonition to pray without ceasing.  

Practice

Some form of 

Lord Jesus Christ, 

Son of God,

have mercy on me, 

a sinner, 

is used.  It could be 

Lord Jesus Christ, 

have mercy 

on me, 

or even as simple as, 

Jesus, mercy.  

It is often said on an Orthodox prayer rope, usually with either 33, 100 or 300 knots.  The smaller prayer rope is sometimes worn as a bracelet, which would be a wonderful reminder to pray during the day.  

The Jesus Prayer

In today's gospel from Luke, the Tax Collector utters the most beautiful and heart felt prayer in the midst of his feelings of inadequacy in the Presence of God--

Oh God, be merciful to me, a sinner. 

This prayer forms the basis of the Jesus Prayer which is said by Eastern Christians.  The practice uses the Holy Name of Jesus, which is very powerful, to begin this prayer of the heart, and is said continually throughout the day to fulfill St. Paul's admonition to pray without ceasing.  

Practice

Some form of 

Lord Jesus Christ, 

Son of God,

have mercy on me, 

a sinner, 

is used.  It could be 

Lord Jesus Christ, 

have mercy 

on me, 

or even as simple as, 

Jesus, mercy.  

It is often said on an Orthodox prayer rope, usually with either 33, 100 or 300 knots.  The smaller prayer rope is sometimes worn as a bracelet, which would be a wonderful reminder to pray during the day.  

Sunday Snippets, A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing.

This week, our theme was Autumn.  Music Monday started us out with a beautiful Fall Montage to the music of Vangelis.  Art and Beauty Tuesday featured a painting called Under the Harvest Moon by John Atkinson Grimshaw.  Poetry Wednesday was a poem about seasons by Wu Men called 10,000 and for Scripture Saturday, we talked about harvest imagery in the Bible.

This week, we had 2 Molly related posts--one a Molly Update and one a novena prayer for the canonization of Fr. Theodore Foley, which we are praying for the intention of Molly's healing.

Also this week, we had another installment of our review of St. Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle.

I hope and pray that everyone has a blessed and productive week.

Sunday Snippets, A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing.

This week, our theme was Autumn.  Music Monday started us out with a beautiful Fall Montage to the music of Vangelis.  Art and Beauty Tuesday featured a painting called Under the Harvest Moon by John Atkinson Grimshaw.  Poetry Wednesday was a poem about seasons by Wu Men called 10,000 and for Scripture Saturday, we talked about harvest imagery in the Bible.

This week, we had 2 Molly related posts--one a Molly Update and one a novena prayer for the canonization of Fr. Theodore Foley, which we are praying for the intention of Molly's healing.

Also this week, we had another installment of our review of St. Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle.

I hope and pray that everyone has a blessed and productive week.

Scripture Saturday--Harvest

There are a couple of things we can learn from harvest imagery in scripture.

One is that the harvest is plentiful (Matthew 9:37).

God gives us, as a species, all we need to survive.

The problem?

The laborers are few.  (ibid).

We don't want to work to help each other.

In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the story of the weeds sown among the wheat.  The workers, angry at the enemy who sewed the weeds among the master's wheat, want to pull them up.

The master tells them to let them both grow up together until harvest.  (Matthew 13:30).

Here, the harvester is God. He allows the rain to fall on the good and bad alike.

It is not for us to control or to judge.  It is up to us to labor to bring good to all His children while we are on earth.

Scripture Saturday--Harvest

There are a couple of things we can learn from harvest imagery in scripture.

One is that the harvest is plentiful (Matthew 9:37).

God gives us, as a species, all we need to survive.

The problem?

The laborers are few.  (ibid).

We don't want to work to help each other.

In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the story of the weeds sown among the wheat.  The workers, angry at the enemy who sewed the weeds among the master's wheat, want to pull them up.

The master tells them to let them both grow up together until harvest.  (Matthew 13:30).

Here, the harvester is God. He allows the rain to fall on the good and bad alike.

It is not for us to control or to judge.  It is up to us to labor to bring good to all His children while we are on earth.

Interior Castle--The Second Mansion

Today we continue our reading of St. Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle with the second mansion.

In this mansion are people who have begun to pray.  They want to move on with their spiritual life but lack the discipline to do so because of attachment to sin. In spite of that attachment though, the Lord continually calls souls that reside in this second room of the Castle.

God holds these souls dear, she tells us, and speaks to them through others, through sickness and troubles, through spiritual reading and sometimes in prayer.

The more we open ourselves to hearing God, however, the more the devil comes after us, so we must be on guard. Souls in this mansion struggle with the pleasures of this world and of the opinion of others.  The temptation is to return to the first mansion and not to go forward. The temptation is also there to run away altogether like the Prodigal Son in the Bible.  The examples of others' whose good opinions we crave, sometimes sway us away from the Faith.

St. Teresa advises that we surround ourselves with those advanced in the spiritual life and not be tempted by those who would call us out from the journey to union with God.  It is important to follow God's will and not to expect Him to follow ours.  There is no magic formula that is necessary--only perseverance.

It is important to meditate on Christ.  This, she says, is the only way to heaven.

Interior Castle--The Second Mansion

Today we continue our reading of St. Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle with the second mansion.

In this mansion are people who have begun to pray.  They want to move on with their spiritual life but lack the discipline to do so because of attachment to sin. In spite of that attachment though, the Lord continually calls souls that reside in this second room of the Castle.

God holds these souls dear, she tells us, and speaks to them through others, through sickness and troubles, through spiritual reading and sometimes in prayer.

The more we open ourselves to hearing God, however, the more the devil comes after us, so we must be on guard. Souls in this mansion struggle with the pleasures of this world and of the opinion of others.  The temptation is to return to the first mansion and not to go forward. The temptation is also there to run away altogether like the Prodigal Son in the Bible.  The examples of others' whose good opinions we crave, sometimes sway us away from the Faith.

St. Teresa advises that we surround ourselves with those advanced in the spiritual life and not be tempted by those who would call us out from the journey to union with God.  It is important to follow God's will and not to expect Him to follow ours.  There is no magic formula that is necessary--only perseverance.

It is important to meditate on Christ.  This, she says, is the only way to heaven.

Prayer for the Canonization of Father Theodore Foley, C.P.

Many people are praying to Fr. Foley for a miracle for Molly. Please join us in a Novena until Molly is healed.

Lord Jesus Christ, you called Father Theodore Foley to follow you as a Passionist Priest even to Calvary's heights. Through your Immaculate and Sorrowful Mother, you taught him obedience to your Father's will and the fulfillment of your Commandment of loving God and neighbor. Let the loving inspiration of your servant move us to live a more profound life of virtue. We humbly ask that you glorify your servant Father Theodore Foley according to the designs of your holy will. through his intercession, we ask you to grant the request I now present (healing and a Miracle for Molly). Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father)

Prayer for the Canonization of Father Theodore Foley, C.P.

Many people are praying to Fr. Foley for a miracle for Molly. Please join us in a Novena until Molly is healed.

Lord Jesus Christ, you called Father Theodore Foley to follow you as a Passionist Priest even to Calvary's heights. Through your Immaculate and Sorrowful Mother, you taught him obedience to your Father's will and the fulfillment of your Commandment of loving God and neighbor. Let the loving inspiration of your servant move us to live a more profound life of virtue. We humbly ask that you glorify your servant Father Theodore Foley according to the designs of your holy will. through his intercession, we ask you to grant the request I now present (healing and a Miracle for Molly). Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father)

Poetry Wednesday-Wu Men

10,000

Ten thousand flowers in spring,
the moon in autumn,
a cool breeze in summer,
snow in winter. 

If your mind isn't clouded
by unnecessary things,
this is the best season of your life.

This poem talks about the hope that we can see in the changing of the seasons. Time is passing before our very eyes but if you pay attention,  this can be the best season of your life. 

Poetry Wednesday-Wu Men

10,000

Ten thousand flowers in spring,
the moon in autumn,
a cool breeze in summer,
snow in winter. 

If your mind isn't clouded
by unnecessary things,
this is the best season of your life.

This poem talks about the hope that we can see in the changing of the seasons. Time is passing before our very eyes but if you pay attention,  this can be the best season of your life. 

Molly Update

Molly's mom tells us that by tomorrow doctors at Pittsburgh Children's Hospital will make a decision on whether to wean Molly from the Novalung she has implanted.

The hope in all of this, she says, is that she can come off the Novalung safely, her lungs and heart and all of her other vital organs will do their jobs and she'll improve neurologically.

Without successful weaning from the Novalung, Molly will not be eligible for a transplant, and her body risks fatal infection if the Novalung remains in much longer.

The doctors tell her they don't know what will happen and they don't know what the best decision is.

Please pray hard for Molly's recovery and for God's will to be done in this situation.

Molly Update

Molly's mom tells us that by tomorrow doctors at Pittsburgh Children's Hospital will make a decision on whether to wean Molly from the Novalung she has implanted.

The hope in all of this, she says, is that she can come off the Novalung safely, her lungs and heart and all of her other vital organs will do their jobs and she'll improve neurologically.

Without successful weaning from the Novalung, Molly will not be eligible for a transplant, and her body risks fatal infection if the Novalung remains in much longer.

The doctors tell her they don't know what will happen and they don't know what the best decision is.

Please pray hard for Molly's recovery and for God's will to be done in this situation.

Art and Beauty Tuesday--John Atkinson Grimshaw

Today's Art and Beauty Tuesday is Under the Harvest Moon by John Atkinson Grimshaw.  In this painting light from the unseen moon illuminates the fields, thus, extending the harvest, which is how the harvest moon got its name.

I love how the three-fold path on the right side of the painting is lit up by the moon.  It almost looks like the light is from within the path itself.  This brightly lit trinitarian path remind me that the Blessed Mother is said to be like the moon because she reflects the light of Christ.

This blog doesn't do Grimshaw's painting justice because the light from the moon spreads out across the entire painting like tinsel on a Christmas tree and yet, the eye is drawn back to the three paths converging on the hay bale on the right side of the picture.

Click here to see it larger at the Art Renewal Center.

Art and Beauty Tuesday--John Atkinson Grimshaw

Today's Art and Beauty Tuesday is Under the Harvest Moon by John Atkinson Grimshaw.  In this painting light from the unseen moon illuminates the fields, thus, extending the harvest, which is how the harvest moon got its name.

I love how the three-fold path on the right side of the painting is lit up by the moon.  It almost looks like the light is from within the path itself.  This brightly lit trinitarian path remind me that the Blessed Mother is said to be like the moon because she reflects the light of Christ.

This blog doesn't do Grimshaw's painting justice because the light from the moon spreads out across the entire painting like tinsel on a Christmas tree and yet, the eye is drawn back to the three paths converging on the hay bale on the right side of the picture.

Click here to see it larger at the Art Renewal Center.

Music Monday--Vangelis

Take a walk with me though stunning Autumn colors to the beautiful sounds of  La Petite Fille de la Mer by Vangelis.   Let your inner child exalt in the crisp Fall air.

Music Monday--Vangelis

Take a walk with me though stunning Autumn colors to the beautiful sounds of  La Petite Fille de la Mer by Vangelis.   Let your inner child exalt in the crisp Fall air.

Sunday Snippets, A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing.

This week, our theme was birds. Music Monday started us off with O For the Wings of a Dove by Mendelssohn. Art and Beauty Tuesday featured A Peacock and Doves in a Gardenby Eugene Bidau and Poetry Wednesday featured The Lay of the Golden Goose by Little Women author Louisa May Alcott.

Also on Wednesday, I posted a YouTube vid of Weewoo the talking starling and on Friday I talked briefly about St. Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle.

Also on Friday, I posted 2 prayer requests and rounded out the week on by talking about peace in our Scripture Saturday feature.

Sunday Snippets, A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at This, That and the Other Thing.

This week, our theme was birds. Music Monday started us off with O For the Wings of a Dove by Mendelssohn. Art and Beauty Tuesday featured A Peacock and Doves in a Gardenby Eugene Bidau and Poetry Wednesday featured The Lay of the Golden Goose by Little Women author Louisa May Alcott.

Also on Wednesday, I posted a YouTube vid of Weewoo the talking starling and on Friday I talked briefly about St. Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle.

Also on Friday, I posted 2 prayer requests and rounded out the week on by talking about peace in our Scripture Saturday feature.

Scripture Saturday--Peace

I wanted to talk today about peace.  We are called, as Christians, to live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18)  Hatred and intolerance in the name of God is blasphemous and wrong.  

In many of her approved apparitions, Our Lady calls us to pray the rosary for peace.  This is more important today than ever.

The rosary puts us into a place of being one with Our Lord's life and he was Peace.  

Jesus ate with the lepers, the poor and the sinners.  His peace had nothing to do with outward appearances, even to the point of not condemning lepers, prostitutes and adulterers.  And He was GOD.  How much less should we judge, then? Being united to the life of Christ, puts us in a place of peace.

Also, praying the rosary is a good way to pray when we don't know what to say.  What better way to ask God for peace, than to meditate on the life of His Son? By meditating on His life, we can become peace too.

Scripture Saturday--Peace

I wanted to talk today about peace.  We are called, as Christians, to live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18)  Hatred and intolerance in the name of God is blasphemous and wrong.  

In many of her approved apparitions, Our Lady calls us to pray the rosary for peace.  This is more important today than ever.

The rosary puts us into a place of being one with Our Lord's life and he was Peace.  

Jesus ate with the lepers, the poor and the sinners.  His peace had nothing to do with outward appearances, even to the point of not condemning lepers, prostitutes and adulterers.  And He was GOD.  How much less should we judge, then? Being united to the life of Christ, puts us in a place of peace.

Also, praying the rosary is a good way to pray when we don't know what to say.  What better way to ask God for peace, than to meditate on the life of His Son? By meditating on His life, we can become peace too.

Prayers requested

I wanted to update you on Molly and ask for more prayers.  Molly is a little girl who passed out on her first day of Kindergarten because of undiagnosed pulmonary hypertension.   She experienced cardiac arrest and, as it is now known, had a stroke.  This has left her between a coma and wakefulness.  She is getting occupational therapy and music therapy and is responding slowly, but doctors now say she has extensive brain damage from the stroke.  This is on top of her need for a lung transplant.  She is in Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh with her parents.  Her twin sister and older brother are home in Delaware.  This is very hard on her entire family. 

The family is praying to Father Theodore Foley, a candidate for sainthood, for a miracle for Molly. 

I would also like to ask you for prayers for a family member of mine, M, who is being tested for Lupus, Lyme disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis and is quite scared.  

Prayers requested

I wanted to update you on Molly and ask for more prayers.  Molly is a little girl who passed out on her first day of Kindergarten because of undiagnosed pulmonary hypertension.   She experienced cardiac arrest and, as it is now known, had a stroke.  This has left her between a coma and wakefulness.  She is getting occupational therapy and music therapy and is responding slowly, but doctors now say she has extensive brain damage from the stroke.  This is on top of her need for a lung transplant.  She is in Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh with her parents.  Her twin sister and older brother are home in Delaware.  This is very hard on her entire family. 

The family is praying to Father Theodore Foley, a candidate for sainthood, for a miracle for Molly. 

I would also like to ask you for prayers for a family member of mine, M, who is being tested for Lupus, Lyme disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis and is quite scared.  

St. Teresa of Avila--The First Mansion

Today is the feast of St. Teresa of Avila.  Although she is my saint for 2010, I have done almost no work on her in the past year.

Today I began to read her Interior Castle, which is a description of a vision she had of the 7 mansions, an allegory of the stages of union with God.

We enter the first of the seven rooms in the castle through prayer. Teresa says it is crucial to keep in mind to Whom we are praying and to turn our minds towards Him.  Contemplate Him, rather than focus our energy on contemplating ourselves and the cares of this world.

It is critical to keep in a state of grace and go to confession frequently.
Also, don't allow yourself to be too easily discouraged by a sense of false humility.

All are made for this union with God.

As I read more, I will post something about each room or mansion.

St. Teresa of Avila--The First Mansion

Today is the feast of St. Teresa of Avila.  Although she is my saint for 2010, I have done almost no work on her in the past year.

Today I began to read her Interior Castle, which is a description of a vision she had of the 7 mansions, an allegory of the stages of union with God.

We enter the first of the seven rooms in the castle through prayer. Teresa says it is crucial to keep in mind to Whom we are praying and to turn our minds towards Him.  Contemplate Him, rather than focus our energy on contemplating ourselves and the cares of this world.

It is critical to keep in a state of grace and go to confession frequently.
Also, don't allow yourself to be too easily discouraged by a sense of false humility.

All are made for this union with God.

As I read more, I will post something about each room or mansion.

More Birds

In keeping with our bird theme this week, here is Weewoo the talking starling.  Yes, a starling.  Like the ones outside.  How cool is that?

More Birds

In keeping with our bird theme this week, here is Weewoo the talking starling.  Yes, a starling.  Like the ones outside.  How cool is that?

Poetry Wednesday--The Lay of the Golden Goose

LONG ago in a poultry yard

One dull November morn,

Beneath a motherly soft wing

A little goose was born.

Who straightway peeped out of the shell

To view the world beyond,

Longing at once to sally forth

And paddle on the pond.

'Oh! be not rash,' her father said,

A mild Socratic bird;

Her mother begged her not to stray

With many a warning word.

But little goosey was perverse,

And eagerly did cry,

I've got a lovely pair of wings,

Of course I ought to fly.'

In vain parental cacklings,

In vain the cold sky's frown,

Ambitious goosey tried to soar,

But always tumbled down.

The farm-yard jeered at her attempts,

The peacocks screamed, 'Oh fie!

You're only a domestic goose,

So don't pretend to fly.'

Great cock-a-doodle from his perch

Crowed daily loud and clear,

'Stay in the puddle, foolish bird,

That is your proper sphere.'

The ducks and hens said, one and all,

In gossip by the pool,

'Our children never play such pranks;

My dear, that fowl's a fool.'

The owls came out and flew about,

Hooting above the rest,

'No useful egg was ever hatched

From trancendental nest.'

Good little goslings at their play

And well-conducted chicks

Were taught to think poor goosey's flights

Were naughty, ill-bred tricks.

They were content to swim and scratch,

And not at all inclinded

For any wild-goose chase in search

Of something undefined.

Hard times she had as one may guess,

That young aspiring bird,

Who still from every fall arose

Saddened but undeterred.

She knew she was not nightingale,

Yet spite of much abuse,

She longed to help and cheer the world,

Although a plain gray goose.

She could not sing, she could not fly,

Nor even walk with grace,

And all the farm-yard had declared

A puddle was her place.

But something stronger than herself

Would cry, 'Go on, go on!'

Remember, though an humble fowl,

You're cousin to a swan.'

So up and down poor goosey went,

A busy, hopeful bird.

Searched many wide unfruitful fields,

And many waters stirred.

At length she came unto a stream

Most fertile of all Niles,

Where tuneful birds might soar and sing

Among the leafy isles.

Here did she build a little nest

Beside the waters still,

Where the parental goose could rest

Unvexed by any bill.

And here she paused to smooth her plumes,

Ruffled by many plagues;

When suddenly arose the cry,

'This goose lays golden eggs.'

At once the farm-yard was agog;

The ducks began to quack;

Prim Guinea fowls relenting called,

'Come back, come back, come back.'

Great chanticleer was pleased to give

A patronizing crow,

And the contemptuous biddies chuckled,

'I wish my chicks did so.'

The peacocks spread their shining tails,

And cried in accents soft,

'We want to know you, gifted one,

Come up and sit aloft.'

Wise owls awoke and gravely said,

With proudly swelling breasts,

'Rare birds have always been evoked

From transcendental nests!'

News-hunting turkeys from afar

Now ran with all thin legs

To gobble facts and fictions of

The goose with golden eggs.

But best of all the little fowls

Still playing on the shore,

Soft downy chicks and goslings gay,

Chirped out, 'Dear Goose, lay more.'

But goosey all these weary years

Had toiled like any ant,

And wearied out she now replied,

'My little dears, I can't.

'When I was starving, half this corn

Had been of vital use,

Now I am surfeited with food

Like any Strasbourg goose.'

So to escape too many friends,

Without uncivil strife,

She ran to the Atlantic pond

And paddled for her life.

Soon up among the grand old Alps

She found two blessed things:

The health she had so nearly lost,

And rest for weary limbs.

But still across the briny deep

Couched in most friendly words,

Came prayers for letters, tales, or verse,

From literary birds.

Whereat the renovated fowl

With grateful thanks profuse,

Took from her wing a quill and wrote

This lay of a Golden Goose.

Louisa May Alcott

Poetry Wednesday--The Lay of the Golden Goose

LONG ago in a poultry yard

One dull November morn,

Beneath a motherly soft wing

A little goose was born.

Who straightway peeped out of the shell

To view the world beyond,

Longing at once to sally forth

And paddle on the pond.

'Oh! be not rash,' her father said,

A mild Socratic bird;

Her mother begged her not to stray

With many a warning word.

But little goosey was perverse,

And eagerly did cry,

I've got a lovely pair of wings,

Of course I ought to fly.'

In vain parental cacklings,

In vain the cold sky's frown,

Ambitious goosey tried to soar,

But always tumbled down.

The farm-yard jeered at her attempts,

The peacocks screamed, 'Oh fie!

You're only a domestic goose,

So don't pretend to fly.'

Great cock-a-doodle from his perch

Crowed daily loud and clear,

'Stay in the puddle, foolish bird,

That is your proper sphere.'

The ducks and hens said, one and all,

In gossip by the pool,

'Our children never play such pranks;

My dear, that fowl's a fool.'

The owls came out and flew about,

Hooting above the rest,

'No useful egg was ever hatched

From trancendental nest.'

Good little goslings at their play

And well-conducted chicks

Were taught to think poor goosey's flights

Were naughty, ill-bred tricks.

They were content to swim and scratch,

And not at all inclinded

For any wild-goose chase in search

Of something undefined.

Hard times she had as one may guess,

That young aspiring bird,

Who still from every fall arose

Saddened but undeterred.

She knew she was not nightingale,

Yet spite of much abuse,

She longed to help and cheer the world,

Although a plain gray goose.

She could not sing, she could not fly,

Nor even walk with grace,

And all the farm-yard had declared

A puddle was her place.

But something stronger than herself

Would cry, 'Go on, go on!'

Remember, though an humble fowl,

You're cousin to a swan.'

So up and down poor goosey went,

A busy, hopeful bird.

Searched many wide unfruitful fields,

And many waters stirred.

At length she came unto a stream

Most fertile of all Niles,

Where tuneful birds might soar and sing

Among the leafy isles.

Here did she build a little nest

Beside the waters still,

Where the parental goose could rest

Unvexed by any bill.

And here she paused to smooth her plumes,

Ruffled by many plagues;

When suddenly arose the cry,

'This goose lays golden eggs.'

At once the farm-yard was agog;

The ducks began to quack;

Prim Guinea fowls relenting called,

'Come back, come back, come back.'

Great chanticleer was pleased to give

A patronizing crow,

And the contemptuous biddies chuckled,

'I wish my chicks did so.'

The peacocks spread their shining tails,

And cried in accents soft,

'We want to know you, gifted one,

Come up and sit aloft.'

Wise owls awoke and gravely said,

With proudly swelling breasts,

'Rare birds have always been evoked

From transcendental nests!'

News-hunting turkeys from afar

Now ran with all thin legs

To gobble facts and fictions of

The goose with golden eggs.

But best of all the little fowls

Still playing on the shore,

Soft downy chicks and goslings gay,

Chirped out, 'Dear Goose, lay more.'

But goosey all these weary years

Had toiled like any ant,

And wearied out she now replied,

'My little dears, I can't.

'When I was starving, half this corn

Had been of vital use,

Now I am surfeited with food

Like any Strasbourg goose.'

So to escape too many friends,

Without uncivil strife,

She ran to the Atlantic pond

And paddled for her life.

Soon up among the grand old Alps

She found two blessed things:

The health she had so nearly lost,

And rest for weary limbs.

But still across the briny deep

Couched in most friendly words,

Came prayers for letters, tales, or verse,

From literary birds.

Whereat the renovated fowl

With grateful thanks profuse,

Took from her wing a quill and wrote

This lay of a Golden Goose.

Louisa May Alcott

Art and Beauty Tuesday--Eugene Bidau

A Peacock and Doves in a Garden by Eugene Bidau is a gorgeous 19th century painting that oozes sumptuousness and bright, spring beauty.  As if the title peacock were not enough, the wisteria drips down the wall in almost overwhelmingly restful color.   The daffodils on the bottom right provide a perfectly unmatched natural contrast and draw our eyes to the immaculate white doves flying playfully on the ground.

I thought this picture illustrated perfectly yesterday's  O For the Wings of a Dove by Mendelssohn.

Have a restful Tuesday!

Art and Beauty Tuesday--Eugene Bidau

A Peacock and Doves in a Garden by Eugene Bidau is a gorgeous 19th century painting that oozes sumptuousness and bright, spring beauty.  As if the title peacock were not enough, the wisteria drips down the wall in almost overwhelmingly restful color.   The daffodils on the bottom right provide a perfectly unmatched natural contrast and draw our eyes to the immaculate white doves flying playfully on the ground.

I thought this picture illustrated perfectly yesterday's  O For the Wings of a Dove by Mendelssohn.

Have a restful Tuesday!

Music Monday--Mendelssohn

Today's Music Monday is a continuation of last week's Hear My Prayer by Mendelssohn.  This is the second part of that beautiful musical prayer, called O for the Wings of a Dove.

Music Monday--Mendelssohn

Today's Music Monday is a continuation of last week's Hear My Prayer by Mendelssohn.  This is the second part of that beautiful musical prayer, called O for the Wings of a Dove.

Sunday Snippets, A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at a This, That and the Other Thing.

Music Monday this week was Mendelssohn's Hear My Prayer. Art and Beauty Tuesday was a beautiful black and white painting of an angel by Ryan Brown. Poetry Wednesday was a poem of mine entitled Finding Your Angel and Scripture Saturday was about questioning God.

In between I had a post about donating to The Animal Rescue Site (with a free click) for St. Francis' feast day, a post about the Rosary for the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and one about disability awareness.

Sunday Snippets, A Catholic Carnival

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at a This, That and the Other Thing.

Music Monday this week was Mendelssohn's Hear My Prayer. Art and Beauty Tuesday was a beautiful black and white painting of an angel by Ryan Brown. Poetry Wednesday was a poem of mine entitled Finding Your Angel and Scripture Saturday was about questioning God.

In between I had a post about donating to The Animal Rescue Site (with a free click) for St. Francis' feast day, a post about the Rosary for the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and one about disability awareness.

Scripture Saturday--Questions

So many of the night prayers use psalms that cry out to God.  Psalm 87 has a number of questions directed to God.  Many directly question even the existence of heaven itself.

The psalmist tells God that, like the dead, he feels he is cut off from God's care.

I am one of the dead,
like the murdered who sleep in their tombs,
who lie there forgotten,
cut off from your care.

Is it for the dead that you perform your wonders?

Will the ghosts rise up and proclaim you?

In the tomb, will they tell of your kindness?

Will they tell of your faithfulness in the place of the lost?

Will your wonders be known in the darkness,or your righteousness in the land of oblivion?

I think the questions are two fold.  On one hand, the pray-er asks the Lord what could be accomplished if he or she were indeed no longer alive? It is a sort of bargaining with God--Lord, what good would I do if I were no longer on the earth?

On the other hand, they might be real questions of faith.  What happens after this life is over?  Will I be able to praise God from the grave?

Why are these questions asked so much during night prayer? Is it some kind of weird fascination with morbidity?

I think it is because night prayer, or compline, is said right before going to sleep.  The dark hours of the night are when the demons we fight often come out and it is sometimes difficult to keep them at bay.

These brutally honest prayers beg God to help us navigate this confusing and sometimes difficult world we face. I think God can handle questions.  I think he can handle anger and frustration.

The one line reading that follows this psalm is from the book of Jeremiah.

Lord, you are in our midst, we are called by your name. Do not desert us, O Lord our God!

God is there for us.
In the night.
In the dark.
In the confusion
and in the fear.

Scripture Saturday--Questions

So many of the night prayers use psalms that cry out to God.  Psalm 87 has a number of questions directed to God.  Many directly question even the existence of heaven itself.

The psalmist tells God that, like the dead, he feels he is cut off from God's care.

I am one of the dead,
like the murdered who sleep in their tombs,
who lie there forgotten,
cut off from your care.

Is it for the dead that you perform your wonders?

Will the ghosts rise up and proclaim you?

In the tomb, will they tell of your kindness?

Will they tell of your faithfulness in the place of the lost?

Will your wonders be known in the darkness,or your righteousness in the land of oblivion?

I think the questions are two fold.  On one hand, the pray-er asks the Lord what could be accomplished if he or she were indeed no longer alive? It is a sort of bargaining with God--Lord, what good would I do if I were no longer on the earth?

On the other hand, they might be real questions of faith.  What happens after this life is over?  Will I be able to praise God from the grave?

Why are these questions asked so much during night prayer? Is it some kind of weird fascination with morbidity?

I think it is because night prayer, or compline, is said right before going to sleep.  The dark hours of the night are when the demons we fight often come out and it is sometimes difficult to keep them at bay.

These brutally honest prayers beg God to help us navigate this confusing and sometimes difficult world we face. I think God can handle questions.  I think he can handle anger and frustration.

The one line reading that follows this psalm is from the book of Jeremiah.

Lord, you are in our midst, we are called by your name. Do not desert us, O Lord our God!

God is there for us.
In the night.
In the dark.
In the confusion
and in the fear.

Back to the Rosary

I keep coming back to the rosary.

As much as I try to travel down the road of prayer that is "off the top of my head", most of the time, I come back to the prayers of the Church--the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Scripture reading and the Jesus Prayer.

I have discovered fervent, short prayer to be especially affective.  The fewer words I say, when praying "on my own", the better the outcome usually is.  For other times, though, my own prayers tend to be obsessive and too inwardly focused.  I find I do not benefit from setting aside time to worry as a spiritual practice.  The worries come.  God knows they are there.

Praying is necessary, however.  Praying is helpful.  Prayer is communion with God.  The rosary and other similar prayers are especially helpful when no words of my own will suffice, which, for me, is most of the time.

I also find pre-formulated prayer to be helpful in reining in spiritual pride. If I meditate on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, I am focusing on Jesus' sacrifice and not on my own mind. 

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and October's devotion. 

Try praying this prayer with the Church this month

Back to the Rosary

I keep coming back to the rosary.

As much as I try to travel down the road of prayer that is "off the top of my head", most of the time, I come back to the prayers of the Church--the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Scripture reading and the Jesus Prayer.

I have discovered fervent, short prayer to be especially affective.  The fewer words I say, when praying "on my own", the better the outcome usually is.  For other times, though, my own prayers tend to be obsessive and too inwardly focused.  I find I do not benefit from setting aside time to worry as a spiritual practice.  The worries come.  God knows they are there.

Praying is necessary, however.  Praying is helpful.  Prayer is communion with God.  The rosary and other similar prayers are especially helpful when no words of my own will suffice, which, for me, is most of the time.

I also find pre-formulated prayer to be helpful in reining in spiritual pride. If I meditate on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, I am focusing on Jesus' sacrifice and not on my own mind. 

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and October's devotion. 

Try praying this prayer with the Church this month

Poetry Wednesday--Finding Your Angel

This week's poetry Wednesday is a poem of mine entitled Finding Your Angel.  It was written in May of 2009 and is posted in honor of Saturday's feast of the Holy Guardian Angels.

Find your angel--
your being of light,
created by God
for infinite praise
of His immeasurable Love. 

Draw strength 
from God's messenger 
poised in flight, 
ever vigilant, 
ready to rescue
on a wing
and a prayer. 

Find your angel.

Poetry Wednesday--Finding Your Angel

This week's poetry Wednesday is a poem of mine entitled Finding Your Angel.  It was written in May of 2009 and is posted in honor of Saturday's feast of the Holy Guardian Angels.

Find your angel--
your being of light,
created by God
for infinite praise
of His immeasurable Love. 

Draw strength 
from God's messenger 
poised in flight, 
ever vigilant, 
ready to rescue
on a wing
and a prayer. 

Find your angel.