Novena to the Holy Spirit--Day 2

In today's Novena, we pray for holy fear.

Novena to the Holy Spirit--Day 2

In today's Novena, we pray for holy fear.

Novena to the Holy Spirit--Day 1

 This novena to the Holy Spirit, to be said between Ascension and Pentecost, has been generously uploaded to YouTube.  I will post one each day.   The first novena was said by Mary and the Apostles during the 9 days between the Ascension and Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on them.

Novena to the Holy Spirit--Day 1

 This novena to the Holy Spirit, to be said between Ascension and Pentecost, has been generously uploaded to YouTube.  I will post one each day.   The first novena was said by Mary and the Apostles during the 9 days between the Ascension and Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on them.

Poetry Wednesday--Asei

Flowers of the grass

scarcely shown, and withered

name and all 

This haiku by Asei made me think of walking through a grave yard on a hot summer's day at the end of the dry season. The withered grass is beautifully juxtaposed (in my mind) with the deceased under the ground. Even their names are disappearing from the worn out grave stones.

I found it on a website of Japanese Haiku Death Poetry, written by Zen monks on the verge of death and thought it appropriate to post for the recent Memorial Day Holiday.

It reminds me of the end of American Poet Emily Dickinson's poem, I died for beauty.

and so as kinsmen met a night
and talked between the rooms
until the moss had reached our lips
and covered up
our names

For me, this also evokes images of death and the grave. Both are eerily similar in their imagery.

Poetry Wednesday--Asei

Flowers of the grass

scarcely shown, and withered

name and all 

This haiku by Asei made me think of walking through a grave yard on a hot summer's day at the end of the dry season. The withered grass is beautifully juxtaposed (in my mind) with the deceased under the ground. Even their names are disappearing from the worn out grave stones.

I found it on a website of Japanese Haiku Death Poetry, written by Zen monks on the verge of death and thought it appropriate to post for the recent Memorial Day Holiday.

It reminds me of the end of American Poet Emily Dickinson's poem, I died for beauty.

and so as kinsmen met a night
and talked between the rooms
until the moss had reached our lips
and covered up
our names

For me, this also evokes images of death and the grave. Both are eerily similar in their imagery.

Art and Beauty Tuesday--Sgt. Pete Damon

A Time for Honoring was painted by Sgt. Pete Damon, a wounded Iraq War Veteran, to honor Memorial Day, a day in which we set aside to honor our war dead.  You can get more information on this painting, including purchasing details by going to Sgt. Damon's website.

Each year, many community organizations place flags on the graves of deceased veterans.  I have memories of doing this with my son's scout troops as well as my husband's Army Band unit.

Take time today to pray for all our beloved dead, especially those who died in war.