Poetry Wednesday

I wrote this poem this year in the summer heat.  The Queen Anne's lace shot up above anything else that managed to grow in this drought. It reminded me of a young girl.

Like an awkward adolescent, 

the queen anne's lace 

grows unnaturally tall,

lean and lanky, 

in the summer heat 

and does not realize

how beautiful she really is.

The picture is Innocent Wedding by Jean Eugene Buland.

Poetry Wednesday

I wrote this poem this year in the summer heat.  The Queen Anne's lace shot up above anything else that managed to grow in this drought. It reminded me of a young girl.

Like an awkward adolescent, 

the queen anne's lace 

grows unnaturally tall,

lean and lanky, 

in the summer heat 

and does not realize

how beautiful she really is.

The picture is Innocent Wedding by Jean Eugene Buland.

Novena to Our Lord of the Transfiguration

Prayer

Father of mercies, you glorified your heavenly Son and revealed yourself in the bright cloud, grant that we may listen in faith to have a love for the word of Christ. Amen.

Profession of Faith

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead, on the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence, He shall come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

Concluding prayer*

God, our Father, in the transfigured glory of Christ your Son, you strengthen our faith by confirming the witness of your prophets and by showing to us the splendor of your beloved Son, help us to become heirs to the eternal life with Him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Sixth Day

Day 6. The value of the vision and the accompanying glory is its gift of equipping us for service and endurance. No one can stay on the mountaintop of Tabor forever, for there are responsibilities in the valley. Christ fulfilled His life’s work not in the glory but in the valley, and it was there He was truly and completely the Messiah.

Prayer. O Christ, you took Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. We pray for our Pope and bishops that they may inspire in your people the hope of being transfigured at the last day. Amen.

Novena to Our Lord of the Transfiguration

Prayer

Father of mercies, you glorified your heavenly Son and revealed yourself in the bright cloud, grant that we may listen in faith to have a love for the word of Christ. Amen.

Profession of Faith

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead, on the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence, He shall come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

Concluding prayer*

God, our Father, in the transfigured glory of Christ your Son, you strengthen our faith by confirming the witness of your prophets and by showing to us the splendor of your beloved Son, help us to become heirs to the eternal life with Him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Sixth Day

Day 6. The value of the vision and the accompanying glory is its gift of equipping us for service and endurance. No one can stay on the mountaintop of Tabor forever, for there are responsibilities in the valley. Christ fulfilled His life’s work not in the glory but in the valley, and it was there He was truly and completely the Messiah.

Prayer. O Christ, you took Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. We pray for our Pope and bishops that they may inspire in your people the hope of being transfigured at the last day. Amen.

Novena to Our Lord of the Transfiguration

  Prayer

 Father of mercies, you glorified your heavenly Son and revealed yourself in the bright cloud, grant that we may listen in faith to have a love for the word of Christ. Amen.

        Profession of Faith

   I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead, on the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence, He shall come again to judge the living and the dead. 
 I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

     Concluding prayer* 

            God, our Father, in the transfigured glory of Christ your Son, you strengthen our faith by confirming the witness of your prophets and by showing to us the splendor of your beloved Son, help us to become heirs to the eternal life with Him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Fifth Day

Day 5.  The transfiguration anticipates the paschal mystery which begins with the cross. Jesus can attain His permanent glory in his resurrection. But first He must die on the cross. Transfiguration appears as a preparation and strengthening for the disciples to face the coming passion and death of Jesus, when His glory seems most unseen. It was given to the disciples to prepare them for the tragedy of the cross.

Prayer.  O Christ, before your passion and death you revealed the resurrection to your disciple on Mount Tabor; we pray for your church which labors amid the cares and anxieties of this world, that in its trials it may always be transfigured by the joy of your ictory. Amen. 

Novena to Our Lord of the Transfiguration

  Prayer

 Father of mercies, you glorified your heavenly Son and revealed yourself in the bright cloud, grant that we may listen in faith to have a love for the word of Christ. Amen.

        Profession of Faith

   I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead, on the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence, He shall come again to judge the living and the dead. 
 I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

     Concluding prayer* 

            God, our Father, in the transfigured glory of Christ your Son, you strengthen our faith by confirming the witness of your prophets and by showing to us the splendor of your beloved Son, help us to become heirs to the eternal life with Him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Fifth Day

Day 5.  The transfiguration anticipates the paschal mystery which begins with the cross. Jesus can attain His permanent glory in his resurrection. But first He must die on the cross. Transfiguration appears as a preparation and strengthening for the disciples to face the coming passion and death of Jesus, when His glory seems most unseen. It was given to the disciples to prepare them for the tragedy of the cross.

Prayer.  O Christ, before your passion and death you revealed the resurrection to your disciple on Mount Tabor; we pray for your church which labors amid the cares and anxieties of this world, that in its trials it may always be transfigured by the joy of your ictory. Amen. 

Art and Beauty Tuesday

Karen Edelmann is a contemporary artist who teaches at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, NY.

Her colorful and painterly style is remeniscent of the Impressionists with a modern flavor. I especially like the above painting, End Day. Ms. Edelmann seems to see the world as consisting of rich, beautiful colors.

The above painting is on sale at The National Arts Club.