Prayer, coping and contemplation among the living things
I love to prune. It’s like art to me, a hope filled art. Each cut is intended to produce either a directional growth, to form and shape hardwoods for beauty, or to enhance the bearing of fruit. Sometimes with ornamental trees a whole section of limb that rubs against another will need to be removed, allowing [Read More...]
On July 11th is the memorial of St. Benedict. This prayer prayed in our time could as easily have been prayed in his: Father, be with the leaders of your flock in their needs today. Help your Bishops and priests to interpret the Gospel message with clarity and urgency, witnessing in their own lives to the [Read More...]
Next to the south wall of the screened porch is a small stand of Liliaceae ‘Golden Splendour’. They are one of the few flowers remaining from last summer’s dig-out, when, because of arthritis, nearly all of my gardens were removed. This trumpet lily cultivar was introduced in 1957. It is tall—at nearly six feet—and the [Read More...]
I’ve lived a sheltered life in some ways. I had never read anything Sherlockian until I was nearly 60. And then Ann Margaret Lewis happened. Her first book, Murder in the Vatican, drew me in. I was eager for her second book, The Watson Chronicles: A Sherlock Holmes Novel in Stories, to be released—and was [Read More...]
Heavenly Father, in your wisdom you have called certain women to a life of special consecration so that in prayerful observance of a lifestyle of poverty, celibacy, and obedience, they might be witnesses to us that as St. Paul says, “our true citizenship is in heaven.” Give them, Lord, the grace of joy and perseverance [Read More...]
Master Disney Animator’s New Short Will Take Your Breath Away A friend shared this and I thought it beautiful. You all know how much I love dance, and the sappy love of couples. [Read more...]
From spring forsythia branches to fall garden mums I bring the beauty and fragrance of my garden into the house. Some arrangements are minimalistic and modern while others are full and robust, looking very much like a 16th century Dutch painting. Either way, they grace my desk, home altar, or table—sometimes I take them to a [Read More...]
Lord Jesus, you have chosen your priests from among us and sent them out to proclaim your word and to act in your name. For so great a gift to your Church, we give you praise and thanksgiving. We ask you to fill them with the fire of your love, that their ministry may reveal [Read More...]
Earlier this week a storm roared through with wind shears and explosive lightening, and power went out for nearly three days. I realized how important others are in our lives when we are in need. My neighbors were pretty much self sufficient with their generators growling through the hours. But what of those who when [Read More...]
The extraordinary Synod of Bishops convening this October will be discussing the family. The 2013 survey of Catholics revealed that people are confused about what the Church teaches about families and that the function and purpose of family life is not clearly understood, more so when parents are not the same faiths. When I was [Read More...]
Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB is an Advanced Master Gardener with over thirty-five years experience in the green industry and leads workshop and retreats. She is the coordinator emeritus of the St. Francis Retreat Center Garden Society, a monthly columnist at CatholicMom.com and blogs about gardening and spirituality at Patheos.com. 
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