Prayer, coping and contemplation among the living things
I stooped at the waist to pull a few weeds. A twinge in my back caused me to stagger a bit so I lowered to kneeling and moved closer the flowers—a familiar intimacy. The rose next to me was Tuscany, a maroon heirloom rose, its richly perfumed center was fluffy with gold pollen. The base [Read More...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
Eucharistic Jesus, We do not know, as the seed, what will be made of us. Help our Sisters and Nuns to accept this unknowing as a blessing to trust in Divine Will. Guide them through their growing, their journey to be fruit, harvested and consumed for the purpose of brining souls to you. Give them [Read More...]
“A beginner must think of herself as one setting out to make a garden in which her Beloved Lord is to take his delight…[1]“ St. Teresa of Avila was a Spanish Carmelite nun and mystic who was an affectionate extrovert of great joy and determination. By her own admission, she tells of her exploits as [Read More...]
The Catholic Photo Challenge this week is about darkness and light. Most living things experience a passage from darkness to light. Whether it is in the womb of the body or the womb of the earth, germination takes place in the absence of light. A seed is planted in the dark soil, and with minimal effort [Read More...]
Most Gracious Heavenly Father, We thank you for our faithful priests and bishops, whose spiritual fatherhood and example of fidelity, self-sacrifice, and devotion is so vital to the faith of your people. May our spiritual fathers be guided by the examples of Saints Peter and Paul, all the Apostles and their saintly successors. Give them [Read More...]
Heavenly Father, Today, once more, sow your words in the hearts of our Sisters and Nuns. Till patiently the soil of their souls so they may continue to be fruitful and bring to you a rich harvest. Let their nourished souls bring the Holy Spirit to nourish our lives. We ask all this in Jesus [Read More...]
In the past few weeks I spent time outdoors helping a friend by doing light painting. He has offices at a very busy intersection outside of downtown. Out front is a wooden sign, about 8’ x 10’, installed several years ago. Like all things made of painted wood, it needs maintenance. Driving past one day [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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