Planting fruit trees is not something done lightly. They represent a long term commitment to nurturance and stability of site. Once I felt established in my house, a semi-dwarf Johnagold apple and dwarf Bartlet pear were planted. The dwarf pear tree grew along the west fence that framed the back yard. It had begun to branch wildly the year after it bore its first fruits. In a short time I couldn’t ignore its adolescent growth spurt and was tired of dodging... Read more
Our Lady of Fatima instill in our Sisters and Nuns the confidence and perseverance to do the will of your son, Jesus. Let them be a refuge to the poor and the needy in distress. Let them offer a place of shelter for the wearied soul. Let them be the hands and heart of your son in our world, that their work on our behalf may be the cause of their unending joy. Amen. Read more
It’s hard to beat the beauty of the big late-summer blooms of hydrangeas. With multiple cultivars on the market, with impressive fall leaf color and diverse bloom sets, the options for your garden are many. Hydrangeas are a sturdy shrub and most require little care but light pruning. And since hydrangeas are terminal bloomers, flowering on new growth, pruning increases the number of bud sets! The most popular hydrangeas are listed here. For images of each click through the link:... Read more
O Jesus, Eternal Pontiff, Good Shepherd and Fountain of life, who by the special goodness of your Most Sweet Heart, have given us priests to fulfill in us the designs of sanctification which your grace inspires in our hearts, we ask you: come to their aid with the assistance of your mercy. O Jesus, may they have in their labors a lively faith; in trials an unwavering trust; in their decisions a burning charity. Grant that your Word, the irradiation... Read more
The past two weeks have been busy…so much so that I’ve not had time to write. There were an MRI and doctor appointments, contractors and an unexpected plumber. After which, within the following five days, I had two presentations and a conference. It was Tuesday, the last presentation over, about an hour away from home, when I stopped for lunch at a roadside diner—it was past 3 p.m. and I was exhausted. I order hot tea and waited for my... Read more
O Immaculate Virgin, help remove from the hearts of our holy women any reluctance to giving themselves fully to God. Keep them from being immersed in the things of earth. Teach them how pure their hearts ought to be, so that they will never refuse anything to the Lord, and will always be able to repeat with you their sweet, prompt fiat. Illumine their minds, then, with the light which emanates from your resplendent purity, so that no attachment, no... Read more
Irises have been a favorite perennial since childhood. They began my gardening and were there when I retired from working the grounds at St. Francis Retreat Center. Over the years I have come to love the wide assortment of Iris germanica. From the earliest blooming dwarfs to the big boys late in the season. Bearded Irises are long lived, sturdy, fairly drought tolerant and easy to grow, requiring little maintenance. Usually planted in late spring or early summer, they prefer... Read more
Saint Joseph, I present to you this day Father ________, priest of Jesus Christ, and beg you to be to him advocate and defender, counselor and friend. Open your heart to him as you opened your home to the Virgin Mother in her hour of need. Protect his holy priesthood as you protected the life of the Infant Christ threatened by cruel Herod. In darkness bring him light; in weakness, strength, and in fear the peace that passes understanding. For... Read more
I was walking a river path in the northern third of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. My rubber half-boots made sucking sounds when, avoiding puddles, I walked on the soggy chartreuse grass. The thaw had left the ground and spring rains melted the earth. It was mud season. Near the end of my trek, on the low side of the path, was a narrowing between trees. On each side grew tangles of brambles. Across the whole of the path was a sizeable... Read more
O God, you are beauty and wisdom, mystery and love. Touch the hearts of your Sisters and Nuns to flame for you and for your Church through the prayer and example of St. Catherine of Siena. We ask this grace through Jesus the Christ, our Lord. Amen (Adapted from Magnificat, v16, n2, p339) Read more
Morning Rose Prayer Gardens
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