The walk this week was at the retreat center. We had a dusting of snow. The Garden Society’s Christmas gathering and pot luck on Tuesday was also my retiring as their coordinator. It was a lovely gathering–more on that come Friday. These are the flowers that one of the volunteers gave me. Aren’t they lovely? (Image by Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB. All rights reserved.) Read more
St. Michael the Archangel, continue to guard our holy women from the lies of the devil. Let them not doubt their efforts to be the hands of Christ in a world that devalues the lessons He taught. Keep them free from anxieties and fears so they may continue to grow in the peace that only God can give. Help their Guardian Angels to guide them from the near occasion of sin. Keep them strong, safe, and able to draw near... Read more
I find it fascinating that the central question to being single is focused on the genital expression of love, and lack there of—celibacy. Celibacy is neither the object nor theme of my singleness—though love is. To make a decision to be celibate implies sex is something to be surrendered, a giving up to God. I don’t think that offering God a chaste life is always the same as choosing celibacy. A person could desire to express love sexually, and consciously... Read more
O Almighty, Eternal God, look upon the face of your Son and for love of him, who is the Eternal High Priest, have pity on your priests. Remember, O most compassionate God, that they are but weak and frail human beings. Stir up in them the grace of their vocation which is in them by the imposition of the bishop’s hands. Keep them close to you, lest the enemy prevail against them, so that they may never do anything in the slightest degree unworthy... Read more
Gentle Mother, Queen of Heaven, hear our prayers for our Sisters and Nuns. That in communion with you and all the saints, the least of their acts done in charity will rebound to the profit of all. Encourage and guide them in all that they do, and protect their souls locked in human frailness. We ask all this in the name of your son, Jesus. Amen. Read more
This just makes me sad…the idiocy of it all. Todd Stames shares his views on a New Jersey school’s decision. “The angels will not be allowed to hark their herald nor will the little Lord Jesus sleep on the hay after a New Jersey school district announced a ban on all religious Christmas music.” How can a day called Christmas not be religious? It is the Mass of the Christ’s birth. You really want to go there Ms. Superintendent? Lord have... Read more
Feeding the birds during the winter is an activity a lot of people delight in. Through the years, I’ve picked up several feeder tips on how to attend to the needs of birds and deter marauding squirrels. Here are just a few… Larger bird feeders are a convenience—you don’t have to fill them as often as the smaller ones. One issue with their size is that the seeds don’t always flow out to the edges where the birds can reach.... Read more
O my Jesus, I beg you on behalf of the whole Church, grant it love and the light of your Spirit and give power to the words of priests so that hardened hearts might be brought to repentance and return to you, O Lord. Lord, give us holy priests. You yourself maintain them in holiness. O Divine and Great High Priest, may the power of your mercy accompany them everywhere and protect them from the devil’s traps and snares which are continually... Read more
The Lavender plant and its flower represent love and devotion. Lavender flowers are also associated with purity, silence, and caution. The leaves from a Maple tree symbolize “to be reserved.” Many of our saints were filled with those qualities. What a lovely reminder of their lives, spoken in the language of flowers, as we approach the celebrations of All Saints and All Souls. Read more
Precious Jesus, hear our prayers for our Sisters and Nuns. Strengthen them in their hope and increase their confidence of what is unseen. Grant that they will continue to progress in your love and that all their endeavors done in your name succeed for the good of all they serve. Amen Read more
Morning Rose Prayer Gardens
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