I’d driven to an area where Sandhill Cranes often stop to rest during their winter migration. Not too far away was an open and dry fen dressed in its autumn blonde and gold. At its lowest point a small brook meanders past poplars, scrubby shrubs, and wild grasses. This little tributary turns into a full sized creek when rains are heavy. Creek or brook, it eventually meets up with a larger river several miles downstream. Large tussocks of grass grew... Read more
Most loving Jesus and our Lord, who have redeemed the world at the price of your Most Precious Blood, look mercifully on poor mankind, which in a greater part, lies in the darkness of error and in the shadow of death. Shine on it the fullness of the light of truth. Multiply, Lord, the apostles of your Gospel. Make them fervent and fruitful. Bless with your grace their zeal and their pains so that through them all unbelievers may come... Read more
A light frost tats the edges of leaves… …and I find a lilac bloom in October! (Images by Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB. All rights reserved.) Read more
Beloved Mother Mary, Take the hand of your daughters, our Sisters and Nuns, and guide them to remain outside their personal wants and to desire only the repose in your son’s loving arms. Help them to place their hearts in his eternal joy, and protect these holy women when the hardness of this world tries to draw them away from his peace. Through your example of trust in God, may our Sisters and Nuns always persevere in fulfilling their call to consecrated lives.... Read more
I wrote about how both God and Satan work incrementally. Not so long ago I came upon this quote in the book, Song of the Sparrow by Murray Bodo, OFM: We drift away from God so easily; not fast but easily. And before we know it, we are far downstream from God trying desperately to break our acceleration and reverse our direction. Then the other day a friend sent this from YouTube across my Facebook feed… As a Benedictine, I/we are called to... Read more
It was an early autumn morning at the retreat center and I was walking through the back meadow in the pre-dawn light. Even with the hood of my bright-blue—Blessed, Beautiful and Bodacious—sweatshirt scrunched up around my neck, I felt a slight chill and shivered; my pant legs and shoes were wet from the morning dew. The sky was clear. To the west the heavens were a dark navy and still reflected a few stars. Eastward it transitioned to a luminous... Read more
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 valiant faith in the face of confusion and conflict, hope in time of trouble and sorrow, and steadfast love for you, for their families, and for all your people... Read more
These pictures are from St. Francis Retreat and Conference Center in DeWitt, Michigan. It is the week of Your Word is my Delight Catholic Writers Retreat. The retreat is wonderful, and productive! And the 95 acres luminous. Hope you can join us for the next writers retreat in 2015… Read more
Lord Jesus Christ in your great love you draw all people to yourself: and in your wisdom you call us to your service. We pray at this time you will kindle in the hearts of women the desire to follow you in the Religious life. Give to those, whom you call, grace to accept their vocation readily and thankfully, to make the whole-hearted surrender which you ask of them, and for love of you, to persevere to the end. Amen Read more
St. Oda of Scotland, c. 680 – c. 726 Feast day October 23rd Patron of Visually Impaired Association with Magpies St. Oda was a beautiful young woman who was born blind. Her family sent her to Liege, Belgium, on a pilgrimage and while praying at the graveside of St. Lambert she miraculously gained her sight. After returning to Scotland her father, now confident that he could marry-off his lovely daughter, sought a suitor for her. Instead of obedience he found... Read more
Morning Rose Prayer Gardens
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