Look kindly Lord, on your priests, religious and laymen who left all to witness to your word and your love. Be to each one of them a “powerful protector and their strong support, their shade from the midday sun, their shelter from the desert wind, a guard against stumbling, an assurance against a fall…” (Ecc 34:19). Sustain them in difficult moments, direct their strength, console their hearts and crown their works with spiritual victories. Let them not seek for earthly success... Read more
Queue color… …and migration. Read more
O lovely Mother Mary, Mother of Sisters and Nuns, take to your heart your daughters who are close to you because of their higher calling and because of the power which they have received to carry on the work of Christ in a world which needs them so much. Be their comfort; be their joy; be their strength; and especially help them to live and defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy. Amen. Read more
So…I don’t share pics of precious kittens or bounding puppies…but give me a ducky …and I melt. Read more
I love apples! Seriously. Love them almost more than chocolate. Biting into a warm, crisp, just picked apple is only one step away from doing the same in summer with tomatoes. Living in Michigan, where apple production ranks number three in the States, the harvest of this fruit peaks in late September through early October. There are so many apples to choose from that I have a great time every week at the farm markets buying a mixed bag of... Read more
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 being set for the souls of priests. May the power of Your mercy, O Lord, shatter and bring to naught all that might tarnish the sanctity of priests, for You can do all things. I ask You, Jesus, for a special blessing... Read more
Last week I was at an Icon Writing retreat at the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Center, at St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt, Michigan. The days were long and at times physically demanding, and I was grateful that the facility had accommodated me with an adjustable chair and angled stand for my work station. The experience of writing an Icon was layered, much like the paint, with prayer. I, and several other participants, walked the grounds while waiting for paint to dry. The image... Read more
The Intercessions from http://divineoffice.org this morning, with slight modification on my part, seemed appropriate to pray for our women religious: Christ is the spouse and crowning glory of Sisters and Nuns. Let us praise him with joy in our voices and pray to him with sincerity in our hearts: Jesus, crown of holy women, hear us. Christ, the holy women loved you as their one true spouse, grant that nothing may separate Sisters and Nuns from your love. Jesus, crown... Read more
Clearing Away (September 2008) I looked at my grandmother’s small kitchen table and found myself saddened by the mountainous mess. Boxes of soup broth that never made it to the basement pantry support crumpled paper bags and window curtain hardware. There were small jars of organic grapefruit juice, a pint of ammonia for the laundry, coffee stained packets of artificial sweetener, nasty dish towels, and cruddy kitchen appliances. A ceramic bowl held freckled bananas and shriveled apples smelling of ethylene.... Read more
Divine Savior, Jesus Christ, who have entrusted your work of redemption to the priests, who take your place on earth, I offer you, through the hands of your most holy Mother, for the sanctification of your priests and future priests this whole day, all my prayers, works, joys, sacrifices and sufferings. Give us saintly priests. Grant to them apostolic hearts, filled with love for you and all the souls belonging to you, so that, being themselves sanctified in you, they... Read more
Morning Rose Prayer Gardens
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