Monthly Archives: February 2016

Feb292016

Renewal

A petition, an imposition exercising efficacy.
Lord relieve the strain, release the chains, leash the dogs,
Spare the burden of self-advised spiritual superiors,
Leave in the past Bible scholars, an intricate imbroglio,
Lacking formation, demented, inwardly cruel, and perverse,
Tame the tongue of kindly advisors,
A kindness unwanted is no kindness at all,
Blind the eye of psychological incitors,
Teeth bared and barking, incisors sharp, cutting with acute severity,
Self-will run riot, destroying behind a facade, comrades at arms,
Clanging gongs, chaos presenters, remove false teachers, extract and precede,
Please hide me from those who need to surpass,
Who need an advanced reputation,
Who need desperately to be something special,
Shelter me from the desires of spiritual ambition, the proud feeding upon the meek,
Identity increased through continual insistence, exterior stench of deprivation,
Contemplatives in conversation, competitive cleverness, crafty and sly,
Anchor me in prayer, amongst the gentle, simple, and strong,
Make me a serpent and dove coalesced within one,
Attractive and accountable within filial bonds,
Hide me Lord,
Talking Heads clever in pretty persuasion, let them pass by,
Shattered community, gathering in gossiping groups, disguise me Lord,
Falling faces thinking thoughts into spiteful, bitter moments, move me beyond,
Memories usurped within destruction, spare me O Lord,
You, my Lord, the Word Incarnate know the way, Wisdom embodied,
But He passed through the midst of them and went away.

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Feb292016

Repost Traditional Catholic Priest

The Imitation Of Christ – THE VALUE OF ADVERSITY

Posted by Jonathan Byrd

IT IS good for us to have trials and troubles at times, for they often remind us that we are on probation and ought not to hope in any worldly thing. It is good for us sometimes to suffer contradiction, to be misjudged by men even though we do well and mean well.

These things help us to be humble and shield us from vainglory. When to all outward appearances men give us no credit, when they do not think well of us, then we are more inclined to seek God Who sees our hearts. Therefore, a man ought to root himself so firmly in God that he will not need the consolations of men.

When a man of good will is afflicted, tempted, and tormented by evil thoughts, he realizes clearly that his greatest need is God, without Whom he can do no good. Saddened by his miseries and sufferings, he laments and prays. He wearies of living longer and wishes for death that he might be dissolved and be with Christ. Then he understands fully that perfect security and complete peace cannot be found on earth.

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Feb292016

Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus

Today during the first reading, Naaman, the gentile esteemed war leader of men, a leper, a man who nearly shunned Divine providence through the rejection of the ordinary, I reflected upon basketball. Something all tied together, yet I am not really sure how. I thought of what often happens during open gyms, gatherings of basketball players upon various levels. There will be a player who is quite advanced in skill and competition. Often, he will refuse to play with others. Some of the others will become angry, calling him arrogant, accusing him of thinking he is better than them. The truth is the advanced player will identify only negative possibilities in competing. He understands he could possibly get hurt. The game will progress in a way that will drag him down in experience, forcing him to deal with frustrating situations, lowering the possibility of excelling. If he plays and loses, an internal wrath and festering may plague him for days. If he wins it means nothing. He comprehends that if he plays with those at his level or above, he can compete in a manner that exercises his skills to their fullest potential. Even if he plays poorly and loses, or plays his best and loses, he understand he improved his skills, fulfilled in the fact he had the opportunity to be the best that he could be. There are some players whose skill level may not be the highest, yet their ability to adapt, their insight and intelligence to bring out the best in others allows them to advance. I am convinced attending mass at St Clare is elevating my spiritual life. The surrounding, and abundant, attendees solidify a profounder calling. Father Estabrook deeply satisfies ecclesiastically. I was placed amongst a mature community of worshipers able to bring out the best in me. The depth and Presence I experience during prayer and mass is warmly accentuated. Yesterday, I spent the day with Mary, a surprisingly delightful day. She took me to Mount St Joseph, an elderly care facility run by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of St Mark. It is the religious community she belonged to during the mid-seventies. We walked around the magnificent, and brand new, facility as she told me about the various and dramatic visions she encountered during her stay with the sisters. There was a plentitude of remarkable stories. Details do not effect veracity. The day was the most intimate time the two of us have shared. She not only told me her visions, yet she also told me about being strapped to hospital beds, strange periods of being drugged, a plentitude of psychological examinations, and finally the religious order, accompanying priest, and bishop easing her out of the community and into a normal life. She speaks lovingly of how considerate the Church was in helping her attain a career as a nursing assistant and a solid life as a layperson. There are no hard feelings, nor animosity. In fact, we were there to visit her former mother superior, a woman she cares for deeply, however the sister was vacationing in Florida. We ended up eating out twice during the day, and paying a visit to the man of prayer. The man of prayer was experiencing electrical problems in his home, and through the grace of God I was able to alleviate his problems. It was a splendid day with two unique souls strongly in the service of God. Mary and I ended up at Sacred Heart. I figured the Adoration chapel would be locked, yet we tried anyway. Lo and behold, Rodger and the Tanzanian priest associated with the parish were unloading groceries from a car. They both greeted us warmly. Rodger informed us he was about to go in for Adoration, thrilled with the idea of us joining him. He showed us the code to enter the chapel, inviting us to visit whenever the Lord called. God is good and all giving. He is gracing my life with a true sense of Catholic community, with the spiritual maturity I easily see I needed. Even if everything is being done simply in order to remove me, I embrace the Lent renewal with faith, hope, and charity.

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Feb282016

The gaze of God

And God gazed upon everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.  –Genesis

And the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.   And the LORD said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the LORD to gaze and many of them perish.  And also let the priests who come near to the LORD consecrate themselves, lest the LORD break out upon them.”  –Exodus

God did not wish to have man alone in the throes of evil.  And so he turned his gaze to Mary.

How beautiful is the gaze with which Jesus regards us – how full of tenderness! Let us never lose trust in the patience and mercy of God.  –Tweet from Pope Francis

I heard from the Maronite Monks of Adoration.  Easter weekend is going to happen, a visit from Thursday to Monday morning manifesting, allowing Friday through Sunday exaltation. A thin place allowing God’s gaze acute attentiveness.

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Feb282016

Christine Rosseti poetry

I Watched a Rosebud

I watched a rosebud very long
Brought on by dew and sun and shower,
Waiting to see the perfect flower:
Then, when I thought it should be strong,
It opened at the matin hour
And fell at evensong.
I watched a nest from day to day,
A green nest full of pleasant shade,
Wherein three speckled eggs were laid:
But when they should have hatched in May,
The two old birds had grown afraid
Or tired, and flew away.
Then in my wrath I broke the bough
That I had tended so with care,
Hoping its scent should fill the air;
I crushed the eggs, not heeding how
Their ancient promise had been fair:
I would have vengeance now.
But the dead branch spoke from the sod,
And the eggs answered me again:
Because we failed dost thou complain?
Is thy wrath just? And what if God,
Who waiteth for thy fruits in vain,
Should also take the rod?

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Feb272016

Work break reflection

The Men’s Lent retreat was splendid. God is good and all giving. Many men met, building upon mature fellowship. Mr Prcela sitting in the back calling out continual recognition of Saint Joseph. ‘Joseph was the perfect man. Joseph, Jesus, and Mary. It is all in my book’. A personal reflection. In the friary, Brother Giles would wake the brothers by walking the hallways, as chamber master, calling out ‘Jesus, Joseph, and Mary’. There was a novice, Corey, an amazing young man, Down Syndrome by birth, who awoke stubbornly from sleep. Often he would explode in a defiant rebellion in response to the waking intrusion. Brother Giles gave special attention to calling directly into his cell. The humor of the moments elicited joy in the brothers, invigorating, expanding the presence and love of God. If Corey became especially vocal in his protestations none feared for the worse. It only meant, later in the day, we would witness Brother Corey take Brother Giles aside, sincerely begging for forgiveness, vowing he would check his temper in the future. Authentically, all smiles, Brother Giles would accept the apology, delighting in his heart at the reality soon another temper tantrum would rear it’s head. Fellowship in simplicity can be a blessed thing. Imperfections adored while worked upon. Grace induced upon a crowd. Today was nice. I did keep falling asleep. Waking at 5:30 after falling asleep after midnight proved taxing. Tomorrow I do not work, allowing rest. I have determined to rework my ‘Legion’ novel, various factors coming into play. Carter’s home needs attention also. He returned home last weekend. The two of us alleviating the rodent issue, lining up home repair projects that will free me from a month’s rent. Although a project beyond my scope has evolved as I am convinced there are raccoons in the attic. All in all, life is good as life advances into a deeper settling into worship within mature community. I was reflecting upon my type of moment during the men’s gathering. I wonder if I am good for Mr. Prcela. I share my devotion to Saint Joseph with him, proclaiming the grandeur of his book. He becomes animated, even more boisterous in proclaiming the unrecognized splendor of Joseph. He pursued such behavior during Father Ireland’s lecture, causing the priest to humoursly implore for St Joseph to pray that he would not be continuously interrupted while speaking.

Saint Clare

Saint Clare

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Feb272016

Fellowship fulfilling

An overwhelming schedule limits post. The men’s retreat rewarding. Beauty and mystery displayed, a Monet painting is offered.

Monet

A prayer for Lent given to me by Father Ireland from Sacred Heart.

Oh most gentle Jesus,
by your precious blood,
deliver us from all evils.
By your most bitter death
give us a lively faith,
firm hope and perfect charity,
so that with our whole hearts
we may love you
with all our soul and strength.
Make us persevere in your service,
firm and steadfast in good works,
so that we may always
be able to please you.

Saint Clare

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