…whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, meditate on these things. –Philippines
Owl Butterfly: Cleveland Botanical Gardens
The structure did not seem very attractive from the outside, but when I entered, the white and colorful interior almost took my breath. The altar and sanctuary were marvelous. How those friars cherish and adorn that little yet heavenly chapel! I felt so happy kneeling there alone before the radiant Tabernacle. Truly, I felt as if I were in a haven of Glory. After Confession, I walked over to the altar of the Blessed Virgin in order to burn a vigil light there and again consecrate myself to her as her Knight. I pleaded that she guide me wisely and protect me closely as I venture along the disastrous paths of battle. Other earnest prayers followed in which I asked blessings on all of you at home. Moments such as these before the Blessed Sacrament are the only true consolation, solitude, and peace a soldier can find nowadays. I seek those moments at every opportunity that is given to me, for there lies my hope and contentment. –‘Our Lady’s Knight’
..be thou an example of the faithful in word,
in conversation,
in charity,
in faith,
in chastity.
Till I come, attend unto reading,
to exhortation,
and to doctrine.
Neglect not the grace that is in thee,
which was given thee by prophesy,
with imposition of the hands of the priesthood.
Meditate upon these things,
be wholly in these things:
that thy profiting may be manifest to all.
Take heed to thyself
and to doctrine:
be earnest in them.
For in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.
1 Timothy chapter 4
Gathering Water: Cleveland Botanical Gardens
…this Divine burn of love heals the wound which has been inflicted in the soul by love, and with each application it becomes greater. For the healing of love is to hurt and wound once more that which has been hurt and wounded already, until the soul comes to be wholly dissolved in the wound of love. And in this way, when it is now completely turned into a wound of love, it regains its perfect health, and is transformed in love and wounded in love. So in this case he that is most severely wounded is most healthy, and he that is altogether wounded is most healthy. –St John of the Cross ‘Living Flame of Love’
The last forty-eight hours have been intense. A bacterial attack, I speculate, upon my right index fingertip proved severe. The culprit was a coolant fluid used for metal cutting at work, a liquid known to harbor bacteria and fungus. I cleaned several filters for the fluid without gloves, believing the washing of my hands sufficient enough. It now appears there was an open wound beneath my right index fingernail. The bodily assault was hideous, causing a swelling and the creation of blood blisters. The searing pain was horrendous. The aftereffects forced a fingertip appearance as if it had experienced an intense smashing; bruises covering the fingertip and extending down to the middle knuckle. There was never a contusion, just an invasion. I am positive I will lose my fingernail. This morning I was treated by a competent and friendly hand specialist and his assistant. They were so stunned by my fingertip they took photos. Cultures were taken and sent out in order to clearly understand what happen. They blocked the nerves in the finger with an anesthetic, before opening the blisters, relieving pressure and inducing blood flow. Even through the numbness, the relief tendered settled soothingly. The hand doctor squeezed and prodded the numb finger, forcing out blood and puss, informing me it felt good for him to relieve the finger as it was so obviously in need of purging. He comforted me with the acknowledgement I must have endured a horrible night. He was correct, yet I found the endeavor spiritual, not overly proud of my resorting to panic, convinced I was going to lose the fingertip. The explosion of swelling and blood blisters a day after the initial irritation was beyond belief. Thursday before the Nick Cave movie, we attended, impromptu, a Mass and specially called for post-Mass Eucharistic prayer service at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Shaker Heights. Throughout the Mass and prayers for world peace before the Eucharist, the pain climaxed in horrible throbbing and harsh relentlessness. Internally, I spoke meekly to my Lord, trying to accept and understand. Others endure much more formidable physical distress. Scripture words: And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell—arose relevant. A vivid dream the previous night of my fingernail falling off, followed by complications of losing my right hand, frightened my mind. I was convinced I was at least going to lose my fingertip due to a dramatic fungal assault upon my fingertip bone. The hand doctor assured me it was not a fungus invasion due to the rapidity of my symptoms. I learned a fungus attack is slow, taking time for the fungus to invade and spread. He is confident that though my experience was traumatic there will be complete recovery. He assures me the culture will explain what happen; prognosticating a chemical burn created the quickly exploding infection. I reside in the spiritual nature of the bodily complication—identifying imperfections, seeking the Lord for a greater understanding of myself, recognizing the heroic effort of the significant other in supporting and nurturing me through the forty-eight hours of misfortune. She truly cares; kind and gentle in the giving of herself to the commitment to my welfare and happiness. Genuine, I find myself staring at her at times, amazed by the authenticity of her feelings for me. I slept through the afternoon after Mass at St Paul Shrine, falling into a deep sleep, quenching body and spirit. God is good and all giving.
…to abandon the former kinds of prayer too soon. So long as my convictions are not as yet deep, nor my detachment sufficiently marked, I have need that the patient and preserving action of considerations should make the light shine forth in my soul, should disengage my heart from created things, and excite it to acts of divine love and generous resolutions. When badly prepared for this prayer of simplicity, I cannot succeed in it. I am then like a schoolboy advanced to a class that is too high for him. –-
‘The Ways of Mental Prayer’
Due to a severe right index fingertip infection, a trip to the hospital, and a full schedule no post today. We saw a movie ‘One More Time With Feeling’, a powerful three dimensional documentary on a profound artist handling the death of a teenage son, one of twins–a testament of a man of the world discovering a new self, uncertainty and love centering, amidst tragedy, friends, and family. Bravo. Minimalism, yet extravagant. Jesus supreme.
Let us walk along through the deep valleys of the humble virtues and we will find ourselves on both roses and thorns; these include the charity that stands out amid both internal and external afflictions, the lilies of purity, the violets of mortification. Particularly appealing to me are the three small virtues of gentleness of heart, poverty of spirit and simplicity of life. –St Francis de Sales 
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