Monthly Archives: January 2017

Jan102017

Deep sleep and awake

Dreaming

What was it that came fervently into my sleep,
Inviting, breathing softly, causing unrest within slumber
Willing and vulnerable, constant and intense,
Something human, something forgiving,
Something forgiven, something warm,
Embracing, talking, quiet and still,
Another dreaming, vicariously a soul attempting to live.

“Fly from bad companions as from the bite of a poisonous snake. If you keep good companions, I can assure you that you will one day rejoice with the blessed in Heaven; whereas if you keep with those who are bad, you will become bad yourself, and you will be in danger of losing your soul.” — St. John Bosco

spacer
Jan092017

A Seed

With man…all the efforts of his nature cannot enable him to do one act above his nature; all his intelligence, courage, and determination will not enable him to pass one step beyond into the kingdom of Heaven.  “Flesh and blood cannot possess the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 15:50).  This is the work of that new life (contemplative life in Christ), that transforming force which, like a seed, has been planted in him.

It is his work henceforth to remove every obstacle to the operation of this seed, to surrender himself and all his powers to its molding hand, to die out of the lower kingdom up into the higher Kingdom, into which this gift would transplant him.  Henceforth, his life must be one of mortification, dying that he may live, a yielding of nature to grace, a surrender of the things of earth to the powers of Heaven, a constant mingling of the sadness of earthily surrender with the divine gladness of heavenly attainment.  –Father Basil W. Maturin ‘Christian Self-Mastery: How to Govern Your Thoughts, Discipline Your Will, and Achieve Balance in Your Spiritual Life’

spacer
Jan082017

State of the union

I purchased a new Rosary today at St Paul Shrine.  The decade beads are pearl colored with stainless steel ‘Our Father’ beads.  The large crucifix drew my attention, comprehending immediately the larger cross would fit meaningfully in my grasp while reciting prayers.  It had the perfect size for digging into my palm when held tightly.  I had not seen the extern sisters for some time.  Purchasing the Rosary allowed a bit of private time with the two.  Sister Claire Marie sent me off to Father Roger with a bottle of Holy Water in order to have the Rosary blessed.  During the blessing, Father Roger fumbled with the Holy Water, squirting me in the face and chest due to the stubborn bottle.  His blessing brought peace.  I noticed several individuals watching.  I am pleased, while detached, with my reputation at the Shrine.  I felt the need to purchase the new Rosary due to the Christmas season implosion.  It is a new year and bringing it in will be a new blest Rosary.  Immersed in Adoration, sitting before the Eucharist, sitting amidst splendid Christmas decorations, praying with my new Rosary, it overwhelmed me what a horrid Christmas I experienced.  God is good and all giving.  During my stay at Harbor Springs, I worked with an amazing psychologist who felt the focus must not be put on the relapse in sobriety.  It was important to understand what happen.  Putting aside details, an overwhelming emotional situation floored me, forcing me to collapse into previous poor behavior.  The sobriety will come once again.  There is no need to panic.  Although the financial toll will be significant, it is not devastating.  A restructuring of my personal life will occur, yet it will commence with patience and prayer, allowing proper time and space for development.  At this time, there are no conclusive declarations being pronounced.  There are no passionate apologies or self-incriminations dramatically wept, while the recognition of silent tears before the Eucharist cannot be denied.   There will be no cowering nor running to others, while a priest from the recent past may be brought back into the process—if he is willing.  There will be gratitude and acknowledgment for what God has blessed in abundance.  My prayer life and the pursuit of the contemplative life will carry me forward.  My faith, hope, and charity will remain as my foundation.

Jusepe de Ribera: The Adoration of the Magi

spacer
Jan072017

Jusepe de Ribera

Here is an artist, Jusepe de Ribera, whose work captivated.

Holy Family

Trinity

Mater Dolorosa

Madonna with the Christ Child and St Bruno (Carthusians)

spacer
Jan072017

Allowing Influence (Rescuer) to Take Hold

To such persons the memory must still be clear of the first approach of the temptation that was later to take so firm a hold upon them, of the recoil of the mind from it, with terror and repulsion, and yet with a kind of horrible fascination.  It came again and again and stood at the door of the soul, awaiting its admission with a kind of insolent assurance that if it waited long enough, it would have its way.  By degrees, the mind was seized with a kind of tremulous excitement at its approach and bid it begone in tones of less confidence.  It gradually became habituated to its presence outside the soul, feeling its influence, although never yet allowed liberally to cross the threshold.  Then it seemed to gain a certain strange influence over the various faculties, exciting an unaccountable curiosity and forcing them, as it were, to look at it, if only so that they might realize how hateful it was.  At last it pushed open the door in a moment when conscience was off its guard and entered, and in an instant demoralized the whole household of the soul, loosened the passions, won over the imagination, and hypnotized  the will.  And although it was driven out and the doors barred against it, in that moment of its entry, it had made allies for itself, and now the passions and the imagination would loosen the bolts and the will itself would open the door for it.  So it entered without let or hindrance, with an ever-weakening protest from conscience, until at last it gained possession, presided in the council chamber of the soul, cowed and silenced reason, and took the reins of government into its own hands.  –Father Basil W. Maturin “Christian Self-Mastery: How to Govern Your Thoughts, Discipline You Will, and Achieve Balance in Your Spiritual Life”

spacer
Jan062017

Spiritual Combat

“Bear patiently the wrath of God which comes upon you in punishment for your sins.” –Baruch 4:25

“The patience of the poor shall not perish, or be deprived of its reward.” Psalms 9:19

“The patient man is better then the valiant; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh cities.” –Proverbs 16:32

“By your patience you will win your souls.” –Luke 21:19

“With patience run to the fight set before us.” –Hebrews 12:1

These or similar aspirations may be used: “O my God, when shall I be armed with patience as a shield against the weapons of my enemy! When shall I so love Thee as to receive with joy all the afflictions Thou shalt be pleased to send? O life of my soul, shall I never begin to live for Thy glory alone, perfectly resigned to all sufferings? O how happy should I be, if in the fiery triad of tribulation. I burn with a desire of being for Thy service.”  —Dom Lorenzo Scupoli ‘The Spiritual Combat’

spacer
Jan052017

Psalm 88

Lord my God, I call for help by day,
I cry at night before you.
Let my prayer come into your presence.
O turn your ear to my cry.

For my soul is filled with evils;
My life is on the brink of the grave.
I am reckoned as one in the tomb;
I have reached the end of my strength,

Like one alone among the dead;
Like the slain lying in their graves;
Like those you remember no more,
Cut off, as they are, from your hand.

You have laid me in the depths of the tomb,
In places that are dark, in the depths.
Your anger weighs down upon me:
I am drowned beneath your waves.

You have taken away my friends
And made me hateful in their sight.
Imprisoned, I cannot escape;
My eyes are sunken with grief.

I call to you, Lord, all the day long;
To you I stretch out my hands.
Will you work your wonders for the dead?
Will the shades stand and praise you?

Will your love be told in the grave?
Or your faithfulness among the dead?
Will your wonders be known in the dark?
Or your justice in the land of oblivion?

As for me, Lord, I call to you for help:
In the morning my prayer comes before you.
Lord, why do you reject me?
Why do you hide your face?

Wretched, close to death from my youth,
I have borne your trials; I am numb.
Your fury has swept down upon me;
Your terrors have utterly destroyed me.

They surround me all the day like a flood,
They assail me all together.
Friend and neighbor you have taken away:
My one companion is darkness.

spacer