"Now the Work of Christmas Begins"

Special thanks to Ask a Catholic Nun on Facebook for this one! =)



When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.
~Howard Thurman

Courage Is...

Last night we watched the movie Invictus.

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

~William Ernest Henley

Courage is when we've fallen into the darkest moments of our lives but still have the guts to keep trying, running the race, and loving others...even if they've made our lives miserable.

A piece of art

(Ha ha, and the title isn't 'A Piece of Heart' like in the Zelda video games! XD Hm, it makes a good title though...)

I've been reading poetry and prose for this school year. Tough subject. XD One of the things I've learned in reading poems and whatnot is that you can't simply read them and expect yourself to understand any of it. Half the time I wonder if the author himself even understood what he was saying or was even making a point to get you to understand it. ^_^ It takes time and patience. And slow reading. And even a drop of desire to understand. Maybe you don't even have to understand, but appreciate the beauty of an artwork.
This one, though, is fairly easy and one of my favorites...um, not just because it's easy.


When I consider how my light is spent,
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest He returning chide-
"Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?"
I fondly ask. -But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need
Either man's work, or His own gifts; who best
Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at His bidding speed
And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait."

"On His Blindness"
John Milton

Guess the Saint

Part II!

It's one poem about the same saint even thought it looks like six. I couldn't get the punctuation...

There she sat a young lass
Hopeful cadence from prayer fast
Hope to save the renegade
Fervent soliloquy desperately prayed

Enamored by the great solitude
All hate did desert oasis elude
Betrothed she was though edict firm
Sincere the love, so tables turn

Stricture expected, contempt and snub
Did not succeed to erase her love
Insensate to all else but Christ
Seeking good in others, little price

Though all usurp oasis around
Nothing malicious could muffle her sound
Ever faithful to above triumvirate
Vestment confirmed vocation sought

Votary peaceful, vocation love
Canon approved from the above
Free of blasphemy, pure and true
Denouement now saved for few

Steadfast faith through suffering
In heaven now with angels sing
Spending heaven for all
Showers of roses ever fall





Oh, and Happy Feast of Saint Therese!! :-D












Picture from Patron Saint's Index

Write away meme

Pueo started this meme! Hip Hip Hurray!!!
Hers is much better though :-D


"Now I place the same challange on you, write a six-sentence, coherent paragraph with no repeating words and see what you come up with!"

The little birds cocked an eye.
Scrutinizing looks asked just why
Their stomach growled and food bowl lay empty.
Squawking loud so friend could see,
Ignore her book, hear high plea.
They flapped, screeched, for all friendship’s worth
To draw that girl out of Middle Earth.
Startled from peaceful reverie
Disappeared were tales with hobbits in Bree.
Moving toward those DLFs three
She simply said “Yes, your majesties!”


Any repeated words?
Well, I tag CT :-)

Never Alone

Will post a video of it if a good one can be found, but for now it's kind of past bedtime. :-)



Never Alone
By BarlowGirl

I waited for you today
But you didn't show
I needed you today
So where did you go?
You told me to call
You said you'd be there
And though I haven't seen you
Are you still there?

I cried out with no reply and
I can't feel you by my side so
I hold tight to what I know
You're here
And I'm never alone

I know I can not see you
And I can't explain why
Such a deep, deep reassurance
You've placed in my life.
We cannot separate
You're part of me
And though you're invisible
I trust the unseen

On my bed at night I sought him
whom my heart loves-
I sought him but I did not find him.
I will rise then and go about the city;
in the streets and crossings I will seek
Him whom my heart loves.
I sought him but I did not find him.
The watchmen came upon me
as they made their rounds of the city:
Have you seen him whom my heart loves?
I had hardly left them
when I found him whom my heart loves.

Today's first reading from the Song of Songs.
I wonder why they have a different one on EWTN...?


The Song of Songs, by the way, was one of Saint Therese's favorites! :-)

Happy Father's Day!

Picture from Patron Saints Index

Kind of late already in most places, but Happy Father's Day to our dads and priests! Priests are fathers too! :-)

(a song again, but I couldn't find a video and YouTube is prohibited :-D but at least it makes a good poem)

Waiting in the Wing
Point of Grace

Hearts of hope seem hard to find these days
As darker deeds Have their time on center stage
We watch it all unfolding scene by scene
And a happy ending seems a fading dream
Fear and desperation have their day
At least until faith steps up to say

I believe though God is out of sight
He's working in the middle of all things
Evil may have its time in the spotlight
But love is waiting in the wings
Love is always waiting in the wings

It's your life as it plays out don't forget it
Heartache comes but the story’s not done yet
When shadows come, your courage wants to fade
But in a moment, everything can change

I believe though God is out of sight
He's working in the middle of all things
Evil may have its time in the spotlight
But love is waiting in the wings
Love is always waiting in the wings

There's always more to any story
Than just what's here and now
There's not one hopeless situation
That can't be turned around

I believe though God is out of sight
He's working in the middle of all things
Evil may have its time in the spotlight
But love is waiting in the wings
Love is always waiting in the wings


Saint Joseph worked very hard for his Holy Family. More often than not, he probably didn’t understand what was happening. Yet he worked on though he couldn’t see, trusting God in each event.
Happy Father’s Day to all hardworking fathers!

Oh, and please go to CT's for a special treat!

Answers

Sorry, I forgot to post the answers...
Here they are:


Blood and sweat on He so tired
The veil at hand; and so inspired,
I rushed then quick and pressed it fast
And beheld an image that would long last.
~Saint Veronica~

I traveled far where none would go
To depressed hearts and hopes bent low
Across the isle on mule did I ride
For Christ in every leper does reside
~Blessed Damian~

Hermit in my own garden near
Bearing the sufferings of Our Lord dear
Devoted to Saint Catherine in Italy
Entered Saint Dominic's as Tertiary
~Saint Rose of Lima~

Thank you for guessing! :-D
I have to think up more now!

The Road Not Taken

The Road Not Taken
By Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.


The “road goes ever on”, and one way or another a fork appears in it. Procrastination is often easy and sometimes what one tends to lean towards, especially when one is faced with a difficult decision. God helps oftentimes, like in this morning’s reading when the decision Elijah made was to follow His command. Other times it’s far from smooth sailing.
If it took Peter Pan “faith, trust, and pixie dust” to fly, perhaps for us it takes faith, trust, and prayer?

Just a silly little girl’s wayward wonderings but…

Solve the riddles

Can you guess the answers to these saint riddles? :-)

1. Blood and sweat on He so tired
The veil at hand; and so inspired,
I rushed then quick and pressed it fast
And beheld an image that would long last.

2. I traveled far where none would go
To depressed hearts and hopes bent low
Across the isle on mule did I ride
For Christ in every leper does reside

3. Hermit in my own garden near
Bearing the sufferings of Our Lord dear
Devoted to Saint Catherine in Italy
And entered the same as a tertiary

Saint Therese's "My Song for To-day"

Oh! how I love Thee, Jesus! my soul aspires to Thee
And yet for one day only my simple prayer I pray!
Come reign within my heart, smile tenderly on me,
To-day, dear Lord, to-day.

But if I dare take thought of what the morrow brings
That fills my fickle heart with dreary, dull dismay;
I crave, indeed, my God, trials and sufferings,
But only for to-day!

O sweetest Star of heaven! O Virgin, spotless, blest,
Shining with Jesus' light, guiding to Him my way!
O Mother! 'neath thy veil let my tired spirit rest,
For this brief passing day!

Soon shall I fly afar among the holy choirs,
Then shall be mine the joy that never knows decay;
And then my lips shall sing, to heaven's angelic lyres,
The eternal, glad To-day!

-Saint Therese of Lisiux June 1894

Found here!

Taking one day at a time and living it to the fullest in accordance with God's will!

Feast of the Exaultation of the Cross

Guide our hands Lord,
as we play your wondrous song.
Guide our feet Lord,
as we walk the aisle long.
Guide our mouths Lord,
as we sing and pray to you.
Guide our knees Lord,
as we kneel between the pews.
Guide us through the Mass, oh Lord,
but most of all please do
direct our minds to the cross dear Lord
especially to you.

5 things about Jesus

Wahoo! Another tag by Mrs. Esther!

The picture also came from there.

Rules:

Those tagged will share 5 things they "love" about Jesus.Those tagged will tag 5 other bloggers. Those tagged will provide a link in the comments section here with their name so that others can read them.

1. His unfathomable love for you and me.

2. The gentle and humorous way He helps us to see.

3. The meal He provides each day after 11.

4. That He can't help but forgive more than 70 x 7.

5. And the sacrifice He made to gain for us heaven.

Wish I could add more.

Oh dear, no one left to tag.

Well, if you wish to be tagged, please leave a comment.

(that means you)

Riddle for May

Statue of Mary, Star of the Sea

Can you guess the answer to this May poem?

Frisking lightly in the sun

Lovely colors for everyone.
Orange, blue, violet,
Wonderful to behold till sun is set.

Evening comes, morning follows

Rightening themselves each year and morrows.

So now that this little poem's been said,

The secret word can now be read.

Happy Mother's Day!

Picture from Patron Saints Index

Happy Mother's Day to all Mothers!!!

A mother is a person

Who's always there for you

When skies are dark and cloudy

Instead of bright and blue.

Who wipes away the tears

No matter how many your years.

Who rejoices in your renewed elation,

And waits for your return in silent anticipation.

May Poem

May


Today is first day of May,
Oh come Holy Spirit,
Show and light our way,
For each one of us today.

The crowning of Mary is soon,
Then flowers and blossoms would bloom,
As white as snow would be her gown,
And with many jewels would be her crown.

Today is first day of May,
Oh come Holy Spirit,
Show and light our way,

For each one of us today