The Sacred Everyday

THE TWO LADIES

The great St. Antony, the abbot who had spent long years in the desert, passing whole nights in prayer and performing severe penances, aware of how important the virtue of humility is in the spiritual life, asked God to make him profoundly humble. In answer to his prayer, the Almighty directed him to visit two ladies in the neighboring city, who though simple and unpretentious in their manner of life, were, so God told Antony, holier than he who had spent long years in the practice of rigorous penance and unceasing prayer.

On entering their home, the Saint sought to discover the secret of such remarkable holiness; he asked them many questions as to the fasts they made, the length of their prayers, their austerities and the like, so that he might imitate them. He was not a little surprised to learn that they did nothing exceptional.

They observed the fasts of the Church; they said their prayers devoutly; they gave what little alms they could afford; they frequented the Sacraments, heard daily Mass and practiced the ordinary Christian virtues. What impressed the Saint most was that they loved God very simply but very sincerely.

God was the great reality in their lives. They did all their actions for love of Him. They performed their daily duties, seeing God in all they did.

They accepted what happened to them, joys as well as sorrows, as coming directly from His hand. That was all, but it sufficed to explain to the Saint the secret of their wonderful sanctity, viz., they performed their duties well and they loved God.

There are thousands of such hidden, ordinary Saints in the Church now, as there have been at all times.

Naked ?

" If it is true to say that we are our true self (our Christ centered self) it is equally correct to say that we have a false self.

Our false self is our desire (concupiscence) to be "like the gods," that is like, we "should be."

Merton describes this false self as " the exterior" "I" which has a compulsive need to measure up to greatness and infallibility. This "I" seeks recognition, applause, wants accomplishments, and successes. "It is the self which wants to exsist outside of the reach of God's will and God's love, or outside of reality and outside of life. Such a self cannot help but be an illusion."

Our false self is an illusion, but we really have the illusion. It isn't, but this "isn't" is!

"Our false self dosen't exsist, it isn't there," "It's alienated from our true self and therefore God." "It is the "I" I want to exsist outside of reality, therefore not known by God.

For us to be reconciled we must be willing to identify with this lost, then found, soul. Ultimatly, our reconcilliation comes about by the free grace of God through Jesus Christ.

At some time in our life, each of us has to say: "I am the prodigal son."

An excerpt from "Who told you that you were naked?" by Br. John Jacob Raub.

Little Ways

Little drops of water, little grains of sand.

Make the mighty ocean and the pleasant land.

The "Little Ways" of St. Therese have always been something so inspirational for me.

What may appear, small, obscure, unseen, ordinary or unimportant by worldly standards, is in fact like the smallest stiches on a quilt. Though they may be only visable on the inside of the quilt, they are in fact what hold the fabric of the piece together.

St. Therese understood that what may appear to be of no value here on earth, may have great value in the Kingdom of God. Her wondeful quote "To pick up a pin for love can convert a soul" Is something I often find myself returning to.

A smile, a kind word, even the monotonous details of daily work are a prayer.

And for me the greastest prayer has been acceptance which seems, in a way such an ordinary thing, yet it has been something of an evolving process for me.

Acceptance of suffering at times. Yet acceptance also of the gracious gifts of others when my pride tried to resist. Acceptance of my limitations, My faults, stubborness, pride, disatisfaction, indignation, fear.

Acceptance of the limitations and faults of others. Truthfully. And the more I accept my own faults. The more I can love others despite theirs. How can I take offence? It's so much easier to accept that difficulties in a person's behaviour are usually the result of some kind of pain.

Just like my own are. And I hope they accept mine lol!

"Perhaps St. Therese of Liseux, patroness of all missions, was meant to live out a destiny in which her time was limited to the minimum, her actions were reduced to essentials, her heroism was indisernable to those who looked for it, and the scope of her mission covered a mere few square meters, in order to teach us that the effectivness of a mission is not always measurable by the hands of a clock, that actions are not always visible, that missions covering vast distances will be joined by missions that penetrate straight into the depth of the crowds of humanity. In that abyss, these missions will make contact with the human spirit that questions the world, and oscillates between the mystery of a God who wants it to be small and stripped bare, and the mystery of a world that wants it to be great and powerful."

Madeliene Delbrel "We, The Ordinary People of the Streets."

A note from someone special....

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We live in a unique world.

Make it a really great day.

Peace To All and May God Bless You.

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Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Leave the rest to God.

seeing

Said the fox. " This is my secret. It's very simple: we only really see with our hearts. What matters is invisible to the eyes."

"What matters is invisable to the eyes," repeated the little prince, so as not to forget.

The little Prince

Antoine de Saint - Exupery.

This reminded me of a beautiful series of posts over at Holy Experience entitled

The Ugly-Beautiful

Sometimes, I perceive on the frayed edges of myself.

I see with my eyes. I judge, find fault, see ugliness instead of beauty, chaos instead of grace.

I forget to stop, and count, each blessing. I forget to Praise in the rain I forget to be .
Thankful

When we first moved to our new rented house, in "not such a great neighbourhood" as I thought at the time, all I could see was dissatisfaction. I cleaned and tidied like mad in a desperate attempt to paper over what I thought were external cracks but were in truth internal ones.

Our garden was filled with rubble and weeds yes, and our floor was nothing but bare unvarnished boards, (not funny when you have a crawling wiggling 10 month old!

But we had some angels on our side and a few hard working helpful hands in tow and before we could blink we had turned the concrete rubble into green grass and the gutted house into a home.

Yet, as soon as we had finished I started to write a list about which furniture we would " have to" replace first, ( all our furniture came from a recycling centre,)

Even though it looked fine in reality, Some itching doubt inside me knew it wasn't new and I was seeing with my bad short viewed, narrow visioned eyesight, instead of with a grateful heart.

Things were not "perfect" in my view.

It's so funny to me now looking back.

Because now I am sitting here 4 and a half years on with two more children and a lot more dust, toys, mess and "imperfections" to look at than I ever had before. Yet, strangely, overwhelmingly, I don't see ugliness any more, I don't see imperfection.

I see joy.

I see the expectation of a new day, a new chance to build a memory, a connection. Sow a seed in a little heart.

I see quarrels at times, yes, but I see growing, independent souls behind them instead of disruption and failure.

I see sand speckled like spray paint over the lawn, where the dandelions seem to have gone crazy multiplying and dividing this year! But I don't see untidiness, I see children having fun with a bucket and spade on a Summer afternoon. I see a memory made in the sand. a footprint that was bigger than last year!

I see a memory made in the heart not the eyes. In love not judgement.

I see books piled up on the children's bedroom floor yes, but I don't see a lack of discipline ( well not to much anyway! I see creativity and children who love to read willingly and gladly!

My vision has shifted.

From my eyes to my heart.

And as I sit here I think of how many blind people Jesus cured. And I know that every time I "see" truthfully. Every time I see the beautiful in the "ugly" and the grace instead of the "chaos" I know it is Jesus who is wiping my eyes with his own hand, with his own truth.

And tears come to my own eyes as I realise that though "I was blind, now I see."

lOVE

"There where love is lacking, put love and you will reap love."

Our Tree

" In order for the tree of our life to spread out its branches over the earth and for the birds to be able to make their nests there, we have to plant the top of the tree below.

The cross on which Peter was crucified upside- down is the image of every gospel life."

excepted from "We, the Ordinary People of the Streets"

Madelieine Delbrel,

I was inspired to read this truly wondeful book by the wonderfully thoughtful Barefoot toward the light

Dance, Love, Sing, Work, Live

Dance, as though no one is watching,

Love, as though you've never been hurt before,

Sing, as though no one can hear you,

Work, as though you don't need the money,

Live, as though heaven is on earth.

Rumi.

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap...

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap,
but by the seeds you plant."
~R.L.Stevenson

When I'm tilling the soil, planting, scattering seeds across the earth. How can I imagine the green shoots and pink blossoms that will emerge? At times the earth seems too dry. At othertimes, to wet. Seasons of growth are subject to many changes.

The waiting part lies in the darkness. It lies in the ground of faith.

Before the growing part can reach tentivley for the light. Where it may inhale a breath of hope.

But still, it's the first part that is the most important of all. It's the planting of the seed. That lies in my own hand.

Every gentle word,

Every time I smile,

Or fall down laughing beside you,

Or learn the words to another song,

Count your fingers and your toes,

Every story I read aloud,

Every time I listen as you talk away and really listen,

Every time i look in your eyes and really look.

Hold you close and wipe away your tears,

Or take your hand and walk with you, to someplace you want to take me to.

Or lift you up and dance with you.

Kick up the leaves in the park with you,

Stop what I'm doing and simply "be" with you.

Another seed is sown.

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Drumsound rises on the air,

its throb, my heart.

A voice inside the beat

says, "I know you're tired,

but come.

This is the way."–

~Jeláluddín Rúmí

A distant sound, beneath the ground. Within my pores. Under my skin. Inside my heart. A soft, still voice. In broken chords. A trembling string. An aching song. That brings me in.

Mary in the month of May

Wisdom 7:7: 19:7

For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of his goodness.....And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining herself, she maketh all things new: and in all ages entering into holy souls, she maketh them friends with God and prophets.

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You found grace and how vast a grace it was! So vast it utterly filled you. And this fullness was so immense it continues to pour down like a torrent on every living being.

Saint Peter Chrysostom.

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From the beggining, the virgin represents us all in her person. It is as if God awaited in her the response of that humanity to which he wills to unite himself.

Dom Colomba Marmion

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Until Mary had recieved love,

Love was first wild and then was tame:

Mary gave us for the lion a lamb.

She illuminated the darkness

That had been somber for long ages.

Hadewijch of Antwerp.

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Her eyes are eyes of gentle pity, wondering sadness, and with something more in them, something which makes her younger than evil, younger than the race from which she sprang: Although she is, by grace, Mother of the world, and mother of grace, she is also our littleset and youngest sister.

Georges Bernanos.

O glorious and happy faith!

O permanent and safe refuge from the storm of time!

The mother of God is my mother!

Saint Anslem

Springtime is a long feast for Mary, our mother. It is both the Spring of the year and the Spring of nature. Mary is the spring of the world and the spring of grace. The spring is the season of flowers, and she is the flower.

Abbe Meynard.

Isaiah 66:12-13

12For this is what the LORD says:
I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees.
13 As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.

AWARENESS

True awareness

MORE FROM THAT PROVOCATIONS GIRL:0)

In Jesus



The LORD your God

is with you,

He is mighty to save.

He willtake great delight in you.

He will quiet you with His love.

He will rejoice over you

with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17



We are God's

WORK OF ART,

created in Christ

Jesus to do good

works which God hasprepared in advance

for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10



The LORD Himself

goes before you and

will be with you;

He will never leave younor forsake you.

Do not be afraid;

do not bediscouraged.

Deuteronomy 31:8



If God is for us,

who can be against us?

He who did not spare his own Son,

but gave him up for all of us --

how will he not also, along with him,

graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:31-32

Yeshua on the Mount

Be thou a bright flame before me,

Be thou a guiding star above me,

Be thou a smooth path below me,

Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me,

Today - tonight - and for ever

Columba (?521-597) Irish monk and missionary in Scotland

eXPANSION

Expanding Reality

Whether we focus on things we want or do not want,

the truth is that what we focus on expands.

from Provocations

Breaking News

Breaking News

God is trying to grow us here, so let's surrender to the process.

Check it out!

AWAKENED

Awaken

Help us, oh Lord, to be Your servants,

Your vessels of love across this earth.

fOR HIS gLORY

"See things as they affect God and not as they affect you. Is what happens for God’s glory or your own? If you follow God's way, then all will be for God’s glory."

Si Fractus Fortis

The Will to Love

One of the points made by Fr. Schryvers in The Gift of Oneself is that our will is always about love.

"The life of the will, its need, its irresistible tendency, is to love. If the love is regulated, the whole will is good, the entire man is good. If the love is not regulated, the whole will is perverse, the entire man is bad.This is what Fr. Schryvers in the extract above calls a “perverse” will."

If my answer is “because I love God”, then my will is going to be a holy will.

From Si Fractus Forte

A girl on my myspace posted this in a bulletin.

You want the big things, the radical things.
You want to touch my face and jump for joy.
These things they move my heart,
but will you sit with me in the quiet?
Will you talk to me in the stillness and behindclosed doors?
This is where your maturity begins,
this is where the romance starts.

Here... alone with my heart.
Dive into my word and let me teach you things.
I love to give you understanding and knowledge.
I love to take you deeper,
but my daughter,
you must be patient.
You must trust that i will lead you through and hold you hand.
Your love deeply satisfies my heart but I want more,
I want all of you.
I want everything!
So be patient my beloved,
sit with me in the quiet place and search me out.
I will give you riches upon riches.
FOR YOU ARE WHO I DESIRE!
I've chosen you and I love you!
Don't be afraid,
don't run away.

I am GOD,

the King of all Kings and i have authority over all.
Your mindcannot understand this love that never dies,
but trust me,
talk to me,
dancefor me, sing with me and i will raise you up.
I know your heart,
I hear your thoughts and I care more than ANYONE

In this quiet place it's all about you and it's all about me.
I love you,
do you understand how much you move my heart??!!

I AM IN AWE OF YOU!!!

Chase after me,
get lost in my love...for this is what you were made for,

to dwell in my presence all the days of your life.

The Garment of His Love

The Fruit of Prayer
The fruit of silence is prayer

the fruit of prayer is faith

the fruit of faith is love

the fruit of love is service

the fruit of service is peace.
Mother Teresa

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When we allow ourselves to see God in the smallest detail, he opens out the whole of creation to us.

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When we come to him as a little child, a leaf blowing in the wind, naked as a winter tree.

He embraces us in the gravity of his love and clothes us in the garment of his PEACE.