Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons )   "There are times when physical lassitude, cold or heat, an importunate thought, a trial with its sting still fresh, baffles every effort to fix the mind on the subject of prayer and concentrates the whole attention on what, for the moment, is all-absorbing. Times harder still to manage, when mind and heart are so absolutely vacant and callous that there is no rousing them to action. This reflection will sometimes be helpful, then: What should I have to say were I in the presence of the one I loved best in the world; with whom I am quite at my ease; my friend par excellence ; to whom my trials, difficulties, character, the secrets of my soul are known; that one in whose concerns and welfare I take the deepest interest; whose plans and views are mine, discussed again and again together; in whose company time flies and the hour of parting comes too soon — what should I find to say? Say it, make an effort to say it to Him Who is in the tab...

Behold, I make all things new! (Rev. 21:5) (Photo©Michael Seagriff) How easily changes come about under Your hand, O Lord! Noiselessly, almost unnoticed, every hour of the day and night, all the world over, the most stupendous change is taking place — the change of the lowly substance of bread into Your Sacred Body, of wine into Your Precious Blood. So is it in the world of souls. The most marvelous transformations cost You but a word. Follow Me! And instantly apostle after apostle leaves all and follows You — mind, heart, views, ambitions, the whole aspect of life changed. Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? And he who had 'beyond measure persecuted the Church of God' rises to his feet ready to carry the name of Jesus "before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.

[“ My people have done two evils. They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and have digged to themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. - (Jer. 2:13)”] (Photo©Michael Seagriff) “WHAT heart so hard but could find a motive for contrition in this tender reproach! No question here of the Divine majesty outraged, the Divine rights infringed. The harm to ourselves—this is the evil we have done by forsaking God. And He stands sadly by, watching our futile efforts to fill with earth's sorry pleasures the hearts created for Himself.

(Photo©Michael Seagriff) "Lay the tired brain, the strained muscles, the aching head – lay them all down at His feet without a word, just for His eye to rest on and His Heart to help and heal." (Mother Mary Loyola from Coram Sanctissimo )

  (Photo©Michael Seagriff) “O Jesus, hidden God, more friendly than a brother, I believe most firmly that You are present, a few feet only from where I kneel.  You are behind that little wall, listening to every word of confidence and love, and thanksgiving, and praise. Listening when my heart is free to pour itself out to You as the brook to the river in the days of spring. Listening more tenderly when the stream is ice-bound; when I kneel before You troubled, wearied, anxious about many things – about may souls perhaps – yet dry and hard, without a word to say.  Make my heart so perfectly at ease with You, O Lord, that it may be able to turn to You even in its coldness and inertness; to confide to You naturally all that most intimately concerns it; to be content with this, when discontented with all else, with self most of all – that You know all men and need not that any should give testimony of man, for You know what is in man.” (Mother Ma...