Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

Let us end this year and enter the new one pondering the vastness of the following Truth and how we should respond to It: The act of adoration expresses the realization that God is greatness, pure and simple, and that man is smallness, pure and simple; that God exists by reason of Himself and in Himself, but man only through God and by God's grace. Adoration affirms: "Thou are God; I am man. Thou art the One that truly is, self-created, substantial from all eternity. I am only through Thee and in Thy sight. Thou has plentitude of being and all fullness of value, all sublimity of meaning; Thou are Lord and unto Thyself. The meaning of my existence, however, is derived from Thine. I live in Thy light and the measure of my existence is in Thee."   (From the Art of Praying by Monsignor Romano Guardini) Let us also end this last blog entry for 2011 with an inspiring hymn and a heartfelt blessing for a happy and holy New Year !    ...

Lord, be merciful to us sinners! As another day draws to a close, accept this song  as our gift to You. (Credit to Michael W. Smith)

The source, center and summit of our Catholic Faith is and must be the Eucharist! No one and nothing else can satiate our need to be loved and to love! Everything we need flows from Him! Nothing else matters! Is  the Eucharist the air you breathe? Take a few moments to read and reflect on what the Happy Priest - Father James Farfaglia  has to say about the Eucharist and our attitude towards this greatest of Gifts. (With gratitude to Michael W. Smith, Catholic Online and Father Farfaglia)

As you may recall, on June 29 and again on July 6, I asked all visitors to this blog to pray for my brother-in-law who was in critical condition and on a respirator. Frank fought valiantly for nearly two weeks but passed away Friday afternoon, July 8. He will be missed. His funeral Mass and burial will be on Wednesday. He knew of your prayers, was strengthened by them, and was given the grace of seeing a priest. He died with his wife and other family at his side. Please pray for the repose of Frank’s soul and for my sister. Today, a friend sent me this . When he did so, he had no way of knowing that my sister was hoping that "Ave Maria" could be sung at her husband’s funeral Mass.   Amazing how God works! We have to share the gift of this unique version with all who have prayed for Frank and who continue to pray for the repose of his soul and for the physical and spiritual well-being of my sister. May this song lift your spirit as it did ours! You will never know this sid...

Let's make this our Prayer: You are my God, my Lord, my Savior and my Redeemer, my all! Courtesy of Father Stan Fortuna and the Happy Priest, Father James Farfaglia

Let this be our prayer.

Still trying to rediscover a sense of awe and amazement in the Eucharist?  Perhaps our beloved St. Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor, has just what you need this Corpus Christi .  There are arguably no more beautiful and moving hymns than the three he composed for this great feast day:  Pange Linga , Tant um Ergo and Adore te Devote . But they are in Latin, you say, and you don't understand that language. But your heart can, if you just let these hauntingly beautiful melodies penetrate it. Your mind can certainly "rap itself around" the English translations of these classics if you would but invest some time pondering and reflecting on these heavenly lyrics. Settle down. Close your eyes for a few minutes. Be silent for a time. Cast aside the trials and tribulations of this day. Ask God to allow the words you are about to ponder, the melodies you will hear, and the images you will see penetrate your entire being and bring this great...

Just came across this moments ago on Following The Truth with Gary Zimak.  I haven't heard John Michael Talbot or this specfic song in some time. I thought sharing it tonight  would be a neat way to end this Lord's Day and, God willing, begin another day tomorrow. God's blessing be with you and all whom you love.