Archive for the 'poetry' Category

praised be my Lord

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into God’s presence with singing!
Know that the Lord is God! It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him, bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures for ever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

prayer-lowf.jpgThe Canticle of Brother Sun

Most high, omnipotent, good Lord,
Praise, glory and honor and benediction all are thine.
To thee alone do they belong, most High, and there is no man fit to mention thee.

Praise be to thee, my Lord, with all thy creatures,
Especially to my worshipful brother sun,
The which lights up the day, and through him dost thou brightness give;
And beautiful is he and radiant with splendor great;
Of thee, most High, signification gives.

Praised be my Lord, for sister moon and for the stars,
In heaven thou hast formed them clear and precious and fair.
Praised be my Lord for brother wind
And for the air and clouds and fair and every kind of weather,
By the which thou givest to thy creatures nourishment.

Praised be my Lord for sister water,
The which is greatly helpful and humble and precious and pure.

Praised be my Lord for brother fire,
By the which thou lightest up the dark.
And fair is he and gay and mighty and strong.

Praised be my Lord for our sister, mother earth,
The which sustains and keeps us
And brings forth diverse fruits with grass and flowers bright.

Praised be my Lord for those who for thy love forgive
And weakness bear and tribulation.
Blessed those who shall in peace endure,
For by thee, most High, shall they be crowned.

Praised be my Lord for our sister, the bodily death,
From the which no living man can flee.
Woe to them who die in mortal sin;
Blessed those who shall find themselves in thy most holy will,
For the second death shall do them no ill.

Praise ye and bless ye my Lord, and give him thanks,
And be subject unto him with great humility. (St. Francis of Assisi: The Canticle of Brother Sun)

a simple path

fruitThe 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 Theresa
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Simple, yet M. Theresa’s “simple path” is worthy of contemplation and careful consideration. The starting point is one which I have found few appreciate. But when we find that transforming furnace of silence, we discover new perspectives, our passions, a new person (our true identity) and most important we become more acquainted with the person and presence of God. This leads us on down the “simple path” for the fruit of silence is prayer…

beauty and spirituality IV

early morning hours
full

stillness lingers on
not a drop spills over top
Mystery filling

awakened to find
each moment flashes your touch
new eyes moving slow

confined to God speed
brings a fresh way to be now
stillness lingers on

greeting a new day

a new day

making all things new
spring emerges finally
fresh, crisp life speaks

spring flower

Give us eyes to see the unfolding of The Mystery today in our everyday.

are we living?

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

– from “Leisure,” by W.H. Davies