Truth be told, I write for those closest to my heart, who, truth be told, are probably the least likely to read it. So, in truth, I write for the stranger who happens this way, and so enters my heart to become family and friend.❤️

I have been praying this prayer nightly because it touches my heart deeply. It leads me to promise and resolve that for the future I will do what I have neglected to do through my forgetfulness, negligence and hardness of heart.

I met Fr. Groschel at a conference. He joined my friend, Laura, and I for breakfast one morning, crashing it with great charm and humor. That was his way. Later he signed his book for me, which I now treasure, all the more, as he has since died and, I believe, now delights in the heart of the Holy Trinity ❤️.

The Way of the Cross for the Holy Souls https://lionessblog.com/the-way-of-the-cross-for-the-holy-souls/ via @wordpressdotcom

Of Myself and of Thee

I know so little of myself.
I perceive myself to be
Only because
You think of me.

I spin about like elemental sprites,
Really nothing without You,
Yet dancing as the orbs
Upon the stage
Of Time and Space.

I know so little of my heart,
How it can beat and bow,
And even break.
That I am free to move,
In opposition to Your dreams for me.

You are the spirit and stuff
Of my many moments,
The thought I hold dear,
And the music I hear.

I know so little of myself,
But You speak me and here I be,
Living and dreaming,
Praying and waiting,
To see all You have thought of me.

Copyright 2016 Joann Nelander

Song of My Heart

I sing my song of love to Thee,
My God, in Persons, Holy Three,
My Three, as You desire to be,
Have come to earth to succor me.

I, who pine, wanting Thee to please,
Lift heart and hands upon my knees,
Hoping, True God, for Thee to live,
For Your Heart beats but to forgive.

©2016 Joann Nelander

Abba waits.

While I wandered,
Wandered far,
Abba waits.

Winding roads and forests,
Miles and mountains,
Abba waits.

Husks and devolution,
Drunken prostitution,
All the while, Abba waits.

Humbled in revelation,
Plans of feeble protestation,
Still Abba waits.

Homeward, humbled,
Bowed and broken,
Eyes to the horizon, Abba waits

Heart aflame,
Running, embracing, gifting a son,
For from eternity, Abba waits.

© 2017 Joann Nelander

I was Irish once…

I was Irish for brief moments,
As they danced on makeshift stage.
Three sisters donned in green and white,
With ribbons in curled hair.

I was Irish for brief moments,
As locks bounced to rhythms tapped,
By jigging, flying feet,
Flitting blithely through the air.

I was Irish for brief moments,
Of merriment sublime,
Happy, joyful leaping,
Knees high, and lifted, kicking.

I was Irish for brief moments
Minstrels played their magic tunes,
And young girls moved in rocking fashion
Erin’s reveries impassioned.

I was Irish for brief moments.
Sweetly skirted colleens,
Poised on pointed toes.
Sent hearts a-skipping, happy legs a-lifting,

I was Irish for brief moments,
As fairies with green ribbons
In coiffed and flaming hair,
Spun a golden space in memory’s place.

I was Irish for brief moments,
And see again in dreaming,
Gladsome spinning, hopping, prancing,
Three sisters on stage dancing.

Yes, I was Irish once.

©2013 Joann Nelander

Lifting the Veil

Lift the veil in this morass of Sin,
That faith may blossom and hope enter in.
Let the Sun of Justice shine
Upon a people in decline,
That looking up from the tyranny of power and things
Your face may captivate and solace bring.

Pour down torrents of Thy Grace
To cleanse this dry and brutal place ,
Uproot to plant anew
A Day of peace like settled dew,
That minds be bright and intellects sublime
And our only glory may be Thine.

© 2016 Joann Nelander

Daily Prayers: During the Day

WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES

O MOST sweet Jesus; I commend to Thy Divine Heart all that I have done in the hour that is gone; to be cleansed and purified, and offered to God the Father for His eternal praise. And whatsoever I shall do in the hour that is beginning; I resolve to do simply and purely for the glory of God and for the salvation of all mankind; in union with Thy Passion. Amen.

PRAYER BEFORE WORK

Our Lord directed St. Gertrude to tell a certain person to form the following intention before beginning any work:

O LORD Jesus; in union with Thy most perfect actions I commend to Thee this my work; to be directed according to Thine adorable will; for the salvation of all mankind. Amen.

AFTER WORK

O LORD Jesus; in union with Thy most perfect actions I offer Thee this my work; to be amended and cleansed; and presented as is fit to God the Father; to His eternal praise. Amen.

BEFORE EATING

Our Lord said to St. Gertrude: He who takes care to eat and drink; etc.; with the intention expressed in the following prayer; holds as it were a buckler before Me; to defend Me from the insults and injuries of the worldly.

O LORD Jesus, I take this food in that same love wherewith Thou hast sanctified it, when in Thy most holy Humanity Thou didst deign to eat and to drink to the glory of God the Father, and for the salvation of all the whole human race; beseeching Thee that, in union with Thy Divine love, it may tend to the increase of glory, and salvation of all Thine elect in Heaven, on earth, or in Purgatory.

WHILE TAKING SUSTENANCE

St. Gertrude was accustomed to say frequently while eating:

She asked our Lord whether He would accept a like devotion from all who might offer it to Him, and received this reply: Whenever anyone eats or drinks with this intention and devotion, I will acknowledge in presence of My Father that I have eaten with Him, and that he has given Me to drink, and I will show to him in due time the utmost tenderness of My love.

AFTER FALLING INTO SIN

St. Gertrude said to our Lord: Teach me, O best of Teachers, how to efface the stains of sin which I contract from time to time. She received this answer: Never allow these stains to remain upon thy conscience; but as soon as thou feelest thyself defiled by any fault, say to Me with a devout heart:

VIA http://www.catholictradition.org/Gertrude/prayer-book2.htm#CLOCK