Constancy

My faith is weighed down,
Because I know myself,
And my inconstancies.

But Lord,
I know You,
And Your eternal and intimate constancy,
And so I lean on You.
Pick me up, press me to Your cheek,
Plant a kiss on my forehead.

Before You set me down,
To my place in this day,
Write me on Your Heart,
For I will You to sign me
Upon That most gracious Heart,
And seal me with Your Fidelity.

For Faith shall not fail me,
But deliver me,
Like the weak and wanting babe, I am,
Into Your ever-loving grasp.

© 2017 Joann Nelander

Our Lady of Sorrows – memorial

SEVEN SORROWS

The prophecy of Simeon. (St. Luke 2:34, 35)
The flight into Egypt. (St. Matthew 2:13, 14)
The loss of the Child Jesus in the temple. (St. Luke 2: 43-45) The meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross.
The Crucifixion.
The taking down of the Body of Jesus from the Cross.
The burial of Jesus.

Our Lady of Sorrows – memorial

“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed,’” (Lk. 2:34-35).

On a Personal Note

Irma is coming and has my attention. Seems she has everyone still guessing.

We can use a prayer and a blessing here in Florida. I for one am grateful you are here with me. Life on planet Earth is nothing, if not mystery and in mystery, I always see the hand of God.

You who prayer in the tongues of men and angels pray for us, and we will return the favor. All glory to God!

From St. Gertrude – Sighing for the Holy Spirit

O MILDEST Comforter, Holy Spirit, come to me. My soul sighs for Thee! My heart thirsts for Thee! Thou alone canst satisfy my longing; Thou alone canst make me happy. Despise not, O Divine Bridegroom, the dwelling of my poor heart.

My heart, alas, is unclean, but Thou canst purify it.
My heart is dark, but Thou canst illuminate it.
My heart is wicked, but Thou canst penetrate it with love.
My heart is sad, but Thou canst comfort it.
My heart is weak, but Thou canst strengthen it.
My heart is cold, but Thou canst inflame it.
My heart clings to earth, but Thou canst fill it with heavenly desires.
My heart is full of sin, but Thou canst adorn it with all virtues.
My heart is inconstant and wayward, but Thou canst make it docile.

Come then, O Holy Spirit, Thou Father of the poor, come and fill me with Thy love. Amen.

Father, Father, send us the promised Paraclete, through Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Awakening

You stretch before me
In wondrous expanses.
Where are your limits, O Lord?
Where the measure
That contains Your domain?

The ethereal sky,
Hugging the mountains,
Kissing earth,
And spilling love across its plains,
Proclaims a God of beauty.

Hidden,yet revealed,
In the minuscule and mighty,
You peer from clouds
That radiate streams of Your glory.

You walk the waters,
Stride across mountains,
Blow like desert sands,
Seamlessly knitting terrain,
Texture, color, and contour
In organic harmony,
To announce Your Presence.

A world of darkness
Awakens each morning,
From its chrysalis,
As hope and promise courts
The sons and daughters of Man.

Quarried, cut and polished,
A darkened crystal,
Receives Your Light.
The soul of Man,
Focuses Your splendor,
And by grace,
You shine out in creations’ purpose.

Your Just Sun, O Father,
Crosses the great divide,
To shine on a “no one”,
And “no people”
To stretch before the angels
The measure of Your Mercy.

Copyright 2014 Joann Nelander

Joann Nelander
lionessblog.com

“Give them something to eat.”

On the mountain of Your Holiness,

You commanded,

“You give them something to eat.”

What have I that would feed,

And satisfy so many?

You give to me,

In steady supply.

You are my All.

In You, I believe,

It is You, I adore,

And from You,

I draw my hope,

And loving trust.

You have fulfilled Your promise,

Feeding me with the finest wheat,

The Eucharistic Wheat,

Made Bread, most holy,

Your body and Your Blood.

“Give them something to eat.”

What have I that would feed,

And satisfy so many?

I will give them my Treasure,

My Only Good.

As life flowing from this temple

Flow from me,

To water,

And sup with the humanity all about me.

© 2017 Joann Nelander

I counted stars today.
As prophets and dreamers,
Glimpsing God through the darkness,
My wonder soared.
I, too, beheld
The promise of eternity,
Stretched across the eons.

Mere points of light
In a midnight sky,
Announcing Truth veiled in mystery,
Of things hidden and unseen,
Of ages long past and yet to be.
Who with me
Knows that there is more,
Much more?

Lanterns hung in the heavens
Make of me their lampstand,
That Eternal Light
Might shine more brightly,
Giving voice to creation.

No dumb marvel,
Rather angelic themes,
To sing high praises
In celestial chants,
For all who turn their gaze
Heavenward, counting,
And loosing count,
Journey home.

Copyright 2012 Joann Nelander

Free resource -VIDEOS
Father Spitzer’s Universe
Cosmic Origins
Remarkable Evidence of a Transcendent Soul
Workshop on Astrophysics and God
Science, God & Creation
Happiness, Suffering and the Love of God
Re-Evangelizing the Culture
The Reasonableness of Christianity
Creation: Larry King / Hawking
Creation: Vilenkin
Life After Death and Near Death Experiences

SCIENCE, REASON & FAITH

SCIENCE, REASON & FAITH
Remarkable Evidence of a Transcendent Soul Video
Science, God & Creation Video
From Nothing to Cosmos Study Guide
70,000 Years Ago – The Origin of a Soul?
Evidence for God from Physics and Philosophy Article
Thomistic Metaphysical Proof of God Article
Philosophical Proof of God Article
Science, Medicine, and Near Death Experiences Article
The Soul and Dating the Earth PowerPoint Presentation

The Case for Jesus: Science & the Shroud of Turin | Robert Spitzer

Fr. Robert Spitzer begins at 7:50