I do not see myself.
Though I long for holiness of heart,
Of this world I am a part.
I do not know myself.
Though I keep Your Image before my eyes,
The world appears in angelic disguise.
I do not trust myself.
Though I choose Your way,
I fear to be led astray.
I do not save myself,
Though I’m broken and and far from Heaven,
You live in me as heavenly leaven.
You, I see and know,
And You, I trust.
To You, my soul, I, mightily, entrust.
© 2016 Joann Nelander
Pristine the whiteness
Engulfed in radiant flame,
Golden the rays,
Set about Your throne upon the altar.
For all the beauty of the monstrance,
You outshine the artist’s creation,
Just as You outshine Creation.
Give me eyes to see the Reality.
My eyes are designed to apprehend matter.
Here, You give us Mystery, Divinity.
I long to look upon Your fleshly Flesh,
To see Your locks curl mildly on Your shoulders,
To see the flash of smile and twinkle of the eye,
Majesty of manner, and goodly gentleness.
I gaze upon the Host,
All the while my heart and mind
Bring visions to the fore.
Power subdued in obedience,
Might bowed to the Father’s Will,
Abandonment, a fulfillment of prophetic word,
Suffering and salvific.
A Babe, a Boy, a Man,
Commending unto You
From womb to tomb,
In ignominy, yet dignity,
A Life and Death
Swallowing up Your wrath.
He bequeathed to us His Mother,
His ark and monstrance,
Forever refuge of the sinner at the altar.
At the altar of His Dying,
He willed to us a Mother,
Pristine Whiteness.
Pristine the whiteness
Engulfed in radiant flame,
Golden the rays,
Set about Your throne upon the altar.
For all the beauty of the monstrance,
You outshine the artist’s creation,
Just as You outshine Creation.
Give me eyes to see the Reality.
My eyes are designed to apprehend matter.
Here, You give us Mystery, Divinity.
I long to look upon Your fleshly Flesh,
To see Your locks curl mildly on Your shoulders,
To see the flash of smile and twinkle of the eye,
Majesty of manner, and goodly gentleness.
I gaze upon the Host,
All the while my heart and mind
Bring visions to the fore.
Power subdued in obedience,
Might bowed to the Father’s Will,
Abandonment, a fulfillment of prophetic word,
Suffering and salvific.
A Babe, a Boy, a Man,
Commending unto You
From womb to tomb,
In ignominy, yet dignity,
A Life and Death
Swallowing up Your wrath.
He bequeathed to us His Mother,
His ark and monstrance,
Forever refuge of the sinner at the altar.
At the altar of His Dying,
He willed to us a Mother,
Pristine Whiteness.
Listening, I hear, a Voice over the Water,
Louder than the many waters,
Moving over and above the world,
Mightier than thunder,
Appealing as the fair continence of an only Child.
Now, My People, is the hour to awaken,
Now, My sons and daughters, the time to rouse from your indifference.
My Dying is before You always,
Not as a distant memory,
But alive with My Glory
Alive in Your Baptism,
Breathing forth with every Eucharist.
In this hour of my agony,
In this time of pain,
You sleep and you dream.
You dream of a life of plenty,
As you run to listen to false prophets,
Promising abundance and power here in this val,
While your crosses lie by the wayside.
Open your eyes,
Rend your hearts,
That I may clothe you anew,
In the Grace of your Baptism.
Stir the dying embers,
And let Me fuel your devotion,
And cause holiness to spring from spent ashes.
The Breath of My Spirit
Coming on you as Pentecost renewed
Will raise flame and fire
In rekindled hearts.
Know this My children,
I have called you to this hour.
Grace shall urge you forth,
And the Word give you voice.
Be blind no more.
Be divided no more.
My Call, and My claim on your hearts,
Are greater than the world,
And promises of prosperity and plenty.
Satan tempted Me with such,
But I chose the Cup my Father chose for Me.
Look beyond this world,
See heaven open to you.
I Am Promise and Fulfillment.
I Am.
Be mother and father, brother and sister,
Son and daughter to Me.
Be servant and friend,
Spouse and Bride of My Heart.
Take My Hand that I might lift you
Beyond the promises of earthly palaces and pleasure,
For which you now pray.
See a new tomorrow.
Desire Me.
Choose Your Savior.
Be indifferent no more
To my Death upon the Cross.
You were created for Truth and Justice,
Loveliness, and Honor,
Purity and a Beauty beyond the world and its mansions.
Look up and long for My Kingdom to come
Here in this hour,
Here in this place,
Here in your hearts.
©2016 Joann Nelander
O, my Jesus, In gentle and humble repose upon the altar, Wrap Your arms about me. My body yearns for Your embrace. Only Your Humanity can unlock The treasure trove of grace, You hold in store for me, A repentant sinner, Grace, You purchased for me By Your coming to Man as Man, In Your weakness and poverty and might. You called Yourself,"Son of Man", And by Your obedience, Suffering and Death upon the Cross, Showed us True Love. All Holy, All Human, All Love, All God, Son and Servant of God, Benefit and Benefactor of Man, Apply the fruit of Your Saving Death To my humanity, To the glory of God, And the continuous deification Of my poor, desirous body and soul. Conceive in me thoughts, words and deeds, Which bring to fulfillment our Father's plan For my life and eternity, So, that purged of all Sin and concupiscence, I might shine with radiant joy, Hidden and secure in Your Heart, As does Your Virgin Mother, Mary. "Be it done to me according to Your Word." Amen. Copyright 2011 Joann Nelander All rights reserved
Sing Lord,
To make of me a song,
Rising on the wind,
Spreading through the land.
By the movement of Your tune,
I proclaim Your Love.
By the rushing of Your Spirit,
Borne anew on hallowed wings,
I announce the Year of Favor.
O sweet divine encounter
With the Risen Lord
Make my melody
As pure as the heart of Jesus
Proclaim.
Reclaim. Reclaim.
Reclaim Your own.
Seat sons and daughters
Of Your Love
Upon Your Heart,
On Mercy throne.
© 2013 Joann Nelander
All rights reserved
O, my Jesus, In gentle and humble repose upon the altar, Wrap Your arms about me. My body yearns for Your embrace. Only Your Humanity can unlock The treasure trove of grace, You hold in store for me, A repentant sinner, Grace, You purchased for me By Your coming to Man as Man, In Your weakness and poverty and might. You called Yourself,"Son of Man", And by Your obedience, Suffering and Death upon the Cross, Showed us True Love. All Holy, All Human, All Love, All God, Son and Servant of God, Benefit and Benefactor of Man, Apply the fruit of Your Saving Death To my humanity, To the glory of God, And the continuous deification Of my poor, desirous body and soul. Conceive in me thoughts, words and deeds, Which bring to fulfillment our Father's plan For my life and eternity, So, that purged of all Sin and concupiscence, I might shine with radiant joy, Hidden and secure in Your Heart, As does Your Virgin Mother, Mary. "Be it done to me according to Your Word." Amen. Copyright 2011 Joann Nelander All rights reserved
H/T I 53: 5 Project
“Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)”
One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed
[Chorus:]
Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day
One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me
[Chorus]
One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He’s ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again
[Chorus]
One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Savior, Jesus, is mine
[Chorus]
Glorious day, Oh, Glorious day
Sing Lord,
To make of me a song,
Rising on the wind,
Spreading through the land.
By the movement of Your tune,
I proclaim Your Love.
By the rushing of Your Spirit,
Borne anew on hallowed wings,
I announce the Year of Favor.
O sweet divine encounter
With the Risen Lord
Make my melody
As pure as the heart of Jesus
Proclaim.
Reclaim. Reclaim.
Reclaim Your own.
Seat sons and daughters
Of Your Love
Upon Your Heart,
On Mercy throne.
© 2013 Joann Nelander
All rights reserved
Immaculata-Patroness
Joann Nelander Studio 