Monday Morning Meanderings

• One of my favorite quotes from Chesterton is about saying grace. I thought of that this morning in the shower while I was praising God for hot water. 

“You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.”

So what will you say grace for today? I'm about to do the laundry and bake bread and English muffins. I will say grace thanking God for the people who wear the clothes I'm washing, not to mention those who developed the technology to make that job easier than using a washboard and a clothes line. And for all those who will enjoy the food on the table and those with whom we break bread. 

Thank you, Lord, for everything! 

•  I always go through the previous months Benedictus before I put it in the burn bag. Today I tore out a picture of St. Michael the Archangel subjugating the evil one. I placed it in a double frame next to a beloved grandchild. How I love that great Saint who rebuked Satan saying, "Who is like unto God?" Certainly not you, Lucifer, whose light has been extinguished. You are dark now and darkness is nothing. It takes only one small candle to penetrate your darkness. Portia recognized it as she approached Belmont after defeating death in the courtroom of Venice:

“That light we see is burning in my hall. How far that little candle throws his beams— So shines a good deed in a naughty world” (V.i.89–90).   

How many candles will we light today with good deeds, prayers, fasting, and penance? Therese's little way calls us. Eat your toast without butter. Leave the. mayo off your BLT. Drink only water today or leave the cream and sugar out of your coffee. Call a suffering friend. Write a letter saying thank you to someone from your past. How many opportunities we have do shine a good deed in a more than naughty world.  

• This being the month of the guardian angels, they are constantly on my mind; but also the great warrior angels who also offer us their assistance. I try to remember every day to invoke my guardian angel and all the angels who stand before the throne of God. I often ask my guardian angel to go and pray with the angels of my children, their spouses, our grandchildren and great grandchildren. They are powerful friends. Why would I not ask for their help? And may they help all our spiritual and temporal leaders so that we may live in peace and security. "St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil." With the angels at our side, the demons will be powerless to harm us. Like St. John Vianney tells us, they are chained beasts. We have no reason to be afraid unless we fall into mortal sin. Our Lady, refuge of sinners, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.