Thought for the Day: We All Need Beauty, and Don't Need to go Far to Find It!

 Remember Dorothy at the end of the Wizard of Oz: 

We don't need to go far from home to find incredible beauty with ample reason to praise God. If you can't find God in your home, your yard, and your neighborhood, you probably won't find Him anywhere.

How Do You Start Your Day?

I like to start my day by making coffee and then taking it outside to sit on the front porch.

Thought for the Day: Gardens Can Remind us of Eden and of Paradise

Are you a gardener? Do you love to plant flowers and vegetables? Do you ever dig in the dirt thinking about all the gardens in the Bible? God obviously loves gardens. He created the Garden of Eden and formed the man from its rich, fertile soil. (Kind of makes you think of the expression "older than dirt" doesn't it?) Jesus spent many hours in the Garden of Gethsemane praying. I wonder what that garden was like? When he was there in the Spring and Summer what scents filled the air? What bird calls provided background music for his meditation? What plants grew after being watered by His blood?

Thought for the Day from the The Life and Glories of Saint Joseph

Part of my morning prayer time lately is reading from The Life and Glories of Saint Joseph. I'm on the chapter on the Journey to Bethlehem. Two short passages really struck me this morning. The first related to scripture about the birth of the Messiah. 

Mary was reared in the temple and must have known the prophecies well. She and Joseph both must have realized that Bethlehem was going to be the birthplace of Jesus. And yet, they stayed in Nazareth waiting to see how God would bring it about. 

...we find them remaining on at Nazareth without doubt or question. If this surprises us, it is only because the strength of their faith and their complete abandonment to the leadings of God's Providence are beyond our shallow perception. God would know how to bring about His will in the manner He pleased, and they left all in His hands.

And, of course, we know God used Caesar Augustus to bring about His will.

Do You Have Trouble Sleeping?

Then today's saint is an intercessor for you. St. Peter of Alcantara got my attention last year on 
this date when I read about him in Butler's Lives of the Saints. He took mortification seriously and spent many hours awake during the night. Those of us with sleep issues would do well to seek his help in our own "night watchings" although I can't say I'm ready to practice his mortifications:

He had no other bed than a skin laid on the floor, on which he knelt a part of the night and slept sitting, leaning his head against a wall. His [night] watchings were the most difficult and remarkable of all the austerities which he practiced, and in consequence of them he has been regarded in after-ages as the patron saint of night-watchmen.

Once when a friend of St. Peter lamented over the wickedness of the world, something we can all certainly relate to these days, he replied:

Thought for the day from one of my favorite authors: Big Body, Big Mind, Big Faith!

Some things never change. Look at those in trouble with our current pope and you know they are the ones Chesterton is talking about. The false disciples, the one's who have the pope's favor.,...let's just say they aren't fearless since they have the approval of the woke world. Their happiness is like the bands playing as the Titanic is sinking. And they will be in deep trouble when they meet Christ on Judgment Day if they don't repent. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You!

Thought for the Day: Read Daniel 3

I love the litany of thanksgiving in Daniel 3. And what a time of year to pray it. Every time I go outside I glory in all the gifts of the Spring. Despite the darkness of our culture, the Lord continues to lift our hearts with the beauty of His creation. All the earth testifies to the truth that God made the world and calls us, as the apple of His eye, to worship and give Him thanks. Below is Daniel 3, from verse 53 to 87. But I invite you to recite your own litany as you go about your daily chores, especially outside. Here's the beginning of my personal litany:

Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the redbuds, the dogwoods, the bluebells, the daffodils, the dandelions and all the flowering plants and trees; praise and exalt Him above all forever.

Thought for the Day: A Little Courtesy Would Improve the Culture Immensely!

I don't have many original thoughts and this one certainly is not. It reflects an almost proverbial truth:

Courtesy is the grease that makes the gears of society run smoothly. 

Whenever I think of that word "courtesy," I think of Hilaire Belloc's poem:

                            Courtesy

                            Of Courtesy, it is much less
                            Than Courage of Heart or Holiness,
                            Yet in my Walks it seems to me
                            That the Grace of God is in Courtesy.

                            On Monks I did in Storrington fall,
                            They took me straight into their Hall;
                            I saw Three Pictures on a wall,
                            And Courtesy was in them all.

Thought for the Day on the State of the Church -- Never Fear, Little Flock!

How I love reading the Imitation of Mary every morning. It puts suffering in perspective seen in the shadow of the cross of Christ. We all love to be consoled and to see a world full of sweetness and light. That is certainly not our experience at present is it? The secular city and the city of God seem to be crumbling around us. 

If you feel that way, remember that feelings don't necessarily translate into facts. Following them can lead us into confusion and despair. Worried about the state of the world? Worried about the state of the Church? Take a deep breath and take heart. Nothing just happens! All is in the Providence of God. "All things work together for good for those who love the Lord and serve according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) This consoling message comes from Book 2, chapter 32 of the Imitation of Mary:

Thought for the day from St. Bonaventure

"The perfection of a religious man is to do common things in a perfect manner. A constant fidelity in small things is a great and heroic virtue."

500 years before Therese of Lisieux embraced her "little way," St. Bonaventure advocated it for his monks. Imagine the channel of grace it would be to make the bed for the love of Christ, to wash the dishes and scrub the sink. 

Right now I'm watching a bluebird couple bring food to their babies. What a source of grace to feed little ones and wipe up their messes for the love of Christ, to get up patiently when a baby cries in the night.  How many opportunities to grow in virtue we have in the ordinary challenges of daily life. 

St. Bonaventure, pray for us.

Thought for the Day

Years ago I visited a college campus and stayed overnight in the girls' dorm. In those days, schools acted in loco parentis and actually protected the virtue of their students by keeping dorms separate and having strict visitation rules. One co-ed posted a "thought for the day" on her door. The one I remember was this:

Contrary to popular opinion, God's last name is not damn.

Thought for the Day on Trump, Cruz, and the GOP Convention

From Fr. Tom Collins:

Ted Cruz seems to have actually done Trump a big favor by not directly endorsing his candidacy at the RNC. For months Trump has called Sen. Cruz, “Lying Ted”.
How, then, could he be helped by a direct endorsement from a man, whom he has consistently proclaimed to be a pathological liar? This would give plenty of ammunition to the Democrats, who could issue ads juxtaposing Trump’s “Lying Ted” remarks with his acceptance of the endorsement of such a “pathological liar”. Such an endorsement would be as helpful as an endorsement from lying, cheating Hillary”.

Thought for the Day: What are you Teaching your Children?

Or even more importantly -- what are you allowing your children to be taught?

When you consider the situation of religion teacher Patti Jannuzzi being fired for speaking the truth on her Facebook page, and when you consider the constant brainwashing of children (even in Catholic schools) on tolerance for homosexual activity, and when you consider a host o:f other subjects like evolution, sex ed, etc. all being shoved down the throats of little ones.....

Well...maybe it's time to get back to basics and what the Church has taught for millennia about the truths of the faith and the obligation to pass them on.

Read these words of wisdom from Pope Pius XI (1939):

Thought for the Day from St. Therese of Lisieux

"Not a single soul falls into Hell that has not torn itself out of my arms."

Wow! Think of that. God is holding on to you like superglue. Only you can make the decision to tear yourself away from him. But like paper attached to a rock with superglue, it's the paper that will suffer in the tearing away. 

Just think of what life would be like if we would just rest in God's arms, look up into the eyes of the Holy Face of Jesus, and listened to His voice. His love is beyond our imagination. Imagine the moment in your life when you have felt most loved and it will be like comparing a tiny drop of water to the vastness of the ocean.

I'm praying today for those who feel abandoned and unloved that Jesus will reveal Himself to them in a special way -- through the kindness of a stranger, the companionship of a friend, the embrace of a family member, or a very obvious blessing. "Come, Lord Jesus."

Thought for the Day from St. John Kanty

"John taught his students this philosophy again and again, 'Fight all error, but do it with good humor, patience, kindness, and love. Harshness will damage your own soul and spoil the best cause.'"

Who are the most difficult people in our lives? Can we treat them with the most gentleness and kindness? Can we speak of them with the most love? What a challenge! I think of how often I fail in this regard and pray for the intercession of St. John Kanty to help me do better. 

Lord, please give me an understanding heart. 

St. John Kanty, pray for us.  

Thought for the Day: Life Without Internet

We've been having pretty severe thunderstorms in the Valley and it knocked out the internet for two days. Surprise...there is life without blogging, tweeting, facebooking, and surfing. Actually, this morning at Mass I was thinking about an EMP attack (What if everything electrical was out!) and that, despite how devastating the consequences, loss of the TV and the internet wouldn't be all bad. Think of the porn addicts having to turn their attention to basic survival.  As they say, there are no atheists in a foxhole, and I suspect there would be a lot of people begging God for help. On the other hand, there would, no doubt, be roving bands of hoodlums as well which is why the Bible says, "Flee the cities." It's a long walk to the country for inner city thugs.

Today's gospel is the story of Jesus walking on the water. The apostles think he's a ghost and Peter, in typical Peter fashions, says, "Lord if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water." Jesus does and Peter is doing great until he takes his eyes off the Master and focuses on his fear. That's when he begins to sink. "Why did you doubt?" asks Jesus. Remember, in another encounter Jesus told a man seeking healing, "Fear is useless; what's needed is trust." Amen!

Do I trust Jesus? Not enough. Where are my eyes focused when the storms of life are raging? Too often on my fears. Do I put my trust in God or in my stuff? Good questions for meditation.

Take heart in the promise that "All things work together for good to those who love the Lord and serve according to His purpose." If we love God, no matter what happens we'll be blessed even in our suffering.

Thought for the Day from Walker Percy: On Parents and Children

A friend sent me a segment of an interview with Walker Percy about his Catholic faith which sent me searching for other interviews with this wonderful Catholic writer (who, by the way, did not consider himself a very good Catholic even though he was a believer). Here is how he answered the question, "How much do children owe their parents, and vice versa?"

WP: Don't know, beyond a certain decent respect. Love's fine, but so is toleration. Thus, parents should recognize that most children, especially the most talented, have to rebel to become themselves. Young people should recognize that their parents are not necessarily the cretins they appear to be. Each should try to put up with the other, difficult as that may be.

So...all you parents having trouble with their children, keep this in mind and keep loving them as best you can while gritting your teeth. And...all you children with "cretins" for parents, grit your teeth and love them as best you can too. Maybe the old man and old woman will learn a few things during 2012 and beyond and even come to be friends.

Toleration (i.e., "putting up with each other") is a great watchword for the new year...never silent tolerance of evil which must be opposed (although if you've already made the point with someone you love, don't beat it into the ground), but tolerance of conscience. Prayer and penance will go much further to change hearts than browbeating.

NB: I'm obviously not talking about tolerance in the politically correct, homosexual activism context. Some things must be opposed always and everywhere in terms of policy and law. On the other hand, relationships with individuals require unconditional and patient love that calls forth the best in the other. The true, the good, and the beautiful appeal to the human heart and image the goodness of God. Advance these everywhere and you will be doing much to bring about the Kingdom of God on earth.

Thought for the Day: Are You a Prophetic Voice for Life?

From a priest friend:

It is encouraging to hear the prophetic voice of God's people calling us to remember that Jesus did not give His Sacred Body and Precious Blood to strengthen those seeking to ensure that more babies get butchered before they have a chance to see the light of day.
 
                                                   Rev. Tom Collins

Chesterton Thought for the Day: The Homogenization of the Cities

"The big store makes the shop monstrous but the street monotonous." G.K.'s Weekly, Aug. 3, 1929

Years ago, before I was married and had children, a time so distant it fades in memory, I had a conversation with my boss about the homogenization of towns and cities. There were, he said, very few places left that exuded a sense of uniqueness. Why? Because of what Chesterton was already seeing in 1929. The "big store" had made the street monotonous. The chains were taking over everywhere eliminating and driving out the unique.

It's true isn't it? How far can you go without coming upon the ubiquitous strip of McDonalds, Burger King, Target, WalMart, CVS, RiteAid, Cracker Barrel, International House of Pancakes, Starbucks, etc.? How many mom and pop stores have been driven out of business and replaced by the monsters? You can be sure that even in a city like Washington, D.C. that has a national mall uncluttered by the chains, they are only a few blocks away. And that has made cities, for the most part, boring as Chesterton points out.

It has, however, inspired my own little rebellion. I will not shop at WalMart unless I can't get what I need anywhere else in town. Instead of going to breakfast at our nearby Cracker Barrell which is loud and unappealing, we go to our little local Seven Bends Restaurant which is decorated with hundreds of black and white cows: pitchers, banks, stuffed toys, windchimes, and anything else you can imagine being made in the shape of a cow. I've gotten to know the waitresses because there are only a few rather than a cast of thousands. In Front Royal, instead of hitting the McDonalds, we prefer to eat at Spelunker's where you can get the best hand-dipped frozen custard in the area or at the Melting Pot pizza place which is a little tawdry but has good food. Spelunkers reminds me of Tubby's in Alexandria where we used to go for chili dogs and homemade custard. Yum, it makes me hungary thinking of it. You can find these gems in many places.

When we travel, we rarely stop at a chain unless we need a quick bathroom break and a soda. (They are good for that.) But when we're ready for a meal, we seek out the one-of-kind mom and pop establishment. If you ask at the Visitor's Center they can almost always recommend a good place with great local food.

As for unique and one-of-a kind people, they are always worth seeking out. And Chesterton gets my vote for one of the most unique of all. More people need to get to know this champion of truth whose writing is, after 100 years, still fresh and invigorating.

Thought for the Day: The "Hound of Heaven" is Your Friend

"The two greatest dramas of life are the soul in pursuit of God and God in pursuit of the soul."   Fulton Sheen 

One of my favorite poems is Francis Thompson's The Hound of Heaven.  I memorized the first stanza a number of years ago and often recite it to myself.

I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
    Of my own mind; And in the midst of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter....

I love the cadence which sounds the beat of the pursuing hound who follows "with unhurrying chase, And unperturbed pace." The poem fills me with wonder. The God of the universe pursues ME. In my youth when I was running away from God, he set the hound loose and he has been my friend ever since I stopped running and surrendered to the truth and listened in earnest to the voice of God. He loved me in my tragic state of rebellion and loved me into faithfulness; not a perfect faithfulness, unfortunately, but a striving one.

Alack! Thou knowest not
How little worthy of any love thou art.
Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee,
Save me, save only me?
All which I took from thee, I did'st but take,
Not for thy harms,
But just that thou might'st seek it in my arms.
All which thy childs mistake fancies as lost,
I have stored for thee at Home.
Rise, clasp my hand, and come.

I am still unworthy of His love, but he loves me anyway! And then comes that oh-so-personal message to Me, a creature, who is literally less to Him than a grasshopper is to me:

Halts by me that Footfall.
Is my gloom, after all,
Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly?
Ah, Fondest, Blindest, Weakest,
I am He whom thou seekest.
Thou dravest Love from thee who dravest Me.

If only all men would know that when they drive God away, they drive away Love Incarnate. He is all in all, but he loves each of us, as St. Augustine says, as if there were just one of us. Any suffering he allows in our lives is only the "Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly." Oh, if only we could see it!

The hound of heaven is, indeed, man's best friend.