The Chaplet Of St. Michael

Painting My Summer Days

This year my memories come in watercolor:

Inspirational Dance

Dreams Dreamt Before

Oh, I've waken to new sunshine

Of dawns risen o'er the hills.

I've swum in quivering rivers,

And climbed in flight as gulls.

I've shown bright with each moonlight

And fallen with each star.

I've feathered clouds with soft down

And sprinkled rain afar.

I've snuggled to a blade of grass

And clutched a rose as dew.

I've painted rainbows 'cross the sky,

And lavished them with hue.

I've suckled sweetness from a bloom,

And fluttered, free to soar.

I've slept beneath the Tree of Life

And dreamt these dreams before.

©2012 Joann Nelander

2012 Landscape Dreams Photo Contest Winners

Slide show of Landscape Dreams Slide Show is now up.

Congratulations to My Grand Nephew and Foxtrot Battery

Photo credit : Bernadette Buechler and Willowtree Studio

And while your here please say this prayer to St. Michael for Foxtrot Battery and all our military men and women around the world.  These are dangerous times!

Michael, Michael of the morning,
Fresh chord of Heaven adorning,
Keep me safe today,
And in time of temptation
Drive the devil away.
Amen.

P.S.

A Man Clothed in Sin

A man clothed in sin
Walked the long aisle
To stand before the Crucifix.
Long years,
No tears,
He came to say,
“You died for me,
And I don’t give a damn!”
The hardened before the Hallowed,
The clock running down,
Time spent and unreflected,
Deeds done and unrepentant.
Challenged to say the words,
He began,
“You died for me,
And I don’t give…”
Undaunted, he repeated,
“You died for me
And I don’t…..”
Gaze focused
On that bloodied Corpse,
Resolute, again, he began.
“You died for me…”
…….
“You died for me…”
“You died for me!”
Tears, tears,
Rivers of tears,
Years unspent,
And now in flood.
Miracles at the Red Sea,
Yet, none greater
Than the Passover,
One innocent Lamb,
Slain, and yet standing,
Lifted up,
Drawing thee.
© 2012 Joann Nelander
All rights reserved
Inspired by another story :

MONDAY, 6 AUGUST 2007

Cardinal Lustiger RIP 1926-2007

I didn’t always agree with the former Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, who died yesterday, but his tenure of that see brought a great deal more good than harm, I think. On his watch, the Catholic life of the city gained a huge boost; the new movements revitalized many parishes, and vocations to the priesthood soared. I remember that he habitually celebrated Mass in Notre Dame almost every Sunday evening for the young people who came to that Mass; a great example to the other bishops of France, many of whom are facing the priestly extinction of their dioceses.
I heard a story attributed to him—maybe it is one he told rather than a story about himself (since he himself was a Jewish convert). I was given to understand that the story is a true one.
Two boys were, out of mischief, determined to tease their parish priest, so they went to confession and made up outrageous sins, just to see what the priest would say. The priest, listening to the second boy, realizing that he was being ‘had’, and hurt by the mockery of the sacrament, asked the second lad as a ‘penance’ to go to the crucifix over the tabernacle and shout out loud, three times ‘you died for me, and I don’t give a damn’. The lad did as he was asked; by the third time he was in tears. Some years later, he was ordained a priest.
May Jean-Marie Lustiger rest in peace.

Golgotha of Jasna Gora

 

H/T Julia : Golgotha of Jasna Gora – Artist: Jerzy Duda Gracz

More Golgotha of Jasna Gora

The Blessing of Sleep

St. Gertrude Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, I accept this sleep in the spirit of love with which Thou didst sanctify it when Thou didst deign to sleep in Thy most sacred humanity, to the glory of God the Father, and for the salvation of all mankind; beseeching that, in union with Thee, it may tend to increase in grace and glory of all Thine Elect in heaven, on earth, and in purgatory.
Amen.

Counting Stars

 

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 losing count,
Journey home.

Copyright 2012 Joann Nelander

Freedom’s Holy Light by John Keisling

Freedom’s Holy Light by John Keisling, sung by Anna Keisling Robillard: