Wisdom of St. John of the Cross

“I came into the unknown
and stayed there unknowing
rising beyond all science.

I did not know the door
but when I found the way,
unknowing where I was,
I learned enormous things,
but what I felt I cannot say,
for I remained unknowing,
rising beyond all science.

It was the perfect realm
of holiness and peace.
In deepest solitude
I found the narrow way:
a secret giving such release
that I was stunned and stammering,
rising beyond all science.

I was so far inside,
so dazed and far away
my senses were released
from feelings of my own.
My mind had found a surer way:
a knowledge of unknowing,
rising beyond all science.

And he who does arrive
collapses as in sleep,
for all he knew before
now seems a lowly thing,
and so his knowledge grows so deep
that he remains unknowing,
rising beyond all science.

The higher he ascends
the darker is the wood;
it is the shadowy cloud
that clarified the night,
and so the one who understood
remains always unknowing,
rising beyond all science.

This knowledge by unknowing
is such a soaring force
that scholars argue long
but never leave the ground.
Their knowledge always fails the source:
to understand unknowing,
rising beyond all science.

This knowledge is supreme
crossing a blazing height;
though formal reason tries
it crumbles in the dark,
but one who would control the night
by knowledge of unknowing
will rise beyond all science.

And if you wish to hear:
the highest science leads
to an ecstatic feeling
of the most holy Being;
and from his mercy comes his deed:
to let us stay unknowing,
rising beyond all science.”
― San Juan de la Cruz

Saying What You Mean

No band played; no flags waved. A car honked. My son picked up his bag and kissed his mother goodbye. Then he shook my hand and said "So long." "Good luck, son!" I said. We walked him to the door. We waved, and the car drove away. Our son was off to war. I wish I could have told him how much I really loved him. Later I thought to myself how foolish we are with our children, always wanting them to fit our dreams, never accepting them for what they are.

Howard O'Brien never saw his son again; he died in battle.

(from A Contemporary Walk with Jesus, by Mark Link)

Hymn

Oh God beyond all praising,
We worship you today
And sing the love amazing
That songs cannot repay;
For we can only wonder
At every gift you send,
At blessings without number
And mercies without end:
We lift our hearts before you
And wait upon your word,
We honor and adore you,
Our great and mighty Lord.

Then hear, oh gracious Savior
Accept the love we bring,
That we may know your favor
May serve you as our king;
And whether our tomorrows
Be filled with good or ill,
We'll triumph through our sorrows
And rise to bless you still:
To marvel at your beauty
And glory in your ways,
And make a joyful duty
Our sacrifice of praise.

How to practice what you preach?

I know what I believe when it comes to my faith. I accept all teachings of the Catholic church and want nothing more than to follow Jesus Christ. Why, then, do I have so much trouble doing just that? I feel like such a hypocrite at times. I should be patient, kind, and loving and yet I find myself doing the exact opposite. I get irritable, I judge others, I hold grudges. I let stress rule my emotions rather than counting on God to handle things. I feel so totally inadequate at times! I have a little dog named LittleMan that I rescued several years ago. He was injured, bloody and very afraid when we brought him home. I sat with him on my lap and calmed him. I spent a lot of time with him; gradually he stopped shaking and started to come out of his shell. He has since become my best buddy. Everywhere I go, there he is. He looks at me with golden brown eyes full of devotion. He never fails to show me unconditional love. He trusts me completely. His favorite place is to be snuggled up next to me. There's a good lesson for me. When I feel stressed, put my trust in God, and snuggle up next to Him. Look at Him with eyes full of devotion and let Him take over. Feel the peace of His presence. He is always there for me as my protector and His love is never ending. Thanks, LittleMan, for the good example.

Journey

"MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone."

Thomas Merton

About Angels

They really exist. Not just in our minds, or our myths, or our symbols, or our culture. They are as real as your dog, or your sister, or electricity.
They’re present, right here, right now, right next to you, reading these words with you.
They’re not cute, cuddly, comfortable, chummy, or “cool”. They are fearsome and formidable. They are huge. They are warriors.
They are the real “extra-terrestrials”, the real “Super-men”, the ultimate aliens. Their powers are far beyond those of all fictional creatures.
They are more brilliant minds than Einstein.
They can literally move the heavens and the earth if God permits them.
There are also evil angels, fallen angels, demons, or devils. These too are not myths. Demon possessions, and exorcisms, are real.
Angels are aware of you, even though you can’t usually see or hear them. But you can communicate with them. You can talk to them without even speaking.
You really do have your very own “guardian angel”. Everybody does.
Angels often come disguised. “Do not neglect hospitality, for some have entertained angels unawares” — that’s a warning from life’s oldest and best instruction manual.
We are on a protected part of a great battlefield between angels and devils, extending to eternity.
Angels are sentinels standing at the crossroads where life meets death. They work especially at moments of crisis, at the brink of disaster — for bodies, for souls, and for nations.


This is from a book by Peter Kreeft. Love it!

I Am The Great Sun

         I am the Great Sun

 
                      From a Normandy crucifix of 1632

                                  by Charles Causley
 

I am the great sun, but you do not see me,
   I am your husband, but you turn away.
I am the captive, but you do not free me,
   I am the captain but you will not obey.
I am the truth, but you will not believe me,
   I am the city where you will not stay.
I am your wife, your child, but you will leave me,
   I am that God to whom you will not pray.
I am your counsel, but you will not hear me,
   I am your lover whom you will betray.
I am the victor, but you do not cheer me,
   I am the holy dove whom you will slay.
I am your life, but if you will not name me,
   Seal up your soul with tears, and never blame me.