Feast of the Visitation

Needs No Further Reflection

'If you should happen to do or say 
something that is not well received 
by everyone, do not for this reason stop 
to reflect on and examine 
your every word and action, 
for undoubtedly it is self-love 
which makes us seek to know 
whether or not what we say 
or do is approved.  
Simplicity leaves the outcome of 
its actions to Providence, 
to which it completely entrusts itself, 
without looking to the right or to the left.'

St. Francis de Sales






Painting:  Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, Narcissus

God is Still Breathing You

'You must live like 
warm wax to be 
molded by God,
having no desire, 
wish, or hope
other than 
the will of God...
You are 
a breath of God, 
and God is still 
breathing you.'

Sister Mary Elizabeth White VHM















Painting by Rembrandt; detail

Be Very Well What You Are

'Don't desire 
not to be what you are, 
but desire to be  
very well what you are.'

St. Francis de Sales













Painting:  Renoir; Gabrielle and Jean, in US public domain due to age

How to Pray in Pregnancy

'Since your pregnancy prevents you
from making your usual long mental prayer,
make your prayer short and fervent.
Make up for the loss by
frequently lifting your heart to God;
often read from some good spiritual book,
but only a little at a time;
when you go for a walk,
often turn your thoughts to God.
Pray often and briefly;
offer your listlessness and weariness
to our crucified Lord.'

St. Francis de Sales





Painting:  Samuel Luke Fildes; Jessica; in US public domain due to age

This post is linked to Catholic Bloggers Network Linkup Blitz

A Duty Proper to the Angels

'Saying the Divine Office is one of the most 

excellent actions in which we can be engaged, 

for we thus celebrate the divine praises,

a duty proper to the angels.  

Hence it should not be recited out of habit,

 but with our complete attention and devotion.'

St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

Divine Office.org is a marvelous way to pray daily, with the Church.  Click this line to link. 

Painting: Friedrich von Amerling

What Do I Worship?

'If you do not 
worship God, 

you worship
something, 

and nine times 
out of ten 

it will be 
yourself.'

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
















Waterhouse painting


This post is linked to 
Catholic Bloggers Network Linkup Blitz 

Catholic Writer's Award - Fresh out of the Box!

Pinch me.

I have just received a newly minted Catholic Writer's Award, fresh out of the box, from none other than Melanie Jean Juneau.  And to make the whole thing even more interesting, Melanie was writing about this while I (not having a clue that any such thing was being done) sat at Mass with what I considered a 'distraction' suddenly popping into my head.  Wouldn't it be nice, thought I, if there were a simple, attractive, no-strings-attached-Catholic-bloggers' award, one acknowledging really good faith-blogging.  

 

I came home, turned on the computer, and found It Had Just Been Done.  Then, even as I was reeling from the timing of that, I discovered that I was actually one of the first recipients.  

 

Pinch me.  

 

The award itself is beautiful (isn't it beautiful?!!!!?!), and I love what Melanie wrote about it.  Which can be found here:  http://melaniejeanjuneau.wordpress.com/2014/05/17/a-new-catholic-writing-award/ ) '

What a wonderful job you have done, Melanie.  May this beautiful award spread far and wide!

Pinch me.  But not just yet.  I'm not quite ready to wake up.

Those Important Smallest Actions

'Even the smallest actions are important, when done well.  

Indeed, a small action performed with the desire to please God 

is more pleasing to Him and gives Him greater glory 

than an important work done with less fervor.  

If we wish to advance in union with God, 

we must try to perform well the easy little duties 

which come our way at all hours of the day.'

St. Francis de Sales

Painting:  Ivana Kobilca

Relying on the Captain

'If you throw yourself wholeheartedly 

into the practice of holy abandonment, 

without noticing it you will make much progress,

just as do the passengers on board a ship 

sailing on the high seas under favorable winds, 

relying completely on the guidance of the captain.'

St. Francis de Sales

Painting:  James Tissot

A Mother's Heart

'A mother's heart 
is always full of pity 
for the erring 
and the sinner 
and the fallen.'  

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen




















Painting:  Madonna, Herman Richir; 
in US public domain due to age

Forever Spring

'It is always springtime in the heart that loves God.'

St. John Vianney

Painting:  Charles Courtney Curran, Lotus Lilies

To Higher Things

'Music... is given by God's generosity 

to mortals having rational souls,

in order to lead them to higher things.'
 

Saint Augustine

Painting:  Joseph DeCamp, The Cellist

No Way to Catch in Words

'There is no way to catch in words the sublime things of God.'

St. John of the Cross

Painting:  George Hitchcock, Annunciation, 1887; in US public domain due to age