The Dark Night of the Soul (Poem) - St. John of the Cross

Although, I have previously posted a version of this poem (click here),  I also enjoy this version which is translated by Josephine Koeppel, O.C.D. from "The Science of The Cross" by Edith Stein (St. Teresa of the Cross):

One dark night, as love's yearning did enflame me
I escaped unnoticed
O happy fate!
I escaped unnoticed
When my house lay at rest so still.

Quite safe within the dark,
Disguised and on a secret ladder,
O happy fate!
In darkness and concealed,
Still my house lay at rest so still.

In this night so full of chance
In secrecy, since none caught sight of me,
Since, too, I was aware of naught
And without light or guide
Save that which in my heart was burning.

And this conducted me
Far surer than the light of the brightest day.
Thence, where for me eagerly was waiting
He whom I know so well,
Aside, there was none who could part us.

O night that was a guide!
O night, more lovely than the rosy dawn!
O night, you that united
The most beloved with her Lover
Transforming the beloved into her Lover.

At my blossoming breast
Which has reserved herself for Him alone,
He gently fell asleep.
Softly I caressed him
The stir of waving cedars brought coolness.

As morn's wind with lightest touch
Playfully began to lift his hair
With gentle hand
He encircled my neck
All my senses vanished.

In silence and forgetfulness
I leaned my head on the Beloved,
All things drained away from me,
Vanished was the fear
Buried neath lilies into oblivion.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


An artistic/musical interpretation of this prayer:

Pope Francis' Five Finger Prayer For Lent

As Bishop of Buenos Aires, Pope Francis gave this talk for Lent:

1. The Thumb:  the thumb is the closest finger to you. So each day pray for those who are closest to you, your family, religious community, your closest friends. To pray for those we love is either  a sweet obligation of love or a deep seated prayer that they might change immediately. 


2. The Index Finger: Pray for those who have taught you, instructed you, or healed you. Pray for those who are presently teaching, instructing and healing you by their word or example. They always need your support, care, concern, gratitude and shared wisdom, so that they know that others are open to them as they are to you.


3. The Tallest Finger: It reminds us of our leaders, authority figures, presidents, governors, mayors, and any who have authority over us. They need God's guidance. 


4. The Ring Finger:  It may surprise you that the ring finger is the weakest of all fingers. Yet we wear a ring of commitment, love and eternal loyalty to it. So we need to pray always for what that ring symbolizes. Also we should pray for the weak, sick, poor, homeless, hungry, and those who face difficult problems and personal issues.


5. The Pinky Finger: Your smallest finger is to remind you to pray for yourself.  When you have finished praying for others and are grateful to them you should be able to see your own needs in a better perspective and not become self-centered.

My Beautiful Woman - Wacoal

http://www.mybeautifulwoman.org

Incredible - Celion Dion

When I hear this song, I think of Mother Teresa and her love for the poor.

"Preach always, but use words only when necessary…"- St. Francis of Assisi.

Ash Wednesday

What to do for Lent?

"My advice is that henceforth we live no more in ourselves, but that in heart, intention, and confidence we lodge forever in the pierced side of the Saviour." - St Francis De Sales

How do we do this? 

By living in joy.

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.…" - 1 Peter 4: 12-14

Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium - 1.5

The Gospel, radiant with the glory of Christ’s cross, constantly invites us to rejoice. A few examples will suffice. 

“Rejoice!” is the angel’s greeting to Mary (Lk 1:28). 

Mary’s visit to Elizabeth makes John leap for joy in his mother’s womb (cf. Lk 1:41). 

In her song of praise, Mary proclaims: “My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour” (Lk 1:47). 

When Jesus begins his ministry, John cries out: “For this reason, my joy has been fulfilled” (Jn 3:29). 

Jesus himself “rejoiced in the Holy Spirit” (Lk 10:21). His message brings us joy: “I have said these things to you, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete” (Jn 15:11). Our Christian joy drinks of the wellspring of his brimming heart. He promises his disciples: “You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (Jn 16:20). He then goes on to say: “But I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (Jn 16:22). 

The disciples “rejoiced” (Jn 20:20) at the sight of the risen Christ. In the Acts of the Apostles we read that 

the first Christians “ate their food with glad and generous hearts” (2:46). Wherever the disciples went, “there was great joy” (8:8); even amid persecution they continued to be “filled with joy” (13:52). 

The newly baptized eunuch “went on his way rejoicing” (8:39), while Paul’s jailer “and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God” (16:34). 

Why should we not also enter into this great stream of joy?