little treelittle silent Christmas treeyou are so littleyou are more like a flower who found you in the green forestand were you very sorry to come away?see i will comfort youbecause you smell so sweetly i will kiss your cool barkand hug you safe and tightjust as your mother would,only don’t be afraid look the…
The Surprise Party Christmas appears like a midnight surpriseAngels ignite shadowy skies.A voice heard in the winter cold,“God is young but man is old.” Joseph and Mary put to the testTired and aching but nowhere to rest.The cold winter wearies like a constant thresh.A virgin gives birth to God’s Word made flesh The great reverse…
Historically, Advent was a solemn time of preparation for the sacred Feast of the Nativity. We begin by reflecting on the coming of the Lord, even as we face dark themes of judgment and our own deaths. Oddly, this meditation is not for gloom but prepares the heart for joy. It helps to awaken to…
Advent Calendar He will come like last leaf’s fall.One night when the November windhas flayed trees to bone, and earthwakes choking on the mould,the soft shroud’s folding. He will come like the frost.One morning when the shrinking earthopens on mist, to find itselfarrested in the netof alien, sword-set beauty. He will come like dark.One evening…
St Patrick’s Breastplate – Grace of God May Christ be with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ to my right, Christ to my left, Christ where I lie down, Christ where I sit, Christ where I stand, Christ in the heart of everyone who…
Stanza 6 Today I interpose all these powers between myselfAnd every harsh pitiless power which may come against my body and my soul,Against the predictions of false prophets,Against the black laws of paganism,Against the crooked laws of heretics,Against the encirclement of idolatry,Against the spells of women and smiths and druids,Against every knowledge which harms a…
Today I gird myself With the strength of God to direct me, The might of God to exalt me, The mind of God to lead me, The eye of God to watch over me, The ear of God to hear me, The word of God to speak to me, The hand of God to defend…
Today I gird myself With the strength of heaven, Light of the sun. Brightness of the moon, Brilliance of fire.Speed of lightning, Swiftness of wind, Depth of sea, Firmness of earth, Stability of rock. Note – The entire prayer can be found here – https://stbrendanschurch.org/st-patricks-breastplate-1/
Today I gird myself With the power of the order of the Cherubim, With the Obedience of angels, With the ministry of archangels. With the hope of resurrection, For the sake of reward, With the prayers of the patriarchs. With the predictions of the prophets, With the precepts of the apostles, With the faith of…
Today I gird myselfWith the power of Christ’s birth together with his baptism,With the power of his crucifixion together with his burial,With the power of his resurrection together with his ascension,With the power of his descent to pronounce judgment of Doomsday. These four lines of prayer, acknowledge that the call of Jesus is intertwined with…