Prayer is like a Murmuring Stream

The prayer of the heart...is indeed like a murmuring stream that continues underneath the many waves of every day and opens the possibility of living in the world without being of it and of reaching out to our God from the center of our solitude.

This is from Henri Nouwen's The Only Necessary Thing, p.119.

I-I-I  what can I say?

Pollen and Weeds

     Pollen and Weeds

       by John Barron

How rich the fields He plants,

Ripe and lush with fruit.

Lord the work of thy hand,

Has once more taken root.

For in splendor and display,

No finer bounty could compare.

See how lovely is Your bloom,

And sweet smelling is the air.

If we could be Your field,

How blessed indeed we’d be.

For all that we contained,

Is Your harvest and not of me.

And from this holy pasture,

Springs pollen for Your seeds.

Lifted by winged word aloft,

To share where there are needs.

And so Lord do You provide,

For the creation from Your hand.

From one planting onto another,

A constant blessing upon the land.

Yet some of these sprout weeds,

Of evil works and choices made.

Spreading to Your fertile fields,

Dimming the beauty of thy glade.

But this is Your plan too,

Do not despair is Your advice.

For if we patiently accept them,

The grace You shower will suffice.

Your handiwork upon the earth,

Reflects the glory of Your deeds.

For Your mercy counters all evil,

As pollen sows among the weeds.

h/t  Mr. John Barron, O.P. from the Hope of Bethany 

Pro-Chapter, Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominic  

      John Barron is a preacher poet.

            

Help in Converting

The Novena to Saint Dominic should start today.  Saint Dominic converted many heretics.  His story always begins with his staying up all night talking to his innkeeper.  The innkeeper was his first convert.  Saint Dominic also started his Order with converted Albigensians.  He had to do something with them; so his first act was to start a convent in Prouille, France, in 1206.  So it is a very good idea to pray for Saint Dominic's intercession when you want to convert someone.

A NOVENA
TO SAINT DOMINIC

O renowned champion of the faith of Christ,
most holy saint Dominic,
who didst renounce the honour and dignity 
of an earthly principality to embrace the poor,
laborious, and mortified life 
which should distinguish a disciple of Him Who has said:
"If any man will come after Me,
let him take up his cross and follow Me."
O burning torch,
who being thyself consumed with the fire of divine love,
didst incessantly labour 
to enkindle that sacred flame 
in the hearts of others,
look down upon me from that throne of glory 
where thou enjoyest the reward of all thy labours,
and obtain that some sparks of that blessed fire
may be lighted in my soul,
to animate and encourage me under any crosses or trials
with which it shall please the divine goodness to visit me.
Thou, O great Saint,
regardest as nothing all the afflictions thou didst endure,
and all the toils thou didst undergo 
for the promotion of God's holy cause;
obtain, I beseech Thee, that the same
ardent love which strengthened thee, 
may make sweet to me labours, humiliations, disgraces, 
or whatever other mortifications 
I may have to suffer for the Name of Jesus.
May I ever bear in mind that nothing can happen to me 
but by the particular dispensation of a God 
Who is infinitely wise,
and therefore knows what is best for my welfare;
infinitely powerful,
and consequently able to effect it;
and above all,
infinitely merciful and loving,
Who has laid down His life for my redemption,
and continues daily to give new proofs of His love and bounty.
O tender Father of the poor who,
when all other resources were exhausted,
didst offer thyself for their relief,
obtain for me that true spirit of compassion 
for the suffering members of Jesus Christ,
which shone forth so conspicuously in thy holy life.
May I, by charity to those whom Jesus so dearly loves,
lay up for myself treasures in heaven,
where thou now enjoyest that which the eye hath not seen,
nor the ear heard, 
nor the heart of man conceived,
but which God has prepared for those who love Him,
and who prove themselves His Disciples 
by the observance of His Divine precept 
- love one another.
I praise and thank God for the high degree of sanctity 
to which He had raised thee, 
and the special privileges 
by which He has distinguished thee.  
I conjure thee, 
by that gratitude with which thou shalt for all eternity 
be penetrated for thy Divine Benefactor,
implore for me the grace to root out of my heart 
whatever is not agreeable in His sight,
especially that evil habit 
by which I most frequently offend Him.
Obtain likewise the favours I request in this Novena,
through thy powerful intercession.

(Here specify your intentions)

O glorious Mother of God, 
Queen of the most sacred Rosary, 
thou who didst love Dominic with the affection of a mother, 
and were most tenderly loved and honoured by him, 
look upon me, for his sake, 
with an eye of pity, 
deign to join with him in presenting these petitions 
to thy most Blessed Jesus.  
I sincerely desire from this moment 
to love Him with all my heart, 
and serve Him with all my strength, 
and now place myself under thy powerful protection, 
as a sure means of obtaining all the graces necessary 
to serve Him faithfully here, 
that I may eternally rejoice with Him hereafter.

Amen.

h/t Catholic Doors

Weeds

Thinking about today's Gospel, Matt. 13: 36-43, gave me pause.  I was using the words as advice as how to handle evildoers.  Just leave them to God.  Let them live and go.  "The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.  They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grind of teeth.  Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father."

However, just like weeds, they don't go away.  They try to choke the good.  They're ugly aren't they?  They're unwanted.  They spoil the garden.

They're methods to use.  I cover the ground.  Sometimes I use wood chips.  Sometimes cheese cloth, or plastic.  Weeds won't grow through these substances.  Likewise, people have to take precautions not to be overcome by evil.  It's work no matter which way you take it.

Let's let the love of God burn in our hearts, and that fire will keep the weeds at bay.

Ghostly Summons

Ghostly Summons by John A. Karr is a paranormal mystery.  The main character, Lars Kelsen sees dead people.  Let me clarify that statement.  Murdered people appear to him, and continue to appear to him, until he solves their case. 

The novel begins in the Outer Banks.  Lars has moved there to start a new life.  He was a crime reporter and thought that the job was getting to him.  He attributed his visions to his job, his personal life’s tragedies, and he thought a change would do him some good.

His new job was computer programming.  One of his coworkers talked him into helping her husband, who owned a local newspaper.  Lars wrote about his latest vision’s case.  He helped the newspaper and he solves the case.

How he solves the case will leave you guessing.  I won’t spoil it for you, but it’s not who you think it is.  It’s not your second guess, either.  If you like mysteries, you’ll like Ghostly Summons.

John A. Karr is a prolific writer.  He’s very versatile.  He writes  science fiction, historical novels, horror, and space opera.  Visit his website: http://www.johnakarr.com/

Kindle buy link ($3.99):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BUT38VS?tag=tributebooks-20

Nook buy link ($3.99):
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghostly-summons-john-a-karr/1114842051?ean=2940016384696

Try the raffle giveaway: <a id="rc-2bf06793" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2bf06793/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>

Spiritual Triathlon

Last Sunday, I watched my daughter compete in a triathlon.  She did very well.  She is a very competent swimmer, and an efficient bicyclist, and runner.  She's in excellent physical shape.

You may think this is an odd confluence, but I connected this triathlon of physical events to a different kind of spiritual event--praying.  It is an odd confluence, because there are many ways of praying as there are people.  Just look at last week's Gospel (Luke 10:38-42) about Martha and Mary.  There's two different ways of praying (active and contemplative).  Now look at this week's Gospel (Luke 11: 1-13) where Jesus teaches his disciples to pray to their Father in heaven.  And even in the beginning of this Gospel, the disciples mention that John taught his followers to pray: Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.

So maybe competing in a spiritual triathlon isn't such a reach.  In fact, when I was thinking over all the different methods of praying, I realized that I compete in a spiritual triathlon every day.  Yes!  I do.

Every morning I pray using Lectio Divina with Liturgy of the Hours with my cup of coffee.  Then I go to Mass.  Before Mass, I pray a rosary.  There, one--two--three.

Lectio Divina

Rosary

Mass

Warp World

Warpworld is listed as Science Fiction Adventure.  So it is and more. I would add “thriller and suspense.”  Kristene Perron and Joshua Simpson, are the authors.  They will bring the reader  into the two worlds of the two major characters, Seg and Ama.  Seg is Segkel Erarant, who has just graduated from cultural theorist school.  He is sent to look for fuel for his world.  He is warped to Ama Kalder’s world.  She is the captain of the boat Seg hires.  Their adventures, eventual partnership, and I’m not going into spoilers, etc. 

The novel is long, but worth it.  In fact, you will wish it would never end.  You’ll want more.  You’ll love Ama’s family.  In fact, Seg falls in love with their family life, and in particular their culture.  It seems that loyalty, faithfulness, and compassion are not common in Seg’s world.  Seg saw these virtues and not only does he want them for himself, he foresees how useful they are.  He uses these virtues to win over his enemies in his own world.

I wish I had a medpack.  I wish I had Ama’s lathe.  I wish I had Seg’s confidence, imagination, and luck.  I’m hooked and want more.  You will too.  You’ll see.  Can’t wait for the next installment of Seg and Ama’s adventures.

Read other reviews on Goodreads: Warpworld Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16107908-warpworld

Buy the book on Amazon: Amazon paperback buy link ($17.99):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1551200503?tag=tributebooks-20

Kindle ebook buy link ($7.99):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009QRXHXK?tag=tributebooks-20

Nook ebook buy link ($7.99):

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warpworld-kristene-perron/1113483180?ean=2940015488579

There’s even a raffle for an Amazon Gift Card: <a id="rc-2bf06794" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2bf06794/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>