"Truly humble people are centers of peace..."

"True humble people are centers of peace because they fear neither their own failure nor other's success. " see http://www.magnificat.com/ This really struck me when I read it during evening prayer last night... I can't say that I measure up very well to this yardstick of humility.  I would say that the first part of fearing my own failure is kind of big for me.  I have been told by my girls lately that I have become more anxious than I used to be, even to the point of suggesting that I pray about going on medication.  I feel that I don't want to change myself medically, but maybe by remembering that the Lord is in control and that I am merely a small sinful human being that is being energized by his Holy Spirit to love and to serve and not to count the cost.  The things that worry me - my job and the responsiblity I have for many residents and all the medications and treatments I have to do in a shift.  I think that a good amount of being aware of the responsiblity, but there are times that I have to take a deep breath and tell myself that I can only do one thing at a time and that step by step I will do the best I can.  I am always aware that I need to turn inwardly to prayer and put it in his hands.  I have been told that I shouldn't bring my work home and stew about things, but there have been those times that I just go over and over it in my mind.  Maybe I just need to inject humility into the picture and realize that I am just one person doing my best, and yes... double and triple checking.  There are those that are also telling me to change jobs and try to get back into the home working more on a one on one basis with people...Both of these suggestions I am putting to prayer at this time!

The effect that these people are having on me... pointing out that I have work to do, and yes humbling too.  As we have seen that is a good thing, and what the Lord asks of us.  There was a time when Pat and I had a huge does of humiltiy given to us in a situation.  It was so hard!  That was the first time that I had seen the litany of humility!  As I read it I realized that people actually pray this prayer - I have since learned that Blessed Teresa's Missionaries of Charity pray it every week! 

Litany of Humility by Raphael Cardinal Merry de Val (1865-1931)

"O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed,

Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being loved...

From the desire of being extolled ...

From the desire of being honored ...

From the desire of being praised ...

From the desire of being preferred to others...

From the desire of being consulted ...

From the desire of being approved ...

From the fear of being humiliated ...

From the fear of being despised...

From the fear of suffering rebukes ...

From the fear of being calumniated ...

From the fear of being forgotten ...

From the fear of being ridiculed ...

From the fear of being wronged ...

From the fear of being suspected ...



That others may be loved more than I,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.



That others may be esteemed more than I ...

That, in the opinion of the world,

others may increase and I may decrease ...

That others may be chosen and I set aside ...

That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...

That others may be preferred to me in everything...

That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…"

Pertaining to Valentines day coming up... This was a small article from the National Catholic Register... True Love Waits  "The one who,with God's grace and mercy, tries to be pure and chaste is often thought of not as a hero, not as a saint, but as a freak in our culture today," said Archbishop Timothy Dolan at St Patrick's Cathedral Jan 15, according to the daily news."The Biblical teaching on sexual responsibility is countercultural," he continued.   "Anyone who tries his or her best to live it can expect a lot of temptation and even ridicule and criticism." 

In his homily about immorality, he linked it to broken families and crime.   He also encouraged priests to preach on virtue.

"The Church has at times in the past, sadly, come across as some naysaying, puritanical nag, always giving a big 'No, no, no' to one of life's greatest joys," he said.  "Truth be told, it is chastity and purity that liberates us, while immorality enslaves us."

And as Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said, "To a great extent the level of any civilization it the level of its womanhood.  When a man loves a woman, he has to become worthy of her.  The higher her virtue, the more her character, the more devoted she is to the truth, justice, goodness, the more a man has to aspire to be worthy of her."  National Catholic Register

Sweet Jesus,there is so much that we need to learn and take to heart and pray about each day of our journey! We are falling on our knees and asking for you to show us the narrow path for us to follow carrying our Most Cherished Cross.  We embrace the Cross that is our Tree of Life and the path to the resurrection.  May we humbly find that center of peace within ourselves as we strive to do our very best relying on the Spirit of Truth, Love and Life!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

This picture reminded me of a powerful poem by Thomas Merton that I took deeply to heart in my early Catholic days - the beauty of Google - I found it in a matter of seconds!  Enjoy!

"The Blessed Virgin Mary Compared to a Window - Written in 1944 by Thomas Merton

"Because my will is simple as a window

And knows no pride of original birth,

It is my life to die, like glass, by light:

Slain in the strong rays of the bridegroom sun.



Because my love is simple as a window

And knows no shame of original dust,

I longed all night, (when I was visible) for dawn my death:

When I would marry day, my Holy Spirit:

And die by transsubstantiation into light.



For light, my lover, steals my life in secret.

I vanish into day, and leave no shadow

But the geometry of my cross,

Whose frame and structure are the strength

By which I die, but only to the earth,

And am uplifted to the sky my life.



When I became the substance of my lover,

(Being obedient, sinless glass)

I love all things that need my lover's life,

And live to give my newborn Morning to your quiet rooms,

-Your rooms, that would be tombs,

Or vaults of night, and death, and terror,

Fill with the clarity of living Heaven,

Shine with the rays of God's Jerusalem:

O shine, bright Sions!



Because I die by brightness and the Holy Spirit,

The sun rejoices in your jail, my kneeling Christian,

(Where even now you weep and grin

To learn, from my simplicity, the strength of faith).



Therefore do not be troubled at the judgements of the thunder,

Stay still and pray, still stay, my other son,

And do not fear the armies and black ramparts

Of the advancing and retreating rains:

I'll let no lightning kill your room's white order.



Although it is the day's last hour,

Look with no fear:

For the torn storm lets in, at the world's rim,

Three streaming rays as straight as Jacob's ladder:



And you shall see the sun, my Son, my Substance,

Come to convince the world of the day's end, and of the night,

Smile to the lovers of the day in smiles of blood;

For though my love, He'll be their Brother,

My light - the Lamb of their Apocalypse."
Our Lady, may we learn humility at your feet as well as purity and chastitiy! You are the most glorious example and one to go to in prayer!