You who eat to gladden your gut,
You who indulge to comfort the flesh,
Come to a true banquet!Rejoice your spirit,
Give joy to your soul.
Fatten your prayer on faith.Let words ravish the Heart of God.
Even words unspoken, but burning in your heart,
Call angels to your side.Quiet the world, by stepping apart,
Still your flesh in earnest fast,
Widen the breath of your praise.The majesty of God inclines to your lips.
For it is He, Who has promised.
Whisper and He smiles.Copyright Joann Nelander © 2011 All rights reserved.
Archive for March, 2011
Lenten Whispers
Posted in Catholic with tags Christian, God, Lent, Prayer, prose & poetry on March 31, 2011 by JoannaSt. Gertrude’s Prayer of Petition
Posted in My Journal on March 29, 2011 by JoannaSt. Gertrude’s Prayer of Petition
O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, I praise, extol, and bless Thee, in union with that heavenly praise which the Divine persons of the Holy Trinity mutually render to each other, and which thence flows down upon Thy sacred humanity, upon the Blessed Virgin Mary, and upon all the angels and saints. And I give Thee thanks for all the graces Thou didst lavish upon Thy beloved spouse St. Gertrude. I thank Thee especially for that ineffable love where with Thou didst pre-elect from all eternity, didst enrich her so highly, didst draw her so sweetly to thyself by the strongest bonds of love, didst unite her so blissfully to thyself, dwell with such delight in her heart, and crown her life with so blessed an end. I recall to Thee now, O most compassionate Jesus, the promise Thou didst make to thy beloved spouse, that Thou would most assuredly grant the prayers of all who come to Thee through her merits and intercession, in all matters concerning their salvation. I beseech Thee by the most tender love, grant me the grace ________________ which I confidently expect. Amen.
Sent from my iPod
Empowered
Posted in My Journal with tags christianity, HaShem, Names of God in Judaism, Prayer, Religion & Spirituality on March 28, 2011 by JoannaIt is not my prayer.
It is our prayer.
I pray with the Church.
I am one among all,
All Yours,
All giving voice
To the Church Militant,Called by Your Name,
HaShem, the Name!Empowered by the Name,
HaShem, the Name.Copyright Joann Nelander © 2011 All rights reserved
Cleaning Up Your Act
Posted in My Journal with tags Lent, repentance, sin on March 27, 2011 by JoannaI can only clean up your dirt,
If you give it to me.
Is it pride that stands in your way?
Think, then, of the filth in which you wallow.Being prostrate in repentance,
Is in reality a rising,
A lifting of your head,
A step up, my man!Really now, how proud can a man be,
Who is chained to their sin,
A slave in bondage to habit,
Following the crowd?Mire and muck,
What trappings are these,
But for a prince of fools?
Fall on your knees to stand up!Copyright Joann Nelander © 2011 All rights reserved
Robert Spencer vs Dinesh D’Souza – Terrorism & Extremism
Posted in My Journal with tags debate, Dinesh D'Souza, Islamic terrorism, Robert Spencer, Robert Spencer vs Dinesh D'Souza, Terrorism & Extremism, Video on March 26, 2011 by JoannaJihad Watch videos here.
The Mystery of Man’s Reconciliation With God
Posted in My Journal with tags Annunciation, christianity, Fiat, Holy Spirit, Incarnation, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Son of God, Virgin Mary on March 25, 2011 by JoannaFrom a letter by Saint Leo the Great, pope:
Lowliness is assured by majesty, weakness by power, mortality by eternity. To pay the debt of our sinful state, a nature that was incapable of suffering was joined to one that could suffer. Thus, in keeping with the healing that we needed, one and the same mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ, was able to die in one nature, and unable to die in the other.
He who is true God was therefore born in the complete and perfect nature of a true man, whole in his own nature, whole in ours. By our nature we mean what the Creator had fashioned in us from the beginning, and took to himself in order to restore it.
For in the Saviour there was no trace of what the deceiver introduced and man, being misled, allowed to enter. It does not follow that because he submitted to sharing in our human weakness he therefore shared in our sins.
He took the nature of a servant without stain of sin, enlarging our humanity without diminishing his divinity. He emptied himself; though invisible he made himself visible, though Creator and Lord of all things he chose to be one of us mortal men. Yet this was the condescension of compassion, not the loss of omnipotence. So he who in the nature of God had created man, became in the nature of a servant, man himself.
Thus the Son of God enters this lowly world. He comes down from the throne of heaven, yet does not separate himself from the Father’s glory. He is born in a new condition, by a new birth.
He was born in a new condition, for, invisible in his own nature, he became visible in ours. Beyond our grasp, he chose to come within our grasp. Existing before time began, he began to exist at a moment in time. Lord of the universe, he hid his infinite glory and took the nature of a servant. Incapable of suffering as God, he did not refuse to be a man, capable of suffering. Immortal, he chose to be subject to the laws of death.
He who is true God is also true man. There is no falsehood in this unity as long as the lowliness of man and the pre-eminence of God coexist in mutual relationship.
As God does not change by his condescension, so man is not swallowed up by being exalted. Each nature exercises its own activity, in communion with the other. The Word does what is proper to the Word, the flesh fulfills what is proper to the flesh.
One nature is resplendent with miracles, the other falls victim to injuries. As the Word does not lose equality with the Father’s glory, so the flesh does not leave behind the nature of our race.
One and the same person – this must be said over and over again – is truly the Son of God and truly the son of man. He is God in virtue of the fact that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He is man in virtue of the fact that the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.
Devotion of the Seven Sorrows / Dolors of Mary
Posted in My Journal with tags devotion, Seven Dolors, Seven Sorrows, St. Gertrude on March 24, 2011 by JoannaCriticize Obama- Comedians Opt Out & Why
Posted in My Journal with tags comedian, opinion, Ross Bennett on March 24, 2011 by JoannaH/T HotAir and quoting a fan: ”want to earn 75k a year? Get a job that pays 150k and vote DEMOCRAT!”
No Empty Dream
Posted in My Journal with tags Christ, christianity, forgiveness, Religion & Spirituality, sin, theology on March 23, 2011 by JoannaLamenting, I quit my case.
Sorrowing, my complaints lie with me
In dust and ashes.
The plaintiff has become defendant.I rest the case I brought against You.
What have I proven?
That I never knew You?
That I never sought You?Counterfeits sufficed to fill my belly.
There was always another dream on the horizon.
Tomorrows pretended to satisfy my emptiness.
The chase was the gambit that became the game.Before You showed me mercy,
You showed me Me
Not the Me of mirrors, but the Me of my heart,
That shrunken pigmy of diminishing proportion.Among Men, there is no forgiveness like Yours.
If judged by Men, I would be meted punishment
By the self-righteously righteous,
While the unrighteous, would applaud my vice and welcome me at the hearth,
No forgiveness necessary, where sin is no sin.As gift, the clarity of Day, dawned suddenly,
You appeared with Light as Your garment,
In Your Light I was all Darkness,
Pretense dissipated as Your Sun rose.The world appeared not as a prize but as a wonder.
Nature didn’t dictate; it served.
The heart of mothers where turned back to their children.
And You reigned as King.I would have fainted away,
Had not the Good Thief stood by Your side.
He smiled my way,
Eyes twinkling at the memory of his meeting You upon Your Cross.
Assurances asked, assurances given.
Simple eternal words.Coming full circle, I rest upon Your arm,
You lift up my head and incline to comfort me.
Mercy smiles on my repentant heart,
And plans for me a future full of hope.You Who laid the foundation of the Earth,
Plot a course for me through the Wilderness of the world.
My pilgrimage from sin to saint
Leads through Two Hearts bound by a Mystery uniting Heaven and Earth.Birthed anew in Baptism,
Restored again in Reconciliation,
Your grace acts on me, Your grace acts in me.
All grace that waited upon my willing.My will is now that of a child.
I follow at Your side, learning Your ways.
Your Words are my food and my fullness.
Heaven is no longer an empty dream, but a Promise.
From You lips on the Cross, piercing my heart.“Father forgive them.
They know not what they do.”Copyright Joann Nelander © 2011 All rights reserved.
It’s Hard to Defend What Comes Out of Obama’s Golden Mouth
Posted in My Journal on March 18, 2011 by JoannaSt. Bridget’s 15 Prayers
Posted in Lent, My Journal with tags 15 prayers, Cathoic, Christian, St. Bridget on March 18, 2011 by JoannaSt. Patricks Day Flash mob erupts in Australia — video
Posted in My Journal with tags Australia, Flash mob, St Patrick's Day, Video on March 17, 2011 by JoannaSt. Patrick’s Day-Flash Mob – Australia
Posted in My Journal with tags Australis, Flash mob, St Patrick's Day, Sydney on March 17, 2011 by JoannaIntention
Posted in My Journal with tags God, poetry & prayer prose, Prayer intention on March 16, 2011 by JoannaAll the people of my life,
I place in Your Life.
Living Savior,
One with the Father,
The Spirit,
And lowly me,
Look on my memory,
And on my forgetfulness.Search my corridors and halls.
Find all those faces and voices
Of my past, present and forgotten.
Forgive them,
As You’ve forgiven me.
Draw them,
As You have drawn me.Prepare a heavenly paradise,
In which each may dwell.
Life is short;
Memories fleeting.
You alone endure.
Embracing all,
In Your Eternity.Amen.
Copyright Joann Nelander © 2011 All rights reserved
The Breech
Posted in My Journal with tags All rights reserved, poetry & prayer prose, Religion & Spirituality on March 16, 2011 by JoannaHow great is the distance between us?
Some would say
The span from East to West,
Or measure in miles the chasm
Stretching from Heaven to Hell.
Others count the centuries
Since Your earthly Presence
In hallowed flesh.There is no numbering
Eternity or Divinity.
You are closer than my breath.
Your Heart beats within my breast.
Day by day,
Nay, moment by moment,
I pick up Your rhythm.Traversing the breech,
You make me Your own.
Small, but beloved,
I repose in willful abandonment.
Grace-filled faith,
A movement,
Not a measure,
Soars to the heavens,
In flights of trust in You.Copyright Joann Nelander © 2011 All rights reserved
Draw Close to God
Posted in My Journal with tags Christ, Christ's Cross, God on March 16, 2011 by Joanna
Image via Wikipedia
Draw close to God.
Remove competing wills.
In humility,
Take your repose.
Pride conquers all,
Till dying on Christ’s Cross.Boundless Heart,
Encompassing Universes,
In all dimensions,
You are outside of Time,
Yet close to me.
Eclipse all matter,
Minds, and might,
To draw me nigh to Thee.Amen.
Copyright Joann Nelander © 2011 All rights reserved
I Can Come to You
Posted in My Journal with tags God, Lust, Religion & Spirituality on March 11, 2011 by JoannaI can come to You in Spirit.
I can sit by Your side.
“Ask Me”, You say.
“Ask of Me”, You invite.“Come closer, when you are ready.
When you make up your mind.
I see, you are counting the cost.
That is wise, the thing to do.”“When you measure Me on your scales,
Remember, too, what I paid for you.
I would do it all, again…. just for you.
Measure that, too.”” ‘Not fair!’, you say.
“Let’s see,” say I.
“Is it Me, Who is unfair,
Or is it you?”“You weigh friends, that will have go,
If you have any hope of staying true.
Then, you, consider, forbidden loves,
Which, by the way, I call ‘lusts’,
Lust that leaves you bust,
Left with only dust.“You are right to consider,
For while, My Love is free,
It is relentless in it’s quest.
It will change and challenge you.”“False loves and lovers,
Fade in My Light.
Tinsel tells tawdry,
In the company of Gold.”I can come to You in Spirit.
I can sit by Your side.
“Ask Me”, You say.
“Ask of Me”, You invite.”I see You are the Treasure,
‘The Pearl of great price.’
No longer can I sit beside You.Please, may I enter into Your Heart?
Copyright © 2011 Joann Nelander All rights reserved
Persecuting Christ – Persecuting the Church -Persecuting the Vicar of Christ
Posted in My Journal with tags Catholic, Christian, Dr. Mark Miravalle, fifth Marian dogma, Jesus, Mary, Persecuting Christ, Persecuting the Church, Persecuting the Vicar of Christ on March 6, 2011 by JoannaSet the World Aright
Posted in My Journal with tags Christ Jesus, Great King, Jesus, Poetry, prayer prose., priest, sin on March 1, 2011 by JoannaThe world, in turmoil, convulses.
Peoples flee.
Those who know You,
Run to You.
Those, who are rushing
To the pit in despair,
Flee from You,
As from Leviathan.Show forth Your Truth and Beauty.
Stop sinners in their flight.
Smile, as the Sun from heaven,
That all men may truly see,
And all men know You, O Truth.You are a scourge
To the proud,
But to the man,
Who clearly sees himself,
For what he is, and faints.
Then, coming to his senses,
Lies prostrate in repentance;
To that man, You are Hope
And help, and healing.Your Mercy covers a multitude of sin.
Your blood, sprinkled on us,
Cries out “Sanctuary!”
O Altar, O Victim, O Priest.Christ Jesus,
You know my heart,
And yet embrace it.
Your priestly garment
Covers my nakedness.
Your Kingly Mantle identifies me,
As Child of the Great King.
My name is written on Your Thigh.
Like a mother,
You brought me forth at Your Knees,
To claim me eternally.The waters well up,
I am washed,
And carried in the current,
To ride the waves of Your Mercy
And come to rest on Your shore
For all eternity.Celebrate the Mass
Of our Redemption,
Once for all,
And for all time.
The thunder is silent.
The quaking ceases.
The clouds of darkness part.
The Sun of Justice rises,
And the course of the world
Obeys the Will of Your Father.O Christ, O Holy One,
Guide the course
Of this wayward planet.
Set the earth aright,
And welcome its people
Into Your Heart.Copyright © 2011 Joann Nelander All rights reserved.
