Monthly Archives: April 2020

A Votive Heart

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A Votive Heart

Sweet Savior, I give to Thee my heart.
Make it as Thine own,
That it may love those in the world,
And those, having past from its bounds,
Not ready to see the Father’s glory.

With my every breath,
I wait on Thee,
Pleading the perfection of my cherished loves.
Pray, lift the veils persisting to obscureThy Beauty.

Let me be a living prayer,
A votive candle,
Burning on the altar of Thy Cross,
Whose smoke rises as incense
With Thy Resurrection from the dead.
I am a captive to Thy call upon my heart.

I draw each breath,
For those You  give me in this life,
By blood, as friend, foe, neighbor, passing stranger,
And those still alien to Thy love,
All, whom the Father desires
For life in You and in Thy glory.

© 2017 Joann Nelander

Who is the Poorest of the Poor?

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Who is the poorest of the Poor?
Is it not the one deprived of womb?
Is it not the one gone unnamed?
Given a frame
But denied rightful claim,
Stripped bear of place,
No space to grow,
Deprived of a proper birth?
Is it not the one evicted,
Before drawing it’s first breath,
Whose beating heart is silenced,
With the sanction of the Court!?
With privacy,
Lest the whole world hear it’s cry?

Though a mother forget her child,
The Father of all fathers
Will not, no never, forget.
He has a place,
And a name,
For all the poor,
For the poorest
Of the poor,
Called “Beloved”
And “Poor No More”.

©2012 Joann Nelander

All rights reserved

LORD OF THE TRUSTING

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LORD OF THE TRUSTING

Lord of the Fallen,
Fallen from grace,
Fallen in misfortune,
Lord of the Forsaken,
Forsaken in favor,
Forsaken in worldly esteem,
Spread the corner of Your mantle over me.
Like a great bird,
Cover me with mighty wing,
Cloak me with warmth and security,
Like the eagle with its young
Castle me on high,
Feed me with morsels from your mouth.
Feather me in your splendid pinions.
Lord of the Trusting
Trusting in You
Trusting the Trinity
Lord of the Meek
Meek and humble
Meek and gentle of heart
Make Your Heart my eternal home.

Sorrow In the Midst of Joy

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In the midst of joy,
I bear many sorrows.

For the perfection
Of the Trinity’s All Holy
Work of Love,
I place my longing,
My yearning,
Next to your perfect sorrow.

May my cries
Pierce your Immaculate Heart,
O Holy Mother,
As you behold your Son,
In His Dying.

What good can come of sorrow?
You, Queen Mother,
Who sit enthroned
Beside His throne,
Sharing the sweetness
Of Love’s fulfillment,
Know,
And count it all joy.

The One Son,
The One Christ,
Bears Mankind,
As He bore the Cross.
Savor the shed tears
And offer them,
As you did your own.

I await the morning,
The bright dawning
Of Love’s true laughter.

©2013 Joann Nelander
All rights reserved

Divine Mercy Chaplet (spoken) (virtual)

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https://youtu.be/5pdnzUjmkzA

Burial Oil

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Make of me an anointing oil

To be pored into the wounds

That bore my name.

 

Who am I,

How do You count me

In Your universe?

I am nothing,

A wisp,

Mere smoke

Clouding Your heavens,

And yet,

You mount Your Cross

For me.

 

For me,

The nails pierce Holy Flesh,

For me, You are lifted,

And the Cross

Crashed with Your pain

Into the ground

Over the bones

Of my First Parents,

A skull, fittingly,

A remembrance of their fall,

And our perduring Fault.

 

My tears flow with Mary’s

My hair hides me

From hungry eyes,

That I might be for You,

Here in this place and time.

 

You thirst for me.

Now, may I satisfy You,

By willing our union,

And embracing

My death in yours.

 

Oil and comfort,

Comfort only

The dead can know,

To be shrouded away

Until the Day.