Category Archives: Faith

Church Fathers on the Eucharist and Real Presence

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CHURCH FATHERS ON TRUE PRESENCE IN THE EUCHARIST

My Garden Grows

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I will sit here,
Speaking my heart to You.
Look on me as in a garden
Tending these flowers of love.

I water them,
Sometimes with tears,
Sometimes with sweat,
And always with the water
That flows from my Baptism.

Water my garden from above.
Make my flowers grow,
And as I tend them,
Please send your angels to plant seeds
For our eternal tomorrows,
Far off, My Love,
But soon, eternally, Now.

(C)2016 Joann Nelander

Beholding Past, Present & Future

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christ_of_saint_john_of_the_cross

In Time,

Yet above it,

Beholding Past, Present and Future,

Christ, look upon my fore-bearers,

Still alive by virtue of an immortal soul.

Look upon my world, spinning in Space,

Held in its journey through Time,

By Your Father’s Almighty Word,

Destined for Judgement,

Bequeathed Mercy.

 

Look upon me,

In my time,

In my place,

On my journey.

 

My Jesus, Mercy.

 

© 2016 Joann Nelander

Pour Forth New Day

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Thank you, God Almighty!
In these new moments
Of the New Year,
I bow before You,
Lord of All.

Creation like Time
Continues to pour forth
From Your Glorious Majesty.
Never an unprovided instant,
All as You command
For the good of all.

Given is the peace and plenty,
Heard the prayers that bind
Your Heart to mine,
Mended are the trampled fences.
On guard our sure defenses,
Heaven, unsleeping,
Yet at rest,
In the Bosom of Blessedness.

When against the grain
We trespass Your Will
We die outside the Great City
Join now our dying to That One Death
That slayed all Death,
And ravaged the slayer of souls.

Born aloft on the dawn of New Day,
Graced beyond measure,
Sapient Treasure,
Provide the Bread and Wine
To become our Health and Healing,
Daily provision given
As day unto day
You come
With Splendid Son.

Copyright 2013 Joann Nelander
All rights reserved.

The Bridegroom Will Be Coming

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Behold the Bridegroom cometh in the middle of the night,
and blest is he whose loins are girt, whose lamp is burning bright;
but woe to that dull servant, whom the Master shall surprise
with lamp untrimmed, unburning, and with slumber in his eyes.

Do thou, my soul, beware, beware, lest thou in sleep sink down,
lest thou be given o’er to death, and lose the golden crown;
but see that thou be sober, with a watchful eye, and thus
cry–“Holy, holy, holy God, have mercy upon us.”

That day, the day of fear, shall come; my soul, slack not thy toil,
but light thy lamp, and feed it well, and make it bright with oil;
who knowest not how soon may sound the cry at eventide,
“Behold the Bridegroom comes! Arise! Go forth to meet the bride.”

Beware, my soul; beware, beware, lest thou in slumber lie,
and, like the Five, remain without, and knock, and vainly cry;
but watch, and bear thy lamp undimmed, and Christ shall gird thee on
his own bright wedding-robe of light–the glory of the Son.

via divineoffice.org

 

Words: Greek, ca. eighth century; trans. Gerard Moultrie (1829-1885), 1864; Music: Second Mode Melody (Thomas Tallis, ca. 1505-1585)
The Bridegroom Will Be Coming by The Schola Cantorum of St. Peter’s in the Loop is available from Amazon.com

Lilies Like Trumpets

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The lilies like trumpets
Stand about Your altar.
In their loveliness,
They proclaim Love.
In their pure white splendor,
They blast forth
Your glory.

All hallowed Mystery,
You satisfy for the Fall,
Make happy our eternal destiny.

In Your thirst for Man,
Your make new our souls,
And plan a future
Full of Hope,
Drinking our condemnation
To its bitter dregs,
Turning back the sea
Of our unrighteousness,
Drowning the enemy.

You are Mercy calling out,
Before the seat of Judgment.
You, “More Than a Conqueror,”
Turn sinner into saint,
Exchange Blessing for the Curse.

By that grace,
I am become the lily
With You on the altar,
Living witness
Of the Light
And the Life.

Alleluia!

Copyright Joann Nelander 2012
All rights reserved