Tag Archives: Catholic

The Lord’s Joy

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The Lord’s joy
Is my strength.
He persuades my heart
By gentleness.
His mercy is a fountain
Of inner mirth,
Springing up in all seasons,
To temper my sorrow,
To pour oil into my wounds,
To salt my friendships
And to delight the Father,
Who sees me
Running after His Son,
And dancing with David’s abandonment.

May I be the dimple
In Your smile,
Appealing as the uplifted arms
Of a child,
And the innocent sleep
Of a baby.

Gladness be my swaddling,
That You may
Impart to me
The power the weak
Have to touch
The Heart of God,
Accepting always
His Loving will.

Copyright Joann Nelander 2012

Novena to St. Joseph, Husband of Mary

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Day 1 – Novena to St. Joseph, Husband of Mary
Saint Joseph, you are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I come to you as an example for holiness, for you are especially close with God. Therefore, I humbly commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. I beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, pray for me to have a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore:

(Mention your request)

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that your prayers on my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God.

St. Joseph Most Just, Pray for us!

Amen.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

 

That Man, Job

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That man, Job,
That sad man, Job,
That mad man, Job,
That angry man,
That suffering and troubled soul,
Behold my man, Job.

Have we not all been there?
Why, O Lord?
Am I not well-meaning,
One of the good guys,
A nice person?

Why must the Cross
Touch my life?
Am I not
Like a son to You?

With these words,
He  made me see,
“You are, indeed,
Like a Son to Me.”

Thanksgiving Kiss

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O, Mary, thank you for Your Child.

See my empty arms.

See my open heart.

Place your Treasure

In my embrace.

 

He smiles at me,

As I push aside  His swaddling,

To gaze in awe

On the Babe of my redemption.

 

Mystery of mysteries,

Mercy of God,

You’ve come to me.

You’ve come for me

I dare a kiss on Your sweet brow,

My Emmanuel.

 

© 2011 Joann Nelander

Lent

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Lent is about Love,

Recognizing our lack and need.

 

Lent is about Spring,

becominf fertile grouns for Christ’s seed.

 

Lent is about Life,

Allowing the sprout to be freed.

 

Lent is about creation,

Imaging Christ in love and deed.

 

©2013 Joann Nelander

Like the Dew-fall

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Like dew You fall upon me,
I am drenched in Your holiness,
And aglow,
Transformed by Your Light.

Your sweetness woos me,
Even as I lower my eyes,
Beholding my own wretchedness.
“Fear not,” say You,
I yield my defenses.

Your desire for me
Inspires my desire for You,
And my being drinks in Your Presence.
Lightly You settle in me,
Warming me through and through.
In time I will look like You.

©2013  Joann Nelander

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