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The ISIS atrocities continue as the world does little | Fox News Video
Today’s Flowers
Today, as I pick flowers,
From the garden of life,
In which You have
Chosen to plant me,
By the gift,
You have granted me,
From Your Most Holy Cross,
In giving me
Your very own Mother,
I press each blossom,
Fresh and humble,
Into the open
Hand of Mother Mary.
I await,
With great expectation,
The magnificent bouquet,
The Woman is arranging,
As she gathers
In Her Immaculate Heart,
All the prayers,
Works and sacrifices,
Proffered by the saints,
Poured out in faith
Through the ages.
May the sweet aroma
Scent the hope
Of this day,
And please You,
You, Who,
In the Love,
That brought You
To Your Cross,
Receive my heart’s desire,
As You accepted
The precious tears
Of the Magdalen,
And the sweet anointing oil,
Lavished upon You,
In repentant sorrow.
You, Who love eternally,
Those who love much,
In return for Your Divine
And undying forgiveness,
Press these,
All abloom,
To Your Most Sacred Heart.
Copyright 2013 Joann Nelande
All rights reserved
Holy Mystery of Love
May I burn like a candle
On the altar of God.
In the mystery of fire.
May I contemplate Your Presence.
In the flame that is Love.
We exist together.
The wax of my being is consumed,
In sacred transformation.
Enkindled, ignited and enflamed,
I Am sets me free.
Lover and beloved,
Be now All Holy Light.
copyright 2015 Joann Nelander
Joann Nelander
lionessblog.com
The friendship of God – St. Irenaeus
From the treatise Against Heresies by Saint Irenaeus, bishop The friendship of Godd
Our Lord, the Word of God, first drew men to God as servants, but later he freed those made subject to him. He himself testified to this: I do not call you servants any longer, for a servant does not know what his master is doing. Instead I call you friends, since I have made known to you everything that I have learned from my Father. Friendship with God brings the gift of immortality to those who accept it.
In the beginning God created Adam, not because he needed man, but because he wanted to have someone on whom to bestow his blessings. Not only before Adam but also before all creation, the Word was glorifying the Father in whom he dwelt, and was himself being glorified by the Father. The Word himself said: Father, glorify me with that glory I had with you before the world was.
Nor did the Lord need our service. He commanded us to follow him, but his was the gift of salvation. To follow the Savior is to share in salvation; to follow the light is to enjoy the light. Those who are in the light do not illuminate the light but are themselves illuminated and enlightened by the light. They add nothing to the light; rather, they are beneficiaries, for they are enlightened by the light.
The same is true of service to God: it adds nothing to God, nor does God need the service of man. Rather, he gives life and immortality and eternal glory to those who follow and serve him. He confers a benefit on his servants in return for their service and on his followers in return for their loyalty, but he receives no benefit from them. He is rich, perfect and in need of nothing.
The reason why God requires service from man is this: because he is good and merciful he desires to confer benefits on those who persevere in his service. In proportion to God’s need of nothing is man’s need for communion with God.
This is the glory of man: to persevere and remain in the service of God. For this reason the Lord told his disciples: You did not choose me but I chose you. He meant that his disciples did not glorify him by following him, but in following the Son of God they were glorified by him. As he said: I wish that where I am they also may be, that they may see my glory.
Setting Sail
Come Wind of the Spirit.
O Holiness, fill my sails
That we may traverse the oceans, ,
And laugh at the power of the seas.
Set my course
According to the plan of the Father,
Brought to fruition in the Son,
Who purifies the many waters.
©2013 Joann Nelander All rights reserved
Be Holy! 