PRAYER SPACE
October 15th. is the Feastday of St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila).
Fifty years ago Pope Paul VI
named St. Teresa
the first woman Doctor of the Church.
Her writings have the blessing of a ‘Teaching Position’ in the family of the Church.
If ever a saint had her heart in heaven
and her feet firmly on the ground –
it was Teresa of Jesus!
St. Teresa’s Bookmark
As a child St. Teresa loved to repeat: ‘Forever! Forever! Forever!’
She was trying to get a handle on the reality of eternity.
She is a great realist who knows, and teaches that:
‘All things pass – save God’ Whenever St. Teresa heard a clock strick she reminded herself, and others, that life was passing and it is not worth spending it on trifles.
The only thing that really matters is Love – love of God and true love of neighbour.
This is the only currency Teresa was interested in – because it is the only thing we can take with us when we die!
If all things pass away, well then, St. Teresa tells us that we better get interested in that which lasts forever
– God, who is Love.
The more love we sow in this life the happier we will be in heaven. so:
‘In You Lord, Creation finds its joy, you have clothed it in your beauty’
St. John of the Cross
Psalm 64:
To you our praise is due in Zion, O God.
To you we pay our vows, you who hear our prayer.
The ends of the earth stand in awe at the sight of your wonders,
The lands of sunrise and
s
unset you fill with your joy.
You care for the earth, give it water,
You fill it with riches.
You crown the year with your goodness.
Abundance flows in your steps,
in the pastures of the wilderness it flows.
The hills are girded with joy,
the meadows covered with flocks,
The valleys are decked with wheat.
They shout for joy.
‘In You lord, Creation finds its joy, you have clothed it in your beauty’
On 1 st. of September Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Orthodox and Evangelicals from all over the world united to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation which launched the ‘Season of Creation’, an ecumenical initiative that aims to increase awareness among Christians of the need to protect our common home. The Season of Creation runs from Sept. 1st. to Oct. 4th. Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and ecology.
For more information see: seasonofcreation.org
Living our Faith amidst the Covid 19 pandemic.
Who is she ascends so high,
Next the heavenly King,
Round about whom angels fly
And her praises sing?
This is she in whose pure womb
Heaven’s Prince remained;
Therefore in no earthly tomb
Can she be contained.
The month of August is usually the most beloved of months here in Knock.
The glorious Solemnity of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother Mary into heaven starts the Novena of Our Lady of Knock.
Although this year is a sad one –
as the Shrine may not open to the public on this great day.
This is because the usual crowds would be more than the ‘Covid 19’ law allows at present;
and how can you say “This many and no more!?”.
Let us not forget it was in a time of deep sadness and the distress of famine
that Mary came to us in 1879 – She will not fail us in 2020!
16th of July Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Star of sea and ocean,
gateway to man’s haven,
Mother of our Maker,
hear our prayer, O Maiden.
Guard us through life’s dangers
never turn and leave us.
May our hope find harbour
in the calm of Jesus.
Sing to God the Father
through the Son who saves us.
Joyful in the Spirit,
everlasting praises.
Aylesford Carmelite Priory, England.
God does not ask us
to be brave
but to trust –
nor does He ask us
to do great things
but to clothe ourselves
in the holiness of
His Merciful Son – Jesus.
