Bethlehem Prayer (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, day for Dedication of all Churches where the Consecration Date is Unknown, and feast day of the Philermos Icon of the Mother of God, Our Lady of Toledo, Saint Tabitha the Widow (raised from the dead by the Apostle Peter) and (above) Saint Canna verch Tewdr Marw. Image from here.)

Bethlehem Prayer 

(based on Our Lady’s revelations to Elizabeth

Kindelmann 9/15/62...may her blessing extend to us!)

Come with Saint Joseph and me. 

The Flame of Love seeks lodging... 

Move gently ahead

without any force.

Be careful

be hidden

be humble

that you may bear

the Flame of Love. 

We will guard you.

Come with us then!

We will walk the roads

of Bethlehem.  

Amen.

Homefront (WC)

(Wendy Cabell, October 22, feast day of the Interior Life of Mary, Our Lady of the Underground, Our Lady of  Talant, the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, the Andronicus Icon of the Mother of God, the "Seven Sleepers” of Ephesus, (above) Saint Mary Salome Disciple of Jesus (wife of Zebedee and Mother of Saints James and John, Apostles), Pope Saint John Paul II and Blessed Lucia Bartolini Rucellai. Jewish calendar today marks the "return to everyday activities following the spirituality of the festival-rich month of Tishrei." Image from here (and another irresistible teacherly Saint here.)

Homefront 

(a found poem)

One of my teachers always said to me 

‘In the face of great destruction, create.’

—Sue Ellen Parkinson, Iconographer

 

books papers chalk–-

a world apart, a place to dream

Light overcoming darkness

*From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by “Teachers” by Will Schutt. From Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite Studio Time, October 21, 2023. Guest Poet Betty Fanelli’s awesome freewrite above (used with permission) is based on her memories during World War II when she became a much loved Special Ed teacher.

Consolation Prayer (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, October 7, last day of Sukkot and feast day of (above) Our Lady of the Rosary/Our Lady of Victory and Saint Pelagia of Tarsus. On Jewish calendar is also the Return from Temple Dedication (827 BC) and the Beginning of Prayer for Rain. Image from here.)

Consolation Prayer 

(for Our Lady on Her First Saturdays)

She channels all graces...

She obtains everything for you 

from my hands.

--Our Lord to Christiana Agbo

Pure Virgin Mother

True Beauty 

be with us

    your children

          Amen!

*This simple prayer/Sabbath grace (see also here) came about as a way to remember the 5 First Saturday consolations/reparations to Our Blessed Mother:

It is sometimes asked why Our Lady asked for Communions of reparation on five first Saturdays, instead of some other number. Our Blessed Lord answered that question when He appeared to Sr. Lucia May 29, 1930. He explained that it was because of five kinds of offenses and blasphemies against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, namely: blasphemies against her Immaculate Conception [pure], against her perpetual virginity [virgin], against the divine and spiritual maternity of Mary [Mother], blasphemies involving the rejection and dishonoring of her images [true beauty], and the neglect of implanting in the hearts of children a knowledge and love of this Immaculate Mother [be with us...].

The spirit of reparation is a loving desire to make reparation to and console the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Our Mother.--vermontcatholic.org

A Simple Rule of Life (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, October 7, last day of (above) Sukkot and feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary/Our Lady of Victory and Saint Pelagia of Tarsus. On Jewish calendar is also the Return from Temple Dedication (827 BC) and the Beginning of Prayer for Rain. Image from here. )

Simple Rule of Life

(Our Lady of Laus to Bl. Benoite Rencurel, paraphrased )

Do your duty cheerfully.

Bear no hatred towards enemies.

Be untroubled by temptations, worldly concerns.

Simply to God's presence return.

Little Day (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, October 2, 2023, feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary (Cracow; see also here), Our Lady of the Assumption (Naples), the Guardian Angels (related image above), Saint Anna of Kashin and Blessed Maria Anna Kratochwil. On Jewish calendar Sukkot continues. Note: Yesterday was the feast day of the Barsky Icon of the Mother of God, Saint Therese the Little Flower, and blessed Cecilia who “died singing a hymn to the Blessed Virgin Mary”. Image from here.)

Little Day

I do like children who do not know how to read, 

I say very simply to God what I wish to say, 

without composing beautiful sentences, 

and He always understands me.  

–-Saint Therese the Little Flower 

 

Let this day be a day 

fit for children to enter

regardless of their age,

its toys that teach so 

invitingly arranged:

                     brooms and day planners

                             glow of paintbrushes

in their angel mug

             tea and cookies on the side

     nap time when it’s all too much.

Such a place once awake!--

innocence not at stake but fed

here in head-heart-soul

where linger for airflow

flutter--note now

all sings

*From combined prompts: free write as inspired by excerpts from “Dark Harvest” by Joseph Millar and  “In Harvest” by Sophie Jewett. From Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite Studio time, October 2, 2023.