Beautiful Things

Emptying

Only God can receive all of me.  Lord, I lay all of my life down before You.  Lord, I lay all of myself at Your feet.  I offer all of my desires, joys, weaknesses, gratitude, sorrows, burdens, sadness, gifts, successes, failings, fears, sins, all of it to You, my Lord.  Lord, take all of me and empty my life for You. No one else can receive all of this, only You can.  I come to Your feet and give it all to You.  Empty my heart, my soul, my body, my mind.  Create me anew, Lord.  Make me Yours and Yours alone.  Keep me close always to Your Loving Heart and to the most pure Heart of Your Mother.  Blessed Virgin Mary, my Mother, show me the way to receive the new life of Your Son, Our Lord.  Saint Joseph, help me to be a good daughter, a good wife, a good mother, and a good friend.  In the Most Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.   

He is Risen! Happy Easter!

Ora di Maria

It is here on Holy Saturday, where I find my Mother Mary.  I find her love for me and for all the Church in her quiet hope, though grief-stricken.  Here I cling to my Mother Mary, and while I desire to console her, it is Mary who consoles me.  It is Mary's heart directing me into the beauty of Christ's passion, into trusting Christ's mercy, into the hope of Christ's salvation.

The Greek Orthodox have a great devotion to this Great and Holy Saturday.  Here is a most moving part of the beautiful Ode 9 in the Canon of the Great and Holy Saturday (find a variation here, pdf file).

Must Read: A Heart on Fire: Catholic Witness and the Next America

Archbishop Charles Chaput's newly released Heart on Fire:  Catholic Witness and the Next America is a must read!  I highly recommend reading this, regardless of your beliefs.  It is a fantastic perspective on what is happening in our American public square right now.

The best part is that it is available electronically for just 99 cents!  Find it here or here.  Download it and read it!  It is only 19 pages long.

From In Caritate Non Ficta: A Great Witness

From Philip Gerard Johnson at In Caritate Non Ficta

A Great Witness

Seminarians from the Pontifical College Josephinum wearing their house cassocks (which identify them with their particular seminary), and praying outside of an abortion clinic:

In Caritate Non Ficta

HT Courageous Priest

What a beautiful and amazing witness!  Let's pray for these future priests.