O Great Mystery

O come, 

Desire of the nations, 

binding one the hearts of all mankind;

bid every strife and quarrel cease

and fill the world with heaven's peace

 

O great mystery,

and wonderful sacrament,

that animals should see the new-born Lord,

lying in a manger!

Blessed is the Virgin whose womb

was worthy to bear

Christ the Lord.

Alleluia!

 

Silent night, 

Holy night,
Son of God, 

Love's pure light.
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace.
Jesus, 

Lord at thy birth.
Jesus, 

Lord at thy birth.

Saint Pope John Paul II

Be Still.

Be still and know I am with you

be still, I am the Lord.

I will not leave you orphans.

I leave with you my world. 

Be one.

You fear the light may be fading.

You fear to lose your way. 

Be still, and know I am near you. 

I'll lead you to the day 

and the sun.

Be glad the day you have sorrow.

Be glad, for then you live. 

The stars shine only in darkness, 

and in your need

I give my peace.

  

Waves

the waves sing and dance
their eternal musical

of laments and praise

sharing man's sorrows and pain

showing a place where peace reigns

Christ - Still Dies and Gives

Christ dies 

for all of us

He pays for all our sins

past, present and those yet to come

when we sin we add to His suffering

His timeless torment is reduced 

when we keep His commands
never forget 
Christ dies

union
through His Presence
in the bread and the wine  
His flesh and blood given to us 
makes us One Body through Him and with Him
together in faith and in love
sharing this precious gift
in a grace filled
union

Cats and Dogs

give a dog what it 

wants - it just wants more and more

dogs need restraining

give a cat what it 

needs - and it is satisfied

let cats roam freely

looks can deceive
so occasionally there  
may be exceptions

God Given Insight

“There are many things 
that can only be seen through 
eyes that have cried” 

(Oscar Romero)

Retired

Definitions:

To withdraw for rest or seclusion.

To go to bed.

To withdraw from one's occupation, business, or office. 

To stop working.

To fall back or retreat, as from battle.

To move back or away; recede.

More time to myself

to wander and to reflect

on things great and small

Jesus Christ 'Modernised'

All these wasted years
believing the Church's words.
Then, to discover
two thousand years of 'error';
the wrong 'paradigm' was used.

Old Companions

my name's 'Bear' - just 'Bear'

I was Catherine's best friend

as a small baby

in her cradle and her cot

at her side both night and day

my name's 'Lamb' - just 'Lamb'

Catherine took me with her

where ever she went

telling me of her troubles

throughout all her childhood years  

oh what tales we have

we pair of 'thirty-somethings' 

who've witnessed so much

alas our tales are secret 

stored for one special new child

He Is Risen

beaten for mankind 

crowned with piercing thorns

hung broken to die

though abused and killed

His defeat is victory  

for the Love of God

eyes open though

lids be glued with blood and tears

bringing joy and peace

 victory bursts forth  

light overcomes all darkness 

 His majesty shines

Seven Last Sayings

"Father

forgive

them for

they do

not know

what they do"

 "Amen I say to thee this day thou shalt be with me in paradise"

"Woman behold your son ....................... behold your mother"

"My God .......... My God ........... Why have you forsaken me?"

"I thirst"

"TELELESTAI"

"Father

into your

hands I

commend

my spirit"

Adoramus te, Christe,
et benedicimus tibi,
quia per sanctam crucem tuam
redemisti mundum.
Qui passus es pro nobis,
Domine, Domine,
miserere nobis.

We adore Thee,
most holy Lord Jesus Christ,
here and in all Thy churches that are in the whole world,
and we bless Thee;
because by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the World.
Amen.
(St Francis of Assisi)

Alone in Agony

 in sheer agony 

His sweat was, as it were, great
drops of blood falling

My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.

Love ....

silence

no arguments

a week for quiet thought

on our Saviour's sacrifice

God's own atonement for all of our sin
His free gift offered on a Cross

willing us to accept

His pure love in 

silence

Animal Farm

woof ...this is too much

two cats and now a duckling

it's time to move out

puurrr  .... do chill out penny

you are far too highly strung

take life as it comes

********

woof woof

woof woof woof woof

woof woof woof woof woof woof

woof woof woof woof woof woof woof woof

woof puurr

puurr puurr puurr puurr puurr puurr puurr puurr

puurr puurr puurr puurr puurr puurr

puurr puurr puurr puurr

puurr puurr

Van the Man ....

Not Long Now

Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think
Enjoy yourself, while you're still in the pink
The years go by, as quickly as a wink
Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, it's later than you think

Influences .....

Henry Newman

revealed God to me

and inspired service with

His word in my heart

 

Viktor Frankle

set my career path

after a chance reading of 

'Man's Search for Meaning'

  Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci

'Rerum Novarum'
revolutionary change
squared the circle

Benedict Joseph Groeschel

'Arise from Darkness'
maintain equilibrium
through trust in Our Lord

The Words of Jesus the Christ

Blessed are you,

 Simon son of Jonah, 

And I tell you that you are Peter, 

and on this rock I will build my church, 

and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; 

whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,

 and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Peace be with you!

As the Father has sent me, 

I am sending you.

Receive the Holy Spirit.

If you forgive anyone his sins,

they are forgiven; 

if you do not forgive them, 

they are not forgiven.

When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, 

he will guide you into all truth.

He will not speak on his own; 

he will speak only what he hears, 

and he will tell you what is yet to come.

He will bring glory to me 

by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.

All that belongs to the Father is mine. 

That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

Down and then Up

some songs just capture
the turning points in ones life
these two do for me

Middle Aged Man on his Window Sill

sits alone frozen
seething angry bitterness
scared of living
spitting spite at God above
and venom at men below

Grrrrrr .... .......

Penny Here 

he's letting these stay

they best keep out of my way

i'll have their heads off

Happy Jack?

who is Happy Jack?

a blogging inquisition

now triggered for the

curious and malicious

with what possible end-game?

*chuckle*

The kids couldn't hurt Jack
They tried and tried and tried
They dropped things on his back
And lied and lied and lied and lied and lied
But they couldn't stop Jack, or the waters lapping
And they couldn't prevent Jack from feeling happy

who is Happy Jack?
"Happy Jack is Happy Jack"
the questions over
the inquisition ended
now he can be left in peace 

Images Two ...

"Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus"

faithful to God's plan
and His specifications
built for the journey
and guided by a leader
with direction from above   


a man made vessel
a marvel of invention
for the course ahead 
faith in sola hominum
to navigate the one way
   
Some non-Christians and non-Catholics
may make it to heaven in life-boats.

Images ....

Symphony Orchestra

inspired 'script' an
instrumental ensemble
interprets with truth

One Man Band

makes it up as he 

goes along according to 

his mood at the time

A Man of Constant Sorrow