Monthly Archives: January 2012

115 Roman Catholic Bishops Speak Out / HHS Mandate

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H/T Thomas Peters

Here are the bishops who are Speaking Out Against Obama/HHS Mandate:

Items in bold mean the statement was read at all diocesan Masses or included in all parish bulletins on Sunday:

Pope Benedict Laughing With the Doves

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My Shalom

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My Shalom, My Shalom,
Reigning over the waters,
Conquering the watery depths,
Making clear,
Revealing by discernment
Benefactor or maleficence.

Quieted soul,
Ever vigilant heart,
Desirous of My Holy Booty,
Gazing through the fiery flame
Serene against the tumult,
Drinking from the Chalice of My Blood,
Covenanted through my Sacred Cross,
Lifted high above the world
As I, Myself, pass as flaming brazier,
Between the broken pieces of your life.

My Shalom, My Shalom,
I call you
By My All Holy Name,
To dwell secure in Love.
Cost counted, chosen,
And placed in the balance.
Infinity pays the price
And tips the scale of Life to
Favor a son of God Most High.

Copyright 2012. Joann Nelander

Poetry Picnic week 24

On the Miraculous Medal – mp3

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Click on Image:

20071208-On-the-Miraculous-Medal.mp3

Sunday Snippets–A Catholic Carnival

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RAnn of This That and the Other Thing hosts Sunday Snippets–A Catholic Carnival, a group of Catholic bloggers who gather weekly to share posts of interest to Catholic bloggers.  Join the fun by visiting This That and the Other Thing and creating your own link as RAnn directs.

Here’s mine for this week:

Cloud Clutter

For a Poor and Lonely Stray – Tribute to Tubok

 

For a Poor and Lonely Stray – Tribute to Tubok

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In memory of Tubok 1997-2011

Meet Shiloh – Celebrating life in honor of Tubok –  Adopted Dec. 18th, 2011

Cloud Clutter

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Grey the day with cloud and clutter,
Music’s muted melody obscured,
Discord in search of harmony,
Gives lie to the Promise of His Presence,
If Truth were only that which can be seen.
 

Faith, though,
Believes not vision, but God,
For God’s sake.
All powers of perception,
But a touch of His finger,
A curtain parted for a peek,
Hardly the measure
Of the Almighty’s might.
 

By Faith,
The eyes of the soul see,
And pierce the veil,
Rendering gain,
That gleaned in blindness,
So I  count the clouds joy,
For Faith keeps hope alive.
 

I am all believing,
And with conviction,
Clutched and cradled,
Felt with the fingers of my trust.
I live the Promise of His Presence.

 
© 2012 Joann Nelander

Poetry Picnic week 23

Sunday Snippets–A Catholic Carnival

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RAnn of This That and the Other Thing hosts Sunday Snippets–A Catholic Carnival, a group of Catholic bloggers who gather weekly to share posts of interest to Catholic bloggers.  Join the fun by visiting This That and the Other Thing and creating your own link as RAnn directs.

Here’s mine for this week:

Reaction Time – A Little Test

What have I ?

Reaction Time – A Little Test

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The human body needs sleep for little things like reaction time.  How’s yours?

 Take the test! 

What have I ?

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What have I,
That You have not given?
Can I count myself my own?
Clothed in flesh,
Before I knew the light,
I burst forth
From a borrowed womb.

Opening my eyes on life,
Mother love shown as my sun.
Before hunger could claim me,
My mouth was filled with sweetness,
Free flowing as a font.

Years brought knowledge,
But not answers.
My needs were met,
Far beyond survival’s mark,
So I presumed dominion,
Supposed myself a god.

In time it was Wisdom
That instructed,
As Providence constructed.
It was You
Who hung the heavens.
You commanded the Earth.
You birthed all powers that be,
Created Universe and Light.

Time and Tomorrow
Were born at Your Word,
As star and star dust
Danced to Your music.
I whirled in abandonment,
Irrational contentment.

You hold all in being,
As summit and treasure,
And by Love possessed,
What have I?
What have I?
I have it all!
I have, by that same Love,
You, My Love,
You.

©2012 Joann Nelander

Visit Poetic Picnic at Gooseberry Garden 

Two Stories to Ponder

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Jennifer responded to this soldier’s story with this reply:

Jennifer says : January 1, 2012 at 10:47 pm

“hi there, I just want to say to you that all these civilians that find it necessary to blindly judge you on the choices you have made in your life, have not been where you have been, or felt the fear of arriving somewhere like that and knowing there is no turning back. You took an oath and you stuck with your word and your beliefs/morals, and that’s a true man in my eyes. I am a 27yr old female and my sons father is in the Canadian military, my son was born in 07 and his father just met him over this past Xmas holiday, I went 4 years without any contact not knowing if he was dead or alive or what to tell our 4yr old son as to who and where his daddy is. Keeping in mind that in the beginning of his training I will be the first to admit i did not understand as to why he was doing what he was doing, and leaving his family, and most of all me, but as I in the last year obtained my own career in law enforcement I only now know why he chose to do what he did. Over the last week he has met his son for the first time, and every time we meet I look at him with such respect, admiration, and love for what he has done for our country and for civilians similar to the ones on your forum having no problem throwing in their opinion and disrespecting your courageous choices, but….you ask these such people to step up and do what you and others such as my sons father have done, and I can guarantee you that they would be terrified and refuse, and yet they can throw such judgment on those who have risked their own lives to save theirs. It sickens me. My sons fathers whole persona is so different from the last time I saw him in 07, and I only wish that I stuck at his side over the last 4 years instead of running based on my own fear of him making the wrong choice and “abandoning” us so to speak. He has told me stories similar to yours and i see the pain and fear in his eyes as he sits across the table from me holding our son for the first time, and my heart melts not only for him but for all of you. I still love him very very much but 4 years is a big gap to fill in two weeks holidays and he is off again. What I am trying to say is not everyone will understand why you guys are out there, and they may never will, but never forget that behind one uneducated close minded civilian, follows thousands that stand tall behind all of you and for what you stand for. The lack of respect from these people makes me wish we could take them and throw them out on the front line and see how fast they coward. The saying stands true “If you don’t stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them.” I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart to you, my sons father, and all other brothers and sisters that stand together…thank you for risking your life for us, civilians, who actually care and respect what you are doing….and for the ignorant, mindless, self centered civilians such as those I have read on your forum…I will thank you for them….because one day they will see….and they to will be educated when situations such as the ones in Iraq come knocking at their door. They will be begging for superior, courageous, selfless, soldiers..MEN..such as yourself and my sons father. And Kudos to you for replying to these negative comments in such a calm, mature, respectful manner, once again in my opinion you are demonstrating the difference between a MAN and a man-child, is what we call them here :) God bless to you and your family and friends .”

Sunday Snippets – A Catholic Carnival

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RAnn of  This That and the Other Thing  hosts  Sunday Snippets–A Catholic Carnival. Click to find out how to submit your favorite posts of the past week.

You are invited to join us or simply read what other Catholics are thinking and blogging.

Radiant Light

Wounded Soldier Down

Waiting for Me

Waiting for Me

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God is.
God is waiting for me.
He woos me.
He thirsts.
God thirsts
For my thirsting for Him.

Here in the Now,
I Am.
I Am in mystery.
I Am in darkness.
Being of Light,
Overshadowing, as by a cloud,
As driving in the dark,
Seeing darkly,
Perceiving indistinctly,
All senses at high pitch.

Unify the threads of day.
Compose my hours
To sing one song.
Bathe me anew.
Let me swim in You.
Alive to Presence.
Awake in repose.
Listening.

I know You in fullness,
Fully and abundantly.
I know You
In the fullness of my emptiness,
Robed in the fullness of my sorrow,
In the fullness of my grief,
In the fullness of my joy and plenty,
In rapture,
Sweetly knowing
And by Love known.

© 2012 Joann Nelander

Wounded Soldier Down

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Wounded soldier down!
The very air crackles about him,
The moment is charged with alarm.
Fallen is Babylon.
Fallen, too, the Savior
Under his cross,
Man at war within himself,
His colors undeclared.

Wounded soldier down!
Two armies meet in one field of battle.
Only one shall rise again.
Victory is at hand.
Only one has paid the price.

Wounded soldier down!
Unseen forces join the fray.
The smell of fear draws the demonic.
Hell combats hope and the holy,
Raising doubts by telling lies.

Wounded soldier down!
Dragged by the heels,
Through the mire of memory.
Sin gnashes its teeth.
The enemy assails a child of God.

Wounded soldier down!
Prayer cries out before the throne of God.
There were days in which he’d prayed.
And there was selfless love.
Sprinkled as holy water.
Father forgive him,
Though he knew Me little.

Wounded soldier down!
A moment of Truth
Before One God,
How will you now?
Choose your livery.
Be you a son to Me?
I won the battle long ago,
Fighting now for you alone.

Wounded soldier down!
Angelic encampments
Muster to the call.
Hell is engaged,
As son you choose to be.

Wounded soldier down!
Life leaves you on that plain.
Bereft of breath.
Like a child,
Lifted heavenward,
On wings of the holy,
To your Sabbath rest.

©2012 Joann Nelander

Visit Poetic Picnic at Gooseberry Garden 

The Word of the Father gives order, direction and unity to creation

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From a Discourse Against the Pagans by Saint Athanasius, bishop

The Word of the Father gives order, direction and unity to creation

By his own wisdom and Word, who is our Lord and Savior Christ, the all-holy Father (whose excellence far exceeds that of any creature), like a skillful steersman guides to safety all creation, regulating and keeping it in being, as he judges right. It is right that creation should exist as he has made it and as we see it happening, because this is his will, which no one would deny. For if the movement of the universe were irrational, and the world rolled on in random fashion, one would be justified in disbelieving what we say. But if the world is founded on reason, wisdom and science, and is filled with orderly beauty, then it must owe its origin and order to none other than the Word of God.

He is God, the living and creative God of the universe, the Word of the good God, who is God in his own right. The Word is different from all created things: he is the unique Word belonging only to the good Father. This is the Word that created this whole world and enlightens it by his loving wisdom. He who is the good Word of the good Father produced the order in all creation, joining opposites together, and forming from them one harmonious sound. He is God, one and only-begotten, who proceeds in goodness from the Father as from the fountain of goodness, and gives order, direction and unity to creation.

By his eternal Word the Father created all things and implanted a nature in his creatures. He did not want to see them tossed about at the mercy of their own natures, and so be reduced to nothingness. But in his goodness he governs and sustains the whole of nature by his Word (who is himself also God), so that under the guidance, providence and ordering of that Word, the whole of nature might remain stable and coherent in his light. Nature was to share in the Father’s Word, whose reality is true, and be helped by him to exist, for without him it would cease to be. For unless the Word, who is the very image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, kept it in existence it could not exist. For whatever exists, whether visible or invisible, remains in existence through him and in him, and he is also the head of the Church, as we are taught by the ministers of truth in their sacred writings.

The almighty and most holy Word of the Father pervades the whole of reality, everywhere unfolding his power and shining on all things visible and invisible. He sustains it all and binds it together in himself. He leaves nothing devoid of his power but gives life and keeps it in being throughout all of creation and in each individual creature.”

Radiant Light

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Darkness, fleeing at the approach of Promise,
Star bright and resplendent,
The Sun, illuminating the Virgin’s womb,
Making of it a palace
Fit for a king, a King of Kings.

Light bright angel,
Carrying her “Fiat” heavenward,
Enfolding humility, modesty and obedience,
In the gold of innocence and virtue.

Most High overshadowing,
Virgin most pure and lowly,
Conceiving by privilege,
Godhead and Son of Man.

© 2012 Joann Nelander

Sunday Snippets – A Catholic Carnival

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RAnn of  This That and the Other Thing  hosts  Sunday Snippets–A Catholic Carnival. Click to find out how to submit your favorite posts of the past week.

Please think about joining us or simply read what other Catholics are thinking and saying.

I’ve been gathering strength (goofing off) for the year ahead; so here’s all I have:

Counting Stars

Fallen and Forgiven 

Fallen and Forgiven

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You are great in Me,
Simply because You are God.
Remove from the midst of me,
Sin and the vestiges of my evil doing.

The Father of Lies has chained me,
As Samson to a pillar.
Satan beguiled me as a Delilah,
And I gave him reign.
His minions have reduced me to a beast,
Your noble child,
Fallen from great heights.

By Your mercy and forgiveness,
Thwart that Prince of Darkness,
Renewing strength within me.
Heal my wounds,
And place Your vision in my heart.

Bring down the House of Sin,
Make me as columns,
And I will bow before You,
Dying to the old,
And rising to New Life.

©2012 Joann Nelander

 

All you sinners check out: Poetry Picnic Week 26 – Seven Deadly Sins

Counting Stars

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Counting Stars

I counted stars today.
Just as prophets and dreamers,
Glimpsing God through the darkness,
My wonder mounted and took wing.
I, too, beheld
The promise of eternity,
Stretched across the eons.

Mere points of light
In a midnight sky,
Announcing Truth veiled in mystery,
Of things hidden and unseen,
Of ages long past and yet to be.
Who with me
Knows that there is more,
Much more?

Lanterns hung in the heavens
Make of me their lampstand,
That Eternal Light
Might shine more brightly,
Giving voice to creation.

No dumb marvel,
Rather angelic themes,
To sing high praises
In celestial chants,
For all who turn their gaze
Heavenward, counting,
And loosing count,
Journey home.

Copyright 2012 Joann Nelander

My entry for Bluebell Books Short Story Slam Week 18

Image Credit:  http://chance-of-sunshine.blogspot.com/2011/09/umbrella-season.html

Counting Stars

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From Evernote:

Counting Stars

I counted stars today.
Just as prophets and dreamers,
Glimpsing God through the darkness,
My wonder mounted and took wing.
I, too, beheld
The promise of eternity,
Stretched across the eons.

Mere points of light
In a midnight sky,
Announcing Truth veiled in mystery,
Of things hidden and unseen,
Of ages long past and yet to be.
Who with me
Knows that there is more,
Much more?

Lanterns hung in the heavens
Make of me their lampstand,
That Eternal Light
Might shine more brightly,
Giving voice to creation.

No dumb marvel,
Rather angelic themes,
To sing high praises
In celestial chants,
For all who turn their gaze
Heavenward, counting,
And loosing count,
Journey home.

Copyright 2012 Joann Nelander