Categories
attention freedom the real self

So many coats – Mary Oliver

 

With growth into adulthood, responsibilities claimed me, so many heavy coats. I didn’t choose them, I don’t fault them, but it took time to reject them.

— Mary Oliver, Upstream

Categories
Catechism prayer

Prayer – a surge of the heart

 

According to Scripture, it is the heart that prays. If our heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in vain.

“For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, as quoted in paragraph 2558

Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2562, 2558

Categories
truth

Frederick Buechner – Truth beyond all truths

Is the truth beyond all truths, beyond the stars, just this: that to live without [Jesus] is the real death, that to die with him is the only life?

— The Wise Man

Frederick Buechner, Secrets in the Dark: A Life in Sermons, “The Birth”

Categories
prayer Prayers

Prayer for divine mercy

Eternal Father, I offer you

the body and the blood, soul and divinity
of your dearly beloved Son,
our Lord, Jesus Christ,
in atonement for our sins
and those of the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful passion
have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Holy God,
holy Mighty One,
holy Immortal One,
have mercy on us and on the whole world.

— Divine Mercy Chaplet

Categories
the real self

Identify yourself!

 

You cannot tell me who I am, and I cannot tell you who you are. If you do not know your own identity, who is going to identify you? Others can give you a name or a number, but they can never tell you who you really are. That is something you yourself can only discover from within.

— Thomas Merton, No Man Is an Island