“In the Dark Night of the Soul, Bright Flows the River of God.” (Saint John of the Cross)
The day has grown so dim, dear Lord, our souls face darkness of night.
All around seems doom and gloom, with no hope or relief in sight.
We struggle to peer through the darkness. We search for some semblance of light.
Dear Lord, have you abandoned us? From darkness, we long to take flight.
It’s in darkness, Lord, that you teach us, to look for You, and to pray.
It’s in darkness, Lord, that we learn to reach for Your hand in the darkness of day.
It’s in darkness, Lord, that we turn to You to feed us Your spiritual food.
It’s in darkness, Lord, that our prideful souls, are humbled and firmly renewed.
It’s in darkness our ears once deaf to Your voice, develop a sharpened hearing.
It’s in darkness our souls learn trust, to set aside all of our fearing.
It’s in darkness that virtue begins to grow, on this unlit road which we trod.
It’s in darkness that bright rivers start to flow—that flows the bright rivers of God.
Our loved ones too are in darkened nights. Guide them to reach for Your hand.
Show them how to use their ears, to hear and to heed Your commands.
Guide them to trust, to find in You a new peace and tranquility.
In the darkness, Lord, help them to find the truth of humility.
Then lead them, Lord, through the darkness, by bright flowing rivers of light.
Lead them, Lord, through the darkness. Give them a burning desire for right.
Lead them, Lord, to dependence on You, to a love for Your merciful ways.
Lead them, Lord, through the darkness to a truth they’ll embrace all their days.
Lead them, Lord, through the darkness, to a longing for serving souls too.
Lead them, Lord, through the darkness. Lead them Lord through the darkness to You.
Enter through the narrow gate,
for the gate is wide and road broad that leads to destruction
And those enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few.
(Matt.: 7:13-14)
Lord, lead us through the narrow gate,
Destruction’s gate is broad and wide.
So many on destruction’s path.
Be our Shepherd and our guide.
Clear out that destructive path,
Filled with confusing contradictions.
Detach us from greed and lust,
Enslavement and addictions.
Clear out those things which tempt us,
Fill us with every virtue.
Remove whatever promotes vice.
Help us seek to serve You.
Help us find the road to life.
The narrow gate with constrictions.
Dear Jesus, show us to this road,
Remove every road restriction.
We have so many loved ones,
Lost on destruction’s road,
Help them see the narrow gate,
May Your love be their goal.
Help them embrace Your loving laws.
Free them from dissent.
Help them find their way to You.
Help them to repent.
Help them find Your path of love.
Time is now running late.
Help them find the narrow way,
Through the narrow gate.
“The World is Thy Ship, and not Thy Home.” (St. Therese)
This world is the ship which we travel,
To the gate of our heavenly home.
The world is a voyage of stormy seas,
Rogue waves cresting with foam.
Heaven’s the home we are made for.
In heaven, there is no fear,
In heaven there is no crying.
The Lord will wipe away all our tears.
If we’re feeling not quite at home here,
A little like we don’t belong,
It helps to remember and know dear,
This world is our ship, not our home.
May we open our eyes to Your truth, Lord.
The world is vain glory and show.
It’s heaven that we are made for,
And You, Lord, we are made to know.
Wherever we go and we wander,
Wherever it is that we roam,
May our hearts be yearning for heaven,
As we sail towards our heavenly home.
The gift of grace increases as the struggle increases.
(St. Rose of Lima)
The struggle is increasing. In blackened night, we light Christian lamps.
Loved ones are ensnared, captured by evil camps.
Land mines all around us. Things are now exploding,
We cling to truth, while in our midst, it seems truth is imploding.
Our clothes are torn in tatters, our faces marked by ashes.
Limping beaten and battered, blood drips from wounds and gashes.
The signs that are around us can make us feel like we are losing.
We struggle to fight for truth. Life is now so confusing.
Help us remember, Jesus, as the struggle increases,
Your grace increases more. Your protection never ceases.
The enemy is locked and ready, to attack our Christian base.
His guns are aiming at us. Dear Lord, send to us more grace.
We need grace to use our armor, when on us bullets rain,
We need the helmet of salvation, to protect our thoughts and brains.
We need grace to lift Your sword, to battle evil and to fight.
We need grace to speak Your words; to speak truth, bring truth to light.
We need grace to hold the shield of faith, against sinful arrows.
We need grace to walk Your holy path, along the straight and narrow.
We need grace to march in cadence, with feet firmly shod in peace.
We need grace to win this war, that war will one day cease.
We need grace merciful Jesus, to stand our holy ground,
When everywhere we look, wickedness abounds.
We need grace now loving Jesus, so we beg You do make haste.
Fill our hearts with Your love. Fill our lives with Your grace.
Posted: February 22, 2024 · Leave a Comment
IN YOUR SACRED HEART
“Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, it is not pompous,
It is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing
but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.”
(1 Cor. 12)
Lord, we pray Thee grant to us a love pleasant and kind.
A love that brings us truth and joy and brings us peace of mind.
Take from us jealous feelings. In truth may we abide.
Free us from all selfishness. Free us from pompous pride.
We pray that over injuries, we may never ruminate or brood.
Help us control our tempers, and be mild, and never rude.
Grant us the grace to hear Your Words, to answer Your loving call.
Grant us the grace to speak the truth with love and peace to all.
May we have the grace to bear all troubles, to bear all unpleasant things,
Grant us grace to soar in faith. Give to us holy wings,
That we may fly above our troubles, as we face so many trials.
That we may, to another, lend a loving hand, or share a gentle smile.
Love bears all things. Grant us grace that all things we may bear.
Love hopes all things. Grant us the grace to hope and always care.
May it be Your love that our open hearts readily receive.
May it be Your truths to which we cling; Your truths which we believe.
May we keep within our hearts, in a way that’s pure,
a true love that lasts through time, that always will endure.
Faith, hope and love remain—all given from above.
But the greatest gift will always be Your precious gift of love.
Dear Jesus, walk now with us. Beside us, always stay.
Call us back to You, may we not be led astray.
May loved ones now live in truth, from truth, no more depart.
May all at last find true love in Your Sacred Heart.
(Based on 1 Cor: 12)