Catholic Meditations

This day,
like so many others,
dawned,
and I awoke,
filled with the normal aches and stiffness,
and stumbled out of bed
my usual disheveled self
and yet,
this day which seems like so many others,
with the business of getting breakfast started
and making sure everybody is up
it is a day like no other,
another gift from you, O Lord,
God-breathed with the chance
to feel the touch of your hand on my life,
to taste the joy that comes from having these times alone with you,
for having the gift of children and husband to care for
and any one else you send my way,
for knowing that life is not a walk in the darkness,
but a marvelous journey,
sweet, sad,
frightening, exciting,
a gift of discovery
where, if we choose,
we can walk it with you,
and in the end, come home to you at last.

Teach me Lord,
to know that you are always with me,
even when the road is rough,
or busy,
or noisy,
or sad,
or happy,
and never to forget my final goal
to rest in your loving arms at last.

Susan E. Stone, 2005

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 16:24-25


O Lord,
here, where the wood of my own cross
rubs agains my shoulders,
I begin to realize
that redemption had a real price,
that the blood flowing down your arms
was not theater decoration,
But you, Lamb of God
our pascal offering
slain,
the blood of atonement,
offered drop by drop
with each beat of your heart.

O Lord,
in my sorrow,
in my pain,
in the yielding up
of "not my will, but yours,"
I learn that true love
has real cost,
and grow more amazed
at the reality
of the price you were willing to pay.

Lamb of God,
who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us
in our blindness
in our willingness to turn away,
in our willingness to disguise the reality
of what you gave,
what you wrought
what you suffered.

Lamb of God
who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us
and give us the true sight
that will let us see
the reality of your love.

Amen.


Susan E. Stone, 2005

Labels: Carrying My Cross, Lamb of God, Passion of Christ, scripture

O God our Father,

You are our Eternal Shepherd and Guide. In your love, grant your Church a new shepherd who will walk in your ways and whose
watchful care will bring us your blessing.

Help him be an example of Christ to those who see him..

Give him also a courageous heart to stand for your truth.

Give him a tender heart so that he may look at people with the eyes of. Christ.

Fill him with your wisdom, O God, that he may steer the church in the paths you ask him to.

Be with the Cardinals as they search prayerfully during the time before and during the conclave, that they may be touched and filled with the Holy Spirit, acting in accordance with your will, and not the will of others.

We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and
ever.

O Lord, we pray your mercy on the Church and the cardinals as they do your work in choosing the successor of Peter.

Holy Mary, help of Christians, pray for them.
St. Joseph, pray for them.

Saint Ambrose, pray for them.
Saint Jerome, pray for them.
Saint Augustine, pray for them.
Saint Athanasius, pray for them.
Saint Gregory Nazianzus, pray for them.
Saint John Chrysostom, pray for them.
St. Anselm, pray for them.
St. Thomas of Canterbury, pray for them.
St. Patrick, pray for them.
St. Martin of Tours, pray for them.
St. Charles Borromeo, pray for them.
Holy bishops, who in life knew how important the role of leading the church is,
pray for the cardinals at this time.

O Blessed Mother,
spread your mantle over these, the servants of your Son.

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
have mercy on us,
especially on those you have appointed to guide us,
and may your voice reach into their hearts
and kindle in them the fire of divine love,
this day, and always.

Amen.

Susan E. Stone, 2005