Catholic Meditations

Calm

It is in the calm of the storm,
that pause between the whirling winds
that lets me glimpse you,
and your touch on my life,
like the blue sky buried
in the heart of the storm
that tells me there is hope,
and sun,
and calm
if I but weather the crisis.

O Lord,
giver of that calm that comes when you reach out to me
and remind me that you are here,
waiting,
patient,
understanding,
and that the rage and chaos that fills life will fade
long enough for you to touch my heart,
if I would answer
yes.

O Lord,
teach me to hear your voice
above the winds that would pull me awy
and may find the peace that comes
only from you,
through you,
with you.

Amen.

Susan E. Stone, 2005

O Lord,
there are moments that we don't understand
the chaos you present us with,
the darkness of the road ahead,
the pain and the suffering and grief.

In those moments when I want to scream out "Why me?"
let me hear your voice say "Why not you?"
and teach me the right questions to ask,
how to be salt and light even when the darkness surrounds me,
how to say, "Where does it hurt?",
and "What can I do?"
and the hardest thing of all, "Help!"

May I this day, and always,
see Christ in those you put before me,
even when anger percolates through my heart
and I want to reach out and hit something,
even when tears touch my heart and eyes,
and I want to roll into a ball,
even when I have no answers,
except to remember you,
and the darkest of days,
and how you gave all.

O Lord,
teach me to love as you love,
this day and always,
Amen.

Susan E. Stone, 2005

Litany of the Saints to Saints who have churches dedicated in New Orleans, for the city of New Orleans at this time of danger, destruction, and need.

Lord have Mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord, graciously hear us.

O good saints, you who the children of New Orleans dedicated their churches to, pray for them.

Our Lady of Good Counsel pray for New Orleans
Our Lady of Guadalupe pray for New Orleans
Our Lady of Lavang pray for New Orleans
Our Lady Of Lourdes pray for New Orleans
Our Lady Of Prompt Succor pray for New Orleans
Our Lady Of The Sacred Heart pray for New Orleans
Our Lady Star Of The Sea pray for New Orleans
Saint Ann, pray for New Orleans
Saint Joseph pray for New Orleans
Saint Alphonsus pray for New Orleans
Saint. Anthony Of Padua pray for New Orleans
Saint. Augustine pray for New Orleans
St. Boniface pray for New Orleans
Saint Cecelia pray for New Orleans
Saint Clare pray for New Orleans
Saint David pray for New Orleans
Saint. Dominic pray for New Orleans
Saint Francis de Sales pray for New Orleans
Saint. Francis Of Assisi pray for New Orleans
Saint Francis Xavier pray for New Orleans
Saint Gabriel The Archangel pray for New Orleans
Saint Henry pray for New Orleans
Saint James pray for New Orleans
Saint James Major pray for New Orleans
Saint Joan Of Arc pray for New Orleans
Saint John pray for New Orleans
Saint John The Baptist pray for New Orleans
Saint. Joseph pray for New Orleans
Saint. Leo The Great pray for New Orleans
Saint Louis King of France pray for New Orleans
Saint Maria Goretti pray for New Orleans
Saint Mark pray for New Orleans
Saint Mary Of The Angels pray for New Orleans
Saint Mary pray for New Orleans
Saint Matthias pray for New Orleans
Saint Maurice pray for New Orleans
Saint Monica pray for New Orleans
Saint. Patrick pray for New Orleans
Saint Paul The Apostle pray for New Orleans
Saint Peter and Paul pray for New Orleans
Saint Peter Claver pray for New Orleans
Saint Pius X pray for New Orleans
Saint Raphael The Archangel pray for New Orleans
Saint Rita of Cascia pray for New Orleans
Saint. Roch pray for New Orleans
Saint. Rose Of Lima pray for New Orleans
Saint. Stephen pray for New Orleans
Saint Theresa Of Avila pray for New Orleans
Saint Theresa Little Flower of the Child Jesus pray for New Orleans
Saint Vincent De Paul pray for New Orleans
Blessed Francis Seelos, pray for New Orleans.
Mary, Queen of Vietnam, who led members of your parish, to let all others receive aid before them, pray for New Orleans.
All you good saints, pray for New Orleans.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on the men and women caught by the storm, who lost their homes, who labor in such dreadful conditions, and who seek to help..

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

O Lord, we pray for those who have lost so much and are now facing the reality of making new lives out of total loss, we pray for those working to save the people caught by the storm, who are housing the homeless, who are gathering the dead, who are planning for the future and aiding those in need.



In the name of Jesus, Amen.

O Lord,
how small we seem
in the face of the storm,
how puny the works we think
are so mighty,
how insignificant
the things we cherish,
when,
in the blink of an eye,
in the washing of a wave,
in the blowing of the wind
they can be taken away
so quickly.
O Lord, you warned us
where our treasure should be,
not in things that shatter in the storm,
but in that which will never perish.

Help me remember, O Lord,
the things that truly matter:
to walk humbly with you,
to love mercy,
to act justly,
to know that whoever is in need
is my neighbor, my brother.

Teach me to see with your eyes,
and love with your heart,
this day, and always.
Amen.

Susan E. Stone, 2005

Labels: Help