Catholic Meditations

O Lord,
in an era where life is hard
for any man who desires to follow your way,
to care for his family,
to earn his living,
to walk upright,
be with our husbands,
fathers,
brothers,
friends.

In an age
where many sabotage
the good man who follows in your way,
we fall on our knees
and ask you to send them all the aid necessary.

In an era
where many want to make men who follow your way
feel small,
and worthless,
and treat them as oppressors,
We ask your help, O Lord,
to let these men in our lives,
find their way
in spite of the problems and pitfalls set.

In an age
where models are few
of the right way,
and temptations are everywhere,
and approval is missing too often,
give our men your aid, O Lord,
that they can be beacons shining,
and so witness your path
whereever they go.

Susan E. Stone, 2005

Labels: Help

Some stories never fade in the joy of the telling,
like that of a night once long ago,
when a weary couple
looked long and hard in the crowded village
for a place to rest their heads,
but only found a stable,
a cave on the edge of town,
yet knew they were blessed
to have shelter over their heads
after a long, hard day.
How young she was,
this woman, tired and dusty,
so large with child,
so far from home.
Amazing what she carried within,
like the chalice of God's mercy,
Amazing what she would bring forth
to share with the world
How amazing that night,
when mostly unnoticed
he who created
was born as creature,
poor,
ignored
Some stories, 'tis true,
never fade in the joy of the telling,
like that of a night once long ago,
when a weary couple
looked long and hard in the crowded village
for a place to rest their heads,
but only found a stable,
a cowshed on the edge of town
and felt blessed
to have shelter over their heads
after a long, hard day.
How young she was,
this woman, tired and dusty,
so large with child,
so far from home.
How amazing that night,
so unnoticed by the world,
when he who created
was born as creature,
not in a palace,
but in a hovel,
mostly ignored.
Yet, even as the world turned away
heaven could not contain its joy,
and sang in amazing splendor
to a handful of outcasts
shepherding in the night.


Susan E. Stone, 2005

Magnificat anima mea Dominum

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,
my soul shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isaiah 61:10


Magnificat anima mea Dominum!
Magnify,
Yes, magnify the Lord, O my soul,
Yes my soul magnifies you, O my Lord,
for the glory of being touched by divine Fire,
undeserved,
unearned,
touched only because of your love,
an amazing thing.
Magnificat anima mea Dominum!
O let my soul magnify you, O Lord,
For you dress me in dazzling white.
How precious the garment,
the robe of Your salvation,
of infinite value,
purchased by a price
no mere man could ever pay,
the threads spun in the pain,
and grief,
and blood,
woven in your death,
fulled in the fire
of Your glorious ressurection,
O Son of Man,
O Son of God,
O Lord who emptied himself
To call us home
just for love.
Magnificat anima mea Dominum!

Susan E. Stone, 2005