Thursday, September 23, 2010

30 Days Hath September

"Sweet Summer Days" by Dennis Caraher


The summer sun is nearly done
Frost will follow soon
Asters and chrysanthemums
Light up the afternoon


The dew is on long after dawn
Mornings are a haze
One swallow's song is holding on
In these fading sweet summer days.


We flew across the ocean
Some fell into the sea
God will choose what we will lose
Though we may disagree


We come here to be mended
That we may find our way
We pray that there's redemption
In these fading sweet summer days


Summer months comfort us
The sun comes with sustenance
We live for its lingering light


Days slip away from us
Katydids and crickets hush
We drift into lengthening night.


We were once our children
Too soon they will be us
All they ask, a simple task:
"Remember how it was".


We hold them close, we let them go
We watch them fly away
And if we trust, they'll come to us
In these fading sweet summer days


Stars they are innumerable
We'll never know them all
But nature's not immutable
Every star will fall


And one day, I'll return to thee
And all that will remain
Is the beauty and the certainty
of these fading sweet summer days


Today is firstly the newly engaged Julia's golden birthday and secondly, the first day of fall, thanks to the autumnal equinox (when sun is directly above equator and the length of day and night are equal). 


It's also the feast day of St. Padre Pio, the first priest in Church history to bear the stigmata. He died on this date in 1968 and over 100,000 people attended his funeral. He said, among other brilliant things, "Humility and charity go hand in hand. The one glorifies, the other sanctifies." and "Pray, hope, and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer." He was canonized in June 2002 by Pope John Paul II.


“Why does this age seek a sign?” - Believing even in darkness by St. Padre Pio


The Holy Spirit tells us: Don’t let your mind succumb to temptation and sorrow, for joy of the heart is life for the soul. Sorrow is no good for anything and causes our spiritual death.


It happens sometimes that the darkness of trial overwhelms your soul’s heaven; but this darkness is light! Thanks to it, you believe even in darkness; the mind feels lost, it fears no longer being able to see, no longer understanding anything. But this is the moment when the Lord speaks and makes himself present to the soul; and the soul listens, understands and loves in the fear of God. So don’t wait for Tabor to “see” God when you are already contemplating him on Sinai.


Progress in the joy of a sincere heart that is wide open. And if it is impossible for you to keep that happiness, at least don’t lose courage and keep all your trust in God.

Happy Thursday, friends! 

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