jim henson

I think this poem really captures the feel of Indian Summer--trying to hang on to the day's beauty while mourning what we know is to come.  

Indian Summer

The Archangel Michael is one of the most fascinating saints for his importance predates Christianity and he is currently revered by all three monotheistic religions. In Hebrew, his name (מִיכָאֵל‎)  is pronounced mixäˈʔel and is translated who is like El, or God. In Greek, his name is Μιχαήλ, (Mikhaḗl) and in Arabic, ميخائيل‎ (Mīkhā'īl.)


St. Michael was introduced to Christianity by the Jewish books of Enoch (around 300-100 BC) and Daniel (about 165 BC).  Both books refer to Michael a great prince and he is seen as the protector of Israel.  He is seen as a prince and soldier in the Hebrew apocryphal book War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness and continues that role in the Christian Book of Revelation where he defeats Satan.

St. Michael is a very powerful Archangel sent by God to defend His people, especially at the end of time.  He offers strength in times of spiritual warfare and is a very powerful advocate.

Indian Summer in a hammock.  Nothing like it.  Hammock by Peter Taylor Quidley is a wonderfully idealistic painting showing 2 girls (sisters, I'm assuming) relaxing in a hammock on a warm afternoon.

These busy days of back to school make us wish for easier, more relaxing times.  If you don't have a hammock (or a sister) available, just lose yourself in this hammock in the woods, gaze wistfully out onto the lake, and dream of easier times.

This year the Harvest Moon officially welcomed us into Autumn.  Vivaldi captures the Four Seasons perfectly.  Here is his concerto for violin.  Here is his Autumn.

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at a This, That and the Other Thing.

Another busy blogging week!

Last week started out with Pope Benedict's new Papal Tartan, Music Monday was Fyre, Fyre by Thomas Morley, Art and Beauty Tuesday was the famous Girl with the Pearl Earring by Vermeer and Poetry Wednesday was a portion of Bed in Summer by Robert Louis Stevenson.  Scripture Saturday talked about  the  verse from Ecclesiastes which follows the famous one popularized by The Byrds about everything having a season.

Our prayers this week took us  most of the way through our Novena to St. Michael (along with a different St. Michael picture/icon each day) and we explored prayer in various types of spiritual states, including a beautiful prayer by Orthodox Saint Philaret of Moscow.  

In reading the Old Testament Mass reading from Ecclesiastes on Friday, I found myself focusing not on the familiar "for everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven" made so popular in the 1960's song, Turn, Turn, Turn by the Byrds, but on the final verse, Ecclesiastes 1:11.

What does a man gain for the efforts that he makes? I contemplate the task that God gives mankind to labour at. All that he does is apt for its time; but though he has permitted man to consider time in its wholeness, man cannot comprehend the work of God from beginning to end.

Mankind is allowed to see "time in its wholeness".  Because we can step back and realize that we were born and that we will die, that the earth was created and that it will one day cease to exist, we often make the mistake of thinking that we therefore control all that is around us.

But, all our problems and struggles are meant to make us realize that, in fact, we control nothing.  "Man cannot comprehend the work of God" the bible tells us.  Yet, God, sees "from beginning to end."  For Him, it is already accomplished.

All our labors, all the divisions that exist between individuals and nations, are useless struggling against the "work of God" which is seen *only* by God, for He sees "from beginning to end."

This is part of the poem, Bed in Summer by Robert Louis Stevenson.  I chose to publish only the first stanza, because it is better fitting to this time of year as the days get shorter.  This poem leaped into my head this morning as I awoke for the day in the pitch dark.

Nine days from now is the Feast of the Holy Angels: Michael, Raphael and Gabriel.

Since I have a special place in my heart for Saint Michael, and since his prayer is so very powerful, I wanted to post it as a Novena leading up to his feast day.

St. Michael the Archangel
defend us in the day of battle.
Be our safeguard against
the wickedness and snares
of the devil.
May God rebuke him,
we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O prince
of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
cast into Hell, Satan,
and all the evil spirits
that prowl about the world,
seeking the ruin of souls.
~Amen!

Hat tip to Paul at Sober Catholic.  Note:  Paul has a different novena going to the Three Archangels, which is what reminded me of the upcoming feast.

The icon above is the one given to my husband by a dear departed (then Episcopal) priest many years ago.

Do you sometimes have difficulty with consistency in morning prayer?  Beginning to Pray, by Metropolitan Anthony Bloom suggests that spontaneous prayer tends to come forth most easily when we are either in the depths of despair, and realize our own spiritual poverty, or on a spiritual mountain top and are praising God.

For those times in between, pre-written prayers are best.  One that he recommends is a prayer by Orthodox Saint Philaret of Moscow.  It is a beautifully appropriate morning prayer.

O Lord,
grant that I may 
meet the coming day 
in peace.

Help me in all things
to rely upon 
Thy Holy Will.
In every hour 
of the day,
reveal Thy will to me.

Bless my dealings with all who 
surround me.

Teach me to treat all that comes to me
throughout the day with peace of soul,
and with the firm conviction that 
Thy will governs all.

In all my deeds and words,
guide my thoughts and feelings.

In unforeseen events, let me not forget
that all are sent by Thee.

Teach me to act firmly and wisely,
without embittering and embarrassing others.

Give me the strength to bear the fatigue
of the coming day with all that it shall bring.

Direct my will.

Teach me to pray.

Pray Thou Thyself in me.

~Amen.

Hat tip to Deacon Michael of Ancient Faith Radio.

The pearl earring is used as the focal point of the painting and the young subject turns towards the viewer as if answering an unexpected summons. The yellow head scarf mimics hair, and matches well with her light eyebrows, while the blue turban  picks up the blue at the end of her pony-tail-like head scarf.

In spite of the surface crackling, which gives it added interest and depth, the painting has an almost photographic quality in the realistic details.  We feel as if we could easily recognize this young girl if we met her on the street and that a whole story can be seen in her eyes.

The tear shaped pearl is a large one, reflecting the light that also falls on her face, while sinking into the dark background on the other side.  It seems as mysterious as its wearer, hiding its full beauty in the shadows.

From the angle we are given, her dress looks almost like a business jacket over a white blouse, adding to the painting's timeless, exotically modern look.

I have been looking for this song on YouTube for quite a while.  Fyre, Fyre by Thomas Morley is a deceptively difficult madrigal that I very much enjoyed learning in college.

The pope has been visiting Great Britain this week.

In his honor, a new tartan was designed by Matthew Newsome, director of The Scottish Tartans Museum in North Carolina.

Material was then made by Ingles Buchan of Glasgow, in Scotland and worn as a scarf by the pope, his private secretary and Cardinal Keith O'Brien of Scotland  during a procession in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh.

Since then, orders for ties and scarves in the new material have poured in.

Here is the symbolism of the colors used in the pattern:

• The white and blue are Scotland's national colors.
• The green isfor the lichens growing in Galloway.
• The red and white are from Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman's crest.
• The yellow is from the Vatican flag.

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at a This, That and the Other Thing.

This week we finished up our Exaltation of the Holy Cross Novena, and listened to our last installment of Rutter's Gloria.  Tuesday was the feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross itself and for Art and Beauty Tuesday this week, we looked at The Queen at Breakfast by Prince Phillip.

Wednesday was the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, and for poetry Wednesday, we looked at a haiku of mine about an apple.

Yesterday, Scripture Saturday talked about compassion to round out the week.

Have a great week everyone!

This is what religion should be.


This is what God is.


Compassionate.


Slow to anger.


Abounding in love.

Merciful Jesus, make us compassionate as You are compassionate!

Many people are put off by the image of Our Lady of Sorrows, but I think it shows that Our Lady was very much a "person of the earth".  She was a young woman, pregnant out of wedlock, uprooted from her home, much like the poor widow in Jesus' parable--an unlikely candidate for God's grace.

Before we judge another--before we judge ourselves--as being "too" anything for God, remember the poor widow, and Mary, who were doing God's will even as they were being ostracized by their fellow human beings.

Jesus was very much a savior of all, and his choice of birth place and mother reflect that.   He could not abide prejudice or snobbery and chose a lowly teenager from the first century to bring Him into the world.

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us when we cannot pray for ourselves! 

Today's artist for Art and Beauty Tuesday is Britain's Prince Phillip. He painted The Queen at Breakfast  in 1965 and it features his wife eating breakfast and reading the newspaper. You can see a loaf of brown bread and jam on the table, (notice the knife sticking out of the jar) as well as 2 paintings of horses on the walls flanked by sconces with candles.  We see part of the sumptuous fire place on the right of the picture.  

This type of picture is known as a "conversation piece", a genre in English painting which depicts an everyday scene with the family or friends being of smaller scale.  

The Triumph of the Cross means that optimism wins.

It means that everything happens for a reason, and good comes from suffering, even if we don't see it.  Every instance of suffering is an opportunity for growth, for outreach, for love.

The world stays the same.  But our God came down to suffer FOR us.  He came down so that we may no longer be powerless and no longer fear. 

Today, we celebrate the Triumph of the Cross.

All things work together for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.
~The Book of Romans, Chapter 8, verse 28

Here is the last in our Rutter's Gloria Music Monday.  This is my favorite movement--energetic and full of joy--the way a Gloria should be!

The Latin and English are below.

Quóniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dóminus, tu solus Altíssimus, Iesu Christe, cum Sancto Spíritu: in glória Dei Patris. Amen.

For thou only art Holy. Thou only art the Lord. Thou only art the Most High. Thou only, O Jesu Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art Most High in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Jesus, Who because of Your burning love for us willed to be crucified and to shed Your Most Precious Blood for the redemption and salvation of our souls, look down upon us and grant the petition we ask for ...( mention here)

We trust completely in Your Mercy. 
Cleanse us from sin by Your Grace, 
sanctify our work, 
give us and all those who are dear to us our daily bread, lighten the burden of our sufferings, 
bless our families, 
and grant to the nations, so sorely afflicted, 
Your Peace, which is the only true peace, so that by obeying Your Commandments we may come at last to the glory of Heaven.

Jesus, Who because of Your burning love for us willed to be crucified and to shed Your Most Precious Blood for the redemption and salvation of our souls, look down upon us and grant the petition we ask for ...( mention here)

We trust completely in Your Mercy. 
Cleanse us from sin by Your Grace, 
sanctify our work, 
give us and all those who are dear to us our daily bread, lighten the burden of our sufferings, 
bless our families, 
and grant to the nations, so sorely afflicted, 
Your Peace, which is the only true peace, so that by obeying Your Commandments we may come at last to the glory of Heaven. 

Sunday Snippets is brought to you each week by RAnn at a This, That and the Other Thing.Wow!  It looks like I had a big blogging week this week!

Our Music Monday was the Andante section of Rutter's Gloria.  Art and Beauty Tuesday was Mary Winn's Loading Dock. Poetry Wednesday was the Purple Cow and Scripture Saturday talked about the Our Father.

In between our regular features, we continued our Exaltation of the Holy Cross novena, reviewed Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea, and wished a Happy Birthday to Our Lady.

Jesus, Who because of Your burning love for us willed to be crucified and to shed Your Most Precious Blood for the redemption and salvation of our souls, look down upon us and grant the petition we ask for ...( mention here)

We trust completely in Your Mercy. 
Cleanse us from sin by Your Grace, 
sanctify our work, 
give us and all those who are dear to us our daily bread, lighten the burden of our sufferings, 
bless our families, 
and grant to the nations, so sorely afflicted, 
Your Peace, which is the only true peace, so that by obeying Your Commandments we may come at last to the glory of Heaven. 

I am finishing up The Secret Message of Jesus and was touched by McLaren's view of the Our Father.  How many times have we said this prayer?  It is so easy to memorize it and treat it like a formulaic idol instead of a teaching from Jesus on communicating with the Creator.

McLaren points out that Jesus tells us to "go into (our) rooms and pray to the Father in private" right before the discourse on the Our Father. Then, He goes on to begin the prayer with the word Our.

Not once are we instructed to pray for ourselves in this prayer!

Imagine the scene: we are alone, in the quiet of our inner chamber...in the silence...searching for God--asking Him primarily for peace and unity with others.  We are always, in prayer, to focus on the our.

Suddenly, prayer and what we are to pray for, becomes clearer.

Similarly, the word Father denotes a generous protector who unites us all in familial love. We are all brothers.  This, too, should come out in prayer.

The Our Father also instructs us to remember that God is beyond what we could ever imagine.  He is in heaven and his named is holy.  This gives us a sense of paternal security that continues the theme.

The Kingdom of God is, in McLaren's view,the central part of Christ's message. We beg the Lord to bring His Kingdom to fruition on earth, among the people He created.

Our daily bread  is given to us like manna to the Israelites--in sufficient quantities for the day. We are not to hoard.  Anything left over, we are to share.

Forgiveness is also central to Jesus' message.  We hope and expect forgiveness from God, so we are obliged to extend it to our neighbor.

Temptation is what we pray against--not other people, but within ourselves.

Jesus, Who because of Your burning love for us willed to be crucified and to shed Your Most Precious Blood for the redemption and salvation of our souls, look down upon us and grant the petition we ask for ...( mention here)

We trust completely in Your Mercy. 
Cleanse us from sin by Your Grace, 
sanctify our work, 
give us and all those who are dear to us our daily bread, lighten the burden of our sufferings, 
bless our families, 
and grant to the nations, so sorely afflicted, 
Your Peace, which is the only true peace, so that by obeying Your Commandments we may come at last to the glory of Heaven. 

Jesus, Who because of Your burning love for us willed to be crucified and to shed Your Most Precious Blood for the redemption and salvation of our souls, look down upon us and grant the petition we ask for ...( mention here)

We trust completely in Your Mercy. 
Cleanse us from sin by Your Grace, 
sanctify our work, 
give us and all those who are dear to us our daily bread, lighten the burden of our sufferings, 
bless our families, 
and grant to the nations, so sorely afflicted, 
Your Peace, which is the only true peace, so that by obeying Your Commandments we may come at last to the glory of Heaven. 

Here is a little video I made about The Purple Cow--one of my favorite poems!  Enjoy!

Today is the day when the Church traditionally celebrates the birthday of the Virgin Mary.

I remember quite vividly, a story in my second grade reader about a family whose mom was mysteriously baking a pink, round cake, much to the delight of the children, although no one could figure out whose birthday it was. It turned out to be the birthday of the Blessed Mother.

Jesus, Who because of Your burning love for us willed to be crucified and to shed Your Most Precious Blood for the redemption and salvation of our souls, look down upon us and grant the petition we ask for ...( mention here)

We trust completely in Your Mercy. 
Cleanse us from sin by Your Grace, 
sanctify our work, 
give us and all those who are dear to us our daily bread, lighten the burden of our sufferings, 
bless our families, 
and grant to the nations, so sorely afflicted, 
Your Peace, which is the only true peace, so that by obeying Your Commandments we may come at last to the glory of Heaven. 

With the economy the way it is, I was happy to see this beautiful video today showing a prayer to St. Joseph for employment.

Jesus, Who because of Your burning love for us willed to be crucified and to shed Your Most Precious Blood for the redemption and salvation of our souls, look down upon us and grant the petition we ask for ...( mention here)

We trust completely in Your Mercy. 
Cleanse us from sin by Your Grace, 
sanctify our work, 
give us and all those who are dear to us our daily bread, lighten the burden of our sufferings, 
bless our families, 
and grant to the nations, so sorely afflicted, 
Your Peace, which is the only true peace, so that by obeying Your Commandments we may come at last to the glory of Heaven.