jim henson

Today is 9 months before the Feast of the Nativity and we celebrate the Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary.

This is one of my favorite songs of the Christmas Season--Gabriel's Message--a Basque Carol. The lyrics are below.



The angel Gabriel from heaven came
His wings as drifted snow his eyes as flame
"All hail," said he, "thou lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favored lady." Gloria!

"For lo, a blessed mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honor thee,
Thy Son shall be Emanuel, by seers foretold
Most highly favored lady," Gloria!

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head
"To me be as it pleaseth God," she said,
"My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name."
Most highly favored lady. Gloria!

Of her, Emanuel, the Christ was born
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say:
"Most highly favored lady," Gloria!

This week's poetry Wednesday is a poem of mine entitled Finding Your Angel.  It was written in May of 2009 and is posted in honor of Saturday's feast of the Holy Guardian Angels.

Find your angel--
your being of light,
created by God
for infinite praise
of His immeasurable Love. 

Draw strength 
from God's messenger 
poised in flight, 
ever vigilant, 
ready to rescue
on a wing
and a prayer. 

Find your angel.

In keeping with our angelic theme, this week's Art and Beauty Tuesday is a beautiful black and white oil painting by Ryan Brown called Praying Angel.

This amazing painting is a study in contrasts.  Done with oils, it is nevertheless black and white.  It is an angel, yet has no wings.  At first glance, it seems to be a painting of a statue, but it is eerily life like.

I think the juxtaposition of opposites in this piece is a way of illustrating the paradox of spirituality.  Happiness is found in letting go, plenty is found in giving away and life is found in death to self.

Early October is chock full of important feast days.  Today is the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels.

See that you do not despise one of these little ones,  for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.

Guardian angels are something that the Church has believed in since its beginnings. Each of us is assigned a special guardian angel to protect and strengthen us.

We are literally never alone in this world.