Practice our Catholic Faith, on our journey to Heaven

St. Ignacious Examen month.

and do some more of the Ignacious Examen.

Do any of you use this as a practice?

(Here is a link to an article, in case you aren’t familiar with the Examen

I just love these words, and they fit perfectly with my quest to stop procrastinating! LOL doesn’t surprise me in the least that google would lead me to just what I needed to “hear”

What you hold, may you hold.
What you do, may you do and not stop.
But with swift pace, light step, unswerving feet,
so that even your steps stir up no dust,
may you go forward
securely, joyfully, and swiftly,
on the path of prudent happiness,
believing nothing,
agreeing with nothing
that would dissuade you from this commitment
or place a stumbling block for you on the way,
so that nothing prevents you from offering
your vows to the Most High in the perfection
to which the Spirit of the Lord has called you.

which lead me to a brand new 43T goal.

Here is her prayer, I sooo enjoy the passion with which she prayed these words! _The “Study well your reflection” section reminds me of my self portraits…

Now, in the words of St. Claire (aka St. Chiara, which is the name I prefer to use.)

Happy indeed is she who is granted a place at the divine banquet,
for she may cling with her inmost heart to him whose beauty
eternally awes the blessed hosts of heaven; to him whose love
inspires love, whose contemplation refreshes, whose generosity
satisfies, whose gentleness delights, whose memory shines
sweetly as the dawn; to him whose fragrance revives the dead,
and whose glorious vision will bless all the citizens of
that heavenly Jerusalem. For his is the splendor of eternal
glory, the brightness of eternal light, and the
mirror without cloud.

Queen and bride of Jesus Christ, look into that mirror daily and study well your reflection, that you may adorn yourself, mind and body, with an enveloping garment of every virtue, and thus find yourself attired in flowers and gowns befitting the daughter and most chaste bride of the king on high. In this mirror blessed poverty, holy humility and ineffable love are also reflected. With the grace of God the whole mirror will be your source of contemplation.

Behold, I say, the birth of this mirror. Behold his poverty even as he was laid in the manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes. What wondrous humility, what marvelous poverty! The King of angels, the Lord of heaven and earth resting in a manger! Look more deeply into the mirror and meditate on his humility, or simply on his poverty. Behold the many labors and sufferings he endured to redeem the human race. Then, in the depths of this very mirror, ponder his unspeakable love which caused him to suffer on the wood of the cross and to endure the most shameful kind of death. The mirror himself, from his position on the cross, warned passersby to weigh carefully this act, as he said: All of you who pass by this way, behold and see if there is any sorrow like mine. Let us answer his cries and lamentations with one voice and one spirit; I will be mindful and remember, and my soul will be consumed within me. In this way, queen of the king of heaven, your love will burn with an ever brighter flame.

Consider also his indescribable delights, his unending riches and honors, and sigh for what is beyond your love and heart’s content as you cry out: Draw me on! We will run after you in the perfume of your ointment, heavenly spouse. Let me run and not faint until you lead me into your wine cellar; your left hand rests under my head, your right arm joyfully embraces me, and you kiss me with the sweet kiss of your lips. As you rest in this state of contemplation, remember your poor mother and know that I have indelibly written your happy memory into my heart, for you are dearer to me than all the others.

of some of the Saints. I studied St. Teresa of Avila extensively last Winter, this next season I want to dive into Mechtild of Magdeburg and/or Juan de la Cruz (aka John of the Cross…. in English.)

The study of Teresa was quite extraordinary and even though I am not Catholic (with a capital C) I feel my studies are catholic (universal) in nature… and my spiritual growth as a result has been rather phenomenal.