Friday, November 14, 2014

When my Heart is Parched

'Sometimes, 
when I read spiritual treatises.. 
my poor little mind 
soon grows weary, 
I close the learned book 
that leaves my head splitting 
and my heart parched, 
and I take up
the Holy Scriptures. 
Then all seems luminous. 
A single word 
opens up 
horizons to my soul.' 

St. Therese of Lisieux



Albert Anker painting, 1904

11 comments:

  1. Ahhh..."a single word opens up horizons to my soul." Beautiful. Holy Word of God.

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    1. I had this exact experience last week. I was reading so much, doing so much, and my mind felt in a muddle. Then I began reading Philippians and ......... ahhhhhhhh..... everything was 'right' again.

      Thanks!

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  2. Beautiful . . . and a lovely picture to go with.

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  3. This so rests my heart! I often guilty for not reading those great spiritual books, but when I pick up my aged and tattered Bible I am filled with peace. Thank you...

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    1. Jean, thank you. It rested me too, as soon as I saw what St.Therese had written. I have a feeling God is very pleased to see aged and tattered Bibles!

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  4. Dear Therese..always so helpfully honest and open about the things which did not work for her!
    I feel the same about many good spiritual writings which I know are truly powerful and marvellous, but which I struggle to enjoy or take in properly. But on opening the Bible, I often find a real, tangible calm blanketing my soul as I read Holy Scripture..it's like crawling into the lap of God to be soothed in His Fatherly arms. In fact, there are lots of times when my over-active mind needs a break from studying and reading altogether, and all I can do is just sit and hug my old Bible tight and rock with the Word until peace comes again.

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    1. Trish, I sometimes do the very same thing... I hug my Bible the way my grandchildren hug their plush animals as they go off to sleep!

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    2. Exactly - like His child! I'm in good company then, my friend! And I suspect we might have lots more 'Holy Word huggers' in our midst, too. xx

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  5. Yes! Count me in the "Holy Word huggers" company.

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    1. Thank you, Rebecca, for letting us know you're a Holy Word hugger too!

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