The More a Soul Praises

These Glorious Actions

Painting: Edward Potthast, The Washerwoman

Our Hearts Rejoice!

His Plans

The Better Our Father

Painting: Heemskerck, Ecce Homo, in US public domain due to age

Getting Graphic

You might have noticed. Almost every post on this blog in the last (six?) months has featured some kind of graphic. And there's a reason for this.

I love making graphics.

I mean: I love making graphics. I surround myself with quotes of saints, verses of Scripture, poetry, artwork, and I match colors and fonts to pull things together. And as I do this, I pray.

Not a bad way to spend a bit of time ('she understated,'), and I thank YOU for sticking with me as I learn how to do it. Once, this little blog shared stories and personal reflections (some of which can be found by clicking this line). Now I do most of my writing at my other blog, The Cloistered Heart.org, and I come here to share a few things that have inspired me, and to relax and visit with you. 

It's a luxury to have this space. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing it with me.

The Hour to Lose One's Self

Painting: Godward, 'Autumn', digitally 'mirrored'

On Our Way

How to Celebrate Valentine's Day

The Language of Divine Love

No Other Road

Painting used: Briton Rivière, The Temptation in the Wilderness

Whoever Humbles

A New Horizon

Paradise Carried

Don't Worry. You're Just Invisible.

If you happen to wonder why your blog disappeared from the blog roll on our sidebar, you have company. I've wondered too.

The entire blog roll vanished last night. Thankfully, my helpful family nailed down the cause of the problem - which really wasn't a problem at all. However, all of the  blogs remain gone, and I will be adding them back one by one as I find time. Which can only be 'occasionally' during this busy (happily busy) week.

To add to the intrigue, the blog list 'widget' adds things sometimes, and at other times it's contrary and takes its time. Some blogs even show up on MY list, but not on the sidebar (five that were added half an hour ago are still not showing up yet). So....

If you look at the list and don't see yourself, you just might be there after all.

Surpassing Misery

Only God

We Fix Our Eyes

How to Avoid Loving God

'There are several ways to avoid loving God: 

Deny that you are a sinner. Pretend that religion is for the ignorant and the superstitious, but not for the learned such as yourself. Insist that the sole purpose of religion is social service. Judge religion by whether or not it is accepted by the important people of the world. Avoid all contemplation, self-examination, and inquiry into the moral state of your soul.'

Archbishop Fulton Sheen  

Painting: Vincent van Gogh, At Eternity's Gate

Childish Concerns

'Soon we shall be in eternity, and then we shall see how very petty are the things of this earth, and how inconsequential it is whether we are involved in them or not....

'When we were small children, how carefully we collected pieces of wood, stone and such to build huts, and if someone knocked them down we cried... but now we understand how unimportant these things were.  We will feel the same one day in Heaven, when we see that all our preoccupations in this world were nothing but childish concerns. Be faithful to your duties, but be convinced that there is nothing more worthy or more important than eternal salvation and the perfection of your soul.'

St Francis de Sales