Our Marian Consecration today intimately parallels the actions of Knights before their queen in years past. Knights would come before their queen, kneel, swear their fealty, and solemnly dedicate themselves to be in the queen’s service and do her will. In our consecration today we are essentially doing the exact same thing. Our Queen is Mary, we pledge our loyalty to her and her cause (which is her Son’s Will, for love and for souls), and solemnly dedicate ourselves to her service and being obedient to what she tells us.

Knights were often called to go and fight for queen and country. We are also called to stand and fight for there is a war that rages a great spiritual battle. We fight not with hatred and anger and bitterness and intolerance, but with love, truth, peace, hope, and joy. We do not fight to steal, **** and destroy, we fight to give, to save, and to defend.

When we bend our knees, we humble ourselves. It is an action that leaves us vulnerable and open. It opens doors, opportunities and a whole world of experiences beyond our wildest dreams.

St. Maximillian Kolbe was right in creating the Militia Immaculata. The order of the Knights of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We are like the knights of the past. It is also interesting to note that they specifically consecrated themselves before the Queen and that through the Queen they gave themselves in service to the King.

As Knights we are also called to be courageous and chivalrous. To be kind, gentle, and to honor and respect all especially the women, the children, and those in need. To be a knight was to live a life of service, charity, obedience imitating the life of Christ and his values and teachings. We are knights: go forth now under the Queen’s blessing and favor.

Christ’s body and blood
Broken and poured for all
How precious was the sacrifice
Of pain and death to give me life
Christ’s body and blood
Wine and wheat transformed by the spirit
Transforming my life from the inside out
Here we have come to partake of the Lamb
That was slain for the sin of man
Christ’s body and blood
Take me over in spirit and flesh
Christ’s body and blood
Satisfy this consuming hunger
Slake this unquenchable thirst
Christ’s body and blood
To be grateful to give thanks
Christ’s body and blood
Eucharist, communion
Christ’s body and blood
To live within my own flesh and blood
Christ’s body and blood
To share with all those I meet
Christ’s body and blood
To live on forever
Christ’s body and blood
Straight from the heart, a gift of pure love
Christ’s body and blood
Believe and receive the very source of life
Blood the essence and pulse of life
Body a temple and a way to live out
Christ’s body and blood
Such great mystery
Christ’s body and blood
Part of my history
Christ’s body and blood
The prime example of love’s transcendent nature
Love conquers all

Jesus thank you for this crazy love
That overcomes and transcends all things
Even death itself
Jesus thank you for this crazy love
That brings me to my knees yet lifts me up
Even when I fall
Jesus thank you for this crazy love
That gives me hope and joy and peace
Even in the dark
Jesus thank you for this crazy love
That pursues me and seeks me out
Wherever I may go
Jesus thank you for this crazy love
That heals the ***** and the lame
Even raises the dead
Jesus thank you for this crazy love
That I can’t earn and don’t deserve
You give it anyway
Jesus thank you for this crazy love
That finds us waiting here
Even at this hour
Jesus thank you for this crazy love
That changes and arrests me
Even as it frees
Jesus thank you for this crazy love
That you would pour your very blood
To save a wretch like me
Jesus thank you for this daily bread
That satisfies and keeps me fed
Along the journey
Jesus thank you for this place of rest
And in all your goodness you richly blessed
Your precious child
Jesus thank you for the God you are
That you are always close and never far
Even in your greatness
Jesus thank you for this crazy love today
Help me show this crazy love to all I pray
Especially those in need

Amen

My God my God do you hear me crying out?
I am in this pit of darkness and sin
My hands and feet are bound
From my lips there comes no sound
This guilt and shame it crushes me
Do you hear me? Do my pleas reach your ears
For I am mourning and weeping in this valley of tears
Save me Lord in your endless mercy
Let me drink deep, for I am thirsty

My Lord my Lord do you hear me crying out?
Do you still hear me even when I doubt?
I know your love for me is more than I deserve
But it is my desire to take this opportunity to serve
You have freed me of my chains washed me white as snow
Help me take these moments and begin to grow
Do you hear me Lord crying out in thanksgiving
For I am once more back among the living

My Jesus my Jesus do you hear me crying out?
Do you hear the praise and wonder as I come to shout?
How can we keep from crying out
To share what God has done
How can we keep from crying out
And not wanting to tell everyone
How can we keep silent
When we know just what it cost
How can we keep silent
When we find the one that was lost
How can we keep still
When we have the legs to dance
How can we keep still
When we have this great romance
How can we hold back
When we have been given everything
How can we hold back
When the very rocks cry out and sing
How can we not feel another way
When we take the time to sit and pray

Daily bread you keep us fed
Manna from on high greater than I
I will surely perish for the food I so cherish
Grain so small yet so full of potential
The body of Christ is most essential
He gives up himself both body and soul
He is the only one who fills my heart’s hole
We consume him to be consumed
In this life we are being groomed
To be with Him in love without end
To praise and live forever all the people said amen
You are the food for the nations
Your words formed all creations
Your word sustains us it’s all we need
Your truth is like water to seed
Your love lifts us up back on our feet
Your love fills us and makes us complete
Your mercy is such that it brings me to my knees
Your glory is higher than the mountains, deeper than the seas
Your Spirit is flowing pouring down like rain
Your blood Lord washes away my guilty stain
Your wisdom surpasses the greatest of men
You are, you were, you always have been
Your light touches all darkness is as day
You walked before us to show us the way
Your plans are perfect your ways are good
But we stray, turn away, don’t do as we should
Still you love us take us back into the fold
You seek us out and shelter us from the cold
How amazing God that through it all
You still welcome us to the great feast hall

Jesus you are the one who gives me the ability to breathe
Jesus I call to you daily; you are the one I need
You never fail to look after me, taking care everyday
You never fail to prove me wrong in each and every way
Yet I doubt almost constantly your great power
Help me to turn to you every day and in my last hour
Grant me the peace and serenity only you can give
Help me to do your will every moment that I live

My faith is in the Lord where my help comes from
When darkness surrounds me and the enemy is closing in
I cry out to the Lord and I know he will answer
He protects me from danger and wraps me in his tender love
Trust in the Lord and his Goodness
Do not tremble do not fear my Soul
For He who brought you here will see you still whole
Your God is the Lion and the Lamb
Prince of peace, He is the great “I Am”
You are my rock, my refuge, my strong tower
Come Oh Lord and show us your mighty power
You make the strong weak and the brave cower
The enemy like lions are hungry and they roar
But you shut the mouths of lions you are the one true Lord
They are made as kittens so gently do they purr
The change from one so wild and fierce a miracle to be sure
You Oh Lord have delivered me to safety from the Lion’s Den
Praise and Glory and Honor to you until the world’s end

CAUTION: CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMMAGERY AND SOME LANGUAGE

DARKNESS


Darkness finds you and it binds you

Pins you firmly down upon the ground

Black is calling and you’re falling

Your cries are hopeless and you are ropeless

Sorrow beckons and hurts like weapons

You try to run, they laugh for fun

Misery takes you and it breaks you

Your life is in shambles, you’re full of brambles

Despair will come and make you no one

Beaten and ******, ripped up and muddy

Nowhere to go, you scream and you know

You’re stuck in a ditch, life’s a *****

In all your bleakness, hate knows your weakness

Come, give in, darkness will win

Rage soon rears its face, you will put others in their place

Darkness will pray and all this will stay

Until your death, your very last breath

They love you like mothers, they caress you like lovers

They are silently killing, your blood they are spilling

No place to hide, should you have died?

You are slowly dying and you still aren’t crying

Just know how much you are loved here on earth and above.

I want to know You a little more,
Love you a little deeper than before.

I want to see your face
Shining in every place.

Lord you have my heart and you have my soul,
Now I'm askin' you to take all control.

Where would I be, what would I do,
Who would I be if I didn't have you?

Nailed to a tree you bore my sin in death;
You loved me right through Your very last breath

You hold me and love me and call me your child,
You cleanse me, forgive me when I am defiled.

Once again I stand before you, amazed.
By the depths of your heart, Your mercy and grace.
Lord be Praised!

Desperate and broken, you came to me in my time of great need
Dry and dead, you were like water to seed
You hung and bled and died to set the captives free
But being good is one thing I know I'll never be.

In union with the angels who sing your praise
My head I will bow and my hands I will raise
Covered by mercy and love, forgiveness and grace
I stand in wonder and awe, completely amazed

The path to Heaven is very narrow and uphill
May it be done to me according to Your Will.
The depths of your heart so much greater still
The universe could not hope to fill

Your love for us is greater far
Than the sands on the earth and every star.
Artist composer and author you are
Loving us still: all covered with scar

As tears fill my eyes I weep bitterly
How could one as perfect as you love a mess like me
Only a wonderful, and beautiful mess you see

Before you I come: humble and broken
You know everything before one word has been spoken

Beneath lust greed and pride
You go deep down inside
Down through the muck, you make the beautiful come alive

"Brighter than any diamond or the sun you shine
Because, my precious treasure, I love you and you are MINE!

The sky is bright and all seems right
And God is smiling on his child today! :)

Devil just can't get a hold of me
'Cause God's life and death has set me free
Devil just can't keep me down
'Cause not even death could keep Jesus in the ground
Devil won't take my eyes
'Cause Jesus has power over the prince of lies
Devil don't own my heart
'Cause God made me his right from the start
Devil can't bind my hands
'Cause God has my life under his commands
Devil won't hold my feet
'Cause Jesus stood strong when taking heat
Devil won't steal my soul
'Cause Jesus is he who fills the hole
Devil can't steal my strength
'Cause Jesus is my rock, refuge, and with him I'll go great lengths
Devil don't bind my chest
'Cause when I'm at my weakest, God's at his best
Devil just can't hold me back
'Cause God will protect me from attack
Devil can't control my *****
'Cause God satisfies  fully when, to his, our hearts we join

Blazing hot with the Holy Spirit
The devil runs for fear of it
To God I give my entire being
His power sends the devil fleeing
When Jesus is present on my mind
I can leave the devil far behind
In Christ's eternal perfect love
Devil says: "Aye, there's the rub"
In faith and trust I hold to hope
Feet are firm against the devil's steep *****
In God I take great joy and delight
That the devil can't hope to steal my light
Jesus is my source of peace
Devil won't win but he doesn't cease
To God I sing hymns of praise
To fend off the devil's cold embrace
To serve the Lord is a great honor
My life was saved by a blood donor
To God be power and wonder and glory
Spoiler: The devil loses at the end of the story!
Jesus is the lover of my soul
Devil just don't have any control

I sit now within a circle of friends

Sharing their stories of beginnings and ends

Of laughter and love, tears of joy and tears of pain

The sun being out and bearing the rain

We are a family forged by blood sweat and tears

We have seen each other grow and learn over the years

The warm fuzzies and hugs are some of the best

Long days and short nights, 7 days with little rest

Exhausted and beat down, but elated too

There is so much I learn from all of you

The care, love, and compassion that each of you extend

The friendships to strengthen and bond, not break but bend

I pray our fears be all relieved

Everyday I am shown miracles most might not believe

The hard work, motivation and grit is truly an inspiration to me

I pray that tonight each and every one of you can see

You have made a difference in my life tonight

The future is yours, you are all such brilliant lights

Light the world on fire, you are a spark

The smallest ray can illuminate the dark

Today you can say, "I made a difference for one"

And rejoice! For the day of the Lord has just begun!



I love you and thank you! God bless you all, everyone!

Be still, my soul, and open
For, in the silence, words are spoken
Soft and sometimes a whisper still
If we listen we just might hear God's will.

The spirit is a funny thing: a gentle quiet breeze
And powerful enough to bring me to my knees.
So when the spirit is moving, knocking at my heart
I am called to respond and to do my part.

It prompts, and it nudges, it calls me out when I've done wrong
And no matter where I go it always comes along.
It guides me, and teaches how to live love and act,
And it helps me to know what is lie and what is fact.

There are so many voices, my attention they all seek
I try to hear the spirit but it seems so small and weak.
How do I tell that it's the spirit that I should obey?
How can I be sure that it's not mine, but God's will and way?

Help me Lord to be open that in doing so I might find
A heart that beats for You alone, that I may respond in kind!

How often do I want to give you my whole self
And yet, many times I find things to pull me away
Oh that I would choose the best good
There are so many things to take my attention
Some small and insignificant and others more severe
Even in the one place I can focus and be with you
I am bombarded with distractions and noise
The call of earthly things, sins, and even other good things
Leave me wanting more
But you satisfy the hungry heart
You quench my thirsty soul
You are an oasis in my desert
And you breath life into my dry bones
I wish I could hear and feel you when I get distracted
But you love me so much that you wait patiently
You want my choice to be completely free
When we are in sync and our hearts beat as one
I laugh with the birds and with the wind I run
I sing sweet sweet songs with the flowers in the air
I am one with nature with creation everywhere
I am united to Christ as I am with my brother
With love and compassion the whole world is covered
Seeking a path to the father above
I am a precious child of the one who loves
The ties that bind us are greater by far
Than the threads that threaten to tear us apart
Willing to work to understand my fellow man
To think and ask not judge and react
The things that separate us are distractions on the road
Let us keep moving not be stopped or slowed
There will be days when things aren’t great
And days when the road is everything but straight
There will be times when no progress was made
And times when your spirit seems to fade
But keep holding on to the one who is holding
You in his strong gentle arms loving enfolding
We know in our hearts that things will work out
We believe and have faith and we don’t need to doubt
The distractions won’t go but they are easier to leave
When we come to a place down on our knees
It takes practice and patience and still it’s not easy
There is truth there even if it’s simple and cheesy
Time has passed and here we are once again
I finish the prayer and then say Amenn

Peace be in your life peace be in your soul
Peace when God is making diamonds out of coal
Peace be in your heart and peace be in your mind
To stop and take stock then peace is what I find

Be content with what I have and who I am
Be content to need The Good Shepherd as a lamb
Be content with God and the good he has in store
Be content with God and want for nothing more

Take heart now for I am here even in the darkest day
Take heart now for I am a single breath away
Take heart now for I conquered death and came to save
Take heart now for it was you that my life I gave

Have faith: trust beyond your sight and believe
Have faith: that in the Eucharist you more fully receive
Have faith: and lean on me when you're not strong
Have faith: and lift your voice to join in the song

Be still and know that I am God: one who cares
Be still and know that I listen and answer prayers
Be still and know that loving you gives me such delight
Be still and know that, in the end, it will be alright

I don’t know how we clicked
I don’t know why we are this way
I don’t know why you confided in me
I don’t know if I’m dating right? Its friends until it’s special
I need some help, tell me what to do
I don’t know why God used us
I don’t know how things will work out
Would having a play date be a good idea?
I get daily suggestions and accusations from little Tom
I don’t know how to express my thanks to you and to God
I don’t show my feelings well at all
But it seems to me that opposites really do attract
I don’t know if any of my poems are more meaningful than
“Hope When None”.
You keep me aware that the most simple things are sometimes the best
Showing emotion, laughing, and jogging add years to your life
The simplicity, innocence, and heartfelt gratitude touch me
There are so many things I don’t know in life
So many things I never will
For now I have to “trust” God knows what he is doing with me
‘Cuz I sure as heck don’t!
I begin to doubt whether I loved you for the trouble you were going through
I’m sure there are many hundreds or thousands of verses in the bible saying not to doubt God
I need to accept that I’m not with you just because
That might just be for him to know and me to have faith
Please pray and I will too for good judgement and insight
I would appreciate it if you could help me open my ears and heart to God

Everyday I'm told to live in a way that gives you glory
Everyday I'm called to walk and tell the world your story
But I just don't know if i can really do this
So I just won't go, afraid that I'll miss
They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step of faith
It'll take a miracle because the first step is the hardest to take
And I just can't see where it is you're taking me
So I'll stay right here out of comfort and fear
They say you can walk on water if you just believe
Or move mountains with faith the size of a mustard seed
But I just don't think I'm strong enough
For the wind is strong and the waves are rough
I try to follow you and walk in your truth and light
Yet I try to avoid doing wrong and strive to do what is right
But I fall so readily and start to sink in shifting sands
So I cry out. Place my feet upon the rock, help me to dry land

Lord, we all have our demons, but you can make us clean
In temptation help me open my heart and eyes to see
Your presence and the goodness that lies within
That you would fill our needs helping us not to sin
It is so hard for me to accept both good and bad
To embrace this light and dark with everything I have
The flesh is not bad but the picture is altered
And, as a result our perception has faltered
You came to call sinners to restore us by your glory
We are yours Lord: a special part of the story
You bind the wounded, heal the sick and lame
Eyes, ears and hearts are opened at the sound of your name
You are Lord over our life and our death
Keep us close to you and, when the time has come,
Bring us home to you when we take our final breath
To live forever in fullness and love singing praises to the son

Jesus, if I praised 10,000 years I could not praise you enough


If I knew every word; about you I could not say enough


If I could spend forever loving; it still would not be enough


Of your love for me; I am not worthy enough


And try I might I still sin so much. I’ll never be good enough


You tell me to go out and help change the world, and I don’t believe I’m enough



We praise you with happy hearts in word and deed and love

And that is praise enough


The songs we sing to you the Blessed King bring a smile to your face

And that is gift enough


To live our lives for you; to serve and do your will

That is love enough


You sent your son to die for me though I was unworthy

His death showing your grace was enough


Sinners we are and rotten; Jesus hung and bled and died

The price he paid in full was good enough


You believe in me. Made me with a special purpose and plan

And that is reason enough!



AMEN!

Entrust yourself to Mary give your heart to her
Seek refuge in her peaceful presence
Take comfort in tender loving arms
Entrust your life to her as Christ once gave himself
Take her into your home and care for her
Just as she provides for her children
Entrust it all to Mary give her everything
Totus Tuus- Totally Yours
Trust that she will light the way, she won’t lead you wrong
Trust that in all things she is walking with you
Mother full of grace and love and faith
“Listen to Him and do whatever He tells you”
Open us to hear and listen to what he tells us
Grant us the courage and grace to respond
Guide and strengthen us as we strive to follow
His Will and the road that leads to Heaven
Entrust yourself to her as she leads us to our Lord
Surrender your will so the Divine will shine
And in that perfect Divine Will
You may find your peace and purpose
The Holy Longing you’ve been waiting for
Entrust yourself to Mary
Mary, I trust in You!

I am forever changed; no I’ll never be the same
Since the day that you first came
Came into my life

I am a better person now I realize this is true
And it’s all because I had the joy
The joy of knowing you

You taught me how to love, to play, and live
And what I wouldn’t give to spend one more day
Just one more day with you

I learned about true friends and that it’s okay to cry
You were always there for me and I’ll never know
I’ll never know a better friend than you

You made a place inside my heart; it was there that you would stay
The time has come and you have gone away
Leaving me with a hole in my heart that will not leave

My love for you will never die
Though the tears my dry in time
Time will never erase the love I have for you

I miss you dearly my beloved friend
You are with us to the end
You are at our very core
Now be at peace forever more

Everything but nothing has changed between us
Very different, but still the same: no more and no less
You are still you friend and I am still me
Sadly in a few short years our paths changed so drastically
Could it be I am sorry to speak, so instead I write words on paper?
Would I be embarrassed to stumble over words so I write them to be safer?
I truly wish I could express all my feelings to you
Should I write and then speak or stumble and act like a fool anew?
I have so many questions in my mind at the moment
Would it be foolish or really wise to try for a poetic enrollment?
So many questions to ask, so little time to ask them
So many it would go to mayhem or even pandemonium
So many raging, fighting thoughts in such a tiny space
Oh me Oh my! Could this spell disaster for the whole human race?
I have so many thoughts popping out of my ears, mouth, nose and eyes
You could take all my thoughts end to end and string them a mile in size
Do I go on pretending that nothing has happened or make some scene
Some days I wake up and feel like my whole life was just a dream
This changes everything, but nothing changes
It’s a difficult ride like traversing mountain ranges
There are highs and lows valleys and peaks
My head and my heart play hide and seek
I want to say something, but I know I can’t
I need to do something, but I’m stuck like a plant
Nothing, but everything is different now
If you only knew just how…

Everywhere

From the mountains to the valleys
From the skies so far above to the depths of the seas
From the poorest in the world to the rich in lofty seats
From the small town to the big city and every street
You are there, Lord you are everywhere

No matter where we are or what we do we cannot escape from you
Because You are there, Lord you are everywhere

The single mother with a baby and the one down on their knees
The outcast the unloved those who suffer from disease
The helpless and the broken burdened and betrayed
The forgotten or neglected happy just to greet another day
You are there, Lord the one who cares

No matter where we are or what we do we cannot run from you
Because You are there, Lord you are everywhere

For the widow and the orphan crying out for peace
For those who stand up asking violence to cease
For those who work to help and those who work to save
For the many whom, for their belief, their very lives they gave
You are there, Lord the one who loves

No matter where we are or what we do we cannot go from you
Because You are there, Lord you are everywhere

From our innermost thoughts to the deepest parts of us
When we love you and when we fuss
From what we are now to what someday we will be
When we tie ourselves with our choices and when we are set free
You are there, Lord the one who knows

No matter where we are or what we do we cannot hide from you
Because You are there, Lord you are everywhere


You are here in our midst as we gather as one
You are here with us when the hour has come

You are here when we come to you in prayer
Even when we do not feel you, still you are here

You are here at all times whether we want you or not
You never leave us even when we leave you and that means a lot

You are with us every minute and every hour
You are with us by our side when we are feeling satan’s power

You are with us always until the end of time and there forever after
You are with us in our tears, our sufferings, our joys, and our laughter


No matter where we are or what we do we cannot be away from you
Because You are there, Lord you are everywhere

When I take a moment now and I look back on my life
From the mountain top of joy to the valley of strife
From the biggest ways to the smallest shifts
In the crosses borne and the priceless gifts
I see it here I see it there; it’s the evidence of you

Sometimes I would wander and sometimes I would stray
Sometimes I would stumble or forget to pray
In every path I followed in every trail I tracked
Every choice I made, every road I travelled led back
Every way and every day; it’s the evidence of you

I didn’t always walk a straight line I didn’t always try
I found strength when I wanted to give up and die
And when I lost sight of the path a time or two
Somehow I still went the right way when I hadn’t a clue
It feels right this insight; it’s the evidence of you

Here the human heart of man tries to make its plan
But in His wisdom our steps are directed by His hand
We end up getting to where we are going
Even though at times we aren’t always knowing
So I find most all the time; it’s the evidence of you

I want to fall in love with you and then
Fall in love with you all over again
Rewind time to go back and relive
There is nothing that I wouldn’t give
To have the moment we first met
It’s a feeling I’ll never forget
You looked at me and saw right through
All my walls, disguises and masks
The smallest flaw in my suit of armor
Was more than big enough for you
You came and flooded and swept me off my feet
You settled in, put down roots,
My demise was now complete.
Now here I am and still you stay
You are there when I wake up each day
You stole my heart and gave me your own
So never again will I be all alone
Something you say or do and I’m falling in love
Everyday I raise my eyes to Heaven above
And I think: I want to fall in love with you and then
I want to fall in love with you all over again

Together with family we have a great time
No matter what we’re doing we’re always having fun
Smiles and laughs and joy abound
With such great people it’s hard not to be positive
At the end of the day we are tired and happy
We retire to bed with a roof o’er our head
And thank the Lord for the things we have
Whether at the pool, sitting together and chatting, or anything else
Time with people you cherish is time indeed well spent
Time alone and spent for yourself is also necessary

Finding Peace

My heart is restless Lord I am searching
For joy when I should be looking for
Peace. I should be asking more of you and saying less of me. I know you have me here right now and it’s where I’m supposed to be. I don’t know how to try and I feel like I’m doing this only as a last resort. I want joy, but it’s peace that I need. I find peace when I am here in adoration and the grace that I receive. It’s hard to let go of trying to find joy, because I love joy and you have given me a joyful heart. Remind me not to love joy more than I ought to love you. Let Your Will be done Lord in and through me. Allow me to speak love and life into all I encounter and may the work be fulfilling. Perhaps I already have the answer in front of me even now. I am at peace when I am with you. If I am with you, I will know peace and there is so much good I can do as a priest. Poetry and prayers, mentoring, connecting with all people especially our young people, being a councilor and confidant and all these things give me joy. Maybe being a priest isn’t where I want to be, but maybe being a priest is where I need to be for me, for you, and for others. Please Lord, help me to discern ever more this big decision and I pray that wherever I go and whatever I do, I may find or be led to a place of peace. Help me find joy in all the things I have peace with and may i never lose the joy and the childlike faith and love that you have given me. Amen.

Restore our hearts renew our minds
Turn our thoughts from evil things
Melt and shape us till we see
The reflection of truth and purity
Let our hearts burn with the flame of love
Setting fire to everything they touch
Until the whole world is burning
For healing water we are yearning
It will burn so bright the devil will be blind
For the source is of a special kind
It is from the Immaculate Heart of Mary herself
Gathering strength from the sweetest devotion
In words brought to action not just motion
Flame of Love burn through what is excess
Through pride and greed, lust and shame
Until you are all that still remains
Help me be faithful to the prayer
And committed to the cause
I am loved and you are there
In my faults and in my flaws
Flame of Love illuminate my life
That I may radiate and be a beacon
To point the way for others like me:
Lost and searching, found and free

Dancing in the breeze
Rainbow colors everywhere
Sweet to smell and give

Following star: God’s great light
Traveling far: Bethlehem night
Bearing gifts full of meaning
Little baby sweetly dreaming
On a journey far from home
Guided by the Spirit as they roam
So much unclear, so much unknown
Young girl and mother scared and alone
Come Lord Jesus from Heaven above
Make the space all aglow in perfect love
The path is long the road is hard
Angels sent in dreams to guard
The light of the world the hope of salvation
Watching with faith and finally joy and elation
Peace on earth let all creation ring
The coming of Him whom angels sing
Christ the King in helpless child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Not even death could keep us apart
Saved in the depths of your merciful heart

When the path ahead is dark, find the light inside:
Believe in yourself and let your heart be your guide.
Reach out through the darkness and take my hand,
I will bring you from stormy seas onto dry land.
Keep the faith, the flame of hope alive
And, though you don't know the way, you will arrive.
Listen to your heart beating in your chest
Have you ever wondered how much you are blessed?
Feel my heart beat just like yours
That, when you are close, it swoops and soars.
What is this feeling? It's painful, and it longs.
I long to find a home, a place my heart belongs.
It's a feeling so tender, so clear and real
Could it be love that I now feel?
You give me joy, you are my life
My life is yours. Will you be my wife?
I promise to live as your love deserves:
Walking together in straight roads and curves.
I promise to cherish and protect you every day
To communicate and listen, to comfort and pray.
You have my heart, you are my life. The choice is yours to make:
Will we join together in heart and hand and take the leap of faith?

Forever is the longest time that there is
That's how long it seems to take until you're a ****
We are friends forever and a day
That's how long this bond will stay
But you can pass the time so quick when you're having fun
That is no problem when you have number two and one
When I'm feeling blue you make my day so happy
You get me really nice when I'm feeling snappy
You're having fun and you got some time to spare
When you're enjoying life you have no place to care
Sitting back relaxing allowing the time to pass
As you walk barefoot you are tickled by the grass
Forever never comes 'cuz forever doesn't end
You can't change forever or make it bend
Have the power to make life enjoyable
Then at times being you can be annoyable
I see a smile start to creep along your face
Even if the prey was lost don't give up the chase
Make the choices to your life's great path
One is good and the other bad now you do the math
We can't make your choices but we can help you
We can't force you, but we can tell you what to do
I couldn't have a better friend if I lived a million years
Wrote a million poems or shed a million tears
Thank you for helping me to see
Because of you I am a whole new me

Forever Friend



No matter the miles that stretch out between us,

No matter how far down the road you may be,

Even though, at this time, we rightly fuss

No distance is too great I hope you'll soon see.

When it comes to a forever friend.


In such short a time that I've been given

I've learned a few things

About laughing and loving and about livin',

God fearing women and the joy a smile brings;

These I have learned from a forever friend.


To share in the laughter, share in joy and in pain

To share in the tears and the moments so tender

To be rays of warm sun in the cold gray rain

These are the things forever friends engender.

These I have done and always will for my forever friend.


When the road gets too long and your world turns blue,

If your heart grows heavy and you feel weighted down,

Remember a bond far stronger than glue:

Close your eyes, count to ten, and turn around,

And there, close beside, is the forever friend.


For it is there, in the heart, that you can find

A part of them in you so close at hand.

Something there is; a connection of the strongest kind,

No distance, nor time, nor any other thing that cannot be spanned

By the love shared between forever friends.


And like Tigger so acutely does say:

Not good bye or farewell but TTFN

Its "Ta Ta For Now" until I see you again

You are never so far that you can't brighten my day

It makes me so proud that you are my forever friend!

Still my restless soul and gently wrap me in your perfect peace. Many times I cannot see the way; it is dark and I cannot feel you near me. I begin to feel frightened and alone, I stumble and doubt. In all times, Lord, remind me that you are always near to me or send someone into my life to give me hope and light. Grant me the strength and the grace during the storms to overcome or ride them out with the hope that, before long, I shall once again be in the light of your presence. Forgive me when I doubt you Lord even knowing that you have always provided before and that I have nothing to fear. When I am tired and worn, weak and afraid help me to find comfort and rest in the shelter of your arms. Grant the grace and the strength to be a warrior of peace in a world that seems anything but. Let me sow love where there is hatred and peace where there is war. Help me to make even one person's life a little better and a little more peaceful before I pass from this world. Grant me the courage to stand up and speak out against wrongs and to show peace, love, justice, fairness, and equality by first living them myself.

Foundation Meditation


When building a new house, the first thing that happens once the plot of land is surveyed and excavated is the planning and lying down of the foundation. The foundation is the base and has to support the weight of the house. It needs to be strong and able to serve its purpose for a long time while taking abuse from the weight of the house and conditions below ground. The foundation could be the difference between a house that is safe and strong for many years and a house that is dangerous to the people living inside.

The foundation of a house is hidden underground. Although it is not noticed or seen, it is an essential part of the house that we appreciate so much. Without a solid or stable foundation to support and anchor it, the house would not be as strong or secure. A building cannot stand (well) without a (firm) foundation. The Bible tells us that: “We are temples of the Lord.” Some of us may remember a song we heard as young children during Vacation Bible School or on sing-along cassettes about two men and their houses which illustrates the necessity for a firm foundation. One built his house among large rocks high on a cliff, while the other built his house on the sand. The house on the sand was destroyed and swept away when the wind and waves got strong, but the house on the rocks could not be reached by the waves and the wind could not move it from its secure place among the rocks.

When we meet people along the road of our lives, we have the chance to share Jesus with them whether through words or deeds or faith. Sharing Jesus may include but is not limited to: giving a lecture, having a discussion, or preaching. No. Sharing Jesus could be a hug, a smile, opening a door, helping someone in any way either big or small, listening, giving your time, or saying a prayer for someone or something. There are so many ways to share Jesus! Every time we do something to share God with everyone we meet, we are building a foundation and potentially creating (or helping to create) another temple of the Lord. Like the foundations used in houses, that while underground and unseen are essential to even begin to build and later to support and secure so the structure stays strong and firm, so too are the times we share Jesus with others we meet in our lives. The thing we did may have built or helped to build a foundation in Christ and they too may do likewise. Just because we may not see the impact we had, or perhaps there is no impact at all, does not mean we have failed. In these times we pray: “God, grant me the courage to accept the things I cannot change, the serenity to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

God has his reasons for what happens even though we may not like, or know, or understand why. For this, and all things in life, pray. Pray. Pray. Never stop praying. Don’t be afraid to ask. Ask often. It is said: “Seek and you will find, ask and you shall receive, knock and the door shall be opened. For anyone who seeks will find, anyone who asks shall receive, and anyone who knocks the door shall be opened.” Listen. Make sure to listen. He will speak, but he will not interrupt. He is patient and will wait for you to stop. Pray for wisdom, guidance, courage, strength, faith, hope, love. Ask Him to open our hearts and see with His eyes. Help us to love like you. Help us to be humble and remind us always; it is not about us, it’s about you. Anything we may have done or accomplished was not us, but you in us. And always Lord: Your Will Be Done. Not our will or what we want, but yours!

You mean more to me than words can express,
Your eyes and your smile light up my world.
Your laughter makes my heart young and free,
Nothing will do to show how much you mean to me!
I'd give up the world to be a part of yours,
I'd stop the world to melt with you.

You complete me, my other self:
What I lack, you can provide.
You fill me up; you make me whole inside.
You understand what I think and how I feel.
I feel more comfortable and at ease when you are close,
We compliment and balance each other.
I treat you with love and care and great respect
For, as you are a part of me, what I do to you I also do to myself.
You are an answer to prayer, a blessing divine:
For when I was created, I swear God must have had you in mind!

Beauty so tender, a sight to behold

So delicate so sweet more precious than gold

Bringing joy to all around it

And still the short life is sad I admit

Treated right and cared for

It blooms and flourishes; a truly great reward

But like the Rose a treasure; one be warned

Handle with respect and care for every Rose has it's thorn

A symbol of joy, and a symbol of rebirth

Some of Spring's first early arrivals a source of great mirth

Reminding me of our human lives, not so different really

How similar they are it all sounds so silly

But under proper circumstances we can bloom and flourish too

And we can bring harm or joy to others; the choice is up to you

Life is short and is a precious treasure

True beauty and worth are something only God can measure

Treat all life with care and respect

For each one is sacred and hand select

You look at me with eyes of love
There is no condemnation or reproach
You see me from your throne above
At your feet I humbly approach

You hear my cries of longing
Cries of passion and of sorrow
You hear me when I sing
And you wake me in the 'morrow

You feel my pain and heartache
As if they were your own
And when I feel it's more than I can take
This too, you have known

You reach out to me from the wooden cross
And as you finally breathe your last
I feel a sense of overwhelming loss
And, equally, mercy and grace so vast

My heart beats because of you
My heart beats for love of you
As long as my heart beats I'll live for you
Help me Lord to give it back to you

Amen

Gathered at table we pray and join hands
Giving thanks for another year of blessing
It took a while but I think I’m beginning to understand
That we share our bounty with needs far more pressing
We join as one family children one and all
To partake of the feast laid before
Lifting our voices, hear us as we call
Let us be in awe of what you have in store
Bread from Heaven, living sacrifice
Broken and shared for all mankind
Pleasing you is my soul’s delight
Year after year you continue to remind
Us the reason for our joy, and where our hope lies
That if we would only seek your face
And keep our sight fixed on the prize
We would be with you in the holy place
We give thanks with happy hearts for your goodness flows
We turn to you with much rejoicing
We offer up our gifts and joys and our struggles and woes
We lift them all up with our petitions voicing
Hear our pleas and bless the child
Grant strength, peace and gentle spirit
May the desires of our mind and heart be reconciled
May wisdom be upon all who hear it
Protect and guard and bless and keep
Throughout their life and every waking hour
Watch over them when they rise and go to sleep
Look with favor on this baby a precious little flower
If they should wander bring them back
If they should stumble guide their feet
Bless them, that in you, they will never lack
That in your abundance they would be replete
Once again we give you thanks and praise
Oh Lord, giver of all good things
Help us cherish and make the most of all our days
Let love abound as kindness sings

Do not let your hearts be troubled
My Children, do not fear.
Rather, have hope and take heart
I will never leave you orphans
Nor will I ever abandon you.
Where there is love, there is life
Where there is life, there is hope
I am love, I offer you eternal life
In me are found your peace and joy and hope
Continue to pray and pray with confidence
I am moved by your cries
As a mother for her newborn baby
And even if a mother forgot her child
I, the Lord Your God, will never forget you.
I created you, made you, carved you
In the palm of my hand
I hold you in my arms, close to my chest
In the shadow of the cross there is peace and rest
Give me your weakness I give you my strength
Give me your sorrow I give you comfort and peace
Give me your darkness I give you my light
Give me your fear I’ll help you be brave
Give me your sadness I’ll help you find joy
Give me your chains I’ll help you get free
Give me your blindness I’ll help you to see
Give me your silence I’ll help you to hear
Give me your heart and I’ll open it wide
Give me your mind I’ll lift it up to Heaven
Give me your soul I’ll show you it’s value
Give me yourself I’ll give you all you need
Take Lord and Receive
All that I have and all that I am
All of it finds its source in you
You give and take away
And by your Grace I still remain
Take my life and take my will
Take it all and then instill
Just your grace and just your love
And that, My God will be enough

Gift of Life

Mary, mother of Jesus the Christ my Lord and savior
Great is your name indeed and blessed are you among women
Blessed and holy is the fruit of your womb Jesus
You were pure and blameless giving birth to the one who gave us his life so we could have life with Him forever
Breathe your sweet breath upon my soul and fill me with your virtues
Care for me and love me and pray for me Oh Holy Mother of God.
In my weakness help me fly to you and cry to you
Help me reach for you always and hold my hand. Be with me as I try to follow your son.
Bathe me in you soft light and help me to be ever open to Jesus and his will in my life
Thank you for helping me love Jesus better,  know him deeper and follow him closer
Your "Yes" has allowed me to be where I am today and do what I am able to do
I plead for your intersession and help as I struggle to be pure and chaste
I yearn to be free of these shackles but it has given me a humility and requires me to stay closer to Jesus
Everything I think about right now is life in some way when I think about you tonight.
The gift of life and what a gift and how great is truly is.
Mary I give honor and praise to your most holy name. It is an honor to come to you today
You have many titles and honors, but I believe the greatest honor and title of all is that of "Mother"
It fills me with a warmth and peace, a gentleness and love
It is a great embrace it is a the sweetest song I know
They say that behind every great man is an even more amazing mother
They would be right in this case.
Your husband Joseph is not to be forgotten either
A holy righteous and honest man was he and I'm sure he taught Jesus a great many things
I can imagine that every decision big or small was made in love, with prayer, together
That is how we should be doing things, but sometimes it seems that we have forgotten how
I pray for the world and its peoples that there would be peace and love across the nations
I pray for our families and relationships that they would reflect the loving and holy nature of your Most Holy Family
I pray for our heath especially our spiritual health
I pray for those who have said yes and for those who haven't yet that they would be open to walk where he leads
I pray for us sinners that our hearts would be changed and we could live a life of purity and grace
I pray for your protection and help in all things but especially for mothers and for those in difficult situations
I pray that I would bring joy and peace to your heart and do the things that make you smile
I thank you for the opportunity to stay here with you and your son for a while.

Amen

The gifts we bring an offering
To place upon the table
You gave us these treasures
See what we have done
Take Lord and Receive
The work of our hands
The fruit of the lands
Break them bless them and multiply
Let all we do Lord glorify
We are your people called by your name
You showed us love and call us to do the same
We come together to pray and to dine
A place for all people to come and recline
Jesus gave thanks broke the bread
Then he blessed it and said:
This is my body the bread that sustains
Then with the wine a similar refrain
This is my blood I pour out my heart
The depth of my love from the very start
I find myself so amazed
How inadequate is all praise
When I catch but a glimpse of your face
I am drowned in a sea of amazing grace
How it is that you would choose someone like me
Like Peter I can only wonder what it is you see
But you are purposeful and though I may not see the end
I will trust and follow where you lead I will go where you send
You are the way you are the life you are the truth
I have seen the light of youth help me lead them home to you

Let everything I do give glory to you
Oh Lord my God
Known by many names, still you stay the same
You are more than we can imagine
Greater than our hearts can fathom
Farther than the east is from the west
Hold us close against your chest
Knew us perfectly even before we were formed
You still our fears in the wild raging storms
Crafted with such purpose love and care
To your beauty there is nothing we can compare
You are holy and righteous and worthy of praise
And how I am blessed let me count the ways
I remember vividly the day that you found me
Woke me from my sleep opened my eyes to see
For a second I saw a glimpse of your glory revealed
And in that moment I knew that you were real
Now it seems that something had been planted
An idea a desire spiritually enchanted
Now, years later, it has sprouted and taken root
And, one day perhaps, it may bear great fruit
It all comes back to there the day my life began
You took me on this walkabout so I could understand
A picture is starting to form but it’s hard to make out
It’s clouded and shrouded in mystery and I start to doubt
But I know you walk before me Mother Mary walks beside
Trusting completely in my spiritual guide
So, in faith, I’ll follow you:
Live in spirit and in truth

Giving brings a smile to the heart
It lifts the spirit and puts a light in the eyes
To change the world, we must be the ones to start
An anonymous gift is quite a pleasant surprise

More precious than gold is the gift of our time
There are many ways to give help and give hope
Priceless gifts that don't cost a dime
In the world today we climb a steep *****

Why do we give? What makes it great?
We give to make a difference and put a smile on someone's face
We express love and set aside hate
It's always better to be kind in any case

Sometimes I feel that when I am giving,
Only then am I truly living

God of All

God of all the universe
God of heaven and of earth
You who made the mountains and the sky
With your Holy breath you spoke Life
God of all, so powerful and mighty
You humbled yourself to be one like me
No words can reach nor all lessons teach
No poets sing nor instruments bring
Justice to your greatness and power
No heart can express nor mind dare to guess
The richness of your love and how much you bless
You Oh Lord are our everything our God and Father
We are so small and frail and yet you still bother
To call us chosen to make us know that we are dear
You give us the reason that we never need to fear
To call you savior is nothing less than right for you
To say brother or friend at times seems less than true
But you love us the same in our brokenness and shame
In our sin and our failings you love us still
You always have and you always will
Creator of the universe you are never very far
You are with us everywhere that where I am, there you are
You have set the way before us you know the path we take
You have been down that road this was no mistake
You are God of the great and small
You are God of all!

Good Friday: What is it and what’s so Good about it?!

What exactly is Good Friday and what is so good about it?! Jesus died and we put him there. He died in the most terrible way imaginable and did nothing wrong. As far as we are concerned, we killed our best hope for freedom because now he is dead and that isn’t anything to be happy or good about!

Good Friday is a day of extremes. It is a day of great and overwhelming sadness and a day of hope and joy. It is a day of suffering and agony and a freedom from them. It is a day of powerful evil and of far greater love, day of death and life, of end and of beginning. This is Good Friday. It is on this day that we are reminded of our sin and humanity. So often we are the throngs of people singing hymns and giving glory to God as on Palm Sunday and we are the same angry mob that demanded Jesus death on the cross; mocking jeering and spitting at our Lord and Savior. Yet, in all our sin and hatred not once did Jesus despise us. Rather he looked on his people with all the more love and compassion.

Only Jesus could make something as ugly as the cross into something so beautiful that it is one of the most recognized and venerated symbols today. His heart broke for us as on that cross he showed us the power of perfect love. It is said that love isn’t love until you give it away and Jesus said “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend”. Jesus’s life was his love and he gave it away. It is sobering to think that after all I have done and will do that someone as perfect, powerful and great as God would look on me with love. To realize that he knows my name and calls me, and that he would call me friend, call me child is nothing short of amazing.

On Good Friday we have the opportunity to venerate the cross by kneeling down touching or kissing the cross; in doing so we can bring our troubles, our burdens, our joys, blessings, hopes, and dreams and give them to Jesus in a very real way. Jesus said “Come to me all you who are weary, you who are broken and burdened. Come to me and I shall give you rest; for my yoke is easy and my burden is light”. It is at the foot of the cross that all are equal and all can come; the rich and poor, sick and healthy, young and old.

No one has everything, but everyone has something and each of us are called to use what gifts we have been given to be salt and light for all around us; both around the block and around the world.

So Good Friday is Good in part because of it was on this day that through His death on the cross we might come to have life eternal, sin and death were defeated. Good ultimately prevailed over Evil. Jesus’ death and what would happen after was also made true when he said “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life will lose it and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life”. In his death Jesus’ body and blood are the true bread and true wine given for the whole world. His death also has produced much fruit in the people today who follow Christ and his teachings. For more than 2000 years, people have come to believe and the faith has continued to survive, grow and even thrive throughout the years despite difficulties and trials. What would have happened and how would life be today if Jesus had saved himself from death on the cross, and didn’t die for our sins on that day? The world may never know and even though things are far from perfect, I thank God he did. That is Good.

Amen

Good Shepherd

The Lord is my Shepherd… I need nothing more

He is my rock, my guide, my friend whom I adore

He binds the wounded and heals the sick

He is there for his sheep through thin and thick



The Lord is my Shepherd… I need not fear

To You Lord all the flock is very dear

No one more important all loved just the same

He knows all His sheep by name



The Lord is my Shepherd… In whom I find rest

He calls us all to our own spiritual quest

His love is forever, unconditional, and unending

I fall down in awe before The King



The Lord is my Shepherd… He knows his own

The sheep know His voice and tone

The Lord makes sure each one is safe and sound

He will bring them back to safe lush ground



The Lord is my Shepherd… He protects us from danger

Protecting us from any stranger

You separate the sheep from the goats

Guarding us from satan (the crafty wolf in sheep’s coats)



The Lord is my Shepherd… I know He will always provide

Even through the darkest night He is at our side

Delivering me from my biggest foes

When we are overwhelmed and scared He takes the blows



The Lord is my Shepherd… Forgiving and open

Taking in and loving us as we are: ****** and broken

As sheep we are so prone to wander and stray

But whatever we do we cannot get away



The Lord is my Shepherd… And I am in good hands

I rest in His wondrous presence; safe from shifting sands

‘Neath His wings I find a peace comparable to none

I bask in the power and warmth of The Son



Lord, thank you for being our good shepherd! Thank you for keeping us safe, providing for us, and bringing us back home when we go astray. Please be the shepherd of our minds, our hearts, and our tongues as we try to follow the sound of your voice and to go where you lead us. As you are a good shepherd to us, your children, I pray that we too may be shepherds to all people here on earth. Just as you told Peter "feed my sheep" "tend my sheep" "feed my lambs" if he really loved you, so are we called to do the same to our brothers and sisters all around the world. For it is by taking care of the least of these and being a neighbor to everyone that we in turn do the same for you! Amen.

Grace flows through you Oh Mary our Mother
You are the living channel through which God came to save the world
Take us all into your arms and bathe us in the living water of Christ
Make us a channel of His love and peace
Through which the world comes to know Him
Bless us Mary for we are your children
Watch over us, protect us, pray for us and bless us
Help us not forget to honor you with the respect and care you deserve
Oh Mother of the world and Queen of Heaven
Come to our aid, we implore you
In our prosperity we have forgotten your son
And we are paying the price today
Have mercy on us and intercede on our behalf
In the Eucharist, we are channels of God’s presence
In a physical and spiritual way
Our hearts are a dwelling place for the Most High
We become as Christ-bearers
You bore Christ within yourself for 9 long months
When you were chosen and filled with the Holy Spirit
You said let it be done unto me according to Your will
Help us to say yes to God and his Will and trust that he will see us through
Lend us your grace and strength Holy Mother Of God
That we may reflect and imitate your virtues
Lead us ever into an ever deeper and more intimate relationship
With your son our Lord Jesus Christ
And by your grace obtain the fruits of the promises
Especially in the mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary
We ask this and all things through Jesus’ name and through your intercession Mary.
Amen.

To new friends and family made this week:
Warm Fuzzies, crew time, RECORD HEAT!!
Time spent together: laughter, sweat, and tears,
A relationship to grow in future years.
Songs, prayer and fellowship abound,
Hugs, smiles, and joy all around!
The work completed a testament to:
The fact that, with God, all things we can do.
We seek you Lord; hide not from us your face,
And help us Lord to persevere as we each must run the race.
You have blessed us with many gifts indeed
Remind us You are there, in our every need.
Thank you for keeping us safe from harm
And in Your loving embrace please keep us warm!

We love You, thank You, and praise You Jesus Christ.
AMEN!

St. John Neumann and St. Marks ASP 2012

Wrapped in a cloud of light and love
Surrounded in strength both soft and strong
The quiet whispers of peace be with you
Take heart and be not afraid, I am with you
Your Guardian Angel to care and protect
Calming your fears and drying your eyes
Waking you early to watch the sunrise
Beside you always and never out of reach
Sometimes they shield and other times teach
Your Guardian Angel specially hand select
Your shelter in the storm a blanket soft and warm
Your strength to carry on when hope seems gone
Your refuge and strong tower, help in darkest hour
The hug that says it all when words cannot suffice
The sheer joy that suffuses you when the day is so nice
More than simply angels are the many in our lives
Who are guardians that we don’t always realize
Some for a moment and some who may stay
Those who may watch, and love, and pray
Sometimes in the background, behind the scenes
Working for your good even though unseen
For our Guardians up in heaven and those we meet on Earth
Nothing comes close to how much they are worth
So we recognize our Guardians and say a special prayer
That they be blessed and lifted up in the Father’s loving care
We may be a Guardian for someone else in need
And with faith and grace, we too, can plant a seed