The Waterfall

                                                             Photo courtesy: Google

THE WATERFALL

 (in the woods behind the tennis court at Avila) 

For years I've come to the waterfall,

Where I often heard God's call.

During Fall, Winter or Spring,

I'm there with fallen leaves and trees,

Feeling God's breeze.

I'm there in the rainfall or the snowfall,

The water flowing fast as a football,

Or slow because of an icefall.

My time at the waterfall

 brings contemplation,

It can last until the nightfall,

As I sit and pray at the waterfall.

This year there was no waterfall.

Branches and trees had covered

 the stream where water did flow.

One could only see a stream of water,

that glistened and stayed still,

which made one feel His Fill.

Although there is no waterfall,

One can sit and dream and hope that

it will flow downstream,

or even a tide water stream.

The waterfall is a memory that 

one will always remember.

Sr. M. Michelle of All Saints Moore, O.Carm.

A SISTER'S PAGE: A Prayerful Reflection

A Week of Silence, Prayer and Reflection

With Spiritual Direction

Blessings, difficulties, changes and growth

                Were an affirmation

In silence God’s voice I heard

                With his love and affection

Which drew me closer to God

                With every prayer and aspiration

A week of rest and prayer

                Were an inspiration

When down the mountain I climb

                To those I touch

Let me be an Inspiration

To those who may be in desolation (complete loneliness)

                And mystification (confusion, memory loss)

As I bring your love to those

                Who need your sanctification (God’s will)

And even help with intervention

                May my life be lived with

                                Compassion and consolation.  Amen.

Sr. M. Michelle of All Saints Moore, O.Carm.

Directed Retreat April 23 - 30, 2017 

               

Saint Therese's Room

St. Therese's Cell (Photo Courtesy: Google)

Above her head there is a holy cross

To remind her to count all else as loss.

Jesus knocks in the picture so turn from sin,

You need to open the door and let him in.

A holy water fount to bless herself,

And remember the Lord before all else.

A jug of water her personal river,

Reminds her of Christ the one true life giver.

An hour glass to tell her how long to pray,

They did not use watches or clocks in her day.

A lamp to use before the dawn is unfurled,

Reminds her of Jesus the light of the world.

A picture of Saint Theresa of Avila her patron and model of the way that is true,

Her hero, her role model and a perfect example to follow in heavenly virtue.

A bench for the work that doesn’t stop,

Idle hands are the devils workshop.

A basket for the many beautiful things, like infant of Prague garments, she would sew,

She turned the ribbon around the outside, inside out, so only the dull side would show.

A lap desk where she wrote her masterpiece,

With the Holy Spirit  words came with ease.

A window to the courtyard to see God’s creation,

We are all precious flowers no matter our station.

That is all that is in her room and that is it,

We pray for simplicity in life and spirit.

by Sr. Hope Therese, O.Carm.

A SISTER'S PAGE: What Is Prayer?

Photo Courtesy: Google

Prayer is water

Prayer is fire

Prayer is wind

Prayer is desire

Prayer is freeing

Prayer is binding

Prayer is seeking

Prayer is finding

Prayer is talking

Prayer is listening

Prayer is dull

Prayer is glistening

Prayer is a poem

Prayer is a song

Prayer is short

Prayer is long

Prayer is loud

Prayer is silence

Prayer is peace

Prayer is reliance

Prayer is working

Prayer is rest

Prayer is your worst

Prayer is your best

Prayer is the Father

Prayer is the Dove

Prayer is the Son

Prayer is love

Prayer is a rainbow

Prayer is a storm

Prayer is cold

Prayer is warm

Prayer is laughing

Prayer is crying

Prayer is easy

Prayer is trying

Prayer is a quiet calm

Prayer is a lively dance

Prayer is complete surrender

Prayer is taking a chance

Prayer is receiving

Prayer is giving

Prayer is dying

Prayer is living

Prayer is thanking

Prayer is praising

Prayer is humbling

Prayer is raising

Prayer is blessing

Prayer is contrition

Prayer is communion

Prayer is petition

Prayer is affirmation

Prayer is a solitary space

Prayer is confirmation

Prayer is a unifying grace

Prayer is grieving

Prayer is coping

Prayer is believing

Prayer is hoping

Prayer can move you or hold you still

Prayer can help you accept God’s will

When you pray remember this

He is yours and you are His

by Sr. Hope Therese, O.Carm.

MY FAVORITE VIRTUE

by Sr. Hope Therese, O.Carm

My favorite virtue is HOPE.  It has literally been with me my whole life.  In order to explain just how important the virtue of hope is to me, I will need to give a little of my background.  I was born and baptized Dianna Hope Maring.  My parents had hoped they would have another child.  Little did my parents know just how much I would need that virtue.  From the time I was born I have had various medical issues.  My family and I hoped and prayed that everything would turn out fine.  Through the grace of God all of these issues have been resolved.  In college, I had to do fieldwork placements to become an occupational therapist assistant.  I thought I wanted to work with children because I had occupational therapy as a child.  Playing with children is fun.  Working with them is difficult and complicated.  The children had Individualized Education Plans that I did not find holistic or realistic.  I dropped out of one fieldwork placement with children and failed another.  Clearly God was telling me to go in another direction.  I was despairing over what to do with my life.  I could not figure out God’s plan for me.  With a heavy heart and lack of confidence, I decided to do two more fieldwork placements.  Both of them were in nursing homes.  One was with a COTA (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant).  The other was with an activity director.  My favorite was with the activity director.  I did very well in both of these placements.

Sr. Dianna and Resident

 WAYS THE ELDERLY ARE LIKE CHRIST
by Sr. Dianna Maring

The elderly are poor because they have to give up
many of their possessions to enter the nursing home.

Jesus was poor.

Many elderly have very little affectionate physical contact.

Jesus was chaste.

Many elderly entrust their care and treatment

To others who give what is best for them.

Jesus was obedient.

The elderly have to leave their families to enter the nursing home.

Jesus had to leave his beloved mother to begin his ministry.

 

Some elderly have trouble communicating.

Jesus had trouble with people not understanding or accepting his message.

Many elderly have trouble sleeping because of medications they take. 

Or because they have to be awakened to be taken care of.

Jesus couldn’t sleep in the garden of Gethsemane.

Many elderly have arthritis in their hands and feet.

Jesus’ hands and feet were pierced.

Many elderly are neglected by their friends and family in their hour of need.

Jesus was abandoned by his friends when he was on the cross.

Many elderly have mobility issues.

Jesus couldn’t move on the cross.

Many elderly are often cold due to poor circulation.

Jesus was cold on the cross.

Many elderly have difficulty swallowing and are thirsty because they are on thickened liquids.

Jesus was thirsty and had trouble swallowing the sour wine on the cross.

The elderly grow weaker day by day.

Jesus grew weaker hour by hour on the cross.

No one is as close to God and Heaven as the elderly are at the end of their lives.

Jesus was united with God the Father in Heaven at the end of his life.

The elderly need to be taken care of.

Jesus needed to be taken care of after he died on the cross. 

He also needed others to spread his message throughout the world.