An old proverb reminds us: “Gratitude is the memory of the heart.”

St. Patrick, like all the saints, agreed. He said:

“I am certain in my heart that all that I am I have received from God.”

The Lord is my pacesetter,
I shall not rush.
He makes me stop for quiet intervals.
He provides images of stillness which restore my serenity.
Even though I have great many things to accomplish,
I will not fret for his presence is here.
He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of my activities,
By anointing my mind with oils of tranquility.
– Found in a parish bulletin.

God, our Father, through the mist of grief in the dead of night, someone is coming toward us. Dispel our darkness, Lord.

Make us recognize who it is: Your own Son coming to erase our doubts, to
strengthen our weak faith, to warm our hearts and rescue us, and lead us
to You in the glory of His return and forever more.

– Anonymous.

Hope continues in time the initial intuition of faith;

it is faithfulness to one’s vocation,

the strength to live it out day by day,

the steady gaze on the distant goal right up to the last day of all.

– Carlo Carretto, Italian author.

Wit is something to treasure,
Charm is something to live,
Peace is something to keep,
Love is something to give.
Joy is something to feel,
Trust is something to find.
God is the One to thank
From now ‘til the end of time.
– An old Irish creed.

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic.  It is the urge to
serve others at whatever the cost.” — Arthur Ashe

Jesus said: “I did not come to be served, but to serve.”

And He also said: “Follow Me.”

SMILE: It’s the melody of the soul
WORK: It’s the service of the spirit.
PLAY: It’s the secret of youthfulness.
READ: It’s the source of wisdom.
LOVE: It’s the gift of the heart.
PRAY: It answers every need.

– Found on a parish bulletin

Prompted by widespread fears that new weapons would wipe out Western civilization the Pope issued a papal document forbidding their use by any Christian nation against another.
The hydrogen bomb? Germ warfare?
The story appeared in 1139 and was issued by Pope Innocent II. He was referring to the invention of the crossbow.

– As reported in the Atlanta Journal

“I believe as I did as a child, that life has meaning, a direction, a value;

that no suffering is lost, that every tear counts, and each drop of blood,

and the secret of living in today’s troubled world is found

in the simple phrase of St. John, ‘God is love’.”

– Francois Mauriac, French writer and philosopher

It must rank as one of the most beautiful obituaries ever printed. It appeared in a Pittsburgh newspaper involving a suburban resident. The obituary read: “In regard to memorials, the family suggests an act of kindness to be shown to an elderly person in need.” What a rare legacy!