Little by little ...: February 2010

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Monastery of ...

Christ in the Desert.
New Jersey and New Mexico, two places I long to go. Both have "New" in their names. Hmm. What does that mean, Lord? This Lent is time to make all things 'new'... New things rise from the ruins, if we but look, pray, hope and don't worry, we'll become "new wine" poured out for souls. Always remember the Mercy of God is NEW every morning!
NEW.
Be reNEWed
IN CHRIST!

While walking along the blogger path...

I happened upon this lovely blog. Please visit to see more of Father Leake's beautiful photos of his retreat at Hermits of Bethlehem. God willing, I will be able to go there someday!

. . . Brigid, Father likes all things "New Orleans."
: )

Veronica's Veil...

My favorite of the traditional Stations of the Cross is XI, where Veronica meets Jesus and Jesus takes her veil that she's brought to Him, to dab the blood and sweat from his face that stings and burns his eyes. Placing it against His face, Jesus leaves His indelible image. I pray it also is a prayer for me to be a friend and intercessor for priests walking their own road to Calvary. For all priests need our support and friendship as they serve the Lord faithfully, for they suffer many trials, loneliness and temptations just like we do for they are frail like we are, yet graced most uniquely by Our Lord, their High Priest anointing them with the many graces they need to lead their flocks in the True Faith - most importantly giving us Christ in the Eucharist and nourishing the faith of us all by administering the Sacraments. I pray your Holy Face Lord Jesus be imprinted on the 'veil of my heart' so that as I progress on this journey, I will remember that I "wear" Your Face as a follower and that I will see Your Face in others more and more.
Precious Holy Face of Jesus.
I love you.

Gloria TV ...

Click to watch a video of the...

Hermits of Bethlehem

Tender Mother...

Mother so loving, gentle, tender and pure
watch over us with your maternal love
never let us be separated from you
hold us always close to your
Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart
and guide us one day to be forever
united and one with the
Sacred Heart of your Son
Jesus
Our Lord

image found here

Friday, February 26, 2010

A New Song...

A New Song

the flutter of a sparrow's wing
caught my eye as I walked by the lake
this little bird sung its praises

every day...

then fell to earth

its short life spent

but its falling not lost to the

EYES of LOVE
always watching
never sleeping

and somewhere

a tiny sparrow now sings again

a new song

.
listen

How About A Cuppa Joe with Your Solitude?

Mystic Monk Coffee

and some music along with it

Friends...

“The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing... not healing, not curing... that is a friend who cares.” ~ Henri Nouwen.org

Arriving at Mystical Rose Abbey...

Interior of Del's Frige...

Del's Underground frige ...

Mystical Rose Abbey, WI.

I met Del and his wife,Georganna, who are hermits and have built this monastery over the years. I was impressed by this cavern/fridge where they keep their canned goods, goats milk and assorted other foodstuffs that require cooler temps. They were most gracious. Del also painted the Sacred Heart I have used for this blog's header. He's very interesting and I would love to go back sometime and visit. He was working on installing a bell tower for their monastery in 2008, when Fr. Gerard and I were there. I wonder if he has completed that project?

Thursday, February 25, 2010

with Karen and Paul Fredette

Hermits in the 1990's - 2000's...

Surveys

Italian Women...

Taking up a hermits life ...
here

It Might Have To Be About 165 Sq Ft for 2 people...

but what a 'hermitage!' NO MORTGAGE!!! SIMPLIFY sounds like a dream to me, too.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Back In Genoa Wisconsin...

I spent one long, dark, dreary night here,

As the wind howled and mournfully moaned.

Rain pelted hard against rattling panes

of windows frosted by the cold.

A chill air filled the cabin

biting through to my old bones

Where I spent a few "long and restless" hours

in a cabin all alone.

But ever faithful was the Lord

Who held me close while I

feebly prayed.

Then just as He promised I woke to see

the longest "dark night" of my soul

fade

Back in Genoa, Wisconsin

Early Spring - 2008

Song For A Suburban Hermit ...

When it's night, it's night. But in the morning comes the softest, most gentle Light. So pure and so bright. Press on. Presse through through the long dark night. Let Him lift you, with Tender Mercies into the Morning Star's Light.

A Woman's Wise Words...

As to the aridity you are suffering from, it seems to me our Lord is treating you like someone He considers strong: He wants to test you and see if you love Him as much at times of aridity as when He sends you consolations. I think this is a very great favor for God to show you. ~ St. Teresa of Avila

Let Your Soul "Branch Out"...

Even in the city...

One can find...

Solitude ... like a desert oasis of stillness, where only the sound of
the breeze across the treetops is heard louder than the barking of a dog
or the hum of traffic ...

Great American Desert Grotto in Kansas...at least that's what "little" calls it .

From Hermit to Saint

John 7:38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said,
‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’

Let a man consider that God is always looking at him from heaven, that his actions are everywhere visible to the divine eyes and are constantly being reported to God by the Angels. . In order that he may be careful about his wrongful thoughts, therefore, let the faithful brother say constantly in his heart, "Then shall I be spotless before Him, if I have kept myself from my iniquity."
--from The Rule of St. Benedict