Relationships are a Treasure

One of the greatest gifts that has come me in religious life is the realization that relationships are the treasure of life.  Meeting good friends at the manor enriched my life far more than the time I thought I was giving.  For me my treasure is encountering people and finding life in the living.  Finding God in the giving.  Then no matter what I'm doing, I find Him in the eyes of others.

Catholic Photo Challenge #6

Become like a child...

Kids are so much better at joy in a carefree moment,
not fettered by worries or needing to be in total control.
Here my niece is filled with joy to have her stuffed fish.

Here I am unfettered by the cares and worries of life

on the day after my first Christmas. 

I pray for the grace to live in the moment like a child. 

Catholic Photo Challenge #5



Carefree Moments

My friends at L'arche taught me joy in a carefree moment, not fettered by worries or needing to be in total control.  There were struggles, but not a day went by without finding joy somewhere.  My heart was healed just by their simple acceptance of others, and the way they opened their home to me for six short months.

 

Catholic Photo Challenge #5

Rainbow Fidelity



God's fidelity is multicolored, sometimes crisp and jaw dropping, sometimes a gentle reminder painted across the sky.  His fidelity always shines more brightly after a storm.  Catholic Photo Challenge #4.

Over 200+ Years of Fidelity

 This beautiful 200+ year old beechnut tree might just testify to the fidelity of God who has nurtured it and sustained it for all these years.  The same tree is pictured below, next to the four car garage (just to the right.)  It's a massively beautiful tree behind the convent.  Catholic Photo Challenge #4.

Fidelity to Prayer



This cross is located in El Santuario de Chimayo, New Mexico.  It's the final destination of the Pilgrimage for Vocations in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.  A 100 mile walk for vocations that was started in 1973. 

God's Fidelity



I've heard that traditionally Swans mate for life.  Often they represent fidelity.  Because of they I think they are a reflection in nature of God's fidelity to us.  Thankfully God's fidelity is purely perfect.  And the beauty of the swan is a living grace.  Catholic Photo Challenge #4.

Animated Good Shepherd



Couldn't resist sharing this animated good shepherd having fun for this week's Catholic Photo Challenge.  Many of our own roles in life are something like that of the Good Shepherd.  We have many opportunities to give life, to give love, and to make sacrifices on behalf of those we care for.
Fr. Francis has always reflected God's joy to all those who know him.  He has the heart of the Good Shepherd.

Celebrating the Wedding



Three amazing priests celebrating the bride and groom.  Something extra.  This week's Daily Post photo challenge.  I think it's also appropriate for this week's Good Shepherds Catholic Photo Challenge.  I was a postulant in the former Intercessors of the Lamb.  After the suppression I watched these men give tirelessly of their time to pray with us, help us to heal, and finally to move on.  Setting aside their own pain to help the rest of us.  They are some of the best Shepherds I've been privileged to know.  Happy Father's Day.

Source and Summit of Light

A two story sculpture of the Eucharist in Assisi - From Visual Prayer

Here Your light illumines my mind, enabling it to know You more and more deeply. Here streams of grace flow down upon my heart. Here my soul draws eternal life. O my Lord and Creator, You alone, beyond all these gifts, give Your own self to me and unite Yourself intimately with Your...creature.
Excerpt of a prayer from St. Faustina - Catholic Photo Challenge

The Light of Prayer

This man stopped in an alley in Jerusalem to pray.  Prayer is the greatest nurturer of God's light and maybe the surest way to walk from darkness to light. 

Catholic Photo Challenge

Angel of Light



Another entry for the Catholic Photo Challenge based on Isaiah 9:1 - Darkness and light - How many times have we been visited by angels unaware?  May the angels always guide us from darkness into light. 

For this week’s challenge, show us a photo that represents the tension between light and darkness, or an image of being in a type of darkness or light.

May Those Who've Walked in Great Darkness See His Great Light

This is an entry for this week's Catholic Photo Challenge based on Isaiah 9:1 - A people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone.

The Great Depends on the Small

Sometimes the closer you look the more you see how we are so interdependent.  The glory of the sunflower depends on the visit of the smallest bee.  Mutual interdependence reminds me of the love of God.

Catholic Photo Challenge.



God Loves the Son



Doesn't it seem hard to doubt the existence of God when you see a field of sunflowers?  Glorious!!!

Another Catholic Photo Challenge.

Webs of Beauty

These webs were covered with dew.  God accenting the delicate beauty.  How many hours of work yet so fragile.  Another entry for the Catholic Photo Challenge.