I whistled as my coworker and I closed up the shop While mopping, we shared heroes and examples I asked my friend, “Say, if some saints would come for cone or cup “What flavors, do you reckon, would they choose? I’d hand ’em samples!”
My coworker, amused, gave this reply
“Saint Pete would go for Rocky Road; at least two reasons why On road from Rome, ‘Quo vadis?‘ He asked Christ Since Paul once stopped near Naples, Neapolitan he’d try A Trinity analogy he’d buy… Though imprecise!?
“It’s clear which flavor many of the Carmelites would like For Blessed Ukon, Matcha he’d attack Saint Benedict would, as a rule, first pre-bless every bite And Athanasius would not stand for ‘lite’… But full sugar, full fat“
I shared how my dear dad had told some tales of his own heroes Who’d licked this heav’nly gift with grateful hearts…
Before we each clocked out, I shared with shock and some emotion The goal of all devotion, we’d neglected The Royal Couple! To express my love for both, an ocean I told my friend, “I know what they would pick If I’m correct…”
“Undebatably divine, the flavor known to rule A Chocolate cone would Jesus love, three scoops and chocolate dipped Her mantle’s hue to match and to evoke her queenly footstool * A Blue Moon might be Mary’s, crowned with whip… But would it melt As she went round As mothers do Till she had found That no one in the parlor had been skipped?”
***
*And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. -Revelation 12:1
Relaxed in the shade Of the colonnade pass My friend and I traded the talk of the town
All flustered, I asked with a frown…
“Just who was that baptist Whose breakfast was locusts Enticing those folks of weak mind to immerse?”
Defensive, his passion outburst…
“The fact is, he was not The Christ, but his Baptist The ‘Friend of the Bridegroom‘! In the womb, they first met”
“While Miryam (מִרְיָם) spoke greeting Who too was with child Eli-she-va (אֱלִישֶׁבַע), her kin, not by chance felt him dance”
I questioned, “Once grown and a loner become
Why then did some hate him, perchance?”
“God’s prophet, Yo-ḥan-an(יוחנן) Men’s ire could not stop He’d scolded the Pharisee clan fearlessly”
“But how?” I said, stifling my glee…
“‘Repent!’ he’d commanded ‘God’s Kingdom has landed! Flee sin! Turn with haste!Then go prove it: bear fruit!’“
I pressed him, “And next, what ensued?”
“With stinging reproaches He coached the poor King That his wife was not his! Yet, repent he would not”
“The queen’s anger quickened Truth sickened her spleen To squash it, she wickedly hatched a mad plot”
“Her scheming advanced At the king’s birthday feast When Salome danced, he burst out with a vow…”
I beckoned my friend, “Go on, now”…
“To impress, Herod ranted ‘I’ll grant whatsoever ‘To half of my kingdom! Now bring your request’”
“Her mother with boldness Then told her none other Than John’s speechless head on a platter would do”
“His oath he well kept Lest he look like an oaf And soon, John’s disciples did lay him to rest”
Surprised at myself as I felt disenfranchised “So now, who will baptize?” I asked, heart all cold
My comrade’s warm hand gripped my shoulder…
“John clamored, voice bold ‘Behold, God’s own Lamb!’ ‘His Son, Who out-hurlsthe world’s sin‘
“‘I rejoice at His Voice My joy is now full ForHe must increase, andIdecrease’
“Unspun were the skies As he washed God’s pure Son Who baptizes now with the ‘Spirit and fire’ “
“Let’s search for Him, then!” Breath-bated, I urged “And why wait around?” Off we bounded, eyes peeled
And each none the wiser That this new baptizer Already was searching for us…
By leading us Jordanward where we’d be found
And once we’d abandoned its shores…
Restored and unbound
*****
Source material: the four Holy Gospels
“Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matthew 11:11, NIV)
My plans are too often disrupted I’ll choose then to be interrupted I’ll hoist up in prayer Each day this bold choice Then joy will cascade uncorrupted
Surprises, each day guarantees (Old Murphy’s most mischievous deeds) When prior they’re welcomed Not curveball, nor fire Will ire or pilfer my peace
Each monkey wrench tossed in my face Invites me the cross to embrace These tiny denials And trials without whining Refine my rough ego with grace
Bear fruit from intrusions: pre-choose ’em!
As a Friend once pre-chose to give all
When plans areall dashed
With mayhem ensuing
That Friend will intrude with His peace unsurpassed
With His laugh that disrupts and His look that will crush all your brooding
***
In his book Interior Freedom, Fr. Jacques Philippe uses the example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux to explain the freedom available when we are interrupted. He says of Thérèse: “[St. Thérèse] did not like having her work interrupted. Sometimes she was asked to do work requiring quite a lot of concentration … [but] the schedule of the Carmelite community was so intense that she had very little time at her disposal. When she finally found an hour or two to devote to the job, she applied herself in the following spirit: ‘I choose to be interrupted.’ If a good Sister then came by to ask her for some little service, instead of coldly sending her away Thérèse made the effort to accept the interruption with good grace. And if nobody interrupted her, she considered that a charming present from her loving God and was very grateful to him.” -Interior Freedom, 56
One greysome winter, Francis with his fellow friar, Leo Through flurries, in their cowls, swiftly hurried to Saint Mary’s The moaning wind so cold, not face nor finger could they feel Above the fray yelled Francis, “Brother, heed!”
Then told him, “Even if each friar glowed with holy brightness While preaching or beseeching for some bread at village homes Write down that this would not be perfect joy, or true delight!” So Brother Leo scratched this in his tome
Without restraint, the tonsured Saint kept on, as swept the rain “O Brother, if each friar could restore the lame and torn Make straight the crooked, cast out demons, wash the sinner’s shame Relieve all pain, and hearten souls forlorn
“As for the mute, return their pow’r to speak and laugh and shout But even if a greater deed than these could they engage To raise the dead, would still not reach that perfect joy, no doubt!” This Brother Leo noted on his page
While mushing through the snow, his fervor flowed all in a rush “O Leo, if our brothers could all languages speak well And wield the Word of God, the devil’s strongholds strike and crush See into souls, or future things foretell
If all the Friars Minor could with tongues of angels sing And had recourse to knowledge of the courses of each star Knew all the virtues of each shrub; each beast of fang or wing Yet such would not be perfect joy, by far!”
While striding, yet abiding in their Lord, up hills of ice Il Poverello said, “If all our friends so preached the Word With power to convert the infidel to love of Christ ‘twould not be perfect joy! Think this absurd?”
The weary Leo marveled, til his query could not wait “Good Francis, teach me please, wherein is perfect joy discovered?” And he replied, “If when we reach Saint Mary’s convent-gate Exhausted; fully famished and snow-covered
“The porter at the gate, suspicious, first interro-gates us With questions of our quest; and having told him, ‘We’re two friars’ He sputters hotly, ‘What ye say is false!’ and truly hates us Accusing, ‘You’re impostors, filthy liars!’
“‘You steal the meager alms of poor ones; now begone, I say!’ And opens not the gate! We suffer cold and starve till night If we were to receive such hate with meekness, not dismay Not ruffled or complaining of our plight
“But trusting that the porter, though quite angry, truly knows us And that it is our God who makes him spout and do such things If, when we rap again, again but wrath that doorman shows us And flings at us a wicked oath that stings
“Then shrieks, ‘Begone, begone, you wretched thieves, now take your flight For here you shall not enter, no! nor eat, nor drink, nor rest!’ Were we to take with courage every slight without requite O Leo, that… ‘ He paused as passions deep welled up within him
‘That all would make for perfect joy and blest!”
“Yet further, if we knock once more, and let our sorrow show Imploring him with tears to aid us for the love of God Instead, he rushes, red-faced and then rolls us in the snow And knocks us with a knotted wooden rod
“If we would bear such pain with grace, remaining in God’s peace While thinking on the suff’rings of the Christ, our King and Lord This cross we’d share with love for Him, which thereby would increase O Brother, ‘twould be perfect joy’s reward!” (1)
“Yes, note with care, O Leo, in your book, this tale’s conclusion The greatest gift that Jesus gives His friends in their affairs, is the The grace of overcoming self! It’s misery’s solution Embracing all for Christ, Who with us shares…
“…all thorns and undeserv-éd scorn; all insults, light or grave For in His many other gifts we truly cannot glory Such gifts come not from us, but from our God, our souls to save So says Saint Paul, whose wisdom crowns this story
“Paul asks, ‘What have you that you have not gotten from the Lord? And if received, why do you glory as if you had not?‘ (2) Yes, in the cross of tribulation only may we glory And ‘boast but in the cross of Jesus Christ’“
So… We’ll bear our crosses, friend, and onward go!” (3)
*****
(1) Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church… -Col. 1:24 (RSVCE)
(2) 1 Corinthians 4:7
(3) Galatians 6:14
St. Francis and Brother Leo, pray for us!
Collect prayer for his feast day, Oct. 4:
O God, by whose gift Saint Francis was conformed to Christ in poverty and humility, grant that, by walking in Francis’ footsteps, we may follow your Son, and, through joyful charity, come to be united with you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. — Amen.
(4-4 rhythm) Ignatius’ love for Christ was lion-heartedly defiant It roared! in seven letters to his flocks When Trajan’s men condemned him to be prey for starving lions He inked this pledge; I warm you that it shocks!
(3-4 rhythm) “The fire and the cross and the packs of wild beasts “The gashes, the rendings and wrenching of bone “The mangling of limbs and the crushing of… body “The devil’s own tortures…” (to be suffered alone)
“Let such come upon me”, Ignatius announced “if…
I may gain…
Christ!” (1)
(4-4 rhythm) This sentiment is sourced in the apostle Paul’s epistle He lists his “light afflictions” borne in meekness (2) To boast not of himself but of what’s souly beneficial: The Cross and that which fully “shows his weakness” (3)
Such as…
(3-4 rhythm) “…imprisonments… beatings and often near death (4) “And five times I suffered the 39 lashes “Then thrice I was beaten with rods, and once stoned “And thrice also shipwrecked… adrift” in the splashes
“Then danger from rivers, and danger from robbers “And danger from fam’ly; from Gentiles; false peers “Through danger in cities, in wild lands and waters “Through sleeplessness, hunger; through cold and through fears”
“For His sake I’ve lost all things, deeming them dung [literal translation] “that I may gain Christ!” (5) May this song ever be sung!
“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage [dung], that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” -Philippians 3:8-11
The Spirit of God comes with gifts to INfuse Which the spirit of evil would have me REfuse Whose will I choose For strength?
The Spirit of Jesus prefers to EXcuse (1) While the spirit of “Satan” just loves to ACcuse (2) Whose will I choose For mercy?
The Spirit of Truth only truths will DIffuse Which the spirit of lies will but twist to CONfuse Whose will I choose For clarity?
The Spirit of heav’n will unite and ENthuse While the spirit of hell will divide and ABuse Whose will I choose For fellowship?
The first, like a drop on a “sponge”, sweet and gentle (3) The second, a drop on a “rock”, sharp and loud Whose will I choose For direction?
God’s Life-giving Spirit will shake up the stray (4)
And sting so to bring to repent and amend
But the spirit of death will distract and delay
In hopes that his prey go astray in the end
Whose will I choose
Today?
***** (1) “Forgive them Father, they know not what they do” -Lk 23:34 (2) “Satan” means “Accuser” (3) “In those who are making progress in the spiritual life, from good to better, the good angel touches the soul gently, tenderly, and sweetly, as a drop of water entering a sponge, but the evil spirit touches it sharply, with noise and agitation, like a drop of water hitting upon a rock.” (St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises) https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/the-sponge-and-the-rock/
(4) “For people who have closed themselves off from God’s grace, the good spirit disturbs and shakes up. It stirs feelings of remorse and discontent. The purpose is to make the person unhappy with a sinful way of life. On the other hand, the evil spirit wants such people to continue in their confusion and darkness. So the evil spirit tries to make them complacent, content, and satisfied with their distractions and pleasures”
Each loved one that we miss Are with us in each Mass We meet the saints and angels there Around the Altar-table, where We pray with those who’ve passed
No closer can we be To loved ones now at rest Than in His Eucharistic Gaze The simple Host, our sight betrays To hide a Humble Guest
His Body makes us whole His Blood our passions quell And where His Sacred Head is now Are found His members, who resound His snatch from sin and hell
Beyond the veil of bread Through lenses of His grace We see the face of Christ the Lord And those who Him on earth adored Within His warm embrace
*****
Blessed Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi are a married couple on their way to canonization. Heartbroken by Luigi’s passing, Maria was able to write a few months later: “Luigi is always and incessantly the love and inconsolable sorrow of each and all of us, yet he helps us, he is near to us, and he loves us as much and even more, if it is possible, than before. Little by little, he is present to me ever more, most of all, at Communion, before the altar.”
Regarding the background of Beyond the Eucharistic Veil, I wrote it after my mother Barbara passed in 2023. It was inspired by a comment my household brother shared with me in college (Franciscan University of Steubenville). He told me that after his sister died at age 17, He would find her in the adoration chapel, in the Sacred Host, recalling that if his sister was with and in Jesus, then she there in the Eucharistic Host. Christ the Head is connected to every member of His Body, the Church. Eucharistic Adoration and Mass brought him consolation in his grief, as it does for me today.
Our Lady’s the DAUGHTER of God our Good Father (Lumen Gentium 5)
She’s MOTHER of God for she bore her Creator (LG 56)
And Mary is also the SPOUSE of the Spirit (Luke 1)
Her love is relentless for you! why evade her?
The more one cries out to Our Lady by name
The sooner the Spirit will “fly” to that one (cf. St. Louis de Montfort)
The more that a man shuns occasions of shame
The quicker will Mary draw him to her Son
Call out to this Mother each time you are tempted
Then beg her to send you her powerful Spouse
The Spirit soon helps all who ask, none exempted
Invite both these spouses into your soul’s house
To pray with the Ros’ry’s like holding her hand
She leads us to Jesus as our Loving Mother (John 2:5)
He yearns to be Spouse of our heart’s hidden “land” (Isaiah 62:1-5)
Through Mary, the Enemy’s plans God will smother (Revelation 12)
“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, JESUS. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen!”
I want to be a super-saint
Now you may smile and say “how quaint”
But joking I most surely ain’t
D’you want to be a super-saint?
*
For after all, it’s God’s desire
To fill us with His Spirit’s fire
Which rockets us to heaven’s choir
Yes, after all, it’s God’s desire!
*
To be a saint, I gotta pray
“Thy will be done” in me each day
And love Christ more than words can say
To be a saint I gotta pray!
*
The devil whispers in my ear
“You’ll never be a saint, my dear”
I’ll toss his lies and have no fear
When Satan whispers in my ear!
*
Hark! Worldliness, another foe
To live for pleasures here below
To strive for bank accounts that grow
Yes, worldliness, a fearsome foe!
*
To be a saint takes great restraint
Accepting all without complaint
Embracing Christ without constraint
To be a saint takes great restraint!
*
A saint serves all as Christ himself
And putting all before myself
In doing so, I find myself
A saint serves all as Christ himself!
*
Christ’s love I need to reach this goal
With sacraments, it’s possible
They make His love quite tangible
Much prayer I’ll need to reach this goal!
*
Please join me in this holy quest!
Together we’ll seek holiness
We’ll trust in Christ, He’ll do the rest
Will YOU say yes to my request?
St. Rose Philippine Taught the Potawatomi Fueled by love and prayer * The natives called her: “Woman who constantly prays” (“Quah-kah-ka-num-ad”) * What St. Anne Seton did in Eastern USA, Rose did in Central
(Ever heard the Catholic prayer, “Little Flower, in this hour, show your power”? St. Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897) is one of the greatest saints of modern times. Her feast day is October 1.) St. Therese is quite the saint You may deem her statues quaint But all her great post-mortem doings
Are they “quaint”?
No! They sure ain’t
She has strengthened many folks Soldiers, children, normal blokes She’s known for sending roses from above She will send one if you coax
Simply ask her for her prayers She’ll pray! then Grace will help though you are unawares Soon you’ll see a sign or two That for you she loves and cares
***
“Little Flower, in this hour, show God’s power” A quote from her: “Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you- for you alone? He burns with the desire to come into your heart… don’t listen to the demon, laugh at him, and go without fear to receive the Jesus of peace and love…”
Blessed Chiara Teacher of how to suffer Suffer with Jesus * Dancing and singing Tennis, skating, daily mass These brought her much joy * This girl was in love Jesus was her beloved She called Him “my spouse” * She was seventeen A beautiful, active soul Then they found cancer * Often she’d tell Christ “If you want it… so do I” She gave Him her pain * Cancer stole her locks Each she gave: “For You, Jesus!” She saved souls this way * Augustine’s maxim Yes! “Love makes us beautiful” Proven true in her
*
When asked from whence came The light in her eyes, she said An enlight’ning thing * Please ponder it well Quote: “I try to love Jesus As much as I can” * She knew the secret Suff’ring with Christ her Belov’d
He asks you to, too * She died at eighteen October seventh, ’90 Filled with Love for Him * Don’t forget her feast October the 29th Pray for us, sister!
Advocating against Abortion
Blessing the Broken-hearted
Caring for Castaways
Defending the Downtrodden
Empowered through the Eucharist
Feeding the Famished
Greeting the Godless
Helping the Hopeless
Inviting the Indifferent
Jubilating for Jesus
Kissing the Kiddies
Loving the Lonesome
Ministering to the “Messed-up”
Nestling the “Nobodies”
Offending the Opulent
Pricking the Prosperous
Qwelling the Qualmed
Rattling the Rich
Serving the Sorrowful
Tending to the Terrified
Upbuilding the “Untouchables”
Validating the “Valueless”
Waiting on the “Worthless”
eXonerating the eXiles
Yearning for Yeshua
Zealous for Zion
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us!
Rhymes for the Rejoiceful 