Contemplative Haven

Wishing all my dear readers a safe, healthy, peaceful and prayerful 2007!
A Blessing for the New Year:
Remember us, O God; from age to age be our comforter. You have given us the wonder of time, blessings in days and nights, seasons and years. Bless your children at the turning of the year and fill the [...]

I’ve been maimed memed by dear Honora, so here goes:
1. Favourite devotion or prayer to Jesus?In recent years, the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Jesus Prayer, but also many of the devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
2. Favourite Marian devotion or prayer?Absolutely the Memorare, since childhood.
3. Do you wear a scapular or medal?I have [...]

Prayer to the Holy Family:
O most loving Jesus, Who by Thy sublime and beautiful virtues of humility, obedience, poverty, modesty, charity, patience, and gentleness, and by the example of Thy domestic life, didst bless with peace and happiness the family which Thou didst choose on earth; in Thy clemency look down upon this household, humbly [...]

We have a special someone in our house who turned 15 today! The past few days, I’ve been wondering what the Blessed Virgin may have sung while she rocked the Baby Jesus to sleep. Although we’ll probably never know that, I did find this one, “The Virgin’s Cradle-Hymn”. It is a Latin hymn originally found [...]

Hodie Christus natus est: hodie Salvator apparuit: hodie in terra canunt Angeli, laetantur Archangeli: hodie exsultant justi, dicentes: Gloria in excelsis Deo, alleluia.
Today Christ is born: today the Savior appeared: today on earth the Angels sing, Archangels rejoice: today the righteous rejoice, saying: Glory to God in the highest, alleluia.

Agnus DeiAgnus DeiDona nobis pacem.

Lamb of God
Lamb of God
Grant us peace.

You may listen here to the boys’ choir “Libera” of Norbury, UK with soloist Liam O’Kane.

In her post of Dec. 16/06, Marie Cecile of Soulful Longings mentions a ‘French song’ she used to know. It is a Christmas carol I grew up with, having constantly alternated between English and French parishes: Il est né le divin enfant.
There are several more verses, but I’ve just typed out the ones which correspond [...]

The Living Flame of Love
O living flame of lovethat tenderly wounds my soulin its deepest center! Sincenow you are not oppressive,now consummate! if it be your will:tear through the veil of this sweet encounter! O sweet cautery,O delightful wound!O gentle hand! O delicate touchthat tastes of eternal lifeand pays every debt!In killing you changed death [...]

Advent: December 10, 1941Thomas Merton arrives at the Monastery of Our Lady of Gethsemani.
Advent: December 10, 1968Thomas Merton dies in Bangkok, Thailand
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really [...]

“Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
I will be attending a Living Rosary this evening. All the intentions of my dear blogger friends, and those I have received by e-mail, will be on my mind, heart and lips tonight.