I`M TRADING MY SORROWS.

The Forest in my Garden

    

http://www.astrogems.com/jesus_wallpaper.php

It was Christ

Yes, it was He Who has been trying to teach me

A great lesson, but I was numb brained,

Until a few moments back.

He tried all of His teaching methods...,

Still I was dumb and dimwitted,

I just kicked like any school kid

Refusing to listen,

Unable to understand!

Then He took the rod yesterday,

And He plucked off the parasitic orchid

And threw it into the heap of dry leaves

Left at the corner to be burnt!

In all His fury, He cut all the garden lilies

As with a scythe, so furious was He!!

And I, in all my preposterousness, thought

He was mad!

But today, Grace came epiphanically… so to say,

For I had somehow decided to listen,

So I had shut down all the external voices

That kept enamouring me till then.

And I realized.
Yes , I  became coignizant of 

How the little orchid with its mild flowering

(That too, once in a blue moon!)

Had diverted my eyes away from the tall teak

That was growing so majestically, just in front of me.

Watering the garden lilies had taken all my attention away

From the forest that was growing in my garden!!

The potted pink flowers had confined me

To its little pots, which, by watering it

I visualized I could make a forest out of it !!!

The potted plants I thought would suffice

To meditate on the vast glory of God!!!

And that was what made my Beloved furious.

He wanted me to focus on the wild,

On the majestically grand tectona grandis

That now gives me the impression of a real oak

In a real Forest !

Thank You my Christ

Thank You my Lord

I shall listen, I shall see

But I need Your Grace.
                       

Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace) Lyric Video

Sign of a Victory (Official 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Anthem)

Sign of Victory song by R.Kelly. Fifa 2010 anthem

I can see the colors of the rainbow
And I can feel the sun on my face
I see the light at the end of the tunnel
And I can feel heaven in its place
And that's the sign of a victory
That's the sign of a victory
I can feel the spirit of the nations
And I can feel my wings riding the winds, yeah
I see the finish line just up ahead now
And I can feel it rising deep within
And that's the sign of a victory
And that's the sign of a victory
Now I can see the distance of your journey
And how you fought with all your might
You open your eyes to global warming
And through it all, you sacrificed your life
That's the sign of a victory, hey
That's the sign of a victory
Oh, if we believe, we can achieve anything
Including the impossible, this I know
So let's lift up our heads, yeah, and raise the flag, yeah
And scream like you want to win, now let the games begin
That's the sign of a victory, yeah
That's the sign of a victory, yeah
That's the sign of a victory, oh
That's the sign of a victory, yeah
That's it, when you keep on fighting
After you lost your strength
That's the sign of a victory, yes, it is
When darkness is all around you
You still find your way
That's the sign of a victory
Oh, you got the victory, sing
Come on and sing
Lift up your voice and sing
Stand up, oh yeah, stand up
Common goal, sign of a victory
Oh, that's the sign of a victory
Songwriters
KELLY, ROBERT S.
Published by
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Grouphttp://www.metrolyrics.com/sign-of-a-victory-lyrics-r-kelly.html

Mother Teresa's List of Humility

"Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed" (Luke 1:48).

            This is what I've discovered today! Mother Teresa's List of Humility!!!!!!!!! 

                                     https://www.tumblr.com/search/saint+teresa

“Humility is the mother of all virtues; purity, charity and obedience. It is in being humble that our love becomes real, devoted and ardent. If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. If you are blamed you will not be discouraged. If they call you a saint you will not put yourself on a pedestal.”― Mother Teresa, In the Heart of the World: Thoughts, Stories and Prayers

1. Speak as little as possible about yourself.
2.  Keep busy with your own affairs and not those of others.
3.  Avoid curiosity 
4. Do not interfere in the affairs of others.
5.  Accept small irritations with good humor.
6. Do not dwell on the faults of others.
7.  Accept censures even if unmerited.
8.  Give in to the will of others.
9.  Accept insults and injuries.
10. Accept contempt, being forgotten and disregarded.
11. Be courteous and delicate even when provoked by someone.
12.  Do not seek to be admired and loved.
13. Do not protect yourself behind your own dignity.
14.  Give in, in discussions, even when you are right.
15.  Choose always the more difficult task.

                                   http://www.thesilverpen.com/breast-cancer-inspiration/inspiring-people/mother-teresas-humility-list/
"Humility is necessary not only for the acquisition of virtues, but even for salvation. For the gate of Heaven, as Christ Himself testifies, is so narrow that it admits only little ones" (St. Bernard).

Mother Dearest, Mother Fairest

“Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach.”― Clarissa Pinkola Estés

O Mary, my Mother, help me bloom where I'm planted.

An Emmaus Experience

                            

                                       http://gloriadei.info/forum1/messages/6067.htm

Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. Isaiah 38: 17

An Emmaus Experience

I never knew what was awaiting me,
Yet I trod that quite familiar pathway
Leading up to Emmaus!
With the bitter, gnawing pain
I trod, with an earnest longing.
Threescore furlongs or seven miles …,
That’s the distance from Jerusalem to Emmaus, 
Emmaus, the town of ‘Hot Springs’!!
That was where I needed to be broken,
Only to rise up again, with a burning heart!
The Third One who always walks beside me,
The hooded invisible Presence
Was very much present with me that day.
Maya Angelou’s words kept ringing ,
“You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise”
Those words of resilience
Quickened my very heart.
The usual smile of welcome,
And a few minutes of sacred silence,
Watching , waiting, and adoring
The visible Presence in the Blessed Sacrament,
Had rested my spirit.
Then  I heard a brother singing
A song of gratitude… for rejection, suffering,
And for the prompt Word in times of anguish!
Another prophetic voice from the left
Read from a bound Xeroxed copy
Of Louis Evely’s ‘Suffering’,
And in succinct words spoke of the mystical Love
Of our Heavenly Father in allowing Pain,
Of the Creator asking “pardon” to the creature!
Like Cleopas, I felt my inner eyes slowly opening
To the unfathomable Mystery of Christ.
Then when the group gathered for prayer,
I sat in silence, unable to open my mouth,
'Coz, for me,'spontaneous prayer' is now a long-forgotten art!
But a phrase from the Bible verse that was read,
Romans 13: 12, still burns within me
“Put on the armour of Light” .
That’s my Christ within me
Beckoning me,
To go back to Jerusalem……..
O Jerusalem!!!

The Roselo, or Rose Garden in Assissi

                                   The Roses Without Thorns
                             
                                     http://www.romesick.org/Romesick_Photography/Assisi.htmlLocated in the Italian region of Umbria is the charming town of Assisi; famous of course for its association with Saint Francis of Assisi. This town is home to windy little streets, ancient buildings and of course, the Santa Maria degli Angeli, which is one of the largest Christian sanctuaries in the world. Part of this sanctuary is the original stone chapel, called the Porziuncola, which is where St. Francis lived and worked after founding the Franciscan Order. It is also where he had his vision in 1216, during which he witnessed the Virgin Mary. Following this vision, the church was visited by a great many pilgrims, and thus the great Baroque church was also built.
Outside the basilica is the Roselo, or Rose Garden. Here, you will find a very special type of rose: one without any thorns! Legend has it that in this location, Saint Francis himself rolled naked amongst the thorn bushes, in order to combat doubt and temptation. It is then said that on contact with the Saint’s body, thorn-less roses began to bloom, and they still do to this day! These special flowers can only be found in this particular rose garden, and are named Rosa Canina Assisiensis. On the wall of the courtyard you can see a mural of St. Francis, surrounded by the modest Porziuncola chapel, olive groves and of course, thorn-less red roses.

 http://www.caftours.com/magazine/rose-thorns/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Santa_Maria_degli_Angeli

One enters the rose garden via the sacristy. It is the last remains of the ancient wood in which St Francis and his friars lived. Here he talked to the turtle doves, inviting them to praise the Lord. Doves have been nesting since times immemorial in the hands of the statue of St. Francis in this rose garden.According to tradition (already attested at the end of the 13th century), one night St. Francis, feeling the temptation to abandon his way of life, rolled naked in the bramble thorns in an attempt to overcome doubt and temptation. In contact with his body, the bramble bushes turned into dog roseswithout thorns. Since then, the dog rose cultivar Rosa canina assisiensis has been grown in the garden.

From the rose garden, one enters the Rose Chapel. This was the cell where St. Francis rested and spent the rest of the night in prayer and penance. Here St. Francis also met Saint Anthony of Padua. After his death a chapel was built in the 13th century, enlarged in the 15th century by St. Bernardine of Siena. It was decorated between 1506 and 1516 with a series of frescoes by several painters, among which the UmbrianTiberio d'Assisi, depicting the early Franciscan community and the first saints of the order, the miracle of the roses and the concession of the indulgence

 http://dioceseofgallup.org/pilgrimage/blog/2012/10/20/assisi-day-1-2/

The Rose Garden is especially interesting. In the hallway leading to the garden, there is a statue of the Saint upon which live white doves nest. St. Francis liked to talk to turtledoves in his garden, and ever since his death, the hands of his statue still provide a place for his feathered companions to make their home.

The Difference Between Baroque, Romantic and Gothic

The Difference Between Baroque, Romantic

Baroque style:

St. Peter’s Basilica. the “new” basilica, built from 1506-1626, is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture.The four-poster, solid-bronze canopy over the main altar, or the baldacchino of St. Peter’s, appears almost dwarfed by the dome towering right above it. So you might think it’s not that tall. But it is. It’s almost 10 stories tall—it’s just that the dome, above it, is even bigger: 452 feet. (The baldacchino, by the way, also uses no less than 100,000 pounds of bronze).
http://www.walksofitaly.com/blog/vatican/st-peters-basilica-facts#lightbox/2/

 Austria -  the Baroque Benedictine Abbey of Melk (Stift Melk)

http://www.travel-pictures-gallery.com/austria/danube/danube-0002.html

Romantic Style:

Cathedral of Vilnius, Lithuania

Cathedral interior
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilnius_Cathedral

Gothic Style : 

                                   

St Vitus Cathedral: The nave is a wonderful, magnificent and beautiful piece of Gothic architecture which continues into the chancel and altar area.

http://www.docbrown.info/docspics/europe/czech09.htm

The greatest method of praying

“The greatest method of praying is to pray the Rosary.” St.Francis de Sales

                                                 
How to pray the Rosary by St. Francis de Sales
http://sspx.ca/en/how-pray-rosary-st-francis-de-sales


From his youth, Francis de Sales had formed the habit of saying his chaplet daily. Later, he made a vow to do so… To recite it, he employed a time which seemed to him brief, lingering in pious consideration on the mysteries of the Rosary; it was a familiar, childlike talk with his heavenly Mother, and he readily forgot himself near her.
However great was his fatigue, he never shortened the prayer [a Chaplet each day] vowed to Mary.On one occasion extraordinary occupations had not permitted him to say the Chaplet at the hour appointed; the night being already advanced, he prepared,
notwithstanding excessive fatigue,to fulfil this pious duty. His secretary, having perceived it, begged him to consider the extreme need he had of repose, and to defer his chaplet till the morrow. “My friend,” answered the Saint, “we must never put off till tomorrow
what can be done to-day.”
The holy Doctor loved to recommend and propagate the daily use of the chaplet, a practice so dear to him. “The chaplet,” said he in the “Introduction to a Devout Life,” “is a most useful manner of praying, provided that you know how to say it properly. For this purpose, procure one of those little books which teach the manner of saying it.” In tracing a rule of life for the Baroness de Chantal while in the world, he wrote: “I desire that the chaplet be said as devoutly as possible every day either at Mass or at some other time.”http://iesu.wordpress.com/2007/12/06/how-to-pray-the-rosary-by-s-francis-de-sales/
Instruction on how to pray the Rosary:

• “Kiss the cross of your chaplet after having signed yourself therewith, and place yourself in the presence of God, saying the Creed.
• On the first large bead, beg God to accept the service you wish to render Him, and to assist you by His grace to accomplish it worthily.
• On the first three small beads, implore the intercession of the Sacred Virgin, saluting her on the first as the most cherished daughter of God the Father; on the second, as Mother of God the Son, and on the third, as beloved Spouse of God the Holy Ghost.
• At each decade think of one of the mysteries of the Rosary according to your leisure, remembering it principally when pronouncing the holy names of Jesus and Mary, with great reverence of heart and body. If any other sentiment should animate you (sorrow for past sin or a purpose of amendment) meditate thereon throughout the chaplet as well as you can, recalling this sentiment or any other that God may inspire in a special manner when murmuring the sacred names of Jesus and Mary.

(The Saint then finishes off the recitation of the Rosary in a way that is not common to us.)
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/308989224407034724/

• On the large bead at the end of the last decade, thank God for having been permitted to recite your chaplet.
• Passing to the three following small beads, salute the most holy Virgin Mary, entreating her at the first to offer your understanding to the Eternal Father that you may continually consider His mercies;
• at the second, supplicate her to offer your memory to the Son that your thoughts may constantly turn to His Passion and Death;
• at the third, implore her to offer your will to the Holy Ghost that it may ever be inflamed with His holy love.
• On the large bead at the end, beg the divine Majesty to accept all for His glory and the good of His Church, asking Him to keep you ever in its pale and to bring back those who have wandered; pray for your friends, and conclude as you commenced by the profession of faith, the Creed and Sign of the Cross.”    
• 
  
•                   http://ourladyprays.com/british-medical-journal-on-health-effects-of-the-holy-rosary/
•       

The Virtue of Confidence

 http://arewethereyet-davisfarmmom.blogspot.in/2010/01/feast-of-st-francis-de-sales.html

Prayer by St.Francis de Sales

It is good to mistrust ourselves, but how would that advantage us were we not to throw all our confidence on God, and to wait on His mercy? If you feel no such confidence, cease not on that account from making these acts and from saying to Our Lord: "Yet, O Lord, though I have no feeling of confidence in You, nevertheless, I know that You are my God, that I am all Yours, and that I have no hope but in Your goodness; so, I abandon myself entirely into Your Hands." 

It is always in our power to make these acts; although we have difficulty in performing them, still there is no impossibility. Thus we testify faithfulness to our Lord.

http://myinnermissmelly.com/2012/04/
Complete Trust in God.
From A Catholic Prayer Book
Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622)

Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life with fear. Rather, look to them with full confidence that, as they arise, God to whom you belong will in his love enable you to profit by them. He has guided you thus far in life. Do you but hold fast to His dear hand, and He will lead you safely through all trials. Whenever you cannot stand, He will carry you lovingly in his arms.

Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow. The same Eternal Father who takes care of you today will take care of you tomorrow, and every day of your life. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace then, and put aside all useless thoughts, all vain dreads and all anxious imaginations.:http://izquotes.com/quote/161752
                                                 http://www.pinterest.com/pin/11188699048420044/

Saint Francis de Sales, in his work Consoling Thoughts writes of the excellence of the virtue of confidence.

Let the heavens combine against me, let the earth and the elements rebel, let every creature declare war against my existence, I fear not; it is enough for me that God is with me, and I with Him.

Thus our good God will never abandon us, unless to hold us better; He will never leave us, unless to guard us better; He will never wrestle with us, unless to yield to us and bless us.

How happy should we be if, submitting our will to that of God, we would adore it equally in times of tribulation and of consolation, assured that all events proceed from His divine hand for our advantage, to purify and refine us in holy charity!

Let us therefore, embark on the sea of Divine Providence, without biscuit, without oars, without sails, in a word, without any supplies; let us leave the care of our affairs to Our Lord, without any fear; His goodness will provide sufficiently for all.

Let the storm and the tempest come; you shall not perish; you are with Jesus. If fear seize on you, cry out “O Savior! Save me!” He will reach out His hand. Grasp it and proceed joyfully, without philosophizing on your mishap. So long as Saint Peter had confidence, the tempest could not harm him; when he feared, he sank. Fear is often a greater danger than the danger itself.

As for me, there are times when it appears to me that I have not strength to resist, and that if an occasion presented itself, I should succumb; but I only place my confidence the more in God, and hold as certain, that in presence of the occasion God will support me with His strength, and that I shall destroy my enemies as so many lambkins.

Let us serve God well today; He will take care of tomorrow. Every day should carry its own burden. Have no anxiety about tomorrow; for God who reign today will reign tomorrow. Either He will not send you adversity, or if He will send it, He will give you an invincible courage to meet it. If assaulted by temptations, desire not to be freed from them. It is good that we should experience them, in order to have an opportunity of combating them, and of gaining victories. This serves as an exercise in the most excellent virtues, thus grounded deeply in the soul.


Saint Frances de Sales, The Consoling Thoughts of St. Francis de Sales (Dublin, M. H. Gill & Son, 1877), First Book, Chapter XXII, pp 96-100.

Jacob's ladder

Jacob’s ladder, a true picture of the devout life. 

http://www.dsiguidetolivejesus.info/part-iunit-2---nature--effects-of-the-devout-life.html


From St. Francis de Sales' Introduction to Devout Life, Part 1, Ch.2

• 1. Look carefully at Jacob's ladder (Genesis. 28:10ff) since it is a true image of the devout life. 
• 2. The two sides, between which we go up, and to which the rungs are fixed, represent prayer which asks for and receives the love of God and the Sacraments which give it. 
• 3. The rungs are the various degrees of charity by which we move from virtue to virtue, either coming down by action to help and support our neighbour or going up by contemplation to loving union with God.
• 4.Consider, too, who they are who trod this ladder; men with angels' hearts, or angels with human forms.
• 5. They are not youthful, but they seem to be so by reason of their vigour and spiritual activity. 
• 6.They have wings wherewith to fly, and attain to God in holy prayer, but they have likewise feet wherewith to tread in human paths by a holy gracious intercourse with men; their faces are bright and beautiful, inasmuch as they accept all things gently and sweetly; 
• 7.their heads and limbs are uncovered, because their thoughts, affections and actions have no motive or object save that of pleasing God; 
• 8. the rest of their bodies is covered with a light shining garment, because while they use the world and the things of this life, they use all such purely and honestly, and no further than is needful for their condition--such are the truly devout. 
• 9.Believe me, dear child, devotion is the sweetest of sweets, thequeen of virtues, the perfection of love. 
• 10. If love is the milk of life, devotion is the cream thereof; if it is a fruitful plant, devotion is the blossom; if it is a precious stone, devotion is its brightness; if it is a precious balm, devotion is its perfume, even that sweet odour which delights men and causes the angels to rejoice.

                               
                                  Jacob's Dream by William Blake
                            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob's_Ladder

Notes from 

The Image of Jacob’s Ladder 

in the Writings of St. Francis de Sales

ALEXANDER T. POCETTO, O.S.F.S., PH.D. 

Senior Salesian Scholar

It is instructive to note that he invites us to "contemplate" this portrait he draws of Jacob’s ladder. This suggests a prayerful and all-absorbing approach that does not make us view it as a detached observer but rather as one who is drawn into the tableau to be transformed by it as Jacob was by his vision since it is an encounter with the living and loving God. With great verbal artistry, he draws our attention to the structure of the ladder which by its two sides have a twofold function – one to draw us to God by prayer, the other to draw down God’s love by means of the sacraments. This aspect of the portrait announces the second part of his spiritual classic where he gives detailed advice on prayer and the sacraments of the Eucharist and matrimony. At the outset, he establishes a dual upward and downward movement in our relationship with God stressing our involvement and activity as well as our receptivity. Following the many spiritual ladders that preceded, he insists that our progression toward God is a gradual one, rung by rung, or step by step, from virtue to virtue. So each movement up or down on the ladder is a step of charity, a step of love, i.e., love of God even those that descend to assist our neighbor. It is an important aspect of his conception of growth in the spiritual life that we will dwell on below in greater detail. This also foreshadows his treatment of the virtues in Part three of this spiritual classic.
http://web1.desales.edu/assets/salesian/pdf/pocettojacobsladder.pdf

The Ladder Rosary.

http://www.therosarylady.com/shamrock%20ladder.jpg

The "Ladder Rosary," also known as the "Stairway to Heaven Rosary" was first found in Mexico. They are called "Ladder Rosaries" because the beads are strung crossways on a double chain, like rungs of a ladder.
The name reminds one of St. Dominic's vision of souls climbing into Heaven on the Rosary, and St. Francis de Sales' vision of two ladders to Heaven: a rather steep one directly to Jesus, and another, far less steep, towards the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Interestingly, the Russian word for Rosary means "ladder," and, Michaelangelo's "Last Judgment" in the Sistine Chapel shows two souls being pulled out of purgatory by a Rosary!

http://www.sacramentals.org/RosariesandCases.htm

Palm of Christ, Petronilla and Electa

Thought of doing a serious study of  St.Francis de Sales' An Introduction to Devout Life
  http://communio.stblogs.org/2012/01/

Here are some references and notes I found interesting.
Who was Philothea?
From  http://www.philothea.de/devout-english.html:

St.Francis de Sales began the spiritual direction of individual persons as a result of the contacts made at the time of the Lenten sermons he preached as Bishop, in Paris in 1602 and in subsequent years in different important towns in Savoy and in France. After the Lenten sermons at Dijon, in 1604, Madame de Chantal placed herself under his direction along with some others. And after the Lenten sermons at Annecy, in 1607, Madame de Charmoisy chose him as her director.
In order to help Madame de Chantal, Madame de Charmoisy and others, women as well as men, Bishop Francis de Sales began writing to them personal letters of spiritual direction. (22) Later, due to pressure of work, he prepared short articles or ³essays" about different aspects of the spiritual life. These he got circulated among some of those whom he directed. It was from such short ³essays" that the Introduction was born in 1608.
In his Preface to the Introduction, St.Francis refers to the origin of the book. (23) He does not mention the name of the ³very respectable and virtuous person" to whom he gave ³written notes" about various spiritual exercises. She has been identified as Madame Louise de Charmoisy, the wife of one of his cousins. 

Some interesting References in St.Francis de Sales' Introduction to Devout Life. 

From the Preface

1.

These people are of the opinion that just as no animal dares to taste of the seed of the plant called ³palm of Christ" so no one caught up in the rush of living in the world should reach out for the palm of Christian devotion. But I want to make them understand that, just as the pearl oysters live in the sea without letting a single drop of salt water enter (32), and that there are springs of fresh water in the sea close to the Chelidonian islands (33), and that a certain insect can fly about in the fire without burning its wings (34), so anyone with courage and determination can live in the world without being tainted by its spirit, finding springs of the fresh water of devotion in the world's salty waves and able to fly amid the flames of the temptations of the world without losing the wings of the holy desires of a devout life. 

Palm of Christhttp://healyourselfathome.com/HOW/THERAPIES/castor_oil.aspx

 Castor Oil (CO) was known to the Greeks as Kiki and to the Romans as "Palma Christi"(the leaves of the castor bean plant were thought to resemble the palm of Christ – indeed, this name beautifully reflects the inherent healing power of this unique oil). Beginning in the 17th century, CO was taken internally for its effect as an "irritant" or "stimulant" to cleanse the digestive tract, however, its ingestion is no longer recommended.
     
  2. 

The Bishops of ancient times and the Fathers of the Church had at least as much concern for their responsibilities as we have. Even so, as can be gathered from their letters, they did not neglect taking care to give individual guidance to many persons who came to them for help. In this they imitated the Apostles who, while gathering the harvest in the whole world, picked up nevertheless with a special and particular affection certain outstanding ears of corn. Everyone knows that St. Paul had Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Onesiumus, St. Tecla and Appia as his special disciples, just as St. Peter had St. Mark and St. Petronilla. St. Petronilla was not in fact St. Peter's own child but only his spiritual daughter, as Baronius and Galonius have learnedly proved. And St. John wrote one of his epistles to the devout woman named Electa. (38) (2 Jn. 1:1)

From Wikipedia.

Petronilla is traditionally identified as the daughter of Saint Peter, though this may stem simply because of the similarity of names. It is believed she may have been a convert of the saint (and thus a "spiritual daughter"), or a follower or servant.[1] It is said that Saint Peter cured her of palsy.
Roman inscriptions, however, identify her simply as a martyr. She may have been related to Saint Domitilla.
Stories associated with her include those that relate that she was so beautiful that Saint Peter had locked her up in a tower to keep her from eligible men; that a pagan king named Flaccus, wishing to marry her, led Petronilla to go on a hunger strike, from which she died.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petronilla

In 757 the coffin containing the mortal remains of the saint was transferred to an old circular building (an imperial mausoleum dating from the end of the 4th century) near St. Peter's. This building was altered and became the Chapel of St. Petronilla (De Rossi, "Inscriptiones christianae urbis Romae", II, 225).
When St. Peter's was rebuilt in the 16th century, St. Petronilla's relics were translated to an altar dedicated to her in the upper end of the right side-aisle (near the cupola). The chapel includes embellishments by Michelangelo and Bramante.
Guercino painted an altarpiece painted called The Burial of Saint Petronilla in 1623. It simultaneously depicts the burial and the welcoming to heaven of the martyred St. Petronilla. The altar is dedicated to the saint, and contains her relics.

        2. Electa 

In the New Testament, the Apostle John’s second letter is addressed “to the chosen (or elect) lady and to her children” (eklektē kuria kai tois teknois autēs). In this short letter, John warns the lady and her children about false teachers “who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh” (verse 7), and he instructs them not to offer hospitality to the false teachers (10-11). As in his Gospel and other letters, John emphasises the themes of truth (1-4) and love (5-6).[1]

Εklektē means “chosen” or “elect”. This woman was obviously a Christian, chosen by God, as all Christians are. While it is more likely that the word “elect” is simply used to describe the lady, Clement of Alexandra believed that Eklektē was this woman’s name, a name we would translate as “Electa”. If so,eklektē kuria in 2 John 1 could be translated as “to Lady Electa”.

Forgiveness prayer by Fr. Robert de Grandis

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

... if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

                              

                Forgiveness Prayer - 

http://mp3pray.com/forgivenessprayer/
by Father Robert DeGrandis S.S.J. and Betty Tapscot
one of the most powerful healing Prayers anyone can say -
do it as a novena for 9 consecutive days – and let go go go of past hurts.

The following prayer covers most significant areas of forgiveness. Often, such a prayer will bring to mind other areas that need forgiveness. Let the Holy Spirit move freely and guide your mind to persons or groups that you need to forgive.
+ In the Name of the Father
And of the Son
And of the Holy Spirit
Amen

Lord Jesus Christ, I ask today to forgive EVERYONE in my life.
I know that You will give me the strength to forgive and I thank You that You love me more than I love myself and want my happiness more than I desire it for myself.

Father, I forgive YOU
for the times death has come into the family, hard times, financial difficulties, or what I thought were punishments sent by You and people said, "It’s God’s will," and I become bitter and resentful toward You.
Purify my heart and mind today.

Lord, I forgive MYSELF
for my sins, faults and failings, for all that is bad in myself or that I think is bad, I forgive myself; and I accept Your forgiveness.

I further forgive MYSELF
for taking Your name in vain, not worshipping You by attending church, for hurting my parents, getting drunk, for sins against purity, bad books, bad movies, fornication, adultery, homosexuality.
Also, for abortion, stealing, lying, defrauding, hurting peoples’ reputation.
You have forgiven me today, and I forgive myself.
Thank You, Lord, for your grace at this moment.

I also forgive MYSELF
for any delvings in superstition, using ouija boards, horoscopes, going to séances, using fortune telling or wearing lucky charms.
I reject all that superstition and choose You alone as my Lord and Savior.
Fill me with Your Holy Spirit.

Lord, I truly forgive my MOTHER.
I forgive her for all the times she hurt me, she resented me, she was angry with me and for all the times she punished me.
I forgive her for the times she preferred my brothers and sisters to me.
I forgive her for the times she told me I was dumb, ugly, stupid, the worst of the children or that I cost the family a lot of money.
For the times she told me I was unwanted, an accident, a mistake or not what she expected, I forgive her.

Lord, I truly forgive my FATHER.
I forgive him for any non-support, any lack of love, affection or attention.
I forgive him for any lack of time, for not giving me his companionship, for his drinking, arguing and fighting with my mother or the other children.
For his severe punishments, for desertion, for being away from home, for divorcing my mother or for any running around, I do forgive him.

Lord, I extend forgiveness to my SISTERS AND BROTHERS.
I forgive those who rejected me, lied about me, hated me, resented me, competed for my parents’ love, those who hurt me, who physically harmed me.
For those who were too severe on me, punished me or made my life unpleasant in any way, I do forgive them.

Lord, I forgive my SPOUSE
for lack of love, affection, consideration, support, attention, communication;
for faults, failings, weaknesses and those other acts or words that hurt or disturb me.

Jesus, I forgive my CHILDREN
for their lack of respect, obedience, love, attention, support, warmth, understanding;
for their bad habits, falling away from the church, any bad actions which disturb me.

Lord God, I forgive my IN-LAWS,
MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, FATHER-IN-LAW, SON/DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
AND OTHER RELATIVES by marriage,
who treat my family with a lack of love.
For all their words, thoughts, actions or omissions which injure and cause pain, I forgive them.

Please help to forgive my RELATIVES,
my grandmother and grandfather, aunts, uncles, cousins, who may have interfered in our family, been possessive of my parents, who may have caused confusion or turned one parent against the other.

Jesus, help me to forgive my CO-WORKERS
who are disagreeable or make life miserable for me.
For those who push their work off on me, gossip about me, won’t cooperate with me, try to take my job, I do forgive them.

My NEIGHBORS need to be forgiven, Lord.
For all their noise, letting their property run down, not tying up their dogs who run through my yard, not taking in their trash barrels, being prejudiced and running down the neighborhood, I do forgive them.

I do forgive my CLERGYMAN,
my CONGREGATION and my CHURCH
for their lack of support, affirmation, bad sermons, pettiness, lack of friendliness, not providing me or my family with the inspiration we needed, for any hurts they have inflicted on me or my family, even in the distant past, I forgive them today.

Lord, I forgive all those who are of different PERSUASIONS,
those of opposite political views who have attacked me, ridiculed me, discriminated against me, made fun of me, economically hurt me.

I forgive those of different religious
DENOMINATIONS AND BELIEFS
who have harassed me, attacked me, argued with me, forced their view on me or my family.

Those who have harmed me ETHNICALLY,
have discriminated against me, mocked me, made jokes about my race or nationality, hurt my family physically, emotionally or economically, I do forgive them today.

Lord, I forgive all PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE
who have hurt me in any way: doctors, nurses, lawyers, judges, politicians and civil servants.

I forgive all service people:
policemen, firemen, bus drivers, hospital workers and especially repairmen who have taken advantage of me in their work.

Lord, I forgive my EMPLOYER
for not paying me enough money, for not appreciating my work, for being unkind and unreasonable with me, for being angry or unfriendly, for not promoting me, and for not complimenting me on my work.

Lord, I forgive my SCHOOL TEACHERS
AND INSTRUCTORS
of the past as well as the present.
For those who punished me, humiliated me, insulted me, treated me unjustly, made fun of me, called me dumb or stupid, made me stay after school, I truly forgive them today.

Lord, I forgive my FRIENDS
who have let me down, lost contact with me, do not support me, were not available when I needed help, borrowed money and did not return it, gossiped about me.

Lord Jesus, I especially pray for the grace of forgiveness for the ONE PERSON in life who has HURT ME THE MOST.

I ask to forgive anyone who I consider my greatest enemy, the one who is the hardest to forgive or the one who I said I will never forgive.

Lord, I beg pardon of all these people for the hurt I have inflicted on them, especially my mother and father, and my marriage partner.
I am especially sorry for the three greatest hurts I have inflicted on each of these.
Thank You, Jesus, that I am being freed of the evil of unforgiveness.
Let Your Holy Spirit fill me with light and let every dark area of my mind be enlightened.
AMEN.

In the Name of the Father
And of the Son
And of the Holy Spirit
Amen

Tips on Forgiveness
Forgiveness is an act of the will, not a feeling.
If we pray for a person, we can be assured that we have forgiven that person.
To help accept an individual and open ourselves to a particular person more, picture him with the Lord Jesus and say to the Lord, "I love him because You love him. I forgive him because You forgive him."
Forgiveness is a life-long obligation.
Daily we need to forgive those who hurt or injure us.

From the 'Spiritual Diary' of Elizabeth Kindelmann

                               https://deaconjohnspace.wordpress.com/2013/08/

While I was kneeled thus, my soul filled a profound repentance and gratitude towards Him. I was
waiting for his words more than ever! After a long moment, at last I broke the silence : You are glad, oh my Jesus, of all these devout souls who came to You ?
JC.- "Yes, He sadly answered, but as they are so in a hurry, it doesn’t give Me enough time to give them my
graces". I understood Him, and how I would have wanted to console Him! "Oh, gentle Jesus, I live for You, I die for You. I am yours for the whole eternity". In the meantime, I was looking for a way to be able to console Him in his profound sadness. I remembered this little bird which, according to the legend, wanted to withdraw the thorns from the Sacred Head of Christ. While it did its utmost to succeed in doing it, its chest took on the tinge of the red Precious Blood of the Lord. I stayed there a long time. I began to be cold. I wanted to take leave of Him to go home. Then, in the bottom of my heart I heard his imploring voice :

JC.- "Don’t go away immediately ! I remained in my place. After a short moment, I heard a

sweet voice in the silence of my soul :

....

THE FIRST HOLY HOUR, SEE TO IT
THAT WE BECOME MANY
As I was alone in the immense church, I bowed myself at the feet of the Lord as never before, and I asked Him : We are only both of us ?
JC. - "Alas !" I heard his sad voice in the bottom of my heart.
JC.- "See to it that we become many"
There was no words to express the gratitude and searchings of the heart that dropped out of my soul towards the Lord.
Oh, gentle Saviour! Nobody knows better than You how
much I went forward warily until, by your graces, reaching
to You. Lord, now that You have taken away the external
carapace of my soul, I am feeling that the abundance of your
Grace is suffusing me.

...........

The year 1961 went by in the very middle of these conversations, that at this very moment I did not set down in writing. I began to write only when the Lord gave me the order. When the beloved Saviour gets into a brief conversation with me, I write it word for word. During Holy Hours, it often happens that the ideas come directly in my subconscience, and after I feel unable to express it. In one occasion, I thanked Him to have assured me of an eternal refuge.
JC.-"Assure me, you too, my little carmelite, an eternal
refuge ! You feel, don’t you, how much both of us belong
one another? May your love never grow less !"
One time, He asked me to do each Monday an evening
of prayers in favour of sacerdotal souls who are in Purgatory.

http://www.salvemaria.ca/en-pdf/flame07-book-p9-36-spiritual-fightk.pdf

WHAT JESUS AND MARY ASK US ?

From 

SPIRITUAL DIARY (1962 - 1981)
by ELIZABETH KINDELMANN
Messages of Jesus and Mary who speak about the Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary 

http://www.salvemaria.ca/index-en.html

                                 

WHAT JESUS AND MARY ASK US ?

Conversion, spiritual renewal, diligence to attain holiness of life, the zeal for the salvation of souls.

1. Veneration of the Holy Wounds
B.V.-"Worship publicly the Five Sacred Wounds of my Divine Son : let it not be a private devotion but a public worship".
With regard to the veneration of the Five Wounds, the words of the Lord Jesus coincide with these of the Blessed Virgin Mary :
JC.-"In honour of my Five Sacred Wounds, make five times in succession the Sign of the Cross recommending yourselves through My Holy Wounds to the Heavenly Father’s Mercy..." (April 13th, 1962)

USUAL MANNER TO SIGN ONESELF FIVE TIMES

While crossing ourselves : "In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen", we kiss the Cross or, at the very least spiritually, each of the Holy Wounds of Jesus while saying this invocation :
-"Jesus, by the merits of your Holy Wounds, forgive us and
have Mercy on us!"
-"Eternal Father, I offer you the Holy Wounds of Our Lord Jesus-Christ in order that You cure the wounds of our souls!"

2. The Flame of Love of Our Mother and the families 

According to the intention of the Blessed Virgin, the spiritual renewal has to start from the families: B.V.- "By my 

Flame of Love, I want to revive love once again in homes, I want to maintain united the families in danger of dispersing". (August 8th, 1962)

http://www.theflameoflove.org/

                         

Flos Carmeli

        

     http://www.thecirclesofmarycare.com/flos-carmeli.html                                   http://yorkshireshepherd.blogspot.in/2011/07/our-lady-of-mt-carmel.html 
                                                                                        

The Carmelites actually trace their origins back to pre-Christianity, to a community of contemplative hermits who settled on Mount Carmel in honor of the great prophets Elijah and his successor, Elisha.

The hermits' knowledge of Scripture and prophecy inspired them to recognize the Infant Jesus as the Messiah when the Holy Family returned to the village at the base of Mount Carmel—the village of Nazareth—after their two years of exile in Egypt.

Tradition holds that these "Carmelites" were among the first to be baptized by the Apostles into the new Church after Pentecost and that they were the first to take guardianship of the Holy Family's house .in Nazareth, following the death of the Virgin Mary and her Assumption into heaven. The hermits built a chapel in her honor there.

The Carmelites did not formally organize themselves as a religious order until the 13th century. At that time they appealed to the Patriarch of Jerusalem to formulate a "rule" for them—a document describing their devotional practices and setting out some rules for the organization and governing of the Order.

The Saracen persecutions during the Third Crusade caused the Carmelites (and a great many other Christians, including the Knights Templar and the Hospitallers) to migrate westward. The Carmelites first reached England in the year 1212. A year later, they were joined by a holy Englishman, Simon Stock.

July 16 was chosen as the Carmelite patronal feast day because on that day in 1251, tradition says, the Blessed Virgin appeared to Simon Stock, then General of the Carmelites, at Cambridge, England, Our Lady showed him the scapular and promised spiritual favors and her special protection to his Order and to all persons who would wear her scapular.

 http://www.marian-devotions.com/page_38_Our_Lady_Mount_Carmel_July_16.html

 http://www.saintsgalore.com/images/catalog/HC-014.jpg

Flos Carmeli Prayer

Flos Carmeli

This sequence to Our Lady of Mount Carmel is attributed to St Simon Stock (1165 - 1265). It has been used as a sequence at Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of M.C. and for the Feast of St Simon Stock, in the proper Carmelite Missal.  In later editions of the Missal, only the first two verses are used.

           Flos Carmeli (Flower of Carmel)

 13th-century hymn to Our Lady attributed to the Carmelite St. Simon Stock

Flower of Carmel, tall vine, blossom-laden;

splendour of heaven, child-bearing, yet maiden;
none equals thee.
Mother so tender, whom no man didst know,
on Carmel's children thy favours bestow;
Star of the Sea!
Strong stem of Jesse, who bore one bright flower,
be ever near us, and guard us each hour,
who serve thee here.
Purest of lilies, that flowers among thorns,
bring help to true hearts that in weakness turn
and trust in thee.
Strongest of armour, we trust in thy might,
under thy mantle, hard pressed in the fight,
we call to thee.
Our way, uncertain, surrounded by foes,
unfailing counsel you offer to those
who turn to thee.
O gentle Mother, who in Carmel reigns,
share with your servants that gladness you gained,
and now enjoy.
Hail, gate of heaven, with glory now crowned,
bring us to safety, where thy Son is found,
true joy to see.
V. Holy Mary, Mother of Christ, hear the cry of your servants.
R. And bring down heavenly aid in answer to our prayer.
Let us pray:
By a special privilege, Lord, you have adorned the Carmelite Order with the name of your Mother, the most glorious Virgin Mary. Grant as we faithfully remember this honour, that in these days we may receive her protection and in the days to come we may be brought to everlasting happiness. This we ask of you who are living and reigning for ever. Amen.

Our Lady of Garabandal and the Sacapular

                         http://www.pinterest.com/pin/88735055131819917/

On July 1, 1961, in the little mountain village of San Sebastian de Garabandal, St. Michael the Archangel appeared to the four visionaries and announced that on the following day, feast of the Visitation that year(celebrated on 31 May in the West (2 July in calendars of the 1263–1969 period and in the modern regional calendar of Germany ) and 30 March in the East.), the Blessed Virgin would appear to them under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

St, Michael and another angel accompanied the Virgin, who appeared with a scapular on her right arm. On one panel of the scapular, the seers noticed a small mountain, on the other was a cross. The, mountain recalls for us the dramatic confrontation between Elijah, the prophet of Yahweh, and the idolaters; the seal of original alliance given on Mount Sinai and later restored there. The cross on the other panel recalls the New Covenant sealed by the Son of Man in His very own blood.

Widely Propagated Throughout the World
Ever since the end of the sixteenth century, the scapular has been worn by a great number of Catholics from all walks of life: kings, princes, nobles or simple folk; monks, nuns, brothers, priests, bishops and popes.

The Iist of saints who wore it is endless. To cite only a few: Robert Bellarmine, Charles Borromeo, Benoit Cottolengo, Alphonsus Liguori, John Bosco, Dominic Savio, Bernadette Soubirous.

Most of the popes of the last three centuries have worn the scapular as a sign of their consecration to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most notably Pope Pius XII, John XXIII and our present [sic] Pope John Paul II . On August 6, 1950 the seventh anniversary of his election, Pope Pius XII said of Our Lady's sacramental:

“The scapular is a Marian habit.... How many souls, from the circumstances of human despair, owe their final conversion and their eternal salvation to the scapular in which they were clothed! How many also, in danger of body or soul are saved by the grace of the maternal protection of Mary.”
From http://www.garabandal.us/home.html



http://whatisgarabandal.wordpress.com/2012/10/06/the-livery-of-mary/

THE LIVERY OF MARY
By Fathers Francois Turner, O.P., and Alfred Combe
O beautiful flower of Carmel,
Most fruitful vine
Splendor of heaven, Virgin most singular,
Who brought forth the Son of God,
While remaining ever a Virgin,
On the children of Carmel,
Bestow your gifts,
O Star of the Sea!

July 16, 1858, The Blessed Virgin’s last appearance at Lourdes was on July 16, 1858, feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

October 13, 1917, the final apparition at Fatima, when the “miracle of the sun” occurred, Our Lady first appeared as she had been appearing to the three shepherd children with her sorrowful heart exposed. And then she appeared as Our Lady of Mount Carmel with “something hanging from her right hand.”

Forty-four years later in the little mountain hamlet of San Sebastian de Garabandal in northern Spain, Our Lady appears with a large brown scapular prominently draped over her right wrist.

In A.D. 16 July 1251, Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock in Cambridge, England after he prayed for help for his Order. She appeared to him with the scapular and said, "Take, beloved son this scapular of thy order as a badge of my confraternity and for thee and all Carmelites a special sign of grace; whoever dies in this garment, will not suffer everlasting fire. It is the sign of salvation, a safeguard in dangers, a pledge of peace and of the covenant."

The Sabbatine Privilege
Whether this happened exactly in this way or not (St. Simon's original descriptions of the vision are not extant and the wording may not be exact), the Scapular was given to St. Simon Stock, and the devotion spread and was well-known by the 16th c. What can be safely believed because of papal decree is the promise known as the "Sabbatine Privilege." The Sabbatine Privilege is the promise that Our Lady will intercede and pray for those in Purgatory who, in earthly life:

wore the Scapular in good faith;
were chaste according to their state in life;
daily recited the Divine Office or, with the permission of one's Confessor, the Little Office of Our Lady [a shorter form of the Divine Office in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, used by certain religious orders and laity. It is similar to the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the Roman Breviary] or the Rosary; and
departed earthly life in charity.

Pope Benedict XV, the celebrated World War I Pontiff granted 500 days indulgence for devoutly kissing your scapular.

Mary prefigured in the Elijah Elisha episode in Book of Kings.

Perhaps it is a stretch on my part but I have always seen the Scapular of Mt. Carmel somehow prefigured as it were, in this episode in the Book of Kings when Elijah passes on the mantel to Elisha. It seems to me when Our Lady gave the scapular to St. Simon there was a similar significance. To be sure it is a sign of her favor and protection, first to Carmel and then to the lay person who wears her 'livery' as the medieval word refers to it. Ponder the idea and consider it's meaning. 

 http://abbey-roads.blogspot.in/2006/06/some-thoughts-on-wearing-scapular-of.html

Carmel, the symbolism of the Mount!

Carmel is a celebrated mountain near modern Haifa. Its Hebrew name means “garden” or “orchard”.

"Thy head is held high like Carmel…How beautiful thou art…Oh love, oh delight!” (Song 7:6,7).

"the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they shall see the glory of Yahweh, the splendor of our God” (Is 35:2).

Mount Carmel has been a symbol of conversion or turning back to God because of its  dramatic role in Elijah’s contest on behalf of God.

The Woman of Faith
Like Elijah, but more than Elijah, because she is the Queen of Prophets, Mary repeats to us the word of God which spans the ages, “be converted” (Acts 3:19). At Garabandal she said, “We must do much penance…If we do not change…a chastisement will come.” She recalls to us the ABSOLUTE of the Eucharist and of the priesthood, “We must…visit the Blessed Sacrament frequently… Many cardinals, bishops and priests are on the road to perdition…” Because she is the Co-redemptress, she puts before us the ABSOLUTE of the Cross-and the sacrifice, “ We must make many sacrifices…Think of the passion of Jesus.” And because she is the Immaculate One, she calls us to perfection, “But above all we must be very good.”

http://whatisgarabandal.blogspot.in/2012/08/why-did-mary-appear-as-our-lady-of.html 

Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2652756/Pope-Francis-unites-Israeli-Palestinian-presidents-prayer-plant-olive-tree-Vatican-gardens.html


Can anyone read the news about our dear Pope Francis's Prayer summit at the Vatican Gardens without getting goosebumps I wonder. His words resonate :

"Peacemaking calls for courage, much more so than warfare," he said. "It calls for the courage to say yes to encounter and no to conflict."

The fact that such a meeting took place in the lush Vatican gardens is noteworthy, because of its most neutral atmosphere. Who could imagine such a prayer meeting, with Jewish, Christian and Muslim prayers incorporated and delivered in English, Hebrew, Arabic and Italian tongues? That too on the day of Pentecost. We first heard of such gift of tongues and the ability to understand different languages in the first chapters of Acts of the Apostles. That too was a day of Pentecost !

The three common themes that the prayers focused on : thanking God for creation, seeking forgiveness for past wrongdoing and praying to God to bring peace to the region.
Isn't that interesting?

And what about the concluding ceremony of the event? The planting of an olive tree together as a sign of Peace.
What will be the outcome? Nobody knows. But still we can start dreaming of Peace.

The music selected as the background to the whole event too is the most appropriate. "Adagio for Strings" by the American composer Samuel Barber. It has been acclaimed as the "Saddest piece of music" and is one of the most downloaded pieces of digital music. Its soundtrack made its prominent appearance in the 1986 Oliver Stone film "Platoon" . Another film in which the beautiful effect of this music is used is the final scene of the 1980 film The Elephant Man directed by David Lynch, who once remarked," I'm surprised it's not in almost every film".
Am reminded of Shelley's words in his Ode to a Skylark :

We look before and after, And pine for what is not:  Our sincerest laughter With some pain is fraught;  Our sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought. There is a book by Thomas Larson  The Saddest Music Ever Written: The Story of Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings".  Read about it here: http://www.thomaslarson.com/publications/essays-and-memoirs/91-the-saddest-music-ever-written.html

Also watch these videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECQeLQURNuw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bECVh1dRsZw

Infant Jesus painted by St. Therese of Lisieux

The dream of the Child Jesus. Painting of 1894, retouched by Céline. The painting, offered in 1895 to the Visitation of Mans, is found today in the Visitation of Moulins.  It was offered to Mother Agnès along with a letter explaining it

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/257338566181128250/

LT 156 From Thérèse to Mother Agnes of Jesus.
January 21, 1894
J.M.J.T.
Thérèse comments her painting The Dream of the Child Jesus.

The Dream of the Child Jesus
While playing in His crib with the flowers His dear spouse brought Him, Jesus is thinking of what He will do to thank her.... Up above, in the celestial gardens, the angels, servants of the divine Child, are already weaving crowns His Heart has reserved for His beloved.
However, the night has come. The moon sends out its silvery rays, and the gentle Child falls asleep.... His little hand does not let go the flowers that delighted Him during the day, and His Heart con­tinues dreaming about the happiness of His dear spouse.
Soon, He sees in the distance strange objects bearing no resemblance to the springtime flowers. A cross!... a lance!, a crown of thorns! And yet the divine Child does not tremble; this is what He chooses to show His spouse how much He loves her!.. But it is still not enough; His infant face is so beautiful. He sees it disfigured, covered with blood! ...unrecognizable!.. .Jesus knows that His spouse will always recognize Him, that she will be at His side when all others abandon Him, so the divine Child smiles at this bloodstained image, He smiles at the chalice filled with the wine giving birth to virgins. He knows that, in His Eucharist, the ungrateful will desert Him; but Jesus is thinking of His spouse's love, her attention He sees the flowers of her virtues as they scent the sanctuary and the Child Jesus continues to sleep on peacefully.... He waits the shadows to lengthen .. .the night of life to give way to the bright day of eternity!...
Then Jesus will give back to His beloved spouse the flowers she had given Him, consoling Him on earth.... Than He will lower His divine Face to her, radiant with glory, and He will allow His spouse to taste eternally the ineffable sweetness of His divine kiss!!!...


Dear Mother,
You have just read the dream that your child wanted to reproduce for your feast day. But, alas! only your artistic brush could paint such a sweet mystery!... I trust you will look only upon the good will of her who would be happy to please you.
It is you, Mother, these virtues are yours that I wanted to repre­sent by the little flowers that Jesus is pressing to His Heart. The flowers are really for Jesus alone! yes, my dear Mother's virtues will always remain hidden with the little Child in the crib; however, in spite of the humility that would like to hide them, the mysterious perfume coming from these flowers gives me a presentiment already of the marvels that I shall see one day in the eternal homeland when I shall be allowed to contemplate the treasures of love that you are now giving to Jesus.

http://www.archives-carmel-lisieux.fr/english/carmel/index.php/lt-151-a-160/1017-lt-156-a-mere-agnes-de-jesus