Difficult days - though we're not powerless. Here is a late 15th century wood carved image of Saint John under the hands of Jesus at the Last Supper. John knew where to place himself on that gloomy night. The image is very beautiful and deserves a long gazing.
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, (1568-1591) who forfeited a royal inheritance to enter the Society of Jesus, said of the aristocratic life in which he lived, that is was full of fraud, dagger, poison and lust. Change dagger to gun and it sounds like today.
Saint Teresa of Avila, (1515-1582) who traveled all over Spain, likened life on this planet to a night in a bad hotel. Still, she wrote this prayer which we might memorize and pray often, especially when we hear of massacres, horrors, destruction, yet another war, disasters, political machinations:
Saint Teresa of Avila, (1515-1582) who traveled all over Spain, likened life on this planet to a night in a bad hotel. Still, she wrote this prayer which we might memorize and pray often, especially when we hear of massacres, horrors, destruction, yet another war, disasters, political machinations:
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing,
God only is changeless.
Patience gains all things,
Who has God wants nothing.
God alone suffices.
Teresa of Avila 16th c. Spain
