Taking a break of a few days — leaving off with the Sunday intercessions posted tomorrow morning as usual and picking back up the first week of August. Meanwhile, here's a marvelous icon for you titled, Mother of God, Joy of All who Sorrow. It's kind of a busy icon with lots going on — but such is the world with so many people anguished with hunger, war, sickness, great poverty, loneliness, troubles and injustices. The Holy Mother is bright and attentive to the many written supplications being sent up her way. There's a wonderful fanciful garden of super-blooms behind her (the real Miracle-Grow) — inviting us to relief and the joy of beauty.
When I was in seminary, I'd go off in the evening every other week or so to visit my father. We'd sit and I'd fill him with seminary stories and then, when it was time for me to head back, he'd walk me to the door of his place and say, "See ya son, keep the faith." I expect that was an old Irish-ism he'd heard growing up. So, until the end of July I send a blessing — stay well and safe and "Keep the faith."
