Saint John of the Cross

Today is the feast of St. John of the Cross on the Ordinary (novus ordo) Roman Calendar.

This incredible priest, poet, mystic, reformer and Church Doctor is THE greatest Carmelite saint alongside his co-reformer St. Theresa of Avila.

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And in the luck of night
In secret places where no other spied
I went without my sight
Without a light to guide
Except the heart that lit me from inside.

----- From his poem "The Dark Night of the Soul"

St. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross

"Truth suffers, but never dies"

The title of the post is just one of the myriad of quotes by the incredible St. Teresa of Avila who is truly one of Christ's greatest saints! Today is the Church's memorial of this extraordinary Church doctor, mystic, reformer, founder, virgin and poet!




Christ has no body now but yours
No hands, no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes through which He lookscompassion on this world
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.



"Be gentle to all and stern with yourself."



"It is love alone that gives worth to all things."



Prayer to Redeem Lost Time

O my God! Source of all mercy! I acknowledge Your sovereign power. While recalling the wasted years that are past, I believe that You, Lord, can in an instant turn this loss to gain. Miserable as I am, yet I firmly believe that You can do all things. Please restore to me the time lost, giving me Your grace, both now and in the future, that I may appear before You in "wedding garments. Amen.




"Untilled soil, however fertile it may be, will bear thistles and thorns; and so it is with man's mind."

St. Thérèse of Lisieux

This is feast day of dear St. Thérèse according to the new Roman Calendar (her original feast is October 3rd on the old Roman Calendar).

O Little Therese of the Child Jesus,
please pick for me a rose
from the heavenly gardens
and send it to me as a message of of love.

O Little Flower of Jesus
ask God today to grant the favors
I now place with confidence in your hands...
[ mention your intentions]

St. Therese,
help me to always believe as you did,
in God's great love for me,
so theat I might imitate your "Little Way" each day.

Amen.