Living Without School: If only....

Monday, March 23, 2009

If only....

Nothing is more like a wise man than a fool who holds his tongue.
Saint Francis de Sales

If only I could do the same....Hold my tongue, that is....Sigh...Thank God for Lent and the opportunity for extra prayers!

Praying for the wisdom to know when to be silent.

And whispered in the sounds of silence

Simon and Garfunkel

The Sounds of Silence.... I wish.

Is this possible for me?.....In a busy unschooling home??

8 comments:

Mary G said...: I too have a BIG problem with knowing when to be silent and when to talk. As Father pointed out last week, St. Joseph was silent, but only when he should be!

Prayers that we both are given the grace to be silent when necessary!

Blessings, dear.; 1:09 am
Leonie said...: Wow, thanks for the note re St Joseph. Prayers for you, too, esp re move.; 7:29 am
Fr. Benedict M. said...: I am reminded of the words of the Catechism: Contemplative prayer is silence, the "symbol of the world to come" or "silent love." Words in this kind of prayer are not speeches; they are like kindling that feeds the fire of love. In this silence, unbearable to the "outer" man, the Father speaks to us his incarnate Word, who suffered, died, and rose; in this silence the Spirit of adoption enables us to share in the prayer of Jesus. (CCC 2717) Ideal... but very difficult!!!; 4:06 pm
Leonie said...: More for me to think about and pray about..Thanks, Fr, contemplative prayer comes less naturally for me thanh other types of prayer - as does silence.; 12:02 am
Jenny of Elefantz said...: Honestly? I think God knew what He was doing when He made you THE WAY YOU ARE. He had a purpose...who knows how many lives have been touched for the BETTER because you spoke up? There are contemplatives, and there are talkers. Love who you are. I know we chatterers need to learn to can it at times, but on the whole I think we need to remember who made us this way and trust one day we'll know why. You are INSPIRING Leonie...as you are.; 10:15 pm
Leonie said...: Wow, Jennifer, very nice. Anjd maybe we talkative types are needed?; 5:39 pm
Jenny of Elefantz said...: Absolutely! If St Paul had been the quiet type we'd be missing a LOT of the New Testament. ;-); 5:50 pm
Leonie said...: True!; 7:18 am

Prayer of Consecration of St. Maximilian Kolbe

O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to thee. I, N___, a repentant sinner, cast myself at thy feet humbly imploring thee to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to thyself as thy possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases thee. If it pleases thee, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of thee: "She will crush your head," and, "Thou alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world."

Let me be a fit instrument in thine Immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed Kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever thou enters, one obtains the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through thy hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

V. Allow me to praise thee O Sacred Virgin.
R. Give me strength against thy enemies.

Prayer of St Bonaventure

Pierce, O most Sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, with true, serene, and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with love and longing for Thee, that it may yearn for Thee and faint for Thy courts, and long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the bread of angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and supersubstantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delight of taste; let my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, upon whom the angels desire to look, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst after Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the richness of the house of God.May it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, attain Thee, meditate upon Thee, speak of Thee, and do all things to the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, and with perseverance unto the end.May Thou alone be ever my hope, my entire assurance, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my fragrance, my sweet savor, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession and my treasure, in whom may my mind and my heart be fixed and firmly rooted immovably henceforth and for ever. Amen.