~A Psalm of Uncertainty~ The road behind me has washed away in a torrent of hopeful tears. The road before me, today a vaporous mystery, awaits a construction of faith. On this tiny speck of solid ground which bears Your Name, I stand and call to You… I am relying upon Your Grace to be greater than my sorrow and bitterness. I am relying upon Your strength to carry me when I feel weary and worn. I am relying upon Your Wisdom to guide me into tomorrow’s unknown country. I am relying upon Your LOVE to lift and lead, to surround and saturate. *”I determine amidst all uncertainty always to trust. I choose to live beyond regret, and let You recreate my life.” I trust in You alone to provide and protect, to hold and heal, to inspire and indwell all the days of my life. My vow is to You, O Gracious One, for You have been with me always, no matter the adversity. In my loneliest hours, You are there. In my darkest moments, You are the Light of Hope. You are the Perfect Love Who casts out all fear. The tiny speck of solid ground beneath my feet, supporting, and never letting me fall. From the womb I have known Your Grace, and my gratitude has been ever present. You are with me in my hour of uncertainty, as I choose the materials with which to build the road before me. Help me to choose wisely and with great love. May my steps be pleasing to You, and worthy of the Grace You shower upon me. My Heart. My Home. My Health. My Hope. My Heaven. My All. You Are. And I am Yours. ~Sister Brigid Clare (*quoted prayer verse is from St. Brendan the Navigator)
I open my heart
to pour out all that does not serve the Purpose of Love; every grievance void of Grace, every pernicious lie of victimization which denies the startling Truth of Imago Dei; Christ within this humble clay. I open my heart to invite and receive The Holy One’s Blessed, Best Dream for me; moment by miraculous moment made into Sweet Reality by Love’s Hand Guiding, Love’s Word Speaking, Love’s Bounty providing, Love’s Kiss within my soul, inspiring me to wallow and walk in Wonder, in Beauty, in Peace, and in the Consummate Joy of Knowing and Being Known. I open my heart to pour out Presence and Empathy; to leave a gentle dusting from the Gifts graciously given me, to share my little bit with all the Love I can muster, and pray my simple spark might be part of the Ever Growing Light of Parousia drawing nigh. I open my heart to invite and receive Healing and Wholeness, and Faith beyond feeling; and Courage to walk with eyes opened wide equally in celebration and suffering, gathering strength sown deep inside, long recessed and hidden, shy, vulnerable and doubt-ridden, I vow in this miraculous moment, now to start walking in The Way of the Open Heart. ~Sister Brigid Clare Photo taken in my childhood church, The Shrine of the Sacred Heart, Baltimore, Maryland, on the 40th anniversary of my First Holy Communion.
I saw the temples crumble
stones turned to bread to feed the poor what once was high now humble so those with less are offered more saw the sacred vestments wrapped round a mother's freezing child and in their warm contentment saw Bethlehem's Babe and Mary mild I saw the fire burning the Heart aflame that livens all and in my own heart's yearning heard my Poverello's call~ "Rebuild God's Church," is what he said, "with mortar of Love and stones of Bread". ~Sister Brigid Clare (This song came into my heart as I made my way home from Compline this evening. Usually I select an image to accompany my words, but I can find no adequate image for what I saw and felt in my spirit tonight. I will only say what is already known; that God loves us all so deeply, especially "the least of these". Gentle Blessings to All.)
I want my life
to become ruins, daises to grow where once floors were swept. Dear God, dismantle all the structures – the walls I built, closed ideas I kept. I want the sky to be my ceiling, birds to fly through windows once shut tight. Remove my heart from its cold, stone casing – Expose it to Your elements and light. I want my life to become ruins, peaceful, open, welcoming the breeze. Dear God, tend to the greening of my spirit – visit me beneath the sheltering trees. ~Sister Brigid Clare
I am but a little one
after Your Heart wrapped in ribbons of Your gentle grace content in every space Your Presence dwells in the quiet of my simple room my faint heart swells as prayer pervades my soul, my song; a cloud of sweet perfume all this longing in my breast finds its Home and Final Rest In Your warm and precious Love alone I am but a little one grown in the Light of Brother Sun another foolish heart to call Your Own. ~Sister Brigid Clare Gentle Blessings to All.
Dear Poverello,
who am I that you in Love would greet me with arms outstretched and twinkling eye in Perfect Joy to meet me who am I to look upon your lovely lowly face as warmly you bid me enter through this absolute embrace I am happy to leave all behind and step inside your door who am I Dear Poverello that you invite me to be poor ~Sister Brigid Clare photo: Chapel door of the church/school where I first heard of Francis when I was a child.
Holy One,
Whose Ultimate Name is LOVE, my heart is grieved today as Your children, Sisters and Brothers All, continue to war against each other and kill for the sake of the lesser names by which they know and call You. I pray for all misguided souls who cause harm where You will healing, who cause panic where You will peace, who cause despair where You will delight. I pray for all innocent souls who live in fear where You will freedom, who live in grief where You will grace, who live in pain where You will promise. Hear my cry, O Holy One! Earth is in need of Your Light and Mercy; in need of Your Comfort and Guidance. How long will we be lost to false power’s pettiness and greed? How many must suffer and die for the lie of division? Gather, O Wondrous Wisdom and Word of LOVE; Gather those who hear Your Heartbeat, who know that Your Voice reverberates beyond all human language, who know the Reality of Your Power lies far beyond the bounds of culture, politics, and religion. Gather those with impulse to pray and humility to heed the call to Unconditional Love; those willing to walk in repentance and reparation for the collective atrocities committed in the name of “god”. I give myself to Presence and Prayer. I give myself to Light and LOVE. I give myself in service to the Holy One Who wills the children of Earth to be Wholly One, in Perpetual Peace, and in the Only True Power; the Peace and Power of the Ultimate and Unfailing LOVE from Whom we have come, and to Whom we shall return. “Let there be Peace on Earth, and let it begin with me.” For all the troubled people and places in the world, I pray. ~Sister Brigid Clare
Not for fear but for Love,
my God, do I turn again and again to Your warm and gracious Presence. I need not summon, for You are Always Here. I need not invoke, for my very breath is Your Name. Still, for Love of You…I call. You keep me and those I Love within the Circle of Your Infinite Care. Through trial and triumph, Your Unfailing Love is round about us; Your Holy Spirit, sure and true within us, to guard and to guide by day and by night. O Beautiful One, Maker of All Worlds; hear my prayers, see our great need. By the Radiant Light of Your Most Sacred Heart, correct us where we are misguided; in all low thoughts that hinder and harm ourselves, others, and our earthen Home. Raise our minds and hearts to Your Realms of Glory and Truth, that we may rightly bear Your Image and be the Good News You have sent into today’s hurting, yet still hopeful world. Not for fear, but for Love, my God, I ask in stark humility, that You would open the Heavens, and pour out Your Grace and Healing upon Earth and All the Life She so delicately holds. Open our eyes, our ears, our hearts, our hands, that we might remember Who We Are, and finally understand and walk in The Way of Love. Gentle Blessings to my Franciscan Family. ~Sister Brigid Clare
To You alone,
Beloved One, Do I open my mind; Your Wisdom, Love, and Light Ever to guard and to guide. To You alone, Beloved One, Do I open my heart; Your Compassion, Peace, and Truth Ever flowing from and toward me. To You alone, Beloved One, Do I open my soul; Your Mercy, Grace, and Strength Ever nourishing and upholding me. To You alone, Beloved One, Do I open my spirit; Your Imagination, Inspiration, and Regeneration Ever imbuing and renewing me. To You alone, Beloved One, Do I consecrate my body; Your Tenderness, Reverence, and Healing Ever in my hands, and in the hands of those who touch me. To You alone, Beloved One, Do I dedicate the Entirety of my Being; Your Purpose, Passion, and Presence Ever the mortar and meaning of my life. ~Sister Brigid Clare Holy Island sunset 2008 |
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