Fix the eyes of your heart on the Crucified One and know the love by which He loves you

Before prayer, endeavor to realize whose Presence you are approaching, and to whom you are about to speak. We can never fully understand how we ought to behave towards God, before whom the angles tremble.

-- St. Teresa of Avila

Love with the heart of the Crucified One, united with the heart of His Loving Mother-- this is what I desire most ardently. Grant, O Crucified Lord, that I may live in the Shadow of your Cross, with the steadfast hope of your marvelous Resurrection. Totus Tuus Maria ego sum.

The love of the Cross has grasped my heart and soul. There is no other place I'd rather be right now, then with my heart fixed on the Crucified One. Where else would I rather be, then with the One who has loved me with a love untold? O glorious Lover, how I adore you and wish to follow you. Never do I want to stray from your most loving gaze. Imagine the heart of the Son of Man, beating so hard with love, carrying the cross for us.

And so when I pray, "Jesus, I trust in you!", I direct my heart to the One who was Crucified for us. Christ crucified, I trust in you. Though I do not fully understand the mystery of the Cross, I trust in You.

Audrey Assad - Known (Slideshow With Lyrics)

"My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going, I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following Your Will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You. And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing. And I know that if I do this, You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust You always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death, I will not fear, for you are ever with me and You will never leave me to face my perils alone."

~Thomas Merton ~

If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world on fire.

"The soul cannot live without love.

She always wants to love something

because love is the stuff she is made of,

and through love I created her."

Dialogue 51.

Heavenly Father, your glory is in your saints.

We praise your glory in the life of the admirable St. Catherine of Siena, virgin and doctor of the Church.

Her whole life was a noble sacrifice inspired by an ardent love of Jesus, your unblemished Lamb.

In troubled times she strenuously upheld the rights

of His beloved spouse, The Church.

Father, honour her merits and hear her prayers for each of us, and for our whole parish family dedicated to her.

Help us to pass unscathed through the corruption of this world, and to remain unshakably faithful to the church in word, deed, and example.

Help us always to see in the Vicar of Christ an anchor in the storms of life, and a beacon of light to the harbour of your Love, in this dark night of your times and men's souls.

Grant also to each of us our special petition . . .

(pause to pray for your own intentions).

We ask this through Jesus, your Son, in the bond of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
St. Catherine of Siena, Pray for us!

Even the flowers sing

"The earth it groans in labor pains,

As flowers stretch to heaven above,

Your creatures sing the prophet’s song,

To be a gift of selfless LOVE.

The sun is rising in the east,

And Your spirit is unleashed,

For everything must die to rise again."

- Matt Maher On the Third Day

I have been so enamored by God's creation. It's beautiful how He would always puts things before us for the purpose of leading us to Him. He will never abandon us. The stirring melodies of music, the fields of violets, the cherry blossoms, daffofils, the crashing waves of the ocean--they all exclaim the boundlessness of His love.

" God establishes himself in the interior of this soul in such a way, that when she returns to herself, it is wholly impossible for her to doubt that she has been with God, and God in her." - Saint Teresa of Avila

I read and re read this passage from St Teresa when reading about Mysticism for my Phil of Religion class. How amazing! Praise God!