Nourishing Thoughts

Some pearls of wisdom from the much-appreciated Carmelite Sister the late Ruth Burrows who died in this month in 2023.  ‘A Christian must live by faith, not feeling. My feeling is that I am of little consequence, inferior to others, not a nice sort of person; so I long to be important, someone of real worth, loved and considered precious. I tend therefore to be unhappy, rather envious of others. I am on the defensive, for I have to guard this little self which is always threatened. How then can I be wholly concerned with others? I can't let myself go, can't give, can't love.  But faith tells me that God loves me, that I am infinitely precious to him. I am made in his image, divine blood flows in my veins transfiguring me with beauty. I am fed on divine food, continually embraced by the Father. Oh yes, I recognize my frailty, but I know I am redeemed and that at every moment my frailty is supported, my sin cleansed, the radiance of divine love is my atmosphere.  Thus I learn to delight in myself, that I am I and no one else. I despise nothing in myself except the desire to stand on self. I thank God for what he has done in the unique situation which is my life. Even my sins and failures, the black shadows, are seen in the context of love, perhaps fulfilling the same role as pieces of black lead in a stained-glass window, making the colour even more glorious.’ [“The Watchful Heart,” p. 45]

Intercessions

RIP Fr Jon Bielawski, Jacqui, Sister Maisie, Ann Widdecombe

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Catherine, Alex (43 with five children), Theresa K, Elena

Sophie – newborn having heart surgery; Sianna, young child in the post-operative phase; James, recovering from heart surgery

Ivy – sick child

Brian (recovering from Pneumonia)

Kevin (heart attack)

William Gove (in recovery)

Illness:  Katy Keeling

Siena, Elara – sick children

David OCDS – housebound

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)

Mark – brain infection

Michael, Kira – vulnerable youngsters

Defence of the unborn and the elderly