This Calling of Love

~ Honouring another merely human being - is this idolatry? ~ Yet the giving of worth, affirmation ~ Is this calling of Love. ~ Inspired by this painting from The Life of St. Francs of Assisi by Giotto - 'St. Francis Honoured by a Simple Man'

Before a Cross

~ Praying b  e  f  o  r  e    a    c  r  o  s  s and it spoke to him. ~ The image is 'The Miracle of the Crucifix' by Giotto, based on the life of St. Francis of Assisi

Perfect Joy

Not in knowledge or conversions            in healings, exorcisms, or raisings of the dead                      is to be found perfect happiness But despite hostility, assault and attack           to praise God daily therein he said is perfect joy. Image by Yamid arevalo castro from Pixabay

Dark Days

On the dark days the devils appear . And read the roll-call of our doubts and fears . Then we need a spirit to visit us in love . Reassure us of forgiveness mercy promised from above.

The Stepping Stones to Eternity

I came upon his words and set my mind to understanding . how the world could teach me the mystery of God . . I had heard of nature as the book of God . But never had the notion rooted deep in my mind . Now I was confronted by the words of a …

Awaken to the Miracle of Eternity

~ You may witness The strangest of things ~ Elevations Wounds of the spirit, ~ The voices Of angels ~ Know that they speak Of another way of being ~ Sanely attuned to the reality That is beyond understanding ~ That awakens you To the miracle of eternity ~ Living a life Incomprehensible ~ To …

In the Wood

. To one praying In the wood . The word of God Came . Louder than The human voice . The other saw deeper Into Christ . Through His tears . Than forests Of theologians. . Inspired by 'The Little Flowers of St. Francis' .

The Calling

~ Embrace poverty,persecution and prayer ~ Draw disciplesbeyond yourself ~ MirrorYour saviour ~ Jesus Christyour Lord. Inspired by a story about St. Francis of Assisi. The painting below is by Giotto (illustrating a separate story): St. Francis Preaching to the Birds

Giving Surpassing Getting

~ As if the world would spin on the axis of his mind  ~ Giving Surpassing getting ~ Compassion demonstrating its truly chivalrous character ~ And the act is worthy Of art ~ To wonder its way through the centuries. ~ St. Francis Gives His Cloak to a Knight - Giotto

The Nakedness of Our Condition

~ The bishop holds him      like a child ~ And in his nakedness   we see our own condition ~ Without impressiveness without pretence ~ Open   to grace. ~ This poem takes its inspiration from the moment in St. Francis of Assisi's life when he renounced his father dramatically by literally stripping off all his clothes …