Happy New Year!

 

Arbor Day

Trees

I think that I shall never see  
A poem lovely as a tree.  

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest  
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast; 

A tree that looks at God all day,  
And lifts her leafy arms to pray; 

A tree that may in summer wear  
A nest of robins in her hair; 

Upon whose bosom snow has lain; 
Who intimately lives with rain.  

Poems are made by fools like me,  
But only God can make a tree.

~Joyce Kilmer

Requiem

State Capitol

Holy Family Shrine

Fontenelle Forest

Kaneko

Nebraska State Capitol

Zoo Run

Arbor Day

Cor Mariae: Schoenstatt

Despite the cold weather, our little family headed out to rural Crete, Nebraska, to visit the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary and the Cor Mariae Shrine. While we were alone in the shrine in front of the Blessed Sacrament, my little ones recited some of the prayers they know by heart, and I was so pleased especially with James for his reverence and solitary fixedness on the Sacrament. While the smallest ones were moving from prayer bench to prayer bench and overly intrigued by the holy water fonts at the back of the shrine, James sat in his front row seat and stared silently and intently at the altar and the images of Our Lady and the Christ Child. His observant self noticed the sword under the Schoenstatt architectural icon on the stained-glass window. The shrine represents the sacred heart of Mary, the Cor Mariae, and as Simeon prophesied in the temple, the sword will pierce Mary's heart in her com-Passionate journey with Christ to the Cross. More than this, the sword stands for the Church Militant who may seek protection in the interiority of Mary's punctured heart while we witness and defend our Christian faith throughout our lifetime on earth.

Cor Mariae: Schoenstatt Shrine

Prayer for the Imitation of Mary

Let us walk like you through life,

Let us mirror you forever:

Strong and noble, meek and mild,

Peace and love be our endeavor.

Walk in us through our world,

Make it ready for the Lord.

Think in me, O Mother,

That my thoughts be clear and bright;

Speak in me, O Mother,

That my speech be true and bright;

Work in me, O Mother,

My work is then well done;

Then holy is my labor,

My rest a holy one.

You penetrate my being,

Fill every part of me,

that all your ways and conduct

In me each one can see.

Roca Berry Farm

Shrine of the Holy Family

Nebraska Sunset