Friday, February 14, 2014

Religous Song/Poem: Lady (Annunciation) by Sally Read

Sally Read is an English poet who was born in Suffolk in 1971. She is a former atheist who converted to Catholicism. In 2010 she experienced a powerful conversion to Christ. As an atheist she had bitterly opposed the Catholic Church's stance on abortion and contraception. She engaged in debate with Byzantine priest Fr Gregory Hrynkiw and underwent an intellectual epiphany. By the time she had converted to Catholicism in December 2010 she had already written and published a few poems about Mary, Mother of God-- specifically two that sought to debunk the biblical account of the Annunciation. Sally Read gives some background information on the Song Lady in her blog The Far-Near. This was penned after her conversion.

Lady received its premiere on 16th June 2013 at 11:30am Mass at the Pro-Cathedral, Dublin by the Palestrina Choir. The February 2014 edition of The Messenger of St Anthony has a very moving article on the conversion of Sally Read.

Lady

Lady, still as a well under almond blossom.
Lady, still as a harp-string
ready for the finger’s touch.

Woman, stepping inside to eye-bruising dark
with a jug of water.
Only your lush ear could catch
the angel’s words,
and only you could make them flesh.

What stillness. In stillness
beyond tissue of thought
He formed. Lady, closest to God,
pray that we make the ground inside us
rich enough for this formation,
that we always wear the anatomy of His death.

Lady, still as a well, turning hurt and consolation,
show us how to listen in our emptiness.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Video: Medjugorje Apparition to Mirjana February 2, 2014

February 02, 2014- Message from Our Lady to Mirjana

"Dear children, with motherly love I desire to teach you sincerity, because I desire that, in your actions as my apostles, you be exact, resolute, and above all sincere. I desire that, by the grace of God, you be open for a blessing. I desire that by fasting and prayer you obtain from the Heavenly Father the cognition of what is natural and holy – Divine. Filled with cognition, under the shelter of my Son and myself, you will be my apostles who will know how to spread the Word of God to all those who do not know of it; and you will know how to overcome obstacles that will stand in your way.

My children, by means of a blessing, God's grace will descend upon you and you will be able to retain it through fasting, prayer, purification and reconciliation. You will have the efficiency which I seek of you. Pray for your shepherds that the ray of God's grace may illuminate their ways. Thank you."