Posts by Ralph Patrick

“Bless the Lord O my soul. . . and forget not all His benefits.” Psalm 103 “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” Lou Gehrig It is Thanksgiving week.  Not everywhere.  Only in the U.S.  I used to get a kick out of it—and was sometimes slightly annoyed—when parishioners…

“The foxes have dens and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”  Jesus in Luke 9 “My Father loves (you), and we will come and make our home with you.” Jesus in John 14 “A house is to live in, not to look at.” …

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be opened.”  St. Paul in Ephesians 1 “In the end, gratefulness will be our full aliveness to a gratuitously given world.” Brother David Steindl-Rast In need of grace we seek God.  We cry out to the Lord.  In love God hears us and bestows an abundance…

“This man welcomes sinners . . .” Luke 15:2 “Grace is the active expression of God’s love for us.”  Brennan Manning Grace has been foremost in my life this past week.  I’ve been desperately in need of it, but I’ve also been keenly aware of it.  Perhaps that’s how it works; those times when we…

“Listen to your life.  See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is…

“To guide our feet unto the way of peace.” The Gospel According to St. Luke Iona is many things, not the least of which is a place of peace. It is a long journey to get there. Geographically this small island on the northwest coast of Scotland is quite isolated. Most will embark from Glasgow,…

“I have just three things to teach:  Simplicity, patience and compassion.  These three are the greatest treasures.” Lao Tsu “I waited patiently for the Lord; And God reached down to me and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1 Today we move on to the them of patience which St. Paul mentions as the fourth gift of…

“Peace I give to you, My peace I leave with you”  Jesus “Iona is a place of peace” What is deep peace?  How would you define it?  Where have you experienced deep peace?  What was it like?  Where were you at? Certainly each of us can recall one time or place where we have been…

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; The courage to change the things I can; And the wisdom to know the difference.” You recognize those words of The Serenity Prayer.  Attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr, it has become the mantra of the many who have found sobriety through AA.  It speaks…

“He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass; as showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish, and an abundance of peace as long as the moon endures.”  Psalm 72 Not being at peace is soul sickening.  Think for a moment what it feels like to not be at…