Blessed Titus Brandsma Poem

Dear Lord, when looking up to Thee, I see Thy loving eyes on me;

Love overflows my humble heart, knowing what faithful friend Thou art.

A cup of sorrow I forsee, which I accept for love of Thee, the painful way I wish to go, the only way to God I know.

My soul is full of peace and light; although in pain this light shines bright, for here Thou keepest to Thy breast my longing heart, to find there rest.

Leave me here freely alone, in cell where never sunlight shone; should
no one ever speak to me, this golden silence makes me free!

For though alone I have no fear; never were Thou O Lord, so near.
Sweet Jesus please abide with me; my deepest peace I find in Thee.

[Blessed Titus Brandsma wrote this poem in Scheveningen prison]

PAIN OF CHRIST

In the universality of His Love and His pity, Christ shared the sorrow and pain of every human being through the long story of mankind:  He knew in his own heart every cry of pain and agony that had ever risen or should ever rise from the valley of human tears.  But there is more than that.  St. Paul tells us He was made sin for our sake: and we are to understand, not indeed that He became a sinner, but that He knew in his heart the ultimate torment of the sinner; the agony of emptiness and horror that is final separation from God.

God so loved the world that he empied Himself of His Divine Nature and died on the cross so mankind could be saved.

"My Soul is Sorrowful even unto death......Not My will but Thine be Done....

One of my favourite saints

St Martin de Porres is one of my favourite saints.
He had such a great love of God and all His creatures both human and animal. He had the ability [grace from God] to get a dog, cat, and a rat to eat from the same dish.  He also possessed great spiritual wisdom, resolving theological problems for his order and for bishops. He was a close friend of St Rose of Lima, St Martin died on November 3rd 1639.  He was canonized on May 6th 1962.