The Moon

[Shin]

Tonight's moon is one of the nearest to the earth it has been for some time.

Here is a photo from the middle of the night.

[Shin]

Reflections. . .

'How beautiful to look upon is the starry firmament! Yet it is only the portal of the blessed country where I hope to go one day.'

St. Paul of the Cross

'Prayer without fervor has not sufficient strength to rise to heaven.'

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

'He who beholds Heaven with a pure eye, sees better the darkness of earth; for, although the latter seems to have some brilliancy, it disappears before the splendor of the heavens.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

'The angels who remained faithful were confirmed in grace, and entered into the joy of the Lord, to be blest for all eternity, in the contemplation of his adorable perfection

There are three hierarchies of these celestial spirits, and each hierarchy contains three different orders.

The first hierarchy comprises the Seraphim, the Cherubim, and the Thrones ; the second, the Dominations, the Virtues, and the Powers; and the third, the Principalities, the Archangels, and the Angels.

We know, by the sacred writings, that the occupation of the angels is to adore God and sing his praises; also, to present to him our prayers, and to protect those who invoke their aid.

We should cherish a great respect for all these blessed spirits, but we ought especially to honour our guardian angels. We learn from the lips of Christ himself, that even the smallest child has one of these heavenly spirits to guard and guide it. What a consolation it is for us to be assured that we have ever near us a protector sent by God from heaven, to watch night and day over our safety, ind to shield us from the malignant attacks of the angel of darkness; that we have in him a true friend, who is faithful, wise, enlightened and powerful a sure and safe guide, who is at ali times desirous of conducting us onward in the way that leads to heaven! Should we ever forget what the angels do for us: and shall not the remembrance thereof open our hearts to sentiments of respect, gratitude, confidence and love! Will it not induce us to be docile to their inspirations to pray to them often and with sincere devotion, and to imitate them in their fidelity to God!'

St. Jean Baptiste de la Salle

'It is an old custom with the servants of God always to have some little prayers ready, and to be darting them up to heaven frequently during the day, lifting their minds to God out of the filth of this world. He who adopts this plan will get great fruit with little pains.'

St. Philip Neri

[Shin]

And here is another image of the moon from the past night. This one has more detail.

[Shin]

'There shall not enter into it any thing defiled, or that worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but they that are written in the book of life of the Lamb.'

Apocalypse 21:27

[Shin]

Here is the waxing moon from the 28th.

[Shin]

'After God had created the earth he created two lights, the greater and the less: the sun to give light by day, and the moon to give light by night. The sun, says Cardinal Hugo, was the type of Jesus Christ, in whose light the just rejoice who live in the daylight of divine grace; but the moon was the type of Mary, by whom sinners are enlightened, who are living in the night of sin. Mary, then, being the moon, so propitious to miserable sinners, if any unhappy person, says Innocent III. finds that he has fallen into this night of sin, what must he do? Since he has lost the light of the sun, by losing divine grace, let him turn to the moon, let him pray to Mary, and she will give him light to know the misery of his condition, and strength to come forth from it.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori