Poetry Corner.

[Shin]

Was it a good story or a bad one?

I've heard both - one that had a crow/raven save his life and also one in which St. Benedict crossed himself whenever he saw one saying that they were demons.

If you can find the good story, share it with us!

[Brigid]

GREGORY [the Great]: When as the foresaid monasteries were zealous in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, and their fame dispersed far and near, and many gave over the secular life, and subdued the passions of their soul, under the light yoke of our Saviour: then (as the manner of wicked people is, to envy at that virtue which themselves desire not to follow) one Florentius, Priest of a church nearby, and grandfather to Florentius our sub-deacon, possessed with diabolical malice, began to envy the holy man's virtues, to back-bite his manner of living, and to withdraw as many as he could from going to visit him.

When he saw that he could not hinder his virtuous proceedings, but that, on the contrary, the fame of his holy life increased, and many daily, on the very report of his sanctity, took themselves to a better state of life : burning more and more with the coals of envy, he became far worse; and though he desired not to imitate his commendable life, yet fain he would have had the reputation of his virtuous conversation.

In conclusion so much did malicious envy blind him, and so far did he wade in that sin, that he poisoned a loaf and sent it to the servant of almighty God, as it were for a holy present. The man of God received it with great thanks, yet not ignorant of that which was hidden within. At dinner time, a crow daily used to come to him from the next wood, which took bread at his hands; coming that day after his manner, the man of God threw him the loaf which the Priest had sent him, giving him this charge: "In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, take up that loaf, and leave it in some such place where no man may find it." Then the crow, opening his mouth, and lifting up his wings, began to hop up and down about the loaf, and after his manner to cry out, as though he would have said that he was willing to obey, and yet could not do what he was commanded.

The man of God again and again bide him, saying: "Take it up without fear, and throw it where no man may find it." At length, with much ado, the crow took it up, and flew away, and after three hours, having dispatched the loaf, he returned again, and received his usual allowance from the man of God

[Shin]

That's great! I'm so glad you found it!

Poor St. Benedict.

[martin]

That was a good story Brigid.
A nice friendly crow was needed to show their good side.

Bet the vultures have no redeeming qualities.
Well, I supose they do have a role to fulfill and get bad press for it. 

[Brigid]

Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together.

Matt 24:28

And as you know, eagles has been translated in new versions as vultures.

[martin]

Here is a little song some of you may know. It's in Spanish and the only spanish that I know.  
I have the English translation below.  

         De Colores
 De colores, de colores

Se visten los campos en la primavera.
     De colores, de colores
Son los pajarillos que vienen de afuera.
     De colores, de colores
Es el arco iris que vemos lucir.

     Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.
     Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.

     Canta el gallo, canta el gallo
Con el quiri, quiri, quiri, quiri, quiri.
     La gallina, la gallina
Con el cara, cara, cara, cara, cara.
     Los pollitos/polluelos, los pollitos/polluelos
Con el pío, pío, pío, pío, pí.

     Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.
     Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.

     De colores, de colores
Brillantes y finos se viste la aurora.
     De colores, de colores
Son los mil reflejos que el sol atesora.
     De colores, de colores
Se viste el diamante que vemos lucir.

     Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.
     Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.

     Jubilosos, jubilosos
Vivamos en gracia puesto que se puede.
     Saciaremos, saciaremos
La sed ardorosa del Rey que no muere.
     Jubilosos, jubilosos
Llevemos a Cristo un alma y mil más.

     Difundiendo la luz que ilumina
La gracia divina del gran ideal.
     Difundiendo la luz que ilumina
La gracia divina del gran ideal.

           The Colors


    In colors, in colors
The fields are dressed in the spring.
     In colors, in colors
Are the little birds that come from outside.
     In colors, in colors
Is the rainbow that we see shining.

     And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors
     And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.

     The rooster sings, the rooster sings
With a cock-a-doodle, cock-a-doodle-doo.
     The hen, the hen
With a cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck.
     The chicks, the chicks
With a cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep.

     And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.
     And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.

     In colors, in colors
Brilliant and delicate is dressed the dawn.
     In colors, in colors
Are the thousand gleams the sun treasures.
     In colors, in colors
Is dressed the diamond we see shining.

     And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.
     And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.

     Joyous, joyous
Let us live in grace since we can.
     Let us quench, let us quench
The burning thirst of the King who does not die.
     Joyous, joyous
Let us bring to Christ a soul and thousand more.

     Spreading the light that illuminates
The divine grace from the great ideal.
     Spreading the light that illuminates
The divine grace from the great ideal.

[Brigid]

Isn't that a hymn at cursillo?

[martin]

Isn't that a hymn at cursillo?

I not quite sure it's referred to as a hymn but it is a kind of theme song in Cursillo.

I remember when I had completed my first Cursillo and was getting into the car to drive home, all of a sudden it was as if time stood still and everywhere I looked, the sky, the trees, the grass and a huge bright rainbow which appeared, all spoke of God so clearly that it was as if I had just woken up out of some kind of blind sleep and for the first time I saw His glory in creation.
I tell you, this was the day of all days in my life where God became the reality of all realities for me. It weren't even a day. It may only have been a second but one of those timeless seconds.

That's why I still love that little song so much. 

[Brigid]

I would love that song very much too! At my cursillo in the Episcopal church (during which I prayed my Dominican Rosary alot) was when I first got the inkling to join the Catholic Church. I felt ready to truly surrender myself to Him. It also made me appreciate the contemplative life, as if being around a lot of people interrupted, to a certain extent, my communion with Him.

[martin]

I love this hymn to Our Lady too. 

  I'll Sing A Hymn To Mary

    I'll sing a hymn to Mary,
    The Mother of my God,
    The Virgin of all virgins,
    Of David's Royal blood.
    O teach me, holy Mary,
    A loving song to frame,
    When wicked men blaspheme thee,
    To love and bless thy name.

    O Lily of the Valley,
    O mystic Rose what tree
    Or flower, e'en the fairest,
    Is half so fair as thee?
    O let me, though so lowly,
    Recite my Mother's fame:
    When wicked men blaspheme thee,
    I'll love and bless thy name.

    O noble Tower of David,
    Of gold and ivory,
    The Ark of God's Own promise,
    The Gate of Heaven to me;
    To live, and not to love thee,
    Would fill my soul with shame:
    When wicked men blaspheme thee,
    I'll love and bless thy name.

    But in the crown of Mary,
    There lies a wondrous gem,
    As Queen of all the Angels,
    Which Mary shares with them;
    "No sin hath e'er defiled thee,"
    So doth our faith proclaim:
    When wicked men blaspheme thee,
    I'll love and bless thy name.

        Fr. J. Wyze 1825-1898

[Brigid]

Beautiful! 

[Patricia]

My son, Z.  wrote this Haiku for a class project

Birds chirping loudly
River splashes against rocks
Rain patters softly


And this is a tanka

Birds chirping loudly
River splashes against rocks
Rains patters slowly
I'm asleep in my burrow
Beside the breathtaking stream

[Shin]

Ah this is really soothing Patricia! I love the little poems!

[Brigid]

My son, Z.  wrote this Haiku for a class project

Birds chirping loudly
River splashes against rocks
Rain patters softly


And this is a tanka

Birds chirping loudly
River splashes against rocks
Rains patters slowly
I'm asleep in my burrow
Beside the breathtaking stream

I really love these. What's a Tanka?

[Patricia]

Tanka is a Japanese poem used to describe nature

to write it. write 5 syllables, 7 syll., 5 syll , 7 syll. ,7 syll., each on a different line.

[Brigid]

Tanka sounds fun! I might get carried away with that, too.