The Anthems of my Motherhood
A quiet moment of prayer for your afternoon slump
Full disclosure, this post is a little bit of a cop-out. We had a full weekend and I chose to spend time with family and friends, rather then polish any of the drafts I’m working on. So today I’m stepping aside to let you revel in the words of those much wiser than I am, many of which form the heartbeat of my motherhood. I truly believe these words need no commentary, so I will refrain from adding any, but please let me know if they resonate with you in the comment section. I hope to be back with more original content on Thursday.
Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus of St. Claude de la Colombière
My adorable Redeemer, I give and consecrate myself totally to Thy Sacred Heart in the fullest and most complete way of which I am capable.
Nail me to Thy Cross by my Baptismal Promises, by the duties of my state of life and by my resolution to serve you always. I renew all these before heaven and earth in Thy Sacred Heart.
Thy holy service is for me an easy yoke and its bonds do not burden me. Moreover, I would desire to fasten even more closely its tight knots.
Therefore, I embrace the beloved cross of my vocation even unto death. It shall be all my delight, my pleasure, my glory. God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. Thy poverty shall be my treasure; Thy sufferings my delight; Thy Person, my only love.
I will never abandon Thee, my Savior; I will unite myself intimately with Thee. I do not fear the narrow path of holiness, because Thou art my light and my strength.
I hope, therefore, O my Lord, that Thou will make me firm to resist all temptations and that Thou will make me victorious over all the enemies of my soul. Continue to stretch out Thy hand over me, and to bestow Thy favors upon me.
By Thy Blood, by Thy Wounds and by Thy Sacred Heart, I implore Thee, O adorable Jesus, by this act of consecration grant that I may become a new creation of Thy love. Amen.
”Rose” by The Oh Hellos
no, love’ll get you slaughtered
like a ram at the altar
what is safe ain’t the same as what is good
so lay compress to the aching
of your body made for breaking
we’ve got a lot of breaking left to do
The entire Boreas EP, and the Winds Cycle of which it is a part, is worth listening to in a quiet room with your eyes closed. The Oh Hellos’ lyrics make me feel things. I know very few other artists with such a profound mastery of the English language.
“The New Song of Trumpkin” by Sarah Sparks
I will forget who I am
For who You are
Cause the truth is all my worth
Can only be found in Your scars
And I'm learning how to die
Because I know who You are
Likewise, each track on Into the Lantern Waste is worth sitting with and pondering. There is at least one verse from each song that I would include on this list if I had the space. She has clearly reflected deeply on the Chronicles of Narnia series and has put herself into the shoes of the characters. This is an album that will change you.
THEO 502 (The Creed) with Elizabeth Klein, Summer 2020 at the Augustine Institute
“Anything you suffer lovingly in this body will be glorified.”
Meribrooke by Handsome and Gretyl
My dear
My darling
My devotion
I’d give all I have For a moment with you
Your time in my arms were all that I knew
Meribrooke
My babe
My beauty
My beloved
I’d give all I have For a moment with you
Your time in my arms were all that I knew
I’d travel the ocean for more time with you
If heaven were closer I’d boldly pursue
Meribrooke
Handsome and Gretyl wrote a heart-wrenchingly beautiful album called A Brave Lament that served as the soundtrack for a short film of the same name. If you have gone through miscarriage or infant/child loss, I cannot recommend the album enough. It is incredibly cathartic and puts words to the deep ache.