This post was provided by Miriam Gates

"Resilience"

composed by Abbie Betinis

performed by the Cleveland Chamber Choir

Listen to more music composed by Abbie Betinis.

Listen to more songs from the Cleveland Chamber Choir.

This post was provided by Joan Morton

"How Great Is Our God/How Great Thou Art"

by CeCe Winans

Listen to more of the anointed music of CeCe Winans.

This post was provided by Rhonda Haney

Quote

Hope is not easily defined, but impossible to embrace without faith. The more we search for meaning in what seems hopeless; we realize that our "hopelessness" is a state of mind, not a reality. 

Carol Bright, Determined Means: Going from Victim to Victor!

This post was provided by Deacon Fred Sambrone

"We Shall Overcome"

The Aeolians of Oakwood University

Listen to more inspiring music from the renowned Aeolians

This post was provided by Lauren Morton

Afternoon Prayer: Reflection on Ramadan

by Taylor Lawson

Taylor Lawson is the SAT/ACT Test Prep Instructor at Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School. 

Untitled

by Ramy Eletreby

The new moon peeks behind the shadow

As will we

This holy month of Ramadan

We will step into the light

These next 30 days and nights

To expel our darkness

Bulbs we burnt out

These past 11 months

We now recharge, we reignite

Now, we make the choice

To surrender, to give ourselves up

And over to the fast

We abstain

From nourishment, from foolishness

To quiet our ego

That which ties knots

Tight and stubborn

Where they needn’t be

We let the fast work its magic

We lose ourselves

So that we may feel ourselves

Is that a contradiction?

Only in words

Which mean less now

We listen rather than speak

We recognize that silence

Is truly golden like the sun

Upon which we synchronize

Our clocks and our bodies

Our beginnings and our endings

We wait for the azaan

Its crying melody

To pierce the hushed night

Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar

La Ilaha ila Allah

We begin the fast

Then there’s silence

Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar

La Ilaha ila Allah

We break the fast

Then there’s sound

We seek community

The oil that helps

Loosen our knots

We gather together

We pray together

We nourish together

We unravel ourselves

To reveal ourselves

Like threads

Dangling

Weightless

Like fringes

Softly swaying

In the breeze

Click HERE to access Taz Ahmed's "Poetry-A-Day for Ramadan" website.

This post was provided by Lyndon Batiste

"A few years ago I shot a music video for one of my original songs titled 'Higher Each Day.'  I thought that the message in the song would be perfect for the 'Endurance and Hope' blog for the parish community.  It's an inspirational song that encourages us to fight through our obstacles and to continue to strive for our goals and purposes."

- Lyndon Batiste

Higher Each Day

by Lyndon Batiste 

Verse 1

Sometimes life deals you a blow that you cannot take

And no matter how loud you scream it just won’t go away

But you’ve gotta keep your head up keep your eyes upon the goal

Don’t you let nothing in life take from you the dream that is yours

Chorus

Though sometimes I feel like crying

Though sometimes I feel like dying

I believe, that I’m going to see another day

Leaving all my past behind me

Lord I’ve got to keep on trying

To Go Higher Each Day

Verse 2

Every scar has a story that you can tell

But it’s up to you whether or not you’ll prevail

But you’ve gotta choose to win

Don’t take less than you deserve

Stay committed to the dream in your heart

And life will open doors.

Chorus

Though sometimes I feel like crying

Though sometimes I feel like dying

I believe, that I’m going to see another day

Leaving all my past behind me

Lord I’ve got to keep on trying

To Go Higher Each Day

Spoken:

Sometimes in life

We can’t explain why things happen

But we have to choose to win

We have to choose to overcome

We have to choose to be victorious

You’ve gotta Believe it…Go Higher and Higher

You’ve gotta believe in yourself, Go Higher and Higher

This post was provided by Father Drummer

As the fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day comes to a close, let us pray "A Christian Prayer in Union With Creation" - one of two prayers that Pope Francis includes at the end of his 2015 encyclical letter on Care for Our Common Home. 

A Christian Prayer in Union With Creation

by Pope Francis

Father, we praise you with all your creatures.
They came forth from your all-powerful hand;
they are yours, filled with your presence and your tender love.
Praise be to you!

Son of God, Jesus,
through you all things were made.
You were formed in the womb of Mary our Mother,
you became part of this earth,
and you gazed upon this world with human eyes.
Today you are alive in every creature
in your risen glory.
Praise be to you!

Holy Spirit, by your light
you guide this world towards the Father’s love
and accompany creation as it groans in travail.
You also dwell in our hearts
and you inspire us to do what is good.
Praise be to you!

Triune Lord, wondrous community of infinite love,
teach us to contemplate you
in the beauty of the universe,
for all things speak of you.
Awaken our praise and thankfulness
for every being that you have made.
Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined
to everything that is.

God of love, show us our place in this world
as channels of your love
for all the creatures of this earth,
for not one of them is forgotten in your sight.
Enlighten those who possess power and money
that they may avoid the sin of indifference,
that they may love the common good, advance the weak,
and care for this world in which we live.
The poor and the earth are crying out.
O Lord, seize us with your power and light,
help us to protect all life,
to prepare for a better future,
for the coming of your Kingdom
of justice, peace, love and beauty.
Praise be to you!

Amen.