Saturday, June 20
This post was provided by Father Desmond Drummer
R. Nathaniel Dett was a renowned composer, musician, and music educator. In these times when people are still finding it hard to say or hear the words "Black Lives Matter," I am so proud that the composer of this sublime "Ave Maria" was a Black man.
- Father Desmond Drummer
Ave Maria
by R. Nathaniel Dett (1882-1943)
performed by The Nathaniel Dett Chorale
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Learn more about R. Nathaniel Dett and The Nathaniel Dett Chorale.
Listen to other performances of The Nathaniel Dett Chorale.
Thursday, June 18
This post was provided by Lydia Regan-Chukwudebe
Demooney Lake
by Lydia Regan-Chukwudebe
There they sat, to our right and to our left, assumed by some in our group to be the enemy because of the color of their skin and the NRA t-shirts they wore. I was chosen to bring our closest neighbor a burger from our grill, which some in our group objected to, but I must always do as I believe God wants me to do. As I approached him, he looked at me with disbelief, and when I handed him the plate, the gratitude he expressed spoke volumes. He followed me back to our table to get some mayo for his burger, and he began to engage in a heartfelt conversation with the two Black men in our group, and the ice began to melt, and a flame was lit, and I knew my grandmother was smiling down from heaven. About an hour later, he gave us a huge fish he had just caught, and the ice melted some more, and the flame continued to grow. Two hours later, we had only caught one small fish, and either out of pity or out of compassion or guilt, our neighbors to the left, both elderly White men with thick southern accents, just like our neighbor to the right, gave us three of the big fish they had caught. One of them told us that his 72 year old sister was very sick and that he had to go home and take care of her. And as he drove away in his red truck, he gave us what my youngest daughter told us was the “Black Lives Matter” fist, and at that moment, the ice completely melted, and the flame was huge and warm and inviting, and hope was restored.....Today was such a Beautiful Day!
Tuesday, June 16
This post was provided by The Clevenger Family
Endurance & Hope
by Patricia, Dave and Eliza Clevenger
Saturday, June 13
This post was provided by Deacon Fred Toca
The Creator Still Creates
by Catherine Marshall
Jesus is God in action. His every teaching insists on the positive, the creative. He did not come to judge the world, but to save it. He wants His disciples to have joy – that most positive of all emotions.
Jesus never subtracts. He always adds or multiplies. He came not to destroy or distract one iota of the law, but to fulfill it. He praised the two faithful servants who multiplied their talents, condemned the one who merely hung on to the status quo. He multiplied the loaves and fishes, so there were twelve baskets left over.
He insists that each of us be fruitful, by bearing His love to the world.
The Kingdom of God is positive creativity. And no matter how bad things in this world may seem God is in charge and will lead His children to His positive conclusion.
Learn more about Catherine Marshall and access her writings on Amazon.
Thursday, June 11
This post was provided by Lyndon Batiste
Give Me Jesus
performed by Jessye Norman
Tuesday, June 9
This post was provided by Kimberly Fletcher
Prayer of Transformation
Source: Catholic Relief Services
Lord, I was a pile of ash
And you made me a light for the world
I was a stone
And you made me salt for the earth
I was as lifeless as clay
And you made me part of the Body of Christ
I was sinful
And you made me holy
I was nothing
And you made me part of everything
Lord, in you I am transformed
And transformed still again
When the discouraged cry for hope, make me hope
When the hungry cry for bread, make me bread
When the thirsty cry for water, make me water
When the suffering cry for help, make me help
When the sick cry for healing, make me healing
When the bound cry for freedom, make me freedom
When the outcasts cry for love, make me love
Lord who is hope,
Who is bread and water,
Who is help and healing
Who is freedom, and who is love,
Transform me anew,
And so keep me close to you,
As you transform the world.
Amen
Access more globally-minded prayers from Catholic Relief Services.
Saturday, June 6
This post was provided by Erin Howlette
Mother to Son
by Langston Hughes
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now—
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.