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Oratio: Mere Distractions
Temptations arisein the desert of silencethe devil attackswith all of his toolsand weaponsbut no matterhow real they feelthese are mere distractionsfor there is nothing realapart from GodI need onlyreturn to Himagain and again ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Lectio: Why Words
“Why, words, did I let you get out? I have often been sorry that I have spoken, never that I have been silent.” ~Arsenius The Roman
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Oratio: A Font Of Peace
Practice silencein your inner roomso that when the worldspeaks out against youand the devilantagonizes you to respondthe stillness of the Lordmay fill your spiritlike a font of peaceprotecting youfrom prideand the temptationto return evil for evil ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Lectio: Have Faith In Me
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. ~John 14:1
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Oratio: God In The Trees
Looking for GodI gaze out at the forestit is stilland yet it is notit is quietand yet it is notthe forest movesand breathesit singswhispersand criesI am in itand yet we are apartjust as He is in meand yet we are apartmovingbreathingsingingwhisperingand cryingtogether and apart ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Lectio: Preach The Word
“Preach the word of God wherever you go. Even use words, if necessary.” ~St. Francis of Assisi
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Oratio: Not A Passive Love
The Lord’s loveis not passiveHe does not waitfor us to come to HimHe is constantly seekingintimacy and closenesswith His childrenknocking on the doorswe have closed in shameawaiting our consentto His presencethat we may not suffer aloneHis is not a passive lovethe love of the Lordis patient but persistent ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Lectio: The Work To Which You Are Called
“Do not lose heart, even if you should discover that you lack qualities necessary for the work to which you are called. He who called you will not desert you, but the moment you are in need he will stretch out his saving hand.” ~St. Angela Merici
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For A Moment
In the quiet hoursbefore the dawnwhile the worldis still sleepingI sitinviting your presenceopening my heart to youand sometimeseven if for a momentyou pull back the veilbetween usto let me knowthat though the roommay be emptyI am not alone ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Lectio: You Are Christ’s Hands
“Christ has no body now but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours.Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion must look out on the world.Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good.Yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.” ~Teresa of Avila