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Oratio: Within Me
My courage comesfrom you Lordon my ownI am a cowardand I am selfishall of my goodnessI owe to your Spiritwithin methrough your loveand grace Lordhelp me to decreasethat you may increasewithin memay I tastethe sweet fruitof your divine mercyand share that fruitwith those about meuntil there is nothing leftbut Christwithin me ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Lectio: Successful Meditation
“We should not, however, judge the value of our meditation by ‘how we feel.’ A hard and apparently fruitless meditation may in fact be much more valuable than one that is easy, happy, enlightened and apparently a big success.” ~Thomas Merton
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Oratio: For My Mother
Born into this worldthrough water and fleshmy mother’s armsheld and comforted mewiping my tearsand giving me strengthuntil I could reachfor the Lordentering the watersof baptismdying to the fleshreborn of the spiritwith and in Christin whom I find comfortHe dries my tearsand gives me strengthforevernone of whichwould be possiblewere it not for my motherfrom whose…
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Lectio: From Mary
“From Mary we learn to surrender to God’s will in all things. From Mary we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone. From Mary we learn to love Christ her Son and the Son of God!” ~St. John Paul II
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Oratio: Borrowed Troubles
The songbirds singtheir beautiful songwhile my mind runs awaywith worrydeafened by the noiseof borrowed troublesI cannot hear them calling mesuddenlya melody catches my earthe veil of imagined sufferingis liftedin this momentI see the Lordand the glory of his creationwho am I to worrywhen he has chosen mein love ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Lectio: Conform to Christ
“Marriage is meant to be one of the ways in which you die to yourself out of love for Christ and love for others that conforms you to Christ.” ~Fr. Mike Schmitz
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Oratio: To Do Your Will
Lord Jesusgive me strengthto dowhat I must doto carry the crossthat lies before meI am weary Lordand my burdenis heavymay your graceand mercygive me courageand wisdomto do your will always ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Lectio: Changed By Meekness
“Choose the meekness of Moses and you will find your heart which is a rock changed into a spring of water.” ~Amma Syncletica of Alexandria
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Oratio: One Step
Though the way aheadappears dark and dauntingthe lamp of the Lordshines before my feetI need only takeone step at a timein faithno more and no lessit is not for meto stay behindnor to knowwhere the path leadsonly to trustthat it leads me to Him ~Robert Van Valkenburgh
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Lectio: A Reflection of God
“The interesting thing is that when you can forgive people for not being God, then you can celebrate that they are a reflection of God, a reflection of God’s great unconditional love.” ~Henri Nouwen