open the eyes of the heart

With Eyes Brighter Than the Sun

A Glimpse of His Gladsome Light Spied from a Church Parking Lot

When praying alone, and your spirit is dejected, and you are wearied and oppressed by your loneliness, remember then, as always, that God the Trinity looks upon you with Eyes brighter than the sun; also all the angels, your own Guardian Angel, and all the Saints of God. Truly they do; for they are all one in God, and where God is, there are they also. Where the sun is, thither also are directed all its rays. Try to understand what this means. ~ Elder Herman of Mt. Athos

We are promised that in the Kingdom of Heaven we shall see God face to face. We will look upon his countenance. “In Thy light shall we see light.” …we shall forever gaze into His eyes. That’s all the definition of bliss we need. ~ Fr. Vladimir Berzonsky

The autumnal sun
hidden behind dull gray clouds
shines, notwithstanding.

Like zillions of others, the light, or lack of seasonal light can influence many. As we begin “autumn’s fall” in rainy northern hemispheres, I’m already well aware the coming dark and dreary months of gray days affect myself and others. Lord have mercy! Granted, at the beginning of fall, there’s some consolation in observing allegro duets of brilliant, crimson deciduous leaves and occasional glimpses of golden, gleaming sunshine. But, later, sometimes it’s hard to remember that above those dark and dismal clouds, there’s always Sonshine! Recalling that this is just for now, and persevering with hope and faith; we, as children of Light, perceive our pianissimo results are worth the effort. For our Triune God, is Everywhere Present and Fills all things. He Knows our small efforts and struggles, and He holds out His Arms to embrace the whole world. For, He IS the Fountain of light, and in His Light, we shall see Light!

Open the Eyes of My Heart

Bright Spring Morning, with Travel Icon Overlooking Strait of Juan de Fuca

Christ is Risen!

Greetings on the Blessed Feast of Mid-Pentecost!

O Lord Jesus Christ, open Thou the eyes of my heart, that I may hear Thy word and understand and do Thy will, for I am a sojourner upon the earth. Hide not Thy commandments from me, but open mine eyes, that I may perceive the wonders of Thy law. Speak unto me the hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom… On Thee do I set my hope, O my God, that Thou shalt enlighten my mind and understanding with the light of Thy knowledge, not only to cherish those things which are written, but to do them… For Thou art the enlightenment of those who lie in darkness, and from Thee cometh every good deed and every gift. Amen. ~ St. John Chrysostom

Through the intercessions of Thine All-immaculate Mother and of all Thy Saints, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

Truly He is Risen!

A Virtue and Prize

Forest in Ireland
by Josip Rmc from Pixabay

In your patience possess ye your souls. ~ St. Luke 21:19

It is a virtue and a prize to listen patiently to and put up with insults for the sake of God ~ St. Brigit of Kildare

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. ~ St. John 15:13

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:13

Greetings on the Forefeast of the Meeting of our Lord!

Today (Feb. 14/1) is also the Feast Day of St. Brigit of Ireland and St. Valentine of Rome. St. Brigit is one of my favourite saints, and St. Valentine is the first western saint I heard of, as a child. I delight in how instrumental St. Brigit was implementing educational and artistic centres… How she founded the spiritual community that bettered their county and country – through charity, hospitality, and medical support. I love how St. Brigit perceived Christ in everyone she met, and through the strength of her great faith and pure heart, performed – and continues to this very day… working miracles!

Parish Youth Choir sing Hymn to St. Brigit of Ireland (Feb. 2025)

St. Brigit of Ireland Past Posts

St. Brigid of Ireland ~ Feb. 13, 2021

Gabhaim Molta Bríghde ~ Feb. 14, 2022

Holy Mother Bríghde ~ Feb. 13, 2023

Happy St. Bríghde Day! ~Feb. 14, 2024

St. Bridget of Ireland ~ Jan. 25, 2025

St. Valentine
Past Post

A Valentine ~ Feb. 14, 2022

Prayer, the Breath of Life

A far corner of a Mosaic Studio, where little threads of various projects bind the artists together as a whole.

Happy Apodosis of Nativity and a Blessed Saint’s Day, Melania!

I recently came across this excerpt on prayer by +Archpriest John Adams, of Eternal Memory. The subject matter is too practical and too timely not to share anew, especially as we move forward into the New Year.

I want to talk of something very important – a matter of life and death, and this is prayer. There are generally considered to be two kinds of prayer. Private prayer and public prayer.

Prayer has been compared to breathing. Without this Breath, there is no Life. Prayers are like threads that go in every direction, binding us to the people we’re near to… each with the whole fabric. It unites the members with each other, with the whole body, uniting the body with the head.

Prayer has been called conversation with God. In prayer, we praise or ask for what we need, or we pray to give thanks. We pray for ourselves and we pray for each other.

Don’t take prayer lightly. Don’t say “I can’t think of anything else to do, so I’ll pray about it.” Don’t put it last, put it first.

If you say to someone, “Oh, I’ll pray for you.” Do it... You’ve made a contract.

(If you ask someone to pray for you, do update them when a situation resolves.)

And, you can pray for someone in secret, hoping for a reward later. Just as you don’t know that someone else is having a conversation with God (about you). What more could you do for yourself, or for someone else, than seek God’s help? That doesn’t mean you won’t have to do anything else, as you may have to do a lot.

In the Gospels, Christ says to Peter, “I have prayed for you.” Many times we read, He went apart, He went up into a mountain to pray, He lifted up His eyes. St. Paul writes in his epistles asking for their prayers. And, he gives his famous commandment, “Pray without ceasing.” Without ceasing – this is what we must try to do – to continue this conversation, to try to come back to it as often as you can remember – and then more often.

Read the morning and evening prayers from the prayer book, you may even have memorized them by now. But don’t let them just run through your mind without attention, and here in this atmosphere, ask for what you need; help with your work, your health, your family, your specific aversion at this time. And in the evening, take a moment to be thankful, take a moment to ask forgiveness.

Breathe in. Breathe out. This is private prayer.

Serenity

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ~ St. Matthew 7:7-8

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ~ Philippians 4:4-8

We know God is with us. Yet, during our daily routines we sometimes forget, perhaps by being caught up in the moment and putting prayer on the back-burner.

Be that as it may, when least expected or deserved, we may catch whiffs of God’s Perfumed Peace – which clearly passes all understanding. This spiritual surprise can come as a warm, fragrant cocoon of inexplicable joy, or as a robe of consolation and quiet calmness.

We may remain tranquilly enveloped for a time, until distracted maybe by wandering thoughts, intrusive imagination, or other mundane, worldly cares – such as the klaxon of an oven-timer beeping that our cake is finally baked.

Regardless, this Magnificent Peace is never, ever, far away. And, when asking God’s help (even with the bread of tears), we can be sincerely thankful during our entreaties, for God knows our heart. He feels our sorrow. He hears our every sigh.

God’s silent, golden, blessings are always close at hand, especially when in simplicity of stillness we open the spiritual eyes of our hearts. And, as with the pure faith of a child – we open the door when our Heavenly Father knocks to let Him in.

Although our efforts may be small and sporadic, sometimes during the quiet of the day or night, our dear Lord gently bestows tantalizing glimpses, by reminding us of how we could always be.

So, as we sprint along the daily, peaceful paths of prayer, may God grant us according to our salvation! Let us yearn each day to become Shiny and New again!

May the rich Abundance of God’s great Mercy continue to direct our ways in the Hopeful Peace from Above – which truly passes all understanding.

Reflecting the Sun of Righteousness

Image by Jessica Joh from Pixabay

We are mirrors whose brightness is wholly derived from the sun that shines upon us. ~ C. S. Lewis

Thoughts. Actions. Affect.
Are we givers – or takers
of all Light’s spectrum?
Let us make haste to
be robed in Healing Sonshine
Everywhere present –
Impetus for growth –
Opening our heart’s eyes to
Reflect His Bright Gift!

Only by absorbing His Light can we reflect His Light. Everything we do matters. Every moment, every decision we make affects ourselves, our families, friends, our coworkers in countless… and often imperceptive ways. We are responsible for flavouring each situation. If we can find joy in the smallest of things, we can choose to be joyful, and be as light, reflecting the Light, even in the midst of turmoil.

May we all choose to be swathed today within our Lord’s warm, redeeming Sonshine! May we joyfully reflect His Refulgent Light! Amen!

Happy Saint’s Day Juliana! May God grant you many years! Saint’s Day Cake baked by Anysia.