St. Bernard on Love

Today is the feast of St. Bernard of Clairvaux. His sermon that was included in today's Office of Readings is stunning. Here is part:

Love is sufficient of itself, it gives pleasure by itself and because of itself. It is its own merit, its own reward. Love looks for no cause outside itself, no effect beyond itself. Its profit lies in its practice. I love because I love, I love that I may love. Love is a great thing so long as it continually returns to its fountainhead, flows back to its source, always drawing from there the water which constantly replenishes it. Of all the movements, sensations and feelings of the soul, love is the only one in which the creature can respond to the Creator and make some sort of similar return however unequal though it be. For when God loves, all he desires is to be loved, in the knowledge that those who love him are made happy by their love of him.

The Bridegroom's love, or rather the love which is the Bridegroom, asks in return nothing but faithful love. Let the beloved, then, love in return. Should not a bride love, and above all, Love's bride? Could it be that Love not be loved?

Saint Louis Arch x2

Saint Louis Arch x2, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

This photo was a funny coincidence as I was snapping lots of St. Louis Arch photos as we drove by on our recent trip and we were driving freeway speeds at the time (and thus couldn't have planned to line this one up).

Beautiful Baby!

DSC_1239, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

This is my great-niece who wasn't able to make it to the big family reunion in Oklahoma, but who we were very pleased to visit on the way home.

:)

Dusty Oklahoma Road

DSC_1213, originally uploaded by Chez VH.

Near Clear Creek Monastery and my brothers' houses.

Sad News

I was very sad to learn when I returned from Oklahoma that friend and fellow homeschool blogger/writer Mary Ellen lost her teenage son Ryan to a drowning accident late last week. My condolences and prayers go out to Mary Ellen and to all of Ryan's family and friends.

I was awed by this beautiful picture of Ryan as the priest in a production of Twelfth Night that Alice posted on her website. (Click through for a larger version).

It Wasn't All Fun'n' Games

oklahoma2-working-post, originally uploaded by pbody.

My dad, two brothers and a nephew are pictured here.

Seven Siblings (and some parents too)

oklahoma-reunion-kickin, originally uploaded by pbody.

When we realized that all seven siblings were finally together again, we had to take a picture. We're standing in age order between mom and dad. I'm #5 (the one with the water splotch on my shirt).

Oklahoma!

oklahoma-all, originally uploaded by pbody.

We just got back from hanging out with this gang of Lawless relatives. Our week was filled with driving, cousins, rain, food, dancing, singing, games, swimming, fun and even a little Monastic life!

We were fortunate enough to stay at the guest house at the Clear Creek Monastery, which is a beautiful and palatial log cabin. Mass and Liturgy of the Hours were readily available and it was a beautiful and peaceful place to spend time with family. More pictures coming soon.

Several Prayer Requests

Dan is the nephew of a friend and has been bravely battling cancer for many years. Last week he had a major surgery involving amputation of one arm, but came out of it with a great attitude and in a better position to continue the battle.

You can visit his caring bridge website here.

These two moms are friends of my cousins (they have children who go to school with my cousins' children) who asked for prayers for them today:

Colleen has been in & out of the hospital with breast cancer for 8 months now. She had emergency surgery this morning for an infection - just another in a long line of problems she has had in fighting this cancer.

Jacqui is in ICU here. I don't have a lot of info on her condition - apparently she has blood clots and will need surgery once she is stable. Her husband has MS so Jacqui is the main-stay of the family. She has four children - one starting college, one starting high school a 6th grader and a 3rd grader.

Many thanks for including them in your prayers too!