Poets & Saints

ScriptureJohn 15:5 (NRSVUE)I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.RefrainI am rooted in the vine.QuoteJohn of the Cross, from The Ascent of Mount Carmel"The soul that is attached to anything, however much good there may be in it, will not arrive at the liberty of divine union." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ScriptureJohn 15:4 (NRSVUE)Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.RefrainI choose to abide.QuoteThomas R. Kelly, from A Testament of Devotion"For God Himself works in our souls, in the deepest depths, taking increasing control as we are progressively willing to be prepared for His wonder." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ScriptureGalatians 5:22–25 (NRSVUE)The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.RefrainI walk in step with the Spirit.QuoteThomas R. Kelly, from A Testament of Devotion"There is a way of ordering our mental life on more than one level at once. On one level we may be thinking, discussing, seeing, calculating, meeting all the demands of external affairs. But deep within, behind the scenes, at a profounder level, we may also be in prayer and adoration, song and worship, and a gentle receptiveness to divine breathings." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scripture1 John 4:18 (NRSVUE)There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.RefrainLove has moved in where fear used to live.QuoteJulian of Norwich, from Revelations of Divine Love"Love was His meaning. Who showed it thee? Love. What showed He thee? Love. Wherefore was it showed? For Love. Hold thee therein and thou shalt learn and know more in the same. But thou shalt never know nor learn therein other thing without end." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ScriptureGalatians 5:13 (NRSVUE)For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become servants to one another.RefrainFree to love, I turn toward others.QuoteDorothy Day, from The Long Loneliness"We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ScriptureGalatians 5:1 (NRSVUE)For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.RefrainI have nothing left to prove.QuoteHenri Nouwen, from The Return of the Prodigal Son"Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the Beloved. Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ScriptureGalatians 5:13–14 (NRSVUE)For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."RefrainI was made for this freedom.QuoteMeister Eckhart"The most powerful prayer, one well-nigh omnipotent, and the worthiest work of all is the outcome of a quiet mind. The quieter it is the more powerful, the worthier, the deeper, the more telling and more perfect the prayer is. To the quiet mind all things are possible. What is a quiet mind? A quiet mind is one which nothing weighs on, nothing worries, which, free from ties and from all self-seeking, is wholly merged into the will of God and dead to its own." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scripture  Philippians 1:6 (NRSVUE)I am confident of this,  that the one who began a good work among you  will bring it to completion  by the day of Jesus Christ.Refrain  I am learning to trust what is unfinished.Quote  R. S. ThomasThere are nights when the darkness presses so close  that I can hear my own heart questioning.  I have learned not to force an answer,  not to demand a voice.Faith is not the absence of uncertainty,  but the decision to live with it,  to continue without seeing,  to remain when clarity does not come.I stay, not because I understand,  but because something in me knows  this waiting is itself a form of prayer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scripture  Hebrews 10:36 (NRSVUE)For you need endurance,  so that when you have done the will of God,  you may receive what was promised.Refrain  I am learning to stay in the middle.Quote  Henri NouwenEvery time you listen with great attentiveness  to the voice that calls you the Beloved,  you will discover within yourself  a desire to hear that voice longer and more deeply. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scripture  Proverbs 3:5 (NRSVUE)Trust in the LORD with all your heart,  and do not rely on your own insight.Refrain  I am learning to trust without certainty.Quote  Simone WeilWe do not obtain the most precious gifts  by going in search of them,  but by waiting for them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Psalm 42:7 (NRSVUE)Deep calls to deep  at the thunder of your cataracts;  all your waves and your billows  have gone over me.Refrain  I am learning to stay with the silence.Quote  R. S. ThomasBut the silence in the mind  is when we live best, within  listening distance of the silence  we call God. This is the deep  calling to deep of the psalm-writer,  the bottomless ocean. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scripture  John 6:68 (NRSVUE)Simon Peter answered him,  “Lord, to whom can we go?  You have the words of eternal life.”Refrain  I am learning to stay.Quote  Thomas MertonMy Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.  I do not see the road ahead of me.  I cannot know for certain where it will end. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scripture  Habakkuk 2:3 (NRSVUE)For there is still a vision for the appointed time;  it speaks of the end and does not lie.  If it seems to tarry, wait for it;  it will surely come, it will not delay.Refrain  I am learning to wait with trust.Quote  John of the CrossIn order to arrive at what you do not know,  you must go by a way which you do not know.  In order to arrive at what you do not possess,  you must go by a way in which you do not possess. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scripture  Isaiah 43:18–19 (NRSVUE)Do not remember the former things,  or consider the things of old.  I am about to do a new thing;  now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?  I will make a way in the wilderness  and rivers in the desert.Refrain  I am learning to make room.Quote  Meister EckhartTo be empty of all things is to be full of God.  To be full of all things is to be empty of God. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scripture  Psalm 62:8 (NRSVUE)Trust in him at all times, O people;  pour out your heart before him;  God is a refuge for us.---Refrain  I am learning to name what is true.---Quote  Julian of NorwichFor I saw no wrath in God,  nor ever shall.  For our Lord is God, and God is good,  and goodness is enough to answer for all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scripture  Lamentations 3:22–23 (NRSVUE)The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases,  his mercies never come to an end;  they are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness.---Refrain  I am learning to notice what is here.---Quote  George HerbertPrayer the Church’s banquet, Angel’s age,  God’s breath in man returning to his birth,  The soul in paraphrase, heart in pilgrimage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scripture  Psalm 131:2 (NRSVUE)But I have calmed and quieted my soul,  like a weaned child with its mother;  my soul is like the weaned child that is with me.---Refrain  I am learning to pay attention.---Quote  Simone Weil, *Waiting for God*The key to a Christian conception of studies is the realization that prayer consists of attention.  It is the orientation of all the attention of which the soul is capable toward God. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scripture  Galatians 6:9 (NRSVUE)So let us not grow weary in doing what is right,  for we will reap at harvest time,  if we do not give up.Refrain  I am learning to stay with the work.Quote  Benedict of NursiaLet us set out on this way with the Gospel for our guide,  that we may deserve to see him who has called us into his kingdom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scripture  Luke 19:8–9 (NRSVUE)Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,  “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor;  and if I have defrauded anyone of anything,  I will pay back four times as much.”  Then Jesus said to him,  “Today salvation has come to this house.”Refrain  I am learning to turn again.Quote  Julian of NorwichOur Lord does not say, “You shall not be tempted,  you shall not be troubled,  you shall not be distressed,”  but he says, “You shall not be overcome.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scripture  Joel 2:12–13 (NRSVUE)Yet even now, says the LORD,  return to me with all your heart,  with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;  rend your hearts and not your clothing.  Return to the LORD, your God,  for he is gracious and merciful,  slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.Refrain  I return to what is true.Quote  Augustine of HippoRemember, you are dust.  Yet you are dust breathed upon by God. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.