A Conflagration of Love
The foliage this year has been truly breath-taking. As one Sister pointed out, it is as if the trees are on fire. They are saying to us: Love God! Love Him with ALL your heart, soul, mind and strength! These photos were taken on different days and at different times. You really get a gorgeous display of these holy grounds. May God be loved and praised!
Enjoy your tour!
A slight tip of the camera brought the same image below with a different filter of light.
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A small statue of our Lady sits atop a shelf attached to an old harrow (at least that is what we think it is!) that some farmer leaned against this tree many decades ago. The tree has completely grown around the top of it!
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This is our crucifix at the front of our drive that greets all passersby...saying, "My people, what have I done to you... answer me...give me your love in return for my love..."
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Stations of the Cross trail below our parking lot.
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I would like to tell you some important things, but a person who does not love, does not know how to speak about love. The language required is learned only from love. Listen to the divine Lover and let him teach it to you.
- St. Paul of the Cross
I want to be burnt to ashes for love...I want to be all on fire with love, more and more. I want to know how to sing int he furnace of love and to magnify the great mercies which uncreated Love grants to your soul.
- St. Paul of the Cross
St. Paul writes to one of his spiritual daughters:
Truly, you dine at table while your poor father is dying of hunger. A fine thing!
(meaning his prayer is very dry and he feels very far from God - we too must be saints and persevere in prayer in the midst of dryness and spiritual aridity!)
The daughter banquets while her poor father has only a piece of hard, black bread, with nothing to drink. Remember, too that I am so parched that rivers could not quench my thirst. I must swallow the seas if that is to happen. But note that they are seas of fire that I want to drink, seas of love. Tell this to your divine Bridegroom. Stay with him, praying day and night...
How I wish that we were so aflame with love that all who came near us would catch fire. Not only our neighbors but total strangers, all tribes and tongues and nations, in a word, all creatures, so that all would know and love the supreme Good.
- St. Paul of the Cross
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Our front entrance, to the left is the Chapel, to the right is the monastery and guest house.
O Holy Mary, intercede for us to be set on fire with love for God as you were!