.."We’re together, you and I."

COMMENT: 
Too many irons in the forge; I save from the briefest paragraph, speaking of  'HE AND i', is relief from too much verbiage of the 'lectio' of froth on the surfs of addled brain.
Another octogenarian in the community celebrated Fr. Leonard 80th. birthday. Leonard has his afternoon constitutional walking 
hills and braes.
Festive music rejoiced us  in the "Te Deum" and other Chuch Music by John Rutter, conductor,  Cambridge Singers ...

“We’re together, you and I."

“you and I”, Gabrielle Bossis.

1942

     

        

June 30 -  After Communion.

   "Why not decide for the highest perfection? No need to make any vow; it might be a source of anxiety to you. Just make up your mind not merely to do things well, but as perfectly as you can. It would add to My glory. Sinners too would have their share of the benefit. Don't be afraid; be daring. We’re together, you and I."

Holy Saturday 'I was trying to be one with Him in His agony.' Vigil of the Resurrection

Holy Saturday.  Vespers Song of Mary, Crucifixion Fra Angelico

 Holy Saturday 2014 afforded the hours for reflection prayer and heartfelt presence of the Lord in agony

HE AND i  1942  (Gabrielle Bossis)

 November - 14  –  Holy Hour.  –

I was trying to be one with Him in His agony.

"The last evening of My life among you  -  how sweet and solemn it was. . . I gave Myself not only to the Twelve, but to everyone of you right to the end of the world.

My child, I was already in your hearts by My yearning for you. I had so great a desire that everyone, everyone, might receive the sacrament of My love, since I came to invent it for you. And I saw all the benefits that you would find in it. But in My agony, I also saw desecrations and sacrileges; I saw what I had done with such love become an object of hatred and loss. What an exchange for the infinite delicacy of My love! And I was alone in My suffering. "

(. . . ) "You who have the joy of receiving Me every day, ask that this same grace be given to others. Say to Me, 'Choose them  -  you who know all the secrets of souls  -  and apply my prayer to them. '

And if you are the means of bringing one or many into frequent fellowship with Me, do you think that I could fail to be grateful, not only for the glory gained by it, but above all for the joy it brings to My heart. I' ll let you feel this joy reflected upon you. "

 

Crucifixion-Fra_Angelico_Capitular Hall, Convent San Marco, Florence, Italy

HE AND i 'Do you believe ... '

HE AND i Gabrielle Bosis 1946 May - 30 -  Ascension. §  "Do you believe  -  do you really believe in My mysteries?" §  "Yes, Lord, I do believe, and they are the source of my greatest happiness."   §  "But do you believe to the point of merging your thought entirely with Mine? §  To the point of living for one thing only  -  to please the ever - living heart of your Bridegroom, to be a faithful comforter for Him? §  Do you believe enough to find in each Eucharist the food that should strengthen your love? §  You know that this is all that counts: to make love grow in your heart. §  When you love Me perfectly and above all things, all beings, all ideas, everything will be fulfilled in you because you will have attained the end for which I created and redeemed you. §  Don't be afraid to offer yourself to the fulfilment of My dream of you, as though I were waiting to be encouraged by your burning desires. §  Say, 'Lord, make me what You wanted me to be.' §  At least form the wish that we never be of two minds and that, seeking to know all My will for you, you take care to respond as faithfully as you can. §  And this too will comfort Me for the lack of love, the scorn and hatred that I meet, just as I did during My life on earth. §  My child, take care of Me. §  Haven't I taken care of you? §  Tenderly?"

HE AND i Gabrielle Bosis 1946 May - 30 -  Ascension.  "Do you believe  -  do you really believe in My mysteries?" "Yes, Lord, I do believe, and they are the source of my greatest happiness."   "But do you believe to the point of merging your thought entirely with Mine? To the point of living for one thing only  -  to please the ever - living heart of your Bridegroom, to be a faithful comforter for Him? Do you believe enough to find in each Eucharist the food that should strengthen your love? You know that this is all that counts: to make love grow in your heart. When you love Me perfectly and above all things, all beings, all ideas, everything will be fulfilled in you because you will have attained the end for which I created and redeemed you. Don't be afraid to offer yourself to the fulfilment of My dream of you, as though I were waiting to be encouraged by your burning desires. Say, ' Lord, make me what You wanted me to be.' At least form the wish that we never be of two minds and that, seeking to know all My will for you, you take care to respond as faithfully as you can. And this too will comfort Me for the lack of love, the scorn and hatred that I meet, just as I did during My life on earth. My child, take care of Me. Haven't I taken care of you? Tenderly?"

He and I, 'Reading about My passion is not enough. Make it part of your very self.' COMMENTS:

On Tuesday, 11 March 2014, 16:48, 

William  wrote:

Dear Father Donald,

What a telling sign to see the avenue Stations of the Cross so uprooted... I knew that this was inevitable, but never imagined that I would experience it.... thank you, for sharing it with me.

But how well they will look on 5th Sunday of Lent around the parameter of the Abbey lawns - whichever route is chosen, it will be later appreciated by the Brethren who maybe couldn't attempt the long avenue, and by one pilgrim who hopes, DV, to come on retreat in May.  

I have often pondered before Fr Gabriel's etchings of the Passion which hang in the Church.... as prayerful for him I am sure as icon 'writing'. Such a blessing for them to there remain, undisturbed.

"He and I" .... such evocative expressions of love and desire stir our hearts as we encounter her prayer journal:

<<  If you have nothing to say to me, come and look at Me in the secret tabernacle of your heart.

<<  You will come with your hunger, and I`ll read this need - look of yours and satisfy it.

<<  Over and above all that you ask or think.

<<  If you don't know what to say, just remain at My feet like Mary Magdalene and I’ll read your silence.

There are indeed times when explicit prayer fails me, desire in my mind 'refuses' to conceive or express itself, and thought vaporizes, and I just want to 'gaze' in silence... before the Blessed Sacrament... which is perhaps why iconography draws me so deeply.

I hope that you experienced the glorious Spring sunshine today as you drove Fr Thomas into Edinburgh for his eye appointment; may it have been too lovely for you not to have taken a circuitous route home through the countryside!

My vigil continues for the Community as the 25th March approaches. My thoughts rise each morning with you.

With my love in Our Lord,

William

+++++++

Dear William,

An extract from HE AND i below, ‘Reading about My passion is not enough ...’ seems more eloquent than the Parish Church Notice, ‘A pleanary is available who devotedly make the Way of the Cross’.

The English translation is the usual prosaic type layout. The original French language has the creative punctuation, using the LEFT POINTING DOUBLE ANGLE QUOTATION MARK.

The tables contrast the styles – the difference of the paragraphs compressed into tin-can spaghetti prose and the poetic free flow.

At the background, the Stations of the Cross (Fr. Gabriel) hang in the Church. The external Stations of the avenue have been uprooted and will be re-located in time for the 5^th Sunday of Lent for the pilgrimage from the parishioners.

God bless.

Donald.

P.S.

Tomorrow, to drive Fr. T. to the Eye Pavilion.

Presently commence the Lent Reading and the Novena of St. Joseph.

1943 HE AND i, Garielle Bossis

Holy Saturday -  Le Fresne church. <<Rise from the dead. Rise with Me to a new life, a better one, to a life nearer to Me. Always nearer to Me.  Beg Me to help you, and be sure that I shall.>> Easter -  Le Fresne church.  -  During the Benediction I said, <<My poor Love, risen from the dead>>. <<My love has never died. At every moment I have loved you.>> May - 20 -  Ingrandes church. <<  Fan the flames of your love. <<  Fan the flame <<  Don't stand still. <<  Never cease to go forward. <<  Enter ever deeper and deeper into My heart. <<  Reading about My passion is not enough. <<  Make it part of your very self. <<  Wherever you are, take My sufferings. <<  Sufferings desired, willed, expected... <<  They are My love for My children  -  for you. <<  When one has suffered so, what can one refuse? <<  Ask Me to give you the grace to respond to this love of your God and I'll light new fires in you that will amaze you. <<  You will realize that it is not of your doing. <<  'It is from Him', you will say, and this will be the truth. <<  You know how utterly weak you are. <<  Tell Me about it so that I can help you. <<  If you saw an invalid content to be ill, you wouldn't try to heal him, would you? But if he cried out to you to help him, you would do your best for him. <<  And if he thanked you, you would hold him to your heart. <<  Open the secret tabernacle of your heart to Me so that we may speak together of our new love. <<  The words may be the same, but what an added weight of love! You will wonder how a single moment could ever pass by without Me. <<  Where your treasure is, there is your heart. <<  How long My desire has kept watch for you! Ask that I be all in all to you... <<  and that you be wholly Mine. <<  You remember  how at Corte you told Me that you wanted it to be like that? Now is the time to translate your wish into your daily living for Me. <<  If you have nothing to say to me, come and look at Me in the secret tabernacle of your heart. <<  You will never have to wait, for I shall already be there. <<  You will come with your hunger, and I`ll read this need - look of yours and satisfy it. <<  Over and above all that you ask or think. <<  If you don't know what to say, just remain at My feet like Mary Magdalene and I’ll read your silence. <<  I'm keeping such sweet joys for you, so be waiting in your secret shrine. <<  I haven't many shrines like this on earth." (...)

Holy Saturday -  Le Fresne church.  "Rise from the dead. Rise with Me to a new life, a better one, to a life nearer to Me. Always nearer to Me. Beg Me to help you, and be sure that I shall." Easter -  Le Fresne church. -  During the Benediction I said, ' 'My poor Love, risen from the dead".  "My love has never died. At every moment I have loved you." May - 20 -  Ingrandes church.  "Fan the flames of your love. Fan the flames. Don't stand still. Never cease to go forward. Enter ever deeper and deeper into My heart. Reading about My passion is not enough. Make it part of your very self. Wherever you are, take My sufferings. Sufferings desired, willed, expected... They are My love for My children  -  for you. When one has suffered so, what can one refuse? Ask Me to give you the grace to respond to this love of your God and I'll light new fires in you that will amaze you. You will realize that it is not of your doing. 'It is from Him', you will say, and this will be the truth. You know how utterly weak you are. Tell Me about it so that I can help you. If you saw an in valid content to be ill, you wouldn't try to heal him, would you? But if he cried out to you to help him, you would do your best for him. And if he thanked you, you would hold him to your heart. Open the secret tabernacle of your heart to Me so that we may speak together of our new love. The words may be the same, but what an added weight of love! You will wonder how a single moment could ever pass by without Me. Where your treasure is, there is your heart. How long My desire has kept watch for you! Ask that I be all in all to you... and that you be wholly Mine. You remember  how at Corte you told Me that you wanted it to be like that? Now is the time to translate your wish into your daily living for Me. If you have nothing to say to me, come and look at Me in the secret tabernacle of your heart. You will never have to wait, for I shall already be there. You will come with your hunger, and I`ll read this need - look of yours and satisfy it. Over and above all that you ask or think. If you don't know what to say, just remain at My feet like Mary Magdalene and I’ll read your silence. I'm keeping such sweet joys for you, so be waiting in your secret shrine. I haven't many shrines like this on earth." (...)

The Way of the Cross in the Church

Holy Saturday -  Le Fresne church.

<<Rise from the dead. Rise with Me to a new life, a better one, to a life nearer to Me.

Always nearer to Me.  Beg Me to help you, and be sure that I shall.>>

Easter -  Le Fresne church.  -  During the Benediction I said, <<My poor Love, risen from the dead>>.

<<My love has never died. At every moment I have loved you.>>

May - 20 -  Ingrandes church.

<<  Fan the flames of your love.

<<  Fan the flame

<<  Don't stand still.

<<  Never cease to go forward.

<<  Enter ever deeper and deeper into My heart.

<<  Reading about My passion is not enough.

<<  Make it part of your very self.

<<  Wherever you are, take My sufferings.

<<  Sufferings desired, willed, expected...

<<  They are My love for My children  -  for you.

<<  When one has suffered so, what can one refuse?

<<  Ask Me to give you the grace to respond to this love of your God and I'll light new fires in you that will amaze you.

<<  You will realize that it is not of your doing.

<<  'It is from Him', you will say, and this will be the truth.

<<  You know how utterly weak you are.

<<  Tell Me about it so that I can help you.

<<  If you saw an invalid content to be ill, you wouldn't try to heal him, would you? But if he cried out to you to help him, you would do your best for him.

<<  And if he thanked you, you would hold him to your heart.

<<  Open the secret tabernacle of your heart to Me so that we may speak together of our new love.

<<  The words may be the same, but what an added weight of love! You will wonder how a single moment could ever pass by without Me.

<<  Where your treasure is, there is your heart.

<<  How long My desire has kept watch for you! Ask that I be all in all to you...

<<  and that you be wholly Mine.

<<  You remember  how at Corte you told Me that you wanted it to be like that? Now is the time to translate your wish into your daily living for Me.

<<  If you have nothing to say to me, come and look at Me in the secret tabernacle of your heart.

<<  You will never have to wait, for I shall already be there.

<<  You will come with your hunger, and I`ll read this need - look of yours and satisfy it.

<<  Over and above all that you ask or think.

<<  If you don't know what to say, just remain at My feet like Mary Magdalene and I’ll read your silence.

<<  I'm keeping such sweet joys for you, so be waiting in your secret shrine.

<<  I haven't many shrines like this on earth." (...)

HE AND i 'Call it a rendezvous of love'.

It was the 10^th of January, reading Gabrielle Bossis.

It is a reminder of a ‘rendezous’ of love.
The Christmas greetings make a large collection to the community. After Epiphany we find some, 12 or so, crib card feature the Magi, as the one attached

Natlia Hantuik, Zaranytra, Studite

December 31  -   After Communion. "The keynote for 1948

, Lord?" 

"Very close. "

(An invitation to union)

1948

January - 10 - 1948 Holy hour.

 "Don't you love this hour when we come close to one another in such intimacy that My thoughts seem to be yours?

It's as though our souls were one inside the other

And how can My joy be described?

The joy of your Christ who yearns so much for oneness with His children that He invented the Eucharist in order to merge with them

Oh, new Spirit, freeing God's people from the old yoke of fear! Because I came to earth, everything has been changed

Because I died, you have received life

And life is love

There is no other life, my little girl

Simplify everything in love

Let love be the mainspring of all your actions

Believe and hope with your heart

You will comfort Me for all the hatred

And the more you love, the more you will want to love

Set aside a quarter of an hour a day for love, for nothing else but love

When you were little you did exercises in French

Now that you are big, give yourself to divine exercises, either during the day in the secret of your heart, or at night, if you wake and seek Me

Wake up loving Me

Hunt for Me, and I'll let Myself be caught

You will win, and we'll begin the game again and again until, tired out, you remain asleep on My heart

It will be another way for Me to keep you 'very close'

You remember the keynote for this year?"

HE AND i. Gabrielle Bossis, 11 Nonvember 1934

HE AND i, Gabrielle

1943 November - 11  -   Le Fresne church.  -   - (. . . ) 

"If you have failed in something, you say, 'My dear All, I could have been more faithful today. Forgive me. ' You humble yourself most sincerely. 

And without your knowing it, I press you to My heart burning with love. 

That is what you call grace, and My grace is sufficient for you. 

Do you believe that? This should be your one fixed desire: To live only for Me. 

Your life will be filled to the brim with good things. I've been waiting so long for the joy of giving you more. Help Me. 

Ask Me to do so. Stretch out your two empty hands to Me. Give Me a big place in your life. 

Give Me all of it. 

Do you realize that you are in exile, waiting for the return of the Beloved? 

Listen from afar. 

Say to Him, 'Breathe on this breath of mine which is yours. 

Your home shall be My home. I could no longer live without Your step in mine and Your voice in my voice.

 'Don't people pray, 'Open Thou my lips'? 

That's so that the Spirit will speak in you, children of God. "

HE AND i "Lord, I am here before You like the dry ground upon which the prophet called down the dew. " 25 Nov 1948

Chronicle:
25th November is the Greeting Birthday for Sr. Noreen.
And it was a happy alighting on the sentences from 'HE AND i', date of 25 November.
The French manuscript of Gabrielle Bossis has a better Shakespearean dialogue by phrases. 

HE AND i, Gabrielle 1948  

 

November 25  -  "Lord, I am here before You like the dry ground upon which the prophet called down the dew. " 

 "I am the Prophet and I am the Dew. My Word is meat and drink, have you noticed? It offers itself to you; you accept it and immediately it begins to grow. This is the Dew that falls from heaven. What a banquet, My child! What new transports of delight! Set off again. You understand: no halting place. Run straight to God as you used to run along the road to meet your father. How happy he was, this earthly father. . . Your Father in heaven is more so,for eagerness is also love  -  love, faith and hope. Do you think that God would turn a deaf ear to the calls of His darling child? He will multiply His gifts, for His treasures are as great as His desire to bestow them. Poor little ones, you have such a false idea of your Saviour. Do you think He would redeem you and then abandon you? Don't set limits to your confidence. He sets no limits to His favours. Hunger for God and you will receive. If you don't call Him, how can He come? Do you go to see people who don't want you?"

"Never stop coming, Lord, I never stop wanting You. " 

 "And when you call Me, believe that I come. "

13 November 1948 HE AND i, Gabrielle

HE AND I

1948

November 13  -  "You are all so ignorant of the power of your God. Are you afraid to know Him, you who seek Him so little. And yet the joy of your souls lies in constant communion with your Creator and Saviour in the Christ - consciousness. 

Path in search God

Abandon yourselves to God no matter what He does. Let His breath blow you along, fanned by your fervour. Come to Him eagerly, My child, since He has the answers to all your needs: of tenderness, rest and intelligence. Your thoughts are short, but at least prolong your desires so that you can reach a higher plane  -  the new heights where the Spirit is waiting for you to help you to climb even higher. 

And season everything with joy. It adds to God's glory. Would the father of a family be happy if his children came to serve him in fear, with long faces? When you approach Me, My little girl, be full of joy like a happy child. You are thinking, 'He's always asking me for inward smiles. ' Could you believe that even though I am God I need the smiles of My children, because your happiness is essential to Me? Who can comprehend this? Who can even bear such a thought? But believe. For it is My love that speaks, and you must listen to My voice in a way that you listen to no other. "