“The Father’s Forgiveness” by Daniel Bonnell
broadcast affection
touch your lips to the cruel
who never knew love
From my books Pieces of Wine and Riverthink
Saints
All posts tagged Saints
“Birds of Paradise” by Vicente Manansala
none are so tender
as those who shed tears
for the pain of a child
for suffering innocence
none are so selfless
as those who give succor
where want is abroad
where despair keeps the clock
none are so loving
as those who raise prayer
for a peaceable world
for the gentlest of journeys
none are so human
as those whose compassion
informs every motive
informs every action they take
these unprepossessed souls
these rare undivine spirits
reveal to the rest of us
pathways to grace
From my book Small Noise
“Communion of Saints” by Elise Ritter
saints preserve us
protect us from
base inclinations of self
tending souls in the making
the taking on shape
holy patrons of cause
intercessors with
Godly intentions
heroic of virtues
with purest of faith
ecclesiast teachers
whose practice of life
serve as maps of
morality marked by
their pious devotions
maps lending clarity
lighting the routes
we might follow to
stations of ultimate
personal grace
“Joan of Arc”
Painting by Paul Berenson
From paulb.com
(Regarding Joan of Arc)
conversations with God
charted destiny
child of violent virtue
miraculous champion
driven to rescue the
Armagnac birthright
this mere wisp of a girl
with a warrior’s heart
given holy commission
to punish pretenders
the English in league
with Burgundian dukes
maiden general took
her spectacular triumphs
of field to the feet of
her patron and new
restored king until
captured and tried by her
still writhing enemies
stood to the fire with
all of the stoical faith of
her young nineteen years
in the end did her cause
for a justly united French
kingdom prevail and a
posthumous trial returned
her to innocence raising
her up as a martyr to faith
emblematic of doctrinal
courage in face of all odds
setting grounds for the
hearts and the minds
of the centuries keeping
her memory loved
as a legend and saint
“Gentle Soul II”
Painting by Madeline Garrett
From madelinegarrett.artspan.com
none are so tender
as those who shed tears
for the pain of a child
for suffering innocence
none are so selfless
as those who give succor
where want is abroad
where despair keeps the clock
none are so loving
as those who raise prayer
for a peaceable world
for the gentlest of journeys
none are so human
as those whose compassion
informs every motive
informs every action they take
these unprepossessed souls
these rare undivine spirits
reveal to the rest of us
pathways to grace
Mother Teresa
broadcast affection
touch your lips to the cruel
who never knew love
