No Words, Just Stupid Love and Broken Hearts

"Ah, well, people can be a bit stupid abou' their pets."

Rubeus Hagrid

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Samson

13 November 2005 - 29 July 2016

Please forgive us, my strong gentle boy. If only stupid love and "anything" could have been enough. Despite that you deserve chapter after chapter dedicated to the beauty you brought to the story of our lives, there is simply no prose or poetry, there are no adequate words, to say how much we love you, how much you did for and are to us, and how much we miss you everyday. Give those precious kisses to all the family until we know your luminous hearts again in the Creator. Sweet baby boy, last of our so cherished gifts of God, all our stupid love - always.

Our Dear Boy

Theophilos (Philly)

28 February 2002 - 16 May 2016

My-own-man, proud hound to the core

Our runner supreme, our "sparkle motion"

Still, "Foxweiler (Rotthound?)," whichever - an uncle sure

From accepting brother and constant friend of devotion

Our gratitude for fourteen beyond special years
And for making our lives so much more complete

Of separation, yet sweet remembrance, the tears
'Til in the Creator together, and family joy replete.

We love you and miss you, our dear boy, until we meet again.

Love's Pure Light

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior is born
Christ, the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Rest in Love's pure light, Mom and Dad, and in our hearts until we can be in your arms again.

In Loving Memory of

Patrick Joseph Roach

13 September 1934-

12 December 2015

                                

A beautiful and blessed Christmas to all.

The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart

Prayer to the Sacred Heart

 

May Your Heart dwell always in our hearts!

May Your Blood ever flow in the veins of our souls!

Sun of our hearts, You give life by the rays of Your goodness.

I will not go until Your Heart has strengthened me, Lord Jesus.

May the Heart of Jesus be the King of our hearts.

Blessed be God. Amen.

- St. Francis de Sales

Sacred Heart of Jesus,

  I place my trust in Thee.

The True Bread from Heaven

Corpus Christi 2015

Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity

I shall praise the Savior's glory,
of His flesh the mystery sing,
and the blood, all price excelling,
shed by our immortal King;
God made man for our salvation,
Who from virgin pure did spring.

 

Born for us, and for us given,
born a man like us below,
Christ as man with man residing,
lived the seed of truth to sow,
suffered bitter death unflinching,
and immortal love did show.

 

On the night before He suffered,
seated with His chosen band,
Jesus, when they all had feasted,
faithful to the law's command,
far more precious food provided;
gave Himself with His own hand.

 

Word made flesh, true bread of heaven
by His word made flesh to be;
from the wine His blood is taken,
though our senses cannot see;
faith alone which is unshaken
shows pure hearts the mystery.

 

Therefore we, before Him falling,
this great sacrament revere;
ancient forms are now departed,
for new acts of grace are here;
faith our feeble senses aiding,
makes the Savior's presence clear.

 

To the everlasting Father,
and to His Son Who reigns on high,
with the Holy Ghost proceeding
forth from each eternally,
be all honor, glory, blessing,
power and endless majesty. Amen.

 

Hymn from the Evening Prayer for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi

Words: Thomas Aquinas; tr. Edward Caswall; Music: Pange Lingua 87.87.87 Mode III plainsong

Pentecost 2015

Enkindle in them the fire of Thy love...

Ma Vie and Rose

Ma Vie and Rose: Portrait of Zoë

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I feel inadequate to paint even this one. It's funny how you frequently pick a name for your pup within minutes after the first meeting, and then he or she spends his/her life being the very definition of it.

Zoë (life in Greek) radiated life herself and, more, she shared it with us in every possible way. Full of joyous energy and the faithful, fun and protective Rottie to the core, she brought me light in one of the darkest times of my life. She showed me the beauty in life and gave me a reason to live it when I struggled in illness to find it. And she brought eleven beautiful other lives into the world, sharing her motherhood with me and giving me the gift of being able to care for little ones - something I'd dreamed of from childhood, but which circumstance didn't allow me to have through children of my own.

I can't paint a portrait that would bring across even a fraction of how much beauty in this one glorious life or how much beauty she brought to ours. Thank you, my gorgeous girl. I love you so much and miss your shining presence every day - and will until we're together again. Thank You, Lord, for the incredible gift of knowing this life.