Allow the suffering to be an opportunity to find reason for prayer and reflection
Tuesday, 17 November 2020
Sunday, 4 October 2020
What do you wish for ?
To walk on water, its not the act of walking on water but what the representation of this achievement is in itself. How holy it must be that to have such faith as to walk on water, what more can a person ever want on this earth or of this earth ever want. To be in total communion with faith that the mere ways of this world would be 
Prayers written at Vailimia, by Robert Louis Stevenson
STEVENSON"S PRAYERS : by R.L. Stevenson - Chatto & Windus - 1922 : 3rd Printing with Gold Leaf ***
The book contains family prayers Stevenson coined while living his final sickly years in the town of Vailima, Samoa. The prologue by Mrs. Stevenson depicts a convivial, easygoing existence for the Stevensons amidst the Samoan natives, who dubbed the man Tusitala ("Teller of Tales") and would circle him night and day for wisdom in the form of prayer.
No religion is stated, which I think makes the prayers all the more efficient. "Amen" crops up here and there but that doesn't narrow it down as much as you'd think. Prayers are prescribed according to days, times of the day, seasonal shenanigans, overall intentions. They're fueled by a sense of peace and balance - especially in their observation of nature - that reminds me a little of Buddhism, such as the notion that "forgetfulness of self" is "the only way to heaven".
I like to think Samoa was Stevenson's heaven on earth.
No religion is stated, which I think makes the prayers all the more efficient. "Amen" crops up here and there but that doesn't narrow it down as much as you'd think. Prayers are prescribed according to days, times of the day, seasonal shenanigans, overall intentions. They're fueled by a sense of peace and balance - especially in their observation of nature - that reminds me a little of Buddhism, such as the notion that "forgetfulness of self" is "the only way to heaven".
I like to think Samoa was Stevenson's heaven on earth.
This book is a collection of short, one or two page prayers for various occasions which the Stevenson family used during their evening devotions. The entire household and neighbors gathered by lantern light, including the "retainers" or servants. After the Scripture was read in the Samoan Bible by Lloyd,Robert's step-son, Robert would pray in English from his little book, "interpolating, or changing with the circumstances of the day". They then sang hymns in Samoan and recited The Lord's Prayer, also in Samoan. Some of the titles of prayer are: For Grace, For Success, Sunday, In Time Of Rain, and For the Family. These short prayers are full of honesty and grace.
500-1500/2000
Blessed is the man
Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of the sinners, and has not sat in the seat of evil men. Psalm 1
Sunday, 27 September 2020
Friday, 7 August 2020
The historic Soumela Monastery in Pontus, has come under intense vandalism
https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/08/06/icons-in-pontian-monastery-destroyed-by-turkish-vandals/
The historic Soumela Monastery in Pontus, has come under intense vandalism despite the site being included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Many of the icons and murals in the historic monastery have been vandalised so destructively, that many of the faces painted are no longer visible.
A Twitter user claimed responsibility for the damage to the murals, writing “I confess I have taken on this sacred duty,” according to Turkish media.
This Greek Orthodox monastery and ecclesiastical complex located at 1,150 meters above sea level and 300 meters from the valley has existed since the 13th century. It was founded in 1204 by the Komnenian principality of Trapezounta (Τραπεζούντα, Turkish: Trabzon).
The monastery which is the most important pilgrimage for the Greeks of the Black Sea, is famous for its sanctification and annually receives hundreds of thousands of visitors.
Thursday, 6 August 2020
Sunday, 26 July 2020
Prayers of St. John Chrysostom Before reading the Holy Bible
Prayers of St. John Chrysostom Before reading the Holy
Bible
O Lord Jesus Christ, open the eyes of my heart, that I may hear Your word and understand and do Your will, for I am a sojourner upon the earth. Hide not Your commandments from me, but open my eyes, that I may perceive the wonders of Your law. Speak unto me the hidden and secret things of Your wisdom. On You do I set my hope, O my God, that You will enlighten my mind and understanding with the light of Your knowledge, not only to cherish those things which are written, but to do them; that in reading the lives and sayings of the Saints I may not sin, but that such may serve for my restoration, enlightenment and sanctification, for the salvation of my soul, and the inheritance of life everlasting. For You are the enlightenment of those who lie in darkness, and from You comes every good deed and every gift. Amen. 2. Illumine my heart, O Master who loves mankind, with the pure light of Your divine knowledge. Open the eyes of my mind to the understanding of Your Gospel teachings. Implant also in me a love for Your blessed commandments. Grant me the grace to overcome all my carnal desires, so that I may enter more completely into a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing such things as are well pleasing to You. For You are the illumination of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto You do we ascribe glory, together with Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit; now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Sunday, 12 July 2020
Restitution Of Decayed Intelligence In Antiquities - Richard Verstegan
"Restitution Of Decayed Intelligence In Antiquities Concerning The Most
Noble And Renowned English Nation. By The Study And Travel Of R.V."
(Richard Verstegan). Printed in London for Samuel Mearne, John Martyn
and Henry Herringman, 1673.
A restitution of decayed intelligence in antiquities - VERSTEGAN, Richard
Important history of the Saxon invasions, the development of the English language, the formation of its surnames, and general early English lore. Verstegan displays a great knowledge of early English history and of Anglo Saxon, which he had studied at Oxford before leaving on account of his Catholicism. He removed to Antwerp, whence his grandfather originated, and set up a printing press. There he acted as agent for the transmission of Catholic literature (some of which he printed) and letters to and from England and the rest of Europe. He corresponded with Cardinal Allen and Robert Parsons and for a time was in their pay, he was a very well connected figure in the recusant world. The Restitution was first published in 1605, but it continued to be reprinted long after Verstegan s death, and it s probably the book for which he is best known in England. It is very straightforward work, with the simple object of demonstrating the descent of the English from the Germanic peoples of northern Europe. This was not as foregone a conclusion as one might think today and Verstegan presented the book with all the trappings of authority he could muster. The present work contains, amongst other exotica, the first account of the Pied Piper of Hamlyn, and a description of werewolves; the werewolves are certayne sorcerers, who having annoynted their bodies with an oyntment which they make by the instinct of the devil, and putting on a certayne inchaunted girdle, doe not openly unto to the view of others, but to their owne thinking have both shape and nature of wolves so long as they weare the said girdle. And they do dispose of themselves as very wolves, in worrying and killing, and most of humane creatures . Verstegan was one of the first generation of Anglo Saxon scholars, the work contains one of the earliest published Anglo Saxon word lists, predating Somner. It is dedicated to King James I whom Verstegan describes as descended of the chiefest bloud Royall of our antient English Saxon kings ; followed by an epistle to the English nation and some 10 verses including one by Thomas Shelton, translator of Don Quixote, also a most useful table of contents. Verstegan begins his work by describing the origins of the English, that they were descended from Saxons whom he states are from Germany. However he says that the Welsh, Cornish, Irish and Scots retain their ancient origins and are not of Saxon descent, indeed they refer to the English in their own language as Sasons, or Saxsonach . Verstegan deals with every aspect of England s history including stating in chapter 4 that England was once joined to France before the flood of Noah . He ends his work with a final chapter on the origins and purpose of tithes of honour, dignities and offices , and intriguingly the significance of our English names of disgrace or contempt . A very interesting gathering of anecdote and history, illustrated at key points with very detailed and clear engravings
500-8000/10000
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