This week's Blog Carnival, sponsored by Peter Pollock of "Rediscovering the Church", and Bridget Chumbley of "One Word at a Time", takes as its prompt the word "church". Below is the first of two offerings, a tiny poem inspired by my reading of the story of the sighting of Jesus and three of his Apostles by the young Catherine Benincasa, who became St. Catherine of Siena. Catherine (1347 - 1380), the story goes, was so completely captivated by what she saw appear above the friars' church late one afternoon that she forever after devoted herself to God's work, in time caring for the sick, infirm, and penniless and leading a deeply contemplative life. (Note: The lines of the poem, when read vertically, spell out the one-word prompt.) You will find others' Blog Carnival contributions, which will be added throughout the day, here.
St. Catherine's Vision
Catherine, six and running with her brother, beheld it
High on the hill of Campporeggi at sunset.
Understand: not the Dominicans' building but the vision
Rising above it, and so intent the sign, so transfixing
Christ's smile as her eyes met His hand in blessing,
Her life ever after she gave in love for Him.
_____________________
In 1970, the Catholic Church (Pope Paul VI) proclaimed St. Catherine, Italy's Patron Saint, a "Doctor of the Church". For biographical information about St. Catherine, click here or here. Images of St. Catherine are here.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
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7 comments:
"Six, and running with her brother" -- and that' s how it happens -- we're plucked right out of the middle of life. The poem is beautiful and, best of all, true.
Neato :-)
I like it - from childhood play to holiness - what an abrupt transition...
we all seem to come to Him with the open heart of a child.
c h u r c h...i love what you did with the word.
Very unique and beautiful, Maureen.
I really like this. It's so nicely done, I did not notice it was an acrostic until I read Nancy's comment!
Nice story conveyed in a cool way.
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