The Seasons: A Poem

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Sunrise over Amazing Grasses Family Farm The mad Artist wields His brush, Painted colors rush, To life and give flush, Before the quiet autumn hush. The life seems to pour, As colors fall to the floor, To be seen no more, Outside the dark, grey door. Brightness from below, Sun upon the snow, High, cold clouds blow, Flakes and ice appear to grow. The man melts with little seen, Underneath, pale, grey green, Hides life in dark unseen, Waits for warmth and to careen. Buds on branches show, Patience starts to grow, Trickles, streams and veins flow, Bringing fruits of melted snow. Sprung to life it springs, Bees, birds, sound rings, Lush green flings, Its gift bounty brings. Green growth gives one last rush, Underneath the Painter's brush. The mad Artist wields His brush, before the quiet autumn hush. More poetry is available from James M. Hahn in  The Last Dragon and Other Poems  available now. My new book of cryptogram puzzles " Secret Messages from the Saints " is avai
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Our Lady of Guadalupe: A Mother Who Keeps Her Promises

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Our Lady of Guadalupe

Luke 1:26-38 or 39-47

Over the past couple weeks I have witnessed the Rite of the Catechumenate at two different parishes. Those seeking admission to the Catechumenate are asked two primary questions. First, they are asked, "What do you ask of God's Church?" To which they reply, "faith." Second, they are asked, "What does faith offer you?" And they reply simply, "eternal life." Their responses are always firm and projected for all to hear. I admire their hunger and desire for faith and for eternal life.

Those of us who have been "in the Faith" for a while also know many of our responses by heart and often offer them from the heart. However, the question remains, do we believe what we profess? When we recite the Creed at Mass, do we believe what we profess? When the priest says to us, "The Body of Christ", do we respond with a resounding "Amen" thus confirming our belief?

I ponder these questions, these professions, these responses when I meditate on the words of St. Elizabeth to Mary, "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." God always, always, always, keeps his promises. We have to believe that. We have to trust that Our Heavenly Father will keep his promises to us. The Scriptures during this season are filled with promises from God. He promises Zachariah. He promises Mary. He promises Joseph. And all of these promises are actually fulfillments of previous promises (see Isaiah 7:14, 2 Samuel 7:12-16, etc). He truly is, as Scott Hahn would say, "A Father Who Keeps His Promises."

Advent is a time of "waiting in joyful hope" for the fulfillment of God's ultimate promise of redemption,  "I will put enmities between thee[Satan] and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel".(The Holy Bible, Douay-Rheims, Genesis 3:15) and the final battle when the head of the serpent is crushed (see Revelation Chapter 12). We are reminded of this promise today on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the name Guadalupe actually means "one who crushes the serpent." We are also children of a Mother who keeps Her promises!

Blessed are you who believe that what is spoken to you by the Lord through the Church will be fulfilled! Come, Lord Jesus! Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

FROM THE SAINTS - “Hear me and understand well, my son the least, that nothing should frighten or grieve you. Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any other sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything. Do not be afflicted by the illness of your uncle, who will not die now of it. be assured that he is now cured.” - The Blessed Virgin Mary to Saint Juan Diego (and to us)

Children's Coloring Page of Our Lady of Guadalupe


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