A grateful heart

Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, - a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
--George Herbert

Jewels

"On the motionless branches of some trees, autumn berries hung like clusters of coral beads, as in those fabled orchards where the fruits were jewels . . .”

--Charles Dickens

The sweetness of friendship

“In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.”

--Kahlil Gibran

Heavenward

“Heaven-born, the soul a heavenward course must hold; beyond the world she soars; the wise man, I affirm, can find no rest in that which perishes, nor will he lend his heart to ought that doth on time depend.”

--Michelangelo 

 

For the Holy Souls:

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Feast of All Saints

Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God: blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God: blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
--from the Mass for the Feast of All Saints (Saint Matthew 5. 8-10)
 

Feast of Christ the King

Pilate therefore said to him: Art thou a king then? Jesus answered: Thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world, that I should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth, heareth my voice.
--Saint John, Ch.13, v.37 

A good eye

Every creature in the world will raise our hearts to God if we look upon it with a good eye.

--Saint Felix of Cantalice