Resolutions or Revolutions?

I decided to make 2009 about growing in the Faith. Not that I'm not working on that on a continuum, but I'm going to FOCUS. I'm writing this post a day ahead, because I have to crack that home school whip, theoretically speaking, and I simply will not have the time to put pen to paper (so to speak) then.

I read in the Meditation of the Day in the Magnificat (Monthly Volume 10, No. 12/January 2009) the following, which is worthy of sharing. It just speaks to me and it is my prayer that it speaks to you as well.

O Mother of Jesus, I honor and venerate your most holy and admirable life in your Son Jesus; a life which is resplendent with every kind of virtue and perfection; a life of which one single moment is more dear to God than the lives of all angels and men; a life that imparts more honor and love to God than all other lives combined in heaven and on earth. This life is none other than the life of your Son Jesus, which he communicates to you from moment to moment by a most particular and ineffable favor. Blessed be you, O holy Virgin, for the wealth of honor you have given to your well-beloved Son throughout your life! I offer you all my life, O Mother of being and grace, and I consecrate it completely to the honor of your holy life, and with my whole heart I beg your Son Jesus, the God of being and love, to grant by his great goodness that my whole existence my pay continual and eternal homage to his most holy life and to you.
O Jesus, God of my life and of my heart, you have a very great desire to dwell in me, and to make me live in you an entirely holy and heavenly life. Forgive me for having obstructed the fulfillment of your desire by my sins and infidelities. Eradicate the corrupt and depraved life of the old Adam in me, and in its place establish your holy and perfect life. Dwell in all your fullness in my spirit, heart, and soul, and therein accomplish all the works you do desire for your glory. Love yourself in me, and in me glorify yourself completely according to your most holy will.
O Mother of Jesus, if it please you, obtain from your Son the accomplishment of these designs in me. -St. John Eudes.

Is that not the most lovely of prayers and desires?

I await the delivery of my Dodo book (Liturgy of the Hours help), but in the mean time have decided to open my copy of Philothea, or An Introduction to The Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales. I've tried before, but never managed to get beyond page 15. It's not a book to read - that's why. I wanted to read it. Well, one cannot simply read such books. It is meant to be prayed and studied over. I can't check that box (my list of titles to be read) so quickly with this one. I know that is why I could never "accomplish" this book. This one is meant to be taken slowly, like a walk in the woods, with sitting a spell in a bench by a lake. So, my friends, I am going to take that joyful and mysterious walk.

In tandem, I shall possibly finish two other books that are similar in nature: The Life of Teresa of Jesus by Teresa of Avila, and, The Confessions of St. Augustine. Trust me, my nose has been in and out of these covers a few times in 2008. It's time to get serious.

I share this with you, because I have the utmost faith that you will pray for me as I take this journey. Your prayers will assist me and will be most appreciated. I will pray for you as well. If you ever have a special intention, please let me know and I would be so glad to add your prayers to mine.

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless, and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us, and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments, we might not despair, nor become despondent, but with great confidence, submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy Itself. Amen.