St. Blase and the Bonsai

When a sister is the day's prayer leader she has the freedom to arrange the environment as she wishes. Often, if there is a feast or a particular season of the liturgical year (Lent, Advent, Christmas), the environment is set for the entire season, but on "regular" days we have more options.

One prayer leader this week is our resident bonsai aficionado and she had the opportunity to show us her three bonsai plants by adding them to the environment around the lectern. Very nice touch---on the feast of St. Blase.



And, from Mary:

Mozart, for Example

All the quick notes
Mozart didn't have time to use
before he entered the cloud-boat

are falling now from the beaks
of the finches
that have gathered from the joyous summer

into the hard winter
and, like Mozart, they speak of nothing
but light and delight,

though it is true, the heavy blades
of the world are still pounding underneath.
And this is what you can do too, maybe,

if you live simply and with a lyrical heart
in the cumbered neighborhoods or even,
as Mozart sometimes managed to, in a palace,

offering tune after tune after tune,
making some hard-hearted prince
prudent and kind, just by being happy.