“You need not go to heaven to see God; nor need you speak loud, as if God were far away. Only be in silence and you will come upon God within yourself.”

Teresa of Avila ~ The Way of Perfection (Chapter 28)

Up until the time of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), it was not so uncommon for the Catholic faithful to think of the need to reach Heaven and the love and service of God as being two separate things, with the main focus being on the first… attaining the eternal life to come.

The Council addressed this imbalance and undue “otherworldliness” by renewing/reorientating the Church toward the Gospel reality that God is with us and eternal life with him begins now, interiorly, for those who believe, love, and serve him.

And so, the “good news” is that Heaven is… more than a dream!

Life in the high-tech world we live in today is complicated. But life in Christ is simple. It is also a choice... 'Mary has chosen the better part...' (Luke 10:42)

Our Father loves us and asks for only one thing... our heart... 'These people pay me lip service, but their hearts are far from me!' (Matthew 15:8)

All I Have To Do expresses the beauty and simplicity of the interior relationship with God... the quiet prayer of the heart.

Image Credit: "Cloistered", oil on canvas, Anne Brennan Vela

In 1984, Cardinal Ratzinger reminded us that The Document of Puebla by John Paul ll pointed out that the preferential option for the poor is two-fold: for the poor... and for the young. Unfortunately, the "for the young" part has been almost universally ignored. The Father's Lullaby was written in response to the anxiety, stress, and spiritual turmoil young people have been suffering for the past three years due to the pandemic. The song, however, is not "age specific" and could be helpful for any person, regardless of their age, who needs a little help settling down before resting.

Image credit: "An Angel Calls" ~ watercolor by: Mariangela Holliday, Laredo, TX

The beginning of a new year gives everyone an opportunity to reflect on one's life; to evaluate priorities and to recalibrate where necessary. What is central... what is truly most important? Ultimately speaking, where does my life come from and what gives it meaning?

We believe our new song addresses this need to see life clearly and to recognize the fundamental role of God in human life... while at the same time manifesting the beautiful reality of our Father's mysterious, loving presence within his children.

"Man cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself." Pope John Paul ll

St. John Paul ll referred to this spiritual insight as... the law of the gift. In a culture that is consumed with taking, having, and using, this simple recipe for happiness and human flourishing seems virtually impossible and, for many of our contemporaries, so far out of reach as to call forth critiques of idealistic utopianism.

And yet, the truth is that God is simple and he dwells within us... which is why, in his Confessions, St. Augustine is able to say: "God is closer to me than I am to myself."

"Nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37). What may at first seem impossible for man, becomes, with God, the easiest and most possible of all things because it is the very thing he was created for... Love! The giving of oneself... as a gift.

{Image for As A Gift taken from a painting by San Antonio, TX watercolor artist, Anne Brennan Vela, titled: Flower Gift}

This simple, peaceful song resonates nicely with the spiritual themes of Advent/Christmas and would be an ideal song to accompany the reverent viewing of the peaceful Creche scene. A season of longing for God's merciful presence culminates in the gift of Jesus; the fulfillment of man's deepest desire. God graciously forms the soul through this mysterious longing... a longing which discovers within itself the ONE who has been sent into this world ("Seek... and you will find!" Matthew 7:7). If you'd like to sing "I've Come To See" as a part of your own devotions, the sheet music is available as a free download at this link - https://brothersister.net/files/1140320/ive-come-to-see-full-score.pdf