“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us – and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.”

–Thomas Merton, Thoughts In Solitude (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1956), p.113; cited in one of this morning’s sermons

Thomas Merton. Monk, mystic, and prolific writer. pic.twitter.com/O8NxRHzcd5

— Richard Young, Ph.D. (@drdick123) October 8, 2022

Give us grace, O God our Father, to keep this day and always the new commandment and the great commandment and all the commandments, by loving thee with all our mind and soul and strength, and one another for thy sake; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

—Daily Prayer, Eric Milner-White and G. W. Briggs, eds. (London: Penguin Books 1959 edition of the 1941 original)

Sunrise in #Canelli. This beautiful country, Italy, continues to surprise me every day… #Langhe #Piemonte pic.twitter.com/UIb7BvHBQx

— Mauro Bussini (@mauro_bussini) October 16, 2022

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare’a Philip’pi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli’jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

–Matthew 16:13-20

Autumn colours pic.twitter.com/Orxmo13htR

— The Wild Massy 🌳 (@TheWildMassy) October 16, 2022