Work is pleasant to God;

work is prayer. 

Nothing is sweeter after having received Jesus 

than to give and spread everywhere 

the fragrance of His virtues.  

~ St. Francis de Sales.

Holy Spirit, give me your intelligence, and I will live. Ps. XVIII

Bouasse-Lebel, Paris
 
"The glory of God is the human person fully alive." 
~ St. Irenaeus 

'Meditation is made, we may say, as the bees make honey; for they make it by gathering the dew that falls from heaven... Thus we go over and over the life of our Lord in meditation, taking up one action after another, and considering them, in order to compose the honey of holy virtues, and draw from them the graces of a holy meditation.'    

~ St. Francis de Sales, 'Mystical Flora'

Honey is much less than the goodness of God.

based on Ps. XVIII (Septuagint)

The law of the Lord is blameless, converting souls: 
the testimony of the Lord is sure, giving wisdom to infants.
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is bright, enlightening the eye. 
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring for ever and ever;
the judgments of the Lord are true, justified altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much
precious stone; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

from the translation of Psalm 18 in the Psalter of the Prophet King David 

according the Septuagint translated by Holy Transfiguration Monastery

MILK & HONEY

To us is born a Child sweeter than honey.

May your soul, like a mystical bee, 

never abandon the dear little King 

and may everything within it be for Him. 

~ St. Francis de Sales

You have given them bread from Heaven; 
and this bread possessed all flavor. 
O unheard of miracle. the Supreme Master makes of Himself
 the food of the poor and miserable creature.

 

You have given them bread from heaven.

Containing all sweetness within it.  

~ Prayer at Benediction

"When the bee has gathered the dew of heaven

 and the earth's sweetest nectar from the flowers, 

it turns it into honey, then hastens to its hive. 

In the same way, the priest, having taken from the altar 

the Son of God (who is as the dew from heaven, 
and true son of Mary, flower of our humanity), 
gives Him to you as delicious food." 
 ~ St. Francis de Sales
                        

Imitate the vigilant honeybee 

Work without ceasing for the salvation of your soul.

~

Enter within yourself and work in the Presence
of your Spouse who is ever present, loving you. 

~St. John of the Cross

Let us learn of Jesus to be sweet and humble of heart
and we will find rest for our soul.

Let us be docile children of the celestial beehive:
it supports and sustains us.

 

 

Work is pleasing to God. 

The bee is more honoured than other animals,

not because she labors,

but because she labors for others.

~ St. John Chrysostom

Mary's Garden

She will find her God.

In the title and caption, printed on the verso of this holy card,

is the truth we hold today and forever:

In Mary's Garden we find our God.