Good Friday 2013

The Final Words

Father please forgive them they know not what they do

Rejecting now the greatest gift of all that comes from You.

The Son of God, the Word made flesh, they nail upon a tree.

And all the while they claim to be the closest ones to thee.

I came among the humble poor, in lowly stable born.

And now the King of Kings they fit with crown of piercing thorns.

I touched the leper, cured the sick, the lame that now can stand.

But here upon this cross are nailed my bloody, healing hands.

Beneath the cross my mother stands to share my agony.

This virgin through obedience becomes a brand new Eve.

Beloved one supporting her when all the rest had fled,

With vision blurred by blood and sweat, I looked at them and said:

Woman now behold your son, and this your mother be.

A message meant for all mankind, and all eternity.

The elders and the passers by, they mocked and spit at me.

They called on me to save myself from death upon the tree.

Two thieves were sent to die with me in agony and shame,

And when the first one challenged me the other earned his fame.

If Christ you are, then save yourself, and surely save us too.

We heard about the miracles that people say you do.

Have you no shame or fear of God?  The other thief proclaimed.

This holy man has done no wrong, but we are justly blamed.

He asked that when my kingdom comes remembered he would be.

With me this day in Paradise I promised he would be.

Three hours of great agony I hung upon that tree.

Enduring taunts and ridicule from those that came to see.

My God, why have you gone from me in hour of greatest need?

Abandoning the sinless one, to see but sin indeed.

A greater sorrow never known in all of this creation,

Than from the God of righteousness, eternal separation.

Righteous Father to your hands, my spirit I commit.

That You with now my sacrifice might guilty souls acquit.

My body drained by sweat and blood, my head about to burst.

For souls to know forgiving love, in torment now, I thirst.

Three hours on the cross I hang, in suffering undiminished.

The fourth cup raised on hyssop stick, I taste and it is finished.

Love then consists of this, not in our love this time,

But in the saving work of Christ, and in His love sublime.

Happy Birthday Mattie

Mattie

On July twenty one in a year long ago

Just how many past, we never may know.

In small little Georgetown, way down in Kentucky

A babe was brought forth, whom we know as Mattie.

Her free spirit stifled by that tiny town,

That adventurous young girl began looking around,

For ways to have fun, like at Cinco de Mayo.

So she thought for a start, she would look in Ohio.

In the bustling metropolis of Tiffin she found,

A beau that would make her head spin around.

Then he swept her away with a date in the sky,

And she knew then, and there that this was her guy.

Her prayers for a husband were answered by God,

But her big city plans turned out to be flawed.

Instead of tall buildings to greet her each morn,

She wakes every morning to soybeans and corn.

In her ministry now among Presentation

She labors to manage the whole operation

Of copying copious CDs and more,

Especially lots of that CD disk four.

Samuel My Son

Samuel My Son

Samuel my son you have chosen well

From all the fair maidens this graceful belle.

A startling beauty, a pearl of great price,

Now listen my son to your father’s advice.

This journey of marriage the Lord chose for you

Will challenge your manhood in all that you do.

It’s not for the weakling, or those faint of heart,

Or those who try living their faith a la carte.

This is a vocation from God up above

That calls evermore to a self-giving love.

Each sacrifice made is a gift of shalom

A building block towards your happy new home.

The unity of a husband and wife

Contributes quite much to a man’s happy life.

Far more when all selfish motive is pruned,

When the heart and the mind have both been tuned.

I pray that God sends many children your way

To multiply love in your household each day.

What a privilege it is for a man and his wife

To be trusted by God as the guide for new life.

The good and bad they will come that’s for sure,

But through it all you must keep your heart pure.

And cherish forever your charming new wife.

Defend and protect her the rest of your life.

Prayer in Front of an Abortion Clinic

Prayer in Front of an Abortion Clinic

What I see when standing there

Is patient love beyond compare. 

Inside that awful greedy place

He still is off’ring peace and grace.

For those who fail to recognize

In pregnancy this precious prize.

The wondrous gift that came from Him

They simply tear from limb to limb.

Behind the bolted bars they stare

Contemptuous of praying there.

The ones who offer light and life

Are viewed as but a social blight.

Illumine Lord this darkened place

And fill it with Your light of grace.

Then give to all who enter there

Forgiving love Your constant fare.

Tim's 8th Grade Graduation

Tim's 8th Grade Graduation

As number six among the clan
For me home school was in the plan.

I didn't know back at the start
The varied ways to make me smart.

That into school my mom would bring
A morsel taught from everything.

If on a rope or in a cave
Or riding on an ocean wave.
 

The classroom took its many shapes
Building bridges, making crepes.

Each day a new adventure bound
And somehow education found.
 

Now folks may say, "That ain't no school!"
"You're right", I say, "I ain't no fool!"

What kid in his right mind would choose 

Instead of fun the classroom blues?

Christmas 2011



My God, my God, how can it be,
You sent Your Son to die for me?
Virgin chosen like no other
Purest vessel for your mother.

The feeding trough a resting place,
For one brought forth from Full of Grace.
A fitting place to lay the head
Of One who came to be our Bread.

Can it be, it’s just a myth,
That children find amusement with?
A holiday that’s set aside
For toys and tots and pumpkin pies?

For some it may be such a time
For decorating trees of pine.
For wreaths of holly, green and bright,
For colored bulbs that light the night.

But now I ask: Before He came,
What was it like to live in shame,
Where Paradise to sin was lost,
And no one here could pay the cost?

To look upon our history,
And see our lives eternally.
Apart from Him, and far away,
Because for sin we could not pay.

I see it now with clarity
There’s quite a stark disparity
From what is offered every time
In simple gifts of bread and wine.

Emmanuel is present here
To drive away our every fear.
And when we look upon the creche
We see our God who took on flesh.

So let us not a moment waste,
And like the shepherds, go in haste
And never let the chance go past
To meet with Him at Holy Mass.

Let the Potter Mold the Clay

How many are my sinful ways,
So often times throughout the day
With evil thoughts and words I face
Another careless fall from Grace.

I say I want to break this chain,
But every time I sin again.
Unwilling now to suffer pain,
Instead I risk eternal gain

How foolish for this sinful man
To think he can avoid God’s plan
When pleasure fades and shame sets in,
Why did again I turn from Him?

Just give that beast a little line,
And see how quickly he entwines
With chains of greed and gluttony
He tries to hold his sway on me.

That vicious creature full of lies
With talons clamped on me he tries
To turn my heart from loving Him,
To following my every whim.

Oh Full of Grace, what would you say
To help me on this rocky way,
When often times I turn away
And let the Devil have his way?

My little one, It’s not your strength
That keeps you strong to any length.
Just trust in Him, the Crucified
Will wash you clean, and be your guide.

Confess with regularity
Your sinfulness and frailty.
For in this pure humility
Your soul will find tranquility.

My Son knows well the needs of men,
And showers down His graces when
You turn to Him throughout the day,
And let the Potter mold the clay.

Brian and Sarah

This day you proclaim your most holy vow,
To love and to cherish forever somehow.
In good times and bad, in sickness and health,
To be true to each other, in want or in wealth.

A promise not easily kept on our own,
But just how to keep it I plan to make known.
Although it appears in this bond there are two,
The Lord must become one with each of you,too.

This Sacrament bond, overflowing with grace,
Will keep you on track anywhere, anyplace.
His Word your light as you read it each day,
Illumines the path when the two of you pray.

If you follow His Word instead of your whims,
He will keep you from harm, protect you from sins.
The Lord is the key to a great married life.
We wish you success as new husband and wife!

Faith, Lily and Grace

The following was written for my daughter Megan after hearing about a particularly difficult day she had raising her beautiful little girls Faith, Lily, and Grace.

When life’s burdens weigh you down,
And all your castles crumble ‘round,
Remember that the Lord above,
Sent you the gift of Faith to love.

And when your plans don’t turn out right.
You pass another sleepless night,
Continuing seems oh, so silly,
For patience God sent you this Lily.

In all the trials of motherhood,
And when you did all that you could,
But still you have a messy place,
That’s why the Lord sent you His Grace.

So don’t despair when things look dim.
Just let your heart rise up to Him.
Don’t wallow in the muck and mire.
The Lord tests all His gold in fire.

Dear Hennessey Family,
Recently I had the opportunity to endure a little pain and to offer my sufferings in union with those of Christ on the cross. With your mother gently reminding me not to let the suffering go to waste, I did the best I could to make use of my suffering without being burdensome to others. I’m truly grateful for all the prayers I received and especially for the loving care from Mary during that time. I had many opportunities during my recovery to reflect on my blessings. I also had occasion to repent of the many times I have ignored the sufferings of others, or been so caught up in my own interests that I was blind to the needs of those around me. I think I gained a new appreciation for the kind of love that Jesus calls us to have in our everyday life.
When we say love, we think of warm, soft, and secure, but the love of Jesus freely chose birth in a stable, a life among the poor, and eventually death on a cross. I invite you all this Christmas season to take the time to reflect on His brand of love, and how to bring it about in your lives.
Have a blessed Christmas, and a holy 2011.

Love Makes the World Go ‘Round

Love makes the world go ‘round, they say
And oh, how true it is.
For Love is what created all,
That ever was or is.

True love, the kind our Father showed
When sending us His Son,
Born in a humble stable from,
The holy virgin one.

No pomp or circumstance surround
The birth of this great King.
But shepherds round a feeding trough,
To witness such a thing.

Snuggled down in swaddling clothes,
The donkey’s warming breath,
Few comforts for this little one,
Our Savior, born for death.

Great love He showed throughout His life.
The elders, stupefied.
And so, the Wonder, Counselor,
They had Him crucified.

We know not Love when often we,
Intent on selfish gain,
Reject true love and turn from Him,
To just avoid some pain.

Love makes the world go ‘round they say
And oh, how true it is.
But not the proud and worthless kind,
The humble brand of His.

So stop tonight before you rest,
Before the manger where,
The shepherds and the angels gazed,
Upon the infant fair.

And ponder if your love does make
For others all around,
The world spin a little quick,
Or does it slow it down?

Suffering

Another unfinished one...


Is any suffering like mine,
The suffering of the Holy Vine,
The lamb of God the innocent,
The One who calls us to repent?

We see in Him the horror of
So many choices lacking love.
But in His choice on Calvary,
He showed true Love for all to see.

Our every burden on the cross,
Where every dignity was lost,
Uttered forth from God's own Son,
"Forgive them all for what they've done."

The perfect sacrifice once made,
The debt for all our sins was paid....

Advice

I got distracted and never finished this:

Some words of fatherly advice
I wish to share with you.
I pray you keep them in your mind
And know just what to do.

Your mother is a special one
The woman called my wife.
Her love is quite the reason why
You have the gift of life.

Respect her wishes even when
To you they seem unfair.
Her motives in the rules she makes
Proclaim maternal care.

Be generous with all you have
To others freely give.
For money in the foolish hand’s
Like water in a sieve.

Learn wisdom at whatever price

A Gift for Me

Christmas 2009

To the children and young adults of the Hennessey tribe,

Every year at this time I hear friends or folks at work complaining about their family gatherings. It seems that very few families, if any, are exempt from some type of estrangement within their ranks. I consider myself very blessed to have a family that truly does love one another. I pray that each of you develop a deep appreciation for the blessings you have in your siblings and in-laws. God has chosen us to be the members of this special domestic church, and it’s our obligation to be a light for the world and salt for the earth.

Early in his ministry, Fr. Al used to say that 50% of life’s problems were caused by a lack of forgiveness. Toward the end of his ministry, he said that failing to forgive caused at least 99% of our problems. . . I believe his later opinion was correct. When we are humble and quick to forgive the faults and failings of others we bring Christ into the lives of those who offend us. The whole reason for this season and Christ coming into the world was for the forgiveness of sins.

I wrote this poem because folks are always wondering what to get me for Christmas, and there really is not much that I need. But the greatest gift I could imagine would be the gift of a strong Catholic faith, a humble spirit, and a steadfast love for God and neighbor, in every member of my family.

A Gift For Me

The greatest Christmas gift for me
Cannot be found beneath the tree.
No bow surround, nor box contain
What I desire to obtain.

Not snow about on Christmas day
Nor some new toy with which to play
The gift so great that I describe
Is from the members of this tribe.

The gift of all in one accord
Committed to our faithful Lord
In chastity and love divine
Held firmly to the living Vine.

I look around and see such pain
From grasping after greedy gain
And unforgiving hearts are rent
In those refusing to repent.

No job is this for faint of heart,
For those who see and then depart,
That work is needed in this place
Refusing sanctifying grace.

It’s work for me and work for you
To show His love in all we do.
And grant forgiveness to them all
For their offenses great and small.

But this is what I ask of thee
Instead of presents under tree.
A humble spirit, soul, and mind
The Christmas gift I hope to find.

In every single child of mine
On every branch upon this vine.
A firm attachment to the Root,
Then you will bear abundant fruit.

Fasting

Oh Lord please help me fast today
I want to learn more how to pray
To turn away from selfish sin
And feel your love down deep within.

I often try and often fail,
My will alone is oh so frail.
I need from You that passion strength,
And grace to love, at any length.

Remind me when the Tempter’s near,
That with Your strength I need not fear.
If I but strip away the pride,
I can continue at Your side.

Now teach me pleasure to forsake,
And with the saints alliance make,
That I might overcome this stress,
And in its place find happiness.