Little St. Theresa

How come someone so little gets so big?
She died at twenty-four--to start our search--
“the greatest saint of modern times--bigwig!
--this “Little Flower” named Doctor of the Church.*

She earns that title from her “Little Way,”
an unknown nun who said, “Love’s my vocation,”
that we can offer up our little day,
and sinners save no matter what our station.

From heaven she promised us a shower of roses,
her little miracles done for her friends,
her “Little Way of Love” that she proposes
made her my favorite saint for all she sends.

“Jesus,” she prayed, “make me Your little toy”
to play with or to test, let’s not be terse--
for here to celebrate her feast with joy,
I write this sonnet with an extra verse.

So as her little molehills turn to mounts,
she tells us how: “It’s love alone that counts.”

                         by Pete Voelz     9/30/13

* Only three other women have been named
Doctor of the Church--St. Catherine of Siena,
St. Theresa of Avila, and St. Hildegard of Bingen.

God Debt

How much, O God, is my existence worth?
I am a man who likes to pay his debts.
How much my soul, my body, and my birth?
I pride myself I pay off all my bets.

How much is heaven, where I hope to go?
I am an honest man, don’t cheat or steal.
For life and love and health, what do I owe?
I ought to pay You back, I truly feel.

You offer faith, okay, I do believe,
You want my help in saving souls, I will,
grief for my sins, I’m sorry, yes, I grieve,
to pay back all, what more must I fulfill?

No need to pay? You’ve done it all for free?
I love You, thank You, God--that much from me.

                      by Pete Voelz     9/29/13

God Fathoms

If God can hear a prayer within my heart,
then every thought He knows and won’t forget,
He too must fathom true my every part,
and have the power to pay my every debt.

If Christ can say, “You’re cured, get up and walk,”
then He can free me from my every sin,
my wimpy faith must be more than just talk,
and so for Him I’ll seek some soul to win.

If God can take my sorry self in stride,
exert so much His miracles for me,
how dumb I try to run away and hide,
when from my doubts and fears He sets me free.

O God, it’s clear You know me through and through,
isn’t it time a bit more I know You?

                       by Pete Voelz      9/27/13

Forced Faith

O Father, did You numb His wounds a bit?
Christ on His cross is proof He is divine,
for no mere human could have suffered it,
nor grace me heaven on such a graceless sign.

For only God would let His only Son
endure the cross, the scourging, thorny crown,
Whose thirst for many souls would be undone,
then have her hold Him dead when taken down.

Who else but God could conquer death and rise,
Who else give me the freedom to deny
a God Who lives for me and for me dies,
and all in love and pain before my eye?

Christ, I’ve no choice but to believe in You,
Your life, Your death, Your love all force me to.

                            by Pete Voelz      9/27/13

God Author

You can’t get water out of a dry well,
the universe from just ex nihilo,
the simple story “Farmer in the Dell”
was written by an author--this we know.

The childish jingle is not meaningless,
the universe too has intelligence,
a grand display by God to teach and bless
us humans in our vast pride and pretense.

God made the universe for us to see
how great and true is His Almighty power,
how good a God He is and friend can be,
this author of the beauty of a flower.

Whence, Lord, this goodness, truth and beauty of
my world and me--must be Your infinite love.

                               by Pete Voelz      9/26/13

No Worry

St. Padre Pio says I should not worry,
but still I wonder, worry--I am weak,
he says have patience when I’m in a hurry,
it’s often hard to turn the other cheek.

If I want something done, I have to do it,
it’s true You, God, depend on me down here,
then something goes wrong, so I say, “I blew it,”
stay calm, Your saints still tell me, do not fear.

“Don’t worry” means to put my trust in You.
“Let go, let God” You’ve seen it all before,
and if I pray, You’ll help me see it through:
“You close a window, open up a door.”

Lord, strip away my shivers, scares, and screams,
and let me worry only in my dreams.

                            by Pete Voelz      9/25/13

Know God

I feel incompetent, O God, to know You,
how can a human know infinity?
I try to learn but haven’t much to show You,
yet You suppose somehow You can show me.

You’ve dealt me some capacity to know,
for faith to live You have enough revealed,
You match my mind to knowledge that You sow,
then watch to see what I will freely yield.

It’s not for me to doubt how You have made me,
You teach enough for hope to have a chance,
You send Your Spirit, Scripture, saints to aid me,
my love Your sacraments and grace enhance.

That You won’t do Your part I should not fear,
it’s up to me to know You more down here.

                           by Pete Voelz      9/24/13

Beat God

God loves me so, He does not skip a beat,
He gives me all, and covers all His bases,
He goes great lengths, He gives Himself to eat,
He pains me too, to put me through my paces.

I challenge Him sometimes, He always beats me,
to win with God, I humbly must give in,
at times I don’t enjoy the way He treats me,
so He steps up, forgiving me my sin.

Then on His beat, for me God took a beating,
it had to be, He gives to me a choice,
so few my beats for Him, with life so fleeting,
so little time to love, then to rejoice.

O Lord, let me not skip a beat for You,
Who are to me so faithful and

                       by Pete Voelz      9/23/13

Spirit Adventure

God’s such a great adventure here for me,
He grabs me by the heart, I’d better run,
my soul excites me more than what I see,
more than the world’s, the Spirit’s trip is fun.

Far greater worlds than this the Spirit shows,
the mysteries of the ages are revealed,
omniscient God, thus everything He knows,
from this Creator, nothing is concealed.

The world of love the God of love can’t hide,
His supernatural nature’s on display,
His Gospel life and miracles--what a ride!
He reaches down and teaches me to pray.

The God of all Creation cannot bore,
with yet in store adventures evermore.

                       by Pete Voelz      9/10/13

Prayer Need

Don’t wait for need, for prayer it’s always there,
it’s there, we just don’t see it with our eyes,
in need or not, we need a life of prayer,
then need does not come catch us by surprise.

When least I need You, Lord, I need You most,
it’s when I do not need You that I do,
like when I coast, or of myself I boast,
blind independence must depend on You.

If I’m blind to my need, You are not blind,
Your greater knowledge knows no mystery,
it’s I who need Your mysteries divined,
my greatest need’s when You depend on me.

O God, if I am ever to succeed,
i need to see my need for prayer indeed.

                 by Pete Voelz     9/20/13

God's War-Game

I play with God, but do I play for keeps?
God does. Guess what? So does the devil too.
I play and rest and sleep, God never sleeps,
God plays a game--He means to see it through.

God’s in the game, but not just for the fun,
I play for fun, or just to play around,
God fights a war, until the game is won,
than this, no bigger war-game can be found.

God plays to win, not just to make a point,
He knows He’s fighting for my very soul,
I lose a game, my nose gets otta joint,
I don’t sense how His game takes such a toll.

God plays for keeps, just like He’s in a war,
I maybe should see what this game is for.

                        by Pete Voelz      9/20/13

Untired God

If You tire of my prayers, don’t blame me, Lord,
You are the One Who says to persevere,
I can’t imagine why You’re not sooo bored--
my praying all the same old prayers down here.

They say St. Mary loves to hear Hail Mary’s,
to listen to the words the angel said,
to feel again the thrill that never varies,
and hear His name Who’d be our Sacred Bread.

You’re never bored, You’re interested in me,
You know it’s urgent, there’s so much at stake,
You desperate want me for eternity,
You love my prayers for my sake, for God’s sake.

Since I know of my words You’ll never tire,
I pray, Lord, each one prayed meets Your desire.

                             by Pete Voelz      9/19/13

Small to Greater

I am so small, on that I will not dwell,
much more important is “how great Thou art,”
what I do poorly, You make turn out well,
God of great might, of mercy, soul, and heart.

You made the universe with just a glance,
with all my strength, I can’t create a thing,
yet with my freedom, You give me the chance
to break Your great heart or make angels sing.

You place my soul and others’ in my care,
great power and great responsibility,
how much I need to come to You in prayer,
my power’s no good if You’re not helping me.

I must be wise, if I’m no longer small,
to choose your love so great and have it all.

                        by Pete Voelz      9/18/13

Lord Limp

If You’re so great, O Lord, why do You limp?
Pains me to see so strong a King so weak,
or hear some mock to call a God a gimp,
without Your stride, Your mission here seems bleak.

Why is Your Kingdom’s message muted, skimpy?
Where’s Your loud voice, Your mighty hands and feet?
Why do You let some say Your style’s so wimpy?
Can’t one stand up for You and take the heat?

Don’t look at me, I’m just a little shrimp,
I know down here I’m supposed to be Your voice,
You prove Your power with my hands weak and limp,
You promise strength if I just make the choice.

For You I’ll write, Lord, more limp poetry,
if You give lots more strength and grace to me.

                           by Pete Voelz       9/17/13

God Worthy

Am I worthwhile because I’m so worthwhile,
because my contributions are so vital,
my gifts so great--my looks, my smarts, my style,
or for my name and fame--my wealth or title?

No, God, You gave me being, value, worth,
a life in danger, strangers fight to save,
the self You loved so long before my birth,
my worthiness derives from all You gave.

You made my soul with human dignity
You hope I use to show my worth is true,
You prove my worth with heaven as destiny,
that I earn by obedience to You.

O Lord, let me be worthy of Your style,
so worth Your while, I know I am worthwhile.

                by Pete Voelz      9/16/13

Mother of All Sorrows

O Mary, you presented Christ in sorrow,
your heart pierced by a sword, you faced the morrow.

When you, your baby and St. Joseph flew
to Egypt, chased by death, with sorrow two.

A third when He was in the temple, lost,
where you found Him, raised someday to be crossed.

A fourth stabbed you when He and you would meet,
carrying His cross as you grieved at His feet.

The fifth tore through your heart before the cross,
where, tempted, you might think that all was loss.

Your sixth, the Pieta, held in your arms
your own Son dead, now safe from all the harms.

The last sword pierced your heart when at the tomb,
you buried Him you carried in your womb.

by Pete Voelz       9/15/13
on this feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows
pmvoelz.blogspot.sg

God's Restless Heart

You’d think a restful God would not be restless,
a mighty God would have no need to wrestle,
a good, all-knowing God for sure’d be stressless,
but then God has to mould each earthen vessel.

If God knows all, why try so hard to save us?
If saved or lost, why does He keep on trying?
Is He shocked by the freedom that He gave us?
Must His great love make Him attend our crying?

Why bother with the ones He knows He’s losing?
Does God respond with selectivity?
Does He think He can still affect our choosing?
Love, freedom, God--oh, so much mystery!

Lord, if Your restless heart holds me like glue,
then let my restless heart be stuck on You.

                            by Pete Voelz      9/14/13

Pro-Active Love

If no one else loves You, O God, I do,
there’s something about You I find so attractive,
of course, I know that billions love You too,
in them, in me Your love is so pro-active.

Would some lame God create me with such care?
A love-lite God would not make me at all,
a lukewarm God would not respond to prayer,
would not reach down and lift me when I fall.

Your active love’s, Lord, like a blazing fire,
You sow my soul and hope my soul You’ll reap,
You free me first, then pull, push and inspire,
I pass the pain, You give me heaven to keep.

Pro-active God, I know You want from me,
like Yours, some loving pro-activity.

                     by Pete Voelz      9/13/13

Grade-A Grace

Is this, O God, another arid day,
when praying every normal prayer I choke,
finding it dry to listen to what You say,
with all my good intentions just a joke?

Where are Your inspirations and Your hope,
where is Your spring for tear ducts running dry,
where is Your Holy Spirit to help me cope,
Your strength and sustenance before I die?

I know Your line--a dry day is a test,
to us a mess is Your wise foolishness,
in arid times You love our prayers the best,
the prayers we cough up then You specially bless.

Let me not, Lord, scorn Your aridity,
passing this test earns grade-A grace for me.

                   by Pete Voelz      9/12/13

Crucifix

Each time I sign the cross, I think of You,
You on Your cross and Your Blest Trinity,
Your image on that cross a powerful clue
of all Your love, and how You died for me.

A crossroads--just a symbol I project,
You on Your cross leaves no doubt what I see,
Your face compels my dull mind to reflect,
You there before my eyes Who died for me.

Your crucifix is more than just a shape,
You on Your cross make clear the mystery,
I’m forced to face what I cannot escape--
how You hung there and gave Your life for me.

Your death, Your gift, Yourself--we face-to-face,
Christ, like the cross, my sinful soul You grace.

                           by Pete Voelz      9/11/13

Sense the Unseens

So why should I desert my senses clear,
and fly to try to see the all unseen?
Yet sure I know there’s more than now and here
of things unseen and seen and in between.

I trust who knows the unseens of my cell,
some unseens influence me from history,
I see who lives inside my memory well,
why not the saints who send unseens to me?

And then there’s You Who brings my soul alive,
Your Church makes sense of everything in range,
these needs that help me spiritually survive,
the unseen of my heart’s to me least strange.

I’d rather desert the seen out there so true
than ever give up, Lord, my seeing You.

                 by Pete Voelz      9/10/13

No Small God

To God Who makes a thing, there is no small,
God even loves someone before they’re made,
His ever watchful eye can see it all,
for eyes of faith, He says, “Be not afraid.”

The blind say they must see, then they’ll believe,
small things unseen, to them do not exist,
before a soul is born, they can’t conceive,
no wonder they scorn God in Eucharist.

Blind too they are to big things spiritual,
murder’s okay if who they kill’s unseen,
they’ll even scorn a proven miracle,
most simply will not listen to what you mean.

Blind to small things, they still say, “I can see,”
yet then disdain God’s great big mystery.

                 -- by Pete Voelz       8/2/13

Turn Not

Turn, Father, not Your face from me, I pray,
remember me when mercy is Your claim,
before Your gentle visage let me stay,
help me do justice to Your holy name.

From my petition, Christ, turn not Your eyes,
do not avert Your gaze from humble pleas,
and in Your ear hear clear my heartfelt cries
I send in sorrow on my humble knees.

Turn not from me, O Spirit, Your tender heart,
beneath Your wing make everything forgiven,
help me sincerely my contrition start,
and let my sins deter me not from heaven.

O Trinity, turn not from me, Your child,
that with You Three I may be reconciled.

             by Pete Voelz      9/8/13

Happy Birthday, Mary!

I light a candle as a birthday gift,
September 8th, the day that you were born,
I add a simple prayer sent far and swift,
a dewdrop as you bloom this early morn.

Nine months ago we saw you as conceived,
December 8th’s Immaculate Conception,
a doctrine we’d for centuries believed,
our tainted nature’s boastful sole exception.*

That date’s a Holy Day of Obligation,
your birthday’s mere celebratory feast,
you show our view, by this clear designation,
of life’s conception over birth increased.

Should not our joy at Christmastime bow to
the day Christ was conceived and born in you?

* Refering to a line in Wordsworth’s The Virgin:
“Our tainted nature’s solitary boast.”

                        by Pete Voelz      9/7/13

Trust Love

Trust is a form of love, and love is trust.
(Does not each virtue show some form of love?)
To form relationships trust is a must.
(Relationships require some kind of love.)

Trustworthy’s Him Who made the universe.
(Is not Creation some great form of love?)
Trust One Who brings the better from the worse.
(How much God’s goodness goes along with love.)

Should I not trust the trust that made me free?
(Is freedom not a form of trusting love?)
God trusts I’ll free give back His love for me.
(Such trust of freedom is the heart of love.)

You trust me, Lord, that I will trust You too,
I cannot  trust myself not trusting You.

                        by Pete Voelz      9/6/13

True Magic

We all know magic’s fake, but magic’s fun,
we like to dabble in the mystery,
but science says there is no magic--none,
and we find none in all of history.

Yet TV teen shows make it seem so real,
New Age is just religion’s substitute,
our moral magic’s based on how we feel,
we wonder why we bear such rotten fruit.

God comes along with magic that is true,
does miracles, reveals His mysteries,
then frightens us with real commandments too,
His magic love is not just aimed to please.

God’s true love really rules, be not afraid,
His Magic Kingdom--heaven--will never fade.

                by Pete Voelz      9/5/13

God Draws

I see so much, but it is God Who draws,
no matter what I see, ‘tis God attracts,
I see His good Creation, and God awes,
and draws me far from evil’s fierce attacks.

God draws the breath that I assume I draw,
He draws my soul from out of nothingness,
He draws a picture of me framed by law,
to heaven someday, my soul He draws to bless.

To know unknowable God I too am drawn,
I’m drawn to mystery and miracle,
to serve Him long before my soul is gone,
to live His Good, His Truth, His Beauty full.

O Lord, the me You knew before You drew,
prays to draw closer evermore to You.

                     by Pete Voelz      9/4/13

There God to Here

To God out there I used to pray,
but He is not out there,
He’s only out there in a way
that doesn’t lend to prayer,
a way where I can let Him stay,
and not get in my hair.

The place we need to meet is here,
deep inside my heart,
the place I often don’t go near,
not knowing where to start,
to meet Him here I greatly fear
--we’re better far apart.

For here God makes demands on me,
He says, “Pick up your cross.”
Though He gives it so tenderly,
to me an albatross,
a win He helps me choose for free,
without it--terrible loss.

My way lies with His victory sign,
in here I hear His voice,
to share in His design divine,
I’m forced to make the choice.
Why fear to face this choice of mine,
to weep or to rejoice?

God in my heart, I talk to You,
and see You face to face,
I know that all You tell is true,
so help me to embrace
whatever You ask of me to do
to gain Your strength and grace.

You I can’t run from nor deceive,
no place for me to hide,
Your words out there I do receive,
but finally here inside
is where I freely must believe
and in Your love abide.

            by Pete Voelz      9/2/13

Thank God for Angels

(and thanks to Ogden Nash too)

Whenever I am in dangel,
I pray for an angel.
When I find myself in jeopardian,
I call on my guardian.

If I'm threatened only by a motorcycle,
I turn to St. Michael.
But if it's an automabriel,
I ask for St. Gabriel.

And if it's just a tiger being playfael,
I bring along St. Raphael.
Instead of being some bad old cuss,
isn't God nice to us?

That when we're in dangel,
instead of a strangel,
He sends us -- an angel.

     -- by Pete Voelz       1999