R.E. Loreto College Foxrock: Thought for The Day

Thought of the Day

An angel was assigned to you, On the day you were born;

It watched you as a slumbering child, and kept you safe from harm.

It followed every childhood step, then guarded you as you grew;

The dangers that you never saw, God and your angel knew.

For the Father gave the angel,

A mission to fulfil; to keep and guard your every step,

To gently guide you on your path, to stand and do battle for you;

A constant, Holy companion, until life's journey is through.

An angel was assigned to you, on the day that you were born;

A Guardian sent to walk with you, to keep you safe from harm.

So take this chance and thank your angel,

for all of the help it has given to you your whole life through

Thought for the Day

Dwell not on the things that fill

The heart with sad regret.

The past has gone,

So let it go.

Your grievances forget.

Remember only this,

The Fortune follows in the train –

Of those who have the pluck and Courage

To begin again.

So open the window of faith today

And pray that a wind will blow your way –

To scatter all thought of doubt and fear –

And bring you a message of hope and cheer.

Thought for the Day

On Ash Wednesday, we begin Lent. The sacramental ashes, made from burned palms from the prior year's Palm Sunday, are blessed and remind us that "You are dust and unto dust you shall return". Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice. Let us pray

for the grace to keep Lent faithfully.

Lord,
protect us in the struggle against evil.
As we begin the discipline of Lent,
make this season holy by our self-denial.
Grant this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Thought for the Day

Time

Time is difficult to define.

We can certainly find it.,

Lose it,

Waste it.

Enjoy it,

Misuse it,

And share it.

We can sing in it… or out of it,

Dance in it, clap in it, hum in it.

Some people never arrive on time, while others rarely leave on time.

Lord, may we have enough time to complete the tasks with which we have been entrusted.

Thank you for every hour of today with all its opportunities.

Forgive us for moments wasted.

Help us to find time for the smallest task.

Help us use our time wisely this year.

Amen.

Thought of the Day

We've joined together as classmates again
as this new term begins...
A new term full of learning
while we become friends once again

We'll share and be kind
as we work and play.
And our friendship will grow
with each passing day.

We will work hard and laugh hard

And we will help

Each other out along the way..

So here’s to us and our new school term,

A term where we will study and learn,

With God’s good grace we will have a good term,

He will watch over us and guide us, and help us to learn.

Thought for the Day
A little smile works wonders, enhancing charm and looks. And though you may not see it in the beauty books – it’s a tip worth having. You’ll take it if you’re wise. It banishes the wrinkles and light the tired eyes. You may make every effort to dress in perfect style – but it will all be wasted unless you wear a smile.

Thought for the Day

Thoughts have great power,

They are like seeds you plant in your mind.

The more you hold onto a particular thought,

The more power you invest in it.

Positive thoughts give us energy and strength.

Negative thoughts rob us of power and

Make us feel tired and strained.

We are by nature positive.

Negativity is the result of faulty thinking.

You can change if you want to.

You can't control other people, situation or circumstances,

But you can control what is going on inside you.

It takes time to change

And transform those old patterns of thinking.

Be patient with yourself.

It starts with a thought..... Today!

Thought for the Day

A friend is like a flower,
a rose to be exact,
Or maybe like a brand new gate
that never comes unlatched.
A friend is like an owl,
both beautiful and wise.
Or perhaps a friend is like a ghost,
whose spirit never dies.
A friend is like a heart that goes
strong until the end.
Where would we be in this world
if we didn't have a friend?

Thought of the Day

You have blessed us, O God,

with the gift of friendship,
the bonding of persons
in a circle of love.
We thank you for such a blessing:
for friends who love us,
who share our sorrows,
who laugh with us in celebration,
who bear our pain,
who need us as we need them,
who weep as we weep,
who hold us when words fail,
and who give us the freedom
to be ourselves.
Bless our friends with health,
wholeness, life, and love.
Amen.

Thought for the Day

Guardian Angel,
watch over those whose names

you can read in my heart,

Especially all of our third and

sixth year students who are doing their exams,
Guard over them with every care
and make their way easy and their labours fruitful.
Dry their tears if they weep;
sanctify their joys;
raise their courage if they weaken;
restore their hope if they lose heart,
their health if they be ill,
truth if they err,
repentance if they fail.

Thought for the Day

What is a Catholic school? It is not simply a school for Catholics, it is a community of teaching and learning that believes in the dignity of every person as a child of God. We believe that each one of us is called to work with others in creating an inclusive community in the service of the common good where knowledge is sought and respected while faith is nurtured and challenged. This week we have reflected on and celebrated our identity as a Catholic school. May this vision always encourage us to enjoy what we do and to give of our best, trusting that the Spirit of God will continue to guide us through all the challenges that come our way.

Thought of the Day

Some Christians think that religion is a very private affair, just between the individual and God. This is surprising when we consider that Jesus only ever told one story about the judgment of peoples at the end of the world (Matt 25:31-46). In that story he said our entry into the Kingdom would be based on only one thing: the extent to which we recognized him in the poor, the hungry, the sick, the homeless, the naked, and people in prison and came to his help. We want the Good News of Jesus’ love to guide all that we do in our school, to help us as individuals and as a community to respond to the suffering of others, knowing that in so doing we are responding to Jesus himself

Thought of the Day

Today is the feast of Saint Brigid and in Ireland traditionally the first day of spring.

The days are slowly lengthening, and flowers are beginning to push their way up from the cold earth.

It is a time for hope and for realizing that the amazing world we live in points in

so many ways to the presence of God.

The miracle of life invites us to be grateful and to recognise that despite the problems we may have to deal with, we are very blessed.

So let us take a little time today to name the blessings in our lives and in our school community and to give thanks for them.

Thought for the Day

Our lives are busy with lots going on,

in our families, in class, with our friends.

We have homework and

study to do, sport and recreation.

Our days are so full it can be difficult to make

time to pray or even to know how to pray.

Pope John Paul II said

“Pray any way you like as long as you do pray”.

We can make time to say a prayer we have been taught,

or just take a moment to give thanks.

It is good to pray together for Jesus said that where two or three gather in his name he would be with them.

It is also good to pray alone, to use the Bible for inspiration and rediscover how close God is to us through his word.

If, in our school, we are Christ’s living body in the world, then let us not forget to make time for prayer just as he did.

As Mother Teresa of Calcutta said

“Prayer enlarges the heart and makes room for God’s love.”

Thought for the Day

The theme for Catholic Schools Week 2012 is Christ’s Living Body Active in our World. It is an invitation to us to think about the difference our faith can make to our personal lives and to our school community. Christianity is not primarily about the past nor is it a religion of It was Saint Paul writing in the New Testament who first described the community of believers as the “body of Christ”. He understood that the faith we share really forms a bond between us and invites us to always act in the best interests of the other, just as Jesus himself did. This is the way that Jesus chose to continue his presence in the world: through the care that we show, the forgiveness we share and the community that we build at home, in school and in our parish we become a living sign of Christ in the world. So this week let us ask Jesus to make us more aware of his presence in one another and more willing to reach out to those in need

Thought of the Day

Sometimes we fail to notice, how long a life can be,

Our time may vanish without a trace, but not for all you see.

The time ‘till lunch may fly for us, but others find it hard,

For those who have no food to eat, who life has left them scarred.

Who beg on streets for but a pound,

who we pretend that we don’t see.

Who’d give all they have for half a roll, or a measly cup of tea.

Time never flies for girls in school, who feel isolated or sad,

Who come home from school in floods of tears, from the stress of exams to be had.

In the spirit of the week of Mary Ward, Let us change our ways.

Help the time of these people fly happily by, there are many easy ways.

Don’t disregard the needs of the man

who is hungry on the streets where you walk,

Spare a few bob to buy him a roll, make his day

without needing even to talk.

Just stay true to yourself and act right by others, you’ll be free from sadness and strife.

As long as you stay always thoughtful and kind, you’ll sure not have wasted your life.

Thought of the Day

We are standing on the shoulders

Of the ones who came before us

We are stronger for their courage

We are wiser for their words

We are lifted by their longing

For a fair and brighter future

We should be grateful for their vision

For their toiling on this earth.

To stand a little taller,

Work a little longer,

And let your shoulders be there,

To hold the ones who follow

We will follow in the footsteps

Of those who came before us

We will prove every right,

The words of Mary Ward,

“Women in time will come to do a great deal”

Thought of the Day

Teresa Ball founded the Loreto Order,

Which breeds girls charismatic and bright

She was a pioneer for education,

And believed in doing what’s right.

Each of our fingerprints is different,

And each palm print unique,

Our differences yet unique link

Is what we praise this week

Every girl is Loreto in linked in a special way,

This unity we should be aware of every single day

To represent this fact within our school,

Today we honour the life of the great Teresa Ball,

Let us honour her and Mary Ward,

And send her a blessing from us all.

Thought of the Day

We pray for children who never get desert,

Who find no bread to steal,

Whose pictures aren’t on anyone’s wall,

Whose monsters are real.

We pray for children, who have to live,

Watching their parents watch them die,

Who’ve never seen a dentist

And cannot cease to cry

We pray for those whose nightmares come

In day time instead of night,

Who never get a chance to live,

Who are forced out of our sight.

Like Mary Ward prayed for women,

And succeeded in her quest,

Let us pray for children,

And make saving them our quest.

Mary Ward Week

In 1941 our school was founded,

By those who fought for our rights.

In a time where women were ruled and not taught

On equality she set her sights.

She travelled for and wide for year and years,

Not on behalf of herself,

But on behalf of young women all over the world,

On behalf of you and myself.

On behalf of Sarah, chillin in Babthorpe.

Or Rachel chillin in Ward,

Be you in class learning grammar and sums,

She has earned her reward.

To she we owe plenty, much more that you know,

Hers are whose footsteps we follow.

Women are strong and courageous and smart,

Which, to men, was a hard fact to swallow.

In Mary Ward Week, we pay tribute to her,

We strive to fulfil her ambition,

We treat education like a song in Loreto,

And we give it our very best rendition.

Thought for the Day

There will be higher hills to climb and stranger foes to conquer yet. There will be greater loads to bear and more temptations to be met. Do not suppose the load gets smoother as the winding way you wend. You will need God’s help and guidance right on to the journey’s end

Recipe for kindness

Chop one grudge in tiny pieces,
Add several cups of love,
Dredge with a large sized smile,
And mix the ingredients above.

Dissolve the hate within you,
By doing a very good deed,
Dash in some help for any friend,
If they should be in need.

Stir in laughter, love and kindness,
From the heart it has to come,
Mix with genuine forgiveness,
And give your neighbour some.

The amount of people you can serve,
From the recipe above,
Is in the quality of its ingredients,
And unlimited amounts of love.

This recipe's for the whole wide world,
For everyone to make,
Just get it all together,
And cook for God's own sake!

Thought for the Day

Sometimes it’s to late to say

the things you meant to say-

Too late to say you’re sorry

or some kindness to repay.

Too late to speak the loving word or

lend the helping hand –

Too show appreciation or

To give the gift you planned.

Thus we pile up vain regrest that haunt the years ahead: Memories of all the things we might have done or said. . .

Save yourself the pain and

take each opportunity –

of doing all that’s in your power

for friends and family too.

Thought of the Day

Never say you can not reach

The Peak beyond the blue.

Never say you’ve failed to do

The thing you meant to do.

Never say that anything on earth

Has beaten you…. Before you’ve tried

Never drop out of the race

Until the course is run.

Don’t admit failure or defeat to anyone.

And if a thing looks difficult –

Don’t say it can’t be done …. Before you’ve tried.

Thought of the Day

Make a little time each day

For putting wrong things right.

For breaking up the gloomy clouds

And letting in the light.

Make the time for making friends

And take some time each day –

For counting up the blessings that

You’ve gathered on the way

Thought for the Day

You have blessed us, O God,
with the gift of friendship,
the bonding of persons
in a circle of love.
We thank you for such a blessing:
for friends who love us,
who share our sorrows,
who laugh with us in celebration,
who bear our pain,
who need us as we need them,
who weep as we weep,
who hold us when words fail,
and who give us the freedom
to be ourselves.
Bless our friends with health,
wholeness, life, and love.
Amen.

Thought for the day

It was never meant that we should

Have an easy task –

Getting always what we want

And never having to ask . . . .

Set-backs check our progress,

Slow us down at every turn –

But they give us time to think

And that’s the best way to learn

Thought of the Day

The things that we do and the things that we say

Affect everybody’s life with each passing day,

We have the power to change the world,

To make it a nice place for one and for all

In order to do this,

I ask God to…

Let me be a little kinder,
Let me be a little blinder
To the faults of those about me;

Let me praise a little more;
Let me be, when I am weary,
Just a little bit more cheery;

Let me serve a little better
Those that I am striving for.

Let me strive a little harder
To be all that I should be;

Let me be a little meeker
With the brother that is weaker;

Let me think more of my neighbor
And a little less of me.

Thought of the Day

If you see the funny side,

You’ll always walk the sunny side

And come out smiling –

Through the stress and strife

So cultivate the power to see –

The little touches of comedy

Behind the trials and tragedies of life

Life upon this little globe

Is just and Episode.

A journey: and we pass

But once along this bit of road.

So do to others as your would

That they should do to you.

You will not come this way again.

You’re only passing thorough.

Thought of the Day

Dear God, Bless us as we start this new school term with our friends and teachers Help us to make the most of every chance we have to start afresh.

May we show love to one another and to all. May the new beginning of this school term remind us that you give us chances to start over again Help us to forgive others as we receive your forgiveness.

Help us to learn and to work together. Help us to listen when we should and to know the best words when we speak and when it is better not to speak.

We thank you for our friends Help us to be good friends this year. Help us to be patient with ourselves and with others.

Bless our school and keep us safe. Be with us as we travel each day.

Bless all those who care for us In school and at home. Help us show our care for them and to say sorry when we need to

Thought for the day

What is Christmas without

A child to make the meaning clear?

What is Christmas without the Children?

In their joy we hear –

The echo of our lost faith.

God speaks to us through them –

And turning back we find once more

The road to Bethlehem . . .

What is Christmas without

A thought of the Nativity?

Nothing but a foolish farce,

A hollow mockery.

What is Christmas without the Christ?

A throne without a King.

He turns the tinsel into gold

And hallows everything.

Thought for the Day

We have to open hearts and purses

At this time of year –

And give beyond the cosy

Circle of our own small sphere . . .

We have to think of others

And of self a little less –

Choosing presents, writing letters,

Giving happiness.

Thought for the Day

Giving is the greatest gift you have To offer to others!

Whether it's monetary, material,

Words of encouragement,

A caring embrace,

A pat on the back or

A simple smile of appreciation...

The gift is yours to share!

Another day of living is another Day of giving!

Give your all everyday!

Do it and DO IT BIG!!!"

Thought for the Day

WARNING……WARNING: ADVENT VIRUS

Be on the alert for symptoms of inner Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to this virus and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.

Some signs and symptoms of The Advent Virus:

A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.
An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
A loss of interest in judging other people.
A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
A loss of interest in conflict.
A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.)
Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
Frequent attacks of smiling.
An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.

Please send this warning out to all your friends. This virus can and has affected many systems. Some systems have been completely cleaned out because of it.

Thought for the day

The Inn of Friendship lights the way

Along life’s winding path.

The door stands ever open

And a fire burns on the hearth.

The lamp gives forth a glow

Of welcome and a kindly ray

Comforting the hearts of all

Who travel by that way.

Thought for the Day

If we have each other, nothing matters,

Come what may.

Life to us will bring

New hope with every passing day . . .

Alone I halt and falter

But together we go afar,

Love shall be our guide,

Our sunset lamp,

Our morning star.

Thought for the day

You cannot walk the same road twice.

Your steps you can’t retrace.

By tomorrow you’ll be heading for some other place . . .

So carry out that good intention now without delay.

You won’t pass by this way again;

So take your chance today.

The North Pole

Dear Loreto College Foxrock,

Well it’s that Christmas time again, and the elves are busy putting the toys together for the children of the world . . . and don’t they find those quiz games a tough task not to mention those micro computers . . . we have had to have some up – dating here I can tell you.

There’s a lot of excitement around, what with holidays, parties, food and drink and general high jinks! Great stuff! Jingle Bells and Ho Ho Ho and all that. Wonderful . . . I think

You see I’m having my doubts about Christmas.

“Now,” you sat, “That is bad. Santa having doubts about Christmas? It’s like . . well . . it’s very serious anyway.”

“Away in a manger.” Know that carol do you? That’s where it all started. “Gloria in Excelsis Deo” sang the angels. “Peace on earth” and all that goes with it. Nice. Very nice.

However, you see I’m beginning to think that nobody cares. Nobody would miss the “Christ” if they took if out of “Christmas”.

We could call it Foodmas or Funmas of Santamas even. That would be sad. Especially for me – you know, I used to be St. Nicholas until Saints went out of fashion and I got turned into Santa – and I give presents because Jesus was a gift for the whole world. There is very little reason why I should go on if people don’t believe in Jesus anymore . . . what do you mean they don’t believe in Santa either.

Ridiculous!!

Yours Faithfully,

Santa

Thought For The Day

When you live in close proximity with other human beings there will be many times that you will offend each other. Families inevitably hurt each other from time to time. Saying "I'm sorry" are the two words that can repair your relationship. Without apologies the bad feelings are allowed to grow until eventually they grow into something so big and ugly that it is almost impossible to repair. It is difficult to humble ourselves and admit that that we may have made a mistake. However, when you think about the repercussions of not making a simple apology, you will realize that its worth the effort.

Thought for the Day

Light of the world,
come and shine
fill this dark world
with your light.

Light of the world,
come and shine
touch our dying life
with your fire.

Light of the world,
come and shine
and cure our sick hearts
with your healing touch.

Light of the world,
come and shine and
let your precious gems
in us reflect your love.

Thought for the Day

God of all compassion

Comfort your sons and daughters

Who live with Aids, with Cancer or addiction . . .