'the anointing at bethany'

"Remember the scene in the house of Lazarus: Martha was serving while Mary had no thought of food but only of how she could please her Beloved. And 'she broke her alabaster box, and poured out upon her Savior's head the precious spikenard, and the house was filled with the odour of ointment.'

The apostles murmured against Magdalen. This still happens, for so do men murmur against us. Even some fervent Catholics who think our ways are exaggerated, and that - with Martha- we ought to wait upon Jesus, instead of pouring out on Him the odorous ointment of our lives. Yet what does it matter if these ointment jars - our lives- be broken, since Our Lord is consoled; and the world in spite of itself is forced to inhale the perfumes they give forth? It has much need of these perfumes to purify the unwholesome air it breathes."

- A letter written by Saint Therese of Lisiuex to her sister Celine in 1894

I fell in love with Danielle's new song "The Anointing at Bethany" the first time I heard her play it in Nashville. It's about the moment in the Gospel when Mary, the sister of Lazarus, anoints Jesus' feet with oil that some criticized her for wasting. How surprised I was last night to find that Saint Therese had written a letter to her sister about the very same passage... not a coincidence!

God bless you Danielle as you prepare to enter the Disciples of the Lord on Thursday. My thoughts, love and prayers are with you now and always!!



You have come to the table of my soul. Thank you oh Lord for the mercy You've shown. What You took You have given back to me. So I pour out the oil of my dreams. As the tears start to fall I am bathing your feet, filling this house with the fragrance of your peace. I bow down to the ground. My hair spills all around. I am kissing your feet. I am wiping them dry because I believe that

You deserve to receive all of my love. Anything less Lord would not be enough. I'll lavish you Lord with all I have received. I'll spend my whole life to anoint You as king.

They say 'Why are you wasting this gift? Just think of the good you'd have done if you sold it serve all the poor souls in this world.' Father forgive for they know not what they say. Worthy are You, lamb of God that was slain, to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength. I fall down at your throne, longing for You alone. Singing 'Holy holy, God should be given all of the glory.'

You deserve to receive all of my love. Anything less Lord would not be enough. I'll lavish you Lord with all I have received. I'll spend my whole life to anoint You as king.

Now Lord I sit at Your feet. You say the better part's given to me by your love, by your generosity. 'She's done a good thing for me. My time on earth is but a blink of eternity, but the souls of the just shall live forever in peace. They'll remember this story. You will be given a crown of glory. In memory of what you've done the story will go on and on.'

You deserve to receive all of my love. Anything less Lord would not be enough. I'll lavish you Lord with all I have received. I'll spend my whole life to anoint You as king.