tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47969900442393610192024-02-06T21:23:02.888-08:00A Baby FranciscanLaura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-50969461342204962842014-12-11T10:45:00.000-08:002014-12-11T10:51:57.785-08:00Franciscan Friends<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-font-charset:78;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">As the weather gets colder and we travel
from autumn to winter, my husband and I have been indulging ourselves in the
luxury of spending more time reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After a busy start to the school year in my new role as a homeschooling coordinator
(which has been both a challenge and a great joy), it now seems right and good
to spend some quality time hibernating with hot chocolate and good books in the
ever-darkening evenings. And since my husband has embarked on a “study year”,
as he contemplates permanent profession as a Secular Franciscan, we’ve immersed
ourselves in learning more about various Franciscan personalities throughout history.
Last year we studied the spirituality and life of St. Francis, in depth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This fall, it’s been like meeting some terrific
new Franciscan friends!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">Such as…</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GOB2ZyVJF2bFHdbHsSCPi4MfZQPJpifkYBi99KHn37i7KKNXUFJxR-_3eBx37JJ_nPZaQVH77BAZmGR_mxBTi8UcOcbAcah2zzGnbkLzu7j6l5ifC-CCLj7WlLbckqiFF6C-sef1YAY/s1600/St.+Clare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GOB2ZyVJF2bFHdbHsSCPi4MfZQPJpifkYBi99KHn37i7KKNXUFJxR-_3eBx37JJ_nPZaQVH77BAZmGR_mxBTi8UcOcbAcah2zzGnbkLzu7j6l5ifC-CCLj7WlLbckqiFF6C-sef1YAY/s1600/St.+Clare.jpg" height="200" width="163" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;"><b>St. Clare</b>… who we discovered was not just
Francis’ feminine counterpart, but a woman of independence, strength and
courage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1212, she and her female
followers founded the Order of Poor Ladies, also known as the “Poor Clares”,
and together they created a way for the radical life of Francis to be lived
with freedom and joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her letters and
writings are so hopeful, encouraging, visionary and loving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0lX6nW5Crhsdh_WMW_Kv5KddUlc4T4tBkgwwTExphQ9lxXmeP0VmjKLQbVZ5-0P4ZXIyPrXcvdK-ZjzEu5OuyRnDjB_UoIRXq8ImxPu3u08l6p0dP3Et4IqxuTSj9n7ryqts20dJKqEs/s1600/St.+Bonaventure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0lX6nW5Crhsdh_WMW_Kv5KddUlc4T4tBkgwwTExphQ9lxXmeP0VmjKLQbVZ5-0P4ZXIyPrXcvdK-ZjzEu5OuyRnDjB_UoIRXq8ImxPu3u08l6p0dP3Et4IqxuTSj9n7ryqts20dJKqEs/s1600/St.+Bonaventure.jpg" height="200" width="126" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;"><b>St. Bonaventure</b>… a medieval philosopher and
Franciscan Friar who became Minister General of the Franciscan Order in 1265, just
one year before the death of St. Francis. Where as much Christianity in this
period was filled with fear and guilt, Bonaventure’s frame of reference is big,
optimistic and positive. He passionately believed in the universal “belonging”
of all creation, and he wrote and preached that fear-based preoccupations are
small and unnecessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His writings
still feel like a breath of fresh air, 750 years after they were written.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrs-z_Yesqit79BEpW_IiBklJe9FZcm-Kwi5rtYSCgpzAR7VRuT3q6rL_0T9t5_tHw7xcAesmhJt7gSZoaFYnjIZxNxBvbk6D4Tix9Ms70KKaBKTlI9rooYse3aP0A21JYmDEQJyU9t8/s1600/JohnDunsScotus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrs-z_Yesqit79BEpW_IiBklJe9FZcm-Kwi5rtYSCgpzAR7VRuT3q6rL_0T9t5_tHw7xcAesmhJt7gSZoaFYnjIZxNxBvbk6D4Tix9Ms70KKaBKTlI9rooYse3aP0A21JYmDEQJyU9t8/s1600/JohnDunsScotus.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;"><b>John Duns Scotus</b>… who in 1224 joined an
early group of Franciscans who lived in Canterbury, England. His brilliant
insights were a breakthrough in the Middle Ages. In a time when the concept of
the individual apart from the group had not yet been born, Scotus honoured the
uniqueness of persons and things within the Wholeness of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He understood that God’s love always shows
itself in the specific, the concrete, the particular – something he called
“this-ness”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fascinating stuff!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">This fall we’ve also enjoyed reading two
books written by modern Franciscans, which have sparked much thought and
discussion:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">The Lessons
of St. Francis: How to Bring Simplicity and Spirituality Into Your Daily Life</span></i><span lang="EN-US"> (Penguin Group Publisher; 1997) by <b>John Michael Talbot.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talbot is a Secular Franciscan, musician and
author, who founded and still lives in a Franciscan integrated monastic community
at the Little Portion Hermitage in the Ozark Mountains. This beautiful book is
filled with wisdom and practical advice about living a more simple and
authentic life. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Immortal
Diamond: Searching for Our True Self </span></i><span lang="EN-US">(Jossey-Bass
Publishers; 2013) by <b>Richard Rohr.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rohr
is a Franciscan priest and founding director of the Centre for Action and
Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His book is a wonderful exploration of identity and truth – of shedding
our false self and getting in touch with our true self, which lies like a
diamond buried within and is rooted in God’s love and mercy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: large;">And now we are approaching the third Sunday
of Advent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our research, reading and
discussions this fall have given both my husband and I a better appreciation of
our rich Franciscan heritage...and also nourished our faith and increased our
Advent longing for more of Christ in our lives!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-37410241689996909102014-07-01T06:55:00.002-07:002014-07-01T06:55:41.582-07:00Permanent Profession
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3fdXMXd84zXT0B_CU2WA05X-Kf5eooGhw7oDV353290v1RVb9LiyDTLLib9MpN7Q5Ub9P6Qy6s_OxXHzlDSAc6593iAwn50qA1f4mBxI0CUYZcWoUGUzhgPDdt9A6A55gKgeojy_DdI/s1600/StylizedFr.+&+dove.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt3fdXMXd84zXT0B_CU2WA05X-Kf5eooGhw7oDV353290v1RVb9LiyDTLLib9MpN7Q5Ub9P6Qy6s_OxXHzlDSAc6593iAwn50qA1f4mBxI0CUYZcWoUGUzhgPDdt9A6A55gKgeojy_DdI/s1600/StylizedFr.+&+dove.JPG" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">June always seems like the end of the year to me.<span> </span>I know this is because I’ve been
involved in school calendars for most of my life – as a student, a teacher, and
a parent of students.<span> </span>So,
according to my brain, the year starts in September and comes to completion in
June, with July and August being…bonus months!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This particular June has been a time of completion for
something else in my life.<span> </span>After
three years of orientation and formation, I came to the happy conclusion this
spring that I was ready for a permanent commitment to live my life as a Secular
Franciscan - centered on Christ, guided by simplicity, focused on peace,
trusting God’s mercy. <span> </span>Bill, my
husband, came to his own conclusion that he needs to continue his formation for
another year, taking time to study, pray and ponder; being sure in his heart that
this is the right decision for him. I applaud his choice, because the decision
to make your Permanent Profession to the Order of Secular Franciscans is not one
to take lightly. But for me, this was the right time. And so, filled with joy
and thanksgiving to God, I made my “Permanent Profession” during a special Mass
on a beautiful, sunny June afternoon at St. Luke’s Church, in front of my
Secular Franciscan Fraternity.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For students, teachers and parents, June is both an ending and a
beginning. It is the end of a school year filled with work and play, challenges
and victories. But, at the same time, June is the beginning of summer holidays,
leading to the beginning of a new school year, a new class, and a new
adventure.<span> </span>Permanent Profession is
also both an ending and a beginning. It is the end of a formation period filled
with work and play, challenges and victories.<span> </span>But it is the start of a new phase in the life of a Secular
Franciscan – the beginning of a lifelong walk on the path of discovery, trying
every day to discern how best to live out the call of the Gospel in a secular
world.<span> </span>With Christ the Good
Shepherd guiding the way, and St. Francis as my inspiration, I’m humbled as I
take my first wobbly steps on this path. But I’m excited, too!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XDi3yyyEOytqidmb-SljzsUiQunDzYlsmQoawId8NAVf1wtL_1aL0zvSdSg1brxoY6ludkTspWoGCOGc4Buc-fxMcinZSDg873QgJNmaMIY0VfOSHjWjmAIojY0yqI52fAtZVKTHBMs/s1600/St.+Francis+&+Friars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XDi3yyyEOytqidmb-SljzsUiQunDzYlsmQoawId8NAVf1wtL_1aL0zvSdSg1brxoY6ludkTspWoGCOGc4Buc-fxMcinZSDg873QgJNmaMIY0VfOSHjWjmAIojY0yqI52fAtZVKTHBMs/s1600/St.+Francis+&+Friars.jpg" height="290" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-19211904003397312482014-05-13T05:42:00.000-07:002014-05-13T06:02:20.396-07:00Sacred Bookends<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We are definitely in the home stretch of our formation
journey as Secular Franciscans, as we are nearing the end of our first “Candidacy”
year. We are approaching a time
when we can make a decision to make our “Permanent Profession”, but another
option is to wait one or two more years, if we don’t feel we are ready for that
commitment. Regardless, now is an
excellent opportunity to reflect on all that we’ve learned and gained over
these past three years. One very
positive plus in my life has been learning about the Liturgy of the Hours. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We heard a little about the Liturgy of the Hours when we
first joined the Catholic Church and were going through R.C.I.A., seven years
ago. This set of ancient prayers,
also called the Divine Office, are daily prayers that have been part of Church
tradition since its earliest times. Early Christians continued the Jewish
practice of publicly reciting prayers, consisting of psalms and readings from
the Old Testament, at certain hours of the day or night. The Christians added
readings of the Gospels, Acts and Epistles. Many brothers and sisters in
religious communities still pray these prayers aloud together, but they can
also be prayed privately.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSL7ymT2T62p6xuouXMDn48EmuAHZr5QiwNqMiltepLhyTenr6cXi3g8aG5w2-m4iu1jQN7KOeAiT_psypfEdtfgGPgI_PRfa-JH2pK0N0S9U72GOqIbVMaY5L_5IkgH3KOJ2y-UXC0m4/s1600/Liturgy+of+the+Hours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSL7ymT2T62p6xuouXMDn48EmuAHZr5QiwNqMiltepLhyTenr6cXi3g8aG5w2-m4iu1jQN7KOeAiT_psypfEdtfgGPgI_PRfa-JH2pK0N0S9U72GOqIbVMaY5L_5IkgH3KOJ2y-UXC0m4/s1600/Liturgy+of+the+Hours.jpg" height="144" width="320" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The monks of St. Anselm Abbey in New Hampshire pray the Liturgy of the Hours together.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There are seven “offices of prayer” in the Liturgy of the
Hours – Morning, Mid-morning, Midday, Mid-afternoon, Evening and Night, as well
as a daily “Office of Readings”, which includes a reading from the great
spiritual storehouse of the Church, such as wisdom from the early Church Father
or inspirational stories from the lives of the saints. Priests are obligated to
pray the entire Divine Office daily, and in 2003 Pope John Paul II published an
apostolic letter encouraging all of us laity to also take advantage of this
rich and beautiful resource, as “a source of nourishment for personal prayer”. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Secular Franciscans are encouraged to pray Morning and Evening
prayers from the Liturgy of the Hours, which, along with the Office of
Readings, are called the “major hours”.
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As an evangelical Protestant for most of my life, I don’t
have much experience with set, written prayer. My prayer times with God have
always been quite unstructured and almost conversational in nature. But I’ve
come to realize that it doesn’t have to be “either/or” but “both/and”! The stirring, ancient words of the
Morning and Evening Prayers from the Liturgy of the Hours have become sacred bookends
to my day, and they often are a gateway to spontaneous, very personal praise
and thanksgiving.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Scripture exhorts us to “pray always”, which seems
impossible, but the Liturgy of the Hours helps us to get into the habit of interweaving
time with God into our day. It has become a very fruitful addition to my
spiritual life, and I encourage those who haven’t encountered it to check it
out. The Liturgy of the Hours is a
great resource for everyone. I
think many of my Protestant friends would appreciate that the prayers are so scriptural. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You might ask, “There should be an app for that!” and I’m
happy to report that there is – called Divine Office, available from the App
Store. With this app, you can
either read or listen to the daily “offices of prayer”. Sometimes I sit and read them
prayerfully, but it’s great to have the option of listening to them while I
walk the dogs, or do some knitting, or wash the dishes. Sometimes in the middle of the day, I
stop and take a few minutes to listen to one of the “minor hours” (Mid-morning,
Midday or Mid-afternoon prayer) which are shorter in length…and the lovely and
very short night prayer is great to read in bed before drifting off to sleep! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-61661460602932687992014-01-04T19:07:00.000-08:002014-01-05T11:49:21.984-08:00An "Aha" Moment<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRnHOr9AxACGjVJwoHAXzCa_AS4UDzqRzo62AmKJHyoCcZbyoeWiHCcyxBRQyHkY-oH0v-a9Ph_TV3ib-5S8MMgJNdgWXH17Bud-HERfF23DzAq-1beirlAqOFp5fx96NDxCIDuwsYKE/s1600/St.+Francis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRnHOr9AxACGjVJwoHAXzCa_AS4UDzqRzo62AmKJHyoCcZbyoeWiHCcyxBRQyHkY-oH0v-a9Ph_TV3ib-5S8MMgJNdgWXH17Bud-HERfF23DzAq-1beirlAqOFp5fx96NDxCIDuwsYKE/s200/St.+Francis.jpg" width="160" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bill and I are now halfway through our year of
Candidacy, as temporarily professed Secular Franciscans. How time flies! As we journey through this last stage
of formation towards Permanent Profession, we are digging deeper into the
wisdom of St. Francis. This past fall has been a time of exploring themes such
as Community, Conversion, Simple Living, Evangelizing, and Living a Prayerful
Life with our little band of fellow travellers. It’s been a rich five months of reading,
learning, listening and discussing many ideas. For example, our formation study text reminds us that as believers we are called to “choose
the cross”. What does that really mean? One paradoxical facet might be that we have the choice to “put to death” those behaviours and
thought patterns that obstruct us from receiving the fullness of life. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As this New Year of 2014 begins, it’s a great time to think
about the obstacles we have a tendency to “choose” (sometimes unconsciously) that
impede us from living a life of peace and joy in God’s presence. As St. Francis said, “<i>No one is to be
called an enemy; all are your benefactors, and no one does you harm. You have no enemy except yourselves.</i>”
So many of our greatest, deepest, most abiding problems are inside, not outside,
of us. They might spring from our
inclination to compare our situation to others with a jealous heart, or to
obsess about bad things that might happen in the future, or to dwell with
regret on the past, or to shy away from new opportunities because of fear. These initial days of January are a
perfect time, with open hearts, to reflect on some of the patterns behind our
choices. Could this year be a time
of striking out on some new, brave, healthy paths?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I recently watched an inspirational “Net for God” video (<a href="http://www.netforgod.tv/" target="_blank">www.netforgod.tv)</a>
about a young Dominican priest named Fr. Jean-Joseph Lataste, who was sent to
preach a spiritual retreat in September 1864 at a women’s prison in the
southwest of France. He was
totally surprised to see the effects of grace in the lives of these rejected,
discarded women, many of whom were prostitutes, and to see their readiness to
forgive. When he held a night of adoration, he was profoundly moved when he saw
hundreds of women in the prison praying devotedly for hours. Silence was imposed on them every day
in the prison, broken only when he was allowed to hear their confessions. He was struck by the similarity in situation between the female prisoners and a group of religious sisters
living in seclusion in a nearby convent.
The only difference was that one group of women had <i>chosen</i> their situation, and the other hadn’t. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8f3YCHwzIX7Oo_yMnUBJO_DJkbUfErRZlMlSFBPCmTHPdKiyDdcxVzBoPERMu0Fp2TcvpxhELE-EKzoxZmkRrI3cq0dmeBMP0WzUxoq8ugkcX61GRZpake4YTgdiH2TU-VQCSbEuEvSI/s1600/Women's+prison,+Cadillac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8f3YCHwzIX7Oo_yMnUBJO_DJkbUfErRZlMlSFBPCmTHPdKiyDdcxVzBoPERMu0Fp2TcvpxhELE-EKzoxZmkRrI3cq0dmeBMP0WzUxoq8ugkcX61GRZpake4YTgdiH2TU-VQCSbEuEvSI/s320/Women's+prison,+Cadillac.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The women's prison in Cadillac-Sur-Garonne, France</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He realized that the female prisoners would experience
nothing but contempt after their release from prison. But what if they were
given a new chance…a new choice? Fr. Lataste felt called to found a
congregation where women, regardless of their past, could enter to live a
religious life if they desired to devote themselves to God. A
generous-spirited group of Dominican contemplative nuns were willing to welcome
these women coming out of prison into their community. The Dominican
Sisters of Bethany was born, which now resides in several European
countries. These communities
continue to be places where former female convicts live a contemplative
life in communion with other women religious. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">God gave me an “aha” moment after I watched that video. What if we “pretended” that the difficult
situations that seem to imprison us, for whatever reason, were our own choice? Let
me explain. I have always admired the choice that Henri Nouwen, renowned author
and speaker, made when he decided to move to L’Arche Daybreak Community in Ontario
in 1986, to serve as resident priest and help care for the disabled residents. He stayed for ten years. One of his
“jobs” while there was to be a caregiver to a severely handicapped young man
named Adam. Nouwen called Adam “my friend, my teacher and my guide”, and
credited Adam with renewing his faith and helping him find joy in the mere gift
of human existence. He wrote a
book about the experience, called “<i>Adam,
God’s Beloved</i>”. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01LCtjnYpSLioPJz7kxX5D3eYCZMU9ly-9rMiSmJc9_dBxmIpWG12X2qvVTp-nZJtu6SV_ZYNXNbSodE-KKsDaKsacOBPw_nqRSpuj_UG-5M0qbeDjg7jakEXMsK3y5NmBrIJJGHkI-g/s1600/Henri+Nouwen_Adam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01LCtjnYpSLioPJz7kxX5D3eYCZMU9ly-9rMiSmJc9_dBxmIpWG12X2qvVTp-nZJtu6SV_ZYNXNbSodE-KKsDaKsacOBPw_nqRSpuj_UG-5M0qbeDjg7jakEXMsK3y5NmBrIJJGHkI-g/s320/Henri+Nouwen_Adam.jpg" width="205" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henri Nouwen and Adam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I must admit that sometimes I feel trapped by my situation
caring for the needs of our son Peter, whose neurological disorders are
frequently very debilitating and limit the activities we can participate in as
a family. But what if caring for Peter was my deliberate choice, like the
choice made by Henri Nouwen? What
if I had freely chosen to spend my life ministering to Peter, in a faithful response
to a call from God? When I look at
my situation in that light, suddenly it feels more like a privilege, an
adventure, a blessed vocation. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What if we truly believed that God was with us in all the struggles we encounter in life, and that by His love, mercy and power He is able to redeem them for our good? What if we fully trusted Jesus with our whole heart as He invites us to follow Him and "choose the cross" - with a spirit of adventure, courage and even joy? What if it is precisely in the challenging circumstances of our lives that we will find the best opportunities for spiritual growth? It’s a perspective that might not only
transform our own lives, but also transform our world. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To quote another Francis - our Pope: "<i>Remain steadfast in the journey of faith, with firm hope in the Lord. This is the secret of our journey! He gives us the courage to swim against the tide. There are no difficulties, trials or misunderstandings to fear, provided we do not lose our friendship with Him, provided we make ever more room for Him in our lives.</i>" (from a homily on April 28, 2013) </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-200018860190448622013-07-04T17:54:00.001-07:002013-07-05T05:34:27.899-07:00Temporary Profession<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0ywgco4TB713ljFzYonC9VYRO2RtdZHcWA6GlbzPbK3fY9TQhF3mwFZAGg8F_7Ume1JhNc1BBASWgZ5pwVibwJesb6tSArvN7cJ3luAyUQhFYjlCSkRWWClPmmA12LW_0x_WSNy1Cp0/s191/tau-cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0ywgco4TB713ljFzYonC9VYRO2RtdZHcWA6GlbzPbK3fY9TQhF3mwFZAGg8F_7Ume1JhNc1BBASWgZ5pwVibwJesb6tSArvN7cJ3luAyUQhFYjlCSkRWWClPmmA12LW_0x_WSNy1Cp0/s191/tau-cross.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> “Moved by the
power of the Gospel, we all experience the call always to begin again and to
bring about a continuing inner conversion, so that we may be conformed to
Christ – and with Him be given over to the service of the Father, and of our
brothers and sisters as well. In
this journey toward permanent commitment, perseverance is a gift of God. Let us
pray, therefore, that as we make progress in loving one another, we will remain
faithful to the end.” </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> These were the beautiful words prayed over myself, my
husband and eight other candidates recently, as we stood at the front of St.
Luke’s Church in Calgary on a sunny Sunday afternoon during a special Mass. Having journeyed together for two years,
learning about what it means to follow in the footsteps of “the little poor man
of Assisi”, we had all discerned that we were ready to seek Temporary Profession
in the Secular Franciscan Order - another decision on the road to Permanent Profession. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> In unision, all ten of us declared these words before the congregation: “I make for one year my
commitment to observe the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, after the example of
St. Francis of Assisi, according to the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order.”
The common denominator we all felt that afternoon, I think, was great joy. We couldn’t stop
smiling.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Since we began our time of formation two years ago, I have
constantly been challenged to truly live a more simple life, striving first and
foremost for oneness with God. It’s been two years of very intentionally trying
to travel through each day with humility, bearing peace to those around me.
Believe me when I say it hasn’t been easy! But it’s put me on a path of ongoing
change of heart, questioning my priorities and examining my intentions. In these past two years I’ve
experienced my share of discouragement as I saw the need over and over again to
free myself from the blockage and brokenness of sin. But I’ve also experienced extraordinary peace, through the
process of realizing that though we are all selfish, erring little children, we
are also intensely, completely and unconditionally loved by our heavenly
Father. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Fr. Louis Geelan OFM, the Spiritual Assistant of our fraternity, earnestly
prayed these words for us at the end of the Mass: “Hear our prayers, O Lord, and grant that these, our
brothers and sisters, who strive to spend their daily lives in service to
others, may imbue their earthly affairs with a genuine Gospel spirit.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> As I listened to his prayer while standing in front of the members of our fraternity, I also remembered the encouraging words of St.
Francis himself, in the Prologue to our Rule: “Oh, how happy and blessed are
these men and women when they do these things and persevere in doing them,
because the spirit of the Lord will rest upon them, and He will make his home
and dwelling among them.” </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Amen to all the wonderful words we were blessed with on this
important day. And now, as Temporary
Professed Franciscans, the journey continues!</span></span></div>
Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-51194006500215168102013-05-25T19:14:00.002-07:002013-05-25T19:14:53.496-07:00Connection
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My
Dad passed away about a month ago.<span>
</span>The pain of losing him is still pretty raw and deep, but I’ve been
reflecting on how fortunate I was to be able to spend lots of time with him
over the past few years, especially after my Mom died in 2010.<span> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span> </span>Caring
for elderly parents is one of those parts of life that can be a blessing or a
burden, and is usually a bit of both.<span>
</span>Dad had a habit of phoning me at inconvenient times. I had to shout at
him because his hearing wasn’t very good, and sometimes that was frustrating.<span> </span>He’d often ask me to do him a favour
that didn’t fit very well into my schedule. But I can also honestly (and
thankfully) say that we had lots of really good times together…going to
concerts, our regular weekly power-walk and coffee, watching old movies at his
place, going out for breakfast, kayaking on the river, teaching him how to knit.
He was a great guy, and I miss him.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span> </span>Hanging
out with your elderly parents is one of those things that isn’t very heroic or
courageous or spectacular.<span> </span>You
just do it.<span> </span>And I think, in the
general scheme of things, those common little loving things we do that are
pretty ordinary and sometimes even a bit boring might have more significance than
we realize. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VvmzwuuUCzHvkSytO1wOrUHZ6zeGDP4ZrY7v_3SCsgwfmwxmmAxgIfvJVGRJ4lyI9KTD_CXpyJ4RfabaC0tLDbxVlLDecwg47o0ccWymJOGTTJLt5GoislwXaj3btMv50Fjl3fEm2NY/s1600/Dad_coffeeshop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VvmzwuuUCzHvkSytO1wOrUHZ6zeGDP4ZrY7v_3SCsgwfmwxmmAxgIfvJVGRJ4lyI9KTD_CXpyJ4RfabaC0tLDbxVlLDecwg47o0ccWymJOGTTJLt5GoislwXaj3btMv50Fjl3fEm2NY/s320/Dad_coffeeshop.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span> </span>In
a recent homily (on the Vigil of Pentecost), Pope Francis encourages us to
“make present in society the leaven of the Kingdom of God”, primarily through
“the witness of brotherly love”.<span>
</span>But he also warns us to beware of the risk of “falling into the trap of
hyper-efficiency.” It’s very easy to start thinking that we must be “wise”
about where we spend our time and energy, to make the most of our efforts and
bring about “maximum results”.<span> </span>But
there is danger in that way of thinking. As the Pope points out, the Church is
not an NGO. God’s Kingdom isn’t about being politically correct or well-organized
or specially qualified – it’s simply about being connected with others. It’s
about loosening your grip on your ego, instead of feeding it.<span> </span>When we just naturally (without
strategizing and weighing the benefits) are helpful and kind and loving to the folks
around us, something cosmic is going on.<span>
</span>We’re bringing more of God into the world, because God is love.<span> </span>We’re doing combat against the
darkness.<span> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span> </span>This
week I listened to a talk by Peter Kreeft, and he speaks about how much easier
it is to love “humanity” instead of your neighbour or, as he puts it, “the
idiot you live with”.<span> </span>The truth is
that Jesus is not looking for high achievers, or winners in some moral attainment
contest.<span> </span>He is looking for people who
are willing to help each other in simple, ordinary ways; willing to walk the
talk; willing to open their hearts and be led by the Holy Spirit; willing to
“do the right thing” even if it’s inconvenient or not very exciting.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span> </span>This
Sunday is Trinity Sunday.<span> </span>It puts
a spotlight on the fact that God is all about relationship – a giving and
receiving of mutual love.<span> </span>The
universe is held together by that kind of love. Through the mystery of the
Trinity, God Himself invaded our world disguised as a homeless carpenter’s son
who roamed the countryside dispensing friendship and hope and forgiveness to
whoever came across his path. He connected with people. We are called to do the
same, because friendship and hope and forgiveness actually have the power to change
the world. And, not incidentally, change us, too. </span></span></div>
Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-57031082812060776452013-03-05T15:58:00.000-08:002013-03-10T10:00:20.305-07:00Irish Stew<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Patience has become almost a dirty word in our fast-paced
western world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all want fast
food, immediate answers, speedy service and short lines at the grocery
store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even conversing with
someone who talks a bit slow can be frustrating to people like me who, shall we
say, sometimes lack patience (ask my husband and children!) Quick wit, quick
analysis of problems, quick completion of tasks – these are the things that are
rewarded in our corporate culture. In most of my past jobs, especially when I
was a school administrator, superior time management was the most prized
quality; inefficiency the greatest sin. I subscribe to a great podcast called
Radiolab, and I recently listened to an episode all about SPEED.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was illuminating and rather scary to
hear about the mad race to bring out newer, faster technologies to satisfy our
collective impatience. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIBV_3UleivAQ-wGzIp5TQdPbSzSK0Btc6nNkq5uTEE1tc5OpRHSrrfa74kBTdSwZPJQmBCpRb6cWX6qeAB3BfbBIDQ_YiW2ZRaXHF6o-c-YPYPVX5NLs54yCfJxxkq7aLXHFLipIw48/s1600/mater-dolorosa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIBV_3UleivAQ-wGzIp5TQdPbSzSK0Btc6nNkq5uTEE1tc5OpRHSrrfa74kBTdSwZPJQmBCpRb6cWX6qeAB3BfbBIDQ_YiW2ZRaXHF6o-c-YPYPVX5NLs54yCfJxxkq7aLXHFLipIw48/s320/mater-dolorosa.jpg" width="218" /></a>Contrast this with Mary, who exemplifies patience. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What an enriching Lenten exercise to meditate
on this aspect of her character…her patience in accepting the Angel Gabriel’s
announcement that she would bear God’s Son, without demanding to know all the future
implications for her life; her patience with Joseph as he came to terms with her
pregnancy; her patience while she waited for the birth of Jesus; her patience
as she witnessed her Son’s life and ministry unfold and pondered all these
things in her heart; her patience as she stood at the foot of the cross,
waiting for Him to die; her patience as she walked alongside the apostles in
the challenging early years of the church.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I sometimes get depressed when I contemplate my son’s slow
advancement towards better health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As much as I’d love to rush the process, it’s obvious that we have a
long road ahead of us with his neurological disorders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are no easy answers or quick
fixes for Tourette’s Syndrome. But in order to cope I’ve been forced to live
life one day at a time – noticing and celebrating the small successes as they
come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basically, it has required
me to stop rushing around like an impulsive, crazy little rabbit, and most
especially to stop basing my actions on my fears for the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, God has been inviting me to slow
down and open my eyes fully to the present – and that has been a wonderful
gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see the truth in Mother
Teresa’s warning to us all: “We cannot find God in noise and agitation.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Revelations 3: 20 always touches me deeply: “Here I am!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stand at the door and knock. If
anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and
he with Me.” The way that the Creator of the Universe paints Himself in this
picture of patience is a clear illustration of His commitment to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He refuses to barge in – but He also
doesn’t walk away just because no one answers His knock. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His example of loving patience, standing
at the door and waiting, leads me to want to return that commitment, to work in
partnership with Him in the growth and restoration of my own spirit and that of
others. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The journey to Profession as a Secular Franciscan is not
rushed. It’s a time of formation – and transformation – not just a time of
instruction. It’s spread over three or four years to allow for exploration and
study and reflection, in community with other travelers on the same road. For
me, it’s been a good lesson in learning to accept God’s pace, whatever that
might be, in the midst of a world that seeks instant gratification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It necessitates making certain choices,
kind of like the choice between microwaving a processed, pre-packaged meal for
supper, or taking the time to dig out the slow-cooker early in the morning,
find my mom’s Irish Stew recipe, do some chopping and slicing and then let the
ingredients simmer for hours. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
question about which one requires more effort…but also no question about which
one tastes better at the end of the day.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Live deep instead of fast.”</i></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">-Henry Seidel Canby </i></span></span></div>
Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-84913665874476156662012-12-30T15:38:00.003-08:002012-12-30T15:50:59.795-08:00Hope<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With Advent and Christmas behind us, it seems very natural
to look towards the New Year with a sense of “starting anew”. It’s so easy to get into the “New
Year’s Resolutions” mode – and I’m not entirely against it. Sometimes we need an excuse to
kickstart a more healthy diet or better exercise habits, and if the st<span style="font-size: large;">art </span>of
the New Year is that excuse, so be it!
But I guess we shouldn’t have such huge expectations of ourselves that
we’re shattered when things don’t go quite the way we’d planned. I think one of
our New Year’s <span style="font-size: large;">R</span>esolutions should be to not be so hard on ourselves, and to
laugh more at our slip-ups and moments of weakness. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What we also need, as we start the New <span style="font-size: large;">Y</span>ear, is hope. If <span style="font-size: large;">I</span> want to be a hopeful person,
then <span style="font-size: large;">I</span> must first be more forgiving – of others and also of <span style="font-size: large;">myself</span>. When <span style="font-size: large;">I</span> set the bar impossibly high and
give no room for anything but perfection, <span style="font-size: large;">I'm</span> destined to lose hope pretty
quickly. <span style="font-size: large;">I think it's really</span> important to be smart and realistic about our expectations and our
limitations, seeing our humanness through the loving, merciful eyes of
God. A helpful analogy might be
how a good parent has realistic expectations of their young child – not expecting
perfection, but hoping for progress, all the while knowing that progress very
often comes from making mistakes and learning from them. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Vaclav Havel, Czech playwright, poet and first president of
the Czech Republic after the Velvet Revolution against communist rule, once
said, “Hope is not the same as happiness that things are going well. Hope is an
ability to work for something because it is good.” That’s a nice blueprint for hope – working for something
because it is good. Notice there
are no words like “success” or even “accomplishment” in this definition. Hope is the direction you are pointed,
the road you are walking, the experience you are pushing through…towards
something good. Hope seems to have
three close companions: sacrifice, suffering and struggle. But hope is what
makes life worth living.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m coming more and more to the conclusion that “something
good” doesn’t have to be “something big”.
Yes, it’s thrilling to be part of a large endeavour that’s making a
difference in the world. But as
Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great
love.” Making a point of welcoming
a new neighbour on the block. Taking time to ask the widow sitting alone at
church how things are going. Bringing some food to a sick friend. Asking that
person whom you find slightly annoying to join you for a walk in the park, so
you can <span style="font-size: large;">get to know <span style="font-size: large;">them better and </span></span>maybe improve your relationship. It
might seem like these small touches of goodness – of generosity of spirit and
selflessness – go unnoticed and don’t count for much in the grand scheme of
things. But in that paradoxical way of the Kingdom of God, it seems that they
count for more than we can imagine.
They start ripples in the fabric of life that flow forwards and backwards,
affecting the giver as well as the recipient. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxAbeJP1jXetdae2v3Mpz6DQLEJoKXizzoifsUCTs_gHS4TqBM7gJEUYgj_P6SVcHm3uNa4lfgdSdv8aqG_vSe6qY4cQzfpks3OiUcL6caAsNIRuzqQCXXWE5l8naHCYQEdTmdSzQzNg/s1600/Gandalf-gandalf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxAbeJP1jXetdae2v3Mpz6DQLEJoKXizzoifsUCTs_gHS4TqBM7gJEUYgj_P6SVcHm3uNa4lfgdSdv8aqG_vSe6qY4cQzfpks3OiUcL6caAsNIRuzqQCXXWE5l8naHCYQEdTmdSzQzNg/s320/Gandalf-gandalf.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We went to the movie The Hobbit over the Christmas holidays,
and being big Tolkien fans, we loved it.
My favorite line in the movie was uttered by Gandalf: “Saruman believes
that it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I
have found. I have found it is the
small everyday deeds of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay…small acts
of kindness and love.” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I might start exercising more, and stop ingesting so
much junk food in 2013. I’m also going to try to make a point of keeping my
messy office a little tidier, because it’s driving me crazy. But maybe we
should also purposefully keep our radar up for those opportunities to perform
“small acts of kindness and love” – and then be brave enough to do them. Maybe we should add these words of St.
Francis to our list of New Year’s resolutions: “We have been called to heal
wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost
their way.” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Therein lies hope.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-55441384403212248672012-11-08T19:02:00.000-08:002012-11-09T11:06:29.649-08:00Year of Faith<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">October 11, 2012 marked the beginning of the “Year of Faith”
in the Catholic Church, which Pope Benedict XVI hopes will inspire all
believers to profess their faith in fullness, with renewed conviction,
confidence and hope. In his
Apostolic Letter <i>Porta Fidei</i>, the
Pope invites and challenges us to rediscover “the joy of believing”, and to
share this with others “in the midst of a profound crisis of faith that has
affected many people.” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzFLIrf8qwe8W7PhxGRWVJfwy_Jz9gQ7wui6LnWUUMIM1AdXQJdqLpRYes4zHJfSt0A8NmVj6CJgV-k9VqfTT37_Sl00AGHrR8NZJNeE_kmPlWWQTxGR3c8JjLYqGO9Mq_mb04lJkgM4/s1600/The-Year-of-Faith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGzFLIrf8qwe8W7PhxGRWVJfwy_Jz9gQ7wui6LnWUUMIM1AdXQJdqLpRYes4zHJfSt0A8NmVj6CJgV-k9VqfTT37_Sl00AGHrR8NZJNeE_kmPlWWQTxGR3c8JjLYqGO9Mq_mb04lJkgM4/s1600/The-Year-of-Faith.jpg" /></a>It struck me that my husband Bill and I have been given a natural
opportunity to share our faith journey with others, simply through the fact
that many people are curious about the decision we made five years ago to
become Catholics. We have been
asked many, many times – by Protestants, non-Christians and even other Catholics
– “Why in the world did you join the Catholic Church?” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It’s pretty hard to relate all the reasons for our decision in
a few words, so that question has often become a great excuse to get together with
folks over coffee and tell our story.
It’s a story of how we were drawn to the Catholic faith through the
suffering of our youngest son, who has Tourette Syndrome. Basically, in the
search for answers from God about why He was allowing our son’s neurological
and mental health challenges to continue (despite our fervent prayers!) we came
to see how we had reduced our relationship with God to a formula – we perform
A, B and C, and God responds appropriately. It became increasingly apparent that the formula wasn’t
working. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Developing a new understanding of God’s love for us took
time, but part of the puzzle was realizing that His love doesn’t shield us from
suffering. He knows the value of allowing His children to experience both
darkness and light during our sojourn on earth. And suffering becomes more
meaningful and fruitful as we gaze on Christ’s suffering on the cross. We
received these insights from Catholic teaching, and from connecting with God in
new ways through the Sacraments. It changed the way we looked at God, in much
the same way Job was changed through his experience with suffering: “Before, I
knew you only by hearsay, but now, having seen you with my own eyes, I retract
what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42: 5,6) These insights also
revealed to us Christ’s desire, above all else, to be with us, and in us, and
working through us, as we walk the road of joy/love/pain. Jesus walked that
road Himself, and has continued to walk it with His followers for over 2000
years. That’s pretty much the story of the Catholic Church in a nutshell – countless
saints and sinners, moving forward together in time towards our heavenly home,
in close companionship with a merciful Saviour who knows us intimately, and
calls us friends. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">St. Francis saw suffering as an avenue to actively demonstrate
his love for Christ. He realized other gifts and blessings were freely given to
him by the Holy Spirit, but suffering was one gift he could give back – a way
of showing his devotion to the Lord. St. Francis’ explanation of perfect joy
was this: “Above all the graces and all the gifts of the Holy Spirit which
Christ grants to His friends is the grace of overcoming oneself and accepting
willingly, out of love for Christ, all suffering…” Such a foreign concept in
our western society today, where avoiding suffering or even discomfort seems to
be our primary goal! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And so my husband and I have come to appreciate the opportunities
that come our way to join in Pope Benedict’s challenge to participate in the
New Evangelization – to be bearers of good news. It’s not about being heavy-handed or self-righteous, but
simply sharing our stories in a spirit of humility and friendship, and
pondering together some of the insights we’ve gained along the way. It’s a
wonderful way of celebrating “the joy of believing.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-33247470868466006232012-08-23T20:47:00.003-07:002012-08-23T20:47:53.615-07:00Silence Is Golden<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As summer draws to a close, I recently realized that I
haven’t blogged for quite a while.<span>
</span>It’s been a busy two months, with our daughter and her new husband
returning to live in Calgary from Nairobi, Kenya….my sister’s beautiful wedding….and
personally, embarking on a new project as editor of a Faith and Arts Journal
called Kolbe Times. Another big highlight of the summer was that our youngest
son got his first real job. He is 20 years old, and you might wonder what took
him so long. Peter is a special guy in many ways. He has a number of
neurological disorders, including Tourette Syndrome and Asperger’s
Syndrome.<span> </span>He’s bright, and funny,
and kind – but he also has challenges with social situations, with anxiety and
with “tics”, the hallmark of Tourette’s.<span>
</span>So when he finally felt confidant enough to apply for a job in a little
video game store near our home – and when he got the job! – we were all
ecstatic.<span> </span>It’s going really well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But because he has to “hold in” his tics while he’s at work,
he often comes home exhausted and needing a break.<span> </span>Talking is difficult at these times, because the minute he opens
his mouth he gets flooded with “vocal tics” – in his case a barking sound that
he can’t stop – which makes communication impossible.<span> </span>So he and I have started “talking” in other ways – hand
signals, big hugs, smiles, texting each other on our phones (even when we’re in
the same room), and little post-it notes.<span>
</span>It’s bizarre, but living life with a special-needs offspring is often
bizarre, as many parents will tell you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqPdEDwW6npXtZl_BumhS3fqGzrMGnp9v_2hN9N4AOgC_s4hortbzolbqBvg3eKekZbr3kAY9HbbiaKcf_GpD5eSRSp-zUNijazRBLTGMyrr-zbAsA8Zgf_HF7Dw2pa7eQZU0JnyVYkc/s1600/Texting+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqPdEDwW6npXtZl_BumhS3fqGzrMGnp9v_2hN9N4AOgC_s4hortbzolbqBvg3eKekZbr3kAY9HbbiaKcf_GpD5eSRSp-zUNijazRBLTGMyrr-zbAsA8Zgf_HF7Dw2pa7eQZU0JnyVYkc/s320/Texting+photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;">The whole experience has challenged me to express myself in
smaller and smaller sound bites.<span>
</span>When you are used to expressing yourself freely and copiously, it’s
difficult to put a lid on it when you have something interesting to say.<span> </span>Or even when you have something
not-so-interesting to say.<span> </span>But
it’s been a very good exercise in “small is beautiful” – and learning to become
friends with silence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I think the biggest thing I’ve learned from this is that we
all talk too much.<span> </span>We too often
feel the need to give unwanted advice, suggestions and opinions.<span> </span>We too often feel the need to have the
last word, or to share unnecessary information (also known as gossip), or to
brag about something, or to justify our behaviour, or to show our cleverness with a sarcastic remark. Too often, words take the place of actions that would do
a better job of encouraging and supporting our loved ones. Too often words are
all about us getting our own way, instead of just quietly letting things unfold
as they should. Too often our words drown out the words of others, and drown
out the flow of God’s love and guidance. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Richard Rohr shares some good insights about silence in his
book <i>Contemplation in Action</i>:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“One good thing that silence and waiting has taught me is
that our lives are always usable by God. We need not always be effective, but
only transparent and vulnerable. Then we are instruments, no matter what we do.
Silence is the ability to trust that God is acting, teaching and using me –
even before I perform, or after my seeming failures. Silence is the necessary
space around things that allows them to develop and flourish without my
pushing.”<span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As my son would say, “Shhhh…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-40525125329034961902012-07-11T16:45:00.001-07:002012-07-12T05:50:04.871-07:00The Invisible Ones<br />
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrv1q-WZ7Olw_nWAuizJE0LR2sb_kjDRUXWYgl2id0CcT7Ltx6A3x3J9KxNZ6uY4e6RDtezRMr0ck2e54hfKiAKhw1XX66dOBQsp-wKwXOukq1CAeNqXQgmIuKbYThi4Iy9a27dcwe5dc/s1600/blog-pic-mall-benches1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrv1q-WZ7Olw_nWAuizJE0LR2sb_kjDRUXWYgl2id0CcT7Ltx6A3x3J9KxNZ6uY4e6RDtezRMr0ck2e54hfKiAKhw1XX66dOBQsp-wKwXOukq1CAeNqXQgmIuKbYThi4Iy9a27dcwe5dc/s1600/blog-pic-mall-benches1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Mass readings lately have been focused on Jesus’ time
travelling from village to village, teaching and healing the sick. It struck me, as I reflected on the
readings, that though Jesus responded
to the pleas of the synagogue official and the Roman centurion, he deliberately
spent the majority of his time with the poor. He seemed to be always drawn to those in obvious need,
the stigmatized, the forgotten, the outcasts, the invisible ones. Matthew 9 says that Jesus “saw the
crowds and had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless,
like sheep without a shepherd.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Why is it that we so often feel drawn to people on the other end
of the spectrum? We give our
attention to the powerful, the good-looking, the rich, the talented, the confident
ones who are very successful at looking after themselves. I guess we naturally lean towards
people whom we secretly strive to be – and who strives to be an outcast? But Jesus invites us to follow in his
footsteps, to walk with him down the dusty back roads, seeking the people that
normally garner no one’s attention.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was thinking about all this when I was at a mall near our
house yesterday. I found myself with some time to kill as I waited for my son
to finish an errand. I plunked
myself down on a bench, happy to get off my feet for a few minutes and, as is
my habit, got my iPhone out of my backpack to check my email, have a peek at Facebook
and maybe text a friend. But then I reflected again about the choices Jesus
made as he wandered around the countryside with his disciples – about how he
chose to counsel the lost, heal the sick, rescue the demon-possessed, give
sight to the blind, give a voice to the voiceless. I put away my iPhone and looked around me. And there, sitting on the other end of
the bench, was an elderly man whom I hadn’t even noticed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">He had long greasy white hair, a stringy beard, baggy
flannel pants and an old gray jacket. His glasses were dirty and askew on his
wrinkled face. He smiled at me, and I
noticed he had a front tooth missing. I smiled back and thought about God’s
sense of humour in this chance encounter.
I made a remark to the old man about how nice it was to sit down and
take a break. We chatted about the weather, and I noticed he had a slight English
accent. I took a deep breath as our conversation about the weather came to an
end, and asked him if he was from England. Well, it was like a dam suddenly burst.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The old man started telling me about his boyhood days in a
little village in Kent, how he came to Canada with his wife shortly after they
were married, how they never were able to have children but they had a very happy life together, how his wife died a few years ago, how a very kind neighbour was keeping an
eye on him and sometimes brought him soup. I found out that he lives close to the mall, and that it’s an almost
daily destination for him and his trusty walker. He was funny, and engaging, and sweet, and smart – and it
hurt me to think that most days he has nobody to talk to. Pretty soon I didn’t even notice his
missing tooth and his funny pants. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was almost sad when my son arrived, errand complete. I told the old man how much I’d enjoyed
our chat, and was surprised to realize that it was true. I also told him I’d look for him next
time I’m at the mall. I want to
hear more about his boyhood days in England, and I’d love to find out what brought
him to Canada. I want to know
more about his wife, whom he spoke about so fondly. I’d like to invite him to join my son and I at the mall’s Food
Fair for a bite to eat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Responsorial Psalm in today’s Liturgy of the Word is
from Psalm 102: “Seek always the face of the Lord.” That’s what the Holy Spirit was leading me to do at the mall
yesterday, I think...with St. Francis cheering me on. And I am richer for it.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">"Any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how
it treats its weakest members -- the last, the least, the littlest." </span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> ~Cardinal
Roger Mahony</span></i></div>Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-70225105152669090532012-07-01T21:34:00.000-07:002012-07-02T06:14:59.741-07:00Jacob's Ladder<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I recently was very touched by a Letter
to the Editor in our newspaper.
The writer was responding t</span><span style="font-size: large;">o the “right to die” debate that has been
re-ignited in Canada in the past few weeks. A recent ruling in one of our
provincial courts struck down parts of Canada’s law banning “doctor-assisted
deaths”. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The letter-writer was dismayed about
the ruling, and described her husband’s death as a time of sorrow, but also a
time of tenderness and great love.
Here’s an excerpt from the letter:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“The last year of my husband's life was
the most meaningful year of our entire marriage and I considered it a great
privilege to be able to care for him. When you know someone is going to pass
from this life to the next, love is intensified and each word, look and touch
becomes a treasure that will stay with the one, and travel to eternity with the
other. I would not have changed one minute of his lingering from the prognosis
of three months to his death one full year later. And neither would he. Even as
he lost consciousness, he fought to remain with me; in death, as in life, he
gave me everything he could. What we fail to understand is that pain and
suffering born for love become joy and peace beyond all measure.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Her words reminded me of my own mother’s last few
years. Mom died on November 27,
2010, and her last years with us were tainted by the challenges and suffering
of Alzheimer’s disease. It was not
an easy time, for her or for us.
But as I reflect back on those years, my Mom became the epicentre of our
affection, and that experience spilled over and filled our lives with affection
for others. The nursing home staff
became our new family members.
Neighbours became treasured sources of support. Good friends became our lifeline,
giving us courage to go on. Relationships
with extended family deepened profoundly.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My Dad and my siblings and I were so focused on loving Mom
and caring for her that we couldn’t help but be affected emotionally and
spiritually. We all grew in
important ways – learning to express our feelings more openly, to hug each
other more frequently, to thank God for each new day more wholeheartedly, to forgive
trivial hurts more quickly. And when Mom’s life was drawing to a close, each
moment burned brightly, because each moment became very precious. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK24js20f_SPVFJ906mB4lPg-z7U5m-JtimCcU8waY2crr8p4vrxvGe0bw-QhmFuv42t2sw0S-bka859sZ6Dr8iofay6WszpBxSCEUMCFw8iT-DYCzl19YEg41RWoe9EZuNFs_Cs1y1ZI/s1600/Old_Young+Hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK24js20f_SPVFJ906mB4lPg-z7U5m-JtimCcU8waY2crr8p4vrxvGe0bw-QhmFuv42t2sw0S-bka859sZ6Dr8iofay6WszpBxSCEUMCFw8iT-DYCzl19YEg41RWoe9EZuNFs_Cs1y1ZI/s320/Old_Young+Hands.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have some incredible memories from the week before Mom’s
death, when none of us could bear to leave her side: memories like standing
with my family around her bedside, holding hands and saying the Lord’s Prayer
together through our tears. Listening
with fervent thankfulness and joy to a visiting chaplain as he serenaded my mom
at her bedside with a lovely rendition of “Amazing Grace” in his lilting tenor voice. Being soothed in ways beyond words by
the music therapist who brought her harp into Mom’s room and played for us
until her fingers hurt. Eating
cookies that the overworked nursing home staff would bake at home and bring to
work for us. Sitting around Mom’s
bed for hours with my Dad and my siblings, taking turns stroking her hands while
sharing funny stories from our childhood days and laughing until our faces
hurt. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The most sacred moments in life are sometimes the hardest. In
grief, we can clearly see the things that make life most beautiful and most
meaningful. It’s very difficult to
explain, but what I learned from my Mom’s last weeks was that the little moments
of joy that we experience in seasons of sorrow can be the most intense of any
we’ll ever experience. I read somewhere that Jewish scholars teach that the ladder
Jacob saw in his dream represents the fortunes of life – good and bad, up and
down. Some angels were ascending the ladder, while others were descending. Both the ascending angels and the descending
angels are sacred. Our lives are made sacred by moments of intense joy, and
also by moments of unbearable grief. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes they are the same moments, on the same ladder. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span>Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-37317169213058079742012-06-20T11:51:00.003-07:002012-06-20T11:59:44.200-07:00Door To Eternity<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Don’t
you just love finding a new author whose work you love? A few years ago a good friend
introduced me to Irma Zaleski, and soon after that I was addicted. Born in 1931, Zaleski was educated in
England after her family fled Poland during the Second World War. She now lives in Toronto, and unbeknownst
to me before I started reading her books, is actually one of Canada’s most
popular spiritual writers. Some of
her titles, which I now happily own, are <i>The
Way of Repentance, Living the Jesus Prayer, Who Is God, Finding Christ Within,
Who am I, Conversion of the Heart, God Is Not Reasonable</i> and <i>Mother Macrina</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Her
books are short, with very brief chapters, which one might think would make for
an easy, quick read. But I find
that her writing is often so profound and thought-provoking that I have to sit
and ponder and re-read almost every chapter. My journals are littered with
quotes from her books. She never
ceases to give me food for thought, and often opens the way to a deeper
perspective of my beliefs, or sheds a new light on events in my life. She takes me up on the balcony and helps
me see the “bigger view”. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2XZ83CEGmy8Uw8FMmRtT0LGqZ0UauG7Q2kNFwrgKI0ueK1NkDkhq2F8fe6eT_ydbZsOfdSo-1vsg7uSQ8I5ek7YhPLI7g6uAr4g2OaX7bh4lagMlqCMM7ueG_Dw1tQgebEDUWLAXGz8/s1600/DoorToEternity_Zaleski.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2XZ83CEGmy8Uw8FMmRtT0LGqZ0UauG7Q2kNFwrgKI0ueK1NkDkhq2F8fe6eT_ydbZsOfdSo-1vsg7uSQ8I5ek7YhPLI7g6uAr4g2OaX7bh4lagMlqCMM7ueG_Dw1tQgebEDUWLAXGz8/s320/DoorToEternity_Zaleski.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> I
have read some of her books more than once, and they always seem to provide me
with fresh insights. As you can
tell by now, I’m a big fan.
Because her books are so small and compact, I often have one tucked away
in my bag, in case I am ever stuck in a line-up or a waiting room. Right now I
am reading her 2001 book <i>Door to Eternity</i>
(Novalis Press). Here’s a sample
of her writing from Chapter Three:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Belief in the possibility of coexistence of time and
eternity lies at the root of all religion. Religion can be even, perhaps, defined as a path, or a
“ladder” to such a coexistence.
Christian teaching makes the truth of this belief absolutely clear. The creed, the liturgy, the sacraments,
the icons, proclaim it: Christ, a
man like us, born at a precise moment of history, living in a small corner of
the Roman Empire, dying on the hill of Calvary, buried and risen on the third
day, and Christ the Eternal Word, coexistent with the Father. Christ with us now, on earth, and
Christ, already ascended into heaven, sitting in glory at the right hand of the
Father. Christ the Alpha and the
Omega, the Beginning and the End, in whom time and eternity meet. And so it is with us. We are here, at this specific moment of
our lives, still bowed down under the burden of our mortality, but the hour of
our passing is already known and present to God, who is beyond time. We are already immersed in his glory
and light. We have been baptized
into Christ’s death and are buried with him, but we have also already risen
with him and are with him in eternity, at home. This is the great mystery of faith, the reality of the
eternal presence of God “in whom we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:
28). Yet, because we cannot <i>know</i> it –
because we cannot grasp it with our finite, human minds or see it with our
earthly eyes – it appears to us as darkness and we are afraid.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-24545146553329057452012-06-11T06:15:00.001-07:002012-06-11T06:16:52.454-07:00A Special June Day<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday was pretty special for a couple of reasons. First, it was our wedding anniversary,
and we started the day off right with coffee and fresh banana bread at the
Grand Re-Opening of the Relax Cafe in our neighbourhood. The former owners
closed down and moved away a few months ago, leaving a black hole in the
community. It was with great joy a few weeks ago that we noticed a sign
announcing that new owners were going to bring our favorite walking destination
back to life. What a great
anniversary gift!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But we received an even greater gift in the afternoon. Together with thirteen other
“Inquirers”, we were admitted into the Secular Franciscan Order during a beautiful
Mass at St. Luke’s Church. After
this past year of study, prayer, meeting new friends and learning more about
the lives and spirituality of St. Francis and St. Clare, we now begin our time
of formation as “Candidates”. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRxm6NNmuoyZh6_fr0Itbzbn_JQwlzs14mmsQqJGjveoQr7SorapbwWqh8Ub2SJSCEL6aTRSCtho66yYVY5vQqWpiLnzHfAN5M5W0vXykjphU_AmKoiPdU429k2V9jGC31WstoUKiu60/s1600/thelastsupper-simon-dewey.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRxm6NNmuoyZh6_fr0Itbzbn_JQwlzs14mmsQqJGjveoQr7SorapbwWqh8Ub2SJSCEL6aTRSCtho66yYVY5vQqWpiLnzHfAN5M5W0vXykjphU_AmKoiPdU429k2V9jGC31WstoUKiu60/s320/thelastsupper-simon-dewey.gif" width="226" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;">The day was special for one more reason: it happened to be
the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, when we focus on God’s new and
definitive covenant with His people through Jesus, and His sacrifice on the
Cross. How fitting that as we made our pledge at the front of the church, we
were also celebrating God’s ongoing pledge of love and mercy to us through the gift
of Holy Communion. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was a beautiful moment when the fifteen of us spoke, in
unison, these words of promise and hope:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>“We here ask to enter
the fraternity of the Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis, so that we may live more faithfully
and intensely the faith and dedication of our baptism by following Jesus Christ
according to the teaching and example of St. Francis of Assisi.” </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And so, the next chapter of our journey begins. Alleluia!</span></div>Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-80566778882841787392012-06-05T05:29:00.001-07:002012-06-05T05:31:58.397-07:00Lilac Time<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I’m so glad I live in a country that has distinct
seasons. When spring finally comes
to Canada, it’s a celebration – big time.
And we all have our own personal harbingers of spring…the first robin
sighting…tulips popping up around the neighbourhood…the Stanley Cup
playoffs…mowing the lawn for the first time…relegating the winter coats to the
back of the closet…digging up dandelions…wearing sandals again. For me, it’s when our lilacs
bloom. I don’t really feel safe to
call it spring until I see – and smell – those beautiful purple blossoms. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6gB1uZTBExt8CjyzpqmHE8MKHJJTeJ7ahWC3zPdTtw2Z5Mx2fRfTQ21eZpC5auR66HwRfRCMvGCUpnpUYeEYemG6ZqRYM_vJDbySxha60b0uuNRKdiP-96N36oo9crcTu8MmcCzWKuo/s1600/Lilacs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6gB1uZTBExt8CjyzpqmHE8MKHJJTeJ7ahWC3zPdTtw2Z5Mx2fRfTQ21eZpC5auR66HwRfRCMvGCUpnpUYeEYemG6ZqRYM_vJDbySxha60b0uuNRKdiP-96N36oo9crcTu8MmcCzWKuo/s320/Lilacs.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We’re lucky enough to have some lilac bushes in our back
yard, thanks to the family who built our house in 1946 and made the excellent
choice to plant them. According to
Alberta Plant Watch, the purple lilac is a native of the mountainous regions of
southeastern Europe, and it was brought to Canada by homesick settlers who
bravely travelled here over a hundred years ago to homestead and start a new
life. Lilacs grow robustly even in
poor conditions, which is why you see them in abundance in old neighbourhoods
like ours, and on many farms around here. I love bringing great armfuls of
lilac boughs into the house and arranging them in a big old vase that was a
wedding present from my Aunty Babs.
We were married in early June (many moons ago) at Bill’s parent’s
home. It was a small wedding, but
we had extravagant bouquets of lilacs everywhere in the house. Maybe that’s
another reason why I love lilacs – they remind me of my wedding day. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Because there is such a contrast between winter and spring in
most parts of Canada, we see and experience a kind of re-birth every year
around this time. Spring reminds us that it’s possible to put away the old and
walk into the new. It’s possible
to forget past hurts and disappointments, and move forward. It’s possible to forgive oneself and
try again. It’s possible to make a
fresh start. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Jesus pushes us even further. At the beginning of His ministry in Galilee, He traveled
around, proclaiming, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come
near; repent, and believe in the good news!” (Mark 1: 14, 15). He was telling people (including us)
that God’s unconditional love is available to anyone, here, now, without
restriction. But in the same sentence, He speaks about the need for repentance.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I did some research on the word “repent”, and found out it
comes from the Greek word “metanoeo”, which means to change your mind, or to
change direction. Jesus was basically calling His followers to embrace a
radical new way to think and act and be. What exactly is that supposed to look
like? Fr. Robert Barron, one of my favorite authors and speakers, describes
“metanoeo” this way: “When the
organizing and energizing principle of one’s life has shifted from the fearful
ego to the love of Jesus.” Or as Paul put it in Galatians 20: “It is no longer
I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.” St. Francis is such a wonderful
example of someone who took Jesus’ proclamation seriously. After a dramatic U turn, his life
became fully integrated and wholly focused on one thing – expressing the glory
of God. Kind of like my lilacs. </span></div>Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-48642908848654996582012-05-28T11:00:00.000-07:002012-05-28T11:11:22.729-07:00A Rich Young Man<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today’s reading from Mark 10: 17 – 27 about the rich young
man who asks Jesus what he can do to inherit eternal life is a challenging
one.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Jesus first councils the
young man to keep the commandments, but then further gives him a startling
invitation that definitely takes him out of his comfort zone.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> “Go, sell what you have, and give to
the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Even the apostles were amazed at these
words!</span><span style="font-size: large;"> The young man went away
sorrowful, and I fully understand his discouragement. But from verse 21, which
reads “And Jesus looking upon him, loved him…”, I see that Jesus speaks these
words out of a heart full of love, tenderness and forgiveness. He wants nothing
but the best for each one of us, which means true, lasting fullness of joy, and
He knows that earthly pleasures offer us but a shadow of that.</span><br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have this print in my office, taken from a larger painting
called <i>Christ and the Rich Young Ruler</i>,
painted by Heinrich Hoffman in 1889.</span><span style="font-size: large;">
I think the artist really captured Christ’s compassion. I love
looking at it and being reminded of how much He loves me, and understands my
struggles. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfEsFL1P4UBjb_BQ23S88LZWHDci-fSXxy1GKAFkQUM3dXfSmJocHSDDUL-zR4O7_T-lAHU625OO2Fdl3OwkEI6fnvRFHDB1T6jorBwPxeAqkMbgOmxjfXzuTftF628C8Vg8cGSsttWU/s1600/christ-at-33-heinrich-hofmann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfEsFL1P4UBjb_BQ23S88LZWHDci-fSXxy1GKAFkQUM3dXfSmJocHSDDUL-zR4O7_T-lAHU625OO2Fdl3OwkEI6fnvRFHDB1T6jorBwPxeAqkMbgOmxjfXzuTftF628C8Vg8cGSsttWU/s320/christ-at-33-heinrich-hofmann.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The paradox is that so many things in life – good food,
books, artwork, music, a cosy living room, a lovely garden – are wonderful
blessings if seen as gifts from God to be thankful for, and enjoyed and shared. But when we start to see them as our
own hard-won treasure that must be guarded, then the blessings turn to
shackles. Francis was given this
insight, and though it took him a few years to understand and absorb, he
eventually took it fully to heart and experienced a radical conversion of
attitude, lifestyle and faith. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We aren’t told in the Scriptures, but maybe Jesus’ words to
the rich young man also stirred his spirit, and led him to question where he
was putting his trust and hope. Who
knows, maybe Jesus’ words led him to a place of more abundant joy, stronger faith
and life-giving freedom. As we
study the life of Francis, maybe we too can travel further down that same path,
developing an attitude of healthy detachment from our possessions and wealth,
embodying a community spirit rather than a competitive spirit. It’s a measure
of God’s love for us that He believes we are capable of growing in holiness,
and He longs to accompany us, guide us and strengthen us on the journey. But He won’t impose; we have to take
the first step, and ask for His help.
It can happen if we believe it can happen. As Jesus reminded His
apostles at the end of this reading, “All things are possible for God.” </span></div>Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-89876415651879946572012-05-22T13:57:00.004-07:002012-05-22T14:07:06.020-07:00Ascending<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUIMKIVkhWmzuiucJqjcindLF76DOgWY_XcL4h4q5X8essDqiG_MCvXQZ_Mc-hzKa9lnT4La-0ZKaiNad0aIKhq1Mibxi1tBOcyDgzUF_LeK13UCFhZsqBhwvfU9Wx9WnmXT6inXMBuc/s1600/daliascthumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUIMKIVkhWmzuiucJqjcindLF76DOgWY_XcL4h4q5X8essDqiG_MCvXQZ_Mc-hzKa9lnT4La-0ZKaiNad0aIKhq1Mibxi1tBOcyDgzUF_LeK13UCFhZsqBhwvfU9Wx9WnmXT6inXMBuc/s320/daliascthumb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This past weekend we celebrated the Ascension of our
Lord. On this solemnity, I always
can’t help but think about the emotions that the apostles must have felt. Talk about mixed feelings! Not long before this they had been
living in grief and fear because of the death of Jesus. Then they experienced the elation of
seeing Him alive again, risen from the tomb. Next came forty joyful but
confusing days of trying to comprehend His resurrected presence among them. Now He leaves them again to ascend to
His Father in heaven, promising them that they will soon receive the power of the
Holy Spirit. What a range of events and intense emotions in such a short
time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I realized this weekend, as I heard the Scripture readings
at Mass, that the Ascension is another example of detachment – the same kind of
detachment that happens naturally in our lives as we say good-bye to loved
ones, to seasons, to experiences, to places, to stages in our growth. But it is also an example of another
kind of detachment, that doesn’t feel so natural. This is the detachment that God calls us to as He invites
us to enter a new phase of spiritual maturity and trust. Mary said “Yes” to that invitation when
she received a visit from the Angel Gabriel. Paul said “Yes” after meeting
Christ on the road to Damascus.
Francis said “Yes” after hearing the Lord’s voice in the little Chapel
of San Damiano. In all of these
instances we see an opportunity seized that brings new life and transformation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">God invites each of us to this same transformation, but it
always involves a risk, a letting go, a detachment from the familiar. It also takes a lot of courage. In a way, Christ’s Ascension is a
continuation of His invitation to all of us to “Follow Me.” To quote the Franciscan Richard Rohr, one of my favorite
authors, “There is a movement from Jesus to the Christ that you and I have to
imitate and walk, as well. A lot of us have so fallen in love with the
historical Jesus that we worship Him as such and stop there. We never really followed the same
journey He made, which is the death and resurrection journey – Jesus died and
Christ rose.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Will we accept His invitation?</span></div>Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-28552588440647715372012-05-17T18:57:00.000-07:002012-05-18T13:47:10.640-07:00The Paradox of Gospel Living<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;"> There is such an abundance of material for reflection in the
life of St. Francis.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the
most intriguing things to absorb is Francis’ joyful discovery of how God kept
giving him back everything that he had given up for Christ’s sake – but with a
sacred twist.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;"> How
is it that Francis’ life of harsh deprivation contained such richness, joy,
beauty, peace, and love? He was
re-gifted with the fullness of all these things through the very act of putting
God ahead of them. As he embraced Jesus’ way of living, as presented in the
Gospels, he also embraced poverty, weakness, austerity, insecurity and
rejection. But to his great
delight, Francis found that God generously and lovingly graced him with
richness in poverty; joy in weakness; beauty in austerity; peace in insecurity;
and love in rejection. </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsE0i6-0eGaHpKO1ETa1bAKHogFEArpzV8amPNuVwVdlhf3HgGdmlgJkmzwdihuL9r_oDKXsvbld7dCpV6389m5BkeBfdkvOGFI9T8kUnHnaPrp4deOEhF0EjkhQz_k6cc9KPVPzf9irs/s1600/Franciscan-arms+outstretched.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsE0i6-0eGaHpKO1ETa1bAKHogFEArpzV8amPNuVwVdlhf3HgGdmlgJkmzwdihuL9r_oDKXsvbld7dCpV6389m5BkeBfdkvOGFI9T8kUnHnaPrp4deOEhF0EjkhQz_k6cc9KPVPzf9irs/s320/Franciscan-arms+outstretched.jpg" width="273" /></a> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;">How
is this even possible? It seems that when we are able to move beyond searching
for happiness in our circumstances, and instead derive our sense of wellbeing
from the simple fact that we are God’s beloved children, we start to understand
that we have found a well that will never run dry. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Incredibly, we undervalue His tenderness and
mercy and care for us, thinking instead that we’ll find enduring fulfillment in…exciting travel experiences…a great family life…a beautiful
house….the latest gadget…a fit and trim body…a busy social life…a rewarding
career…a big bank account…a good reputation…a much-admired talent…and on
and on. Thin ice to skate on, but it’s so easy to be fooled into believing that
these things will bring us the contentment we yearn for. They are all as temporary as the grass, in God's eternal perspective - while His love for each of us is rock-solid and permanent. As Francis found out
from his own experiences, the equation on which so many of us are basing our lives is a
faulty one.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Maybe it’s time to
scrap it and head back to the drawing board. But how? What does that mean,
especially for us who live in an affluent western society and are totally
addicted to its pleasures?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> What
does it mean for me, as a baby Franciscan?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> It all seems to come down to one
question – do we trust God?</span></div>Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4796990044239361019.post-86878731781305334822012-04-22T19:20:00.003-07:002012-05-17T19:11:55.288-07:00New Beginnings<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">How does a sense of deep communal guilt lead to an
exploration of the Franciscan charism? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, in my case, a troubling and increasingly obvious
disconnect between my growing faith as a new Catholic and my “normal” North
American way of life was the spark.
My husband and I were welcomed into the Church five years ago, but the
hypocrisy between what I was spouting and how I was living started to become
almost painful to me shortly after that. A trip to Kenya in 2010, where we met a number of smart,
funny, open-hearted, joyful, faithful, engaging Christians (who happened to live in one
of Nairobi’s biggest slums) brought the whole thing to a head. Was there any fathomable reason that I
deserved to live in affluence, while they lived in poverty? How could I ever come to terms with the
huge gulf in our respective living standards? I came home from that trip
enlightened, but facing reverse culture shock as I slid back into life in
Canada. I felt like Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde – a happy consumer longing for minimalism….a privacy-lover who ached
to be radically hospitable…..a “good person” who often felt ashamed and
sick. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The timing of an email from an old friend was a loving
little nudge from our good God. This
friend, whom we later found out is a Secular Franciscan himself, suggested that
my husband and I look into the local Secular Franciscan group. Like almost
everyone on the planet, I knew a little about St. Francis. I had seen
Zeffirelli’s movie, <i>Brother Sun and
Sister Moon</i>, when I was a teenager, and I had even read a biography of St.
Francis by G.K. Chesterton a number of years ago. But I had next to no
knowledge of the Secular Franciscan Order. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjjcmAyTX7Z0zaiDib4LJpItSSz_4QX_QS2c0XkY21w13WKIdIUikfDyayE6_DUidCl8pbIy0B9fWaebNiT93lNOKMZI2qSWYCaFFkeEvdWHj9L5wO_K_UKJZzrNLp4LIjq461Pfj_Hs/s1600/St.+Francis+&+Friars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjjcmAyTX7Z0zaiDib4LJpItSSz_4QX_QS2c0XkY21w13WKIdIUikfDyayE6_DUidCl8pbIy0B9fWaebNiT93lNOKMZI2qSWYCaFFkeEvdWHj9L5wO_K_UKJZzrNLp4LIjq461Pfj_Hs/s400/St.+Francis+&+Friars.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After going to our first meeting at St. Luke’s Church,
reading some of the formation resources, and talking to some of the intriguing
people we met there, it seemed like St. Francis himself was standing at a
crossroads, beckoning me to walk beside him for a little while. And so the journey – and the healing –
began….</span></div>Laura L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00324535920799082691noreply@blogger.com3