How we respond or react
We can sit, or stand or lay down,
really we don’t have to do anything,
time still flies, what to do?
Getting through the day can be rough,
yet each moment precious,
how we respond and interact
with those we meet carries more weight
than we may ever know.
Freedom or free will is a seed
that can only grow by the choices we make,
small ones are practice for the big ones,
when pressure builds,
emotions arise in all their force,
it is then we are called to
Assumption of Mary 2019
“While she lived on this earth,, Mary could only be close to a few people. Being in God, who is close to us, actually, “within” all of us, Mary shares in this closeness of God. Being in God and with God, she is close to each one of us, knows our hearts, can hear our prayers, can help us with her motherly kindness and has been given to us, as the Lord said, precisely as a “mother” to whom we can turn at every moment.” Benedict XVI
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I have given up trying to e
Losing focus
We must not underestimate how tribal and primitive and fearful we can become. All through history we have reacted with brutality. Thereby continuing the cycle of violent behavior. Often this reaction is indiscriminate. If we must fight radical Islam, let’s not bring all Muslims into this war. If we do, we will only make things worse and radicalize more Muslims, who will then through their actions, radicalize more non-Muslims.
The so-called ALT-Right or certain groups, like
The importance of journaling
(for writing and Journal Retreat this weekend 8/2-8/4))
Writing down one's thoughts can be a very helpful way to search the depths of the inner life, and in doing so learn what is believed and known by the one writing. Our everyday consciousness is there to keep us grounded in the world around us, to allow us to relate to those around us in such a way that we are not perceived as a threat, etc. When living around a great deal of people,, working in crowded work
Dealing with a con-man hopefully in the right way
We can't help everyone, yet we are called to have compassion. For some, it will be through teaching, or giving spiritual direction. For others working in food kitchens, or going to the homeless and giving food and water. Our gifts are pointers in how we can be of loving service to others. Too overdue, or to try to 'save' everyone from themselves will most likely bring one to exhaustion and burn out. Faith and trust in God's love for all and kno
My Friend Janet’s Continuing Journey
(now that I am old and gray, O lord forsake me not)
Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted;
but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead
you where you do not want to go."—John 21:18
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I have written about Janet (not her real name) quite a few times over the years. Our first meeting was in 1992, so we have been fr
The Intimacy/Love of God for all of His Children
After Second Vespers of Our Holy Father Saint Benedict Adore Me in My humility and I will make you humble. Adore Me in My obedience and I will make you obedient. Adore Me in My prayer to the Father and I will begin to pray My Father in you. Adore Me in My merciful love for sinners and I will save sinners through you. Adore Me in My weakness and in My poverty, and I will make you strong in My grace and rich in heavenly blessings.1 Adore Me, and
We are freer than we know, but in ways that we may not understand
“Dear children! My call for you is prayer. May prayer be a joy for you and a wreath which binds you to God. Little children, trials will come and you will not be strong, and sin will reign but, if you are mine, you will win, because your refuge will be the Heart of my Son Jesus. Therefore, little children, return to prayer until prayer becomes life for you in the day and the night.
Thank you for having responded to my call.”
The folly of arguing about religion
‘Overcoming evil with weapons of love becomes the way in which each person can contribute to the peace of all. Christians and believers of different religions are called to walk this path, together with those who accept the universal moral law. Dear brothers and sisters, promoting peace in the world is our common mission!’
Homily on 38th World Day of Peace, January 1, 2005
As a Christian, I do believe that Jesus Christ is a revelation given to t
(Photo by Patrice Lannett)
Nothing in life is unimportant
May 24—“Endure the daily thorns for love of Me.
This prepares your soul for acts of heroism.
Bossis, Gabrielle. He and I (Kindle Locations 2286-2287).
Pauline Books and Media. Kindle Edition.
One day as I was sitting in my room trying to read, I began to feel very impatient, tired, and so fatigued that I did not even want to rest. It was as if my whole body was in pain, but so diffused that I could not pinpoint it. Sud
Letter by letter, word by word,
Writing allows the soul to speak,
Bringing to consciousness,
Letter by letter, word by word,
What lies beneath,
The joy unspoken,
Rage feared,
Wisdom unknown,
That would remain hidden forever,
Without this divine gift.
Birds sing,
People write,
Both giving glory
To the true artist Eternal,
Lavish in giving gifts--Br.MD
T
he wrath of man
“I saw no wrath [in God} except on man’s part,
and that He forgives in us”
(Julian of Norwich reading 99)
When I was meditating on the above quote from the book “Revelations of Divine Love” it brought to mind one of my greatest struggles as a man who wishes to grow in my openness to the Spirit of the Lord. When I am hurt, or the times when I wish things would go my way, or when someone does a great evil towards others, my first instinct is to seek to bestow wrath on the
We are called to love beyond family
When anger, contempt and stereotyping are in play, it can act as a wall of protection from seeing ourselves in others, in their pain, isolation and their many forms of suffering. It lessens our own humanity, for si n is a way that is used to escape the most central truth of life….that others for us, especially those we do not identify with, those with which we have a natural antipathy towards, are in fact for us an encounter with Christ Jesus. For me, it is
Get out of the damn boat
The burden of our interior freedom
(In the end, we all choose)
The graces of My mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is—trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive. Souls that trust boundlessly are a great comfort to Me, because I pour all the treasures of My graces into them. I rejoice that they ask for much, because it is My desire to give much, very much. On the other hand, I am sad when souls ask for little, when they narrow their he
Listening to God retreat
Listen carefully, my child, to your master's precepts, and
incline the ear of your heart.
Receive willingly and carry
out effectively your loving father's advice, that
by the labor of obedience you may return to Him from whom you
had departed by the sloth of disobedience.(Rule of St. Benedict Prologue)
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What do obedience and listening have in common?
“Personal Infallibility”, I believe is a great cause for many of the problems that we have in the
A woman outside the lines
When I meet someone who is absolutely sure that they are right, and have the truth, I tend not to argue. I let them be, and go my way. Sometimes I meet people who are ‘really’ sure of themselves in such a way that they have no one to really relate to since they are people who live ‘outside of the lines’ of what is considered rational, or normal in such a way that there can be some connection if worked at.
About three years ago, I got a call from a woman who want
Our inner world and prayer and trust in God
Prayer opens up many doors to our inner perception. When we seek to grow in love of God and do not just pray to get something from God, the good fruit can at times have a bitter taste to it. Yet we must experience the bitter along with the sweet on our inner journey towards ‘home’, that place where we are at peace because we have found our hearts deepest longing.
We are often told about how good we should be, or perfect, and how anger and lust and
What we can experience only from deepening our trust
“But My close friends, why, why don’t they call louder to Me from their heart’s depths?
If only their belief were less like unbelief!
If their hope were fixed upon My help . . . And if, in all simplicity,
their love loved Me more. I should be there looking after everything in their day,
and when night fell, their eyes would close again on My face.
Bossis, Gabrielle. He and I (Kindle Locations 2260-2262).
Pauline Books and Media. Kindl
The only way to deal with an inner storm
The only way to deal with an inner storm is to understand that it will pass, as well as understanding that it is best to wait until the rising waves, and high winds, calm down. I can't think logically when I am in some form of an inner temper tantrum, for at that moment, I am off center.
Our Belief systems will often dictate how we respond to these times of deep anger, fear, or anxiety. We can hold back, understanding that these states can be trigger
Fatima
When younger I was interested in Fatima, then I 'outgrew' it, well a foolish thought I know. Now I am looking at this again. I got this book from our store here titled: "Fatima for Today: The Urgent Marian Message of Hope". The message is Gospel, and it brings out the importance of how connected with others when we pray we are and how important is to pray for all. Our loved ones, our enemies and those who hate us and yes God; for God hates no one and wants all to come to salvation. The
The Psalms
We go through the Psalms in a two-week cycle here when we chant the Divine Office. There are many people from both the Jewish and Christian traditions that are devoted to these prayers. I read a story about an old Jewish woman who spent her days reading from the book of Psalms, it was her ‘prayer’. In doing that I am sure something very deep was going on in her soul and most likely she attained a high degree of prayer/union with God. Like many Christians in their later years who
What is our true name?
(Called and identified by name)
The human being is single, unique, and unrepeatable, someone thought of and chosen from eternity, someone called and identified by name.—John Paul11
In the Christian faith, what is taught, is that each human being is made in the image and likeness of God. Not totally corrupt, but a creature that seeks the good. There is the ‘GOOD’, and again, ‘the good’. What we love is what will fill us, envelope us, leading us deeper into
We are known, there is nothing to fear
Dear children! I am thanking God for each of you. In a special way, little children,
thank you for having responded to my call. I am preparing you for the new times
that you may be firm in faith and persevering in prayer, so that the Holy Spirit may
work through you and renew the face of the earth. I am praying with you for peace
which is the most precious gift, even though Satan wants war and hatred. You, little
children, be my extended hands and p
