A New Year of Life and Our Lady's Feast

Going back over the most special of the interior graces I have received is another grace and takes time and attention as I get caught up again in the awesome experience of God.
Now, I think that I am going to be inspired in June to return to the spirituality of the Society of the Sacred Heart as it is expressed in our Constitutions but is also a spirituality that is centered on the love of the Heart of Jesus for each of us and so much applies to anyone who takes the time to read my blog. I think it will be great preparation for the feast of the Sacred Heart which is June 15 this year. It was also on June 15 that I entered the Society of the Sacred Heart sixty-two years ago. Time really does fly!
Therefore, beginning tomorrow, June 1, look for more spiritual reflections from me, although I am sure the Spirit will continue to push me to write whatever comes to mind when I sit down to write my daily blog.

Today is also the Feast of the Visitation. May 31 has always been a feast of Our Lady, but the Visitation used to be July 2. Mary went with haste to visit Elizabeth and she was carrying Jesus; she is the first Christian missionary! And Jesus communicated with John, who was still in the womb of Elizabeth but who leaped for joy! Jesus loves to communicate His joy to each of us, too. Let us contemplate the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth and maybe enter into the conversation with them.

Reviewing Graces before birthday

I found myself going back again over my life in preparation for my 81st birthday on Thursday - there are many great graces that I want to thank for and so I have actually written and numbered 81 graces and made myself stop there.
Now I am reviewing the great interior graces that are unforgettable but often are also more difficult to articulate; they are moments when God revealed Himself in sudden and surprising ways. The reason that I am writing this in my blog is that I have found it a wonderful preparation for any birthday and I urge all my readers to try this and you need not wait for your birthday. It has made me feel very grateful and almost overwhelmed by the review of my life - God was always giving me gifts. God is still giving me gifts!

Fear of the Lord

When we drew the gifts of the Holy Spirit, I drew "Fear of the Lord" and immediately recalled that this means to trust the Lord and not rely on self. I forget where I learned that bit of information, but I really like it - it is also a desire to please the Lord that comes not from what we think of "fear" but reverence and respect. I guess I will need to reflect more on this gift. Joy is the fruit I am trying to cultivate as I think the Lord has given me something of His Joy and wants me to communicate it to others.
My reflections are brief but better to put something on this blog for you to look at and then you can do your own reflection. I think sometimes just to sit in silence with the picture is a daily help to a more contemplative life.
I must add that I am still going back in my prayer journal and listing all the big things in my life that I am most grateful for and I am reaching the early 1980s now and have over 54 big things to thank for so I will surely have 100 or more by the time I get up to this year. I will be 81 on Thursday and that means I have many graces to thank for in my happy life.

Memorial Day

The pictures say what I want to say today - the problem is that wars continue and lives are lost daily. On this Pentecost Monday that is also Memorial Day, let us pray for peace.

Pentecost Sunday

We always had a tradition in the Society of the Sacred Heart of drawing a gift and fruit of the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Pentecost; I like to continue the tradition and usually prepare the gifts and fruits for my community for them to choose at our community prayer tonight. I am not sure now if we drew the fruit and gift we were to pray for during the year or that the fruit and gift we drew each year meant that this was being given to us by the Holy Spirit for the year. I suspect it was both. I think that we forget how active the Holy Spirit is in our daily lives.
We all remember the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and I will try to list them here : Piety, Fear of the Lord, Fortitude, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, and Wisdom.
The gifts vary and I think one could list any dozen and they would all be correct. Here is what I recall: joy, charity, modesty, love, kindness, humility, meekness, generosity, courage, simplicity, goodness, compassion...
I suspect others will remember other fruits; one of the readings gives Paul's list and will include long-suffering...
Here is that list: "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Only eight given)

You might pray today to ask the Holy Spirit to choose the gift and fruit you need for this year - of course, we need them all but it always helps to strive for something and I suspect we get the whole package when we pray to the Holy Spirit and allow the Spirit to transform us!

Tomorrow is the Feast of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came down in the form of flaming tongues as the disciples and Mary were gathered together in prayer. It is often called the birthday of the Church as the timid Apostles received the gifts and fruits of the Spirit and went forth to preach the Good News fearlessly. The Holy Spirit worked through them and a huge multitude of persons accepted the teachings of Jesus and were baptized. I guess it was quite thrilling for all the visitors to each hear the Apostles speaking in his own language.
Today we are preparing to receive the Holy Spirit again in a new way this Pentecost. We have all received the Spirit in Baptism and in Confirmation, but the Spirit continues to want to increase His Presence with His gifts and fruits in our lives. Let us desire this, welcome this, and thank for this as truly we are blessed.

Feast of St. Madeleine Sophie

This picture of St. Madeleine Sophie is at our school, Carrollton, in Miami. Sophie is the Foundress of the Socity of the Sacred Heart in France in 1800. She was the first Superior General and governed the Society until her death in 1865. She saw the Society established in many countries and her wisdom kept the many houses united in the midst of the difficulties that were many. Now the Society of the Sacred Heart is spread over the world in 43 or 44 countries. Anyway, Sophie is a good friend to have in heaven and she often seems very present to me.
We will have all the Religious of the Sacred Heart in the Miami area here for Mass and dinner tonight.
I guess I shall just add my favorite quote from Sophie:

:Be humble, be simple, and bring joy to others.

check out Silvana's blog on the side for a creative reflection on "generosity" - the spirit of the Society of the Sacred Heart.

Overcome with Paschal Joy!!

I am supposedly taking a vacation from the blog during these days before Pentecost, but I need to share the fact that every Preface from Easter to Pentecost has these wonderful lines that keep echoing in me:

"Therefore, overcome with paschal joy,
every land, every people exults in your praise..."

Of course, we also light the Paschal Candle everyday until Pentecost to remind us of Christ's Presence with us. The good news is that His Presence is always with us! 

This continues to be one of my favorite pictures. And this week preparing for the coming of the Holy Spirit again this Pentecost Sunday seems to be one of my favorite weeks. I am aware of how joyful the liturgy is this week. Today's Gospel has Jesus praying to his Father asking that all may be one just as "we are one" and then asking that his disciples "may share my joy completely."
The second Preface for the Ascension speaks of how Jesus was taken up to heaven "that he might make us sharers in his divinity." Then it says:

"Therefore, overcome with paschal joy,
every land, every people exults in your praise..."

How do I show that I am "overcome with paschal joy"? 

Don't forget to look at the Concord Pastor's blog on the right side of this blog to follow the novena for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
 

I may take a few days vacation from this blog as I see that the Concord Pastor's blog listed on the side has a wonderful novena to the Holy Spirit to prepare for Pentecost which is this Sunday. I hope you will follow it this week and we all need to pray for an increase in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Also, please remember that you can just click on the picture of a bible in his blog and find wonderful commentaries for the next Sunday's Gospel  (and readings) from about five different points of view. These are really worth reading to prepare for Sunday liturgy.

More Books

Benner, David. "Spirituality and the Awakening Self: The Sacred Journey of Transformation."  This is another new book that I have only read parts of but will get to it eventually as I think I will learn more about myself while reading it. Benner combines spirituality with psychology and that is perhaps why I have put off reading his book that was just published this year. I have read him before and find he is more psychological than spiritual in his writing and I tend to choose the books that are more spiritual to read first.

Another easy book to read is Edward Beck's "Soul Provider: Spiritual Steps to Limitless Love." Image Books, 2007.
Although this was published four years ago, I just found it this year.

I know that I have mentioned Sandra Schneiders, "Prophets in Their Own Country: Women Religious Bearing Witness to the Gospel in a Troubled Church." Orbis, 2011. I read this with delight and as a preparation for our Provincial Assembly this summer. Most of the book consists in articles that I had read before but Sandra has put them together and it is a powerful book showing religious life in a positive way. One of my male friends bought it and read it and found it worthwhile so I think it is not just for Sisters but for all who want to understand the changes in Religious Apostolic Orders and see how we are meeting the needs of today's world.

I think that is enough for now as I still need to add all the books listed in the past week to the list of good spiritual reading that I keep on the right side of my blog. Perhaps I will be able to use a different color when I type them in as the list is growing quite long!

"I am always with you . . ."

Today is Ascension Sunday. I was struck by the Communion antiphon; after readings that speak of Jesus "taken up into heaven" we have the quote from Matthew 28: 20,

Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age, alleluia."

The "Magnificat" monthly Mass booklet has this quote from Benedict XVI that is worth reflecting on today:

The meaning of Christ's Ascension expresses our belief that in Christ the humanity that we all share has entered into the inner life of God in a new and hitherto unheard of way. It means that man has found an everlasting place in God."
He continues by saying that "we go to heaven to the extent that we go to Jesus Christ and enter into him."

Heaven is a person. Jesus himself is what we call 'heaven'.

It is a joyful feast and the collect says:

Gladden us with holy joys, almighty God,
and make us rejoice with devout thanksgiving,
for the Ascension of Christ your Son
is our exaltation,
and, where the Head has gone before in glory,
the Body is called to follow in hope.

And let us not forget the Preface where we always find the theology of the feast. I will only quote two lines at the very end: "Therefore, overcome with paschal joy,
every land, every people exults in your praise...

But best of all, we know that Christ told us that He is with us always and that is the real reason for joy!

Today I had no trouble opening my file and adding a picture of books. I do not have my list of books with me at the computer so will not be adding more but will go back to tell you that I think good spiritual reading is essential and we all need to make time for it. I also think we need to take some time to read Scripture; I was told that I should read at least ten minutes in the Old Testament every day as well as ten minutes in the New Testament. I am sorry to say that I did not follow that advice, but it is never too late to start and at least I am passing on excellent advice.

For several years recently I had spiritual direction with a holy and wise Sister of the Cenacle, an order that has always stressed helping others spiritually, especially through retreat work and spiritual direction. She told me that when she was a young nun, her Mother General came to visit and told her that she should do one hour of spiritual reading every day; that this was just as important for her as her prayer. She was faithful to this and when others would ask her how she found time to read so many spiritual books she would just say, "I do not watch television." One can find an hour for spiritual reading, if one just gives up television!

I may not get an hour a day, but have always tried to find at least a half hour; teaching theology and especially courses in spirituality, made me read many spiritual books to keep up in my field; now, that was helpful, but spiritual reading should be chosen to nourish your soul. Check your bookshelves and see what has been there waiting for you to pick up and read. It is fine to begin with the Bible - look for your favorite passages and be sure to feel free to mark up your Bible and any spiritual book you are reading. That is why I find it hard to read a spiritual book on Kindle; I need to highlight passages in color and be able to easily flip back and forth through the book. As much as I love my Kindle and love being able to carry a library around with me, I will keep buying books that I can hold, cherish, and keep on my bookshelves for easy access.

More Books

Again, I tried to upload a picture of bookshelves and it would not let me do anything after I got the picture. I need to figure this out, but cannot get even "Help" when I have the picture on the screen. Well, here is a quote from St. Madeleine Sophie before I continue trying to add some books in the short time I have.


  "Go on advancing, you are on the true road.
Remember, it is not you who have taken it,
      but God who has placed you there."

An excellent book, and one that I have not yet more than dipped into is Brant Pitrre"s "Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist". Doubleday, 2011.  

Another that I like is by Thomas Ryan, "Prayer of Heart and Body: Meditation and Yoga as Christian Spiritual Practice." Paulist Press, 1998. I found that I do many of the exercises suggested in the last part of the book in my exercise class. I also found that the book reviewed some good practices for prayer.

My two favorite books of the past year are both difficult to read and need to be taken slowly but they are both excellent and transforming. Both are by the Franciscan theologian, Ilia Delio and I have mentioned her before in my blogs as I think the two books I have read by her are excellent and life-changing for me. One is "Christ in Evolution" and the other is "The Emergent Christ: Exploring the Meaning of Catholic in a Evolutionary Universe". Orbis, 
 2011. I will have more to say tomorrow as I need to get to a meeting that is over thirty miles from here.

Today is Ascension Thursday even if we now celebrate it in most of the United States on Sunday. It brings back memories of boarding school when we would all be in the Chapel before noon to pray and imagine the scene of Our Lord ascending into heaven. Then at noon we would sing a hymn in French, "Beau Ciel" and then finally be ushered out and down to a festive meal. I think we had a special schedule as it was a Holy Day of Obligation and we would not have had regular classes, but I do not remember. Still, something of the atmosphere of the noon prayer time has remained with me all these years. I will be in the Chapel today before noon at the University as I think it is a time to thank Jesus again for these forty days after Easter when He goes about giving consolation and joy.

I will save the list of books that I am sharing with you until tomorrow, but do want to mention again the book I am reading this week. I did not buy it but it is worth reading. It is Michael Crosby's "Repair My House: Becoming a "Kingdom"Catholic. Orbis, 2012. It is a book that points out all the models of the Church are working except for the first, the Institutional Model. That is what needs reform and then we will be able to accept that all of us are evolving in an expanding universe and all of us are connected. Crosby adds the model of a family and shows how loving one another is something that means reaching out to the most wounded, the outcast, the one who needs us.

Books

Again I am having trouble with this new format and do not seem to be able to upload the picture I have selected. Therefore, today no picture but a list of books that I have been reading and will pass on some information about them for those who wish to do some good spiritual reading.

The most recent book that I have finished is Philip Newell's "A New Harmony: The Spirit, The Earth, and the Human Soul." I think I mentioned that we have chosen it for the next book for our Reflection Group. It is easy to read and gives you much to think about. I especially like the way he weaves in some of his own experience and wish I could see how to use my own experience more to connect with spirituality and theology.

Then, for those who like a little book to use daily for Lectio, Macrina Wiederkehr has "Abide: Keeping Vigil with the Word of God." I especially like her selection of Scripture quotes and her encouragement to reflect on them before reading her brief commentary each day. I think it is a book I will be keeping near me for those moments when you do not know exactly what you want to take to prayer.

There is a delightful book from Dr. Alex Tang (as a former student, I have his blog listed on the side and it sent me his latest book); the title is "Tales from the Monastery: Spiritual Formation the Asian Way." I am enjoying it, but think I did not finish it and must return to read more tales.  This was published by Armour, 2012, and may not be available in the United States.

I enjoyed reading Georg Ratzinger's "My Brother, the Pope." I am sending it to my sister. This is another easy to read book that really does help one understand the Ratzinger family background.

I suspect that is all for today, but I will continue to post as I am working backward in the notebook where I keep a record of all the books I buy and read every year. I have just begun to list these so stay tuned.

Another rainy day! Miami grass grows so fast with all the rain and I think it has begun early this year, but we need it. It usually rains a good deal in June, but only in the afternoon or evening and often it is just a cloudburst and the sun dries everything within an hour! I like the rain when I can stay home. However, ours is a gentle rain today and will not bother me.

I am reading Michael Crosby's new book and feel quite contemplative today. The third part of his book has seven chapters - I am now trying to remember them from memory as they are seven sacramentals and each begins with a "c" - The cosmic way, the Christic way, the way of consciousness, the way of connectedness, the contemplative way, the compassionate way and the way of community. I am proud of myself for remembering all seven! I just put them out there for you to reflect upon today.

Please Pray

I continue to find that a picture says more than words. What is I just put up a picture for a week and let everyone contemplate it in silence? I might try it.

Today I want to ask prayer for one of our Sisters who has been in Rome as Secretary General and has now returned for treatment here as she has cancer. She was head of the school at Grand Coteau and they are saying the Novena of Confidence for her and ask all to join in this beautiful prayer. Her name is Claude, but Coteau is also praying for Sheila, Cynthia, and Linda so I left all their names.

Lord Jesus, through the intercession of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat and St. Rose Philippine Duchesne,

to your Sacred Heart, we confide Claude, Sheila, Cynthia, and Linda.

Only look. Then do what your Heart desires.

Let your Heart decide.

We count on it. We trust in it.

We throw ourselves at Its mercy.

Lord Jesus, you will not fail us.

Amen.

Spring is here but it feels as if it were summer in Miami. Still, I like to look at the dogwood tree in this picture and think of how I first fell in love with the dogwood trees at Kenwood when I was a novice. At home in my own backyard we had three flowering Japanese peach trees that were gorgeous each Spring.

I woke up remembering a dream this morning and then went to write it in my journal; it was a vivid dream and I was talking to a former superior in Chile; I loved her very much and she always encouraged me to go ahead and do whatever I suggested both for the school and then for the formation work in the province. She was my superior when I was head of the school and then my Provincial and in my dream I was asking her for a visit for spiritual direction. She told me to write my journal first and then I woke up before we had our visit. I am still pondering the dream! I think I miss having spiritual conversation and perhaps I should initiate this with my own community more.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers who read this blog and all who are just maternal people. Here is a blessing for all of you:

May you have all the joy your heart can hold...
All the smiles a day can bring...
All the blessings a life can unfold...
may you have God's best in everything!
Have a Wonderful Day
The blessing of the Lord be upon you.
Psalm 129:8

Now that Mother's Day is celebrated with such a sense of nostalgia since I lost my own mother more than twenty-five years ago, I find myself still turning to my mother but also to Mary, who has also always been my mother and who continues to be so in my daily life. I find myself turning to her each night when I turn off my light and look to the bookshelf where I have one of those small statues of Our Lady that glows in the dark. It is just a comfort to look there and know that Mary is watching over me.

Spring and new growth

As we approach Mother's Day we are aware of Spring. I love the flowers that begin to bloom and the smell of newly cut grass. We have had some rain now and everything is growing. I hope we are all aware of interior growth, too.

At our reflection group last night, we looked over about nine new books and decided on Philp Newell's book that I spoke of yesterday. I did not try to steer anyone to it, but just put out the best selection I had of books I thought would be good for us to discuss. Actually, I have read only the first five chapters of the book, but it had excellent reviews and I like what I have read. 

A New Harmony

The new book that I mentioned yesterday by John Philip Newell is A New Harmony: The Spirit, The Earth, and The Human Soul  published by Jossey-Bass, 2011. I have read the first five chapters and like the book enough to put it on my list of good spiritual reading. It is a prayerful way of expressing the new theology that emphasizes our union with the entire creation and the holy longing we all have for God. Philip uses examples from his own experience and from his dreams as well as from many creation-centered mystics to bring us back to the oldest source for theology - creation itself! I am sorry that I have read only five of the nine chapters, but I like what I have read and it is easy and interesting to read so I feel that it is a book that will help others to deepen their spirituality.

Remain in my love...

I think this is the same view that Jesus had when he walked the shores of the Sea of Galilee. I am struck by how all the books I am reading speak of the presence of Jesus in us; He tells us to abide in Him, to remain in His Love. And then He tells us to love one another as He loves us.
We have our Reflection Group tonight and need to decide on a book for next year. I have a new one that I am reading and will put out by Philip Newell, The New Harmony: The Earth, The Spirit, and The Soul is, I think, the correct name but will tell you more tomorrow. I have been to the airport, grocery shopping, and now am off to Church.

Let us go to the House of the Lord rejoicing...

Today's homily repeated several times the phrase from the day's responsorial psalm:
"Let us go to the House of the Lord"
I think that since Easter a miracle has been taking place for me; after years of not being able to hear the homilies,in Churches (I usually do hear at the University chapel), I am beginning to understand at least some of the homilies  at the noon Mass. The pastor is brief which is a gift for so many are on their lunch hour and need to be back at work on time. He has been repeating a phrase from the Liturgy and I find this a very powerful way to give a homily as we all remember the phrase and it stays with us as we go about the rest of the day. I intend to tell him this soon. In the meantime, I am just grateful.
"Let us go to the house of the Lord..." The wonderful thing is that we are there so let us rejoice!

Unanswered Questions Lead to Discovery

Louisiana picture - as I have now discovered how to find, insert, enlarge my pictures, I am happy. :)

This is a calming photo. It does not make me feel cool but I can imagine St. Philippine Duchesne gliding along in a canoe back in 1822 when she made the first visit to our school at Grand Coteau. Our school at Grand Coteau is still so beautiful and now they also have a school for boys.

Here is a quote for today's reflection, again from the LCWR booklet published by LCWR:

"An unanswered question is a fine traveling companion. It sharpens your eye for the road."
by Rachel Naomi Remen

The Scripture quote is "We live by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7

Abide in Me Hymn

This morning I tried to upload a beautiful picture that I have filed as "Wonder" but then I could not compose the blog. I am still struggling with this new format for posting a blog. Then I could not get "help", could not cancel or do anything so I am not trying to post a picture now.

I do have the words to a beautiful hymn that one of my most faithful readers reminded me I could post here and this will give you plenty to reflect on today - sorry, no picture today! However, I do have a link to a video that is gorgeous for this hymn (different version but one that has an interesting history also given at the link above or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoTGOVaY8mc

• Abide in Me, and I in you,
  As the branch cannot bear fruit
  Of itself unless
  It abides in the vine,
  So neither can you
  Unless you abide in Me.
1. I am the vine,
   You are the branches,
   He who abides in Me and I in him.
   He bears much fruit
   For apart from Me you can do nothing.
2. If you abide in Me and my words abide in you
   Ask whatever you will and it will be done for you.
   When we abide in the Lord and let His words abide in us,
   We actually are one with Him as He works within us.
   Then when we ask in prayer for whatever we will
   It is not only we who are praying
   He too is praying, in our praying.
   This kind of prayer is related to fruit bearing
   and will surely be answered.
3. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and I set you.
   That you should go forth and bear fruit,
   And that your fruit should remain,
   That whatever you ask the Father in my name,
   He may give you.

I am the Vine ....

Jesus tells us that He is the Vine and we are the branches and without Him we can do nothing. The Gospel for this Sunday after Easter is one that I love. We are rooted in Him. He tells us to "abide in me as I abide in you." A bit later He reminds us that He has chosen us to bear fruit and that we are to remain in His Love. 

This is a short reflection today, but our relationship with Jesus is real and we need to cultivate it. If you have a friend and never think of her/him/, it is not a very close relationship. We not only think of our friends but try to please them in little ways even if separated by distance. How am I cultivating my deep relationship with Jesus?

Loss of a friend

One of my oldest friends has just died. Please pray for her. Joan and I were friends from infancy as our parents were friends. I just had sent her a birthday card to make sure it arrived early. It was a shock to hear that she has gone to God, but she went quickly and is now with her husband and so I grieve with her children and grandchildren as she will be missed!

I was at a workshop in Fort Lauderdale all day and just received this news. 

Desires are a Gift from God

When we desire God, our desires are really coming from God and are a great gift that calls forth our gratitude. Here is another quote from Mother Stuart that I like:

"God hears our unuttered desires and as they are satisfied they grow...The more we desire and attain the more we shall desire, and the more attain....That is why our life is so immense.

I am still struggling with the new format for the blog; I find it a bit complicated compared to the old, but it seems to allow for many changes. I just need to figure them all out! Please be patient and do let me know if you prefer the large print or this print. I can only change to large, or largest or small and smallest. So today I am using "normal" but think large might be better. I await my readers comments on this!

Desire as thirst for the Holy Spirit

Mother Stuart has this to say about preparation for Pentecost:

"I have been thinking mostly about two essentials in the preparation for Pentecost, one is desire and the other is peace of soul. Desire which seems to carry everything before it, and obviously must do so, because the gift is for us, and God more desirous to give than we to receive, but desire makes us greater and more capable of receiving..."


Now I have always believed that and know that my desire to receive increases my capacity to receive - certainly this is true of love and God is love! Let us desire God with all our hearts!

As a dear longs for flowing streams,

                        As a deer longs for flowing streams,

                               so longs my soul for You, O Beloved.

                               My soul thirsts for the Beloved, 

                               for the Living Water.

                                                                                          Psalm 42 by Nan Merrill

Let us all thirst for God as we prepare this month for Pentecost. The Presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is a precious gift that we desire with intensity.


As you know, I am one who is not too happy with the way the Vatican seems to want to reform the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. The press seems full of this topic now and I think there is nothing that is going to help. On the other hand, it is good to read tributes to the work of Religious and here is another one from Jim Wallis that I think says a great deal:

"The sisters may be the most positive face of the Catholic Church today, and they are keeping people in the Church who would have given up on the all-male hierarchy long ago. These women are often the ones at the core of Jesus' ministry, building relationships with the poor and vulnerable, and most concretely offering the love of God. If you had a referendum on who the best faith and moral teachers are in many local communities and parishes around the country, it would likely be the women who are now under attack. That is the sad situation here and the serious mistake being made by the Vatican.
Over the years, I‘ve seen how Catholic women formed the heart of Christian ministry around the country in schools, hospitals, prisons, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, women’s clinics, and children’s programs—often in the worst urban neighborhoods and rural poverty areas. They were among the most faithful in peace marches and non-violent protest of our nation’s endless wars. They were the ones who went to the ends of the earth to be with the most forgotten people on God’s planet.

This testimony is from a non-Catholic! 
Come, Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the earth!

Today we begin the month of May, Our Lady's month. We also are preparing all month for Pentecost which is the last Sunday in May this year. What a great month to spend with Our Lady and the Holy Spirit!

I was up early as this is the month that I must catch up with myself. I find that each day brings more to read and one needs to put a limit and stick to a schedule. I am enjoying my retirement immensely, but I also need to be more productive.

Here is another quote from the booklet, "Live the Questions Now" that is published by LCWR:

"We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself." =Lloyd Alexander

The Scripture Quote: Jesus said, "Let us cross over to the other side." Mark 4:35. 

The questions are becoming more important in my life than the answers. God is mystery and so the questions keep coming about the cosmos, my life experience, my relationship with God, with others, with myself...
I am invited to cross over to the other side by Jesus and it is Jesus who takes us by the hand and leads us so do not be afraid, just trust Him!