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Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle



"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."

The Gospel for today's feast from St. Matthew begins:
"As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him."
The "at once" is what strikes me. It is rather startling to think that they would leave just like that, but then, when Jesus calls, we also must learn to respond at once if we are to follow him.
Obviously, this Feast does not always fall in Advent. A fact that I remember because my parents told me they were married on this Feast just before Advent began. However, I think the immediate response is something that we are asked to consider in Advent since we are to "be prepared" and "stay awake."

I was struck by something said in the homily on Sunday. It seems that to have the real Advent spirit, we need to remember how we spent the weeks before Christmas longing for it to come, counting the days and doing all we could to prepare for good behavior because Santa was coming --have we the same desire, the longing, for the coming of the Lord? I hope so. I read something this morning that has helped me today. It was about connecting our need to drink water with the Living Water flowing from the Heart of Christ. I thought of this each time I drank water today and linked it with a desire for the coming of Christ again into our hearts and our world which has such need of Him.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Advent Meditation



We begin Advent with the Liturgy telling us to "Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come." Here we are not thinking of just celebrating the birthday of Jesus at Christmas, but we are to be prepared for His second coming. We do not know when that will be, but we are urged to be prepared.
The Collect for today's Liturgy is worth reflecting on today:
"Look with favor, Lord God. on our petitions, and in our trials grant us your compassionate help, that, consoled by the presence of your Son, whose coming we now await, we may be tainted no longer by the corruption of former ways."

Advent is also a time to examen our conscience to see how we have been responding to the ways Jesus calls us; are we attentive to hear what God wants for each of us. Remember the God's first language is silence. We need to cultivate silence during Advent to be able to hear the voice of God speaking inside of us.

Monday, November 28, 2016

What will you do for Advent?



During Advent we often choose a practice to help us prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas. Sometimes it means doing something for someone, acts of kindness, or maybe giving up something that we enjoy in order to have more time to pray or to serve others. I have been trying to discern what Jesus wants of me this Advent. One thing is also a call of our General Chapter to embrace silence in order to deepen our interior life with Jesus. I feel that I need to be attentive to the present moment and listen to what Jesus is saying to me. Of course, he often speaks through others, even through e-mails! We need interior silence to hear the way Jesus is present to us.
The priest began his homily on Sunday morning by saying that to really have the Advent spirit we had to go back to when we were little and were so excited because Santa was going to come. We need that same longing now for Jesus. If we tried to be good to prepare for Santa's coming, how much more we now should be able to spend our time preparing for the coming of Jesus.

Sunday, November 27, 2016

First Sunday of Advent









This year we will have four full weeks before Christmas. There are always four Sundays is Advent; because Christmas is on a Sunday this year, we have the full 28 days of Advent to prepare for the coming of the Lord Jesus. In many homes and Churches, there is an Advent wreath that has four candles and one is lit each week of Advent until all four are burning to announce the coming of our Savior as a helpless infant. No one fears an infant so let us prepare to receive Him again into our hearts and lives.


The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. A tradition is that each week represents one thousand years, to sum to the 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the Birth of the Savior. Three candles are purple and one is rose. The purple candles in particular symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and goods works undertaken at this time. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, when the priest also wears rose vestments at Mass; Gaudete Sunday is the Sunday of rejoicing, because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over and they are close to Christmas. The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of His second coming to judge the living and the dead.
The light again signifies Christ, the Light of the world. Some modern day adaptions include a white candle placed in the middle of the wreath, which represents Christ and is lit on Christmas Eve. Another tradition is to replace the three purple and one rose candles with four white candles, which will be lit throughout Christmas season.
Taken from Father Saunders on Advent wreath.

Friday, November 25, 2016

Good day to stay home



The day after Thanksgiving was always a quiet day with good leftovers to eat and I certainly do not remember anyone going out to shop. Now, it is Black Friday and so many sales that families cannot wait to get to the stores and the stores open earlier each year. We have really become a consumer society.

In Miami I was always amused by the Christmas decorations that appeared the day after Thanksgiving. In spite of warm weather, some homes had a sleigh and reindeer out on the lawn and often snowmen. The house across the street from us had a huge snowman who had to be blown up every morning and then it would bow and dance with the wind.
I do like to address Christmas cards and write my Christmas letter as early as possible. Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent and I hope to have a good start on my cards by then. I send less each year, but I still try to write to about fifty friends and relatives and then a few to Chile and several to Europe. As I get older, I find my list gets smaller. I do not send to RSCJ as I can e-mail them; I just like to be in contact with my friends at Christmas time.

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving


Let us make this a day full of thanks and giving joy to others. Then we will enjoy this holiday which is a family day. Let us also thank for those who are now absent from the table.
Just be grateful for what we have.

My brother, John, was born on Thanksgiving. My mother had missed Christmas dinner with us when George was born as he came before dawn, but she waited until after Thanksgiving dinner to tell my Dad that she thought it was time for her to go to the hospital. He took me, my sister, and George who was not yet two years old, home with my paternal grandmother (who had agreed to stay with us until mother came home) while two of my Dad's five sisters took my mother who, to their astonishment, had them stop on the way tot he hospital to get her a chocolate, marshmallow sundae! We always celebrated John's birthday at Thanksgiving even if the date changes a bit. He was born on November 25 and so was a grand niece of mine. We have three birthdays this week at Oakwood to celebrate! It is always good to celebrate life!

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Thanksgiving Preparation



We need to remember the first Thanksgiving. The early settlers and the Indians were united in thanking for the harvest that allowed them to feast. We take so much for granted. We only need go to the store to find all we need. Of course, there are still many in our own country who have not the money to celebrate with the kind of feast we associate with Thanksgiving. Let us remember them and be grateful that so many offer to help feed the hungry and our soup kitchens welcome volunteers. My own nephew and his wife will be helping to feed all who come to the St. Vincent de Paul place in Oakland.
Please pray for our twelve young religious in Rome who have begun their long retreat before final profession.
We will have Mass at 11:00 and then a turkey dinner with many invited guests.
I would like to pass on a recipe that is found online from the Ruth and Chris Steakhouse: it is for a sweet potato casserole and we had it last year and I promise you it is worth making - it does not need to be for this Thanksgiving, but you will not be sorry if you look up this recipe.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Two days before Thanksgiving



We have so much to thank for and I hope we do not need to wait until Thanksgiving to realize it and thank God for His many gifts. I think gratitude is something we need to cultivate; and we can learn to thank for the smallest things in life as well as the big ones.
Our prayer board is full of requests for prayers; it is great when we see a note thanking us for praying and letting us know the outcome of prayers for a particular intention.
What do I want to thank for this Thanksgiving in my own life? Take some time to reflect on your life today and even jot down what comes to mind to make sure you keep thanking the Lord for all He does for us.
we have put a large sheet of paper on the Bulletin Board where each may add what they are most grateful for at Oakwood. I wonder if each family could just share this way before Thanksgiving?


Monday, November 21, 2016

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Our Lady, according to tradition, was presented in the Temple at a very young age. We really know nothing about this feast, but it has always been important for the Society of the Sacred Heart as we celebrate its beginnings on this day. It was on November 21, 1800 that the Society began with the first vow ceremony. St. Madeleine Sophie was twenty-one years old, but she would be the one to soon lead the Society; she was elected the first Superior General and she governed the Society until her death in 1865.
We always enjoy remembering this birthday of the Society on this feast of Our Lady. When we honor Mary, she points us to her Son.
"Do whatsoever He tells you."  That is what she so often says to me so then I need to turn and discern with Jesus what it is He wants me to do.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

The Kingdom of God


Jesus preached about the reign of God, but He was humble and simple and chose simple men to be his followers. He wants us to follow Him and work for Him, but His way is not that of the rich and powerful. He leads us with reins of kindness. We are to follow Him as He continues to call us to a humble, simple life that is full of love and compassion.
Yesterday was also the end of the year of Mercy, but it is not the end of the need for mercy. We are all called to live the Beatitudes and Jesus has told us that we will be blessed.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful... let us renew our lives so that the kingdom of God is established first in each of us and then let us spread His Love and Mercy to all.

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Feast of Christ the King




Images of Christ the King really do not appeal to me, but I love the idea that He is King of the whole universe. I am writing today as we are having Mass at 5:00 PM because of the meeting of the Western Region of our Province. It is always a joy for all of us to be together for prayer and sharing and, besides working to see how we can organize our region so that we feel connected to the entire Province yet can take care of so many things in our own region. I love seeing friends and just taking time to talk about the calls of our General Chapter. I know that I am called to live more humanly and also to embrace silence and try to deepen the contemplative side. We are both active and contemplative; I think that at this time in my life I am called to pay attention to God and spend more time in deepening my relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I want to live in gratitude and joy by realizing that all is gift. I think the Kingship of Jesus calls us to surrender ourselves completely to whatever He wants and to realize that all we do or do not do is really important as we are all involved in the evolution of the Cosmic Christ. 
To prepare for Thanksgiving I copied this from Holley Gerth on In Courage:
Who in your life are you thankful for? Think of at least one person.
2. November 19th – What is a memory that brings you joy? Look back and see God’s goodness in it all over again.
3. November 20th – How have you seen God answer your prayers this year? Pause and reflect on one “yes” you are living in now.
4. November 21st – When do you feel joy? Pay extra attention to one happy little moment in your day.
5. November 22nd – Where can you see God’s hand in your life? Consider one way He is taking care of you.
6. November 23rd – Why did Jesus come for us? Revisit His extraordinary love.

Friday, November 18, 2016

Feast of St. Philippine Duchesne



The entire United States/Canada Province is united this week end in three regional meetings. We are fortunate to have our region meeting here so we are able to stay put and receive all those who are coming. I am on the welcome committee and will be greeting all this afternoon as they arrive. We have prayer to open the week end and then we will all have supper together. The week end is quite full so I am trying to prepare my blogs ahead.

The General Chapter spoke of a different images and the one that reminds me most of St. Philippine says that the Society of the Sacred Heart is like a family that decides to set sail in order to look for new life, a new land. It takes with it the part of its heritage that is essential. Philippine kept the little band in America united with the Society in France. Today, we are in about 43 countries, but still united. We have much to thank Philippine for today.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Eve of Philippine's Feast



Philippine Duchesne died at St. Charles on November 18, 1852, leaving the reputation of a saint. Father Gavan Duffy wrote this about her:
"What have we learned from her? The value of a steadfast purpose, the success of failure and the unimportance of our standards of success; the power of grace released by deep, divine desires and simple duty daily done; the old, unearthly, stark, unwelcome fact that God is the workman, we the tools, so that He often takes His own way, not ours, producing wonderful results entirely beyond our ken--but only if the handle of the tool is smoothed and rounded to His hand by sacrifice and prayer."
Much to think about and, before Philippine was canonized, we celebrated our "Beata" on this day so it still seems right to do that now.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

St. Philippine Duchesne



I seem to be preparing for the Feast of my dear Mother Duchesne on Friday, the Western Regional Meeting this week end and the Feast of Christ the King on Sunday to close the Liturgical Year. And then the next Sunday is Advent and that means only four Sundays before Christmas. I think Philippine would tell us to just be calm, find time for more prayer, and you will be prepared without anxiety, fuss, or frustration. Remember that each of us has all the time there is -24 hours every day!

This picture is one of my favorite of Philippine. It depicts her as being very grandmotherly and I think that is the way I always thought of her as a child. She was a loving grandmother to all of the children at the Academy of the Sacred Heart and we felt very close to her. She prayed long hours lost in God. I think I will ask her in these days to help me sit in silence with the Lord and be peaceful. The Lord can take care of the world and all our needs. We need just to be with Him and let Him love us!

Monday, November 14, 2016

Marching for Peace



On Mondays and Fridays, I drive myself to Physical Therapy and work on gaining strength and also work at balance as it is important so I will not end up as so many do with a fall that breaks a hip or worse. I read in Spanish to one from Colombia; we began in the summer and now I go to her room as she fell, hit her head and broke her wrist. She is still suffering from the fall and has had to postpone her trip to Colombia.
What I started to say is that after an hour of intense physical work, I came home for lunch and joined some of the community in a march for peace planned by the students. I think the students were mostly seniors; some parents and teachers were also there. We began with prayer and each was given a safety pin. I asked what it was for and was told to keep me from fear; the safety pin symbolizes safety. We were rather quiet but marched out of the front gates and lined the busy road waving our signs. Mine said, "Respect others"; others were "Love not hate", "Unity" etc. The students were animated and the we waved at the cars and shouted the slogans about "love not hate" and "love conquers fear" and I cannot remember the others. We found some of the drivers honked and waved as they passed us.
I returned to the house with one who uses a white cane as she is legally blind but can see things when she is quite near to them. She gets lost outside but is good about finding her way around the house when inside.
It was a gorgeous day and I think we all felt that we were doing something positive.

Preparing for St. Philippine Duchesne's Feast



Friday is the Feast of St. Philippine Duchesne. Philippine was one of the early Religious of the Sacred Heart who left France and arrived in America in 1818. She opened the first house of the Society at St. Charles, Missouri. From very humble beginnings, her fidelity, abnegation, and great love attracted others to the Society and soon foundations were being made in Louisiana. Her great desire to go to the Indian missions finally came true in 1841.

I did not start this blog to talk about Philippine, but what I want to do to prepare for her feast. There are only four days and I need to let her spirit of prayer and her humility invade my own life. I also need to keep realizing the calls of our General Chapter as this Friday begins our Western Region Meeting - each Region is meeting from Friday evening to Sunday noon. Our Region is mostly concentrated here, with Redwood City, and San Francisco but we also have San Diego coming and Seattle. In all we will be about 99 at Oakwood and all will have meals here. Glad I do not need to worry about that!
The call to embrace silence is one I shall try to deepen this week as it is so important for our interior life. I was part of the retreat for the Associates last Saturday and was impressed by their lives of prayer and service. They have inspired me to reach out to others.

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Gratitude



As we approach the end of the Liturgical Year and Thanksgiving, I am going back to writing down three things that I am grateful for each day. I think that when we are grateful, we have both hope and joy. I just feel so grateful for so many things and think the Lord loves to hear me thank Him and even make a point of writing down some of the things that I am grateful for each day.
Today I meet with the Pauline Group of eight RSCJs who accepted the invitation to share on some of Paul's letters. We only meet once a month for an hour but it gives us time to have five minutes of silence followed by sharing of anything that struck us in the Letter, Galatians this Sunday. It is really more to share our experience of what may resonate with Paul's letter and is not a theological or biblical study.
Paul was a grateful person. I suggest we concentrate of being thankful for the daily gifts and joys as we prepare to celebrate our national holiday of Thanksgiving. Some families even share each night during dinner what each one has been grateful for that day. It helps us to welcome the good things and be on the lookout to express our gratitude.

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Retreat Day for Associates


This Saturday we will have a retreat with our Associates who will renew their promises at Mass. I was invited to spend today with them and I am happy to do so. Saturday we always honor Our Lady by singing the Salve Regina at the end of the Mass. It makes me think of the many days when I was sacristan in Rome for Mater's Chapel and prayed daily in front of the first Mater who worked so many miracles and special favors for so many. I am praying to her for the peace and calm she had and continued to keep. If you think about it, Mary really had a difficult life - from the moment she said "Yes" to God, but she stayed calm and her focus was not on herself. Joseph did not understand and was ready to put her away, until he was told differently in a dream. Then there was the journey to Bethlehem, not an easy one when she was due to give birth soon. And you can fill in the rest - a need to flee to another country to keep her child safe. She certainly feels for those who today are having to leave their homes and country to seek safety for their children. Let us ask Mary today to aid all the refugees and to help us receive even more immigrants into our country and stop the separation of children from their parents.

Friday, November 11, 2016

Armistice Day



What has been celebrated since November 11, 1918 is now called Veterans Day. We honor all those who have fought defending our country; we pray for those who are still fighting and hope that soon we will have peace in all the world.

We are using a quote from Concha Camacho, a former Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart, for the closing prayer of the Busy Persons' Retreat and I want to share it with you today.

"We must be able to create an inner silence so that the unfolding drama of the world becomes a reality that touches us; so that the love of God within us may inspire a creative and joyous response."

Thursday, November 10, 2016

The Kingdom of God



The reflection on today's Gospel by Silas H. Henderson taken from Give Us This Day" says that we should not be anxious...these days "are a time for us to recall that the hoped for Kingdom of God is already at work in the world and within us...The Kingdom of Heaven-the Reign of God- is realized, even now, in the quiet moments of our lives, our acts of prayerful devotion, our pursuit of justice, and our persevering commitment to a life of discipleship."

I really think that God is watching over our country and all in it; we must pray that our government acts according to what will help all of the United States, especially those who are disadvantaged in any way. It is wrong for our rich country to continue to have so many who are really poor - people who go to bed hungry, people who have no bed but are homeless. We must pray for all those who have been elected to realize that they can unite and do something to help those in need. People need a living wage, a secure job, healthcare that is affordable, and streets that are safe, to mention only a few of the needs in our own country. Then we need peace in the world! Many reasons to pray that the reign of God will be felt now.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Day after the Election



This is Tuesday afternoon and I am writing this blog for tomorrow without knowing for sure the results of the Election. I suspect we will know before going to bed tonight and I will add to this.

We are keeping someone in the Chapel all day praying for the elections. We just take turns every half hour and I am sure the prayer is helping our country and all those who are just voting today. I have been seeing people for the Busy Person's retreat plus my prayer/faith-sharing group today but signed for the 4:00 time. The polls on the East coast will be close to closing, I think. We are getting together in the Fireside room at 8:00 but the big TV is on all day in there so many are following hour by hour whatever the news can tell us.
Well, the election was a surprise for all of us, but now we must pray that Trump will work with everyone and help the economy, and do all he has promised for jobs and the economy, and that Congress will work for the common good and not continue to be divided.

Prayer After an Election

Gracious God, we ask for your wisdom and love to guide our newly-elected president and other civic officials and all public servants. 

May they lead us to work for greater justice and peace, and help us to better care for one another, especially our most vulnerable brothers and sisters, and for our common home on this planet. 

Heal our differences and unite us in our search for the common good. Make us faithful citizens of this nation, and, more importantly, of your heavenly kingdom.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit and we shall be created, and you will renew the face of the earth.
 

[adapted from Daily Gospel Reflection from Notre Dame]

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Be peaceful today



Today I chose a peaceful image with calm water as this has been an election campaign that has not been exactly peaceful. Hopefully all will go well today and we will have the results before too late tonight.
Now, I am reading Richard Rohr's latest book, The Divine Dance: the Trinity and Your Transformation". He has written it with Mike Morrell who is the Communications Director for the Integral Theology think tank, Presence International. He is also noted for other things. If you loved Ilia Delio's The Emergent Christ, I think you would enjoy this book. I have only read about sixty pages, but find it helpful to think of the Three Persons in the Trinity as we are called to relate to each and they certainly are in relationship with each other. I like the idea of the Divine Dance.

Monday, November 7, 2016

Monday and a Busy Persons; Retreat




Today we will begin seeing those making the Busy Persons' Retreat. Here it seems that the faculty make it in the second semester and this one is for the mothers of the children in the Middle School. Each school no doubt plans differently. I was always happy to assist. I think it is so helpful for people to have a chance to talk about their interior life with another.

We continue to have gorgeous weather. I have unpacked all my sweaters but only need to use one in the morning. As soon as the sun comes up, the climate is invigorating. I can see why so many move to California. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here with so many old friends from the time we were novices together. Going from a very small community into one with about fifty has been exciting as there is always something going on and you could fill each day with visits, games, and just talking, but there is my own priority for more prayer time and the General Chapter call to embrace silence. I find the days fly by and I love all that I am doing. I feel we do have the hundredfold now!

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Sunday before Election



I voted by mail this year for the first time. I usually enjoyed going to the polls in Miami, but I am happy to have finished the process early here. I think it has been a week of prayer for the elections, fervor over the World Series (I used to be a big baseball fan, but now do not want to take the time to watch a game but I still read the Sport Pages) - we also have some great basketball fans here as the Warriors are capable of rousing passionate response from several; and then there is football, both college and professional to watch on the week ends. I must confess that I just do not spend the time watching the games, but hope to do so in the future. Now, I am finding Sunday a great day for more prayer and reading.
How do you keep holy the Sabbath? I always want to make each Sunday special.
I am sure we are all praying for our country; if you have not yet voted, please think of the value of each vote and go to the polls. We are responsible people and voting is one of our responsibilities.

Saturday, November 5, 2016

A year of prayer

Back in 2006, we were given a booklet and asked to make a year of prayer. This booklet survived my purge that destroyed all my 35 Journals before the move. I had forgotten it was among my books; a few days ago I found it and marvel that I wrote so much inside - there are a few quotes or sketches that were to help trigger our reflection and prayer. I must have been in a mood to write that year and now find it helpful to go back and read what I wrote. It is helping me to see the signposts in my mapping of my own interior life; it is also inspiring me to thank for so many graces.

Tomorrow we will have a visit from our new Mother General who has been our Provincial - until October 20. Barb Dawson was elected at the Chapter and will take over her new duties in Rome in December. It will be good to see her here and be able to thank her for the service she has given and will continue to give the Society. She is a great example for all of us.

Friday, November 4, 2016

First Friday


Jesus is so human as well as Divine. I love First Friday every month as it is a time to look at the love of Jesus for each of us and see how I can return His Love. I usually just let Jesus love me and then try to show my love for Him by choosing what pleases Him. Right now, I am trying to be with some of my sisters who cannot get around by themselves; many are frail, have memory problems, or just are getting so old that they need attention and love. The level of love in this community is extraordinary and you feel how each cares for all. It is a happy place and I hope I can add my little bit to making some happier by my love. I guess that is the best way to love Jesus outside of my prayer. One of the joys of living here is taking more time for prayer.

It is also the Feast of St. Charles Borromeo.

Thursday, November 3, 2016

St. Martin de Porres



When I was in Lima to teach English in the Normal Training School to teach the graduating class, I asked the students to tell me about their country, culture, and anything they thought I should know. One of the most interesting things I did there was to visit the Dominican monastery and see where St. Martin de Porres did all the sweeping of the cloister. I also managed to get to the home of St. Rose of Lima and see the tiny place she used to use in the garden - both places have a certain spirit about them - holy and very poor. I feel the same spirit at St. Charles where St. Philippine lived. Her feast is now on November 18 and I need to begin to prepare for it. When I was in Chile, I lived with a young Spanish nun who became a great spiritual friend. We used to choose some special practice to do before the feasts and urge each other on as she was a very spiritual person. Later, she returned to Malta and I visited her there a few times before her death. She had been down to the bakery to fetch the bread for breakfast and she collapsed at the top of the steps on her return. I think her heart just gave out as she had had TB and had one lung removed when we were in Chile.
We have the custom here of reading the names of all the RSCJs who are buried in our cemetery beginning with the earliest years. I think we hear about twenty names a day. Since we founded our convent and boarding school in 1898, I guess it does take the month to get through all the names. They are read at Mass so all will pray for these and I like to think that they are watching over us with love.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed


Today we pray for all those who have died and may not yet be united to God. Since there is no time with God, I never have been clear about this waiting to be purified in Purgatory. It was a relief to know that many theologians question our whole doctrine of Purgatory as a place of purification. It does not seem to fit what I know about God. Perhaps there is a purification after death but then there is the knowledge that one will be with God for all eternity. I prefer to leave all to the mercy of God who loves us so much.
That does not keep me from praying for all who die; I want all to go directly to heaven. We are made for God and that union with God is happiness beyond anything that we can imagine.
I need to go to the cemetery. I heard that the middle school children were decorating it for All Saints, but I forgot to walk in that direction today. I usually go to the track around the football field and sometimes the children are out running around the track and today they also were following the leaders up and down the steps of the seating tiers for those who come to watch the football team. These children must be fifth or sixth grade but have a remarkable amount of energy. Today I just watched the girls, but other days the boys are doing sprints and I think the idea is to wear them out, if this is possible, so they can be still in the classroom the rest of the afternoon.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Feast of All Saints




After my guided imagery retreat last January, I have my own image of the Communion of Saints. This picture is the closest to what I have seen in my imagination during the guided imagery retreat.
Two years ago, when I was so ill, I was often aware of the Communion of Saints. Then, in my guided imagery retreat I saw my mother and father in the front smiling at me. They were in color, well-dressed, and stood out from the others who seemed to be mostly in brown and black robes. At the top of the pyramid were the angels and Our Lady, and then, above all, the Trinity but I only saw the Three Persons in God in a brilliant light, too bright to really look at but I had a real sense of being with the Blessed Trinity.

It is good to feast All the Saints as I am sure there are many we never think of and I am sure many have been helping me in so many ways. It is a great comfort to know that we have so many friends in heaven.