It is good to be back at Oakwood

I arrived home safely last night and it was good to be home. I enjoyed being with my family, but really missed Oakwood. Today we are celebrating Mardi Gras and it is also Tippy's birthday. I love being with Tippy and often push her wheelchair back to her room or to the Chapel; I try to keep her informed. She has been on hospice for several months now as she has cancer in her jaw that makes it difficult for her to eat, but she never complains and is a great example for me.

When I left for Arizona, I had my first adventure, if you can call it that. I was supposed to board the airplane at 11:50 but then the sign went up that we would not leave until 1:30. I never hear the announcements so had to go back to the gate often to see what was really happening. People were missing connections and some had small children with them. I was told a part was being sent for and then the airplane had to test it before we could leave. By 3:00 the plane was cancelled and all the passengers were in line to see how they could get out of San Francisco. There was another plane, but it was full so they were sending people to San Jose or the hotel near the airport and promising a 6:00 AM flight or a 9:00 AM one.  I was so tired standing in that line for so long that I told them I might need a wheel chair. The man with the vouchers told me he would come over to talk to me about the options and I should go sit down. I was happy to do that and he did come and wanted to send me to a hotel, but my suitcase was on the plane that was going to Phoenix so I was thinking about the 7"00 PM flight from San Jose if not too late for my brother to meet me. I was not happy with either option and wanted to go back home but the man asked for my boarding pass and then made me a sign to follow him. He took me to the other gate, took me to the plane that was full except for one seat. I got on, the door was closed and we were off. I had just enough time to text John to meet me at 6:00 PM! My sister-in-law changed her mind about cooking dinner for me that night and we all stopped to eat on the way back to Gold Canyon. They have a darling dog that I miss now. I had a great week with them before going to my sister's.

Sunday before Lent

This picture was taken on my walk around the grounds.

The Gospel today tells us not to worry about our lives or what we will eat or drink, or about our bodies, what we will wear, etc. I guess Jesus knew the kind of preoccupation we would fall into and He assures us that we are more important than the birds of the air and our Heavenly Father feeds them and cares for them. We are not to worry about material things but seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all will be given you besides. "Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself."

Why do we worry? I think we lack trust. If we really trust the Heart of Jesus to take care of us, we would not be anxious and concerned; this is easier to say than to do. I often find myself getting anxious and know there is no real reason to feel anxious, concerned or just nervous, but it takes me to praying, "Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You" until I feel calm again. And I am not one who usually worries about things; I do know that the Good Spirit's action in me never gives anxiety.

I fly home tomorrow and I look forward to being with my community at Oakwood. They are my other family and I love to be with both.

Dying to self

"A heart united to Our Lord is the grain of wheat that brings forth fruit a hundredfold. Few understand this mystery, because few are willing to die to everything, and in the first place to self; this too is why so few become true contemplatives."

Prayer

St. Madeleine Sophie said the "Prayer, interior spirit, profound humility, give width and depth to our hearts; our Lord can then act in us and by us."

Be at peace

St. Madeleine Sophie said: "If we love Our Lord and are faithful to Him, we shall be at peace, and our peace will endure."

Today is really George Washinton's Birthday

I am thinking that we need to pray much for our country and especially for those who are suffering from poverty. We are a rich country and it is a disgrace that people do not have a living wage, cannot find jobs, are denied green cards, cannot afford health care or do not have the possibility of educating their children in good schools. I guess I could add a great many more things but prefer to think that if all of us worked for the common good, our country would be great. If we could cut the money spent for defense, we could help so many and, if we are at peace with all the world, we could have such a good influence on the environment, world economy, etc.

Sorry I got carried away. In the meantime, let us pray today for more openness and compassion in our own lives and in our government. 

Arizona

This picture was in my file, but is not Arizona.

The beauty of Arizona is everywhere. The sunsets are gorgeous. My brother lives in Gold Canyon right in front of Superstition Mountain. The homes there are in keeping with the desert. Then I go visit my sister in Scottsdale and see all the green grass, the palm trees, the flowers. My sister's back windows and the pool patio look out over the Indian reservation behind them and the sunsets are so spectacular that you just need to stop and gaze until it is dark.

I was looking at the little prayer book that my mother used each day; she had marked the prayers she said every morning and one is a Prayer for a Family and is to Jesus, then Mary, and then Joseph.
"O dear Jesus, I humbly implore You to grant Your special graces to our family. May our home be the shrine of peace, purity, love, labor and faith. I beg You, dear Jesus, to protect and bless all of us, absent and present, living and dead.
O Mary, loving Mother of Jesus and our Mother, pray to Jesus for our family, for all the families of the world, to guard the cradle of the newborn, the schools of the young and their vocations.
Blessed Saint Joseph, holy guardian of Jesus and Mary, assist us by your prayers in all the necessities of life. Ask of Jesus that special grace which He granted to you, to watch over our home at the pillow of the sick and the dying, so that with Mary and with you, heaven may find our family unbroken in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Amen."

Washinton's Birthday Observed

I certainly would like to know what George Washington thinks about the United States at this moment in time.

I think the fact that we are all united in one country must please him. I wonder though what he would think of closing borders, having a Congress that is divided and seems to forget the common good, and a new president that seems to want to alienate many.

Sorry, as I usually stay away from any political comments in my blog, but I was thinking of both the progress of our country and our present situation.

Here is another call from our General Chapter:

To be and to act as one Body

"To revitalize our unity in diversity and to act as one Body, dynamic, interconnected. linked with other bodies, in the world and as Church, in order to share, collaborate, and be in solidarity among ourselves and with others"

"Be perfect,just as your heavenly Father is perfect."

The photo was taken during my January retreat; I think it was the only day the sun showed itself!

What does Jesus mean when He tells us to be perfect, just as God the Father is perfect? That seems impossible.  I think we are called to be so united to God that it is God who acts in us. I am so far from being perfect that I just hope Jesus was calling us to strive for union with God. Then, we will love our enemies for God loves every creature. That is why we must go out to others in need; we must welcome refugees. We must love all immigrants; we come from a family history of immigrants unless we are descended from the native Indians.

Let the picture be a meditation

Just gaze on this for a while, a long, loving look - use all your senses. Can you smell the salt water? Feel the sand between your toes? Hear the waves as they roll in to the shore? How do you feel?

One of the calls of the General Chapter:

In the radical style of Jesus of Nazareth, we wish to be in closer relationship as sisters and with one another and with others; we wish to be simpler, more human and closer to people in their experience, in order to show forth the joyful and compassionate face of God and to be at the service of Life, wherever we are sent.”

 To live more humanly just means to really live as a human being should live and I love the call "to show forth the joyful and compassionate face of God...

A Holy Place

This is a picture of a wonderful tree at Villa Maria del Mar where I have been making my retreat for many, many summers. I thought that I needed to add the last bit of Richard Rohr's book called "The Divine Dance" as he quotes from Catherine LaCugna's book "God for Us: The Trinity and Christian Life." She wrote: "The very nature of God, therefore, is to seek out the deepest possible communion and friendship with every last creature on this earth."

That, says Rohr, is a job description of God. His last line has really stayed with me. "God is on your side, honestly, more than you are on your own."

We are going to dinner with my sister and her husband, my sister's two children and the "we" means my brother and his wife and me.

We cannot diminish God's love for us

These pictures are from the General Chapter 2016 and we are now trying to live the calls of this wonderful Chapter.

Although I am in Arizona, I did think this quotation from "The Divine Dance" was worth copying for you:

"Love is not something you do; love is someone you are. It is your True Self. Love is where you came from and love is where you're going. It's not something you can buy. It's not something you can attain. It is the presence of God within you, called the Holy Spirit--or what some theologians name uncreated grace."

Richard Rohr goes on to say that we cannot make God love us any more than God already loves us right now. We can't diminish God's love for us. What we can do, however, is learn to believe it, to receive it, trust it, allow it, and celebrate it, accepting Trinity's whirling invitation to join in the cosmic dance."

Visits

This morning I leave to fly to Arizona and spend twelve days visiting first my brother and his wife, Anita. She is in the picture with me when John and Anita came to see me last summer. After a week in Gold Canyon with them, I go to Scottsdale to be with my sister and her husband and my niece will also be there. We will all have dinner together on the 17th and on the 19th will celebrate my sister's birthday at Anita's and John's desert home. It is right in front of Superstition Mountain so I will take some pictures for my blog.
If I do not write, you know that this is my vacation time. I will be back writing my blog on Shrove Tuesday in time to be ready for the season of Lent.
I might have a few blogs scheduled though so keep looking!

Happy Valentine's Day

In 1960 I left from Rome for Chile immediately after my final profession and arrived on Valentine's Day. It has had a spiritual significance since then. I thought the Lord must be sending me as His valentine to give His Love to all I met in Chile. I found it helpful to renew this each year for the next nineteen years. I guess we are all Valentines sent to reveal God's love to others.

Black History Month

Poem of the Day: BLK History Month

by Nikki Giovanni

If Black History Month is not

viable then wind does not

carry the seeds and drop them

on fertile ground

rain does not

dampen the land

and encourage the seeds

to root

sun does not

warm the earth

and kiss the seedlings

and tell them plain:

You’re As Good As Anybody Else

You’ve Got A Place Here, Too

Sunday Thoughts

Jesus tried so hard to teach us how to live. Even now, He is working in us through the Holy Spirit.
I think that Jesus wants be with us in our everyday lives. He knows, of course, what we are thinking, but I am sure He likes us to just talk to Him as one friend to another. When you love someone, you want to be part of their life, know what they are thinking, what they feel, and nothing is too small or insignificant so we need to talk to Jesus and then sit in silence and listen to Him.

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

After giving the Thirty Day Ignatian Retreat to two priests, a Brother, and a Benedictine Sister, I went from Manresa, Spain to Lourdes in France by bus. Arriving on the eve of the eve of Pentecost, we were fortunate to find a room to rent.

We joined the candlelight procession and it was very thrilling to see all the pilgrims with their lighted candles. The Mass in the crypt was devotional, but I was struck by the prayer of a multitude of people from all over the world. The next day I went to see the sick lined up to wait for the water baths; I also found the room with the confessionals that seemed to cover many languages. I went into one that had "English" on the door, but I think that was wishful thinking; however, the Holy Spirit was very present then and during the entire week end. Still, it was a relief to arrive in Rome on Pentecost and hear all the bells.

I often go to pray at the shrine here and used to do the same in Chile, but I just pray to Our Lady and do not think much about her appearing at Lourdes and the many miraculous healings that have taken place there. She loves to see what we need and point it out to her Son, Jesus.

Finding God in All

Through this arch, pass the dressing rooms and you will see the swimming pool to the left and a large soccer field straight ahead. The high school has this field, a football field, a baseball field, and another field so several other sports are also possible plus two gyms. The Lower school has its own gym and playing fields.

You are going to feel at home here after I have shown some of my pictures, but it is a beautiful place. I think beauty helps us to see God in our surroundings. We should see God in everything, but beautiful scenery helps me and the ocean is my favorite image of God in nature.

I find God easily when I see the children around here. We are so blessed to have contact with them.

You and me

Two lovely young girls came over from the school in the rain last Friday afternoon and helped me organize my pictures into folders. Since I have taken several of the Sacred Heart school here, I want to show them to my readers. This is the beautiful pool that we no longer use due to insurance, I think. The students play water polo tournaments here during the year and both the boys' team and the girls' are excellent. I usually pause at the end of my walk to watch whatever is going on in the pool. It is heated and Olympic size and so tempting in the summer. I made a few retreats here when we were still able to use the pool.

Now for a spiritual thought: We are here to take care of ourselves so that we can also be taking care of others is what I got out of the homily one day and the thought has stayed with me. We need to think of both "I and Thou" and then we will be happy and grateful as we are here to help one another. In my own words I think it must always be "you and me" and never just "me".

Apostolic Courage

I took this picture walking around our grounds. We have such beautiful trees.

To day I am celebrating my 57 years of final profession in the Society of the Sacred Heart. I am also taking one of my RSCJ friends to lunch. I have been wanting to do this since her birthday in early December, but we had to wait until both of us could be free.
The name of our Profession group was "Apostolic Courage" and we have all shown that in many ways through the years. I was struck by the homily at Mass the other day that insisted that we are here for others.
The five of us who made our Final Profession in 1960 will have lunch together in the Fireside room tomorrow. This is such a lovely room and we have all new furniture! We really needed it, but I had no idea that it would make such a difference. The fire in the fireplace looks real and is usually on during this rainy weather we have been having. It just makes the room so inviting.

Gratitude that Overflows

This is a picture I took on a visit to Half Moon Bay with my sister and brother-in-law. I just love to look at the ocean. We had lunch in the hotel and the green you see in the picture is part of the golf course. I wonder how many balls go into the Pacific?

This is a time to be grateful for my vocation as the anniversary of my final profession is on February 8th - there are not too many of us still alive out of the 46 who began those contemplative months in Rome together. Five of us will get together during this week and reminisce. (I keep waiting to see if the computer will check the spelling of that last word as I am not usually writing about taking time to reminisce.) It is a good word though and when I do take the time, I am filled with gratitude; sometimes the gratitude just overflows and I need to express it here and with others. I have been so blessed and do not see how I can ever complain about anything, but I still do find that I need to watch that quick response and think of how I should be just thanking for everyone and everything in my life.

My First Friday Reflection copied for blog

Something I read sixty-six years ago has stayed with me to this day and continues to influence my prayer.  The words were in a letter to members of the Society of the Sacred Heart from Reverend Mother de Lescure in preparation for the 150thanniversary of the Society. I had just entered the community and was deeply impressed by the words “...the name we bear is a title to entrance, not to the threshold but to the very depths of this Divine Heart.” Then we are told that “the solitude of His Heart is a crushing reality.” The Society was founded to fill this solitude “...with souls who would know how to heed the ardor of His heartbeats and who would not leave Him alone in the depths of His life.” We enter His Heart when we are alone, detached, and offered. “It is a grace we ask for…conscious of our unworthiness…but certain of the call which is expressed by the name we bear. Jesus Christ, revealing His Heart, and we, unworthy beggars, entering and descending to unite and conform ourselves: such was to be the prayer of the Society.  ...we do not leave this solitude when our prayer is over…the spirit of prayer should keep us in union of faith and conformity of will, fixed in this Heart which is our dwelling place day and night.” I still find this Letter to be the foundation of my own prayer in His Heart today. It is my hope that it touches each one of you, members of the family that bears his name and enjoys that same invitation to the depths of his heart. Relection by Helen Rosenthal, RSCJ Photograph by Jerry Naunheim

Something I read sixty-six years ago has stayed with me to this day and continues to influence my prayer.  The words were in a letter to members of the Society of the Sacred Heart from Reverend Mother de Lescure in preparation for the 150thanniversary of the Society. I had just entered the community and was deeply impressed by the words “...the name we bear is a title to entrance, not to the threshold but to the very depths of this Divine Heart.” Then we are told that “the solitude of His Heart is a crushing reality.” The Society was founded to fill this solitude “...with souls who would know how to heed the ardor of His heartbeats and who would not leave Him alone in the depths of His life.” We enter His Heart when we are alone, detached, and offered. “It is a grace we ask for…conscious of our unworthiness…but certain of the call which is expressed by the name we bear. Jesus Christ, revealing His Heart, and we, unworthy beggars, entering and descending to unite and conform ourselves: such was to be the prayer of the Society.  ...we do not leave this solitude when our prayer is over…the spirit of prayer should keep us in union of faith and conformity of will, fixed in this Heart which is our dwelling place day and night.” I still find this Letter to be the foundation of my own prayer in His Heart today. It is my hope that it touches each one of you, members of the family that bears his name and enjoys that same invitation to the depths of his heart. Relection by Helen Rosenthal, RSCJ Photograph by Jerry Naunheim

Sunday - Jesus is the Light of the World

Christ the Friend Friends do things together. Christ’s main activity on this earth is salvation, being salt and light for souls dying and blinded because of sin. By bringing us into the Church – the “city on a hill” – he has invited us to work side by side with him. He wants to include us in his most engaging task – glorifying God the Father by working for the salvation of our brothers and sisters. He has offered his hand in friendship by offering us a share in his invaluable, incomparable work. Will we accept the offer?


I copied the above as I thought it would be good today to take time to reflect on Jesus as a faithful friend who is always with us. He is there to listen to both our joys and sorrows, to help us and to give us inspiration. We need to cultivate this friendship by spending time with Jesus today and everyday, but Sundays are the Lord's day so do take time to be with Him today.

An Image to Ponder

This tree is an image that speaks to me so I offer it for your reflection today. It is a survivor! It is hardy, maybe even a bit stubborn, but it is alive and seems to have nourished itself to grow and flourish amid the rocks. Did it have good soil? It is a sentinel watching over its part of the Pacific ocean. If it could speak, what would it say to you? (I do not know where all this came from, but will leave it; it might be the Holy Spirit).

Father Varin was very important both as spiritual director and the  "male superior" at the foundation of the Society of the Sacred Heart. He said something in one of his conferences that I think worth sharing with you today:

"I find this keeping of the attention fixed on the Heart of Jesus so easy and simple in itself, besides, there is a particular grace attached to your vocation which will facilitate the practice for you."

When St. Madeleine Sophie spoke of the Heart of Jesus, she meant the whole person of Jesus Christ, but the Heart of Jesus is a special symbol of His love and mercy. His Heart was pierced with a lance and this wound remains open for us to enter into the depths of His love.

First Friday and Feast of St. Blaise

The picture is of my niece and nephew. His name is Blase and skips the "i" as it was his father's middle name and his Dad's birthday was today. Both my nephew and Jennifer, my niece are very dear to me, but I have not seen much of them. Both were born when I was in Chile. We will all be in Arizona later this month for my sister's birthday.

I have been reflecting on the fact that imagery is anything a person is experiencing; it does not need to be a picture, but can be a feeling, a color, a shape, etc. I think we all have so many images each day that it is overwhelming to try to sort through them, but we need to learn to be attentive to the nudges of the Holy Spirit. I think they often come through images.

Today we get our throats blessed! That is something that has seemed so important to me ever since I was a child. I now think of this blessing as not only keeping us from having sore throats, but as a blessing to use our voice to spread love and joy.

Feast of the Presentation

Newly born infants sleep most of the time, but what joy the presence of Jesus gave to Simeon and to Anna. Our Lady was there as the mothers not only had to present their first born sons in the Temple, but they had to go through the purification rite.

I have something special to share with you today. There are seven principles of generative listening and so good to have that I am sharing them with you.

1. Slowing down and noticing more of what is present.
2. Listening with all my senses.
3. Listening to the words/images chosen: those specifically and not others.
4. Listening to the emotions conveyed by the person who is talking.
5. Suspending judgment: not pre-empting, classifying, nor dismissing what the person is expressing.
6. Noticing what I don't understand or what triggers questions for me rather than what I don't like about what I hear.
7. What do I feel as I listen to what is being said--and why?

Philippine Duchesne

In my guided imagery retreat, St. Philippine Duchesne came and sat down next to me and encouraged me to keep communicating with friends and to continue to write a daily blog. I had been thinking that perhaps I should not keep this blog going after so many years. She told me to listen to the Holy Spirit and not to give up. So, I will try to post even if I am having trouble with the Internet connection ever since we had a power failure. One day I am connected and the next day I am told by both my laptop and my I-pad that there is no connection. My neighbor in Westwood thinks that the storm caused damage to our connection as others have the same problem. I try to schedule ahead, but it I miss a day this week you will know why.

Philippine seems very close to me since she told me that she has followed my vocation every step of the way ever since I was a child at St. Charles. I have often felt her presence in my life, especially when I was sent to Chile not know a word of Spanish! I needed her courage that first year. I think she has given me the love I have for the Society of the Sacred Heart which only grows stronger each year. What a gift a vocation to the Society is and how I pray that others may hear God's call to follow Him in the Society. I am convinced that God still offers the gift of a religious vocation to young people, but are they able to hear the invitation? We must continue to pray and thank God that other countries are having an increase in vocations.