Farewell until August 22...

I cannot resist giving a few more quotes from Janet Stuart. She said: "Say 'O' in silence; add nothing...what is less than an 'O'? But what is greater than this cry of the heart? All the eloquence of the world is in this O; I don't know what more to say- for I have lost myself!"

"God knows you and loves you, and He knows better than anyone what each person needs, and He will provide. God who looks after the robins will surely not forget us. God loves us poor little things who can only shiver and tremble and wait for the sun. Keep on looking to heaven and as little as possible to the troubles of earth."

Do not lose a particle of your spiritual joy for any failure that you find in yourself to come up to your aspirations and to all that God has done for you. He is not disappointed, for He knows exactly what we are like, how sensitive, how easily wounded, how too easily discouraged."

Feast of Mary Magdalene

Mary was seeking Jesus and Jesus let Himself be found! It was the first Easter Sunday and Mary ran to the tomb only to find that Jesus was not there. She was distressed and in tears and did not even look up when someone asked her why she was weeping. It was only when Jesus called her by name that she responded. She was then filled with joy but Jesus sends her off to tell his apostles that he has risen. He chose a woman to spread the good news!

Mary Magdalene is honored as the "Apostle to the Apostles." She saw and proclaimed Jesus - seeing Jesus and being sent by Jesus is what it means to be an apostle. Actually, we are all called to have an experience of Jesus and to go forth and proclaim His Love to others; that makes us Apostles, too. And we must also be filled with joy!

Sunday Reflections

Jesus taught in parables and we have three for this Sunday. Each tells us something about the kingdom of heaven. We have the man who sowed good seed, but in the night the enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat. That both were allowed to grow together was to not harm the wheat which would be separated at harvest time. Then we have the parable of the mustard seed which grows into a large bush big enough to shelter the birds of the air; finally we have the yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened,

Then, we have the second reading from Romans:

"The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will."

It is so consoling to know that the Spirit comes to our aid. Let us ask the Spirit to teach us how to pray. The Spirit will also help us to be yeast, to grow to receive all who come for shelter, and to separate the weeds from the wheat!

More on Janet Erskine Stuart

A very dear friend who lives in our community just across the street from the Chapel in which Janet Erskine Stuart is buried in Roehampton, sent me the latest booklet on Mother Stuart that is composed of really gorgeous photos by Margaret Wilson, RSCJ to match the equally glorious quotes of Mother Stuart chosen by Sue Acheson, RSCJ. It is a real source for prayer and I am so grateful to have it. Here are a couple of the quotes that I love:

"It is the gift of your heart that God wants above all in your prayer, that you may both give to him and receive from him. Keep it always uplifted with great expectation. Expect, expect again."

"Our prayer should invade the whole day.
The great thing is to find what suits us, and not what suits another."

I will continue with more of these quotations tomorrow. A little goes a long way and we get indigestion when we try to reflect on too many beautiful thoughts at once.

Hospitality is a gift

This picture was supposed to have appeared on the 4th of July but that was when we were without phones, TV, and Internet and so I felt as if I were in retreat instead of celebrating the 4th of July! Today I am having a wonderful friend come for lunch and another for dinner! I love to entertain - my mother loved to have people over and I think I have received this gift of hospitality from her. She and my Dad gave great dinner parties; my Dad was a good cook but most of the family parties in the last years of my Mom's life were more  picnic style and all prepared ahead so that she could enjoy the company. We were usually about twenty as she always wanted to have some who were not family present, too. I remember one day she had the food all ready and realized that many would need to eat at the tables in the yard but the stone patio had grass growing up between the stones so she got Dad to help her haul our oriental rugs stored in the garage and spread them under the tables in the patio. We teased her about that "elegant picnic" for a long time. Gradually the family grew smaller, but my Mom continued to have family parties and now my sister does the same in Arizona.

What is the spiritual thought that triggered off these memories? I think it is that just as Jesus invites us all to come to Him, we also are to say "Come" to others and be open to receive from them as well as love them with the love we draw from the Heart of Jesus.

Come...

"Come to Me..." It is really wonderful and a reason for both awe and joy to think that Jesus is inviting each of us to come to Him.

He never forces us to come, but his invitation is always there and his Heart is open for us to enter and draw out what we need.

Love of the Heart of Jesus, inflame my heart; enkindle all of our hearts with a burning, ardent love for You. When we are in love, nothing seems difficult; we want only to please the Beloved.

Sunday's Invitation

Every Sunday the Liturgy has a special message for each of us. Sometimes we need to ask ourselves what we are to take away from the Sunday reading and pray over and try to live during the week. Sometimes we are almost hit over the head with a phrase from one of the readings, but other times we need to be attentive to what the Holy Spirit wants each of us to ponder and use in our own transformation as I am convinced that the Sunday readings do have the power to transform us when we live them.

This Sunday we meet again the same Gospel for the Feast of the Sacred Heart this year and Jesus says to each of us: "Come to Me...
come and learn of Me that I am meek and gentle of heart."

Jesus asks us to come to Him just as we are. His Heart is open for us and He loves us and wants us to be happy. Let us trust Him and stay with Him this week, hearing again His words: "Come to Me all you who labor and are burdened...and I will give You rest." Let us rest in His Heart today.

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Yours!

"Come to My Heart and find all that you need, even if it is what I have asked of you." That quote is from Jesus to Sister Josefa and one of my favorites!

O Key of David

O Key of David, O Royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of heaven: Come break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

I love this antiphon as Jesus is the Key; He opens our hearts as well as the gate of heaven. He also wants us to help others; Christmas is often a difficult time for those who have lost family and friends. How can I reach out this Christmas to console others? What still needs Jesus to come and break down the walls of death in me? Jesus, You have the key to my heart; help me to make it a home for You!

Jesus was transparent

A crystal reflects the light. Peter van Breemen. S.J. says in The God Who Won't Let Go that "Whoever accepts a mission needs to be transparent. The master should shine through him. This requires a great clarity so that the master is seen through the emissary." The author says that the older he gets the more important transparency has become for him. "Transparency is unambiguous. The light shines through."
He also says that Jesus was a "completely transparent person. "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father."(Jn 14:9)
Do I allow Jesus to shine through me?

I am thinking much about transparency because I had a dream on December 20 (I seldom remember a dream and when I do it is significant and usually a real grace for me). This dream had me in a place (schoolroom?) with many children around me; there was a little old nun in full habit and piercing black eyes who told me that I needed to be transparent; I think I was trying to prepare for spiritual direction. I did not write down immediately what I could remember, but I did keep coming back to the word transparent and did record something in my journal. Later, as I kept reflecting on it, I wrote a poem and will try to be open enough to share it with all of you tomorrow, on New Year's Eve, as I suspect it will be a year of transparency for me or maybe I should say that I want to have the humility to be transparent!!
I really think it was St. Madeleine Sophie who came to me in the dream. She appeared to me in a dream shortly after I had been sent to Chile in 1960 and I shall never forget the great peace and joy she left me; I felt that I had no concerns (this was when I was struggling because I did not know the language and was trying to manage a huge study hall of 157 Middle School children!). Now she has returned and I think her gift is also peace and joy but there is definitely a call to be humbly transparent.

St. Thomas Becket

Thomas was born in London and ordained a deacon in 1154; the next year he was made Lord Chancellor and seven years later was made Bishop of Canterbury by King Henry II. He did not agree with the King and went into exile for a time; he returned and again had a disagreement with the King who expressed a wish to be rid of him and so four of the King's men murdered Thomas in the Cathedral in Canterbury. He was quickly declared a saint and Canterbury became a site for pilgrimages.

The first readings this week are from the First Letter of John. Today's Gospel is again from Luke telling us how the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to God in the temple. There they meet Simeon, a devout man awaiting the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him. "It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord." When he took Jesus into his arms he blessed God saying:
Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled;
my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared
in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel."

Mary and Joseph are amazed; Simeon then tells Mary, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted...so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

The whole mystery of the Incarnation is before us during this Christmas season; it is one of joy and gratitude because God sent his only Son to save us; Jesus reveals God to us! We can have a personal relationship with the one who made us and all things. It is easy to let God love us when we are able to believe in his infinite love.

Feast of the Holy Family

Today we celebrate the Holy Innocents usually, but it is the Sunday after Christmas and so it is the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. It is also a day to celebrate all families. Children bring such joy to a family but they also bring trials and anxieties. Even the Holy Family suffered when Jesus stayed behind and said nothing to his parents. Imagine what it means to think you have lost your child. I think this story in the Gospel is there for families today who struggle to raise a child in this world of ours.
The opening prayer for today's liturgy is "Father, keep us to live as the holy family united in respect and love. Bring us the joy and peace of your eternal home.

I looked at the Alternate Opening Prayer and it has us asking to be taught the sanctity of human love and says "show us the value of family life, and help us to live in peace with all men that we may share in your life for ever."

I have been reading a book that I just realized that I have not shared in the list of good spiritual books on the right of this blog. I love Peter van Breemen, S.J.'s books and this one is called The God Who Won't Let Go (Ave Maria Press, 2001); perhaps I did not share it because I mostly share books published in just the last year or so, but this one is worth reading and praying over. The book is the result of a retreat he gave to the Benedictines of St. Hildegard Abbey in Bingen, Germany. Peter says in the Preface that whoever knows his previous books will recognize the central theme of God's unconditional love for each of us as we are (and not as we should be). God loves us into existence and longs for us to have life and joy in abundance. It is God's abiding desire that our lives be eminently meaningful and bear rich fruit, fruit that lasts. Put simply, what counts is love.

I find the book full of pithy sentences that I want to copy in the section of my Journal that I keep for quotes. "God will go to any length to seek us out" - I believe this and think you will find this book helpful.

Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

Today is the Feast of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. John is also known as the Beloved Disciple who was present with Jesus from the beginning until the end; with Peter and his brother, James, John was present with Jesus at the Transfiguration, at the raising of the daughter of Jairus, and the agony in the garden. Tradition has identified John as the author of not only the fourth Gospel but also of the Book of Revelation and the three letters that bear his name. The Prologue of John's Gospel is a continual source of prayer for me.
In the beginning was the Word,
And the Word was with God
And the Word was God;
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness hass not overcome it....
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him....

Have a good day and take time to enjoy the season!

The day after Christmas

Today is the day after with all that means to so many of us - left over food; presents to thank for, people to call, or maybe we just take some time to be and think of what a difference it is for all of us that Jesus became fully human, like us in all things except sin.
I spent Christmas morning recalling the many graces of the year. I usually do this on New Year's Eve, but the house was quiet on Christmas morning and I just began by thinking of all that had passed during the year and started listing graces to thank for and found this to be very helpful so I pass it on to you.
On Christmas eve we had a lovely prayer service on the O Antiphons; I found the ones I wrote last year and wonder if I am brave enough to share them. Maybe I will one day this week or put on one a day. We will see if I have enough humility to share them.

I wish everyone a joyous Christmas season. The Lord told us that "As the Father loves me, so do I love you" and then Jesus tells us, "Remain in my love" and then he will also tell us that he told us this so that we can have his joy.

I should also mention that this is the feast of St. Stephan, the first martyr. We know from the Acts of the Apostles that Stephen is the first-named among the deacons chosen by the Apostles to minister to the Greek-speaking Christians in Jerusalem. He was stoned by a crowd who accused him of blasphemy for he was filled with the Holy Spirit and said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." Stephen is the patron saint of Deacons.

Christmas Day

Lord, we thank you for coming as an Infant; you are totally accessible to all in your dependence as any infant is; the stable was open for others to come to see and to believe. When we look at the Nativity scenes today, we can feel so close to you.
Here is something to reflect on today, one of my favorites:

In the Bleak Midwinter
Christina G. Rossetti, 1830-1894
In the bleak midwinter, frost wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
yet what I can, I give him: give my heart.

I feel for all those who have been stranded by snow storms in the East and those who have been without power.

Christmas Eve

Opening prayer: "Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay! Give new courage to your people who trust in your love. By your coming, raise us to the joy of your kingdom, where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

Isaiah said: A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him; a spirit of wisdom and of understanding; a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord,... The time has come; tomorrow our Savior, Christ the Lord is born! Let us rejoice as we prepare our hearts today to receive the Infant Jesus who longs to be with us, to love us and to be loved by us!

O Emmanuel...come and do not delay!

The O Antiphon is "O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free." Emmanuel, God-with-us, is our joy.
I came across something today that made me think. There was a big party on Christmas; lots of food and drink; lots of presents, toasts, and much conversation. But, the one who wrote this said that no one remembered that it was his birthday; he was not even thought of and no one had brought him a present. It is a sad Christmas when the Lord Jesus is forgotten; we have made Christmas a great day for eating and drinking and opening presents but what about praying, remembering the one who we celebrate the birth of so many years ago but who is still giving us presents, countless gifts daily, and we do not remember to thank, do not remember to give him the gift he really wants on Christmas, our love, our hearts. Let us plan time to really celebrate with Jesus this Christmas and prepare our gifts with care.I think that stopping to thank for a gift is also a gift.

Here is a tidbit from the Little Blue Book that I did not know about a Christmas custom in Oaxaca, Mexico. It is called "Radish Night" or Noche de Rabanos and all the decorations are carved from radishes, the local specialty. Some of the radishes weigh up to 10 pounds. The festival includes pinatas and fireworks, as well as deep-fried doughnuts, covered in syrup. After a person has eaten the doughnuts, they are to toss the plate over their shoulder. The more shattered pieces of the plate, the better that person's luck in the New Year.
I would not like to have to clean up after that Christmas festival. I like the other custom of the different Posadas or "Inn" that receive the Christchild on the nine days before Christmas. We used to go in procession singing from the different houses that were to host the Infant Jesus with the host carrying the Infant. No radishes but wonderful songs. This was when I was in Chile and I find myself often going back to the torchlight procession on Christmas eve that assembled at our convent school and walked on Christmas eve all the way down to the little Chruch on the beach for Midnight Mass. There was always a live enactment of the Nativity scene as part of the Liturgy. The procession back was still an experience to remember for the joy of all.

Three days to Christmas

Advent has flown by and this fourth week is short since Christmas is Thursday! The O Antiphon for today is: "O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save us, whom you formed from the dust!" The office translation has the wonderful phrase, "O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart;"
Do you not find this more personal to think of the Son of God as the joy of our hearts?

The Gospel is the Magnificat of Mary beginning, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant..."
May our souls proclaim the greatness of the Lord, the King of nations, who desired to come as an infant and experience life as we do to enable us to share in his divinity, he who shared in our humanity.

Since we have been reading about Samuel, I thought I would share these thoughts from the Little Blue Book for the Advent and Christmas Seasons 2008-2009. These are six minute reflections on the First Reading for daily Mass during the Advent/Christmas season. On December 19 the left side of the page tells us that the Old Testament has numerous stories of women who were unable to bear children at first:
Sarah, wife of Abraham, who gave birth to Isaac at an older age; Rebekah, wife of Jacob; Samson's mother (who is not named); Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel. The main purpose of these stories of barren women who later gave birth to a child was to underline the specialness of that child.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Today's Gospel is that of the Annunciation; the "O Antiphon for December 21 is "O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death."

It is interesting to see Mary's confusion when the angel came to her. She was "greatly troubled" and wondered what this could mean. She did not say "yes" until she had asked how it would be possible. Then she gave herself totally to whatever God wanted, but she could not have understood at that moment all the joys and sorrows that would be part of her life because of her Fiat. Mary understands us and helps us to say "yes" to whatever her Son asks of us. Jesus is the center of her life now and wants to be the center of ours and the only joy of our hearts!
I think that as we begin this last week of Advent that is not even a week, we need to just let the mystery of the Incarnation fill our thoughts and our hearts. This God who is the Radiant Dawn and splendor of eternal light is coming again, is here now, and we are no longer in darkness; he is the Light of the World!!

O Key of David...

Today's antiphon has inspired many a reflection. It is: "O Key of David, opening the gates of God's eternal Kingdom: come and free the prisoners of darkness!" I am using the O Antiphons found in the Alleluia verse before the Gospel in each day's liturgy. I have used other translations in the past and that gives one a richness. This antiphon really inspired Joyce Rupp's latest book, The Open Door Some doors need to be opened with a key. Sometimes the key is in the lock; other times the key is hidden; our hearts need to be open to receive Jesus. What might have locked my heart?
I am going to copy the translation in my office book so you will see that the Liturgy has shortened and probably tried to simplify the O Antiphons;
"O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of heaven: come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom."
I guess I am fascinated by the different symbols that are "names" for Jesus who comes to break down the walls and free us.

O Root of Jesse

Today we have the O Antiphon: "O Root of Jesse's stem, sign of God's love for all his people: come to save us without delay."

This is one of my favorite antiphons since I often find myself crying out to God: "Come! Come to save us without delay." The without delay is important!

Jesse was the father of King David and is therefore related to Jesus. He was the grandson of Ruth and was from Bethlehem. There are different symbols for this antiphon but the point is that Jesus is the shoot that Isaiah said would sprout from the stump of Jesse, "and from his roots a bud shall blossom.

I have a poem that a dear friend in Scotland sent me. It is by Nano McHardy, RSCJ who died at the age of 102! It is called "God's Troubadour" and I would love to share it with my readers today:

"It is what He does that I love
And what He loves, I do."

And when His will
Like a two edged sword
Pierces my flesh
Then I cry aloud.
I'll soar on Love's wing
Like a lark while I sing:
"It's what He does that I love
And what He loves, I do."

When fears and doubts
Harass my mind,
Sap my strength
And leave me blind,
The face of my King
I shall seek as I sing:
"It's what He does that I love
And what He loves, I do."

When sorrow's dark
Has cut to the quick
And storm clouds gather
Fast and thick-
Then with a fling
Of my heart I will sing:
"It's what He does that I love
And what He loves, I do."

It is a lovely poem to reflect upon this week with Our Lady.