Thoughts from my morning prayer

This month we received the Society of the Sacred Heart published  book of the "Letters and Conferences 2000-2008" of our former Mother General, Sister Clare Pratt. I, compulsive reader that I am, sat down and reread them all and then began to use the book for my afternoon prayer/reflection time. Some days I have gone back to it during my morning prayer as it is all on our spirituality and so I find it helpful, stimulating, and satisfying.

There is a Conference given for the entire Society of the Sacred Heart for the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Since we are in 43 very different countries on all continents, the internationality aspect of our vocation is very evident in these Conferences but also in the Conference given for each international group of our young Religious who spend five months in Rome before final profession. In a conference given before the end of these months of prayer and reflection, each group receives a "name" and a "devise" - my group (who made our Profession back in 1960 we were 45 and all was in French then) received the name "Apostolic Courage" which was very helpful for me as I went straight from Rome to Chile.

This morning I went back to one of the conferences for our young Religious (we still call them probanists and the months before Profession is called "Probation"). The time was described as one of reflection, discovery, integration, and renewed commitment. I see that my retirement years are also a time of reflection, discovery,
integration, and renewed commitment. I am so grateful for this time!

For each of us there is a desert to travel, a star to discover...

Today's reflection is first of all a poem taken from an Iranian Christmas card and used by Bishop Hunthausen in an annual letter to the Catholics in western Washington. Here is the poem:
"If, as Herod,
We full our lives with things,
and again with things;
If we consider ourselves so important
That we must fill every moment
of our lives,
When will we have time
To make the long, slow journey
Across the burning desert
As did the Magi?
Or sit and watch the stars
As did the shepherds?
Or brood over the coming of the child
As did the Magi?

For each one of us
There is a desert to travel,
A star to discover,
And a being within ourselves
To bring to life."

Hunthausen said that "the journey we make across life's desert following a somewhat elusive star, is a journey that will most surely lead us to the Child who is God, and in discovering the Child, we will really only be discovering our true selves and the key that unlocks all of life's mysteries." He then goes on to say that we do not make this journey alone. It is one we make together in faith and in hope, supporting each other along the way.

Throughout the ages, spiritual writers have always seen our way to God as a spiritual journey. Where and how God will lead me in this coming year is not as important as my willingness to follow the star and to set out again with joy and gratitude,

Christmas Cards

I still send Christmas cards. And I receive Christmas cards. Some are very beautiful; some I use for meditation. I keep them all in a basket and pray each day for the senders. My favorite cards are those showing the Infant Jesus with his arms reaching out the way babies do when they want to be picked up and loved. I think I may make a collage with some of the cards this year to keep in mind that I am to pipe a song of joy to the Infant Jesus. That desire has stayed with me over the years and came back during the days of Advent prayer; I know that I have a special vocation to give joy. I do not know if I am living up to this grace, but I know it is a call given to me by Jesus and so I need to try to cultivate it with his help.

We will be looking back over the past year during the next few days and thanking for all the graces given to us. Sometimes it is only when we take time to reflect back that we are able to see what a great grace some event was for us. At the time we may not have thought so, but we see now how God was working in our lives and that brings gratitude. Sometimes we see that we missed the boat and need to ask pardon for not heeding the promptings of the Holy Spirit. I think that a reflection over the past year is always fruitful. This allows us to see also how the Lord wants us to spend the New Year. Let us pray for one another.

Our hearts are opened

This is the end of Pope Benedict's homily on Christmas and I thought it worth our reflection today.
" This is what God is like. The Angel had said to the shepherds: "This will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger" (Lk 2:12; cf. 2:16). God's sign, the sign given to the shepherds and to us, is not an astonishing miracle. God's sign is his humility. God's sign is that he makes himself small; he becomes a child; he lets us touch him and he asks for our love. How we would prefer a different sign, an imposing, irresistible sign of God's power and greatness! But his sign summons us to faith and love, and thus it gives us hope: this is what God is like. He has power, he is Goodness itself. He invites us to become like him. Yes indeed, we become like God if we allow ourselves to be shaped by this sign; if we ourselves learn humility and hence true greatness; if we renounce violence and use only the weapons of truth and love. Origen, taking up one of John the Baptist's sayings, saw the essence of paganism expressed in the symbol of stones: paganism is a lack of feeling, it means a heart of stone that is incapable of loving and perceiving God's love. Origen says of the pagans: "Lacking feeling and reason, they are transformed into stones and wood" (in Lk 22:9). Christ, though, wishes to give us a heart of flesh. When we see him, the God who became a child, our hearts are opened. In the Liturgy of the holy night, God comes to us as man, so that we might become truly human. Let us listen once again to Origen: "Indeed, what use would it be to you that Christ once came in the flesh if he did not enter your soul? Let us pray that he may come to us each day, that we may be able to say: I live, yet it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me (Gal 2:20)" (in Lk 22:3).

Yes indeed, that is what we should pray for on this Holy Night. Lord Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem, come to us! Enter within me, within my soul. Transform me. Renew me. Change me, change us all from stone and wood into living people, in whom your love is made present and the world is transformed. Amen."

"There was no room for them at the inn"

Someone sent me some information on the World refugee population that is connected with the famous line in the Christmas story, "for there was no room for them at the inn" This is from Luke's Gospel.

Matthew tells us that the Holy Family had to flee into Egypt as Herod was searching for the Child to destroy him. That made the Holy Family "refugees" in the legal sense defined by a 1951 UN Convention: that is, men, women and children who have crossed a national border "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, are outside the country of nationality, and unable to, or owing to such fear are unwilling to" return home.

There are 10.5 million people in our world today who are refugees! There are 26 million people who are "internally displaced", meaning that they have fled or been forced to leave their homes to avoid persecution, but as they remain in their own countries are not technically "refugees" with the largest populations in Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Congo and Colombia.

Feast of the Holy Family

The Holy Family is a model of family life; actually, we know very little about the day to day life of the Holy Family, but it is in our family that we learn to receive and to give love. The opening prayer for today's liturgy says: "Father, help us to live as the holy family, united in respect and love. Bring us to the joy and peace of your eternal home."

We receive so much from our families. Each family has its own traditions, small things that add a distinctive spirit. Christmas is a time for remembering all that we have received from our families.

Christmas Prefaces

There are three different prefaces for Christmas and each gives a slightly different view of how God is made visible in the Incarnation. Preface I tells us:
In the wonder of the Incarnation your eternal Word has brought to the eyes of faith a new and radiant vision of your glory. In him we see our God made visible and so are caught up in love of the God we cannot see.

Preface II tells us:
Today you fill our hearts with joy as we recognize in Christ the revelation of your love. No eye can see his glory as our God, yet now he is seen as one like us. Christ is your Son before all ages, yet now he is born in time. He has come to lift up all things to himself, to restore unity to creation, and to lead mankind from exile unto your heavenly kingdom.

Preface III says:
Today in him a new light has dawned upon the world; God has become one with man, and man has become one again with God. Your eternal Word has taken upon himself our human weakness, giving our mortal nature immortal value. So marvelous is this oneness between God and man that in Christ man restores to man the gift of everlasting life. In our joy we sing to your glory...

There is a great deal of theology contained in these Prefaces for Christmas and much for us to reflect on during the Christmas octave.

Merry Christmas to all!

I wish you all a very happy, holy, and merry Christmas today. I am thinking that happy means more to me than merry - maybe because happiness is deeper and lasts longer than merriment. Anyway, I am going to share some of a meditation called "Remembered in My Heart" from a book that I love by Macrina Wiederkehr; it is not a new book but one I return to and is called Seasons of Your Heart. She begins by saying: Every day I take my friends to my prayer. They are remembered in my heart....then
Today, my friends,
I am leaving my head for a while
I am on a journey to my heart.
I am taking each of you with me
to the oven of my heart
to the very center
where God lives.
I am taking you separately
one at a time.
I take you there to remember you well
like yeast remembers dough.
Remembering is a kind of loving
a kind of baking
and sometimes breaking.

With love, my God talks to me there
in the oven of my heart
And shows me why it's part of heaven's plan
that you became a part of my heart.

I remember you walking into my days
(or did I walk into yours?)
I reflect on all the ways
you've been grace to my heart.
I remember the times
you've been sacrament to me
a real presence for my journey, a communion
feeding my weariness new strength.

I am grateful for your presence in my life
because of you I own a warmer heart
a heart more breakable
more pliable, soft and rearrangeable.

When people touch me deeply
it is my heart that remembers.
And so, I remember you,
lovingly, dearly.
I cherish you, and then...
I leave you there, somewhere
in the oven of my heart.
I go back to pick up someone else
and bring them too
until we're all together
remembered in my heart.

I find joy as well as comfort in the love of my friends and want you to know this Christmas that I hold you all in my heart.

Christmas Eve

I suspect that I should save this picture for Christmas morning, but I was thinking about the angels letting the shepherds know about the birth of Christ; they are the first to know the good news that today a savior is born to us!" They had to be the most humble of people as the Jews looked upon them as the lowest class and they were even considered outcasts. Yet they believed the angels and went off seeking the newborn savior.
I have been thinking about and trying to stay with Jesus in the womb of Mary this Advent. He was in darkness but experiencing growth. He was being prepared in that darkness for life and was to become the Light of the World. The Incarnation is a mystery that gives all of us joy and gratitude.
Tonight we have the traditional "veilee" which is a time of prayer to prepare for the coming of the Lord this night. I was reading about the first Christmas that Mother Duchesne prepared at St. Charles in 1818 and marvel at the holiness of those first missionaries. They all had to sleep on the floor in the same room with the children and seemed to think nothing of this. I think I shall read an account of that first Christmas at our veilee tonight.

Eve of Christmas Eve

The O Antiphon is "O Emmanuel, King and Lawgiver, Desire of the Nations, Savior of All People, come and set us free, Lord our God." Finally, God is to be with us again in a special way on this day when He came into the world. He was content in the womb of Mary to grow as all babies do, but now He is coming into his own - "the Word was made flesh!" we can only adore and pay homage to the Lord of all who came to us as a child in need. He cannot talk or walk or even stay awake, but his whole being is here for love of us! Let us love Him in return! Let us spend the day with Our Lady as she prepares for the birth of her Son. Silent Joseph must have been a comfort for her; however, I think she was very much alone in what she was going through and both were trusting God and praying that all would be according to his will.
Let us pray that we may all be set free from all that hinders our union with God.

O King of Nations

The O Antiphon is "O King of Nations, the Only Joy of Every Human Heart: O Keystone of the Mighty Arch of Humankind, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust." We celebrate Christ as King of the nations and prince of peace. He comes as a helpless baby to save us. He reigns from the crib and wants us to live in love and peace. What can I do to further peace in my world today?

O Radiant Dawn...

The O Antiphon for today is "O Radiant Dawn, Splendor of Eternal Light, Sun of Justice: Shine on those lost in the darkness of death." This is the shortest day of the year and it is one on which we celebrate the Radiant Dawn. Christ is the Dawn that comes to shine on all of us who sit in darkness. This is a reason to be cheerful. If it is pouring rain, or cloudy, we still know that God is here with us even if the sun is not shining.
Here is the Litany of Humility that I promised to share. I do not know where it comes from originally, but it is powerful, I think, and I am trying to say it and mean it.

A Litany of Humility

From the desire of being praised, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being preferred, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of comfort and ease, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being criticized, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being passed over, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being lonely, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being hurt, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering, deliver me, Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

Please pray for two special intentions; one is my sister-in-law who is now numb from her waist down and the doctors are not sure what is the problem and so she is having multiple tests and treatment and no results yet. I would really appreciate your prayers for both my intentions this week. Thank you.

O Key of David...and 4th Sunday of Advent

The antiphon for today is "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." This is the fourth and last Sunday of Advent so we know that Christ is coming within the week. We need to be the key that releases those who are dwelling in darkness, those who are grieving. Christmas is a time for reaching out to others to bring them joy.

I have been thinking much about humility this Advent and praying to really be humble. God seems to be providing the opportunities. I came across the Litany of Humility again and intend to copy it for all - then we can pray for one another to increase our humility in this Advent season when Jesus was still stirring only in the womb of Mary.

O Come, Ocome, Emmanuel

O Come, O come, Emmanuel.
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

The O Antiphon for today is "O Root of Jesse's stem, sign of God's love for all his people: come to save us without delay!"

Come, Lord Jesus, come and do not delay. That is a good walking prayer for Advent!

Here is a thought about Emmanuel, the most familiar name perhaps that we give to God during Advent. God is with us; we believe that. How does his presence make a difference?

His name will be called Emmanuel

Matthew has an angel appearing to Joseph in a dream to tell him; "Do not be afraid to take Mary into your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." And Matthew adds that all this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:"Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us."

Joseph believed and obeyed the angel. I think we forget what a leap of faith this must have been for Joseph.

I had such a wonderful three days of prayer at the Cenacle in Gainesville; it is a long drive up and back, but the quiet prayer in Advent really helps to prepare the way of the Lord. I went back over my life and found that I have always felt a special call to stay with Jesus and give Him and others joy. It was good to have the time to reflect back and to just sit quietly in the Presence of Jesus. I prayed for everyone as I know what a busy time this is and here I was having three full days of prayer plus the long drive up and back.

O Wisdom of our God...

We are getting close to Christmas when we begin the O Antiphons. The first is "O Wisdom, but all the antiphons go way back in the liturgy and are still found in the Mass and sung by those reciting the Office during the seven days before Christmas.

An Antiphon is a brief liturgical chant based on the Psalms, or sung as a refrain to the Psalms, and is usually sung responsively. This Antiphon for Advent is a setting of the "Great Antiphons", or "O" Antiphons, appointed to be sung at Vespers, each on its own day before Christmas.

The author of the Advent Antiphons is not known for certain, but many have been attributed to Gregory the Great in the 6th Century. During the 12th Century, five Antiphons were arranged as a hymn contained in the old Spanish Breviary, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel".

Here is today's antiphon:

O Wisdom of God, which art the Word proceeding from the Most High; reaching from the beginning to the end; firmly and gently disposing all things: Come Thou, and teach us in the way of understanding.
Come, Lord Jesus!

To Live with the Spirit

I am sure that some of my readers will recognize that To Live with the Spirit is the title of a poem written by Jessica Powers. One of my dearest friends sent this to me; it is her favorite and I prayed over it and want to share it with you:

To live with the Spirit of God is to be a listener.
It is to keep the vigil of mystery,
earthless and still.
One leans to catch the stirring of the Spirit,
strange as the wind's will.

The soul that walks where the wind of the Spirit blows
turns like a wandering weather-vane toward love.
It may lament like Job or Jeremiah,
echo the wounded hart, the mateless dove.
It may rejoice in spaciousness of meadow
that emulates the freedom of the sky.
Always it walks in waylessness, unknowing;
it has cast down forever from its hand
the compass of the whither and the why.

To live with the Spirit of God is to be a lover.
It is becoming love, and like to Him
toward Whom we strain with the metaphors of creatures;
fire-sweep and water-rush and wind's whim.
The soul is all activity, all silence;
and though it surges Godward to its goal,
it holds, as moving earth holds sleeping noonday,
the peace that is the listening of the soul.
(1949;1984)

The first line in each of the three stanzas is worth a meditation!

58th Anniversary of My First Vows

I remember this day so well. I had a marvelous private retreat before it and Jesus was so present to me and I kept asking Him to let me realize what I was really doing when I took my vows and consecrated my whole life to Him. As I had had all the sports for the high school and seventh and eighth grade for the whole of my second year as a novice, I was allowed to go talk to the children that afternoon. I still remember standing on a bench so they could all see me as they crowded into the locker room; they wanted to see my vow crucifix and. of course, they had been present that morning when we were given our black veils. It was the octave of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and I had several days before going back to St. Louis to begin my active life as a religious. My family had not come for the ceremony as it was too far to travel since they would be seeing me in St. Louis. I went by train with one of the students so had to wait until vacation began. I was still so caught up in the grace of my vow retreat that I seemed to have had the grace of tears, but i think it was because everyone was so kind to me.

Feast of St. John of the Cross

I love John of the Cross and he certainly pictured our spiritual life as a longing for divine union. He not only is known for his reform of the Carmelites, his friendship with Teresa of Avila, his dark nights and all his writings and magnificent poetry, but he is also a doctor of the Church.

I love his "The Living Flame of Love" and I think the image of the inner wine cellar fits with my Advent in the womb of Mary. I am longing for silence and solitude and feel that this longing is from the Lord.

Third Sunday of Advent

This Sunday is called "Gaudete Sunday" and means in Latin "rejoice"! We rejoice for the Lord is coming, He is near. We forget that Jesus is here with us, Emmanuel, but we prepare our hearts to celebrate his coming closer as we make room for him in our hearts.

The first reading from the Prophet Zephaniah begins with "Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel. Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!...The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, he will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals."

Let us slow down and keep our joy! It is important to do this as everyone is having a busy time with material preparations for Christmas and Jesus is looking for us to be busy with our spiritual preparation - Come, Lord Jesus, and do not delay! That is the refrain I am trying to keep along with my "smiling yes" that is not as easy as I try to balance too many things. But, by the time you read this, I am in retreat at the Cenacle in Gainesville where I will be praying for all my readers. I am trying to schedule ahead as I will be off the computer for five days. :)