Dawn beauty

Today is "Black Friday" and we are such a crazy nation of consumers that many are out there fighting to buy, fighting for parking spaces, standing in lines, and some, according to our newspaper, really enjoy this marathon of shopping.

I woke up thinking how much we have to be grateful for and asking myself why I never get up and go watch the sunrise over the ocean.
I also keep thinking of a poem I read yesterday in "The Grateful Heart" that is from Patricia Schneider's "The Patience of Ordinary Things". I think it does make me aware of more things to thank for and helps me to see common things with fresh eyes:

"It is a kind of love, is it not?
How the cup holds the tea,
How the chair stands sturdy and foursquare,
How the floor receives the bottoms of shoes or toes,
How soles of feet know where they're suppose to be,
I've been thinking about the patience of ordinary things,
How clothes wait respectfully in closets
And soap dries quietly in the dish,
And towels drink the wet from the skin of the back,
And the lovely repetition of stairs,
And what is more generous than a window?"

You can probably add to this.
I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving. We did and the dinner turned out to be delicious, the company delightful, and I am now left to make turkey soup which I think I will freeze and wait for a cool night in December to serve to my community.

Feast of St. Andrew

Today is the Feast of St. Andrew who was the first to follow Jesus with John when he heard John the Baptist point him out. Andrew followed and stayed with Jesus that day and then went and told his brother, Simon Peter, about Jesus. Peter then is the disciple we hear most about, but Andrew has a tradition of preaching in both Greece and Scotland. The cross of St. Andrew, which represents Scotland on the Union Jack, was first associated with Andrew in the 10th century.
My parents were married on the Feast of St. Andrew and so it has always been a special day for me. It means, too, that Advent is very near!

New Book

This morning our newspaper did not come and that was a blessing for I had not yet read the last National Catholic Reporter and found several interesting things in it. The first thing I turned to is an article about a new book on prayer by Sister Wendy Beckett. It is called "Sister Wendy on Prayer", published by Harmony Books. As I love what she has written before on prayer (usually found in a preface or introduction to another book), I will certainly order this one. Wendy is a 77 year old contemplative nun made popular because of a documentary about the British National Gallery and a series of TV programs that resulted from that. David Wilcock, a producer of films who worked with many of Wendy's programs, gives us a brief biography in his introduction to the new book on prayer. She grew up in South Africa and entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur; she was sent to study English at Oxford in 1950 and spent the next twenty years teaching in local schools in South Africa. In 1970, having the call to be more contemplative, she was allowed to leave her order and become a hermit under the protection of the Carmelite monastery behind which she now lives in a trailor. In the 1980s she turned to studying and writing about art.
Sister Wendy on Prayer is divided into three sections: The Practice of Prayer, Prayer and Belief, and Prayer and Personality. According to the review, each section contains very short chapters. She also weaves in various artworks that enrich her own understanding of God. She is a witty, honest, self-effacing, independent writer and I look forward to reading her book.

Silly accident

I did not write my blog today. One reason is that I fell off the chair while sitting at the computer and did not really hurt myself, but have sore fingers and a swollen wrist so I will sign off until tomorrow. I was sitting on a desk chair that has wheels and leaned over to answer the phone and the chair scooted the other way and left me on the floor! It was indeed a silly accident but I may type less today as my fingers seem to be bruised. It will give me more time for reading!

Angels

I am a firm believer in angels. As we approach Advent, it is good to remember that our angels are like "alarm clocks" - I read this comparison in a book about Advent and it said that they are a wake up call for us. I believe that I have a special, guardian angel who watches over me. I am not fond of alarm clocks, but certainly my angel alerts me to possible falls of all kinds. My angel works hard to nudge me in the right-direction, to remind me of duties I might neglect, to inspire me with ways of being thoughtful and kind. Protection is a broad term; my angel guards me from myself as well as from exterior dangers. I think I have often felt the presence of my angel in my life and want to thank for this constant care and also the wake-up calls.
May we continue to pray one of the first prayers most of us learned to say:
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom God's love commits me near
Ever this day be at my side,
to light, to guard, to rule and guide."

Holy Guardian Angels, protect us! Help us to prepare for Advent by being awake to God's calls.

The Widow's Mite

Luke tells us in today's gospel that "when Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor woman putting in two small coins. He said, "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood."

Jesus noticed and he called attention to it. In Mark's Gospel we have the same story but Mark has Jesus calling the disciples to let them know that this poor widow has put in more than all the wealthy as she has put in everything she had!
True generosity is like that. I saw this kind of generosity often in Chile. One day, visiting a very poor family with just a small shelter and dirt floor, I saw one of the neighbors come to ask if she could have a bit of sugar; immediately she was given their entire sugar supply which was a small bowel but it was all that the family had. It never would have entered their minds to give only half! I saw this happen over and over again among the poor. Why am I lacking this kind of generosity? I find myself calculating; this is humbling as I give only what I can spare. Jesus asks for more.
Lord, teach me to be generous!

"My house shall be a house of prayer"

Today's Gospel has Jesus driving the sellers of the temple area saying to them, "It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves."

My house shall be a house of prayer; my heart will be a heart of prayer. What does that mean? I think it means being aware of the presence of God. God is the essence of prayer. In the presence of God we are awed, reverent, hushed, and humble.
God really does make his home in us. It is a great mystery, but he is nearer to us than we are to ourselves! He desires us to acknowledge his presence within us. We are his temple!
The Communion Antiphon speaks to me: O Lord, how great is the depth of the kindness which you have shown to those who love you."

Today, we celebrate three saints: St. Clement of Rome, St. Columban, and Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro. The first died around the end of the first century and was the third Pope; Columban died in 615; Father Pro in 1927. The first and third were martyrs; Columban left Ireland and became a great missionary; he founded monasteries in Europe. He said, "Since we are travelers and pilgims in the world, let us ever ponder on the end of the road, that is our life, for the end of the roadway is our home." (Quoted in Living with Christ.)

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

href="http://v7HoxjnBDbg/s1600-h/Thanksgiving+blessings.jpg">

In today's paper's "Dear Abby" the following prayer penned by her mother, Pauline Phillips is reprinted and seems so fitting for my blog today that I am passing it on to all:
Oh, Heavenly Father,
We thank thee for food and remember the hungry.
We thank you for health and remember the sick.
We thank thee for friends and remember the friendless.
We thank thess for freedom and remember the enslaved.
May these remembrances stir us to service,
That thy gifts to us may be used for others. Amen.

Live the day in gratitude for all we have been given!

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today we celebrate the feast of Mary's Presentation in the Temple. Actually, we do not know much about that. This feast originated as a commemoration of the dedication of the basilica of St. Mary's the New in Jerusalem in 543. It began to be celebrated in the Western liturgical calendar in 1585. This information comes from "Living With Christ" and also says that "today, we recognize Mary as a temple where God dwelt in a special way because of her role as Mother of Jesus."
There is a tradition in the Society of the Sacred Heart in our schools of preparing the little ones for this feast and allowing one among the best behaved to be "little Mary" in a special ceremony.

In preparation for the Feast of Thanksgiving, I am grateful for having a heavenly mother who often consoles me while telling me to do whatever Jesus tells me. I am also grateful for all mothers who teach children to realize that God loves us unconditionally.

"Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"

The blind man shouted out, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!" The people around him rebuked him and told him to be silent, but he was stubborn and "kept calling out the more, Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"
Jesus stopped. He had heard the cry of the blind man and ordered that he be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked, "What do you want me to do for you?"
"Lord, please let me see" was the reply. Jesus then says, "Have sight; your faith has saved you."

I love this story because it is so simple and true. It is what happens to us. We call out to Jesus in prayer and Jesus hears us. He asks us "What do you want me to do for you?" We tell him our desire to see. We, too, want to see - and the blind man "immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God."

Gratitude is one way to glorify God. Let us prepare this week to celebrate our American feast of Thanksgiving by thanking for the gift to see and thanking for the desire we have to see more, to see others as Jesus sees them, to see the needs of others, to see what is true and good. . .

Perseverance

Jesus tells us in today's Gospel: "Your will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives."

Perseverance is only possible with prayer. We are weak and need help to persevere. God gives us this help when we pray. To persevere day in and day out with all the ordinary, humdrum things of our daily life is not easy. We get up, pray, work, eat, sleep, and repeat the same actions. When done with Christ, for Christ and in Christ, they become our salvation--"by you perseverance you will secure your lives."

When we persevere and do all with love, we will be saints!

The opening prayer for today's Sunday liturgy is: "Father of all that is good, keep us faithful in serving you, for to serve you is our lasting joy."

St. Philippine Duchesne

Rose Philippine Duchesne was the first Religious of the Sacred Heart to come to America with a few companions to establish the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1818. She was a valiant pioneer and a humble, hard-working religious, but above all she was a person of prayer. When she finally realized her dream of going to work with the Indians, she spent her days in prayer for them and they called her "the woman-who-prays-always." She founded the first house of the Society of the Sacred Heart in St. Charles, Missouri and spent the last ten years of her life there.
I went to school there and heard about this saintly religious and learned to love her. We celebrated her feast on November 17th; now that she is a canonized saint, the Church celebrates the day of her death, November 18th as her feast. Since tomorrow is a Sunday, I wanted to talk a bit about Mother Duchesne today and add this prayer of hers:
Lord, you alone are the center in which I find rest.
Give my your arm to support me,
Your shoulders to carry me,
Your heart to lean upon,
Your cross to uphold me,
Your body to nourish me.
In you, Lord, I sleep and rest in peace.

Saint Margaret of Scotland & St. Gertrude of Helfta

St. Margaret lived in the 11th century and was married to Malcolm, King of Scotland and had eight children. She was known for her personal piety, her love of the poor and care for orphans. She was canonized in 1250 and is patron saint of Scotland. She also helped Church reforms in Scotland.

St. Gertrude the Great was one of the three famous mystics at Helfta, a Benedictine monastery in Saxony. Gertrude had been left there by her parents when only five. She became a nun, and had many spiritual and intellectual gifts. She was one of the early advocates of devotion to the Sacred Heart. Her mysticism instructed her about the efficacy of a holy life lived for others. She lived from 1256 to 1302 and was not formally canonized, but is considered a saint!

St. Albert the Great

Albert was born in Germany around 1200. He studied at the University of Padua and joined the Dominicans in 1229. He taught theology at the University of Paris and Thomas Aquinas was his student. Later, Albert was sent to Colonge to teach the Dominicans and was appointed bishop of Ratisbon against his wishes. He resigned after four years and returned to teaching. In 1931 he was declared a doctor of the Church. He is patron saint of scientists. He is a good patron for all teachers!

From the Book of Wisdom: "Wisdom penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity. For she is an aura of the might of God and a pure effusion of the glory of the Almighty, therefore nought that is sullied enters into her."

Wisdom also "produces friends of God and prophets. For there is nought God loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom."
May Albert the Great, noted for his wisdom, help us to "dwell with Wisdom".

Thanking God

Ten lepers were healed by Jesus but only one returned to give thanks. Jesus asks, "Where are the other nine?"
Daily I receive gifts from God. Am I among those who do not return to give thanks to God?
Lord, make me grateful for every gift today. I so often take things for granted when I should be overflowing with gratitude for the gift of life, for the fact that I am able to walk, see, hear, smell, touch, taste, and be aware of the beauty of creation. I thank you because I am your child as well as your creation. I thank you because you are always present in my life; you are always loving me. What a gift! May today be a song of thanksgiving from morning to night. Lord, I am grateful!

In the first reading today from the Book of Wisdom:
"Desire, therefore my words;
long for them and you shall be instructed."
Lord, you know the desires of my heart. Teach us your ways, O Lord.

The Gospel today has the Apostles asking the Lord to increase their faith. He replies: "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea', and it would obey you."
I believe in the power of faith. Lord, increase my faith!

The first reading from Wisdom tells us to seek the Lord in integrity of heart.

Psalm 139 (one of my favorite) speaks of how present the Lord always is to us:
O Lord, you have probed me and you know me;
You know when I sit and when I stand;
You understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar....

No matter where we go, the Lord is there.

Lord, I know you are with me. Guide me today; give me integrity of heart, and increase my faith! You know me and know what I need today to find you in all!

Resurrection of the dead, Life everlasting

Jesus tells the Sadducees who do not believe in resurrection that even Moses made known the truth that the dead will rise for the God of Abraham, the God of Issac and the God of Jacob "is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."
I believe in the resurrection of the dead; every time I recite the Creed, I am proclaiming my faith in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Yet, I do not know exactly what happens after death. It remains a mystery and no one has returned to tell us how this resurrection takes place.

I found the first sentence of the second reading from Paul to the Thessalonians to be good for my daily reflection. Paul prays: May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in ever good deed and word." How much we need hope and encouragement today and need to pray for others to receive both hope and strength! We are loved, encouraged, strengthened so that we may live good lives and enjoy everlasting life! We need to believe this!

Live in Sacred Space

Another way to keep your soul alive is to live in Sacred Space. According to Joseph Campbell (Reflections on the Art of Living) "To live in a sacred space is to live in a symbolic environment where spiritual life is possible, where everything around you speaks of the exaltation of the spirit."
In one sense, we live in a sacred space; we are on holy ground. It just means that we need to be conscious of the sacredness of all space. One way to do that is to prepare a small, sacred space in your own room; let this place speak to you of God and lead you to find God in all. If God is present, it is truly a sacred space.

Change the Way You See

Another way to keep your soul alive is to Change the Way You See.

Anthony de Mello has this story in The Heart of the Enlightened:
Traveler: What kind of weather are we going to have today?
Shepherd: The kind of weather I like.
Traveler: How do you know it will be the kind of weather you like?
Shepherd: Having found our, sir, I cannot always get what I like, I have learned always to like what I get. So I am quite sure we will have the kind of weather I like.

Yesterday I was at my supervision group for the ministry of spiritual direction. Some of us have been meeting for almost twenty years and it is a wonderful group. One of them shared this that I pass on to you today: "You are swimming in a thick sea of overwhelming richness that is this moment! Wake up to how truly blessed you are to be right where you happen to be!!

Seek the Sacred in the Ordinary

The third way to keep your soul alive is to Seek the Sacred in the Ordinary.
Frederic A. Brussat in his 50 Ways to Keep Your Soul Alive quotes Abraham Maslow "The great lesson from the true mystics is that the sacred is in the ordinary, that is is found in one's daily life, in one's neighbors, friends, and family, and in one's backyard."
Some people have the gift of finding the sacred in the ordinary; others, like myself, need to cultivate this gift. God is present. Let us learn to be aware. He comes in the breaking of dawn, in the smell of newly cut grass, in the cup of early morning tea, in the reading of the daily newspaper, in the meeting of friends, the phone calls, the mail, the unexpected upset to one's plans, the grocery check-out line, etc. Yes, the sacred is in the ordinary but we must have eyes to see. God is here. Let us approach the day with reverence.