Spirituality today

Everyone is interested in spirituality today! It is not easy to articulate one's spirituality, yet it is what gives purpose to our lives.

The Society of the Sacred Heart all over the world has been struggling all year to articulate our spirituality in preparation for the General Chapter held this summer. As each Province has shared their statement, I find a wealth of material for reflection and thought that I would begin with a few thoughts from the United States as we have formulated our spirituality statement.

We begin by affirming our "fundamental identity as women summoned by God's love revealed in Jesus." (I love the fact that being invited, called, attracted, by God's love has now become a more forceful "summoned" for us.)

Then we acknowledge that our "communion with the Triune God, who is Holy Mystery and Sacred Presence in our universe, is the ground of our being." To put this in my own words, union with God is essential, the ground of my being, the reason for my existence.

Check this out for spiritual growth!

Yesterday I promised that I would say more about my International Online Program in Spirituality Studies. It is time to offer this opportunity for real spiritual growth and here is what it is all about and I hope you are interested or will help me find the right students for September.

St. Thomas University's School of Theology and Ministry offers an Online International Certificate Program in Spirituality Studies. It covers the history of Christian Spirituality in four courses. For each course students read great spiritual classics from New Testament times to Contemporary Spirituality. Students enroll from all over the world providing exciting and rich dialogue. There are no tests or papers, but a brief summary is posted at the end of each Unit. The courses are 12 weeks; the first, New Testament Spirituality and the Early Fathers begins September 8, 2009. For more information please contact Dr. Helen Rosenthal, rscj at hrosenth@stu.edu or go to http://www.stu.edu/spiritual-studies-online-article-2851.html
Cost: Only $300 per course.
Hopefully, this information will bring students for a great experience!

For reflection today I took the refrain of Psalm 103 from the liturgy:
"The Lord is kind and merciful."

I also took the first line of the first reading from James: "Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged."
I will try to live today without a single discontent! It is a real challenge, but helps one to live in joy!

Peaceful water brings peace

Have you ever felt a bit overwhelmed or just disturbed and then looked at a peaceful lake, or a calm pond, and felt the stillness creep over you? Even looking at peaceful water brings me peace. I think others must have this same experience and I know that I am grateful for this means of restoring a calmness to my soul.

I am usually a very peaceful person and I thought the other day that it may be because I have so many lovely pictures of water around me. Over my desk at my office in the University I have about a dozen pictures of the Pacific ocean. The water is not still, but they bring peace. Perhaps because the pictures are scenes of the water where I make my retreat each summer, I find the peace of the retreat seeping into me by just contemplating the lovely scenes of the deep blue ocean.

This is the time of the year that I begin to look for new students for the International Online Program in Spirituality Studies. Having taught the online courses for six years, I am happy to let one of the graduates of the Program who is a read educator take over in September. I will continue as Coordinator of Spirituality Studies. I hope to attract more international students. We now have graduates from Belize, Malaysia, Australia, Scotland, Colombia, Haiti, and all parts of the United States.
If any of my readers are interested or know of others who might be interested in reading the spiritual classics and discovering how others have sought and found God through the centuries, please get in touch. I will add a bit of information about the Program tomorrow as it is a wonderful way to grow in your own spirituality.

"God is the strength of his people..."

Today's entrance antiphon was taken from Psalm 27: 8-9 and I have just stayed with it:
"God is the strength of his people. In him, we his chosen live in safety. Save us, Lord, who share in your life, and give us your blessing; be our shepherd forever."

I find these two verses very full of deep theology. God is our strength; we have all had the experience of knowing this to be true. How often I find myself unable to do anything, but with God all is possible. He has chosen us; that is a tremendous reason to rejoice. We have been chosen by God! In him, we live in safety. He has chosen us and he cares for us. We share in his life. Yet, we need to ask to be saved - to be saved from ourselves, from our busyness, from our weaknesses...and so we ask your blessing, Lord, knowing that if you are our shepherd we will not want; we will fear no evil for you are with us.

Heart Magazine arrived today and I read the article about my blog; it is true that it helps me to reflect and that it is not a burden for me to write it, but I am late today as I left the house early without having posted anything and then there now seems to be trouble with the blogspot connection and I am told to try later!
I think that my International Online Program in Spirituality Studies has led many to read Reflections of an RSCJ, but more about that tomorrow.

St. Bernardine of Siena

I do not know much about St. Bernardine of Siena. In 1397 after a course of civil and canon law, he joined the Confraternity of Our Lady attached to the great hospital of Santa Maria della Scala. Three years later, when the pestilence revisited Siena, he came forth from the life of seclusion and prayer he had embraced, to minister to the plague-stricken, and, assisted by ten companions, took upon himself for four months entire charge of this hospital. Despite his youth Bernardine proved fully equal to this task, but the heroic and unremitting labour it involved so far shattered his health that he never completely recovered. Having distributed his patrimony in charity, Bernardine received the habit of the Friars Minor at San Francesco in Siena, 8 September, 1402, but soon withdrew to the Observantine convent of Columbaio outside the city. He was professed 8 September, 1403 and ordained 8 September, 1404.

As a Franciscan priest he won many converts in Italy because of his eloquence and intuitive understanding of the needs of his listeners. After refusing various bishoprics, Bernardine became the Vicar General of the Franciscans and was canonized in 1450, just six years after his death!

This coming Sunday, May 25, is the feast of St. Madeleine Sophie, foundress of the Society of the Sacred Heart. Here is a quote from her that I was reflecting on today:
"We don't live among angels but among humans and sometimes we forget it. You know and admire a person but when you discover real faults in her you feel deceived. When this happens to me, in order to keep my peace, I "try to walk in her moccasins" and not judge by appearances." (St. Madeleine Sophie - Letter, May 31, 1828)

Faith and Humility

"I do believe, help my unbelief!"

In today's Gospel (Mark 9: 14-29), we have Jesus coming down from the mountain with Peter, James and John; they find a crowd around the other disciples and the scribes are there arguing with them. It seems that the disciples were not able to cast out a mute spirit. Jesus asks that the boy be brought to him. Then he questions the father who says to Jesus, "If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." Jesus said, "'If you can!' Everything is possible to one who has faith."
Then the father cried out. "I do believe, help my unbelief!"
Then Jesus ordered the unclean spirit to leave the boy and he took him by the hand and raised him and he stood up. Later he told his disciples when they asked why they could not drive out the spirit, "This kind can only come out through prayer."
I think the faith and humility of the father was the reason- his cry was prayer and we need to make it our prayer!
"I do believe, help my unbelief!"
I am now calling these May Reflections 2008.

Feast of the Trinity

I love both the symbol of the Trinity and the icon of the Trinity so am using both. God is Trinity - three diverse persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is a mystery, a truth that we cannot fully understand.
The Preface for today's feast says: "We joyfully proclaim our faith in the mystery of your Godhead. You have revealed your glory as the glory of your Son and of the Holy Spirit: three persons equal in majesty, undivided in splendor, yet one Lord, one God, ever to be adored in your everlasting glory."

The readings today all speak to me so here is a quote from each:
"The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity." (Exodus 34) This description of God by God is repeated several times in Scripture.

The Second Reading has Paul telling the Corinthians: "Mind your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace and the God of love and peace will be with you." (2 Cor 13) That will be my quote of the week to try to practice, I think!

The Gospel of John for this Sunday begins: "God so love the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life."

"Listen to him"

The Gospel is Mark's account of the Transfiguration. I love this mystery. Jesus took his three friends, Peter, James, and John, and "led them up a high mountain apart by themselves." He was transfigured before them. That is hard to describe, but we are told that his clothes became dazzling white. All the Gospels tell us about how Jesus conversed with Moses and Elijah who appeared with him on the mountain. Peter is terrified but says to Jesus, "It is good for us to be here!" Then a cloud comes and from the cloud a voice, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
And then they "no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them."
We are to listen to Jesus, the "beloved Son"; it is good for us to contemplate this moment when his three friends are given a glimpse of his divinity.

Tomorrow is the Feast of the Blessed Trinity. This morning I prayed over 1 Cor 3:16 -
"Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?"

Being With God

Today I thought I would share some of my thoughts on prayer have been triggered by reading John Main: Essential Writings. If the essence of Christian prayer is union with God, prayer is not about talking to God or thinking about God but being with God. I think, for me, it also the being with means allowing God to love us.
John Main says that "the experience of prayer is the experience of coming into full union with the energy that created the universe." That energy is love! We are rooted in love. Remember that Jesus told us to "remain in my love."

With all the tragedies in our world today, we need to practice this being with God - to be with God who knows the cry of our hearts without words. Silence is God's first language.
At this moment I feel overwhelmed by the suffering of so many victims of war, the cyclone, the earthquake in China, etc. God gave us compassionate hearts and knows what we feel; he knows our prayer without our needing words. Let us sit in silence with God who loves us. Our God is all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful. Let us trust him, allow him to love us, and be content that God is. Just be!

A Pentecostal thought from Jessica Powers:
"To live with the Spirit of God is to be a listener.
It is to keep the vigil of mystery,
earthless and still.
One learns to catch the stirring of the Spirit,
strange as the wind's will."

St. Isidore

St. Isidore was a farmer and is the patron saint of farmers. He was born in the 12th century and was married to another saint and both were known for their piety and generosity. It is a good day to pray for all the farmers and day laborers. So many men and women are engaged in farming so that we may eat the fruit of their labors. How often do we remember to pray our gratitude for all who raise our food? And how often do we pray for those migrant workers toiling in the fields today and receiving less than a living wage?

Today's liturgy has a wonderful entrance antiphon: "The Lord has been my strength; he has led me into freedom. He saved me because he loves me."

This antiphon is true, compact, and full of theological wisdom. It contains the reasons for unending gratitude. The Lord is my strength! He does lead me and leads me into freedom. He saves me because he loves me!

In the gospel, Jesus asks his disciples, "But who do you say that I am?"
He asks me this today. What do I reply?

Feast of St. Matthias

Matthias was the apostle chosen to replace Judas. Since Peter tells us that there must be a new apostle who had been with them from the time of the baptism of Jesus until the resurrection, we know that Matthias had been present and therefore could bear witness to these events. The actual choice was made, after prayer, by casting lots as it was between Matthias and another disciple. The Acts of the Apostles tells us that Matthias was the one chosen, but then we hear nothing about his life and work. However, the Church celebrates this silent apostle today.

John's Gospel (15:9-17) contains many thoughts worth reflecting on today.
"As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love." How marvelous it is to be told by Jesus that he loves us as the Father loves him and that we are to remain in his love!
Jesus also says that "if you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love." Jesus tells us this so that his joy may be in us.

Later, Jesus tells us that we are his friends. "I have called you friends because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father." When Jesus went to pray, he listened and heard his Father. What happens when I go to pray?

Finally, the passage I love and chose for my golden jubilee card: "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain..."
We are loved. We are chosen. We are called to remain in his love.
Let us thank Jesus today for not only calling us friends, but for befriending us!

Our Lady of Fatima

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. This title was given to Mary after she appeared to the three children in Fatima, Portugal between May 13 and October 13, 1917. Mary identified herself as Our Lady of the Rosary and stressed the need for conversion of heart so that the world might be a better place for all. We need to pray much for our world today. The rosary is a wonderful way to honor Mary.
I thought today to copy Thomas Merton's prayer that so many find helpful and I found myself praying over it this morning:
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death, I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.