First Friday

Jesus is so human as well as Divine. I love First Friday every month as it is a time to look at the love of Jesus for each of us and see how I can return His Love. I usually just let Jesus love me and then try to show my love for Him by choosing what pleases Him. Right now, I am trying to be with some of my sisters who cannot get around by themselves; many are frail, have memory problems, or just are getting so old that they need attention and love. The level of love in this community is extraordinary and you feel how each cares for all. It is a happy place and I hope I can add my little bit to making some happier by my love. I guess that is the best way to love Jesus outside of my prayer. One of the joys of living here is taking more time for prayer.

It is also the Feast of St. Charles Borromeo.

St. Martin de Porres

When I was in Lima to teach English in the Normal Training School to teach the graduating class, I asked the students to tell me about their country, culture, and anything they thought I should know. One of the most interesting things I did there was to visit the Dominican monastery and see where St. Martin de Porres did all the sweeping of the cloister. I also managed to get to the home of St. Rose of Lima and see the tiny place she used to use in the garden - both places have a certain spirit about them - holy and very poor. I feel the same spirit at St. Charles where St. Philippine lived. Her feast is now on November 18 and I need to begin to prepare for it. When I was in Chile, I lived with a young Spanish nun who became a great spiritual friend. We used to choose some special practice to do before the feasts and urge each other on as she was a very spiritual person. Later, she returned to Malta and I visited her there a few times before her death. She had been down to the bakery to fetch the bread for breakfast and she collapsed at the top of the steps on her return. I think her heart just gave out as she had had TB and had one lung removed when we were in Chile.
We have the custom here of reading the names of all the RSCJs who are buried in our cemetery beginning with the earliest years. I think we hear about twenty names a day. Since we founded our convent and boarding school in 1898, I guess it does take the month to get through all the names. They are read at Mass so all will pray for these and I like to think that they are watching over us with love.

Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

Today we pray for all those who have died and may not yet be united to God. Since there is no time with God, I never have been clear about this waiting to be purified in Purgatory. It was a relief to know that many theologians question our whole doctrine of Purgatory as a place of purification. It does not seem to fit what I know about God. Perhaps there is a purification after death but then there is the knowledge that one will be with God for all eternity. I prefer to leave all to the mercy of God who loves us so much.
That does not keep me from praying for all who die; I want all to go directly to heaven. We are made for God and that union with God is happiness beyond anything that we can imagine.
I need to go to the cemetery. I heard that the middle school children were decorating it for All Saints, but I forgot to walk in that direction today. I usually go to the track around the football field and sometimes the children are out running around the track and today they also were following the leaders up and down the steps of the seating tiers for those who come to watch the football team. These children must be fifth or sixth grade but have a remarkable amount of energy. Today I just watched the girls, but other days the boys are doing sprints and I think the idea is to wear them out, if this is possible, so they can be still in the classroom the rest of the afternoon.

Feast of All Saints

After my guided imagery retreat last January, I have my own image of the Communion of Saints. This picture is the closest to what I have seen in my imagination during the guided imagery retreat.
Two years ago, when I was so ill, I was often aware of the Communion of Saints. Then, in my guided imagery retreat I saw my mother and father in the front smiling at me. They were in color, well-dressed, and stood out from the others who seemed to be mostly in brown and black robes. At the top of the pyramid were the angels and Our Lady, and then, above all, the Trinity but I only saw the Three Persons in God in a brilliant light, too bright to really look at but I had a real sense of being with the Blessed Trinity.

It is good to feast All the Saints as I am sure there are many we never think of and I am sure many have been helping me in so many ways. It is a great comfort to know that we have so many friends in heaven.

Happy Halloween

Oakwood always has a great Halloween party and most take time to go look for costumes, hats, masks, and other props as prizes are given for the best costume, the funniest, etc. Well, I proposed to the nine of us in Westwood to go as the "Westwood Slumber Party".  I then asked if maybe there would be a collective prize for the best group or best entrance or something. We are all happy to be going in comfort in robes and slippers, but we are looking for a few stuffed animals to carry or a candle or pillow and some may find a night cap to wear. Anyway, I am writing about this before it happens and will add a note after the party.

Wanting to see Jesus

Zacchaeus

Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. He was a tax collector and a wealthy man, but not tall enough to see over the heads of the crowd. He decided to climb a tree. Not very dignified for his position as a wealthy man, but his desire to see Jesus was so strong that up the tree he went. Imagine his consternation, and then joy when Jesus stops , looks up, and then invites him to come down as Jesus wants to stay at his house.

How many times when we are really longing to see Jesus; He comes to us and invites Himself to stay in our hearts! And what is our reaction?

Zacchaeus quickly received Jesus with joy. He also says that he will give half of his possessions to the poor. And Jesus tells him that "today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost."

Let me listen to Jesus as He invites me to come quickly as He wants to stay with me. His Heart is always open for me. Is my heart open to receive Jesus with joy?

The solitude of His Heart

Yesterday I shared some of what has inspired my own spirituality. I want to continue to quote from the Letter of R. Mother de Lescure.

"A deed, a word, a gesture, a movement, and attitude of Jesus in the Gospel, ...all may lead us into the solitude of His Heart, where the riches and interior dispositions of His Heart are found."

We are to ask St. Madeleine Sophie to teach us, as she knows how, to persevere in prayer, offered for this revelation of which we are not worthy, seeking and desiring in suppliant prayer the little light which will flash, perhaps from the depths of the abyss." 

She asks us to be resolute in our desire not to leave Him alone, and to share, in some small measure, in the solitude of His Heart.

This call to people the solitude of His Heart resonates with me and it is something I try to do. I really believe that in prayer we can beg to go deep into His Heart; that we are called to do this and then to go out to give His Love to others. We also find the pierced Heart of Christ in the suffering that we find all around us in our world today. He is there and waiting for us to find ways to comfort and console those who are suffering. We have the corporal and spiritual works of Mercy and it is up to each of us to discern in prayer what the Lord is asking of us to do now. We may not be able to carry out some of the works of Mercy, but we can always pray and often there is someone near that needs us.

Immersed in Love

I have again been using the Circular Letter to the Society of the Sacred Heart written by R. Mother de Lescure in November 1949. I entered in June of 1950 and this letter has influenced my spirituality. I am drawn to it and would like to share a bit of it with you. She told us that the Society of the Sacred Heart was preparing to celebrate its 150 anniversary on November 21, 1950; we were also doing this in a Holy Year. We were asked to deepen our love of our foundress, St. Madeleine Sophie by studying her letters, conferences, circulars, and all that she has left us of herself that reveals the special grace of our vocation. We also were asked to spend some time each day with her..."for the grace of the vocation that her fidelity merited for us...for the grace of graces of being consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to His work of Love."

The name of our Society is a special grace. It was first of all a "Mutual and real experience of ownership" between the Society and Our Lord." Then, it gives us the "right to enter and dwell" in His Heart. Our name would be "a title to entrance, not to the threshold but to the very depths of this divine Heart." The name of the Society of the Sacred Heart is also a contract. "It is a responsibility...it is the Heart of Jesus that we must give to souls; we must make Him known and loved by all who come in contact with us."

That is enough to reflect on today. But I love the idea of entering and dwelling in His Heart and being called to go to the very depths of His Heart.

Vibrating the Goodness of God

Thomas Keating said that "We're all like localized vibrations of the infinite goodness of God's presence. So love is our very nature. Love is our first, middle, and last name. Love is all; not love as sentimentality, but love that is self-forgetful and free of self interest."

The above was quoted by Richard Rohr in one of his online posts. I am fascinated with the idea that we are all "like localized vibrations of the infinite goodness of God's presence." This thought has stayed with me and helps me as I look around and see so many who are really vibrating God's goodness. I hope it is contagious and we will convert the world!

Courage, Vision...

Some pictures keep drawing me. This is such a rugged tree and the ocean is so immense. Both speak to me. We need to be brave, have courage no matter what because we know that God is with us and is protecting us. Then, we also need to have a broad vision as wide and deep as the ocean. Each of us has a part to play in the evolution of the world. What we do, think, say, each day makes a difference.

What kind of reflection does that trigger in you?

I must confess that I am thanking God for the gift of peace. I am almost always peaceful but several things on the same day really had me feeling upset. One was thinking that I had lost my hearing aid and searching everywhere. I finally had to go to bed without finding it. I kept saying "Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You." In the morning, I asked someone to look in her car as I had been in it the day before and thought that maybe the hearing aid fell out of my right ear there. She found it! I went to the Chapel to thank Jesus and I have a new appreciation for the gift of peace which I almost always feel and have been taking for granted.

Tuesday Joys

I love Tuesdays! I have my Third Graders for reading; today I have my boys who are delightful and who also read very well and, when I ask them questions, you can see them think! Then, every morning I go to read to one of our Sisters in Spanish. She is from Colombia and has recently broken her wrist so we read in her room. We sat in the patio in the summer. I love reading aloud in Spanish and these are Meditations on the Gospel of John by Jose Pagola. He is the same author that wrote "Jesus, An Historical Approximation" which I raved about three years ago and have tried to have all my Sisters and friends read.

Then, at 2:00 I have a small Centering Prayer and Faith-Sharing group where we also prepare the next Sunday's Gospel. This is like the one I loved that met weekly at the University when I was in Miami. I think everyone needs to have a small group where there is a trust level that makes it easy to share our experience of God.

Actually, there are so many little joys in our days here, but Tuesday seems special and seems to be more contemplative as I do not go to Physical Therapy, we do not have reunion so there is more time to pray in the Chapel, and someone cleans our rooms in Westwood on Tuesdays.

God knows what it is like not to be God....

Here is a quote from "Jesus and the Prodigal Son" that I have been mulling over and copied to be able to share it here.
"Morality is our human gift to God, enabling God to fulfill the hunger of love ...dying not just for us but with us. Unity between God's creation is only possible if God knows what it is like not to be God. This is the unimaginable kenosis, the self-emptying of the Incarnation...Jesus died loving. Therefore, he died whole. He died humanly. (Laurence Freeman, "Christian Meditation Newsletter", August 2003.)

That has much to make us reflect as we begin this new week.