A quote from Catherine McAuley;
It is a special favor of God to be made the servants of His suffering poor, and teachers destined to train up little ones in His knowledge and love.
One of the most enjoyable and rewarding ministries I have done is to teach kindergarten. I love how the faces of these little ones are open to all you can give them. They soak in knowledge and love of God and they reflect it back in so many ways. Even their little misdeeds are sweet in their innocence because you know they are trying to use their own minds and seeing how they relate to the world. Though teaching kindergarten is a great deal of work physically, the rewards are so great. Now that I have been in other ministries, I know that those years will be memorable ones for me. I can use the reflections of those years in so many ways in what I do now.
We are called to minster to the suffering poor. Those poor might be the neighbor next door who struggles, the kid down the street with no friends, the person sitting next to you who just needs a smile to get through the day. The suffering poor are all around us; we need not look far. Today I will try to see the suffering in those around me and lend a hand, either literally or figuratively. How about you?
www.sistersofmercy.org
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Monday, December 22, 2008
Flourishing in the Midst of the Cross
A quote from Catherine McAuley;
We go on, flourishing in the very midst of the cross.
When Catherine wrote this, there had been several deaths along with other pressures and stresses at her door. Yet, in the middle of all her turmoil she was able to see flourishing. Indeed, the fledgling community was flourishing. As someone died, there seemed to be two others to take her place. The stresses would be tempered with a bountiful gift in the form of good advice or some other event to put it in perspective.
What could we learn from that? Sometimes we are so much into the stress we forget there are also so many blessings going on at the same time. It's hard to see, if the baby is sick, the spouse laid off and the bills getting bigger and bigger. Sometimes just having to do finals and that big paper that has been put off, can seem insurmountable. Yet, if we could have a little distance, a little more perspective, we could see that we are indeed flourishing.
So goes for religious life. We hear all sorts of things, diminished numbers, aging and letting go. Yet the spirit is so alive, maybe even more today than at any other time. There is flourishing in the middle of all the other "stuff'" of our lives. Let us look for that part today as we go about the work and life we lead. I know I will.
www.sistersofmercy.org
We go on, flourishing in the very midst of the cross.
When Catherine wrote this, there had been several deaths along with other pressures and stresses at her door. Yet, in the middle of all her turmoil she was able to see flourishing. Indeed, the fledgling community was flourishing. As someone died, there seemed to be two others to take her place. The stresses would be tempered with a bountiful gift in the form of good advice or some other event to put it in perspective.
What could we learn from that? Sometimes we are so much into the stress we forget there are also so many blessings going on at the same time. It's hard to see, if the baby is sick, the spouse laid off and the bills getting bigger and bigger. Sometimes just having to do finals and that big paper that has been put off, can seem insurmountable. Yet, if we could have a little distance, a little more perspective, we could see that we are indeed flourishing.
So goes for religious life. We hear all sorts of things, diminished numbers, aging and letting go. Yet the spirit is so alive, maybe even more today than at any other time. There is flourishing in the middle of all the other "stuff'" of our lives. Let us look for that part today as we go about the work and life we lead. I know I will.
www.sistersofmercy.org
Friday, December 19, 2008
Preserve Union and Peace
A quote from Catherine McAuley;
Preserve union and peace.
Do this and your happiness will be so great as to cause you to wonder.
When we live in community, sometimes we can nitpick each others faults and failing or little idiosyncrasies causing a bit of discord and tension in the house. It is not as if we are looking to find big faults, but actually the little things are the things that get to people. The big stuff is often easier to handle. If we take Catherine's words seriously, we will not be the ones to find fault in others. By preserving union and peace we also live a harmonious life. It is amazing how that can happen. So today, I will not find fault in my sister or brother, in my housemate, classmate or neighbor. I will instead, look for the good in everyone and let the little stuff pass on by. I will not dwell there.
Will that be hard? Maybe. But I know I will be at peace at the end of the day. What about you?
www.sistersofmercy.org
Preserve union and peace.
Do this and your happiness will be so great as to cause you to wonder.
When we live in community, sometimes we can nitpick each others faults and failing or little idiosyncrasies causing a bit of discord and tension in the house. It is not as if we are looking to find big faults, but actually the little things are the things that get to people. The big stuff is often easier to handle. If we take Catherine's words seriously, we will not be the ones to find fault in others. By preserving union and peace we also live a harmonious life. It is amazing how that can happen. So today, I will not find fault in my sister or brother, in my housemate, classmate or neighbor. I will instead, look for the good in everyone and let the little stuff pass on by. I will not dwell there.
Will that be hard? Maybe. But I know I will be at peace at the end of the day. What about you?
www.sistersofmercy.org
Thursday, December 18, 2008
We are Called...to Do It.
A quote from one of our wisdom figures, Joan Buckham:
We are called not only to imagine what can be done,
but with prayer, discipline and perseverance, to do it.
If we are truly prophetic, then we need to listen to our call and open ourselves to imagination. That's not enough, though, we need to pray about it, look at how we can act and with the discipline and perseverance, do it.
I was reading The Artist's Way, a book about creativity by Julie Cameron, who has several books of creativity. One of the first tenets is to engage in creativity every day without fail. Some days may seem a waste of time, but no, in the long run it is not. We need to hone our imaginations, discipline ourselves to stick with it and have the perseverance to walk through the brain drain, the disparaging remarks from others, those who would sabotage our work and just do it. There is lot there to consider.
Today I am writing in my blogs and dialoging a prayer with the Lord ans I continue my goal of writing "2"- two of anything, just write. What could you do to hone your creativity?
www.sistersofmercy.org
We are called not only to imagine what can be done,
but with prayer, discipline and perseverance, to do it.
If we are truly prophetic, then we need to listen to our call and open ourselves to imagination. That's not enough, though, we need to pray about it, look at how we can act and with the discipline and perseverance, do it.
I was reading The Artist's Way, a book about creativity by Julie Cameron, who has several books of creativity. One of the first tenets is to engage in creativity every day without fail. Some days may seem a waste of time, but no, in the long run it is not. We need to hone our imaginations, discipline ourselves to stick with it and have the perseverance to walk through the brain drain, the disparaging remarks from others, those who would sabotage our work and just do it. There is lot there to consider.
Today I am writing in my blogs and dialoging a prayer with the Lord ans I continue my goal of writing "2"- two of anything, just write. What could you do to hone your creativity?
www.sistersofmercy.org
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Submission to the Inevitable
A quote from one of our wisdom figures, Joanna Reagan, biographer of Catherine McAuley:
Submission to the inevitable is requisite for all who are willing to live in peace with mystery.
If we are willing to live with the mystery of what life hold for us, the only way to live it fully, walking into it, is to submit to the inevitable whether it be death, change or aging. These are big factors in my life right now.
One of our elders died last week and she has left a hole in our lives. She was a wisdom figure. Change is another that we must submit to. We cannot stop change. It all depends on whether we are pulled screaming into it or joyfully embracing it and walking with how the change could be. We have this choice. Aging is another factor. When I was much younger I could not wait to get older, to grow up. Today I want to say,"Slow down, aging!" you move too fast in my life. And yet we are only as old as our minds allow us to be. May I never reach my chronological age even if I live to be 100.
Today I am going to ponder, what else do I need to submit. Are there things in my life that I am resisting and cannot come to terms? Is there some area in my life I need to look into deeper?
Submission to the inevitable is requisite for all who are willing to live in peace with mystery.
If we are willing to live with the mystery of what life hold for us, the only way to live it fully, walking into it, is to submit to the inevitable whether it be death, change or aging. These are big factors in my life right now.
One of our elders died last week and she has left a hole in our lives. She was a wisdom figure. Change is another that we must submit to. We cannot stop change. It all depends on whether we are pulled screaming into it or joyfully embracing it and walking with how the change could be. We have this choice. Aging is another factor. When I was much younger I could not wait to get older, to grow up. Today I want to say,"Slow down, aging!" you move too fast in my life. And yet we are only as old as our minds allow us to be. May I never reach my chronological age even if I live to be 100.
Today I am going to ponder, what else do I need to submit. Are there things in my life that I am resisting and cannot come to terms? Is there some area in my life I need to look into deeper?
What about you?
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Serve with Your Whole Heart
A quote from Catherine McAuley:
It is Jesus you love and serve with your whole heart.
Catherine was very clear that women did not come to Mercy to follow her, though she was a dynamic person, but rather to serve Jesus through the ministry of serving people. Hers was a different spirituality, one of walking with Jesus in the poor who were served. Hers was a spirituality of being on your feet; prayer in action. That did not mean she neglected times of prayer, but that prayer was enhanced by the ministry. Ministry did not take away from prayer, so she did not have the tension of contemplation verses action. She uniquely combined the two.
Today, that spirituality can be also fostered, but it takes a very clear and specific formation and learning how to blend the two. Often we do one and neglect the other to some extent. With the stresses of today, we also can do violence to ourselves or others by saying I have to take care of self first or the total opposite; we take care of others to the detriment of taking care of ourselves.
The balance is a cutting edge at times. At other times is is a very clear path. Today I will ponder what it is I am doing. How do I balance both and still have a "running with Jesus" attitude that is healthy and life-giving to myself and to others.
How about you?
www.sistersofmercy.org
It is Jesus you love and serve with your whole heart.
Catherine was very clear that women did not come to Mercy to follow her, though she was a dynamic person, but rather to serve Jesus through the ministry of serving people. Hers was a different spirituality, one of walking with Jesus in the poor who were served. Hers was a spirituality of being on your feet; prayer in action. That did not mean she neglected times of prayer, but that prayer was enhanced by the ministry. Ministry did not take away from prayer, so she did not have the tension of contemplation verses action. She uniquely combined the two.
Today, that spirituality can be also fostered, but it takes a very clear and specific formation and learning how to blend the two. Often we do one and neglect the other to some extent. With the stresses of today, we also can do violence to ourselves or others by saying I have to take care of self first or the total opposite; we take care of others to the detriment of taking care of ourselves.
The balance is a cutting edge at times. At other times is is a very clear path. Today I will ponder what it is I am doing. How do I balance both and still have a "running with Jesus" attitude that is healthy and life-giving to myself and to others.
How about you?
www.sistersofmercy.org
Monday, December 15, 2008
Inward Merciful Path
A quote from Patricia Ryan, one of our wisdom women of Mercy:
We are just beginning to discover the inward merciful path.
Mercy has been around for over 175 years, yet we are just beginning to tap what it means for this century. There is a renewal to really look at Catherine McAuley's legacy and her words of wisdom which seem even more appropriate for this century. It's as if we are beginning anew to discover mercy within us.
One of my favorite lines comes from, I believe our Institute president, though I am not sure she penned it. "Perhaps the best Sisters of Mercy has yet to enter!" What great hope that there is someone out there who can emulate Catherine's vision better than any of us today or in the past could ever have dreamed both individually and collectively. What hope that is for me.
Today I wish to ponder what that means as I meet and relate to so many women, both young and older. Is there in our midst the best Sister of Mercy yet to come.
Maybe as you read this, you may be drawn to say, I'd like to be her or I'd like to know her too. Let us look around and also look in our hearts.
http://www.sistersofmercy.org/
We are just beginning to discover the inward merciful path.
Mercy has been around for over 175 years, yet we are just beginning to tap what it means for this century. There is a renewal to really look at Catherine McAuley's legacy and her words of wisdom which seem even more appropriate for this century. It's as if we are beginning anew to discover mercy within us.
One of my favorite lines comes from, I believe our Institute president, though I am not sure she penned it. "Perhaps the best Sisters of Mercy has yet to enter!" What great hope that there is someone out there who can emulate Catherine's vision better than any of us today or in the past could ever have dreamed both individually and collectively. What hope that is for me.
Today I wish to ponder what that means as I meet and relate to so many women, both young and older. Is there in our midst the best Sister of Mercy yet to come.
Maybe as you read this, you may be drawn to say, I'd like to be her or I'd like to know her too. Let us look around and also look in our hearts.
http://www.sistersofmercy.org/
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