A quote from Catherine:
The motive of our obedience we should ever bear in mind;
it is no other than the love of God.
Toddy is the feast day of St. Andrew, brother, fisherman, apostle, martyr. That pretty well sums up his life. Now what do those words tell us? He was in obedience to his family. He was in obedience to his work place, his brother who also worked the business. He was in obedience to Jesus who called him. He was in obedience to the Holy Spirit who led him to death and final glory.
His motive? From his life you can see his motive, love of family, love of work , love of God even to death. I wonder if any of us could say the same thing. What is our motive for obedience whether it is in the home, the workplace, the convent, the classroom, the friends?
Each of those places have responsibilities and duties. How do we carry them out. Do we use right intelligence and see a bigger picture? Do we only look at what we can get out of it? Do we complain? Do we put off? If our hearts are in the right place, then God is our motive; obedience is our response.
www.sistersofmercy.org
Friday, November 30, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Silence
A quote from Catherine;
Perhaps silence is wearying to us, and yet our spiritual advancement
is generally most promoted in the hours of silence.
Our world is filled with noise. To have silence, to really be silent takes a lot of work. We are so unused to it. Yesterday, at noon, we had a prayer for peace as the Israeli and Palestinian leaders met here in the US. It was a full 5 minutes of silence. At first it was very uncomfortable to be with 15 or more people standing in a circle in silence. Yet the time was powerful.
I really had the time to lift up all the people who were players in this summit meeting. I had time to pray for those who are left homeless, who are incarcerated, who are harassers, who are the soldiers, the mothers and so forth.... It was a powerful time. Unfortunately, even in our worship time, there is not enough silence to really get to a depth of prayer that leaves one really, deeply in touch with those for whom we pray and to be deeply in touch with God.
Today take some time for silence. It is not wearying at all. It is more like an oasis in the noisy day. You may be surprised at how much you enjoy it.
www.sistersofmercy.org
Perhaps silence is wearying to us, and yet our spiritual advancement
is generally most promoted in the hours of silence.
Our world is filled with noise. To have silence, to really be silent takes a lot of work. We are so unused to it. Yesterday, at noon, we had a prayer for peace as the Israeli and Palestinian leaders met here in the US. It was a full 5 minutes of silence. At first it was very uncomfortable to be with 15 or more people standing in a circle in silence. Yet the time was powerful.
I really had the time to lift up all the people who were players in this summit meeting. I had time to pray for those who are left homeless, who are incarcerated, who are harassers, who are the soldiers, the mothers and so forth.... It was a powerful time. Unfortunately, even in our worship time, there is not enough silence to really get to a depth of prayer that leaves one really, deeply in touch with those for whom we pray and to be deeply in touch with God.
Today take some time for silence. It is not wearying at all. It is more like an oasis in the noisy day. You may be surprised at how much you enjoy it.
www.sistersofmercy.org
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Perseverance
A quote from Catherine:
Perseverance is a constant exercise of self-denial, and as such serves to keep the body
in subjection to the spirit.
As we near the last days of the calendar year and the last days of the church year, this quote may be of some use to me today. Advent is only a few days away. Again we will read in Scriptures of the ongoing waiting for the Savior, the perseverance of those who watch and wait.
How often we forget that waiting is a virtue that is clothed in perseverance. We want everything instantly. We are a throw-away society. If something doesn't fit, or it needs repair, we just throw it away. A new and better model will come out, only to be obsolete in a few years, or months.
Perhaps it is good today to look at perseverance as a spiritual exercise of self-denial. Can I wait for something? for someone? What goals do I have? What is my plan to attain them? If they take a while do I just quit? What can I be doing in the long wait? How can i increase my spiritual side and decrease my whims for wanting things now?
www.sistersofmercy.org
Perseverance is a constant exercise of self-denial, and as such serves to keep the body
in subjection to the spirit.
As we near the last days of the calendar year and the last days of the church year, this quote may be of some use to me today. Advent is only a few days away. Again we will read in Scriptures of the ongoing waiting for the Savior, the perseverance of those who watch and wait.
How often we forget that waiting is a virtue that is clothed in perseverance. We want everything instantly. We are a throw-away society. If something doesn't fit, or it needs repair, we just throw it away. A new and better model will come out, only to be obsolete in a few years, or months.
Perhaps it is good today to look at perseverance as a spiritual exercise of self-denial. Can I wait for something? for someone? What goals do I have? What is my plan to attain them? If they take a while do I just quit? What can I be doing in the long wait? How can i increase my spiritual side and decrease my whims for wanting things now?
www.sistersofmercy.org
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Peace and Blessing
This is quote from ?? describing Catherine's actions.
"On the day of her death our Revered Foundress spoke as a loving mother to each of the Sisters; her first and last injunction to all was to preserve union and peace among themselves, adding that if they did, they should enjoy great happiness, so that they would often wonder whence such happiness came."
We can have differences of opinion and still be cordial and caring for the other. When we write off a person just because of a disagreement about some topic, we also write off God who is present in all persons. Are there people you avoid or shun because of their opinions?
Our tradition urges us to consider every aspect of life a blessing. and that means every person as well.
Today let's ask to hear more of where the person is coming from so that we can understand better their heart and mind. And may you have such great happiness and peace that you "wonder whence such happiness came."
"On the day of her death our Revered Foundress spoke as a loving mother to each of the Sisters; her first and last injunction to all was to preserve union and peace among themselves, adding that if they did, they should enjoy great happiness, so that they would often wonder whence such happiness came."
We can have differences of opinion and still be cordial and caring for the other. When we write off a person just because of a disagreement about some topic, we also write off God who is present in all persons. Are there people you avoid or shun because of their opinions?
Our tradition urges us to consider every aspect of life a blessing. and that means every person as well.
Today let's ask to hear more of where the person is coming from so that we can understand better their heart and mind. And may you have such great happiness and peace that you "wonder whence such happiness came."
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Reflection about Catherine
"Prayer was her delight and refuge in all trials"-M. Clare Moore
Mary Clare Moore was a contemporary of Catherine. She knew her from the beginning, so to have her tell us something about Catherine is precious.
I wonder if that could be said of me. Is prayer my delight and my refuge when I have trials?
As I look back on my years, I must say that prayer has not always been a delight. It is a duty, a responsibility and a refuge. So it is more than a delight, though there are so many moments when prayer has been a deep, life-filling and wonderful experience.
The time and the discipline to stay at prayer even when it is dry and seemingly nothing pays off in the end with the consolations and intimations that are received. I can say today that in the midst of all that is happening, time for prayer is an oasis, a delight and a refuge. May you begin today to look at prayer as a delight even if there is nothing happening.
Mary Clare Moore was a contemporary of Catherine. She knew her from the beginning, so to have her tell us something about Catherine is precious.
I wonder if that could be said of me. Is prayer my delight and my refuge when I have trials?
As I look back on my years, I must say that prayer has not always been a delight. It is a duty, a responsibility and a refuge. So it is more than a delight, though there are so many moments when prayer has been a deep, life-filling and wonderful experience.
The time and the discipline to stay at prayer even when it is dry and seemingly nothing pays off in the end with the consolations and intimations that are received. I can say today that in the midst of all that is happening, time for prayer is an oasis, a delight and a refuge. May you begin today to look at prayer as a delight even if there is nothing happening.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Good Purposes
Catherine's words today are;
" Good purposes are the result of serious reflection grounded on faith: they should be made in
the presence of God."
What is the purpose of the actions you took today? Were they to better the Presence of God in the world or did your actions show evidence of God's lack of Presence in your life? What a question to reflect upon today!
Did my day start with prayer? Did I greet everyone I met with cordiality? Did I listen well?
If I begin my day with prayer, then God will help to guide me throughout the day. If I ask for God's help, then in faith I will make good decisions.
May your tomorrow be grounded in faith.
" Good purposes are the result of serious reflection grounded on faith: they should be made in
the presence of God."
What is the purpose of the actions you took today? Were they to better the Presence of God in the world or did your actions show evidence of God's lack of Presence in your life? What a question to reflect upon today!
Did my day start with prayer? Did I greet everyone I met with cordiality? Did I listen well?
If I begin my day with prayer, then God will help to guide me throughout the day. If I ask for God's help, then in faith I will make good decisions.
May your tomorrow be grounded in faith.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Prayer and Praise
A quote today from Catherine McAuley:
"Your whole life should be a continual act of praise and prayer."
Now one might say that this is impossible. And in one sense this is! How can my whole life, every moment be a prayer? Would I ever get anything done?
In another way, this is easy. It's in the intention. Take small steps to begin. Start with a prayer for safety as you buckle your seat belt. Say "thank you" as you reach the green light and do not have to stop. When at a red light say thank you for the moment to catch up with God in our fast pace life.
Do you spend time answering the phone at work? A prayer for the person at the other end as you pick up the phone, may be in order.
Working with the computer? As you answer each e-mail, say a prayer for the person on the other end.
Putting you shoes on-"Are you running with me God? Am I running with you?"
There are so many opportunities to pray in the day. How can you incorporate them into your life?
Remember, it's in the intention, so start the day with the prayer of asking for good attention to the intentions of your day.
"Your whole life should be a continual act of praise and prayer."
Now one might say that this is impossible. And in one sense this is! How can my whole life, every moment be a prayer? Would I ever get anything done?
In another way, this is easy. It's in the intention. Take small steps to begin. Start with a prayer for safety as you buckle your seat belt. Say "thank you" as you reach the green light and do not have to stop. When at a red light say thank you for the moment to catch up with God in our fast pace life.
Do you spend time answering the phone at work? A prayer for the person at the other end as you pick up the phone, may be in order.
Working with the computer? As you answer each e-mail, say a prayer for the person on the other end.
Putting you shoes on-"Are you running with me God? Am I running with you?"
There are so many opportunities to pray in the day. How can you incorporate them into your life?
Remember, it's in the intention, so start the day with the prayer of asking for good attention to the intentions of your day.
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