A quote from Catherine:
You have great reason to rejoice and return thanks to God
for blessing your humble efforts.
I look outside at the heaps of snow that are mountain sized and wonder if I will have to shovel again this week. I see the frost on the window, knowing it is 2 below zero and wonder how cold the car will be. I listen to the road report and caution our guest to not go to the northern part of the state until the roads are better. And I give thanks!
Yes, because I love snow, but that is not it. I give thanks because I am able to see the mountain of snow. One of our sisters cannot. I give thanks that I can shovel; many of our sisters are homebound because of the ice below the snow. I give thanks that it is 2 below zero because I know that the dormant trees and grasses and other plants need this to be vigorous in the spring. I give thanks that I have a car to use and don't have to walk or figure how to stay warm while waiting for the bus. I give thanks becasue we had a guest a few hours longer; she enriched our lives by her presence.
I try to remember to give thanks for the simple things so that the great things are all the more important. And how about you?
Is there something worth giving thanks in the cold winter? Is there something to give thanks in the everydayness of work or school? Do you give thanks that you have a car to use? Is there something small to give thanks for today, something that you looked at from the backside first- or the opposite side of the coin?
You do have great reason to rejoice because if you can read this, you have more blessings than millions of people today who cannot read, much less, have a computer. Let us give thanks even in our humble efforts for they are worth much to God.
www.sistersofmercy.org
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Heaven Already
A quote from Catherine:
If you love each other cordially, you have heaven already.
This morning as I was reading, I found a line that has me pondering.."your pain in my heart" a definition of compassion. I wonder if we really stop to think how we witness compassion. It is so easy to do with words, but actions are a different thing. How do we put compassion into action? I think this quote of Catherine's is very appropo...if you love each other cordially... To me this means walking in another's shoes and helping to stretch the fit so there is no pinch. It means that there is a generosity of spirit to relieve others of their small (or large) burdens. It means that the rubbing shoulders, the co-working and co-living (community) is a gracious act of genuineness.
For me today, I will continue to ponder how (and if) I take the pain of another into my heart. I hope you do, too.
www.sistersofmercy.org
If you love each other cordially, you have heaven already.
This morning as I was reading, I found a line that has me pondering.."your pain in my heart" a definition of compassion. I wonder if we really stop to think how we witness compassion. It is so easy to do with words, but actions are a different thing. How do we put compassion into action? I think this quote of Catherine's is very appropo...if you love each other cordially... To me this means walking in another's shoes and helping to stretch the fit so there is no pinch. It means that there is a generosity of spirit to relieve others of their small (or large) burdens. It means that the rubbing shoulders, the co-working and co-living (community) is a gracious act of genuineness.
For me today, I will continue to ponder how (and if) I take the pain of another into my heart. I hope you do, too.
www.sistersofmercy.org
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Truest Poverty
A quote from Catherine:
The truest poverty consists in seeing that our wants are
scantily supplied and rejoicing in the scantiness.
Right now I would have to say, I do not live this way. I have, though. I recall living by myself and trying to be very careful of every thing I had, what I ate and how I spent any money I had. I also kept the thermostat low and seldom used the air conditioner. I cannot expect to do the same when living with three other people who have health and dietary needs that are different from my own.
I try to compromise and still try to have a careful way of living. I know I shall do it again and that it is the way of so many people to have so little.
Yet, I have the luxury of a cell phone, a laptop, a car and a large size home in which I live. It is not poverty and yet these are only tools to do the current ministry that I have. What will be in store the next ministry has yet to be revealed.
On the whole I think I still need to simplify and downsize. What about you? Can you rejoice in the scantiness, taking on the example of our Lord who had so little or our early Sisters who were mostly in debt and had very little in way of comforts in their various ministries? Have we become too soft, too needy of creature comforts that we lose sight of what it means to live simply and in poverty?
Some questions to ponder today...
www.sistersofmercy.org
The truest poverty consists in seeing that our wants are
scantily supplied and rejoicing in the scantiness.
Right now I would have to say, I do not live this way. I have, though. I recall living by myself and trying to be very careful of every thing I had, what I ate and how I spent any money I had. I also kept the thermostat low and seldom used the air conditioner. I cannot expect to do the same when living with three other people who have health and dietary needs that are different from my own.
I try to compromise and still try to have a careful way of living. I know I shall do it again and that it is the way of so many people to have so little.
Yet, I have the luxury of a cell phone, a laptop, a car and a large size home in which I live. It is not poverty and yet these are only tools to do the current ministry that I have. What will be in store the next ministry has yet to be revealed.
On the whole I think I still need to simplify and downsize. What about you? Can you rejoice in the scantiness, taking on the example of our Lord who had so little or our early Sisters who were mostly in debt and had very little in way of comforts in their various ministries? Have we become too soft, too needy of creature comforts that we lose sight of what it means to live simply and in poverty?
Some questions to ponder today...
www.sistersofmercy.org
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Infinite is God's Love
A quote from Catherine:
Infinite is the love God bears to souls
who repose in his protection.
It's Valentines Day and I'm sitting in the commons of a local college as I wait for the next retreatant. Our reflection today is on compassion and mercy. The quote today is more in keeping with the day than the silly valentines cards being sent around. As one student said, "Valentines is just a material day. It's not that important in my life. " And so it should be. The true Valentine is the one who shows God's love to others. To whom do you show God's love? To whom do you show God's mercy?
And how do you live in God's protection? Do you put on the cloak of love as you start your day? Is your life a witness of God's protection? It's a great day to reflect on the true meaning of love-not the flowers, candy, chocolate and fancy dinner out.
Happy Valentine's Day!
www.sistersofmercy.org
Infinite is the love God bears to souls
who repose in his protection.
It's Valentines Day and I'm sitting in the commons of a local college as I wait for the next retreatant. Our reflection today is on compassion and mercy. The quote today is more in keeping with the day than the silly valentines cards being sent around. As one student said, "Valentines is just a material day. It's not that important in my life. " And so it should be. The true Valentine is the one who shows God's love to others. To whom do you show God's love? To whom do you show God's mercy?
And how do you live in God's protection? Do you put on the cloak of love as you start your day? Is your life a witness of God's protection? It's a great day to reflect on the true meaning of love-not the flowers, candy, chocolate and fancy dinner out.
Happy Valentine's Day!
www.sistersofmercy.org
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Solid Instruction
A quote from Catherine:
We may infer from all our instructions that a strong, lively faith
is the foundation of all virtue.
Looking back on a number of years of working on various virtues (like self-improvement) it is the faith that makes the work more possible and more able to have some positive outcomes. Why work on patience if you do not care about the other? Why work on honesty if you are only trying to live for yourself? Why work on prudence if you do not care what you say or how you say it?
And why work on it at all if you did not have a faith in a God who loves you and wants you to be the very best you can be? What would be the point?
As I go about my life in the dailiness of everything, it is the faith I have that helps me to want to grow in virtue. It is the faith I have that wants me to be the best I can be as a return to the God who loves me.
What virtue or virtues do you need to work on? Is there something in your life that needs to be shored up and disciplined to be a better you? Today think of one virtue to try to improve for the next week.
www.sistersofmercy.org
We may infer from all our instructions that a strong, lively faith
is the foundation of all virtue.
Looking back on a number of years of working on various virtues (like self-improvement) it is the faith that makes the work more possible and more able to have some positive outcomes. Why work on patience if you do not care about the other? Why work on honesty if you are only trying to live for yourself? Why work on prudence if you do not care what you say or how you say it?
And why work on it at all if you did not have a faith in a God who loves you and wants you to be the very best you can be? What would be the point?
As I go about my life in the dailiness of everything, it is the faith I have that helps me to want to grow in virtue. It is the faith I have that wants me to be the best I can be as a return to the God who loves me.
What virtue or virtues do you need to work on? Is there something in your life that needs to be shored up and disciplined to be a better you? Today think of one virtue to try to improve for the next week.
www.sistersofmercy.org
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Desire Enough
A quote from Catherine:
Let us never desire more than enough;
God will give us that and His blessing.
I am reading a book about the Spirituality of the Sisters of Mercy in America from the beginning of their arrival in 1843 to 1900 or so. In the book there are so many stories of the sisters going to new missions or ministries with only the basics to start. Sometimes a medical ministry would be opened with what the sisters carried with them or opening a school a few days after arrival with several hundred students-nothing said about having books for all.
We carry so much baggage with us. Even as I pack and unpack from the various trips I take, I wonder if I take too much with me. How could I simplify and yet have what I really need.
And when it comes to life, do we really rely on God to give us what we need to be enough. Just because we could have it, does that mean we should have it? Do we have enough? What is the desire to have more? Is it something else in our life such as a lack of prayer, a goal or passion that consumes us? Good relationships? The ability to be at peace and in silence with ourselves?
Today let us examine our prayer life, our relational life and our use of materials. Do we have enough. When will we say,"It is enough. I do not need any more."? Let us begin today to be satisfied, a few minutes at a time, a few hours.
www.sistersofmercy.org
Let us never desire more than enough;
God will give us that and His blessing.
I am reading a book about the Spirituality of the Sisters of Mercy in America from the beginning of their arrival in 1843 to 1900 or so. In the book there are so many stories of the sisters going to new missions or ministries with only the basics to start. Sometimes a medical ministry would be opened with what the sisters carried with them or opening a school a few days after arrival with several hundred students-nothing said about having books for all.
We carry so much baggage with us. Even as I pack and unpack from the various trips I take, I wonder if I take too much with me. How could I simplify and yet have what I really need.
And when it comes to life, do we really rely on God to give us what we need to be enough. Just because we could have it, does that mean we should have it? Do we have enough? What is the desire to have more? Is it something else in our life such as a lack of prayer, a goal or passion that consumes us? Good relationships? The ability to be at peace and in silence with ourselves?
Today let us examine our prayer life, our relational life and our use of materials. Do we have enough. When will we say,"It is enough. I do not need any more."? Let us begin today to be satisfied, a few minutes at a time, a few hours.
www.sistersofmercy.org
Monday, February 11, 2008
Fidelity to the Common Life
A quote from Catherine:
Fidelity to the common life is the greatest of all motifications,
and by far the most meritorious.
For the religous to live in community is one of the greatest pleasures and the greatest tests of all virtues. No matter how good the experience, it takes a lot of working together to make it work. Each person has to give up her way of doing things and look to the common good. The sister least able to do so, is the one that others will have to really work with to help her grow in common life. Often it is very difficult without a facilitaor or outside pewrson to be more a neutral party. That doesn't mean necessarily that the sister is a problem, but that living styles can be so different it will take someone outside the local house to help sort things without emotional baggage.
That's right, we are not perfect! We are humans who come from all walks of life with all sorts of experiences that have to be blended together to make a harmonious whole. It can be done, but all have to work at it.
I've lived in some wonderful communities where I have had to grow and change as have others. I've lived with other sisters who did not have to cook growing up, so taking turns cooking was very difficult. Others did not know how to clean. Some were over zealous in their cleaning!
Together, with good communication, it can and does work smoothly and happily. Happiness in community is a wonderful gift that makes the ministry and prayer a wonderful experience as well.
Today let us look at how much we need to change to blend in with whatever group we are connected. Is it only my way? Do I pout if I don't get my way? Are my feelings easily hurt by general living experience? Maybe we need to step back and look at oursevles.
www.sistersofmercy.org
Fidelity to the common life is the greatest of all motifications,
and by far the most meritorious.
For the religous to live in community is one of the greatest pleasures and the greatest tests of all virtues. No matter how good the experience, it takes a lot of working together to make it work. Each person has to give up her way of doing things and look to the common good. The sister least able to do so, is the one that others will have to really work with to help her grow in common life. Often it is very difficult without a facilitaor or outside pewrson to be more a neutral party. That doesn't mean necessarily that the sister is a problem, but that living styles can be so different it will take someone outside the local house to help sort things without emotional baggage.
That's right, we are not perfect! We are humans who come from all walks of life with all sorts of experiences that have to be blended together to make a harmonious whole. It can be done, but all have to work at it.
I've lived in some wonderful communities where I have had to grow and change as have others. I've lived with other sisters who did not have to cook growing up, so taking turns cooking was very difficult. Others did not know how to clean. Some were over zealous in their cleaning!
Together, with good communication, it can and does work smoothly and happily. Happiness in community is a wonderful gift that makes the ministry and prayer a wonderful experience as well.
Today let us look at how much we need to change to blend in with whatever group we are connected. Is it only my way? Do I pout if I don't get my way? Are my feelings easily hurt by general living experience? Maybe we need to step back and look at oursevles.
www.sistersofmercy.org
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