A retreat quote from Catherine McAuley;
If our peace of mind depends on the tone of voice, manner, words, etc., of others,
it is on their good qualities we depend, not our own.
Since I am on retreat this week,. I thought I would find a retreat quote from Catherine. I have not been able to blog as often as I would want. Sometimes I cannot get to a computer for long. We have 3 computers for 35 people so I do not get to my e-mail, much less my blogging.
This quote is a good one to reflect upon. Today we would talk about assumptions, projections and defense mechanisms when listening to another speak. Our good qualities do not depend on what others say of us and yet how easily we are influenced by them. It is a good practice to stop and really listen to what is being put into our minds. Are we building up the kingdom of God within or are we letting toxic words and actions tear us down?
We have enough negative tapes playing in our mind; we do not need any more. So today or tonight, take some quiet time and hear what God has to say to you. What are the beautiful things God wants to say to you? What are the qualities God sees in you? Make a list of 15 good qualities that you have. That doesn't mean you are better than others, but that you have those qualities. You might want to tape them to your mirror and read then each time you look into the mirror for the next ten days.
God is so eager to share what God sees in you.
www.sistersofmercy.org
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Uncharitable Thought
A quote from Catherine McAuley:
I will not dwell on this uncharitable thought, because it would be displeasing to God.
Since I am on sabbatical and cannot get to a compute each day, the reading of the maxims of Catherine McAuley often fall to quiet reflection on my own. This reflection today fits into one of the sessions I am currently attending. This week we are studying the Enneagram, not as a psychological tool or a tool to use to judge others, but one that helps us to become more like God in our actions and motivations.
If God is the God of compassion and we are to model God then, our works, works and motivations are to be of compassion. To dwell on something that is uncharitable and not take care of it is acting out of our vices instead of our strengths. So often we can just complain without doing something about it. So often we just project, judge, or become negative without taking care of the problem. How often do we right an unjust act? How often do we confront the person we need to talk to in order to come to some understanding? How often do we just badmouth someone without taking time to walk in their shoes?
What could we be doing to make more compassion in the world? How can we come to right relationship and be at peace with others, ourselves and God? Today I challenge you to look at the remarks you make and do a serious study on how you are doing. Do you need to stop dwelling on the uncharitable remarks, or thoughts and become more like God in filling your world with compassion?
www.sistersofmercy.org
I will not dwell on this uncharitable thought, because it would be displeasing to God.
Since I am on sabbatical and cannot get to a compute each day, the reading of the maxims of Catherine McAuley often fall to quiet reflection on my own. This reflection today fits into one of the sessions I am currently attending. This week we are studying the Enneagram, not as a psychological tool or a tool to use to judge others, but one that helps us to become more like God in our actions and motivations.
If God is the God of compassion and we are to model God then, our works, works and motivations are to be of compassion. To dwell on something that is uncharitable and not take care of it is acting out of our vices instead of our strengths. So often we can just complain without doing something about it. So often we just project, judge, or become negative without taking care of the problem. How often do we right an unjust act? How often do we confront the person we need to talk to in order to come to some understanding? How often do we just badmouth someone without taking time to walk in their shoes?
What could we be doing to make more compassion in the world? How can we come to right relationship and be at peace with others, ourselves and God? Today I challenge you to look at the remarks you make and do a serious study on how you are doing. Do you need to stop dwelling on the uncharitable remarks, or thoughts and become more like God in filling your world with compassion?
www.sistersofmercy.org
Monday, October 6, 2008
Politeness and Good Manners
A quote about Catherine McAuley (unknown);
Our Reverend Foundress practiced toward her sisters, naturally and simply the usages of good society, and required the strictest attention to politeness and good manners in their intercourse with each other, and wished these rules to be thoroughly taught...
Today it seems we have let our best manners go out the window and do not seem to even know when to employ them. Catherine had the idea that each sister should be very well-schooled in the graciousness and good manners of a modern lady in society and with good manners would be able to attend to anyone from the sickest and poorest to the titled person with the same respect and diffidence to make the works of mercy a work of great edification for the person as well as the sister.
There is something to be said for having great manners. One can handle any situation when when one has those manners in place, even today. Perhaps we need to take a look at the way we eat, sit, walk, drink and speak to people. We may even want to get out the latest Emily Post book on manners and review some things. Then, as we go about our days, use the manners we have been taught. They are "catching' and it will make your place in the world a bit more pleasant.
Catherine would be pleased that we still try to make the comfort of the other the basis for our good manners. I think will go check out a book today....
www.sistersofmercy.org
Our Reverend Foundress practiced toward her sisters, naturally and simply the usages of good society, and required the strictest attention to politeness and good manners in their intercourse with each other, and wished these rules to be thoroughly taught...
Today it seems we have let our best manners go out the window and do not seem to even know when to employ them. Catherine had the idea that each sister should be very well-schooled in the graciousness and good manners of a modern lady in society and with good manners would be able to attend to anyone from the sickest and poorest to the titled person with the same respect and diffidence to make the works of mercy a work of great edification for the person as well as the sister.
There is something to be said for having great manners. One can handle any situation when when one has those manners in place, even today. Perhaps we need to take a look at the way we eat, sit, walk, drink and speak to people. We may even want to get out the latest Emily Post book on manners and review some things. Then, as we go about our days, use the manners we have been taught. They are "catching' and it will make your place in the world a bit more pleasant.
Catherine would be pleased that we still try to make the comfort of the other the basis for our good manners. I think will go check out a book today....
www.sistersofmercy.org
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Let no Disturbance of Mind Appear
A quote from Catherine McAuley:
Though we cannot always feel the same, yet we can so guard our exterior as to
let no disturbance of mind appear in our manner or countenance.
When I was a novice we were taught to be recollected at all times. Well, that is quite impossible for novices in their late teens. at the time I thougth is was to keep us from being too noisy because there was a large group of us and we came in a "herd" wherever we went. a couple had heavy footsteps.
when I was older, I learned there was more to this. When you are in ministry, it behooves one to seem cool and collected while there is turmoil going on around you. it helps you todeal withirate parents, co-workers and the close quarters that caused us to "push butons".
Still later I learned that if you place your trust in God and loved people, then not much can ruffle your calmness. I think I'm getting it a bit better. it's all about having that inner peace and serenity that helps one to realize that each pice of turmoil is NOT a crisis. often remaining cool and collected does so much good. To be there, one must have a quietude of attitude that comes from a deep spirituality. I'm trying. I don't always succeed, but there is alwasy tomorrow to start again.
waht about you? How are you handling all the stuff that comes your way?
www.sistersofmercy.org
Though we cannot always feel the same, yet we can so guard our exterior as to
let no disturbance of mind appear in our manner or countenance.
When I was a novice we were taught to be recollected at all times. Well, that is quite impossible for novices in their late teens. at the time I thougth is was to keep us from being too noisy because there was a large group of us and we came in a "herd" wherever we went. a couple had heavy footsteps.
when I was older, I learned there was more to this. When you are in ministry, it behooves one to seem cool and collected while there is turmoil going on around you. it helps you todeal withirate parents, co-workers and the close quarters that caused us to "push butons".
Still later I learned that if you place your trust in God and loved people, then not much can ruffle your calmness. I think I'm getting it a bit better. it's all about having that inner peace and serenity that helps one to realize that each pice of turmoil is NOT a crisis. often remaining cool and collected does so much good. To be there, one must have a quietude of attitude that comes from a deep spirituality. I'm trying. I don't always succeed, but there is alwasy tomorrow to start again.
waht about you? How are you handling all the stuff that comes your way?
www.sistersofmercy.org
Monday, September 22, 2008
According to Your Heart's Desire
A quote from Catherine McAuley:
Mortify in me , dear Jesus, all that is displeasing to Thee and make me according to Your own heart's desire. Amen.
I have been attending a class in my sabbatical program where we are working on what we were expected to do in our earlier years, those expectations where we were to work in a virtue and perfect it. If fact when we talk about becoming perfect we often think that it means to be without any error or sin. When we look at "being perfect as God is perfect" it is a hard act to even try to follow. It can be so discouraging since we fall, time and time again.
A different interpretation of this is to look at the whole of those passages, not just the part that is often read in liturgy. What one sees is that God is asking for compassion and love, not perfection! It was a new revelation for me. It also helped me to look at my outer life of trying to be perfect and at my spiritual life which is a personal relationship with a God who loves me just as I am.
Now today's quote says to me that are asking Jesus to make us aware of our weaknesses and to shape us according to his desires, which is with mercy and love.
So let us look at our lives to see where we are listening to God's desire for us and what is our ego or pride trying to make us better than others. It's an interesting slant on perfection and much easier to allow God to form us in mercy than to be without error.
www.sistersofmercy.org
Mortify in me , dear Jesus, all that is displeasing to Thee and make me according to Your own heart's desire. Amen.
I have been attending a class in my sabbatical program where we are working on what we were expected to do in our earlier years, those expectations where we were to work in a virtue and perfect it. If fact when we talk about becoming perfect we often think that it means to be without any error or sin. When we look at "being perfect as God is perfect" it is a hard act to even try to follow. It can be so discouraging since we fall, time and time again.
A different interpretation of this is to look at the whole of those passages, not just the part that is often read in liturgy. What one sees is that God is asking for compassion and love, not perfection! It was a new revelation for me. It also helped me to look at my outer life of trying to be perfect and at my spiritual life which is a personal relationship with a God who loves me just as I am.
Now today's quote says to me that are asking Jesus to make us aware of our weaknesses and to shape us according to his desires, which is with mercy and love.
So let us look at our lives to see where we are listening to God's desire for us and what is our ego or pride trying to make us better than others. It's an interesting slant on perfection and much easier to allow God to form us in mercy than to be without error.
www.sistersofmercy.org
Monday, September 15, 2008
Do Something More Each Day to Attract God's Love
A quote from Catherine McAuley:
You should endeavor each day to do something more to attract God's love and friendship, than you did the day before.
God simply loves us, no matter where we are the the spiritual journey. God is ready and waiting for us to turn in God's direction. To endeavor to do something more each day to attract God's attention isn't so necessary. God's attention is already focused on you. What we need to do is to turn each day to be aware of God's attention. In practice, it may look like we are doing something to attract God's attention, but what we really are doing is tuning our hearts, minds and body toward God's realm. god is attracting our intention (attention)!
Blessings on you as you reflect upon this. I welcome questions, reflections, comments.
www.sistersofmercy.org
You should endeavor each day to do something more to attract God's love and friendship, than you did the day before.
God simply loves us, no matter where we are the the spiritual journey. God is ready and waiting for us to turn in God's direction. To endeavor to do something more each day to attract God's attention isn't so necessary. God's attention is already focused on you. What we need to do is to turn each day to be aware of God's attention. In practice, it may look like we are doing something to attract God's attention, but what we really are doing is tuning our hearts, minds and body toward God's realm. god is attracting our intention (attention)!
Blessings on you as you reflect upon this. I welcome questions, reflections, comments.
www.sistersofmercy.org
Monday, August 25, 2008
May be Acceptable to Me...
A quote from Catherine McAuley:
Grant, O most Merciful Redeemer, that whatever you ordain or permit may always be acceptable to me. Amen.
Today I received a small setback that at first left me feeling sorry for myself. A pity-party was about to erupt on the scene. My inner tapes we playing big time and I had to get control of the negative thinking and turn it positive. How could I make something glaringly unjust to me ( or someones simple oversight) into a positive tape? This quote came to me quickly. Let all you permit be acceptable to me. In other words: DON'T GET BENT OUT OF SHAPE!!
There are two things that helped me. One is the phrase, 'Would this matter ten years from now?", and my sister's often-used phrase, "There's a hidden silver lining in bad things that happen." Catherine said it most simply in her quote.
Today, if things are going wrong or you feel someone has treated you unjustly, remember that the Lord is always there and with His help we can get through anything.
www.sistersofmercy.org
Grant, O most Merciful Redeemer, that whatever you ordain or permit may always be acceptable to me. Amen.
Today I received a small setback that at first left me feeling sorry for myself. A pity-party was about to erupt on the scene. My inner tapes we playing big time and I had to get control of the negative thinking and turn it positive. How could I make something glaringly unjust to me ( or someones simple oversight) into a positive tape? This quote came to me quickly. Let all you permit be acceptable to me. In other words: DON'T GET BENT OUT OF SHAPE!!
There are two things that helped me. One is the phrase, 'Would this matter ten years from now?", and my sister's often-used phrase, "There's a hidden silver lining in bad things that happen." Catherine said it most simply in her quote.
Today, if things are going wrong or you feel someone has treated you unjustly, remember that the Lord is always there and with His help we can get through anything.
www.sistersofmercy.org
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