Thought for the day...

On the day before Ash Wednesday and Lent...

Hiddeness

In our world, where so many are driven by an insatiable desire to be famous, we need to remember:

One of the reasons that hiddenness is such an important aspect of the spiritual life is that it keeps us focused on God.  In hiddenness we do not receive human  acclamation, admiration, support, or encouragement.  In hiddenness we have to go to God with our sorrows and joys and trust that God will give us what we most need.

In our society we are inclined to avoid hiddenness.  We want to be seen and acknowledged.  We want to be useful to others and influence the course of events.  But as we become visible and popular, we quickly grow dependent on people and their responses and easily lose touch with God, the true source of our being.   Hiddenness is the place of purification.  In hiddenness we find our true selves.

Henri Nouwen

Vigils

Every time we enter into solitude we withdraw from our windy, tornadolike, firey lives and we open ourselves for the great encounter, the meeting with Love. But first in our solitude is the discovery of our own restlessness, our drivenness, our compulsiveness, our urge to act quickly, to make an impact and to have influence. We realy have to try very hard to withstand the gnawing urge to return as quickly as possible to the work of "relevance." But when we persevere with the help of a gentle discipline, we slowly come to hear the still, small voice and to feel the delicate breeze, and so come to know the presence of Love.
                                                                     Henri Nowen

Praying the hours

William de Brailes, of Oxford England, produced the first Book of Hours (in 1240) that has survived the centuries. During these times, before the printing press was invented, these books were hand-written in Latin and hand-painted on vellum (made from sheep skin). Most were made for literate, aristocratic women. They were small and practical but were highly treasured not only as prayer books but as works of art. It became quite the status symbol to own one.

Even though it is considered a Discipline, praying the hours can actually set the soul free. It does require a commitment on our part, to set aside time, to rearrange our schedule, to find a quiet place, to let go of all that is happening in our day to spend a few moments just “be”ing in God's presence. Prayer is work that demands our complete attention. It also requires the kind of attention that allows our egos to disappear so that God assumes the place of the ego.

Although it is when I am on retreat that I am most faithful to praying at different times during the day, I do try to set aside moments in my everyday life. Most days I do not pray them all (Vigils, Lauds, None, Vespers, Compline), but I do manage some. And with the struggle and eventual victory comes release. Amongst the mundane happenings during the normal day, there are moments of peace and joy.

There's an old saying that “what goes around, comes around” and so it is with praying the hours. Although it is an ancient practice, it had quite fallen out of favor for several generations. But thanks to several modern day scholars, who discovered the truth and beauty contained “within these minutes, within the day”, the 21^st century has seen a revival of the practice.

There are several to choose from but two of my favorites are:

A Book of Hours by Henri Nowen

A Book of Hours by Thomas Merton

It is my prayer that you will consider adding this discipline to your day. Needless to say, the reward far outweighs the cost!

FYI: If you're stuck at a computer all day with no chance of spending time with one of these books, visit Sacred Space for 10 minutes or so of holy time!

Sacred Space

God is with me, but more,
God is within me, giving me existence.
Let me dwell for a moment on God's life-giving presence
in my body, my mind, my heart
and in the whole of my life.

A Jewish boy, the only son of his devout parents, was a most biddable child, with one exception! He resisted learning the Torah. To his parents, nothing could have been more distressing.
The Chief Rabbi was to visit their Synagogue. They decided to ask him to visit their home. He did, and after the meal the parents expressed to the Rabbi their concern about their son.
The Rabbi asked permission to place his arms around the boy. The parents agreed, moving to one side. They watched and waited, expecting to hear some word of advice from the Rabbi to the boy. But the only word they heard was silence as they watched their son rest close to the Rabbi’s heart.
The next day the boy began to study the Torah. His passion for God’s word grew. Years later he became a wise and loving Rabbi. Many asked him whence his knowledge came. He simply said, ‘I put my ear close to the Chief Rabbi’s heart and in that moment I heard the heartbeat of God.’
In the Gospel of John the ‘beloved disciple’ has his ear on Jesus’ heart. It is a privileged place. But I too am a beloved disciple, so I can do likewise. Only in silence can I hear the Lord’s heartbeat.
Lord, enrich my days with moments of silence, in which I simply listen to you.

These thoughts and prayers are from today's posting on Sacred Space . The site is hosted by the Irish Jesuits and gives us yet another way to spend a few moments alone with God in the midst of a busy day. Take time, today...it's only 10 minutes!

Compline

From "A Book of Hours" by Henri Nouwen:

This is a very encouraging thought. God does not require a pure heart before embracing us. Even if we return only because following our desires has failed to bring happiness, God will take us back. Even if we return because being a Christian brings us more peace than being a pagan, God will receive us. Even if we return because our sins did not offer as much satisfaction as we had hoped, God will take us back. Even if we return because we could not make it on our own, God will receive us. God's love does not require any explanations about why we are returning. God is glad to see us home and wants to give us all we desire, just for being home.   (page 68 - 69)

This book is arranged around the major hours followed by Thomas Merton's order, the Trappists, also known as Cistercians. Compline is prayed at 7:30pm.

This illustration was made around 1240 and is the earliest surviving English book of hours. The artist who made it signs himself ‘W. de Brailes’ and it seems very likely that he was the William de Brailes who lived in Catte Street in Oxford around 1230–1260. This image is of the Betrayal, the Scourging of Christ, the Mocking of Christ, and Peter’s third denial, with Peter shown weeping outside of the frame of what may be an initial D(omine) of the first word (Lord).

Emptiness and Fullness

Emptiness and fullness at first seem complete opposites.  But in the spiritual life they are not.  In the spiritual life we find the fulfillment of our deepest desires by becoming empty for God.

We must empty the cups of our lives completely to be able to receive the fullness of life from God.  Jesus lived this on the cross.  The moment of complete emptiness and complete fullness become the same.  When he had given all away to his Abba, his dear Father, he cried out, "It is fulfilled" (John 19:30).  He who was lifted up on the cross was also lifted into the resurrection.  He who had emptied and humbled himself was raised up and "given the name above all other names" (see Philippians 2:7-9).  Let us keep listening to Jesus' question:  "Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?"  (Matthew 20:22).
                                                 Henri Nouwen

Church is...

What is the church? Watch and find out....

God locks the door...

 I just read the piece by that name earlier today at Conversion Diary blog...

After we said goodbye, as I watched them walk away I glanced over at the Adoration chapel. “Could it be…?!” I thought. “No way.”

Could it be that the door was locked because I was meant to talk to those sisters? Were we meant to meet that day and God arranged for the door to be locked to stall me, because they hadn’t arrived yet? I laughed at the silliness of the thought and started for my car again. But then I stopped, turned around, and decided to give it one more try. “If that door is unlocked now…I am going to freak out,” I thought.

Back in front of the door, I crossed myself with holy water again, took a deep breath, and pushed down on the handle. There was no resistance. I pressed it all the way down in one fluid motion, and the door to the Adoration chapel swung open.

I would encourage you to follow the link and read the entire piece. Needless to say, it is what I needed to hear...when I needed to hear it! Too many times, I have given in to the despair. Who knows what opportunities I have missed in doing so...because unlike the author, I don't believe in coincidence.

Online Practices...

Should you want to be a little more intentional in your spiritual life online, I give you the following:

As I've mentioned before, visit Sacred Space
; a website by the Irish Jesuits

You can light a candle here

Here is an online interactive Labyrinth.

Just to name a few...

Self Control...

The Bible tells us there are many fruits of the Spirit...but self-control is one of the least glamorous. Perhaps because it's doesn't sound like we're accomplishing nearly as much when we say "I am practicing Self Control" than it does if we substitute the words...Joy, Kindness, Justice, Peace. Those are outreach...self control is internal. I'm working on me. Society might even say it's selfish.

But how can I truly be a child of God if I don't even attempt to control my own selfish urges? We face a constant barrage of consumerism...to acquire excess. It is no longer what I need but what I want that's most important. Why buy a 60" television if a 72" is available (even though it wouldn't fit in our living room, which means we'd have to rearrange the furniture or perhaps even buy new stuff...)It's a vicious cycle. Advertisements are continuously telling us what we need...without knowing anything about us.

In my own walk toward self control, I've finally figured out it is best not to act on impulse when it comes to consumption. Do I have to convince myself that I "need" this or that? Do I have to figure out a way to pay for it? Will this item really add any value to my life? Why do I feel I need this? Is it, in reality, just a way to fill a void in my life?

I've often thought about what it would have been like to live in an earlier time. When the food on my table was truly the result of the work of my hands, or my husband being able to find game in the woods. What if I had to make the soap to wash with, the candles to provide light...what if we had to chop the wood or we wouldn't have heat? These thoughts do make me appreciate the advances in science that give us a wondrous variety of food, year round. I can flip a switch for light, I can adjust the thermostat for heat...

It is so easy to over-consume in our culture because it's all at our fingertips...and we can pull out a piece of plastic to pay for it! It's just that easy! Problem is, all this "stuff" doesn't make me happy. It just adds more clutter. It doesn't fill the hole. Only relationship can do that...relationship with Christ, relationship with one another. This is what fills our soul and makes us complete. And the beautiful part, it costs no money...and the returns are priceless.

In a rut?

"From his interactions with these two figures, it appears that Jesus is no lover of ruts. It's heartening to hear that "in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell" (Colossians 1: 19). And "from his fullness we have all received: grace in place of grace" (John 1:16). Repeatedly, Jesus reminds he came to bring us abundant life, spilling over any rut."

Excellent article about Spiritual Ruts...

Flash Mob's take all forms...

First, we see a pedestrian area in a shopping street in Preston, Lancashire. It could be anywhere in the country. Suddenly, there appears a Franciscan friar. He puts on a white priestly stole. Then he rummages in the bag he is carrying and takes out a charged monstrance, which he lifts up on high. One person comes out of the crowd and kneels. Another friar reads out a long series of Old Testament prophecies about Jesus, and new Testament references to him; interspersed in this list is the refrain “Come and kneel before him now”. Little by little, more and more do; by the time this extraordinary event has finished, there is a sizable kneeling crowd, which in the end burst into amazed and excited applause. Then, it is over. The friar replaces the monstrance in his bag, and walks away.

Yesterday, the Oxford Oratory’s Corpus Christi procession took the Lord in his Holy Sacrament through the shopping streets of Oxford. Read more here

Merton Again...

If you've read the blog for very long, you realize that I am fascinated by the writings of Thomas Merton. During my recent retreat, I used his "Book of Hours"
as a guideline in my prayer time. The following video is an introduction to him.

Who Cares about the Saints? (Thomas Merton) from Loyola Productions on Vimeo.

Just a note...reading "The Seven Storey Mountain" a couple of years ago has led me to try to lead a more contemplative, prayerful life. His autobiography shows a very flawed human with a heart for God. If you are not of the Catholic faith, please realize that he was...and felt very strongly about the Catholic church. Don't let this put you off from reading his works...they can speak to us all.

Reflections from Retreat

I started my recent retreat with the hope and prayer that something would be added to my day to day living. Something that would feed my spirit in light of a very busy schedule. Although I was filled with ideas prior to the time away, I left it to God to show me what I needed most. While it can be quite hard to leave things in the hands of God (after all, I know what I need!), I was determined to live “in the moment” and not limit the possibilities.

As the days continue to pass, I now know His answer...

Having never had the opportunity to live in an environment such as the Sisters do...that in and of itself was an eye opening experience. There were no televisions or radios in the room. No internet or computers. My cell phone is exactly that...I can call, text and take pictures but access to anything else is non-existent. While we did take the time on Friday to visit the Abbey of Gethsemani (it was only a 20 minute drive) the remainder of our time was spent on the convent grounds...walking, reading, praying, communing with my companion and the Nuns, spending time at Mass and Vespers, meditating, relaxing. Time was also spent reflecting on life and work done for our Lord. I now understand that our body's truly do have natural rhythms of sleep and wakefulness...and with it can come healing.

I had packed one bag with items for my spiritual quest. Crosses, candles, a hand held labyrinth, notebooks, pens/pencils, incense, Rublev's Icon of the Trinity, I-Pod and CD player and books. One of the books was Thomas Merton's “A Book of Hours” and I made a pact that I would pray these along with Psalms from the Bible faithfully...really pray them. In Merton's book, each day is broken down into (4) times to pray the Divine Office...Dawn, Day, Dusk and Dark with the different prayers, psalms, Canticles, Antiphons and hymns that one would expect. I can't tell you what joy and peace this time afforded me.

And continues to do so. You see, I now realize that my prayer life has been as dull, brittle and lifeless as a leaf from a tree in the fall. I have been living on short, need to do it quickly, breath prayers for far too long. This past week (while away and at home) of honoring a commitment to spend specific times with the Father has added a richness and depth to my spirit. I could not have imagined and may not have believed it. But there it is...each dawn the joy of beginning a new day, each evening laying down my head with a heart filled with peace.

Oh Lord, oh Lord, how majestic is your Name in all of the earth!

Retreat

Beginning today (Thursday, 5/5/11) I will be on retreat in the rolling hills of Kentucky until Sunday. My prayer is that it will be a time of introspection, meditation, learning and listening.

I will be back with you on Monday.

The tongue...

So many times we print passages of scripture and then proceed to explain our interpretation of those scriptures. Although this is well and good when done with an open and contrite heart (by which we should be speaking as directed by God), some scripture needs no explanation...

For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh. Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. (James 3:2-18)

Happiness...

From Sister Mary George at 1 Franciscan Way...

I am a firm believer that children say some of the most heartfelt prayers that I know. So, I asked my 1st grade class on Thursday to do me an extra special favor. I explained to them that 23 sisters would be renewing their vows on Sunday and I would be one of them. Could they pray for us at Mass?

They gave me many heartfelt assurances that they would do so and then immediately a plethora of hands went up into the air. What exactly are these vows? Explaining the vows in a way that 7 year olds can understand is very tricky, but I did the best I could. The one that they really understand, however, is the one about poverty. I believe all of my questions had to do with this vow. “You don’t have any money?...Not one dollar?... Not one cent?” With small children it turns from the broad to the miniscule, “What about the mechanical pencils?”

Question after question, with a statement of recognition thrown in about being married to God, until finally one of the biggest questioners raised her hand for the last time.

“But you’re so happy.”

The little girl stated it in real confusion. The mere statement caught me off guard that she had caught on, or had even been observing this fact and thinking about it. To her I must have had everything, that’s why I was so happy – and I do - but not by worldly standards by any means. So I led her on,

“And?”

“Well… you’re so happy all the time… but don’t really have any stuff… so…”

“What does that tell you?”

In wonder she responded to me, “You don’t really need stuff to be happy.”

Now the rest of the students had no more questions. They had all traveled down the same thought process with her and were marveling at this foreign idea. Happiness does not come from material things. I felt like saying, “Class is over I’ll see you next week.” But I could merely nod my head and proceed, “Alright 1st grade, today we’re going to learn more about dynamics. What can you tell me about that composer we learned about last class?”

As I go into renewal this weekend, I’ll have the wonder of the little girl’s face in my mind and her words on my heart. You know what? I am happy, and it’s because of Christ, not things, that I am.

- Sr. Mary George F.S.G.M.

Contemplative Living

Contemplative Living

We purposefully engage in activities intended to deepen our relationship with ourselves, God, others and nature.

We are conscious of how our decisions, actions and use of time affect each of our relationships.

We see how our relationships are all interrelated and integrated and see God in each of them.

We take personal responsibility for each of our relationships.

Our relationships determine our life's goals and become the measure of our success.

We are not distracted by meaningless activity and our active life does not suffocate our contemplative nature.

We see through "the illusion of separateness;" acknowledge and amend whatever we do that alienates us from our true self, each other, nature and God; and recognize that "we are already one."

Our spiritual/contemplative life becomes one with our active daily life.

We regularly spend time in silent reflection, solitude, contemplative dialogue or other contemplative practices.

We find ourselves more concerned with the issues confronting humanity and less with the mundane concerns of daily life.

We experience the freedom, joy and love that can only come from grounding ourselves in our relationships.

© 2009 The Merton Institute for Contemplative Living

Discerning the Presence...

The Gospels are filled with examples of God's presence in the word. Personally, I am always touched by the story of Jesus in the synagogue of Nazareth. There he read from Isaiah:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
for he has anointed me
to bring good news to the afflicted.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives,
sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim a year of favor from the Lord.

(Luke 4:18-19)


After having read these words, Jesus said, "This text is being fulfilled today even while you are listening." Suddenly, it becomes clear that the afflicted, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed are not people somewhere outside of the synagogue who, someday, will be liberated; they are the people who are listening. And it is in the listening that God becomes present and heals.

The Word of God is not a word to apply in our daily lives at some later date; it is a word to heal us through, and in, our listening here and now.

The questions therefore are: How does God come to me as I listen to the word? Where do I discern the healing hand of God touching me through the word? How are my sadness, my grief, and my mourning being transformed at this very moment? Do I sense the fire of God's love purifying my heart and giving me new life? These questions lead me to the sacrament of the word, the sacred place of God's real presence.

Henri J. Nouwen