Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Prayerful Talants

St. Meinrad Archabbey
Picture by cindy47452

There are times that the book Latin Sayings for Spiritual Growth really has a lot to say to me. This is one of those times. I have been struggling with my grasp of prayer and how it should be done for years and years. Sometimes I feel I succeed in my prayer life and at others I feel the failure. But you know when I hear others talk about their praying, I wonder if I really know how to pray.

Archabbot Labert Reilly, O.S. B. says this.

Non omni cundem calceum induas pedi

("Every shoe fits not every foot")
Publilius Syrus

Many times during our journey, we turn to Christ just as the Apostles did and implore, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).

It was simple when we were young: Utter the memorized words ask for blessing for all we loved, and drift off to sleep, trusting God's presence the same way we trusted that our mother would be there in the morning, gently shaking us awake.

But as we grow older, life reveals its complexities. Our friendships with other human beings change, just as our relationship with God changes. We turn to a shelf filled with spiritual reading for guidance, and the options stump us. We can meditate, pray the Rosary, go to daily Mass, pray by ourselves or with a group. We can be guided by Thomas a Kempis, Ignatius of Loyola, Teresa of Avila, Francis de Sales, or Therese of Lisieux. One deeply spiritual friend is rooted in Adoration, another in Scripture study still another in both.

What fits us?

We are each of course, unique, and God is infinite. He approaches each of us in ways that make sense to us and that will bring us close to Him. If God gives one person the gift of experiencing His presence through a certain style of prayer, that doesn't mean it's the only way that leads to Him.

It's another facet of the virtue of prudence: sifting, testing, and listening, to fine the prayer that brings us closest to God.

~~~^j^~~~

So perhaps, I should stop worrying today about how I don't pray the way others pray, but pray the way I am most comfortable where I am right now. That of course may change tomorrow, or in years and years...Only God knows. I'm still just a work in progress. YEAH!

~~~
Thanks be to God!

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

The Feast of St Catherine of Siena


St Catherine of Siena
Originally uploaded by Lawrence OP
Today is the feast of St. Catherine. I have always had a humble pride in the fact that Mom and Dad chose this strong, brave, determined woman to be my model. And so today I celebrate not only her life but the wisdom of my parents.

"With God as your companion you will live in the light of faith, with hope and fortitude, with true patience and perseverance, all the days of your life. You will never be alone, never fear anyone or anything, for you will find your security in God." --Catherine of Siena

A wise and courageous woman, when there are women who still long to be "liberated," she is the model of that liberation. And her liberation did not come through things of this world, but by doing the will of God.
~~~+~~~
For her example I say,
"Thanks be to God!"

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Busy, Busy Weekend

Yeah!!!! It's the weekend. And a lovely busy one to be sure!

First it's by Saturday breakfast with the "girls". Two dear former workers. We meet one Saturday a month to catch!!! A real blessing.

Ron and I volunteer at Mother Theresa's Treasures, a thrift store run by our church, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church here in Newburgh. It is wonderful to work there. It is a really worthwhile cause.

Wes, Annie and the Girls will be here this afternoon from INDY. Tomorrow is Neil's First Communion and we are going to CELEBRATE!!!! We will help Neil celebrate the joy of his special day with family and friends!!!!! The best of all worlds!

See why I am soooooo excited?!!!?

~*~*~*~*~
To you all God Bless and Thanks be to God!!!

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Waiting Upon God

The Annunciation
Fra Angelico, (c. 1438-1445)


This is our Lord's will: that our prayer and our trust should be equally generous. For if our trust is not as generous as our prayer we cannot worship God to the full, and we hinder and harm ourselves.

Sometimes it seems that we have been praying a long time and still do not have what we ask. But we should not be sad. I am sure that what our Lord means is that either we should wait for a better time or more grace, or a better gift.

This is his meaning: that we should see what he does, and pray that it should be done. One is not enough without the other.

It is our Lord's will that, whatever he plans to do, we should pray for it, either in particular or in general. The joy and delight it gives him, and the thanks and glory we shall be given because of it pass all understanding--in my sight.

St Julian of Norwich
Enfolded in Love, Daily reading with Julian of Norwich
Edited by Robert Llewelyn


~~~~~

I am called to wait. I have found that I am great at procrastination (waiting to do something I am called to do) but not so good at waiting (submitting to the will of another in this case God). Why is that? I don't "wait on God" very well at all...Oh!!! I think I have control of one and I know I have no control of the other...The truth is I am not in control of either. Procrastination caused anxiety and the other impatience. Boy have I got a lot of work to do in learning to wait without assuming to be in control...

~~~~~
Thanks be to God!!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

I've Got the Urge MEME


Because I was once lost and now have been found through the help of Esther at A Catholic Mom in Hawaii, who tagged me in the first place, I can now get rid of all these pent-up urges...

1. I have the urge to clean out my car.
2. I have the urge to tune my harp.
3. I have the urge to clean the office here at home.
4. I have the urge to wrap Neil's First Communion gift.
5. I have the urge to get the umbrella from the storage building and place it in the table outside.
6. I have the urge to cut back the bushes in the garden...but it is supposed to rain again tomorrow.
7. I have the urge to shop for a Japanese Lace Maple to replace the one that died a year ago.
8. I have the urge to call my friend, Fay, in Texas and see how she is doing.
9. I have the urge to call Martha in NJ as I owe her a call.
10. I have the urge to bake lots of good thing and put them in the freezer because it will be too hot soon to bake.

My, I feel sooo much better!! Now I need to act on some of these urges.

Since I have no idea who has and who hasn't participated in this endeavor, I invite anyone who is interested in doing it to let me know so I can read your list! It really is freeing.

~~~~~~~

Thanks be to God!

HELP!!!

Photo by Wataro Goro


A couple of weeks ago I was tagged for the "I've got the urge" MEME. Darned if I can remember who tagged me or what the rules are. NOW I have the "urge" to do it and the "urge" to find it and don't know where to begin. Again I am humbled. Yes, I should have written it down at the time, but who would have guessed I'd lose it. Can anyone help? Thank you!

~~~
And Thanks be to God!

Monday, April 21, 2008

Take a trip...

Camille Pisarro (1830-1903)


I just visited A world of beauty and found that her daughter is having a photo exhibition. The pictures are really very good. Just stop in and say "Hello." I did and I had a grand time. It's a great way to spend your time...Just relaxing, meandering among the pictures and enjoying the giftedness of our neighbors.

Maybe visit your local art museum. Spend the time walking through the galleries. The beauty, quiet and serenity can be most refreshing. Enjoy!!!

~~~~~~~

Thanks be to God!

Sunday, April 20, 2008

"Have faith in me"

Sedilia
photo by Lawrence,OP


Today's reflective reading in Magnificat is another call for us to trust. It is a testament to our humanity that we must be reminded over and over again to "have faith." In today's Gospel (John 14: 1:12) we are reminded that even Jesus' closest followers still had to be reminded, even while He was among them.


As a result of our creation, God assumes certain all-important claims to our allegiance. He is our origin; he is our supreme good, our monarch, and our absolute sovereign; he is our ruler, our protector, and our defender; he is our judge.

Let us adore and praise God in all these divine aspects. Let us rejoice that he is so great, that he possesses countless perfections, and has so much power over all his creatures who are dependent upon him in so many varied ways. Let us also rejoice that we belong to him by so many claims to our allegiance and that he vouchsafes to exercise all these rights in our regard. It is a marvelous advantage, a great glory and a singular honor for us to have an origin so noble, an end so exalted, a center so divine, a supreme good so bountiful and provident, a prototype so perfect, a king so powerful, a ruler and protector so prudent and strong, a judge so just and equitable, and a God so great so admirable and so good...

As our end, center, element and supreme good, he calls and attracts us to himself continually, saying: "Come to me all you who labor and are burdened: and I will refresh you" (Mt 11:28). If there is a secret virtue in the center of a stone, in the element of the fish, and in the sphere of fire, which so strongly attracts them, how much stronger is the virtue of our true center, our true element and our real sphere, which is God? How is it, then, that we allow ourselves to be so little attracted to him? Certainly, we must believe that we offer very great resisitance and that there must be a terrible weight of sin within us to resist such powerful attraction. O my sovereigh End, by Divine Center, attract, me draw me completely to you, and do not allow me to oppose your power in any way. (Saint John Eudes)

Saint John Eudes (+1680) was largely responsible for initiating and popularizing devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.


~~~+~~~

Thanks be to God!

Aside: Please note I have added "Catholic Trivia" to the side bar. I found the game we played with the children when they were younger. It is suprisingly educational and amazing how much there is to learn in "trivia." I hope you will enjoy this "corner."

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Romantic Dinner...

Setting: Kitchen Table

Menu: Chicken and Dumplings

Wine: Riesling (suitable for fruit and cheese)

Attire: Dockers and Sweats

He says, "The wine and dumplings are good. It's good that we don't have to impress anyone."
~~~
To that I say, "Thanks be to God in His goodness for my Best Friend!"


^j^

Friday, April 18, 2008

The Earthquaked.

Yes, indeed it did. At 4:30 this morning our house seemed to be "bouncing". Though not the first time we had experienced the earth move, it is still daunting. Not even a picture was es cue. And as it is said to have been a 5.4 quake, all is well here.

They say there were 6 aftershocks but I only felt one. I had taken one of our patients to the room and I was interviewing him when we felt the aftershock...This evening we are behaving as if nothing had happened. Perhaps that is because we were spared any of the damage and tragedy that often accompanies many earthquakes. We are grateful to all family and friends who have called and inquired about us.

***^j^***
Certainly we are all grateful and we say,
"Thanks be to God!"