tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2363231961742908762024-03-05T02:19:18.651-05:00MSBT Be Firea blog about being a Catholic Sister in a apostolic, missionary community.Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-26379915564489973172015-05-25T19:19:00.003-05:002020-05-12T13:30:17.653-05:00The Peace of Christ completes the Paschal MysteryI go to Mass everyday so I was interested to read an article on BBC News bbc.com/news/magazine-32849125, called "What I learned from 46 consecutive days in Church". While he had a very good experience, one thing he mentioned was that about a third of the homilies were very good, another third were so-so and the rest; not so good. I found this to be true so I often supplement by listening or reading to really good homilies online.<br />
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Listening to the Sunday homily on Wordonfire.org with Fr. Robert Barron is always excellent. <br />
Another good source is this site of the Dominican Friars of Englan & Scotland. torch.op.org. These Dominicans really live their name "Order of Preachers".<br />
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The homily for Pentecost Sunday is a wonderful example of how powerful and inspiring these homilies are. <br />
http://torch.op.org/torch/the-peace-of-christ-completest-the-paschal-mysterySr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-19779791740232687992014-11-24T16:26:00.000-05:002014-11-24T16:26:19.705-05:00What if we did?<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; text-align: justify;">All Christians and “not just the few” are called to intensify their missionary spirit and go out to proclaim the joy of the Gospel, said Pope Francis this past weekend in an address to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; text-align: justify;">Italy’s National Missionary Congress</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; text-align: justify;"> .</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-all-christians-called-to-be-missionaries-not</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pope Francis reminds us of the call to be missionary which is the responsibility of every baptized christian. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px;">Our founder Fr. Judge was of the same mindset as Pope Francis. In the original 1930 draft of the MSBT Constitution he said, "Missionary Servants should be so filled with the holy fire that they will communicate it to all those </span></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px;">who come in contact with them. Their wish and prayer should be that these (people) become a </span></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px;">power for good. To encourage this zeal let them realize that the greatest help a Missionary Servant </span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px;">can offer (to the Church) is the help of spiritually trained Lay Apostles. They will try to realize the </span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px;">power of the faithful for good."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px;">To </span></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px;">effect this, Missionary Servants will induce those coming under their influence to pray to the Holy </span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px;">Spirit for His Gifts and Fruits, Wisdom and Fortitude especially, and encourage them to some work </span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px;">of charity or zeal.</span></span><span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px;"> There is so much need for people to be apostles in their daily life. The good news of the Lord Jesus Christ need to be shared through the lives of those who live vibrantly the call of the Gospel.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px;">What if we did intensify our missionary spirit and proclaim the joy of the Gospel?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #343434; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px;">What would it look like if we put into regular practice the call laid out in yesterday's reading from the Gospel of Matthew: </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Come, you who are blessed by my Father. </span></div>
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Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. </div>
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For I was hungry and you gave me food,</div>
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I was thirsty and you gave me drink,</div>
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a stranger and you welcomed me,</div>
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naked and you clothed me,</div>
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ill and you cared for me,</div>
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in prison and you visited me.</div>
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Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-55493144198816247552014-10-16T12:44:00.002-05:002014-10-16T12:44:40.377-05:00Back to WorkSo I had most off the past year off. I went on Sabbatical for 10 months! One month was spent in moving and spending some time with family. For three months I lived in a cabin on top of a mountain in Spencer, West Virginia at Franciscan Appalachian Hermitage. Solitude, access to a lovely chapel and daily Mass. Thanks to Sr. Jeanne, Cathy and the wonderful people of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Spencer I had an unforgettable experience of prayer, peace and rest.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking along Colt Run</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">November Scene</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cabin at the top of the mountain.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The second part of the sabbatical I spend in San Jose Costa Rica at the Trinity Missions Seminary with the Seminarians and the staff of Fathers Edgar Solano, ST, Fr. Carlos Zacharias, ST, Martha Vega, MCA and Cecila and Sandra. Again I was the happy recepient of generous hospitality. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was most fortunate in attending a program in Spanish at a great school called Intensa.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My Profesora Mireya Castro was excellent. She tortured me daily with verb tenses and direct and indirect pronouns. Now that I am in Mexico City I realize what a fantastic teacher she is! The staff at the school too, were most helpful. I would recommend this program to anyone wishing to study Spanish at whatever level.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Above are three photos from Costa Rica, the first of some of the Missionary Cenacle Apostlate members, the seminarians and one of the ST priests Fr. Jaime Serrano. Second is the view from the third floor porch where my room was located. And the third a beach scene at Puerto Jimenez.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">As I begin my new mission in Mexico City on the MSBT Vocation Formation Team I know I have so much for which to be grateful to the Triune God!</span></div>
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Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-45342812505074079432013-06-29T13:35:00.001-05:002013-06-29T13:35:46.141-05:00StuffI'm moving soon. After 10 years of serving on the MSBT General Council I'm in transition towards a new ministry. But first I have to pack.<br />
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I have accumulated a lot of stuff. I commented to some sisters the other day that when I entered I had one suitcase and one garment bag! Actually most of my stuff isn't clothes. It's stuff like books, knickknacks, cds, religious pictures and statues and souvenirs given to me from various places. I'm not taking it all with me! I sure don't need it. So I'm doing the three pile decision process: a pile for giving away, a pile for trash and a pile to keep. The last will be the smallest.<br />
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Having to move every so often is a gift. I have only one room to keep stuff, a vow of poverty and a low personal budget. These are great helps in keeping the amount of stuff I have low. It's good to think and pray about material things now and then.<br />
Living in a first world country with a first class education chances are good that I'll have what I need; in fact more than I need. I came across this website which is another good reason to live more simply.<br />
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<a href="http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-stuff/">http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-stuff/</a><br />
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<br />Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-37075038586864397272013-05-11T06:57:00.004-05:002013-05-11T06:57:59.451-05:00Go Out and Tell the Good NewsMy or our community evolved from a group of laity, who were gathered together by Fr. Thomas Judge CM.<br />
His big concern was the people who were Catholic, but were in the pews on Sunday, who weren't receiving the Sacraments, who were losing the faith.<br />
So no matter what we do, be it social worker, pastoral ministry, religious education or retreat work, that concern for those, at risk of losing their faith, is of great concern.<br />
So the Church's thrust for New Evangelization dovetails with our charism to work for the preservation of the faith.<br />
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Pope Francis' recent themes on Missionary Spirit and Evangelization say more clearly than I can, the path we Catholics need to follow in the work of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. Here's a couple of link's to the Pope's recent words that I find very inspiring; on evangelization:<br />
<a href="http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-at-wednesday-mass-build-bridges-not-w">http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-at-wednesday-mass-build-bridges-not-w</a><br />
and on being a missionary:<br />
<a href="http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-homily-be-filled-with-an-evangelical">http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-homily-be-filled-with-an-evangelical</a><br />
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We are in the time of the Novena to the Holy Spirit as Pentecost is May 19th.<br />
Here's our Novena: <a href="http://msbt.org/pages/aboutus/pdf/HolySpiritNovenas.pdf">http://msbt.org/pages/aboutus/pdf/HolySpiritNovenas.pdf</a><br />
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<br />Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-31234824032516632322013-04-07T16:46:00.004-05:002013-04-07T16:46:56.991-05:00Betrayal<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">went to the chief priests and said,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">“What are you willing to give me</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">if I hand him over to you?”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">They paid him thirty pieces of silver,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> </span></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><i>and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.</i> Matt. 26:14</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">I'm so used to the Readings of Holy Week, but this year the theme of betrayal leapt out at me. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Jesus was betrayed by Judas, by Peter and the other Apostles who took off, who left Him to face His accusers alone. Only John and the ever faithful women stood by Him. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus was able to forgive. Perhaps even Judas was forgiven. Our God is a God of mercy.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Most of us have experienced betrayal of some sort. In my very blessed life I have not experienced too much of it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">But I know that I have been betrayed by the action or inaction those within the Church ; Bishops, Priests, Cardinals who took the easy </span></span>road in response to knowledge of the abuse of children. We the people of the Church have been betrayed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was not abused. But sadly members of my family were. My innocent, trusting attitude towards the hierarchy was destroyed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've worked with survivors of incest and I know well how very difficult the road to healing can be. It's amazing that some can even forgive. Recovering trust is so very difficult. The effects of being abused are widespread. Relationships are particularly impacted by the struggle to trust. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I believe the effects of the abuse scandal on the Church is like that. The betrayal of trust is hard to overcome. Some people have left the Church as they cannot reconcile the behavior of some priests and bishops with the practice of faith. One man I know cannot get over the fact that the same man who consecrated the host would molest and rape a child. For me the choice of bishops to act with expedience over the choice to protect children is horrifying.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Certain experiences, that may seem unrelated can bring back the feelings of hurt, anger and humiliation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />I wonder about those who have left the Church, who no longer show up for Mass nor participate in their parishes. Has anyone bothered to notice that they are gone? I know people (family members) who were in Church every Sunday, who financially supported the Parish and participated as teachers of Religious Education. When people like this leave and there's no response and seemingly no care to even ask why, then there is something wrong with that Parish and others like it. This is a big flaw with the Church; that people can leave and no one cares enough to go after them. </span><br />
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There has got to be a better way to be Church.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I pray that we of the Church can heal, can reconcile and reach out to those who are betrayed. I pray that somehow our new Pope Francis can lead us & renew our Church. </span><br />
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<br />Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-64803959949243284182013-02-03T10:32:00.000-05:002013-02-07T10:38:57.274-05:00LoveToday the readings for Mass include the Letter to the Corinthians with the beautiful reading on love, 1 Cor 12: 31 - 1 Cor 4:13.<br />
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If you've ever been to a Christian wedding you've probably heard it. It reads beautifully. It is very hard to live out.<br />
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Today as I read it my mind kept going to the recent disillusioning story of Cardinal Mahoney and his role in keeping secret the actions of some abusive priests in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.<br />
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I know that God is love and the life of Jesus was an outpouring of this love. I know to that we must not judge. But the actions of some Church authorities in relation to the sexual abuse and rape of children are so contrary to the teachings and actions of Jesus that I have to express my sadness and disappointment.<br />
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My heart is broken again. My first realization of this type of approach to the abuse of children by priests was in 1995. The experience was like the death of a loved one. But you don't stop loving even when betrayed. One can work against this evil while within the Church. The most incredible witness I've experienced to an active love of Christ and the Church is among parents of abused children who continue to be practicing Catholics in spite of such a horrible experience. They are able to separate out the evil actions of flawed, sick people from what is essential to their faith. They have even gotten involved in helping others to heal from such experiences and in challenging Church authorities to act with integrity and to afford no tolerance to such behavior.<br />
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I listened this morning to Fr. Robert Barron sermon on Corinthians (<a href="http://www.wordonfire.org/WOF-Radio/Sermons/Sermon-Archive-for-2013/Sermon-630-The-Primacy-of-Love.aspx" target="_blank">Word on Fire</a>). He says, quoting Thomas Aquinas "to love is to will the good of the other".<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Living as a Catholic Sister means that my life needs to be centered in Christ and in the Catholic Church. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">":It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I hope and pray that we in the Church can continue to struggle against the evil and expedient actions of some in the Church. May the Blessed Trinity help us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Brothers and sisters: Strive
eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.<br />
But I shall show you a still more excellent way.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>If I speak in human and angelic
tongues, but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And
if I have the gift of prophecy, and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;<br />
if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may
boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Love is patient, love is kind. It
is not jealous, it is not pompous, It is not inflated, it is not rude,<br />
it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood
over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Love never fails. If there are
prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if
knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.<br />
For we know partially and we prophesy partially, but when the perfect comes,
the partial will pass away.<br />
When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a
child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things. At present we see
indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. <br />
At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So
faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-59394959942772355502012-11-21T13:14:00.000-05:002012-12-03T13:16:46.709-05:00Thanks for my life!Recently in Massachusetts, the state where I was born, there was a question on the ballot about "<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Death with Dignity". The details of the ballot question can be read at the following link.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Massachusetts_%22Death_with_Dignity%22_Initiative,_Question_2_(2012)</span><br />
<br />
The question was defeated by a small margin but hearing about it and hearing the opinions of some friends and family members really alarmed me.<br />
It seems that people believe their life is theirs and theirs alone. The opinions I hear against the measure were all about distrust of doctors, of the methods used etc. Others felt it would be a good thing, a compassionate thing. Why should they suffer? There was no mention of God or the commandment, "Thou shall not kill".<br />
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Without that knowledge that our life is a gift from God it becomes easy to look at life as a disposable commodity. So when life gets painful or inconvenient since it's my own I can end it. Or if I'm carrying a child, it's my body so I can end that life if I want to. <br />
I know there's lot of rhetoric on this topic. But the value of life seems to be overlooked more and more. I am grateful to God for my life , the lives of my loved ones and for the gift of the life of our incredible universe.<br />
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http://bustedhalo.com/features/thou-shalt-not-kill-godSr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-44442775784213125082012-10-12T15:34:00.001-05:002012-10-12T15:34:50.449-05:00Pray the Rosary<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2efw37w2OjNwskYPbQLBXah4lC4C6RmYAXmgoMW4zHtSGGpSoDqcMXx1BZ4lUnZkuUnRJ8GDNMq1SzWoRg9ygc3Kkvu9B_aEMtWb2LLlNLRlu4FTj0YEwjxxXghIhNQEnoby4YEm-oYA/s1600/OLG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2efw37w2OjNwskYPbQLBXah4lC4C6RmYAXmgoMW4zHtSGGpSoDqcMXx1BZ4lUnZkuUnRJ8GDNMq1SzWoRg9ygc3Kkvu9B_aEMtWb2LLlNLRlu4FTj0YEwjxxXghIhNQEnoby4YEm-oYA/s1600/OLG.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have acquired a few daily habits over the years. One of them is praying the rosary. The Rosary was not my favorite prayer as a kid! It was too long and boring and we had to kneel and listen to Cardinal Cushing on the radio think nasal and grating. Well I've gotten over that and now it's part of the daily routine. In the rosary one can meditate on the different aspects of the lives of Jesus and Mary and place in Jesus' hands whatever needs, sorrows, joys and thanksgivings that arise in one's heart and mind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Rosary is a mobile prayer app. You can take it with you wherever you go. Which was part of its' original appeal. One didn't need to be in Church with the books required to pray the Liturgy of the Hours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through the years the Blessed Mother is the one to whom I would often turn for help in praying for others, especially people's more serious needs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below are some wonderful resources for praying the rosary.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The one I use everyday is a podcast of the rosary found at this site: </span><a href="http://www.churchofstmary.org/podcast_prayerdevotional.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.churchofstmary.org/podcast_prayerdevotional.html</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No extra prayers just the rosary nicely lead<span style="line-height: 21px;"><b> </b>by Fr. Michael McGovern of the Church of St. Mary, Lake Forest, IL<br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a printed how to pray the Rosary: <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/images/rosary.pdf">http://www.newadvent.org/images/rosary.pdf</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also <a href="http://www.nccbuscc.org/prayer-and-worship/devotionals/rosaries/how-to-pray-the-rosary.cfm">http://www.nccbuscc.org/prayer-and-worship/devotionals/rosaries/how-to-pray-the-rosary.cfm</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Busted Halo has a bunch of reflections on the Rosary as well as some questions and answers.<br /><a href="http://bustedhalo.com/features/holy-mary-mother-of-god">http://bustedhalo.com/features/holy-mary-mother-of-god</a><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since it's said St. Dominic received the Rosary from Our Lady herself here the Dominicans site on the Rosary:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.op.org/en/content/rosary-old-and-ever-new-dominican-devotion"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.op.org/en/content/rosary-old-and-ever-new-dominican-devotion</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our friends at Wikipedia have an interesting article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosary">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosary</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.nccbuscc.org/prayer-and-worship/devotionals/mary-and-the-saints/frequently-asked-questions-about-blessed-virgin-mary.cfm"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.nccbuscc.org/prayer-and-worship/devotionals/mary-and-the-saints/frequently-asked-questions-about-blessed-virgin-mary.cfm</span></a></div>
Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-6191584293799356922012-09-08T13:36:00.002-05:002012-09-08T13:49:42.332-05:00The Instruments of God<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The Spirit of God wants to use
you; you are His instruments. You are tools with which He is going to chisel
out salvation for many souls. You are to work upon the lives of others. Fr.
Thomas A. Judge, CM<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br /></span></i></div>
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Two instruments of God who had/have a profound effect on my
life died this past month. One I've known since I entered the Missionary
Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity on September 17, 1978. The other I never
met in person and I'm sure he had no awareness of my existence, yet his work as
a Biblical scholar has influenced my thoughts and actions for the good.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sr. Francis Michael Proulx died August 12. Each of her mission responsibilities included
cooking, housekeeping and maintenance responsibilities. Whatever she did she
did with love. In one of her evaluations of her ministry she wrote: “I am
happy...being here for my Sisters, my way of thinking is, a well fed Sister is a better Missionary.
Please God, I will be able to cook and serve God in this way.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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In so many ways Sr. Francis Michael paid attention to
others. She noticed if you were happy or sad. Her caring included everyone she
met in the providence of her daily life, our staff in the Motherhouse, doctors,
nurses, people she knew from her contacts in local stores and her family. Till
her last day she was helping people whether they needed a listening ear,
referrals to counseling or a cheerful smile of encouragement. <o:p></o:p><br />
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Carlo Maria Martini died August 31st. Several years ago I
became aware of Cardinal Martini because his book, "The Joy of the
Gospel" was mentioned in a workshop that I was attending. Thanks to the
speaker, a professor of Biblical Studies at the Seminary in Philly at the time,
I gained access to a writer who combined his deep understanding of scripture
with great knowledge of the everyday needs of Christians.<o:p></o:p></div>
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From the news reports Cardinal Martini was considered
liberal or progressive. He gave an interview to an Italian daily Corriere della
Sera. shortly before his death calling for the Church leadership to reform,
"The Church must admit its mistakes and begin a radical change, starting
from the pope and the bishops. The paedophilia scandals oblige us to take a
journey of transformation," he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I must admit I do agree that the wounds left from the
pedophilia scandals continue to fester. The response from Church leadership in
many diocese has been lacking, leaving many of the wounds to victims and their
families and others unhealed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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These two people, so very different in many ways were so
very alike in that their lives were centered in Jesus. <o:p></o:p></div>
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He authored many such books and devoted much of his time to
the youth and young adults of his Archdiocese, Milan, Italy. Another big
favorite of mine is his book, "The Gifts of the Holy Spirit"<o:p></o:p><br />
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For the instruments they were in my life and the lives of
many others I give thanks and praise to God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-10732690826641040962012-07-18T08:17:00.000-05:002012-07-22T08:19:44.154-05:00What I doWell it's 4:30 AM and I'm awake because I started to think about the events of yesterday. Which actually was pretty typical of what my days are like. So then why am I awake now? Maybe to just put it all in God's hands.<br />
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Mornings I usually start with a walk. I have some prayer podcasts that I regularly download so as I walk I pray the rosary with <a href="http://www.churchofstmary.org/">www.churchofstmary.org/</a><span style="background-color: white;">and listen to a reading and reflection from the daiIy Mass that the British Jesuits do, called "pray as you go" Next is Mass, breakfast prayers and work. So that's how I started off yesterday. The opening song for prayasyougo.org was "You Lord Are in this Place" by Keith Duke, a</span><span style="background-color: white;"> kind of harmonic chant about the presence of God filling all aspects of life.</span><br />
In our offices, known as the Generalate, there's five of us in a wing of our Mother Boniface Center. It's named for our first General Custodian, Mother Boniface Keasey, a beautiful, holy and courageous woman.<br />
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Sometimes our Sisters wonder what we do. Well yesterday was Tuesday. First I answered some phone messages. A couple from our sisters about how to fill out an online survey we sent them and some financial questions. That took an hour or so. Then it's on to e-mails. A couple of Sisters are coming to Philadelphia after many, many, many years of ministry. They're anxious about packing and how to close their Cenacle. So I answered some questions about that. They're also worried because some Parishioners asked them about the LCWR investigation by the Bishops. One of the Sisters hoped we would remain part of the Church. I assured her we would! I feel bad that this Sister after over 60 years of a life of dedication to God, the Church and God's people should have to worry about this. We are cursed with living in interesting times.<br />
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Then I call another Sister to make a date to talk. Her position was eliminated by the recent layoffs from the Archdiocese. Alternate sources of income are hard to come by but the priests and other folks with whom she works are looking into it. It's getting harder for us to serve the people we want to. The parishes of the poor just don't have the money to pay us and unfortunately we can't afford to work for nothing. Maybe we'll hit the lottery. Oh yeah you have to buy a ticket.<br />
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After lunch I worked on to photo formatting, a project started in June! Maybe it will get done before August. <span style="background-color: white;">More calls to our sisters, an e-mail or two then some filing of papers. It's an exciting job which I usually leave till the piles get to me.</span><br />
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The last couple of hours are spent in more individual meetings with sisters.<br />
One is going off to school so we discussed the details of that upcoming adventure for her. Then I visit with another sister who is recovering from back surgery.<br />
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Usually we on the General Council meet together for 3 -5 days to report on our activities, updates on various sisters who are in some kind of transition and plan together for the future of our community. July however is one of the two months we don't meet as its a month for retreat and vacation.<br />
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We often eat at our Motherhouse. We have a great food service so it makes sense to eat there and enjoy the company of our sisters. The five of us have evening prayer together at 7 PM. We five live in the oldest building on our grounds. A big, old mansion type building which is regarded as beautiful by many. Our chapel on the first floor has beautiful old windows. In July its a bit warm as we're in Philadelphia. The rest of the evening is spent with a little TV, then some reading and bed. Not too thrilling except that I get to support the sisters who are trying to<br />
carrying out their small part of building up the Kingdom of God.<br />
<br />Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-87288930052055607972012-05-19T16:23:00.002-05:002012-05-19T16:23:40.073-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_McEO8xkdI3YW6UxikizKs0A_8GZF00cRnIMnq3Fv9y-h6EGSmcqLYwg7je2Pnzlo-DgbV2ydnn7tYNMFgq4y7Ti1ZlSf8VdO01W0_JKs3tYTIg30A2rkRI5FaIzv5oc9A0gL4JCMt8/s1600/Holy+Spirit+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_McEO8xkdI3YW6UxikizKs0A_8GZF00cRnIMnq3Fv9y-h6EGSmcqLYwg7je2Pnzlo-DgbV2ydnn7tYNMFgq4y7Ti1ZlSf8VdO01W0_JKs3tYTIg30A2rkRI5FaIzv5oc9A0gL4JCMt8/s1600/Holy+Spirit+web.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From our beginnings as a group the Missionary Cenacle Family has had a devotion to God the Holy Spirit. Our founder Fr. Judge imbued the earliest members with the necessity of constant prayer especially to the Holy Spirit. This would help us to be more under the influence of the Holy Spirit and to make sure our actions were under the impulse of the Holy Spirit and not our own desires or blind judgement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently I came across this quote which sums up my belief in the Holy Spirit,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Spirit of God is like our breath. God's spirit is more intimate to us than we are to ourselves. We might not often be aware of it, but without it we cannot live a "spiritual life." It is the Holy Spirit of God who prays in us, who offers us the gifts of love, forgiveness, kindness, goodness, gentleness, peace, and joy. It is the Holy Spirit who offers us the life that death cannot destroy. Let us always pray: "Come, Holy Spirit, come."<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Henry Nouwen</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although I knew about the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost as we said pre-Vatican II from my earliest memories, it was my sister Terry who first taught me that the Holy Spirit would offer guidance and oh so many other gifts to stir our daily living in God's direction.<br />Asking for the Spirit's guidance and power in daily decisions and actions has become a habit. I know it's given me the power and drive to do so many things that I would never dare do on my own, from quitting smoking 30 years ago, daring to speak Spanish, however badly accented, to being able to make decisions about my life and those of others as a member of our General Council. For me the important thing is the daily prayer and listening to the Holy Spirit. So many times a thought or idea has come to me that I know did not exist in my mind beforehand. When those thoughts and ideas prove to be part of a plan or project with good fruits it is plain that the Spirit is at work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last year one of our sister shared a reflection on the Holy Spirit which included this annotated prayer:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>When the Holy Spirit comes to live within a person, she cannot cease to pray because the Holy Spirit prays within her without ceasing. Whether she sleeps or is awake, the work of prayer is always in her heart. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>While she is resting or sharing or working, the incense of prayer rises spontaneously from her heart. </i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This prayer of the Spirit is not limited by a determined time or place.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It cannot be interrupted. Even the silence within a person becoming free </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">is itself already prayer.</span></i></div>
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<i>Her thoughts are gently inspired by God. The slightest movement</i></div>
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<i>of her heart becomes a voice which silently and secretly sings and</i></div>
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<i>chants in the presence of the faithful, loving Trinity!</i></div>
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<i><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> taken form </span>St. Issac the Syrian – 7th Century</i><br />
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May the knowledge and love of the Holy Spirit spread to every human being.</div>
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<i>For ‘In him we live and move and have our being,’Acts 17:28</i><o:p></o:p></div>Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-66402286944708428372012-04-01T10:02:00.000-05:002012-04-01T10:02:55.602-05:00Obedient Unto Death<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">did not regard equality </span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">with God</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">something to be grasped.</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Rather, he emptied himself,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">taking the form of a slave,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">coming in human likeness; </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">and found human in appearance,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">he humbled himself,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">becoming obedient to the point of death, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">even death on a cross.</span></i></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGH47_D6ZTIKw7gGmaEZgvKPz_MaEdI2B-ckhIx76bPa9NNnEd7DSv_Gr8Yq72Us6abwUnD-LInoA0-PPHgh-MRrt8z011uaACR1fePcxiWotSR0N5HU49qjIFNw_X1VdWGIE_ApBhJBc/s320/BTSR+Crucifix.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="227" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CrucIfix Blessed Trinity Shrine Retreat<br />Photo by Sr. Nancy Walsh MSBT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGH47_D6ZTIKw7gGmaEZgvKPz_MaEdI2B-ckhIx76bPa9NNnEd7DSv_Gr8Yq72Us6abwUnD-LInoA0-PPHgh-MRrt8z011uaACR1fePcxiWotSR0N5HU49qjIFNw_X1VdWGIE_ApBhJBc/s1600/BTSR+Crucifix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i></i></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Because of this, God greatly exalted him</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">and bestowed on him the name</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">which is above every name,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">that at the name of Jesus </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">every knee should bend,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,</span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">and every tongue confess that</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Jesus Christ is Lord,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">to the glory of God the Father. <br />Phil. 2: 6 - 11</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Sometimes I wonder what kind of God is this that comes among us with such vulnerability? All the values of our society: to have things, to be important and powerful, to be in control, even to be well regarded by others seem unimportant in the life of Jesus. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">The usual response to violence is to seek justice, even revenge. We want the one who hurt us to be hurt. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Jesus asks for forgiveness for his tormentors. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">This rejection of power, this putting oneself in the hands of others is disturbing. For me it means I need to look at my motives everyday in order to follow this Jesus who gave himself over to us for love.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-10891537459329241272012-02-05T14:30:00.000-05:002012-02-05T14:35:46.473-05:00Religious Liberty, Catholic Institutions and the U.S. Government<div>
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<span style="color: #111111; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After
graduating from Catholic University with my new degree in Social Work in 1990,
I went to work at NYC Catholic Charities Family Services office in the lower
east side of Manhattan. There were four to five MSBTs working there. We offered
some counseling to families and individuals (non therapeutic), advocacy, budget
advice, direct services, food and much, much more. </span></span><b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People knew we were Catholic and that we served everybody for free. Sometimes a woman would come in and tell me they were pregnant and couldn't handle another child for some reason. I would say to her, you came here to this office. Please tell me the name of this office. They would answer "Catholic Charities". I would then say " what do you think I'm going to say to you about your pregnancy?" Sometimes the woman would smile and say "I know sister" or say "I'm going to need help with getting what I need to have this baby" or "I need you to talk to my husband, boyfriend, mother, father, etc." We would always work with them to get the help they needed to have their baby and get the needed services be they counseling, financial assistance, referrals, etc. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our clients were smart they knew if they were looking for services regarding birth control and abortion they did not go to Catholic Charities. They knew where to go for what service.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many such Catholic agencies and Institutions are staffed by lay people now. It seems to me that </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the days of such Institutions are numbered. I believe the new guidelines about Medical, Educational and Service Institutions having to provide birth control services in employee health plans will mean big changes in Church run services.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently in Philadelphia there was an announcement that many schools will be closing next year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The factor behind these closings is money. Not enough of it. But I wonder how many such Institutions will need to be closed now as Catholic Schools, Hospitals and Agencies will need to choose between disobeying Federal Law or God's Law.</span></div>
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Secretary Sebelius said "This decision was made after very careful consideration, including the important concerns some have raised about religious liberty," she said. "I believe this proposal strikes the appropriate balance between respecting religious freedom and increasing access to important preventive services."</div>
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Well they may think it's an appropriate balance but I disagree. I think the disregard for religious liberty in this matter is unbalanced and will have significant consequences.</div>
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I wonder if this means there will be fewer educational, health and service institutions run by religious groups? <span style="background-color: white;">Maybe this will mean Church resources will have to be removed from such institutions and spent on more explicitly religious services such as religious instruction of children and adults. </span></div>
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Now I know many people think we Catholics are wrong if not crazy about this issue. But don't we have a right to honor what we know to be right? If you work for a religious organization don't you expect the organization to be run according to certain values and beliefs. </div>
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I think religious liberty is being severely challenged in the United States today. I know for myself I an not comfortable in either of the main political parties of the U.S. My beliefs about how I treat undocumented people is considered illegal in some states and now this Health Insurance & birth control issue forces institutional behavior which I consider wrong. What's next I wonder?</div>
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<a href="http://www.usccb.org/about/media-relations/resources/wall-street-journal-op-ed-on-religious-freedom.cfm">http://www.usccb.org/about/media-relations/resources/wall-street-journal-op-ed-on-religious-freedom.cfm</a>
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<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/obama-administration-holds-to-birth-control-insurance-rule-but-gives-religious-groups-more-time-to-comply/2012/01/20/gIQAR84nDQ_story.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/obama-administration-holds-to-birth-control-insurance-rule-but-gives-religious-groups-more-time-to-comply/2012/01/20/gIQAR84nDQ_story.html</a>
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/20/barack-obama-birth-control_n_1219622.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/20/barack-obama-birth-control_n_1219622.html</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.usccb.org/index.html">http://www.usccb.org/index.html</a></div>
<a href="http://www.hrsa.gov/womensguidelines/">http://www.hrsa.gov/womensguidelines/</a>Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-57190992606338685832011-12-18T17:17:00.003-05:002011-12-18T17:18:28.834-05:00The present of God's presence<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> Here's a link to Sacred Space: http://www.sacredspace.ie/ where I found this lovely quote:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We are entering the last week of Advent, a week commonly filled with
frantic plans to be attended to before Christmas Day. St. Columcille can
help us to find a quiet space amid all our busyness and to listen for
God’s annunciation to us. ‘Sometimes in a lonely cell, in the presence
of my God, I stand and listen. In the silence of my heart, I can hear
God’s will when I listen. For I am but a servant, guided by my king when
I listen.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqXZBI4p3HDyYudQ9UwdLhdYe4bIIaLUDpjSV0wG4Dd4TiwaMlIyDNYzyBuwH9ks8wy-fbeRtFIgewEedrW0okkNTGDgRV_mh-fXGuQQ8f8hfxs6nkgRB28wu0k-HMKUW0Fwtc5juyVo/s1600/Presence-of-God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqXZBI4p3HDyYudQ9UwdLhdYe4bIIaLUDpjSV0wG4Dd4TiwaMlIyDNYzyBuwH9ks8wy-fbeRtFIgewEedrW0okkNTGDgRV_mh-fXGuQQ8f8hfxs6nkgRB28wu0k-HMKUW0Fwtc5juyVo/s320/Presence-of-God.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Let's give ourselves this most precious gift of being present to God. </span></div>Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-55101097426750072842011-11-09T11:40:00.001-05:002011-11-09T11:40:53.629-05:00Be Good to Yourself<br />
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<img height="217" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTwOAbl8SSwa4dWP7FcdbceugjV2EcOSGA8-Zf7V7tedMkuPpPdNA" width="320" /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm home in my Cenacle (that's what we call our houses or apartments) today because I'm taking a couple of sick days to recuperate from oral surgery. I feel okay but I have to do the ice pack routine of 20 minutes on & 10 minutes off. So I had plans to be totally self indulgent and watch some daytime TV like "The View", "Dr. Oz" a little VH1 music video (boy! have videos changed from the 80's!).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But - we just received the gift of the DVD series Catholicism. This is a series created and hosted by Fr. Robert Barron. <span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">He is an author, speaker, a theologian and a Professor at Mundelein Seminary near Chicago. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">I'm familiar with his website, </span><b style="color: #333333;">Word On Fire</b> (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.wordonfire.org/" style="background-color: white; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">www.WordOnFire.org</a><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">)</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: left;">.</span> I often listen to his homilies Sunday morning as he's a very good preacher.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyhow I watched one of the episodes called the "Mystery of God" In the dying words of Steve Jobs, "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #101010; line-height: 17px;">Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow." For once I wish I had a bunch of money cause I'd go buy everyone of my family and friends this DVD series. Well I can't so I'm sending out a link to the TV schedule. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.catholicismseries.com/watch/tv-schedule">http://www.catholicismseries.com/watch/tv-schedule</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are Catholic or Christian be good to yourself and watch this series. Or at least part 3 on the Mystery of God. I know you probably have not received good adult ed on your faith. <br />Watch Catholicism! It's really captivating as well as educational.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just watched the 52 minute episode 3 and forgot for that time span that I have a lot of pain and swelling from having oral surgery. Now I'm going to go ice my mouth and take 800 mg of Ibuprofen.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're not much of a believer watch this anyhow. It's wicked entertaining. If you don't believe at all watch it. Really know what it is you that you don't believe. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If I should somehow win or be gifted with a lot of cash I will buy lots of copies and give them out to my family, friends, acquaintances and whoever I can.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many people ask what Catholic Sisters do and the truth is we do a lot of different things but the underlying purpose is always about the love of God. Glorifying God and acting in ways that say God is love! And this is why I'm advertising this video.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God bless you!</span><br />
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<br />Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-91222586928880158092011-09-17T09:11:00.001-05:002011-09-17T09:13:51.446-05:00Politics and Faith<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently the
NY Times' Bill Keller wrote an article</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #333333;">"<span class="apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/magazine/asking-candidates-tougher-questions-about-faith.html">Asking
Candidates Tougher Questions About Faith</a>"</span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 9.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><nyt_headline type=" " version="1.0"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #333333;">Having
read the article and his blog with the questions I find nothing objectionable
about the questions nor the concept of asking candidates how </span></nyt_headline><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">their faith would effect their actions as a president. I do feel
bad that Mr. Keller has lost his faith.</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">I too am concerned about some
of the views of the candidates in question. </span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Looking at Presidents up to
the present I really don't know that their faith has impacted their
presidential actions all that much, with the possible exception of Jimmy
Carter. Some would say that's a good thing because of separation of Church and
State. Now I'm a Catholic sister so that's where I'm coming from but if your
religious faith does not effect how you live every day. If it does not affect
how you see the world and the choices you make then you're just playing
games. </span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333;">I
listen to some of the current crop of candidates and they pray, invoke God and
talk about their faith but they seem to be cafeteria Christians and Mormons.
Picking what they like and leaving out what is politically risky.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Through the years Christian presidents
and other politicians have been able to ignore lots of the more inconvenient
demands of Christianity. I think particularly of the Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5 or Luke<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">
6: 20 - 26 <b>"Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is
yours"</b>. Check out this video:</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9TBRPDcMOk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9TBRPDcMOk</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Or how about this quote from
Leviticus 19: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=236323196174290876" name="03019034"><span class="bcv">34?</span><br />
"You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the
natives born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself; for you too were
once aliens in the land of Egypt.</a><a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/leviticus/19/#03019034-y"><sup>y</sup></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>I, the L</span><span style="color: black;">ORD</span><span style="color: black;">, am your God."</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">The 10 Commandments are pretty
clear and we all struggle with them but with politicians it appears that number
8 is often ignored,</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=236323196174290876" name="02020016"><span style="color: black;"><b>"You
shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.</b></span></a><span style="color: black;"> Exodus 20:16</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just wondering are all the
commandments suspended when you're running for office? Is it okay to let PACs
make up stuff about your opponents that aren't true?<br />
During the last campaign I recall John McCain softly correcting a women who<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">repeated one of the many slurs
about Barack Obama. I thought wow! Integrity! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">I know
all of us are hypocrites to some degree. I too have a plank in my eye when it
comes to certain demands, but the point is you keep trying to grow and change
and be more aware. So I'm praying for all our candidates that they may live up to the demands of both their faith and our constitution.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">It would help if they read their books of faith, Bible or Book of Mormon and the Constitution thoroughly and don't skip the hard parts.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-80431104975449484702011-07-18T14:56:00.000-05:002011-07-18T14:56:09.980-05:00Family Blanket TimeYears ago I entered the Missionary Servants of the Blessed Trinity (MSBT) because I believed that God was calling me to be a sister and the MSBTs worked a lot with families and I wanted to do that in some way. Members of my family had really developed my faith and trust in God so I wanted to pass that on to other families. In the Trinita Family program we get to do just that and have fun in the process.<br />
Everyday volunteers (and this week I'm a volunteer) get to meet with their family for the week in a daily hour long session called blanket time. A committee of parents and the sisters and staff of Trinita meet in the months before the summer family program and work out the theme and activities. So all we volunteers have to do is read the directions get the materials and the blanket and be ready when the bell rings. The point of this is to give the family a chance to talk to each other on a littler deeper level than usual.<br />
<br />
Many of the families with whom I've worked don't seem to be able to fit in time as a family. Schedules today are tight what with work, after school activities, sports and commuting time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDIqtqQVA0uYzLvQHMABUNldFe2HXIcfUatlneXczkwZgm_EVyTvEPQXm1AAVRXEp_qboLAvFbfL6WoF67pQBCYSDQFq4oSE9qGBTl9RlRs_O2ra7jV8WSgSpWW2bZfdmeS1SBQw88ns/s1600/TrinitaFLP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDIqtqQVA0uYzLvQHMABUNldFe2HXIcfUatlneXczkwZgm_EVyTvEPQXm1AAVRXEp_qboLAvFbfL6WoF67pQBCYSDQFq4oSE9qGBTl9RlRs_O2ra7jV8WSgSpWW2bZfdmeS1SBQw88ns/s320/TrinitaFLP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I saw this statistic and I have to say it's scary. The number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children: is 3.5 minutes. Minutes!!! Kids spend an average of 4 hours in front of the TV. So who is having more influence?<br />
<br />
If I could give kids one thing I'd give them the attention of their parents and caregivers. <br />
In my work with school children I was surprised at how willing the kids were to meet with me. I worked in a school K through 8, junior high and high school as a social worker and all ages were very willing to leave class and go talk with me.<br />
Now sometimes it may have been getting out of class, but I believe mostly it was to have the attention of an adult. So that's always my free advice to any parent. Don't worry so much about giving your kids the material stuff, Give them your time, give them you.Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-47894464850807634672011-06-11T09:02:00.004-05:002012-05-16T09:54:27.678-05:00The Holy Spirit Drives Out Our Fear<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This weekend as we celebrate Pentecost we see how the great love of God in the Holy Spirit drives out the great fear the Apostles and disciples - they were staying behind locked doors out of fear.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then the Holy Spirit pours out upon them tongues of fire and great gifts for mission.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think the greatest gift was the part about driving out the fear. Fear for our lives, fear of the unknown, fear of making a fool of ourselves, fear of doing things in a way that's not up to our standard of perfection, fear of ____________? Whatever your favorite fear is.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know the Holy Spirit has helped me so many times to shed my fear and do what I needed to do, to say what needed to be said, yes even to make myself understood in a second language, maybe not well but good enough.<br />
With the Spirit help I have been able to do things like speak in front of large groups of people, travel on planes (which I hate to do cause I'm not in control!), get through graduate school, keep my mouth shut when I need to listen, hold my temper when everything in me wants to be violent, work in countless meetings, committees and groups to grapple with how to work together in mission.<br />
</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The point is the mission, the mission which is God's mission to spread His love and Truth as made so very evident in Jesus Christ to all people.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So we pray for the gifts of the Spirit: wisdom,understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord - which enable us to show forth in our lives the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1913 our religious family, the Missionary Cenacle Family, began a perpetual novena to the Holy Spirit. To this day there are always two or three groups of our sisters, our lay groups, or brothers and priests praying the Novena. During the nine days before Pentacost Sunday we all pray the Novena.<br />
<br />
We offer the Novena for the following intentions:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for the spread of devotion to the Most Blessed Trinity, in a particular way to the Holy Spirit</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for the spread of the knowledge of and devotion to the mystery of the Incarnation and all the mysteries of our Lord Jesus</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to exalt in the holy name of Jesus</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to console the heart of Jesus</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for priests</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for the success of the Ecumenical movement and for the coming of the reign of God among all God's people.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a link to the Novena prayers: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://msbt.org/pages/aboutus/pdf/HolySpiritNovenas.pdf" target="_blank">Holy Spirit Novenas</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Y en espa</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">ň</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ol: </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.msbt.org/pages/aboutus/pdf/NovenasdelaFamilia.pdf" target="_blank">Novenas al Espíritu Santo</a> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
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</span>Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-33239072566108995152011-04-27T12:03:00.000-05:002011-04-27T12:03:18.880-05:00Living Easter Every Day<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Easter - the central most important Event in the Christian calendar. Why? Its only because of the the death and Resurrection of Jesus that we are followers of Jesus the Christ. Without this event, life as a Christian would not be possible. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As I go to Mass daily I get to experience a lot of homilies and I must say most are very good. Unfortunately the sermon I heard during the Easter Vigil this year was uncommonly poor. As I wondered why the priest could not just talk simply on the beautiful mystery that we were celebrating my mind moved back to a passage in Ronald Rohlheiser's book "The Holy Longing" on the Paschal Mystery. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003300; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“<i>a process of transformation within which we are given both new life and new spirit. It begins with suffering and death, moves on to the reception of new life, spends some time grieving the old and adjusting to the new, and finally, only after the old life has been truly let go of, is a new spirit given for the life we are already living</i>”.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Fr. Rohlheiser outlines Jesus' paschal journey in stages:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">1. Real death (Good Friday)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">2. Receiving new life (Easter)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">3. A time to grieve the old and readjust to the new life (the 50 days)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">4. A time to let go and let the old bless you (ascension)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">5. Receiving the new Spirit to go with the new life (Pentecost)</span></span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">He then gives examples of people who have lived the paschal mystery in their lives. The idea is they go through a kind of death in their lives; an experience of loss of some kind that causes great pain. Within the grieving of the loss they receive a new life and eventually the spirit to live that new life. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">This makes clear the living presence of the Spirit as we go through the ups and downs of life. Our faith in the Risen Christ does </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">not protect us from the painful things of life. It does not make us rich, handsome or smart. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">The gift of the presence of the Living Christ in our lives is all about presence and relationship. Through our relationship with Our Lord we have what we need to go through the many transitions of life, both the joyful and the sorrowful. And yes to get through the ordinary not so exciting times too. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Dear Lord, please give us the grace to continue to live the Easter celebrations in our everyday lives. </span></span></span>May we go through life open to recognize your Presence and ready to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span>Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-33066491641380575802011-04-01T08:44:00.000-05:002011-04-01T08:44:57.092-05:00Self Sacrifice<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Footlight MT Light', serif; font-size: medium;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Footlight MT Light', serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly.<br />
Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Romans 5: 6 - 8</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Footlight MT Light', serif; font-size: medium;"> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">We’ve been hearing about the self sacrificing workers in Japan like the Fukushima 50 (although there's lots more than 50; they work in shifts of 50) who for the sake of others have stayed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at the dangerous Nuclear power plant in order to do what they can to avert a worse tragedy. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">It's so hard to let go of self interest and put the interests of others first. Some would scoff at that notion I know but for a follower of Jesus that's what it's about.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Lenten sacrifice means just that - not so much the giving up of food, candy, drink although that has its place too- but the giving up of self. For that much prayer is needed. <o:p></o:p></span></div></span>Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-30530694690118114692010-12-19T09:02:00.002-05:002011-01-06T09:15:01.664-05:00Decisions<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i>This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,<br />
but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.<br />
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame,<br />
decided to divorce her quietly.<br />
Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,<br />
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.<br />
For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.<br />
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”<br />
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,<br />
which means “God is with us.”<br />
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him<br />
and took his wife into his home.</i></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Looking at Joseph 2000 plus years later, we might think <i>well of course he'd do the right thing by Mary</i> and when he was guided by his dream follow up by trusting the angel's words to him about her. But he didn't know the ending that we know. His decision was made based on his relation with God and most likely with Mary. This is the thing about making decisions we don't always know the outcome.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Joseph could have done the easy thing; the morally acceptable and legally approved thing. Let Mary be shamed, probably stoned for adultery and get on with his life. But no, his intention was to act righteously with generosity and mercy. And after being visited by the angel in his dream his response was to do as the angel of the Lord told him.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">He thought only to do the right thing. We don't know what this meant to Joseph. Yet his decisions, his actions and his treatment of Mary and Jesus have impacted believers throughout the ages. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Joseph would probably not have been invited to the talk shows of his day, or wherever famous people of his age</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">were extolled. He was just a regular guy with a regular job trying to do the right thing and trying to be just and merciful. Not famous just essential.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1CyfQkY2FYZ0sc754Yc5GzKKSLmDfdmwkeqzV67CnwoKLRt97EFegOsje2ny-GcIwNaIr3waQMyk7044AC7BAUpuVhokJzmRxygb7vUYBHCdUuXg_HHE9mYwBGZgdurXCW9GaKlCGhU/s1600/St.+Joseph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1CyfQkY2FYZ0sc754Yc5GzKKSLmDfdmwkeqzV67CnwoKLRt97EFegOsje2ny-GcIwNaIr3waQMyk7044AC7BAUpuVhokJzmRxygb7vUYBHCdUuXg_HHE9mYwBGZgdurXCW9GaKlCGhU/s1600/St.+Joseph.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art by Sr. Richard Mehren, CSJ</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">These are the people we don't often hear about. Hopefully everyone has someone like this in their life. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">These men, women, youth and children who through grace and training act with integrity, justice and mercy.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Like Joseph they don't talk a whole lot but their actions say it all.</span></span><br />
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</span></span>Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-71282022062962707192010-11-09T11:29:00.009-05:002010-12-01T14:47:32.499-05:00Life is a Gift of GodI've come to know that following Christ is all about how you are, how you act every day. That's the thing about Jesus. His teachings attract people for sure but when I think of why I love Jesus the first thing that comes to me is the way he is with people in the scriptures.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnIuIc5UVN0mpv0-dQcn9DEuKG6Z4m9ZOu_J2Qkrvz0Bos2ihhgE4Yod5YL4150hrtq7YhAEuqJ7f8HHiurXkjM8B4EOv0cKFSlBrYSlFMmXmKrsDX8zbZLbqSshHSCd7zmPeN7IOFPM/s1600/Annie%2526+Bad+dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnIuIc5UVN0mpv0-dQcn9DEuKG6Z4m9ZOu_J2Qkrvz0Bos2ihhgE4Yod5YL4150hrtq7YhAEuqJ7f8HHiurXkjM8B4EOv0cKFSlBrYSlFMmXmKrsDX8zbZLbqSshHSCd7zmPeN7IOFPM/s320/Annie%2526+Bad+dog.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>I've been thinking of one of Jesus' followers who recently died. Sr. Ann Miriam Gallagher, MSBT was well loved by many. Here's some of the comments people have made in the wake of her death:<br />
<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Her smile and spirit could light up a room.</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></i></span></li>
<li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">Sr Ann was a gift to everyone she touched. I am honored to have known her and worked with her.</span></i></span></i></li>
<li><i>Sr Ann came into my life when I truly needed spiritual guidance and a friend I could trust.</i></li>
<li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 36px;">Sr Ann was a gift. She made my faith real to me.</span></i></li>
<li><i>Simple gifts are what you teach. And you place them right in reach. Within each of us. And we will never be the same.</i></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 36px;"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><i><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 115%;">I feel privleged to have known her.</span></i></span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; line-height: 36px;"><span class="apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><i><span style="color: #181818; line-height: 115%;"> She was the kindest person I have ever known.</span></i></span></span></span></li>
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</div>She lived her life as a person who believed in God and in the resurrection of Jesus. Armed with this faith she added own gifts of person and disposition and shared her joy in God's goodness with others<br />
in the most ordinary yet uplifting ways. She was ever about lifting people up of pointing out the good, the holy and what was of God.The thing is, she did it in such a down to earth way. She was life giving in a way that inspired you to be your best self. Always, she sought to try & understand people.<br />
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We do miss you Ann. It helps me to remember that our life is a gift from God. The people in our lives are gifts freely given to us, yet not to be possessed. So I try to let go and rejoice in your being home. Perhaps in your new mode of life you can help us who knew you to be life-givers in our daily life.<br />
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</i></span></span>Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-14526534029887290982010-10-09T12:15:00.002-05:002010-10-15T14:35:41.535-05:00What would you be doing that's so important anyway?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasuBnQu94-a6aQv4NcwCJw7gg6vudeZf5GO8gfZaiIa_9dsmpf7s2klirDfresBRRjhs0UxdjLuea5Ag-y8iCRqS_v8TTvA3IZ1kbUqID31lc9UbW7F4Q0r4ZMFnGxmbNKOSdbFGoWgA/s1600/DSCN0719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasuBnQu94-a6aQv4NcwCJw7gg6vudeZf5GO8gfZaiIa_9dsmpf7s2klirDfresBRRjhs0UxdjLuea5Ag-y8iCRqS_v8TTvA3IZ1kbUqID31lc9UbW7F4Q0r4ZMFnGxmbNKOSdbFGoWgA/s320/DSCN0719.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>"it is love alone that gives worth to all things" Teresa of Avila</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The other day a few of us were discussing some of the events going on in the life of our families. All of us have parents, siblings, in-laws, nephews, uncles, aunts etc. in all the stages of life with all the challenges of those stages.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We were focused on the topic of raising children and some recent hair raising stories our family members had mentioned to us, requesting prayers for their child. At the end of this sharing someone said "we're spoiled we don't have to deal with that."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's true, one of the benefits of being a vowed religious is we don't get married, have children </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and suffer the difficulties that vocation can entail. Well, nor do we enjoy the great benefits and joys of the married vocation either. Later I thought about how we were glad that we didn't have to deal with the pains of parenting. I wonder if when people look at our life from the perspective of married life?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Do they think, Thank God I don't have to deal with that! One thing I know from years of experience working with families and with sisters, priests and brothers; life is composed of both joy and sorrow and mostly the ordinary.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Living out one's vocation is mostly about the ordinary I think. I see my nieces and nephews with their kids and it's a pleasure to see how they cherish the daily stuff of their lives. It's also a witness and reminder to me to cherish the daily stuff of mine. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Many years ago one of my siblings, no names here, was complaining to my mother about life as a spouse and parent. My mother, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Vera was her name and she was a truth teller for sure, said," what would you be doing that's so important anyway"?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Phew, it seemed a bit harsh at the time, but it's true, life is not like the movies or TV where everyday is a big drama. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This day that I have, this is my important thing I have to do, even if it involves the ordinary tasks of life, like doing the laundry, which for me is imperative, or I won't look presentable for the rest. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So I pray to have the grace of being present to the people, the tasks and the thoughts God gives me today. May I cherish them and give thanks to God for them.</span><br />
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</span>Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236323196174290876.post-34804327253605599192010-09-09T09:52:00.001-05:002010-09-09T09:52:47.202-05:00The Blessed Mother<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5V9znP3kh2OVPcxfpjyEuZDfwAXM2YMRRLP1AhU0-V8dd99Wn_iN6oRz4LClzN-wrf2tYtzCww3oCca2d8oEaB9PxPxnMe_Ri2U-tgK2ZUHGqs5BIVP5kHH0AiKAqHjNG16ypEqNnb_c/s1600/OLG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5V9znP3kh2OVPcxfpjyEuZDfwAXM2YMRRLP1AhU0-V8dd99Wn_iN6oRz4LClzN-wrf2tYtzCww3oCca2d8oEaB9PxPxnMe_Ri2U-tgK2ZUHGqs5BIVP5kHH0AiKAqHjNG16ypEqNnb_c/s320/OLG.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Lady of Grace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Yesterday was September 8th the day Catholics celebrate the birth of Mary. Now we don't know if it's her 'real' birthday but we celebrate the fact that such a faith-filled follower of Christ was born.<br />
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Recently a distant relative who is an evangelical christian decided to play the "let's go pepper the family nun with irritating questions about a cherished belief" game.<br />
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I say this because I often get stuck at family and other gatherings having to listen to people challenge the beliefs of the Catholic Church. Usually I don't mind and take it as part of the territory.<br />
This recent one kind of got to me because it was at the lunch after the funeral of my oldest brother John. I was a bit numb and having to listen to a someone telling me that we shouldn't pay so much attention to Mary<br />
and why do we anyhow was to say the least trying.<br />
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Well I know some people are so incredibly self centered and lacking in social development they just can't help themselves. Sigh!<br />
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Anyhow I offered up a prayer asking for the Blessed Mother's intercession once again and listened.<br />
After a while I gave my simple little summation about her<br />
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She believed and trusted in God<br />
She gave her life over to God<br />
She gave up her son to God<br />
She believed in Jesus call as the Son of God<br />
Jesus on the Cross gave her to us as our Mother<br />
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He paused about one second, then clearly not having listened, shook his head and started telling me how all these people here we're clueless about the evil in their lives and surely damned, etc. etc. etc.<br />
My response was this was I was putting my money on Jesus the Son of the Living God having overcome all evil. These so-called evil people had been generous enough to come to the Funeral Mass and burial of my brother so I figured they had some link to the goodness of God. At that I excused myself as I could feel my impatience winning out over my numbness. Thanks Blessed Mother for your help once again.<br />
I'm sure glad you're around.Sr. Barbara Mchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10122748507713071316noreply@blogger.com0