My Journey with Thomas Merton

Thomas Merton a photo by jimforest on Flickr.

This Lent I am spending time daily with Lent and Easter, Wisdom from Thomas Merton, compiled by Montaldo at the Merton Institute for Contemplative Living and published by Ligori Press.  There are a number of texts in this series and all are good.  But I chose to start here.  The source of the reflections come form his book of essays Seasons of Celebrations.

Lent is our "Holy Spring" as Catholics and as part of the journey I have been asked to keep a Lenten Journal.  This is the beginning.  Thomas Merton says, "...Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten fast, is a day of happiness, a Christian feast.   It cannot be otherwise, as if forms part of the great Easter cycle...Lent is not a season of punishment so much as one of healing." (pg. 2)

And so I am asked:  "In what ways do you consider Lent to be a 'a season of celebration?'"

As I thought about this I remember my childhood and the Lenten practices we share as family.  There was of course the standard "offering up" of CANDY.  Now we seldom got candy at my house except at Christmas or Easter, but know that I could not have it still instilled in me the focus on what is important in our lives.   OH!  Don't forget, no ice cream.  Yes, ice cream was always in the freezer!  It was and is a celebration!  I celebrated then as now how we did more things as family.  There was evening Bible reading.  Wednesday night was benediction with a short homily and Friday night was the Stations of the Cross.  I really never felt punished during this season, but I was challenged more to behave in a manner that was more charitable.

Today, that challenge to celebrate is considerably more difficult for me.  I don't have Mom and Dad to monitor my journey.  They aren't here to nudge me in the right direction.  I have to rely on my own will to "celebrate" the journey and traditions that bring us to ultimate celebration, the triumph of the cross! I am guided through Holy scripture, taken by the hand and lead to the ultimate celebration at the Resurrection, the Day that saved the world and gained for us all Eternal Salvation!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Lenten Journey with Providence

Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, is the day many celebrate with feasts and celebration before the austerity of Lent begins.  It's been a time for me when I cleanse the house of all the temptations that would cause me to break my Lenten Fast.  That usually means ridding the house of ice cream, cookies, candy, and chocolate.  For you see, I always thought that getting rid of the temptation would allow me to be better able to say, "no" to that which I desire.

This year I had a revelation.  I will not get rid of all those things that tempt me.  I will leave them in place to assure my resolve.  Ice cream is still in the freezer and cookies are still on the shelf, especially all the Girl Scout cookies...

Let the temptation remain.  Through the grace of God and the strength of the Holy Spirit I hope to prevail over these temptations.

"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting my not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." ~Matthew 6: 16-18

So this evening I will have a wonderful dinner just as always, without the usual gluttony that occurs when I try to get eat all the temptation before tomorrow.  I will make every effort to relax, pray, and avoid the temptation that will continue to be there.  This will be my resolve this Lent.  Perhaps, I'll even be more successful in this fast.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

And Valiently She Went Home...

 Sister Mary Alice Zander, SP with 

Sister Mary Mundy, SP at small gathering

of Providence Associates of SW IN

Yesterday a gentle woman of Providence went home.  After suffering from cancer since 2009 she completed her Journey of Providence.  Sister Mary Alice Zander was and will be a model of tenderness, generosity and love.  She showed us how to live with adversity.  She lived her faith in the Almighty.  It has been my privilege to have met her and to have experienced her devotion to discipleship in her work with the Providence Associates.

   Sr. Joanna, Sr Mary Alice, Sr. Mary, Fr. Bernie, Connie, Ann Kevin, Cathy

Sr. Dorothy and Sr. Diane

September, 2010

Let us beg our Lord to choose for us

that which will unite us more closely to him;

and beseech him for the light, the grace, 

the strength we heed to do in all things 

his adorable will.

~Saint Mother Theodore Guerin~

~~^j^~~

Thanks be to God! 

Voice of Wisdom

I will remember how St. Peter, at a blast of wind, began to sink because of his lack of faith, and I will do as he did:  Call upon Christ and pray to him for help.  And then I trust he will place his holy hand on me and in the stormy seas hold me up from drowning.

~Saint Thomas More~

~~~*~~~

If it is true for Saint Peter and St. Thomas More, it will be no different for me.  I too will be lifted up and emboldened.  I will see that all things are possible for those who believe and I will believe.  I will hope!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Thought For the Day

In our daily work, let us practice charity, affection, and humility through the accomplishment of our normal duties, and then let us come to the feet of Jesus with all that.  He will know how to see all, to accept all, and will transform what needs to be improved in us.  

~~Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur~~

So today, I will try to make myself more aware of those around me.  When it is easy to be uncharitable towards another let me respond with kindness and generosity.   And in so doing I will be open to the changes required in me! 

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Wisdom of G. K. Chesterton

This is one of the most recent reflections I have used this Advent Season and I want to share it with you.   It comes from the book, Advent and Christmas, Wisdom from G. K. Chesterton edited by The Center for the Study of . S. Lewis and Friends.

It is commonly in a somewhat cynical sense that Men have said, "Blessed is she that expecteth nothing, for he shall not be disappointed."  It was in a wholly happy and enthusiastic sense that Saint Francis said, "Blessed is he that expecteth nothing, for he shall enjoy everything."  It was by this deliberate idea of starting from zero, from the dark of nothingness of his own deserts, that he did come to enjoy them.  

SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI

The Gift of God

This is what I have seen to be good.  It is fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the tois with which one toils under the sun the few days of the life God gives us; for this is ou lot.  Like wise all to whom God give wealth and possessions and whom he enables to enjoy them, and to accept their lot and find enjoyment in their toil--this is the gift of God.  For they will scarcely brood over the days of their lives,because God keeps them occupied with the joy of their hearts.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

Prayer

Lord, our days are short, but we have done nothing to deserve even the few years of live that you give us.  Teach is to be grateful for small things--food and drink and work--by remembering you servant Saint Francis, who truly expected nothing and enjoyed everything he had.

Advent Action

Each time you sit down to eat today, pause a little long than you normally do.  Meditate on the words from Ecclesiastes,  "it is fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment."  allow yourself to fill with thanks, to be thank-full.

May you all continue to enjoy this  Holy Season and may your Christmas be one of happiness and thanksgiving to our Creator who loves us without end!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

This and other books in this series Advent and Lent are published by Liguori.

Simply Profound!

 Saint Meinrad Archabbey

February, 2010

Simple, yet profound.

A single opinion cannot overturn the unanimous tradition of the
whole Church, which has spread to the ends of the earth.
~Saint John of Damascus~

This is the Church that has the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit as its guide!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!