Margaret Anna Fridays: On Hospitality

It's a tradition on this blog to share some words of wisdom and inspiration on Fridays from the founder of my religious community, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace.  Known in religion as Mother Francis Clare, Margaret Anna Cusack was a prolific writer in her day. Given that our Chapter Call at our recent Congregation Chapter centered on hospitality, I thought I'd share her reflection on the Gospel story of Emmaus when the two disciples invited the traveller (Jesus), to sit with them at table.

1st Prelude. - Represent to yourself the room where Jesus reclines at table with His favoured hosts. 

2nd Prelude. - Pray that sweet Jesus may often visit you thus, and, reclining in the home of your heart, give you Himself, the living Bread. 

1st Point. - The faithful disciples not only constrain Jesus to abide with them, they also offer Him hospitality. Alas! even when we have constrained Him to abide with us, do we not too often forget His presence, and not only fail to offer Him the best we have, but sometimes even refuse Him what He asks for? How can we expect to know Him 'in the breaking of the bread,' if we have not entertained Him with the feast of sacrifice? How can we expect that He will manifest Himself to us at table, if we have not carefully prepared for His entertainment? Let us learn from the disciples how to invite Jesus, and how to entertain Him when we have invited Him. They invite Him by earnestness, and they entertain Him by love. 

2nd Point. - The disciples find Jesus in the ordinary duties of life. If we only sought for Him as we should do in these duties, how blessedly we should find Him! Then, indeed, we should truly know Him in the 'breaking of bread;' then our hearts would be constantly expecting it. What duty has He not hallowed? what employment has He not sanctified? If we walk, we may unite our steps to the steps of Jesus--at Passiontide, to His suffering steps; at Easter, to His glorified steps; at Christmas, to His infant steps; and in the long weeks of Pentecost, to His weary steps. If we think, we may unite our thoughts to His suffering thoughts, His infant thoughts, His glorified thoughts. If we sleep, we may unite our sleep to His sleep in Mary's arms, His sleep in the boat on the Sea of Galilee, or to His last sleep on earth. Why do we not unite our life to His life? It is our privilege; it should be our consolation and our only joy. 

3rd Point. - Consider how we may glorify the risen Heart of Jesus manifesting Himself at table. May we not try to do so in two ways? First, by endeavoring to unite ourself to the like actions of Jesus in every duty and employment, and by seeking to find Him and converse with Him in all; and secondly, by seeking to know Him 'in the breaking of bread.' Jesus is our life. He gives Himself to us in the Sacrament of the altar, and He has said Himself, 'he that eateth Me, same also shall live by Me.' (S. John, vi, 58.) This, then, is our life. Oh, let us seek it; let us love it; let us live on it; and seek more and more, in receiving it, that we may be incorporated into it, until, like the apostle, we may say, 'I live, yet not I, but Christ who liveth in me.' 

Aspiration. - Body of my risen Jesus, be my life. 

~M.F. Cusack, Meditations for Advent and Easter (1866)

Margaret Anna Fridays - Chapter Edition

It's a tradition on this blog to share some words of wisdom and inspiration on Fridays from the founder of my religious community, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace.  Known in religion as Mother Francis Clare, Margaret Anna Cusack was a prolific writer in her day. 150 CSJP Sisters and Associates are gathering outside Seattle, Washington today for our Congregation Chapter. Over the next week and a half we will be pondering our future and making decisions that take us deeper and wider in response to the challenge of peace. Given that, I thought these words were more than appropriate!

Let us begin to-day, let us begin now. We may expect many failures, we shall meet with many difficulties; but our failures will not become less by waiting nor our difficulties less by delay.

No doubt Mother Francis Clare and all our Sisters who have gone before us will be cheering us on from heaven during these days of Chapter. 

Please keep us in your prayers as well.

Margaret Anna Fridays: Preachers of Peace

It's a tradition on this blog to share some words of wisdom and inspiration on Fridays from the founder of my religious community, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace.  Known in religion as Mother Francis Clare, Margaret Anna Cusack was a prolific writer in her day. 

Christianity, being a religion of peace, its disciples were necessarily preachers of peace, hence the first effort in any country was to reconcile quarrels, to compose differences, and to avert wars. The peaceful arts came to be cultivated when they came to be honored; and war, except for a just cause, to be looked upon as evil, and not as glory.         ~M.F. Cusack, History of City and County of Cork, 1875

Margaret Anna Friday: On misery

Most Fridays I'm going to share a quote from the founder of my religious community, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare.

"The nations are involved in misery, their countries are desolated, their families are ruined, their blood is poured forth on every side. And why? Because the teachings of the All-merciful are condemned, are neglected, are forgotten, and men who have boasted of their advancement in science are at fault, are unable to maintain the common rights of man, because they have not cared to learn the sublime lessons of political economy taught them by the Creator and Savior of the world."
~MF Cusack, Book of the Blessed Ones, 1874

Margaret Anna Fridays - Personal, Prompt, and Practical Action

It's been a while since Margaret Anna Fridays have appeared on the blog.  Reviving the tradition, most Fridays, I’m going to share a quote from the founder of my groovy sisters, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. Here is today's installment:

The trouble is that poverty in the aggregate touches no one’s heart; it is no one’s business; the consideration of the matter is put off as too much of an outside question to need personal, prompt, and practical action.-The Question of Today: Anti-Poverty and Progress, Labor and Capital, M.F. Cusack, 1887

Happy Founders Day!

Today is Founders Day, a special day in our Congregation. Our founder Mother Clare (Margaret Anna Cusack), died on June 5, 1899. To celebrate Founders Day, I'd like to share with you this excerpt from The Nun of Kenmare, her autobiography, recounting her audience with Pope Leo XIII on the founding of the new order, St. Joseph's Sisters of Peace:

My audience [with Pope Leo XIII] was entirely private, as I did not require an interpreter. Mgr. Macchi brought in the whole set of my books to his holiness, who looked at them, I think somewhat surprised at the number. Some of them were duplicated, having been translated into German, French, and Italian. ...

His holiness specially commended the plan of my new order, and encouraged me in every way to continue writing. He gave his blessing to all the sisters present and to come, and to all those who would contribute to my work. I cannot forget his paternal and affectionate kindness, and the sympathy he expressed for the troubles I had gone through. My last audience was a public one, and at this the Holy Father noticed me specially, and spoke to those who were standing around, explaining to them in a few words that we were Sisters of Peace, and the object of our work.
~M. F. Cusack, The Nun of Kenmare, 1889

Margaret Anna Cusack is an historical figure, a remarkable woman, and an amazing spiritual friend. This Founders Day, I invite you to visit the "Our Roots"section of the CSJP website to learn more about her and our other pioneer Sisters.

• Brief story of our History and our Founder
• Watch a more in depth version of her story in a video created by my novitiate class
• Read many of her books online--the same ones that surprised Pope Leo XIII
• Listen to oral histories of some of our pioneer sisters
• Read other stories of pioneer sisters

Margaret Anna Fridays

I am getting back into the groove of Margaret Anna Fridays, even if blogging has been light as I try to balance school, community, and family commitments. This blog feature is a favorite where I share some words of wisdom from the founder of my religious community, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. She was a prolific writer, with more than 200,000 copies of her works in circulation by 1870. This week's installment is from her seminal (and controversial) 1887 book, The Question of Today: Anti-Poverty and Progress. She asks many challenging questions in this work, including:

We are, then, put face to face with the great fact of Poverty, we are put face to face with the certain consequences of the continuance of such a condition of things, and if we have one spark of humanity we are put face to face with the question, What can we do personally and individually to lessen poverty, if we cannot abolish it?

Margaret Anna Fridays

It's Friday, and it has been a while since I have run an installment of Margaret Anna Fridays, where I share some words of wisdom from the founder of my religious community, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. She was a prolific writer, with more than 200,000 copies of her works in circulation by 1870. This week's installment is from her seminal (and controversial) 1887 book, The Question of Today: Anti-Poverty and Progress. She asks an insightful question, and one which our current Pope seems to be asking us daily:

Which are we to have, the real Christianity taught by Christ Himself, with all its sacrifices, or modern Christianity, which makes the way of life easy for the rich and cruelly hard for the poor? - MF Cusack

Go to Joseph - St. Joseph's Day

Wednesday is St. Joseph's Day, a special Feast Day for my religious community, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace.  As our CSJP Constitutions say:

From the beginning of the congregation
Joseph was chosen as our patron
because he is a model of peace.
His courage to live a life of faith
inspires us to trust in God's abiding love
especially in times of struggle and uncertainty.  

As I reflected on this blog a while back: "We certainly live in times of struggle and uncertainty on a  grand scale, and each of us in our own lives may also face certain struggles and weariness from time to time.  And so did Joseph.  I'm spending some special time walking with Joseph these days, and invite you to do the same."

When Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare, founded the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in 1884, she chose Joseph as our patron because he is a model of peace.  In her words: "No doubt we may point to St. Joseph as the great model of every virtue, but it would seem as if peace was his crowning grace."

When I find myself in times of struggle or uncertainty, I go to Joseph, model of peace. I had a recent experience of this, today on the vigil of his feast day in fact, and all I can say is, Joseph had my back. I felt his peaceful presence, his commitment to family, and his trust in God's abiding love.

To celebrate this day, I made a video prayer reflection a while ago, set to "Joseph, Better You than Me" by the Killers (featuring Elton John and Neil Tennant).  Enjoy ... and remember to "Go to Joseph."

Facing the Future With Gratitude and Hope

Chapel at St. Barnabas Cathedral 
where 1st Sisters of Peace
professed vows in 1884

Today is the 130th Birthday of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. We celebrate January 7th as our "Community Day of Thanksgiving" because 130 years ago today our first Sisters professed their vows in St. Barnabas Cathedral. Our Constitutions tell our founding story well ...

In 1884 in Nottingham, England,under the inspiration of the Spirit, Margaret Anna Cusack, known as Mother Clare, founded a religious congregation of women... to promote the peace of the Church both by word and work. The very name Sisters of Peace will, it is hoped, inspire the desire of peace and a love for it. - Constitutions 1884 

This congregation had its origin in the founder's response to the social concerns and needs of the time. Deeply moved by the sufferings of poor and oppressed people, Margaret Anna Cusack sought ways to share her gifts with them:... it did matter to me a great deal in view of our common humanity, and in view of my love of the poor, that I should do all I could for those whom He had loved so well. - The Nun of Kenmare, 1888 

Attracted by this commitment, Honoria Gaffney, later named Mother Evangelista, together with a few other women,joined the new community. Their faith and humility enabled them to take great risks in serving their sisters and brothers in need. Edward Gilpin Bagshawe, Bishop of Nottingham, accepted and encouraged this young community.

At the first ceremony of profession on January 7, 1884, he referred to the charism of the congregation in these words: To secure this divine peace for ourselves and procure its blessings for [others] in the midst of the sin, turmoil, and restless anxiety of this modern world is the object of your institute.

When I was a novice, I was lucky enough to visit St. Barnabas Cathedral and pray in the very chapel where our first Sisters professed their vows. I know that Mother Clare, Mother Evangelista, Bishop Bagshawe and all our Sisters and Associates who have gone before us are praying with us as we continue on the journey of seeking peace in our restless and anxious world. 

We face the future with gratitude and hope!

Margaret Anna Fridays - Advent Reflections

M.F. Cusack, Mediations for

Advent & Easter, 1866

Most Fridays I am going to share some words of wisdom from the founder of my religious community, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare.

Peace is the beatitude of heavenly wisdom, and spiritual consolation is its special reward. If we have only one end in view, and if that end is God, we shall never be disturbed, our peace will be continual and abiding. 

Margaret Anna Fridays - Advent Reflections

M.F. Cusack, Mediations for
Advent & Easter, 1866

Most Fridays I am going to share some words of wisdom from the founder of my religious community, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare.

Consider the gentleness of this Infant King. He comes as the Prince of peace. Oh! surely we will endeavor to drive all His enemies far away. ... Surely, from very love of His infant gentleness, we will use every effort to prepare our hearts for His reign, and we shall take care that He rules undisturbed.

Margaret Anna Fridays - Advent Reflections

M.F. Cusack, Meditations for
Advent & Easter  1866

Most Fridays I am going to share some words of wisdom from the founder of my religious community, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare.

Hence it is that those who are most devout to Mary know Jesus best. The see Him with and in her light, and her light in His ... She sees all things in the light of the Sun of justice, for He abides in her. 

Margaret Anna Fridays

Most Fridays I am going to share some words of wisdom from the founder of my religious community, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare.

We are beginning a new Order. We want brave, noble, large-minded, courageous souls, and six such souls are of far more value than sixty selfish, self-seeking novices whose first idea is for themselves, and whose second idea is for themselves, and whose third and fourth and fifth idea is for themselves, and who let God and good of souls come in last in a heavy hearted way. 

(Mother Francis Clare to the new community, 1887)

Interestingly and perhaps not surprisingly, we usually only quote the first bit! 

Margaret Anna Fridays

Most Fridays I am going to share some words of wisdom from the founder of my religious community, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. Today's Installment is from her Book of the Blessed Ones written in 1874:

We read in the holy gospels that “Jesus went about all Galilee teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing all manner of sickness, and every infirmity among the people” (St. Matt. iv. 23). And we also, my pilgrim friends, may go about the Galilee of this world, and preach “the gospel of the kingdom.” It is a gospel of peace, it is a gospel of love, it is a gospel of mercy; it is a gospel for the poor, for the little ones, who live near to the Heart of God.

Margaret Anna Fridays

Most Fridays I am going to share some words of wisdom from the founder of my religious community, Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare. Today's Installment is from her Book of the Blessed Ones written in 1874:

Let us begin to-day, let us begin now. We may expect many failures, we shall meet with many difficulties; but our failures will not become less by waiting nor our difficulties less by delay. Let us also have courage, and persevere. At first the rude or unthankful answer will come out, but remember a first step is gained if we see
even afterwards that we have been rude, or unthankful, or uncourteous. It is a great step. It is a step to thank God for, and to make us take courage. According as we correspond with one grace, our dear Lord will give us another. We ascend the height of sanctity by steps, and a step gained is worth more to our poor souls than if the whole wealth of earth were poured fourth at our feet.
-M.F. Cusack, Book of the Blessed Ones

Margaret Anna Fridays

Most Fridays I will share a quote from the from the founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, Margaret Anna Cusack (known in religion as Mother Francis Clare, published as M.F. Cusack).  Today's installment:

The Christianity taught by the apostles was no hazy theory of belief. If it had been, the world would not have been converted by it, and men would not have died for it. - M.F. Cusack, Women's Work in Modern Society

Margaret Anna Friday

Most Fridays I will share a quote from the from the founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, Margaret Anna Cusack (known in religion as Mother Francis Clare, published as M.F. Cusack).  Today's installment:

We are, then, put face to face with the great fact of Poverty, we are put face to face with the certain consequences of the continuance of such a condition of things, and if we have one spark of humanity we are put face to face with the question, What can we do personally and individually to lessen poverty, if we cannot abolish it?~The Question of Today, Anti-Poverty & Progress

Margaret Anna Friday

I'm reviving an oldie but good feature on the blog, Margaret Anna Fridays.  Most Fridays I will share a quote from the founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, Margaret Anna Cuasck (known in religion as Mother Francis Clare, published as M.F. Cusack).  This week's installment:

... in some way or another, in some real, actual manner, we must minister to God's poor if we expect God's blessing.  All we need is a little inclination.  It is impossible for even the most wealthy not to come at times in contact with poverty, and thus to have the opportunity of personal ministration to the poor.
~Jesus and Jerusalem, or the Way Home

Founders Day

Today is a feast day in my religious congregation. In 1899 on this day, our founder Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religion as Mother Francis Clare, breathed her last.

It was a blessing to join with our CSJP Congregation Novitiate community today to celebrate this special day. This morning we prayed a special prayer in our office book for Margaret Anna. It was moving and I felt her presence. Sister Alexine, my former London housemate and now congregation novice director, created a lovely prayer space in the chapel.

This afternoon we went out for a celebratory feast day meal before I headed on a train back to Birmingham for the first leg of my journey back to Chicago.

These two week with our CSJP UK region has been very special. The time has both flown by and yet not. Perhaps it is all the deep conversations and renewed connections that contribute to that quality. In any case, my visit is almost over. Hopefully I will not have to wait another six years to come back to this side of the pond.