I spent the day at the Art Institute of Chicago. It's been about 9 years since I was there ... they've built a new wing! I also discovered a new to me painting by Maurce Denis, Easter Mystery. It's the story of the three women going to the tomb after Easter Sunday. If you look in the middle of the picture, you'll see my favorite part is the disembodied hand offering the Eucharist to the white robed folks. Very interesting!
Showing posts with label eucharist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eucharist. Show all posts
6.15.2009
Chicago
I spent the day at the Art Institute of Chicago. It's been about 9 years since I was there ... they've built a new wing! I also discovered a new to me painting by Maurce Denis, Easter Mystery. It's the story of the three women going to the tomb after Easter Sunday. If you look in the middle of the picture, you'll see my favorite part is the disembodied hand offering the Eucharist to the white robed folks. Very interesting!
5.10.2009
my little mystic
I was in Portland this weekend, or more accurately the southern suburbs, for my Godson's first communion. I missed his big brother's big day two years ago, as I was in the novitiate in New Jersey, so I was really glad I was able to drive down this weekend!
On Saturday morning, my friend/his mom asked me if I'd help him make his banner. She said that the first communion teacher at the Parish had encouraged them to have the kids come up with what would be on the banner. My friend is a great mom and took this to heart. She'd made a blank banner with felt and had a variety of colors of adhesive backed felt. All we needed to do was ask Alex what he wanted his banner to say.
I figured I'd need to give him some suggestions or pointers, but when I asked him ... "Alex, what do you want to say on your banner?" he answered without missing a beat ... "Fly to your love. With a picture of an airplane." He seemed pretty sure that this was the message he wanted, and his teacher said they should say whatever they wanted, so we went for it.
Alex drew the airplane and cut out the pattern on silver felt. He picked red for his name and purple for the other letters. His mom and I drew letters on the felt with stencils and helped him cut it out. Alex and I assembled his masterpiece. And masterpiece it was ...
It says so much and comes from the heart. Really, if you think about it, it's almost mystical. And totally captures the meaning of the moment, first communion, when one first receives the body and blood of Christ and remembers that other holy moment, when he loved us so much he died on the cross. Ok, granted, this is all probably above my little Alex's head. But he is such a loving person. And he's oddly connected to the whole God thing.
When I was leaving for the novitiate almost three years ago, Alex and his mom went out to lunch with me on my last day in Portland. Alex would have just turned 5. As he was saying goodbye, he said "Susan, are you going to work for God?" This was one of the better explanations I'd heard for leaving your job as a glorified bureaucrat to become a nun, so I said, "Yes Alex, I'm going to work for God." He thought about it for a minute. "But can't you work for God here? Why do you have to go away?". Again, a good question. "Well, I have to go to school to learn how I can best work for God," I said. "Ok," he said. Satisfied.
He's a good kid. And his banner was by far the most original (and kid created). The others were very nice, with crosses and lambs and hearts and sayings like "Jesus loves Sarah" and "Joey loves God." All wonderful messages and perfect for the day.
My personal favorite though, was by far "fly to your love". I especially love the metallic airplane!
On Saturday morning, my friend/his mom asked me if I'd help him make his banner. She said that the first communion teacher at the Parish had encouraged them to have the kids come up with what would be on the banner. My friend is a great mom and took this to heart. She'd made a blank banner with felt and had a variety of colors of adhesive backed felt. All we needed to do was ask Alex what he wanted his banner to say.
I figured I'd need to give him some suggestions or pointers, but when I asked him ... "Alex, what do you want to say on your banner?" he answered without missing a beat ... "Fly to your love. With a picture of an airplane." He seemed pretty sure that this was the message he wanted, and his teacher said they should say whatever they wanted, so we went for it.
Alex drew the airplane and cut out the pattern on silver felt. He picked red for his name and purple for the other letters. His mom and I drew letters on the felt with stencils and helped him cut it out. Alex and I assembled his masterpiece. And masterpiece it was ...
It says so much and comes from the heart. Really, if you think about it, it's almost mystical. And totally captures the meaning of the moment, first communion, when one first receives the body and blood of Christ and remembers that other holy moment, when he loved us so much he died on the cross. Ok, granted, this is all probably above my little Alex's head. But he is such a loving person. And he's oddly connected to the whole God thing.
When I was leaving for the novitiate almost three years ago, Alex and his mom went out to lunch with me on my last day in Portland. Alex would have just turned 5. As he was saying goodbye, he said "Susan, are you going to work for God?" This was one of the better explanations I'd heard for leaving your job as a glorified bureaucrat to become a nun, so I said, "Yes Alex, I'm going to work for God." He thought about it for a minute. "But can't you work for God here? Why do you have to go away?". Again, a good question. "Well, I have to go to school to learn how I can best work for God," I said. "Ok," he said. Satisfied.
He's a good kid. And his banner was by far the most original (and kid created). The others were very nice, with crosses and lambs and hearts and sayings like "Jesus loves Sarah" and "Joey loves God." All wonderful messages and perfect for the day.
My personal favorite though, was by far "fly to your love". I especially love the metallic airplane!
5.08.2009
A big day
I'm headed down to Portland this weekend for a big day .... my Godson's First Communion! It will be great to see friends who are really like family. But more importantly, I'm so happy to be there for him on this special day, when he first receives the gift of the Eucharist.
And what a gift it is ....
... Jesus
... in our lives, in our hearts
... a gift to feed us and strengthen us on the journey
... to remind us of God's all encompassing love for us
... to call us to love and to serve
... to work for justice for all our brothers and sisters
... shared by millions of Catholics around the globe each day
... bringing us together, in love, in communion with all the Saints who have gone before.
It's pretty amazing when you stop to think about it! Granted, a seven or eight year old can't really grasp all of that. But he still knows it's a special day, and it will hopefully only grow in meaning for him for the rest of his life.
Peace,
Susan
And what a gift it is ....
... Jesus
... in our lives, in our hearts
... a gift to feed us and strengthen us on the journey
... to remind us of God's all encompassing love for us
... to call us to love and to serve
... to work for justice for all our brothers and sisters
... shared by millions of Catholics around the globe each day
... bringing us together, in love, in communion with all the Saints who have gone before.
It's pretty amazing when you stop to think about it! Granted, a seven or eight year old can't really grasp all of that. But he still knows it's a special day, and it will hopefully only grow in meaning for him for the rest of his life.
Peace,
Susan
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