Catherine of Siena on Love

Many years ago I had the opportunity to travel to Siena, Italy.  It was just for a day, on an excursion from Florence.  I was on a whirlwind trip to Europe with my friend Diane--two weeks, four countries, in true American fashion. Most of my time on that trip was spent either taking photographs (with an old fashioned film camera so alas, no digital photos to share) and visiting churches.  In retrospect it's interesting to me that I spent so much time sitting in churches since at the time I was still considering myself an ex-Catholic and wouldn't return to the church until about six months later.  I wonder if a seed wasn't germinating even then.

Given my official agnostic status at the time, I didn't quite realize how cool it was that we were able to visit Siena.  It was a beautiful city.  The black and white marble Cathedral was incredible.  You could taste the history.  What was lost on me was that this was the home of Catherine of Siena, mystic, peacemaker, and Doctor of the Church. Today of course is her Feast Day, and so I thought I would share some of her thoughts on love.

 "In your nature, eternal Godhead, I shall come to know my nature. And what is my nature, boundless Love? It is fire, because you are nothing but a fire of love. And you have given humankind a share in this nature for by the fire of love you created us."

"O God eternal, Oh boundless Love! Your creatures have been wholly kneaded into you and you into us--through creation, through the will's strength, through the fire with which you created us, and through the natural life you gave us."

"The soul cannot live without love. She always wants to love something because love is the stuff she is made of, and through love I created her."

"You are rewarded not according to your work or your time but according to the measure of your love." 

"Love transforms one into what one loves."

Happy Feast Day of St. Catherine!

(quotations from http://www.drawnbylove.com/Quotes.htm)

Graduate School's Detrimental Effect on Blogging

It's been quiet here on the blog front.  Mary Is My Homegirl has an animated explanation for why that is which I'd like to borrow:

EVERYONE OF MY FINAL PAPERS

Next weekend I'm going to have an opportunity to gather with two of my CSJP Sisters to talk about the transformation of religious life at a conference in St. Louis, in the company of lots of other women religious committed to the future of Roman Catholic religious life.  That is awesome. What is not so awesome is that my 15, 20, and 25 page papers are do shortly thereafter and as this gif illustrates, they are a bit of a mess and far from completion.  The conference is 3 days plus travel, hence less time to work on said papers.

A wise Sister friend recently reminded me that I know what I want to say and research is the tool.  I'm working on taking her advice.  So far, so good even if it sometimes feel the way Rachel is so dramatically expressing things. Really, limited time is the only real issue.  But it will get done!

Blogging may be light.  Send good vibes!

Vocations Prayer - Sowing the Seeds of Peace

Today is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

On this day, I pray in deep awe, wonder and gratitude to my good, gracious, and creative God who managed to break through and lead me to finding my heart and mission in the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace.

On this day, I pray in love, friendship and appreciation for the amazing women (pictured below) who have entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace either with me or in the years since.  While I may not know what the future will hold for our world, Church or religious community, I know that I will be walking in the way of peace with these women.

On this day, I pray in hope and solidarity with and for young women who are considering that maybe, just maybe, God might be calling them to religious life.  As I ponder the future of religious life and my congregation, I return again and again to these words from Margaret Anna Cusack, known in religious life as Mother Francis Clare, the founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace.  She said:  "We are beginning a new order.  We want brave, noble, large-minded, courageous souls." Indeed.  These words are just as true today as when she first wrote them.

I also find myself reflecting on the words of Bishop Edward Bagshawe at the first profession of Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in Nottingham England in 1884:  "You will hope, if God blesses your work, to sow the seeds of peace in modern society."

Please join me in praying for our three Novices (Sisters Juliana, Katrina, and Sheena) and our two temporary professed Sisters (Dorothy and Sukyi) as they continue to put down roots and nourish their connections to this mission of peace.  Please pray too for new vocations to help us continue to sow the seeds of peace in a post-modern society that is deeply in need of peace.

God of peace, thank you for your gift of peace and the mission entrusted to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace to promote peace in family life, in the church and in society.  We humbly pray that you nurture the seeds of this charism in the hearts of young women who might be called to vowed membership in our congregation.  May we grow together in love to embody these words from our original Constitutions.   "The very name Sisters of Peace will, it is hoped, inspire the desire of peace and a love for it." Amen.

The Holy Spirit as a Honking Goose

The other day Pope Francis referred in a homily to the way the Spirit sometimes moves us by annoying us. This is often my experience. Today in spiritual direction I shared a bit about my experience of the Spirit as a honking goose. Then I remembered that I wrote about this in the early days of my blog when I was a candidate. So here is my post from New Year's Eve 2005, courtesy of the way back machine that is this blog. Enjoy!

During my quiet reflection time on Christmas Eve, I spent some time with a reflection on the spirituality of CSJP founder Margaret Anna Cusack by Fr. Terry Moran. Margaret Anna was born in Ireland and was deeply nourished by Celtic spirituality. This tidbit in Fr. Moran’s reflection particularly struck me:

“The Celtic symbol for the Holy Spirit is not the gentle breeze, the mild dove but the wild goose! Is that not how God often is made known in our lives, honking and annoying us into fuller life, out of our comfort zones and into risk and relationship?”

I was immediately reminded of a solitary walk I took several years ago, right before my return to the church. It was an unsettled time in my life, and I was struggling to find my way. I do not recall what I was thinking about or contemplating that day, but I vividly remember my encounter with the goose. I was at a City park with beautiful rhododendrons and azaleas, windy paths, quiet benches, and an assortment of water fowl. There was a lake and a beautiful wooden footbridge across it. I started across, got 2/3 of the way, and was confronted by a goose. Honking and charging towards me. Protecting a baby goose no doubt, but determined that I would not make it across. I turned around. But then I noticed that others were making it across the bridge no problem. So I tried again. Got about 3/4 of the way across, and was again confronted by the honking charging goose. I was reminded of the 3 Billy Goats Gruff. I had no intention of tempting the goose a 3rd time. I found another part of the park in which to meander.

I’ve never forgotten that day. I’ve been back to the park since, but have only attempted to cross that particular footbridge when accompanied by friends. Otherwise I stay clear of the bridge of the Billy Goose Gruff.

This New Year’s Eve morning I went to a different park for a morning walk. Lots of good reflection and consolation from God’s wonderful gift of creation. The Pacific Northwest is so beautiful this time of year. Lush and green. On my drive home, however, I remembered my reflection last week and that walk years ago. I found myself driving by the park of the Billy Goose Gruff. And so I parked. And I walked. And I came to the footbridge. Sure enough there were many waterfowl resting and playing in the lake, including an assortment of geese. And at one end of the bridge there was a goose standing guard, observing all that went on. Dare I cross the bridge?

There was not a repeat of the Billy Goose Gruff incident. The goose looked me over, and apparently deemed me no threat. I crossed the bridge, walked around the island, and crossed back with no minor or major incidents.

But by thinking of the goose as a symbol for the Holy Spirit, what does this story tell me? On that Saturday morning many years ago I was not on the right path. I was searching and looking and to be honest ignoring the soft gentle signs. So maybe I needed a loud and honking goose to turn me around and annoy me to finding my way to a fuller life. And now? Risks taken, comfort zones breached, I find myself more at peace and open to where my loving God is calling me. Even if I sometimes find my feathers ruffled.

Interesting to reflect on this last day of the year.

Pacem in Terris - On Refugees

This week, in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Pacem in Terris, this Sister of Peace is going to offer some of John XXIII's words and prayers for peace here on the blog.  Please join me in praying for peace in our troubled and wounded world.

It is not irrelevant to draw the attention of the world to the fact that  refugees are persons and that all their rights as persons must be recognized.  Refugees cannot lose these rights simply because they are deprived of citizenship of their own States. (PT 105)

Pacem in Terris - Common Good of the Entire Human Family

In his landmark encyclical on peace, Pacem in Terris, Pope John XXIII gave special attention to the "characteristics of the present day" and "signs of the times." Almost 20 years after the end of World War II, Pope John witnessed the after effects of centuries of European colonialism.  Newly independent nation states in Asia and Africa were taking initial steps toward economic development and prosperity.  As he observed, "soon no nation will rule over another and none will be subjected to alien power" (PT 42).

Drawing upon the teaching of his predecessor Pope Piux XII that "smaller States have the right of assuring their own economic development," (PT 124) John exhorts wealthier states to provide assistance to poorer states while respecting their national characteristics and repudiating "any policy of domination" (PT 125).

Since relationships between States must be regulated in accordance with the principles of truth and justice, States must further these relationships by taking positive steps to pool their material and spiritual resources. In many cases this can be achieved by all kinds of mutual collaboration; and this is already happening in our own day in the economic, social, political, educational, health and athletic spheres—and with beneficial results. We must bear in mind that of its very nature civil authority exists, not to confine men within the frontiers of their own nations, but primarily to protect the common good of the State, which certainly cannot be divorced from the common good of the entire human family. (PT 98)

Pacem in Terris: Nuclear Weapons

This week marks 50 years since the publication of Pacem in Terris, the landmark encyclical by Pope John XXIII that many consider to be his "last will and testament."  He wrote this major document on peace shortly after the Cuban Missile Crisis, when we came very close to mutually assured destruction.  While we do not commonly dwell on the threat of nuclear war today in the same way we did then, the threat is still very much real and we have the ability to destroy all of God's creation many times over.

This week, in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Pacem in Terris, this Sister of Peace is going to offer some of John XXIII's words and prayers for peace here on the blog.  Please join me in praying for peace in our troubled and wounded world.

Justice, right reason, and the recognition of human dignity cry out insistently for a cessation to the arms race.  The stock-piles of armaments which have been built up in various countries must be reduced all around and simultaneously by the parties concerned.  Nuclear weapons must be banned. (PT #112)

Pacem in Terris - On Refugees

This week, in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Pacem in Terris, this Sister of Peace is going to offer some of John XXIII's words and prayers for peace here on the blog.  Please join me in praying for peace in our troubled and wounded world.

It is not irrelevant to draw the attention of the world to the fact that  refugees are persons and that all their rights as persons must be recognized.  Refugees cannot lose these rights simply because they are deprived of citizenship of their own States. (PT 105)

John XXIII's Last Will & Testament - Peace on Earth

This week marks 50 years since the publication of Pacem in Terris, the landmark encyclical by Pope John XXIII that many consider to be his "last will and testament."  He wrote this major document on peace shortly after the Cuban Missile Crisis, when we came very close to mutually assured destruction.  In fact, he had acted as a sort of "middle man" between Khruschev and Kennedy during the crisis so he had time to reflect on the urgent need to promote and seek peace.  Pacem in Terris is also the first papal encyclical addressed to all people of good will, rather than just to the Bishops and clergy or people of the Catholic Church.  This strikes me as very significant and again I suspect comes from his own experience.  After all, this is the man who called the Second Vatican Council and opened wide the windows of the Church on the modern world.

This week, in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Pacem in Terris, this Sister of Peace is going to offer some of John XXIII's words and prayers for peace here on the blog.  Please join me in praying for peace in our troubled and wounded world.

“The consequence is clear; people are living in the grip of constant fear.  They are afraid that at any moment the impending storm may break upon them with horrific violence. And they have good reasons for their fear, for there is certainly no lack of such weapons.”  (PT 111)

Breaking Through ... or more thoughts on Jesus as a superhero

Here's a golden oldie repost, courtesy of the way back machine that is this blog.  It comes from my canonical novitiate days.  Even if I find myself in a different space these days, it's fitting given today's Gospel reading is the same! 

Most Sunday mornings I gather with a group that shares our reflections on the readings. I didn't share anything this morning, but I was really struck per usual by the depth of people's insights. One gentleman shared that the story of Thomas in today's Gospel always speaks to him, as for him doubt is part of faith. Part of his doubts, he said, are in God's unconditional love and the ever presence of God. I must admit that this is something I've been known to struggle with as well - at those hard moments, when loved ones are suffering, when my world seems to be falling apart or I seem to be falling apart, or even when everything seems to be going along ok. For me too, I suppose, doubt is linked to faith. The doubts lead to questions, which as someone else pointed out, lead to clarity.

This same gentleman also pointed out something that I'd almost forgotten ...Jesus breaks through the locked door to bring peace to the apostles who are gathered in fear.

On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

If Jesus can break through the literal locked door, Jesus can break through my internal locked doors. One thing I've been discovering this year - and it's been one of my major unbloggables - is my own persistent resistance to God, to Jesus, to love. But yet I believe, and so I ask my brother, my friend, my savior to help my unbelief. Break through those barriers.

This thought process in turn reminded me of a slightly sacriligeous post I wrote this time last year. I'll include part of it below, along with the cartoon character Jesus I created to go along with it:


Who can walk on water and into locked rooms? It's Super Jesus!He can walk on water.He can heal the sick and bring the dead back from life.He can walk through walls and into locked rooms.He can bring peace where there is none, and pretty much anything else you can imagine. ‘Cause he’s Super Jesus.


2013 ADDENDUM
I have to add two images to this post.

The first is a painting here at CTU:

The second is from our CSJP Constitutions, courtesy of our Facebook page:

(don't both look like a Jesus who could walk through walls?!)

My Life as A Grad Student ... in animated gif form

We are approaching the home stretch of the Spring Semester, which translates in my life into a realization that I only have five weeks or so to get four rather large papers from concept to finished product, plus a few presentations, other assignments and readings.  Here's a pictoral representation of what I like to call "grad school problems," from Mary is My Homegirl.  Sometimes pictures (or animated pictures!) speak larger than words.

After I scheduled the next four weeks to include writing one paper each weekend or "When I Plan To Write An Entire Paper in One Weekend"

While trying to get the rest of my regular homework done or "The Semester is Winding Down & The Assigned Readings Has Nothing To Do With My Final Paper. Do I Do The Reading?"

And what I'm really trying to avoid or "When I Get Behind on Prepping for My Final Papers"