Choose life

Behold I set before you the blessing and the curse...  Deuteronomy  11:26

Choose life!  What does that mean for one who desires to spend this season of Lent aspiring to wholeness and holiness.   Perhaps some time of prayer and silence can lead us to a deeper appreciation and determination to remove from our live, our hearts, our schedules, our list of things to do... to embrace only those things that will give us  life.   I am going to make this choice... when asked to do something, I will choose to pause, ask for time to pray about it, and embrace only those things where I will experiencelife, not death---feelings of have to, guilt, responsbility I will discard.  Now I know some things that we think are death turn out to be very lifegiving. Anywhat, I choose life!

What about you?  Is there something in your life that you need to do to choose life?  Lent is not something we do for ourselves alone, was the message of my Ash Wednesday homily.   Let's do it together--- choose life! 

How to remain faithful

The journey of Lent 2012 begins today with Ash Wednesday.  Much to ponder about how to get to Easter fully resurrected with Christ.  The Paschal Mystery is necessary.  I invite you to reflect with me on this holy season of Lent by praying with this poem by Lynn Ungar.

What will you give up for the season

to help life along

in its curious reversals?

As if we had a choice.
As if the world constantly shedding us
like the feathers off a duck's back--
the ground is always littered with our longings.

You can't help but wonder
about all the heroes, the lives sacrified
in the compulsion toward the good.

All those who dropped themselves

upon the earth's hard surface--

Weren't they caught in pure astonishment

in the breath before they shattered?

Forget sacrifice.
Nothing is tied so firmly that the wind

won't tear it from us at last.

The question is how to remain faithful
to all the impossible,

necessary resurrections.

-Lynn Ungar

Astonishment better than information

"Overexplanation separates us from astonishment."  - Eugene Ionesco

Have you ever had the experience of being asked a question and found yourself expounding and suddenly realize that the answer is really discover in the person's own inner experience?   I think we need less people with answers and more people with the skill of leading others to transformation and astonishment!  You know many words are just that-- intellectual words or coziness.  D. H. Lawrence, a British-American author, once said that "the world fears a new experience more than anything because a new expeience displaces so many old experiences."  Ideas are not a problem, they are easily discounted and dodged. But a true inner experience is something else.  It changes us and far be it from me to delight or welcome change!  Astonishment is an invitatin to see with new eyes.  May I suggest that you use less words today and be open to moments of astonishment! 

Make a good choice today!

Being chosen by God seems attractive, but God’s choice is less entitlement to special favors and more being selected for a commission—given a job to do. God does not usually choose as we might. We find God picking, for example, David, the runt of the litter; Mary, an unknown girl from Nazareth;  you and me, stubbling weak sinners.. This day try to be aware of how you make choices: how you will treat a troublesome co-worker or that driver who is tailgating or how gentle, helpful, hurtful or honest you will be. Like God, who chose you to be one in Christ, make decisions based on what is inside the other—and who dwells within you. Choose Christ and be get free!  May you have a blessed day and be a blessing for another!

In gratitude for SISTERS and BROTHERS

WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE
The Church established a special day to recognize the gift of consecrated life to our world. We pray for and give thanks to the men and women who publicly profess to live the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Monks, hermits, contemplatives, and religious priests, sisters, and brothers represent the diversity of consecrated life recognized by the church. Those who choose this life are committed to imitating Christ, engaging in his ministries of spreading the Good News, and showing that “the world can be transfigured with the spirit of the beatitudes” (Catechism 932). Their witness reminds all of us that our lives have purpose and meaning beyond this age, their lives also draw attention to how we live our present days wisely.

Take the time to recall a person who witnessed consecrated life in your journey of faith and drop them a written note of gratitude for their witness! 




“

Remain in harmony, united together....

Yesterday, forty-seven Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph gathered at the Immaculate Parish in Owensboro to pray with the faith community for vocations to consecrated life.  The prayer of adoration from noon to five in the evening was a welcome space in my heart to savor time before the Blessed Sacrament.    The time concluded with beautiful, sacred vespers with the faith community of the Immaculate Parish. We, the Ursuline Sisters were asked to lead part of the vesper prayer with the singing  of the Magnificat. 

Following the prayer time, the parish had prepared a delicious feast with a menu that would make you salivate, a delightful and scrumptious feast!  A wonderful part of the evening was being appreciated as expressed so sincerely by one of the parishioners who served us.  She said, "Sister Lois Lindle was my first grade teacher and I adored her!  I truly adored her!"  We love and adore you too Lois!  

As we concluded we parted pausing to recall the words of our founder, Saint Angela Merici. "Remain in harmony, united together, all of one heart and one will...See, then, how important is this union and concord; so, long or it, pursue it, embrace it, hold on to it with all your might..." 

Make time for wonder

“Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give us an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give us an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
― Thomas Aquinas

Today in the church we honor the patron of schools, colleges, and students. I have always been inspired and fascinated by Aquinas. Following his example I recognize that it is so important to read,  pray, study and learn and never give in to the fear of asking questions.

Still another favorite quote for me from Aquinas, " Wonder is the desire of knowledge."  Feed your wonder today and everyday!

Following Saint Angela Merici's lead...

Where Angela Has Led Us--- by Sister Marie William Blyth,osu

Saint Angela, native Italian,
but also a world-wide citizen,
has led us and even now still leads.
Her daughters and sons from every land
follow her to many frontiers.
Her call to meet the needs of the times,
still re-echoes to our present day.

She ever challenged the status quo,
far-sighted in Renaissance time.
Obstacles of church and society
were met and handled with steadfast faith,
a virtue passed on to each of us.
No matter the circumstance or place,
Ursulines follow in her footsteps.

Foundations, missions are everywhere,
her charism spreading the message.
Sisters, Associates, laity
exemplify her deep faithfulness.
Whether we live east, west, north or south,
we are enveloped in her spirit
and give glory to God alone.

Rejoice, for we are highly favored
to be part of such a family.
This legacy is a rare treasure
to be shared with every generation.
all who have gone before urge us on.
Hear her call now to find ways and means
to lead others to this heritage.    
                                       8-2008

in eternity just a moment away

Wherever a beautiful soul has been, there is a trail of beautiful memories.

This week  I lost a dear, cherished friend in community.  As I journeyed with her these last few months, weeks, days, and minutes, I received much grace.  You see it is a kind of purification to watch someone you love suffer and let go.  The paschal mystery was so evident in her death.  Unless a seed falls to the ground and dies....  I had been praying a song by David Haas-- Take me Home-- I thought I was praying it for her, but actually in hindsight, it was more for me, in allowing myself to let go and release her.  The words to the song and my prayer express it so most eloguently as my attempts to express this experience of letting go of Laney are so inadequate.  It is comforting to remember "in eternity, you  are just a moment away, only a moment."

Take me Home to your dwelling place, in Your sweet embrace, ready to hold me, in your arms, take me home to your loving eyes, with You alone I'll  rise, singing forever in Your arms, take me home.

 O my God, you've led me through it all, through all my hurt and my shame. 

 O my God, I traveled far to meet You, to see Your face, and call upon Your name.

With You all pain is left behind, no sorrow or death on that day. 

O my God, how I've longed to know Your love,

come wipe my tears and take my fear away.

O my God, the road is long and hard. Open Your heart, come to me. 

God with You my sorrow turns to dancing.

Reach out Your hand and set my spirit free.

Take me Home to Your dwelling place, in Your sweet embrace, ready to hold me,  in Your arms. Take me home to Your loving eyes, with You alone I'll rise, singing forever in Your arms take me home.--David Hass

Are all sisters nuns?

Last evening, I travel to Louisville, Kentucky to address the parish religious education program of Saint Athanasius youth, grades 4-8 on vocations.  I shared the stage with Friar Paul from Mount Saint Francis.  The plan was to address vocations from the aspect of our baptismal call and share our vocation story which we did.  After both Friar Paul and I exhausted our agenda, we hosted questions.   Now, those of you who know me well, know that for many years, I have tried to clarify that I am not a nun but a sister.  The parish staffs where I have ministered, the children and youth I have taught, and my family know this for sure.   However, I did not bring up the question last night.  Friar Paul clarified, that monks and nuns are cloistered and brother, friars and sisters are not. Which stirred their interest immediately.  What is the difference between a nun and a sister?  I was ready for that question.

Both nuns and sisters are women religious and have responded to the call of consecrated life. Both use the title Sister, and both profess vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.  However, there are differences. 

Nuns belong to religious orders and live in monasteries.  Sisters belong to congregations.  When sisters live in community, they live in convents. Nuns take solemn vows of poverty, meaning they cannot acquire property. sisters take simple vows of poverty, meaning they can acquire property but not use it for their own purposes. 

Nuns usually live in monasteries, and their primary work is prayer.  If they do another type of work, it does not usually involve leaving the monastery.  Orders of nuns incude the Passionists Nuns, the Poor Clare Nuns, Benedictian Nuns and the Redemptoristine Nuns.

Sisters are usually apostolic, dedicating their lives to professions such as teaching, nursing, or missionary works.  They are not bound to work or live only in the place they reside.  Orders of sisters include Ursuline Sisters, Charity Sisters, Franciscan Sisters, School Sisters of Notre Dame and Sisters of Mercy.

Both sisters and nuns do important work in our church. Whether in cloistered monasteries or in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, homeless shelters, mission lands, or thousands of other places and work, both build up the reign of God.  Both have responded generously to the call of consecrated life.

Thus Ursuline Sisters are not nuns, although they have been know to say they are, they are canonically not nuns.  So, you were not taught by the Nuns, you were taught by the Sisters!  End of sermon, I mean lesson!

An interesting and proud moment from the evening was I was greeted warmly by Debbie Minton, director, who travel to Brescia, Italy with our own Ursuline Sister George Mary Hagan.   She was radiate as she spoke about seeing Saint Angela Merici and visiting  the home of Angela where she slept on the floor.  However, what most touched her heart she told the youth was that a woman in 1535 recognized that women and children did not have the opportunity to learn and Angela gather other women around her to address this great need.  At that moment, among many other times in sharing the face of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph as Director of Vocation Ministry, I was very proud to be a daughter of Angela Merici!

Turn off the distractions

On the feast of Saint Anthony of the Desert,  I am aware that there has been, almost from the beginning, a way of following Christ that draws the believer away from busyness, away from noise, away from the sense stimulation that many experts say we are becoming addicted.  We respond reflexively not to what is most important in life but to the latest signal, beep, buzz, or ringtone to impinge upon our consciousness. Few of us have a desert at hand where we can retreat and listen to the still, small voice of God, but perhaps there is a park, an inviting space outdoors, a chapel, a parked car with the radio off that can offer a chance for contemplation, for quietly considering the things that really matter.

George Bernard Shaw would have been a fan of Saint Anthony of the Desert.  Shaw says, "Choose silence of all virtues, for by it you hear another's imperfections, and conceal your own. "  Pray for the courage to know when to speak and the grace to know when to remain silent.

Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/silence_2.html#ixzz1jkPZUjKr

Getting head and heart right

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY

“One day we will learn that the heart can never be totally right if the head is totally wrong.” The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote that in his book Strength to Love in 1963. He underscored the necessity of taking responsibility for the formation of our consciences—including informing our consciences through ongoing education even after formal classroom days are behind us. After all, integrity doesn’t mean simply holding to your principles and actions in tandem with each other. You have to be sure, first of all, that your convictions are tied to more than your preferences, biases, and opinions! To be tethered to true north, reflect on scripture daily.

What a challenge! I have a great admiration for Rev. King Jr. for in the midst of his challenges, I was an eleven year old child and I was moved by his convictions, courage, and dream!  For so many he was the voice that cried out from oppression, following his conscience and deep faith.  It has been a long journey, and I am reminded of this when I feel that things are moving so slowly.  Transformation comes from pain and courage, and for this lesson I thank you Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

WHO'S CALLING?

This Sunday's scripture readings included two of my favorites--the call of Samuel and the call of Peter. I was particularly struck this time by the fact that both calls were mediated in some way by other persons. Samuel needed a wise spiritual guide to help him understand that his call was from God (I resolved then and there to make my first appointment with my new spiritual director here in NYC)!

And for the first time I noticed the "chain call" required to get Peter where he belonged: John the Baptist recognized Jesus, and pointed him out to two of his own disciples. One (Andrew) passed on the call to his brother Cephas, and the rest is history. It renewed my awareness and gratitude for all the calls that have been made clear to me by other people--most recently the powerful call I felt to this new ministry, in service with the religious NGOs at the United Nations. Sometimes we need help actually hearing the call, or just have to be reassured that the call is real, and that we have what it takes to follow it (especially when the going gets tough).

This latest call is taking me into new territory, away from blogging, so this will be my last one for the foreseeable future. But I want to thank you for traveling with me on this journey of discovery, as I blogged my way through this past year of transition. Thank you for your support and kind responses. Hope there are some other bloggers out there who would like to take up the torch, and share their stories! God bless all, and may your own calls be very clear.

I will take our community love and greetings to the New Rochelle Ursulines, where I am spending a day of celebration for Saint Angela's feast day...

Sister Cheryl's insight on vocations

Awareness of vocations and the significance of each vocation whether it is the vocation to married life, single life, conscerated life or ordained ministry is needed in the Church today. I recognize in the lives of those around me that each is good and holy. I invite you to read Sister Cheryl Clemons, osu thoughts.

http://www.icatholic.org/article/all-catholics-incur-the-call-to-a-vocation-8523560

Be attentive, be aware, listen

"Speak Lord, your servant is listening."

This week is Vocation Awareness Week and I had the opportunity to visit with my sisters in community in Kansas.  Besides being in Kansas for the first time, which was thrilling enough, I was warmly greeted and welcomed by students at Bishop Miege Catholic High School on Tuesday. 

The schedule for the day allowed me to speak in all the Junior and Senior Theology classes and a few underclass groups.  I enjoyed sharing my story and encouraging them to give as much prayer and energy to choosing their vocation as they are their career.  They were very attentive and seem to understand why an awareness of a vocation is important. It was quite an enjoyable and exhausting day of interacting with twelve classes. 

In the last Senior class, I made a comment about, " I stand before you today to assure you that the vocation to be a consecrated religious woman in the Church today is fulfilling."  One of the Senior guys raised his hands and asked, " Sister Martha, are you happy?"  I said, "Yes, I really am!"  At that point he gave me the greatest compliment!  " It shows!  You look very happy and joyful!  Do you think all sisters are joyful?"   I found that to be an interesting comment and question.  In fact, in several of my presentations I had mentioned that it was the joy that I witnessed when I visited the Ursuline Sisters that stood out for me, and I wanted what they had--joy!

Through that young man's observation I was affirmed once again to joyful live my call to be Ursuline. Perhaps that was the great vocation effort I have done all year. Speak Lord for I am listening.   Once again I am reminded that God often speaks through our experiences and through others. 

The greatest vocation effort -- radiate your love for your call and joy wherever you are!  

The start of something BIG

FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD; NATIONAL VOCATION AWARENESS WEEK BEGINS

“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing.”

When Jesus presented himself for baptism, the stakes got higher: He saw the heavens open and heard a voice proclaim him the beloved Son of God. His public ministry began immediately afterward. The sacrament of Baptism also calls the followers of Christ to something big: service. Today begins National Vocation Awareness Week, a time to think about how you will live out your call to greatness—in your chosen vocation or in the vocation you are still contemplating. By your baptism you were anointed with the Holy Spirit, which gives you the power to act with justice and compassion in service to all.  It is a good time to reflect on your life of servive.  Are you happy giving of yourself in your present situation?  Is there a nudge to do something more that allows you to share your gifts for the good of others or for something greather than yourself? 

This week I am in Kansas and have the marvelous opportunity to share my life as an Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph with the young people here.  Today I will be talking with fifth and sixth graders at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic School in Lawrence,  Kansas.   What a joy to be among such enthused youth.  It also gives me an opportunity to express my gratitude for the call to live out my baptismal call in as a consecrated woman religious and share prayer, service, ministry and community life with such dedicated and gifted women with whom I had the pleasure of praying and socializing this past weekend-- Ursuline Sisters Kathleen, Helen, Marcella, Martina, Jane, Dee, Pat, Amelia, Angela, and Betsy.  Thank each of your for your warm welcome and witness of your own call to Ursuline life! 

TODAY’S READINGS: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 or 55:1-11; Acts 10:34-38 or 1 John 5:1-9; Mark 1:7-11 (21)

LADY SOLITUDE

During the recent holidays, when I was not distracted by hurrying off to the office, I made my peace with the reality of solitude / loneliness. Not the crushing loneliness of many in The City--that real loneliness of no personal ties, no one who cares about them (I can't even imagine how that feels). Mother Teresa of Calcutta said that the most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved. I'm only a subway ride away from friends here in New York, only a phone call or a plane ride away from friends elsewhere, and as close to my religious community as tuning into the "prayer wavelength" where I know I am remembered. The card shower from my sisters that welcomed me to New York assured me of that! Yet...

Entering into the house of Lady Solitude, I recognize it as a place of growth for my extroverted "Type Seven" self. Yet...(like Scrooge perhaps) I wonder what this Visitor has to say to me, how it will be, and how I must change.

But I can already see how--after a day of global concerns and computer frustrations and steep learning curves--my little cave on the 10th floor will be a healing refuge. I think of those who have to share the same amount of space with eight others, or the mother who has no time alone for herself, or for the homeless man I saw sleeping in a doorway outside church today, and feel grateful for this chance to come to know Lady Solitude.

Stewardship for seasoned leadership

FEAST OF JOHN NEUMANN, BISHOP


“You will see greater things than this.”


There’s a time to build and a time to tear down, the Book of Ecclesiastes says.  Today as we recall the gift that John Neumann shared in his life and ministry provides an opportunity to pause and examine how we are stewarding our gifts for the good of others.  I am sure you, like me, have been trying to stick to some new year's resolutions.  Stewardship is a worthy resolve. Bishop John Neumann led the diocese of Philadelphia in the 1850s, a time of explosive growth in the immigrant Catholic population in the U.S. Under his leadership the number of Catholic schools increased from 1 to 200 and on average a new parish opened every month! We live in another era, one in which Catholic schools and parishes are being consolidated, closed, or otherwise changed in many parts of the nation. Each age calls for different gifts but good stewardship is never out of season. Pray that church leaders will be good and faithful stewards of the great legacy entrusted to their care.