In 1997, Pope Paul ( I think)...anyway, the Pope, wanted CONSECRATED LIFE to be recognized, celebrated, so he designated Feb 2nd as the day to commemorate CONSECRATED LIFE. What is CL?
It's what we used to refer to as RELIGIOUS LIFE, but, don't we all live a religious life? We do, if we go to Mass, pray, do works of kindness, and such. So it has been renamed to consecrated life to describe the life of those of us who commit our lives to God via our vows....celibate chastity, poverty, and obedience....turn over our lives to the service of God and of the Church (the people of God) and live a life of prayer, community, and service.
Today we no longer do service just in education and health care. You find us all over the world and in diverse ministries. We still are in education and healthcare, but you can find us in...name it ....there we are! Here in rhe U.S. and in numerous countries....doing what Jesus did, trying to fill his shoes, trying to bring him and his Good News to all peoples, regardless of race, color, beliefs, orientation, rich, poor, etc....all are God's! And deserve to have the good news of Jesus shared.
We, human as we are, with our own pluses and minuses, spend ourselves for Jesus, in love. We may not be perfect, but we do our best...and that is all that counts! If we fall....we get up and start over and over and over....perseverance in hope!
I just wish we had more of us to go around! We could reach so many more....
How about you? Could the Lord be inviting you to join us in this marvelous CONSECRATED
WAY OF LIFE? Why not YOU?
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Home again, home again, jiggedy jig
I was gone, have been out of state. Had great plans to blog, but too busy a schedule. I actually felt guilty for not getting to it. Imagine that! So now I am back to cold WI.
It is late afternoon and I am struck by the STILLNESS, the QUIET. There is a serenity and peace about winter. Am not sure I had ever taken notice. Perhaps this STILLNESS is a message from God for me. Perhaps it is God's call to me to take time for STILLNESS.
I am a great believer in signs and in how God "messages" us via the common ordinary "stuff of life".
Haven't you exerienced it also? You're in Walgreen's and pass by the cards...out of the blue there is a card that just stands out...and WOW! the message on that card speaks directly to ME.
You're driving along with the radio on...a song that is just aimed at you!
The homily....how did Father know? Seems like he is speaking JUST TO ME.
For me, I truly believe such experiences are God trying to get through to me with something I need to hear.
I consider these: "little miracles"...
I wish you "LITTLE MIRACLES"...
It is late afternoon and I am struck by the STILLNESS, the QUIET. There is a serenity and peace about winter. Am not sure I had ever taken notice. Perhaps this STILLNESS is a message from God for me. Perhaps it is God's call to me to take time for STILLNESS.
I am a great believer in signs and in how God "messages" us via the common ordinary "stuff of life".
Haven't you exerienced it also? You're in Walgreen's and pass by the cards...out of the blue there is a card that just stands out...and WOW! the message on that card speaks directly to ME.
You're driving along with the radio on...a song that is just aimed at you!
The homily....how did Father know? Seems like he is speaking JUST TO ME.
For me, I truly believe such experiences are God trying to get through to me with something I need to hear.
I consider these: "little miracles"...
I wish you "LITTLE MIRACLES"...
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
National Vocation Awareness Week
This is the week to "be aware" of vocations. It strikes me funny...of course we are "aware" of vocations. We see them daily: the married, the single, priests, religious brothers and sisters, (or nuns, as they sometimes call us).
VOCATION: a call from God to love and serve in specific ways. We are all called to live, love and serve, each in our unique ways as I noted above. Some are called to live, love and serve in the single vocation. Some are called as husband, wife, mother, father. Some as ordained ministers. And some of us are called to live the consecrated life as brothers and sisters.
It is a tough job to know clearly where God calls. Therefore, I believe prayer is of the utmost importance and help. Discerning where I will be truly happy. Where I will become the best me I can be. Where I can use my giftedness to the utmost. Where I can truly make a difference. And...which life kind of grabs me...which one seems to have a special attraction for me.
If you are in that place in your life wondering where God is calling you, try reflecting on these questions....and you may want to find someone with whom you can discuss this whole VOCATION-CALL.
I wish you the Holy Spirit!
VOCATION: a call from God to love and serve in specific ways. We are all called to live, love and serve, each in our unique ways as I noted above. Some are called to live, love and serve in the single vocation. Some are called as husband, wife, mother, father. Some as ordained ministers. And some of us are called to live the consecrated life as brothers and sisters.
It is a tough job to know clearly where God calls. Therefore, I believe prayer is of the utmost importance and help. Discerning where I will be truly happy. Where I will become the best me I can be. Where I can use my giftedness to the utmost. Where I can truly make a difference. And...which life kind of grabs me...which one seems to have a special attraction for me.
If you are in that place in your life wondering where God is calling you, try reflecting on these questions....and you may want to find someone with whom you can discuss this whole VOCATION-CALL.
I wish you the Holy Spirit!
The Baptism of Jesus
What a human thing for Jesus to have done...and humbling. He went through the "cleansing"! And what proof that he was special...needed no "cleansing" when God was heard to express such satisfaction and pleasure with him, even identifying him as the SON! How could there be any doubt as to who Jesus was-if this was indeed heard by the by-standers?
This is my beloved Son. I am totally pleased with him! What gift! I reflect: Could the Lord say the same of me: "This is a daughter that I love dearly and I am so pleased with her."
What about you?
This is my beloved Son. I am totally pleased with him! What gift! I reflect: Could the Lord say the same of me: "This is a daughter that I love dearly and I am so pleased with her."
What about you?
Saturday, January 12, 2013
National Vocaton Awareness Week
This is the week to be "aware of vocations". I was in vocation ministry for years and observed "vocation awareness week" myriad times. Yet for some odd reason this is the first time that "VOCATION AWARENSS WEEK" strikes me as ridiculous To be "aware" of vocations.
Vocations surround us. We are more than AWARE. The married, the single, the priest, the nun. We are aware of them daily, at least of some.
We define a vocation as a calling, a call from God, a way of life, a way of living. Something we are called to BE. The job is the call to DO.
It has always amazed me how much time and money we spend on deciding and preparing for what we will DO when we grow up, but not that much attention, preparing, thinking and planning on what will I BE? It seems to me this is backwards.
Coming to know God's call takes much prayer and discerning. Finding my purpose for BEING is serious business. No wonder it takes much prayer and discerning.
If you are searching for where God wants you, reflecting on the following questions may help.
1. Which of these vocations carries a strong attraction for me?
2. How do I feel when I envision myself living the single life, married, as a priest, living the
consecrated life (a religious sister/brother)?
3. Which life offers me the most possibilities to become the best me I can be?
4. In which one would I be most happy and feel most fulfilled?
5. In which one could I utilize my giftedness best?
Bring God into your reflection....listen with an open heart....with whom might you talk this over?
It's truly worth the time! I wish you the wisdom of the Spirit.
Vocations surround us. We are more than AWARE. The married, the single, the priest, the nun. We are aware of them daily, at least of some.
We define a vocation as a calling, a call from God, a way of life, a way of living. Something we are called to BE. The job is the call to DO.
It has always amazed me how much time and money we spend on deciding and preparing for what we will DO when we grow up, but not that much attention, preparing, thinking and planning on what will I BE? It seems to me this is backwards.
Coming to know God's call takes much prayer and discerning. Finding my purpose for BEING is serious business. No wonder it takes much prayer and discerning.
If you are searching for where God wants you, reflecting on the following questions may help.
1. Which of these vocations carries a strong attraction for me?
2. How do I feel when I envision myself living the single life, married, as a priest, living the
consecrated life (a religious sister/brother)?
3. Which life offers me the most possibilities to become the best me I can be?
4. In which one would I be most happy and feel most fulfilled?
5. In which one could I utilize my giftedness best?
Bring God into your reflection....listen with an open heart....with whom might you talk this over?
It's truly worth the time! I wish you the wisdom of the Spirit.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Following the Star
We just had "Little Christmas"--January 6th, the Three Kings....a most special feast for the Hispanic people...right up there with Christmas....exchange of gifts....following what the Three Kings did...shared gifts.
One question to ask ourselves: What gifts did I bring to the newborn King this year?
Also these Wise Men followed the star...God's sign to them. Do you keep alert for the "star"--the signs....insignificant as they may be....via which God leads you?
Our three friends recognized the specialness of the child...in spite of it being JUST a baby. Do you recognize the Lord in those you meet....even when they are.....?
More reflection time needed, eh? For me, yes!
One question to ask ourselves: What gifts did I bring to the newborn King this year?
Also these Wise Men followed the star...God's sign to them. Do you keep alert for the "star"--the signs....insignificant as they may be....via which God leads you?
Our three friends recognized the specialness of the child...in spite of it being JUST a baby. Do you recognize the Lord in those you meet....even when they are.....?
More reflection time needed, eh? For me, yes!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
A New Year: 2013
Imagine that! Remember when we were turning 2000? WOW! That was the experience! The fears! The worries! And here we are 13 years later....still here!
In my prayer today all my reflections were suggesting REFLECT! Even the priest suggested we take some quiet time to sit and reflect on the past year and how we could approach 2013.
Did I strike gold! I receive a monthly article from Elizabeth-Anne Stewart. This one was right on the button with the "REFLECT" strand. I will share with you her reflection suggestions.
She suggests that we look back at the state of our world and see how we are responsible for the mayhem that surrounds us....asking ourselves:
1. Are we stewards of the Earth's resources or is our demand for consumer goods fueling global
warming?
2. Are we peacemakers, or those who, holding anger tight, harbor grudges and resentmenrts?
3. Do we work for justice or have we turned our back on the poor, the marginalized and those
without a voice?
4. Do we speak out prophetically--or have we accepted the status quo because it is comfortable to do
so?
Elizabeth-Anne Stewart suggests that this is the time to reflect on our roles as Christian (Catholic) global citizens. Now is the time to make meaningful New Year's resolutions and KEEP them! 2013 is a blank slate, she says, reflect on how we can make it happier and better than the last.
I wish you successful prayerful reflection time....and a New Year filled with those BLESSINGS you most need to be the BEST person God calls you to be.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
In my prayer today all my reflections were suggesting REFLECT! Even the priest suggested we take some quiet time to sit and reflect on the past year and how we could approach 2013.
Did I strike gold! I receive a monthly article from Elizabeth-Anne Stewart. This one was right on the button with the "REFLECT" strand. I will share with you her reflection suggestions.
She suggests that we look back at the state of our world and see how we are responsible for the mayhem that surrounds us....asking ourselves:
1. Are we stewards of the Earth's resources or is our demand for consumer goods fueling global
warming?
2. Are we peacemakers, or those who, holding anger tight, harbor grudges and resentmenrts?
3. Do we work for justice or have we turned our back on the poor, the marginalized and those
without a voice?
4. Do we speak out prophetically--or have we accepted the status quo because it is comfortable to do
so?
Elizabeth-Anne Stewart suggests that this is the time to reflect on our roles as Christian (Catholic) global citizens. Now is the time to make meaningful New Year's resolutions and KEEP them! 2013 is a blank slate, she says, reflect on how we can make it happier and better than the last.
I wish you successful prayerful reflection time....and a New Year filled with those BLESSINGS you most need to be the BEST person God calls you to be.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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