tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74814057923663323232024-03-21T21:28:37.771-07:00Nova Scotia Catholic GrandparentsNova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-64708494766806458682021-11-03T18:01:00.003-07:002021-11-03T18:12:40.899-07:00Relationship With Christ -What is it?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEqu5oebpdNUYUF-RWu07IcR6049eu2uDn2h8aD-Acok_2vFfMp4CNP4RwI18MQTo0S-i_OkEaSoJbki365eKgmAhzAhZkX9x8U5_8D0dTr0Dz9XKQLsXLkc_MqLRipVHEAD4x2wGBTI/s1600/gplogolarge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="604" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEqu5oebpdNUYUF-RWu07IcR6049eu2uDn2h8aD-Acok_2vFfMp4CNP4RwI18MQTo0S-i_OkEaSoJbki365eKgmAhzAhZkX9x8U5_8D0dTr0Dz9XKQLsXLkc_MqLRipVHEAD4x2wGBTI/s200/gplogolarge.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">There
once was a young man who wanted to become a monk in a near-by monastery. </span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">But he had a problem.</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">This particular monastery followed a strict discipline
and rigid </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">ascetic</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> practices.</span></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">And this
young man was known by many in his community to be a slow and undisciplined. Despite
the views of his community which he heard many times, he decided to try anyway;
so he placed himself under the direction of the Novice Master at the monastery
to begin the required formation.</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">After
two months, the Novice Master was called in by the Abbott of the Monastery to
see how the new young recruit was doing.
The Novice Master told the Abbott that the new recruit was <b><u>not</u></b> doing well. He was having great difficulty in learning
the rule, and was undisciplined in following the required practices. “In fact”, he told the Abbott, “for the
previous two months he has been assigned only the daily task of cleaning the
dirt from the monk’s sandals as they entered the prayer room, and sweeping the
dust from the floor. As a result, he
recommended that the young man be dismissed. </span><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">The
Abbott, being a compassionate man, asked to speak to the new recruit. When he arrived, and after sharing a few
stories, the young man expressed the difficulty and struggle he was having in
formation, but still affirmed his desire to become a monk. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">The
Abbott gave him the following advice: “From now on, as you clean the dirt from the
sandals, and as you sweep the dust from the floor, I want you to say to
yourself: I am removing all obscuration
to being the beloved of Christ.<b>” </b></span><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">And
what do you mean by obscuration, the young man asked the Abbott? An obscuration is anything that prevents you
from seeing things as they really are, replied the Abbot. </span><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">So
the young man agreed to try this new discipline. At first, every now and again, he would
forget what he was supposed to say. And
he would meet with the Abbott for a refresher, but soon he was pretty good at
following this basic instruction, and he carried it our faithfully every day as
he did his task. </span><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Six
months later, the Abbott called the young recruit in for another meeting.</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">After the normal greeting, he asked the
recruit: “Have you been cleaning the dirt from the sandals?”</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Yes, was his enthusiastic response?</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">“Have you been sweeping the dust from the
floor?”</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Again, yes was his quick
response.</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">“Have you removed all
obscuration to being the beloved of Christ?”</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">There
was a long silence and puzzlement as he pondered this question. Then suddenly,
like a light bulb coming on, a bright smile broke on the young man’s face as
his mind and heart was awakened as to what the Abbott was trying to teach
him. He suddenly realized that the
sandals, even with the dirt, were still sandals: That the floor, even with the dust, was still
the floor: And that he, even with all
his limitations, those things he saw as impairing him; his weaknesses, his
faults, his warts; he was still the beloved of Christ. </span><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Soon
there-after, the young man was initiated into the community as a monk. As time would later show, he became the best
and most loved of all the monks. At times,
he would chuckle to himself when others teased him about his slowness, when he forgot
the rule. But with the birth of his special insight, this awakening in his
heart, he was able to see himself <b>in a
new way.</b> And as for all those people who entered the doors the monastery
for the first time, no matter what their position, no matter what situation in
life, no matter what their difficulty or struggle, he saw them all as the
beloved of Christ, and he welcomed them, every one of them, as Christ himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">My
friends, you are all the “beloved of Christ”.
There is nothing more you have to know; there is nothing more you have
to do, that will change this fact, but we can all forget this ever so easily. Just like we hear in the letter from James: <b>“</b></span><b><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;">For
anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like the man who looks
at his face in a mirror, </span></b><a href="http://biblehub.com/greek/1063.htm" title="1063: gar (Conj) -- For."><b><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">and</span></b></a><span class="highl"><b><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></span><a href="http://biblehub.com/greek/2657.htm" title="2657: katenoesen (V-AIA-3S) -- To take note of, perceive, consider carefully, discern, detect, make account of."><b><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">after
observing</span></b></a><span class="highl"><b><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></span><a href="http://biblehub.com/greek/1438.htm" title="1438: heauton (RefPro-AM3S) -- Himself, herself, itself."><b><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">himself</span></b></a><span class="highl"><b><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></span><a href="http://biblehub.com/greek/565.htm" title="565: apelelythen (V-RIA-3S) -- To come or go away from, depart, return, arrive, go after, follow."><b><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">goes
away</span></b></a><span class="highl"><b><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></span><a href="http://biblehub.com/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely."><b><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">and</span></b></a><span class="highl"><b><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></span><a href="http://biblehub.com/greek/2112.htm" title="2112: eutheos (Adv) -- Immediately, soon, at once."><b><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">immediately</span></b></a><span class="highl"><b><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></span><a href="http://biblehub.com/greek/1950.htm" title="1950: epelatheto (V-AIM-3S) -- To forget, neglect."><b><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">forgets</span></b></a><span class="highl"><b><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></span><a href="http://biblehub.com/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: en (V-IIA-3S) -- To be, exist."><b><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">what he looks like.</span></b></a><span class="highl"><b>”</b></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">By
way of personal disclosure, over the years, I have often forgotten that I am,
by my very nature, the beloved of Christ. I have found that when I do forget, I
can become very </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">judgmental</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">; very hard on myself, and very critical of
others. And I certainly realize how
devastating judgement and criticism can be, and the damage it can cause to those
I am in relationship with. Judgement does not heal; judgement does not
transform. Only love can do that. If we
think about this through the lens of our marriages, friendships, or those we
work with; it is virtually impossible to love someone and be </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">judgmental</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> at the
same time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">So
through prayer, I wage my battle against forgetting I am the beloved of Christ. For this, I need Christ’s intervention. I
need that inner awareness of Christ’s mercy in my life. I need to know that He is
Present, that He cares. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">I
experience and believe fully what is said in the first letter of John: “I love because God loves me first.” It’s only from my experience of God’s
unconditional love for me that I am able to begin to love others
unconditionally. Head knowledge of this
is just not enough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">In
the gospels, the Scribes and the Pharisees took great pride in their knowledge
of the scriptures and the laws they contained.
In the gospel of Matthew, we read that a Pharisee, a lawyer, asks Jesus
a question in order to test Him. Which
of all the commandments is the greatest? And of course, we know the answer. Love God, Love neighbor. It always seemed strange to me that the ones
who knew the scriptures so well would use the commandment of love to test, and
even to trick Jesus to throw Him offside.
These are not the actions of love, but of judgement. Maybe this is why
Jesus referred to them as white-washed tombstones, pretty on the outside, but
empty within. Head knowledge is a great
thing, but our Christian faith will be of little or no value, have little or no
impact, if based on knowledge alone. Something
much greater is needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">I
believe, and this is what the story illustrates, until people have had some
inner spiritual experience that awakens their hearts to a new way of seeing, to
an experience that they are in fact loved unconditionally by Christ”, than
knowledge of Christ will only remain at the rational level with little power to
transform, either ourselves or others. I
can know well Jesus’ teachings about “loving my enemies, and doing good to
those who hate me, but without Christ’s intervention in my life, I will fail
miserably at living it out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">This
past weekend, Archbishop Mancini again called our church communities in our Diocese
to the “Assembly Of God” gathering. As a
preliminary to this assembly, he invited us to review the 2017 Lenten series
videos to help us prepare. I had a
chance to review these videos. In the first of these videos, the archbishop
emphasised three things: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">1.
A relationship with Christ is essential to our mission as church, and this must
be visible in our lives and in the way we live. In other words, we must begin
to see ourselves as the beloved of Christ. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">2.
In our call to live out the New Evangelization, we are not speaking of new
knowledge or content, but rather the sharing of our faith aimed at new
audiences, using new methods and expressions that are relevant for today, and
applied with new intensity.</span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">3.
Our church needs to be seen as a community taking on this missioning task <b>as a primary focus. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">These
three points were again emphasized during the “Assembly of God” gathering this
past weekend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Above
in my story, I described “obscuration” as; “anything that prevents us from
seeing things are they really are”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Unfortunately,
in society today, there
are many whose vision is obscured by cultural influences of our day that lead
to actions that will not bring the happiness and well-being they seek. Many feel insignificant, often isolated and
alienated from others, that of having no experience of a connection with God or
community. Many are searching for a purpose
or meaning in their lives in places that will eventually fail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">The
Archbishop speaks about the importance of letting these people know,
particularly those who are no longer engaged in church, that they are loved and
wanted by God. They need to know that
they are significant in God’s eyes, that they are first and foremost the
“beloved of Christ”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">And
he describes the church’s future role as one of providing for them opportunities
to receive this experience of having their hearts touched by Christ. And of course, the church that he speaks
about is not this building we are in, nor is it the organizational structure to
which we belong. It is you and me, all
of us who have been touched by Grace and have had our hearts transformed by
Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br /></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-60117267583943745382017-03-24T18:34:00.001-07:002017-03-31T14:35:02.483-07:00A Christian Response<div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: lato, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 24px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgVxKP_5HhP-42hqvchubc9YFKGe-tD-6FL36tFZq24sBhug5byrV2O8sIBrOHyGGePWKO9E5wF-Y_9p08vKgoXgB5WdBemhZiKTSebz6kbggEgqU9RXd5ZissfrHE5vuu8nu3pIloy8/s1600/progressive+christian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgVxKP_5HhP-42hqvchubc9YFKGe-tD-6FL36tFZq24sBhug5byrV2O8sIBrOHyGGePWKO9E5wF-Y_9p08vKgoXgB5WdBemhZiKTSebz6kbggEgqU9RXd5ZissfrHE5vuu8nu3pIloy8/s400/progressive+christian.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The next time you have to awkwardly explain at a party or office gathering why you go to church or some other place where church is a jaw dropping absurdity–here are some ways to explain it, honestly and sincerely</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: large;">1. I am a Christian, and I believe that God loves me and you and everybody exactly as they are, unconditionally.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">2. Yet, God loves us too much to leave us that way–I am a Christian because I believe that God is always pushing me to grow in love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self.<br /><br />3. I am a Christian, because I believe that my God actually chose to be human like us–and live the beautiful, painful, messy life of a human just like us–solely to love us better.<br /><br />4. I am a Christian, because I believe that God rose from the dead in order to prove how much we are loved.<br /><br />5. I am a Christian, because I believe that my God gives me the tools–and the command–to spread the story of resurrection and love to those who need it most.<br /><br />6. I am a Christian, because I believe that I–and all people–are invited to find healing from all pain, sorrow, and failure at God’s table during communion.<br /><br />7. I am a Christian because I believe that through Jesus, God declared that death, hate and oppression are never the last word.<br /><br />8. I am a Christian, because I believe that, in our very busy world, my Christian faith offers me a time to slow down and take my relationships seriously.<br /><br />9. I am a Christian, because I believe that, in our divided and fearful world, my Christian faith offers me a way to live into connection, belonging, and trust.<br /><br />10. I am a Christian, because I believe that racism, and sexism, and all the isms that separate us from seeing each other as full humans, are resistances to God's love, and in faith, we are called to stand up against them.</span></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-22995804876793450822017-02-20T06:09:00.003-08:002017-02-20T06:10:05.625-08:00Some Facts About Contemplation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JfGu6aRNLjADbSsCx5kwUbDgu1_N11EKXe1RG0Ih1xWxA_z0Sspt2T456l_9vwDvk1qWr5SKSs2Y0V09Z1Qz8AMfiT9PNc4gHwx9rkYQjHWOpC8kLAgJcXO3pwoyUpByki12KwZwIN4/s1600/meditation.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JfGu6aRNLjADbSsCx5kwUbDgu1_N11EKXe1RG0Ih1xWxA_z0Sspt2T456l_9vwDvk1qWr5SKSs2Y0V09Z1Qz8AMfiT9PNc4gHwx9rkYQjHWOpC8kLAgJcXO3pwoyUpByki12KwZwIN4/s400/meditation.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As Mother Theresa was beginning to become known for her charitable work in India, she gained the interest of the press. During an interview, she was questioned about prayer. The reporter asked her: <b>"You must pray often to God."</b> <b>"Certainly"</b>, she answered. <b>"And what is it that you say to God?"</b> She answered: <b>"Usually, I say nothing. I just sit there to listen."</b> The reported then asked: <b>"So then, what does God say to you?"</b> Mother Theresa answered: <b>"God says nothing to me. God just listens; and if you don’t understand what I mean by this, please don’t ask me, because I can’t explain it."</b><br /><br />Brother Lawrence was a seventeenth century lay brother who lived out his life in a Carmelite Monastery in Paris. He is most know for his book which is now a Christian classic. This book is called “The Practice of the Presence of God.” When speaking about prayer, Brother Lawrence wrote: <b>“In prayer, I make it my business only to persevere in His Holy presence, wherein I keep myself, by a simple attention, and a general fond regard for God, which I call an actual presence of God.”</b><br /><br />In our Christian faith tradition, we have many kinds of prayers. There is formal prayer like the "Our Father". There is spontaneous prayer. We have intercessory prayer where we pray for others or ourselves. Music can also be a prayer. But one of the best kept secrets in the Church today is the prayer called “contemplation”. The two stories I started with about Mother Theresa and Brother Lawrence are about contemplative prayer. <br /><br />During my diaconate formation years between 1978 and 1982, I moved deeper into “formal” prayer. As candidates, we were encouraged to do Church prayer, which as you know, is very structured with psalms and responses, scripture readings, and other form prayers like the “Our Father”. It follows a fairly strict format. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What I began to discover as I did this structured prayer was that after it was over, I would often move into a period of silence. With the task of reading now over, my thoughts would fall away; and I would move into a stillness from which I had no interest in returning, at least right away. Over a period of time, I discovered it was this time of stillness and silence that was the most beneficial part of the whole church prayer. This was the time when I had the experience of being closest to God. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> As the years passed, the times of silence became dominate, and the other fell to lessor importance. Contemplative prayer became foundational to my spiritual journey. I’ve now been practicing contemplation for over forty years ago, so I have become quite familiar with it, but I’m still surprised at how few know about it. So I would like to speak briefly about it in this posting. <br /><br />My first exposure to contemplation was through the writings of Fr. Thomas Merton. He was certainly the most contemporary writer on contemplation in our current time. As you probably know, most of his books were written during his many years as a Trappist monk at Gethsemane in Kentucky during the forties and fifties. His little book called “Contemplative Prayer” is one of my favorites. Thomas Merton brought alive this ancient tradition which had been all but lost by the mainline church. Not that it didn’t exist. Over the course of church history, it was very present in the contemplative monastic communities. Among the many saints, John of the Cross and Theresa of Avila were contemplatives themselves and wrote much about it, but it was largely considered a type of prayer reserved for those who had chosen a cloistered life. Thomas Merton changed that.<br /><br />In the sixties, Pope Paul the V1, recognized the need to revive the contemplative side of the Catholic church. Therefore, he encouraged the contemplative communities, such as the monasteries, to begin to explore ways to bring this dimension more to the forefront. Fr. Thomas Keating, a Trappist monk from Snowmass Colorado, took up this task, and with a few of his contemporaries, introduced contemplation to the larger community. Since the group experience of contemplation was one of being centered on Christ, it became known as “centering prayer”.<br /><br />Thomas Keating wrote a trilogy of books which explained in detail everything that one needed to know about “centering </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">prayer". I was introduced to his books in 1997 while on a four week retreat at the Gethsemane in Kentucky. After reading his books, I changed my own contemplative approach to the method he recommended, and have followed it ever since. Next to Thomas Merton, Fr. Thomas Keatings’ books have had the greatest influence on my life. <br /><br />During this same time frame, a Benedictine monk by the name of Fr. John Main from London England started an approach to contemplative prayer similar to Thomas Keating. John Main himself discovered this prayer while on a foreign assignment to Malaysia. Swami Satyananda, a local holy man from that country, seeing Main’s eagerness to deepen his Christian faith, introduced him to this very simple form of prayer where thoughts, images, concepts, feelings are all left behind in order to realize, first and foremost, God’s indwelling presence. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebrMacJ6RGxW9w7LdVxer_evUlImcJPOKK9qzip1cRm8CKDDGenCvAdlJ4ScxVKuIkmA8n6nPq2G_XgV7YskxcTR3hcR-DZbczJBCqBZhJimQxCYpxu4r3micpkE9bezz1rGa5GrWS_c/s1600/meditation2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebrMacJ6RGxW9w7LdVxer_evUlImcJPOKK9qzip1cRm8CKDDGenCvAdlJ4ScxVKuIkmA8n6nPq2G_XgV7YskxcTR3hcR-DZbczJBCqBZhJimQxCYpxu4r3micpkE9bezz1rGa5GrWS_c/s640/meditation2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Upon returning to England, and becoming a monk, the Benedictine order to which he belonged would not permit him to use this form of prayer as it was unknown to them. Being a faithful monk, Fr. Main complied, but later he discovered through his reading of the conferences of John Cassian, one of the early fathers of the church, that this type of prayer had been used extensively in the past. Thus he began his task of introducing contemplation to the greater community. He called it “Christian Meditation”.<br /><br />Small groups for both “Centering Prayer” and “Christian Meditation”, using these two streams of contemplative disciplines, now exist all over the world. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NEnPNM4ctpbjv7h7S8xb2kc7vMq0dihkTP7J_3zs7arpRVv2BOyXNtzGUoUsQ1ubYrNYegLHMdmpbiRJ2sV-17pQt7XDpnpQZNgmycYaL4M-ukDGYUf8jkVGFZsCXmg5B0e-q-YFcns/s1600/meditation4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NEnPNM4ctpbjv7h7S8xb2kc7vMq0dihkTP7J_3zs7arpRVv2BOyXNtzGUoUsQ1ubYrNYegLHMdmpbiRJ2sV-17pQt7XDpnpQZNgmycYaL4M-ukDGYUf8jkVGFZsCXmg5B0e-q-YFcns/s400/meditation4.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> I’ve personally been involved with the Canadian Christian Meditation Community since my Kentucky retreat in 1997. <br /><br />We all have a contemplative side, but we live in a world where it is difficult to embrace a contemplative life. Our culture measures successful living by an entirely different yard stick, usually built on activity and busyness. Even church often connects holiness with the activities of service and ministry. The busier you are the holier you are, it seems. A contemplative is not against activity, but the service provided must spring from a source that lies from within. And a contemplative knows that it is only from a certain depth of silence and solitude that this can be discovered. <br /><br />In all the other types of prayer that were mentioned above, we are actively involved in speaking, listening, pondering or reflecting. In Christian Meditation, the process is different. The connection that is made is not by speaking to God or by thinking about God in a complicated way. We do not bring our problems to God asking that these problems be solved. Meditation has to do with being in God’s presence, being attentive to God. This is very similar to that sense of deep inner joy or interior peace that we sometimes experience at those surprising and unexpected moments: Overlooking the ocean, a sunset, a view from a high mountain. But strangely, these things do not come about by our pursuing them, or running after them, or trying to catch them. They come to us as a gift as we pause from our usual busyness and move into inner stillness. “Be still and know that I am God.” </span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_l2mxa_yXWVOaV9HQGDs9CAEMpbh0ZpvF2suv04OZl2emK2ZFsJwQgC9LEbpnBWlF7sg-ixffhKBwZ8twESPaALi706UCnEq_8dhala5fWPbEf66a5rHpNenwJfSDtvAbDYZ14oe2Uk/s1600/meditation1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_l2mxa_yXWVOaV9HQGDs9CAEMpbh0ZpvF2suv04OZl2emK2ZFsJwQgC9LEbpnBWlF7sg-ixffhKBwZ8twESPaALi706UCnEq_8dhala5fWPbEf66a5rHpNenwJfSDtvAbDYZ14oe2Uk/s400/meditation1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />Each year, my wife and I attend a one week contemplative retreat at a monastery or retreat house. During these times, I follow Fr. George Maloney’s “Eight Day Self-Directed Retreat” Book called “Alone with the Alone”. I’ve done this over a dozen times by now. I would like to conclude with Maloney's introduction to this retreat experience. <br /><br /> </span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">“To contemplate is to move beyond your own activity and become activated by the inner power of the Holy Spirit. It means to be swept up into the threefold love current of the Trinity. In the silent prayer of the heart, (a gift of the Spirit praying with you) you move beyond feelings, emotions, even thoughts. The Spirit is so powerfully operative that imagining or reasoning can only be noise that disturbs the silent communication of God at the core of your being. If you introduce noise by speaking words and fashioning images of God, then you are limiting His freedom to speak His words as He wishes, when He wishes. The Holy Spirit frees you so God can give Himself to you. With utter freedom and joy, respond always in deep silence and humble self-surrender to His Inner Presence."<br /><br /> </span></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-16050438204252469992017-02-18T14:38:00.001-08:002017-02-18T14:39:50.380-08:00Writing Your Legacy submitted by Linda Macdonald<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZvwL3Shqo77XPTYHNLU5W_xlVlBearM3mdadWeqqOG1on7topJT4jg6e3YYH4wezL4hVALQyw1dDyPq8bRsIuT8BmKKNZWs-iloTiK9LMnKRU4az5pjM_2twF_TxFct4rSZ3etwR3dU/s1600/image1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZvwL3Shqo77XPTYHNLU5W_xlVlBearM3mdadWeqqOG1on7topJT4jg6e3YYH4wezL4hVALQyw1dDyPq8bRsIuT8BmKKNZWs-iloTiK9LMnKRU4az5pjM_2twF_TxFct4rSZ3etwR3dU/s640/image1.jpg" width="508" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5hWqXKUTgiMOgxNGPTdUi_k9pgidwYNM1mjC_gbOiQw9Vv6lzg2JXeFzh6zjeuOGUEZ0F_ujPv-hoSbtPHHM6bjpCa4H32zplnjIXc7MGcFRupR-FHUwCqaxESVrrg6yiXhYlh0a0eE/s1600/image2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5hWqXKUTgiMOgxNGPTdUi_k9pgidwYNM1mjC_gbOiQw9Vv6lzg2JXeFzh6zjeuOGUEZ0F_ujPv-hoSbtPHHM6bjpCa4H32zplnjIXc7MGcFRupR-FHUwCqaxESVrrg6yiXhYlh0a0eE/s640/image2.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_s60OdUl7i9bM1tqEQMaLFJFZYtBRy-eNUhm8pVE7BvYv9aSWb1pqVUbNZV8KQdjwow1FUsSn27BwifMKz6kwqodiXYAY7E21mey141mYimPpu0wJYqx6jOQ8hBm-O4qraZwRabB0g4/s1600/image3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_s60OdUl7i9bM1tqEQMaLFJFZYtBRy-eNUhm8pVE7BvYv9aSWb1pqVUbNZV8KQdjwow1FUsSn27BwifMKz6kwqodiXYAY7E21mey141mYimPpu0wJYqx6jOQ8hBm-O4qraZwRabB0g4/s640/image3.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6bejPMOQlHc3uc399fIigpXNf_qSNpQUhCmXirKwQ0rE3_QY7WFE-BMU_CfY91bDu1N3YzJOM4JJ7Jmqs8DE0uNIikr6QJURTG3YHFUBcwc5ux2IQsy7FDu_M3MR7PueaMuMOO8L5ec/s1600/image4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6bejPMOQlHc3uc399fIigpXNf_qSNpQUhCmXirKwQ0rE3_QY7WFE-BMU_CfY91bDu1N3YzJOM4JJ7Jmqs8DE0uNIikr6QJURTG3YHFUBcwc5ux2IQsy7FDu_M3MR7PueaMuMOO8L5ec/s640/image4.jpg" width="474" /></a></div>
<br />Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-55216686432449900812017-01-07T11:07:00.000-08:002017-01-07T11:07:08.857-08:00Telling Their Stories Article from Linda MacDonald<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7481405792366332323" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7481405792366332323" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7481405792366332323" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7481405792366332323" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><b><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 24.0pt;">Telling Their Life Stories, Older Adults Find
Peace in Looking Back<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">By SUSAN B.
GARLAND DEC. 9, 2016 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:rect id="rectole0000000000" o:spid="_x0000_i1025"
style='width:291pt;height:187.2pt' o:ole="" o:preferrelative="t" stroked="f">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\lenmoore\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png"
o:title=""/>
</v:rect><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OLEObject Type="Embed" ProgID="StaticMetafile" ShapeID="rectole0000000000"
DrawAspect="Content" ObjectID="_1545306045">
</o:OLEObject>
</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">Isabella
Bick started writing stories about her life about seven years ago as part of a
program called Guided Autobiography. Some of her stories involve the pain of
being a refugee when she was a young girl. Credit Christopher Capozziello for
The New York Times<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HQRtvPan4LbhSo8csggg24imZzYt3s2A4IoQmW37wjopouJbPLmBQs2MNrdWmxyOPcgW4YMNWpLvAhQZ08uLjosyJRWs7ZDV9urXfvOTPo67PcVWexyVq0cYJL_FejHklPbM0-DR0iE/s1600/linda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HQRtvPan4LbhSo8csggg24imZzYt3s2A4IoQmW37wjopouJbPLmBQs2MNrdWmxyOPcgW4YMNWpLvAhQZ08uLjosyJRWs7ZDV9urXfvOTPo67PcVWexyVq0cYJL_FejHklPbM0-DR0iE/s320/linda.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:rect
id="rectole0000000000" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style='width:291pt;height:187.2pt'
o:ole="" o:preferrelative="t" stroked="f">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\lenmoore\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png"
o:title=""/>
</v:rect><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OLEObject Type="Embed" ProgID="StaticMetafile" ShapeID="rectole0000000000"
DrawAspect="Content" ObjectID="_1545306309">
</o:OLEObject>
</xml><![endif]--></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:rect
id="rectole0000000000" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style='width:291pt;height:187.2pt'
o:ole="" o:preferrelative="t" stroked="f">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\lenmoore\AppData\Local\Temp\OICE_B75CF726-9B0A-4FAC-8D94-BE4A3AA2EB92.0\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png"
o:title=""/>
</v:rect><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OLEObject Type="Embed" ProgID="StaticMetafile" ShapeID="rectole0000000000"
DrawAspect="Content" ObjectID="_1545306250">
</o:OLEObject>
</xml><![endif]--></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">ISABELLA S.
BICK’S parents, both Jewish physicians, never talked about the past after the
family moved from Fascist Italy to the United States in 1939. She was 8 at the
time and quickly learned it was best to keep her feelings of loss and
loneliness to herself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Her silence
ended — and those emotions broke free — when Ms. Bick, now 84 and a
psychotherapist living in Sharon, Conn., began writing bits and pieces of her
life story a few years ago. In one vignette, she describes the trauma of moving
with her parents and younger brother into a cramped apartment with her father’s
Russian family in Troy, N.Y.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Her parents
dealt with their grief by refusing to speak Italian at home or to reminisce
about their life in Europe. So young Isabella did not tell them about the
schoolmates who taunted her or the teacher who shouted at her. She was
determined “to invent an American little girl” as quickly as possible, reading
poems aloud each night until she lost her accent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">In bed,
though, she slept with the brown lambskin coat that she had worn on the ocean
voyage to America. Ms. Bick writes that she had “endowed Coat with very special
magical qualities” and that she dreamed of returning to her home in Tuscany and
her beloved nanny. “With Coat close to me, I felt I could hide my Italian self,
not yet totally lost, and not yet reveal my still unformed American self — I
could hold on precariously to both — for a little while longer.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Like many
older people who write their life stories, Ms. Bick found some peace in looking
back. “Writing is painful because it brings back memories,” she said in a
recent interview. But when she began writing, Ms. Bick said, she recognized
“that there was this joyous little girl” whom she could finally “reclaim.” And
she described “an awe that I survived some of the things I went through.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Ms. Bick, who
has three children and three grandchildren, considers her stories a gift to
future generations — and to past ones. “I am keeping my parents and
grandparents alive,” she said. “And, as an egotist, I am keeping myself alive.
I am remembered.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Whether they
are writing full-blown memoirs or more modest sketches or vignettes, many older
people like Ms. Bick are telling their life stories. Some are taking life-story
writing classes at local colleges, libraries and adult learning centers, while
others are hiring “personal historians” to record oral histories or to produce
videos that combine interviews, home movies and family photos. Some opt to
write a “legacy letter,” which imparts values to the next generations. New
websites enable families to create digital personal histories that can be
preserved for their descendants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:rect id="rectole0000000001" o:spid="_x0000_i1026"
style='width:414.6pt;height:265.8pt' o:ole="" o:preferrelative="t" stroked="f">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\lenmoore\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.png"
o:title=""/>
</v:rect><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OLEObject Type="Embed" ProgID="StaticMetafile" ShapeID="rectole0000000001"
DrawAspect="Content" ObjectID="_1545306046">
</o:OLEObject>
</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjo4U2rgJpWzDswAjK5dCrMeh525amJJSRu27NLMVYQCVWclUTufPbPNhA4fTEHOh3nRMQdkXBwoSA49jYjrfJ6be3rkY6pBoHPrBTntaFvpwSgoHi7WJkUXfApWQkW7T20LSMUneBZs/s1600/linda1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjo4U2rgJpWzDswAjK5dCrMeh525amJJSRu27NLMVYQCVWclUTufPbPNhA4fTEHOh3nRMQdkXBwoSA49jYjrfJ6be3rkY6pBoHPrBTntaFvpwSgoHi7WJkUXfApWQkW7T20LSMUneBZs/s640/linda1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;">This
photograph of the family of Isabella Bick’s mother was taken in Kalisz, Poland.
Those who remained in Poland were later killed in the Holocaust. Credit
Christopher Capozziello for The New York Times<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Ms. Bick took
a course called </span><a href="http://guidedautobiography.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Guided Autobiography,</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"> in which a trained instructor draws out
students’ memories and helps them channel their thoughts and recollections into
essays. Most guided autobiography classes are taught in person, but Ms. Bick
joined five other participants and the instructor on a special interactive
website to write and share stories over 10 weekly sessions. They could see one
another in little windows on the screen as they explored life themes like
family, money and spirituality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Cheryl
Svensson, who is the director of the Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies
and who taught Ms. Bick’s class, said she had trained more than 300 instructors
worldwide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Pat McNees,
who conducts guided autobiography classes in person in Bethesda, Md., said
getting feedback from a supportive group “gives you a perspective on your
life.” For example, Ms. McNees said, someone whose family struggled with money
problems but spent lots of time together may come out with a “positive take on
life” when listening to another participant who had a lonely childhood because
the father was always at work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Research by
many gerontologists — including James E. Birren, who created the discipline of
guided autobiography — has found that reminiscing can improve the confidence of
older adults. By recalling how they overcame past struggles, they are better
able to confront new challenges, doctors say, and they may be able to forgive
themselves for their mistakes. Moreover, a life review can help with grieving,
research has found.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Armed with
this knowledge, many </span><a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/nursing_homes/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">nursing homes</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"> and assisted living facilities are offering
storytelling programs. Bonita Heilman has conducted about 20 story groups — in
which three or four residents meet for five or six sessions — at the Harbor, an
assisted-living center in Norwood Young America, Minn. Ms. Heilman, the
center’s life enrichment coordinator, uses a program called </span><a href="https://celebrationsoflife.net/life-reflections/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Life Reflection Story</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">, developed by Celebrations of Life, a company in Minneapolis.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Ms. Heilman
will ask questions on topics like childhood and parents. She then compiles each
resident’s life story, and family photographs, into a bound book of about 30
pages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Most Harbor
residents were farmers. “They tell stories about when they were productive
citizens working toward the greater good,” Ms. Heilman said. “Remembering gives
them self-esteem at a time when they can no longer do the things they once
could do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:rect id="rectole0000000002" o:spid="_x0000_i1027"
style='width:172.8pt;height:276.6pt' o:ole="" o:preferrelative="t" stroked="f">
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\lenmoore\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.png"
o:title=""/>
</v:rect><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OLEObject Type="Embed" ProgID="StaticMetafile" ShapeID="rectole0000000002"
DrawAspect="Content" ObjectID="_1545306048">
</o:OLEObject>
</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria;"> Isabella Bick with her mother,
Taula Bick, in a photograph taken in Milan around 1934. The Bick family later
fled Italy for the United States. Credit Christopher Capozziello for The New
York Times<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">One resident,
Sylvia Kuenzel, 88, said she “had fun listening to the stories” of the other
two residents in her group. Mrs. Kuenzel said she got a real lift when she
thought for the first time in years about her favorite childhood Christmas
gift: a pair of white ankle boots.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">In her story
book, Mrs. Kuenzel writes that her “saddest childhood memory” was when her
father’s grocery store fell on hard times and her parents had to sell their
two-story home in the small farming town of Lafayette, Minn. Her parents and
their seven children moved into two bedrooms behind the store. Looking back at
her parents’ difficult lives, Mrs. Kuenzel said in a recent interview, “I think
I appreciate them more than I did at the time.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYAyhlloFY5uzo5YLoe_ysdubfusXaZQzIXfWDIaG2GNkf4PMqBDekeC_FHEWwkRAID8R8FjL1pB_zFmIjjBPbSx-BCaZ4C8Bx8wL6QDxC03NayRIp7JSvYLvN8_am5OmWhRezgtj4U0/s1600/linda2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYAyhlloFY5uzo5YLoe_ysdubfusXaZQzIXfWDIaG2GNkf4PMqBDekeC_FHEWwkRAID8R8FjL1pB_zFmIjjBPbSx-BCaZ4C8Bx8wL6QDxC03NayRIp7JSvYLvN8_am5OmWhRezgtj4U0/s1600/linda2.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Mrs. Kuenzel
gave up her job as a nurse when she married a farmer, Dennis, who died in 2013.
She described farming as round-the-clock work. But writing her story, she said,
helped her see that she had dealt well with the hardships and created a good
life for her four children. “I made it, so I guess I was O.K.,” Mrs. Kuenzel
said. She also “realized what is most important” — and it was a comfort to
share those lessons with her children, six grandchildren and one
great-grandchild. Among those lessons: the importance of focusing on the
positive, hard work and treating people right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Storytelling
also can benefit terminally ill patients by addressing their need to feel that
life has purpose. One end-of-life treatment is called </span><a href="http://dignityincare.ca/en/toolkit.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Dignity Therapy</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">, which was developed by </span><a href="http://dignityincare.ca/en/research-team.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Manitoba. During a 30-
to 60-minute audiotaped session, a therapist will ask patients questions about
their most important accomplishments, the experiences that made them feel most
alive and their hopes for loved ones. Patients can give the transcribed
interview to friends and family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Lori P.
Montross-Thomas, a psychologist in the La Jolla community in San Diego, who was
trained as a dignity therapist by Dr. Chochinov, said she recalled one man who
had talked about an arduous hike with friends. After bad weather set in that
day, he told her, he walked ahead to the base camp. He remembered the joy on
his friends’ faces when he greeted them with hot chocolate. These patients “may
have lost the ability to be in physical control, but when they share that kind
of story, their body goes back there,” said Dr. Montross-Thomas, an assistant
professor at the University of California, San Diego. “And they get to share
the stories of their strengths with loved ones.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">In several
studies of dignity therapy, patients reported an increased sense of purpose and
meaning. A study of family members of patients who had died said the
transcripts consoled them while they grieved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: large; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;">Hearing a
parent’s story may be as important to the adult child as it is to the older
person telling it. Bill Erwin, 69, who lives in Durham, N.C., interviewed his
father, using a tape recorder, many years ago. He said he cherished the story
about how his grandfather peddled pianos from the back of his truck to rural
households in Hope, Ark., during the Depression. “That’s how he made enough
sales to keep the lights on at his music store,” Mr. Erwin said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is a story
of resourcefulness that Mr. Erwin is passing on to his two sons. He says he
regrets not collecting more stories from his parents, and he wants to ensure
his sons don’t have similar regrets — so now he is writing his own life story
vignettes. And Mr. Erwin, a retired communications executive, has started a new
business: creating personal-history videos for other families.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-66978300715245899262016-11-25T06:40:00.002-08:002016-11-25T06:40:27.969-08:00Discipline of Centering Prayer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Fr. George Maloney wrote an eight-day retreat experience called “Alone With The Alone”. This retreat book is written from the stance of contemplative prayer. Also, Fr. Thomas Keating through his writing on contemplative prayer, explains the discipline of Centering prayer in his book "Open Mind, Open Heart". Paradoxically, my discovery of the writings of both Maloney and Keating happened at the same time, and they blended together in such a way as to provide a path of light that I would follow in the years to come.<br /><br /> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEM7QTT8NZ4AVbUE5ZJ4lqLazdqq1U6TugsPSa8MIiA-awHukb4ZaCEBhmJhmTUOF0vOxppiltGheQRd5peP8XGK3zjeQSdZEk6yDa2zbiqDQyj1q1Z0aRpKoa62XpHk6zv7RrBM_4F0/s1600/passages15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEM7QTT8NZ4AVbUE5ZJ4lqLazdqq1U6TugsPSa8MIiA-awHukb4ZaCEBhmJhmTUOF0vOxppiltGheQRd5peP8XGK3zjeQSdZEk6yDa2zbiqDQyj1q1Z0aRpKoa62XpHk6zv7RrBM_4F0/s1600/passages15.png" /></a></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br />Maloney’s approach was simple. Over an eight-day period, he guides one through an exploration of Jesus’ life from a contemplative perspective, providing scripture reflections, but more importantly, times of stillness, times to listen to the gentle movements of the spirit within oneself. In the introduction, he would write: (pg. 24)<br /><br /><b>“To contemplate is to move beyond your own activity and become activated by the inner power of the Holy Spirit. It means to be swept up into the threefold love current of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the silent prayer of the heart, a gift of the Spirit praying within you, you move beyond feelings, emotions, even thoughts. The Spirit is so powerfully operative that imagining or reasoning can only be noise that disturbs the silent communication of God at the core of your being. If you introduce “noise” by speaking words and fashioning images of God, then you are limiting His freedom to speak His word as He wishes, when He wishes. The Holy Spirit frees you so God can give Himself to you. With utter freedom and joy, respond always in deep silence and humble self-surrender to His inner presence.”</b><br /><b><br /> </b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeH-bNV8uwQ2CZ3JwMmazjsSn6gFNb2P0SI563cRFelrjmaQQhQndPM8RbsT_d-65Wuk0T85J3mZlMvimrbxIP-nKW0GuRlCT0oQsJweHFgDoeE_xXoS2wVa7NU6bAldMpMlKtsFxrt0/s1600/a+open+mind+open+heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeH-bNV8uwQ2CZ3JwMmazjsSn6gFNb2P0SI563cRFelrjmaQQhQndPM8RbsT_d-65Wuk0T85J3mZlMvimrbxIP-nKW0GuRlCT0oQsJweHFgDoeE_xXoS2wVa7NU6bAldMpMlKtsFxrt0/s1600/a+open+mind+open+heart.jpg" /></a></b></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>
</b>Fr. Thomas Keating’s book “Open Mind Open Heart”, although on the same subject, was entirely different. It was more like a “how to do” book explaining what contemplation is and what it is not, the history of contemplation, a chapter by chapter description on how to do it followed by a very detailed discussion on the difficulties encountered by others with responses. Although it is not my purpose here to explain the techniques of centering prayer, I have quoted the following from his book (pg. 110) to explain his teaching.<br /><br /><b>The method</b></span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br /></b><b>“To do this systematically, take up a comfortable position that will enable you to sit still. Close your eyes. Half of the world disappears for we generally think most about what we see. In order to slow down the usual flow of thoughts, think just one thought. For this purpose choose a word of one or two syllables with which you feel comfortable.</b><b><br /><br />A general loving look toward God may be better suited to the disposition of some persons. But the same procedures are followed as in the use of the sacred word. The word is a sacred word because it is the symbol of your intention to open yourself to the mystery of God’s presence beyond thoughts, images and emotions. It is chosen not for its content but for its intent. It is merely a pointer that expresses the direction of your inward movement towards the presence of God.<br /><br />To start, introduce the sacred word in your imagination as gently as if you were laying a feather on a piece of absorbent cotton. Keep thinking the sacred word in whatever form it arises. It is not meant to be repeated continuously. The word can flatten out, become vague or just an impulse of the will, or even disappear. Accept it in whatever form it arises.<br /><br />When you become aware that you are thinking some other thoughts, return to the sacred word as the expression of your intent. The effectiveness of this prayer does not depend on how distinctly you say the sacred word or how often, but rather on the gentleness with which you introduce it into your imagination in the beginning and the promptness with which you return to it when you are hooked on some other thought.<br /><br />Thoughts are an inevitable part of centering prayer. Our ordinary thoughts are like boats sitting on a river so closely packed together that we cannot see the river that is holding them up. A thought in the context of this prayer is any perception that crosses the inner screen of consciousness. We are normally aware of one object after another passing across the inner screen of consciousness: images, memories, feelings, external impressions. When we slow down that flow for a little while, space begins to appear between the boats. Up comes the reality on which they are floating.<br /><br />The prayer of centering is a method of directing your attention from the particular to the general, from the concrete to the formless. At first you are preoccupied by the boats that are going by. You become interested in seeing what is on them. But just let them all go by. If you catch yourself becoming interested in them, return to the sacred word as the expression of the movement of your whole being toward God present within you.<br /><br />The sacred word is a simple thought that you are thinking at ever deepening levels of perception. That’s why you accept the scared word in whatever form it arises within you. The word on your lips is exterior and has no part in this form of prayer. The thought in you imagination is interior; the word as an impulse of your will is more interior still. Only when you pass beyond the word into pure awareness is the process of interiorization complete. That is what Mary of Bethany was doing at the feet of Jesus. She was going beyond the words she was hearing to the Person who was speaking and entering into union with Him. This is what we are doing as we sit in centering prayer interiorizing the sacred word. We are going beyond the sacred word into union with that to which it points—the Ultimate Mystery, the Presence of God, beyond any perception that we can form of him.” </b><br /><b><br /></b>So this became my practice, and it opened up pathways to moments with the Lord that surpassed all my previous experience. The Lord always seem to catch my attention through consolation, and then gently lead me to solid ground where participation with Him is sought without so much inner fanfare and delight. The danger with too much consolation is that we can begin to seek it instead of maturing into a union with God based on faith along. Without God’s gentle wisdom on this matter, we can end up chasing after the wake of the ship when God wants to take us on board where we can be shaped into a proper vehicle of His love and service. But at the same time, grace beckons us to let go of any resistances to God’s love and to flow with ease towards this way of life He desires for us.<br /><br />It was never too difficult for me to discipline myself to practice this prayer for the recommended two sessions a day of at least twenty minutes each. I looked forward to this time and gauged the rest of my day around these grace filled times of just sitting in silence before the Lord.</span></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-66321878025067511902016-04-18T18:48:00.002-07:002016-04-18T18:58:37.733-07:00The Strangers In The Box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvv-rZRYWE3caEuIl0QEoo9WuDAk1k4icg1vx5um1Ut5GfQCKP7_Ziy60NexefGlMwfaurZkReI2I6gWEFyKCaR9Jsn912VbFonMnYDUxrmVsVO_Am8bPmYiUCxYRPICw3EItLk9ziS_Q/s1600/1916+Eddie+Moore+and+friend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvv-rZRYWE3caEuIl0QEoo9WuDAk1k4icg1vx5um1Ut5GfQCKP7_Ziy60NexefGlMwfaurZkReI2I6gWEFyKCaR9Jsn912VbFonMnYDUxrmVsVO_Am8bPmYiUCxYRPICw3EItLk9ziS_Q/s400/1916+Eddie+Moore+and+friend.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Come, look with me inside this drawer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In this box I've often seen</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the pictures, black and white</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Faces proud, still and serene.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wish I knew the people</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">These strangers in the box</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Their names and all their memories</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Are lost among the socks.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQX0OGufbK9J420HVDWDoZsOGjeDQmYJ-z59D7LOausO_rNVD66CQT3s0_WcKIsKcSHz8u_b2q_AR9Q2FQsNPcVU2-VC8CmYtpLgkyH348M3jv4cyneVYmdQQidf-sqWxzC6MH66EfRQc/s1600/1916+men+inc+William+%2526+Eddie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQX0OGufbK9J420HVDWDoZsOGjeDQmYJ-z59D7LOausO_rNVD66CQT3s0_WcKIsKcSHz8u_b2q_AR9Q2FQsNPcVU2-VC8CmYtpLgkyH348M3jv4cyneVYmdQQidf-sqWxzC6MH66EfRQc/s400/1916+men+inc+William+%2526+Eddie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I wonder what their lives were like, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">How did they spend their days/</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What about their special times?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'll never know their ways.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWwG76Zd0N6wgHgd9fLAYNsdZNmA9JCYf6w5Z1E1HynSGJ8BR9VYPiX756oELHLZQW8ywJlhUxZY6s4liPe_9CIYTteZGk0oBhkXN4I80EAIlAZ55f7Wctb2ddGwUBrX1rqL2dEXoxEo/s1600/AlanLennas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWwG76Zd0N6wgHgd9fLAYNsdZNmA9JCYf6w5Z1E1HynSGJ8BR9VYPiX756oELHLZQW8ywJlhUxZY6s4liPe_9CIYTteZGk0oBhkXN4I80EAIlAZ55f7Wctb2ddGwUBrX1rqL2dEXoxEo/s400/AlanLennas1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If only someone would have taken time,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To tell who, what, and when,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Those faces of my heritage</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Would come to life again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Could this become the fate</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of the pictures we take today?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The faces and the memories</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Someday to be tossed away.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPEVXN-WnNLPHo2T18u2HwjqYGQcOBTbBh9zxwQ98rrxu_U8CJk1alr8hKvqvo51_3c_I268Wd8vVZkHNmKmOXZPtPi5t3aknUTUObHczGTMHHWgNiaRA2ajPk-T4mZcw8lSCvdEBDzY/s1600/GrandfatherBeed+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPEVXN-WnNLPHo2T18u2HwjqYGQcOBTbBh9zxwQ98rrxu_U8CJk1alr8hKvqvo51_3c_I268Wd8vVZkHNmKmOXZPtPi5t3aknUTUObHczGTMHHWgNiaRA2ajPk-T4mZcw8lSCvdEBDzY/s320/GrandfatherBeed+001.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Make time to save your pictures</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Seize the opportunity when it knocks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Or someday you and yours could be</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The strangers in the Box.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pam Harazim</span>Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-88727178874766696372016-03-30T04:20:00.004-07:002016-03-30T04:36:18.770-07:00Legacy Writing Course St. John XXIII<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUiF9SPwhsTvqZsnQbXL_eoMb5kYI6qn1znpcyJZ0vUr1zd7lcRAl26uiKfWqqg0rqVMGdIACRWKm6fQHMVO4Q263ga9Q7HipsY71z1O7ae47tmgBqx0OMPNpU7KF_frzmWOcAjM_fco/s1600/grandparentslogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUiF9SPwhsTvqZsnQbXL_eoMb5kYI6qn1znpcyJZ0vUr1zd7lcRAl26uiKfWqqg0rqVMGdIACRWKm6fQHMVO4Q263ga9Q7HipsY71z1O7ae47tmgBqx0OMPNpU7KF_frzmWOcAjM_fco/s320/grandparentslogo.png" width="316" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="Paragraph SCX156088044" paraeid="{6729ffa9-58a7-433e-aaea-12dcb55c36c1}{137}" paraid="179055478" style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Sans-Serif; font-size: 6pt; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX156088044" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px;" xml:lang="EN-CA"></span><span class="WACImageContainer BlobObject SCX156088044" style="height: 194px; width: 229px;"></span></div>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="WACAltTextDescribedBy SCX156088044" id="{551057ad-2a89-4ed3-a258-a35a3719aea6}{9}">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">GUIDED AUTOBIOGRAPHY:</span></b><br />
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">WRITING THE STORY OF OUR LIVES</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Saint John XX111 Parish April 11 - June 06 ,2017 <br /><br /> The Catholic Grandparents Association of Saint John XX111 Parish in Dartmouth is reoffering Guided Autobiography, a guided writing course based on Dr. James E. Birren's 25 years of autobiographical writing experience in small group settings that was presented to two groups last year in St. John XX111. <br /><br />The course is 8 weeks long , one 2.5 hour lesson/practicum each week. Your Instructor is Linda MacDonald, retired professor from St. Mary's University and trained in the Birren method at University of Southern California. (Google: Guided Autobiography: Writing and Telling stories of Lives JE Birren)<br /><br />A suggested offering for the 8 week course, including lesson materials and background information is $ 38.00 per person. <br /><br />The course helps us to recall and write our life story, to explore major themes in our lives like work, home, relationships, faith, death and much more. Participants in this course will have a personal , professionally designed summary of your live and faith which makes an excellent gift to pass on to families ...your legacy . <br /><br />We plan to begin this course on April 11 th. but this may change to meet special requirements . <br /><br /> Contacts: </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Deacon Tom Smith at St. Ignatius </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">tesmith@ns.sympatico.ca , 902-835-2910 </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ron Beed, at abeed@eastlink.ca 902-435-5409 </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Deacon Len Moore, lenmoore@live.ca 902- 434-0567 <br /><br />Linda at 902-435-1966.</span></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-5208760628496615822016-03-25T07:56:00.000-07:002016-03-25T07:56:03.116-07:00Easter Greeting 2016<div dir="ltr">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">
<div style="display: inline; font-size: small;">
<div style="font-family: tahoma; font-size: 10pt; font-stretch: normal;">
<div style="background: rgb(245, 245, 245);">
<div>
<b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:enquiries@catholicgrandparentsassociation.org" title="enquiries@catholicgrandparentsassociation.org">Catherine Wiley</a> </div>
<div>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, March 25, 2016 5:04 AM</div>
<div>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:abeed@eastlink.ca" title="abeed@eastlink.ca">abeed@eastlink.ca</a> </div>
<div>
<b>Subject:</b> Wishing you a Blessed and Peaceful Easter</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4NgcNzGO2-hg62R643afhr9UY14vRYabWsAKntwChqyoVdFY1N3fcgM55DyACoQt8HPFaTHpz09wVbPVd-2VTSwJa-balx8qonoIAbeu7i6619f-7z4c-hc_TjzbD1dMPtVZplAJkMk/s1600/easter+greeting+2016.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4NgcNzGO2-hg62R643afhr9UY14vRYabWsAKntwChqyoVdFY1N3fcgM55DyACoQt8HPFaTHpz09wVbPVd-2VTSwJa-balx8qonoIAbeu7i6619f-7z4c-hc_TjzbD1dMPtVZplAJkMk/s640/easter+greeting+2016.png" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="display: inline; font-size: small;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Dear Ronald</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">Wishing you the Richest Blessings of Peace, Love, Joy and hope this Easter from the Catholic Grandparents Association. We are growing from strength to strength with your support and we thank you most sincerely for all you do to help us.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZo3CNwZzk5V5cTgH27VMSLqazG0IfWeY3WkII2XxtRb6NnW7ZhGXNkIN4gH9fxLV57cDVFUCDNwzqq2P2O9C_gsZHrVUbCsL9G6c-9QEatP4SvRDJ40Mc-ZquZyuASCsc-4J7IITzat4/s1600/easter+greeting+20161.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZo3CNwZzk5V5cTgH27VMSLqazG0IfWeY3WkII2XxtRb6NnW7ZhGXNkIN4gH9fxLV57cDVFUCDNwzqq2P2O9C_gsZHrVUbCsL9G6c-9QEatP4SvRDJ40Mc-ZquZyuASCsc-4J7IITzat4/s640/easter+greeting+20161.png" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">
<b style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><i>Please be kind enough to print our Easter Newsletter and share with your friends.</i></b></div>
<div style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHl1nFI9kbJEYCaBhd1weg9UQFpOVmu4-jcVjqdYvOtfZc-o10okZg3SBDfY7qi3lDsrYppUh-o_XfTxdk7D54jYqcAT0LKHUomShkY2kpRqCWughXi3UKx-K3AkxkYsuR0Jkh-Y6re0/s1600/easter+greeting+20163.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHl1nFI9kbJEYCaBhd1weg9UQFpOVmu4-jcVjqdYvOtfZc-o10okZg3SBDfY7qi3lDsrYppUh-o_XfTxdk7D54jYqcAT0LKHUomShkY2kpRqCWughXi3UKx-K3AkxkYsuR0Jkh-Y6re0/s640/easter+greeting+20163.png" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<table style="border-top-color: rgb(170, 171, 182); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="color: #41424e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; padding-top: 20px; width: 470px;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-62725660787726341772016-02-09T09:42:00.000-08:002016-02-09T09:42:07.601-08:00The Inner Journey<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mHDAMMvcMwPdgBtzhqVQch6Ajplqq1ULHrlRzoOiIrZL8jfsCBKGgiGgxZOB6ZqDRDSI8pqZbtfBivrH77UwRvW_bakY_BQBdoGcKfzAeUZtAn1S7LyfU7vS0x40q-2PTQYzXpWHeDo/s1600/ascent7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mHDAMMvcMwPdgBtzhqVQch6Ajplqq1ULHrlRzoOiIrZL8jfsCBKGgiGgxZOB6ZqDRDSI8pqZbtfBivrH77UwRvW_bakY_BQBdoGcKfzAeUZtAn1S7LyfU7vS0x40q-2PTQYzXpWHeDo/s400/ascent7.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">We often think that God is way out there, apart from us, distant. But that is far from the truth, far from reality. We experience God as we journey inward, not outward into the world of changing things. The mountain where God wishes to establish His home, that highest mountain where all nations shall stream towards too find justice and to be instructed in the truth, is not some far away place. It is within. We are so caught in this outer visible reality -- what we see, what we need and want, what we feel and think -- that we forget and ignore the reality within, God’s Dwelling place. We search for Him in distant places, or in our activities, when all that He requires of us is to be still, and journey within; away from the visible; away from the surface. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">St. Theresa of Avila calls it journeying within the interior castle. Many of us are caught on the outside. We feel isolated from God, unaware of His plan for our life because we do not venture to where He is. We must leave this outer place and enter into the inner chamber where He dwells. The first outer room begins to bring us to some awareness that He is present. We begin, or at least to desire to conform our outward actions with that inward intuitively call; to bring them in line. As we venture further in, we experience more of the warmth of His love. It touches and sooths our soul, and brings it into deeper awareness that something special lies ahead, something we want to be a part of. We experience an inner awakening to spiritual things, marked with peace, love, gentleness, understanding. We not only dare to journey on, we desire to move on. As we enter deeper into this inner chamber, this light and love grows more intensely. It exposes us to our own darkness, unworthiness. We sometimes feel very unclean in the presence of such purity, yet the light and love have a transforming effect on us. It actually transforms our darkness into light. That which we cling to, or clings to us, fall away, and the inner chamber of our hearts begin to glow with the spirit. We experience the living water that wells up within. We experience the light that transforms. We experience desire to be united with the light, spirit to touch spirit, soul to touch soul. The outer reality is still there, but sufficiently secure that we no longer seek after it. What now consumes us is our desire to enter deeper into this new reality that transforms and saves. So we go on, often guided only by our thirst for that which lies in secret, in silence. </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">Occasionally, we touch this inner reality. Love meeting love. We’ve arrived home, nothing can surpass the experience of finally arriving at the place sought, but only for a moment, and then some distraction, some thought, some feeling carries us away. Yet even these touches of grace are sufficient to keep us steadfast in our journey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">We now dare to venture out into our outer reality, carrying with us the remnants of light, grace and love to be shared with others. They are such fragile efforts, mere tokens of love compared to its source. They are more fragments of gold dust taken from the burning fire that lies at the centre of our being, but offering them is like offering our greatest treasure. They are offered with fear at first, with apprehension that they may be rejected, not seen by others as something of immense value. But later they are offered more freely, accepted by some, and not by others, but that’s OK. It’s important that they are offered, given freely away, in imitation of their source. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: large;">Isaiah<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: large;">In the days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it. Many people shall come and say: Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain, to the House of God of Jacob, that He may instruct us in His ways, and we may walk in His path. O House of Jacob, come. Let us walk in the light of the Lord</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></b></div>
<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">
</b></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-31987350701976940862016-02-04T14:52:00.001-08:002016-02-04T14:52:46.245-08:00Further Understandings of the Journey<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54YKLc6HNTxwIfCy4Z-ZPABRddecAi_DaGXFBkxne02cFstvC997RkDthAoRZFB81yMmmrOpCTXF57CUmvaQstDj9vvvTnNvu32VWxs4EUqHgU9QIfISW7R3nltGCe_wEkllEXbnTpDk/s1600/passages14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54YKLc6HNTxwIfCy4Z-ZPABRddecAi_DaGXFBkxne02cFstvC997RkDthAoRZFB81yMmmrOpCTXF57CUmvaQstDj9vvvTnNvu32VWxs4EUqHgU9QIfISW7R3nltGCe_wEkllEXbnTpDk/s400/passages14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My opening journal entry read as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"We have arrived. Our
plane (and us) arrived without a hitch in Louisville at 4:55 PM as
promised. We rented a car at the airport
and were on our way. We had dinner in
Bardstown and met Sister Danielle at Bethany Spring at 8:00 P.M. Everything exceeds my expectations.
The countryside, the sound of crickets, the quietness, all made me realize how
precious I find stillness. I can’t believe I’m here,
after reading about Gethsemane for nearly twenty years." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After settling in, we went to bed early in order to get up for
the 5:45 AM morning prayer at the Abbey.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigW-T8gJoz7OGs5BUGH3rnfKJxnKutgTMWUZou2-b3w4f_pYhnKztsVOAgc5zbsOzyJJgPlnf7-IzLpaMvqHYkuj0KtaUsDPZOeFC1PtD4dwJSD33Yxk7hdxuzKGDfL8vTgO-buijwBlM/s1600/passages3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigW-T8gJoz7OGs5BUGH3rnfKJxnKutgTMWUZou2-b3w4f_pYhnKztsVOAgc5zbsOzyJJgPlnf7-IzLpaMvqHYkuj0KtaUsDPZOeFC1PtD4dwJSD33Yxk7hdxuzKGDfL8vTgO-buijwBlM/s400/passages3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My wife and I made two trips to Gethsemane; a four day
visit in September, 1996 which only whetted our appetites for the much longer
five week visit in the spring of 1997.
During these visits, I was given the quiet moments I needed to explore
more deeply the writings of Thomas Merton, Thomas Moore, Thomas Keating, George
Maloney and others. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Through their
insights, I began to unravel some of the obstructions in my own mysterious
journey. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In "Care of the Soul", Thomas Moore wrote: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>“Writers are taught to “write what you know about”. The </b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQenxpp0mjGivqiVzIswZRKWh3JhERdCIqjizUw9T4RblHyIOTWnHEWwpIczhYDOR5rhUNFa9yrpDtdSYy7adIfSzPEi9jeD6sR6Y0zep2izjTZzHpYTeC7MM1pu68rhf82dfnnGuUWXc/s1600/passages13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQenxpp0mjGivqiVzIswZRKWh3JhERdCIqjizUw9T4RblHyIOTWnHEWwpIczhYDOR5rhUNFa9yrpDtdSYy7adIfSzPEi9jeD6sR6Y0zep2izjTZzHpYTeC7MM1pu68rhf82dfnnGuUWXc/s320/passages13.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>same advise applies to the quest for the
power of the soul: be good at what you’re good at. Many of us spend time and energy trying to be
something that we are not. But this is a
move against soul, because individuality rises out of the soul as water rises
out of the depth of the earth. We are
who we are because of the special mix that makes up our soul. Power begins in knowing this special soul,
which may be entirely different from our fantasies about who we are or who we
want to be.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thomas Keating, in his trilogy of books, “Open Mind Open
Heart”, Intimacy With God”, and “Invitation to Love” would introduce me to a
system of prayer called “centering” which </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdrONkXXVeix5d1nEUcsrWBukrXsSOpR0gby0wDZbcnfbVRmUPS8bcFGuy0yFGh2jTyzRMA4i0NhEN4dLJHyDPCny2tpDVUhyphenhyphentMEtQdBKzPvdB5PwXx24qX28ru6tRNmL5EwHY893y0Q/s1600/passages11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdrONkXXVeix5d1nEUcsrWBukrXsSOpR0gby0wDZbcnfbVRmUPS8bcFGuy0yFGh2jTyzRMA4i0NhEN4dLJHyDPCny2tpDVUhyphenhyphentMEtQdBKzPvdB5PwXx24qX28ru6tRNmL5EwHY893y0Q/s320/passages11.jpg" width="208" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">caused my prayer of stillness to
blossom. His books also brought me to a greater
understanding of the tension I was experiencing at this point in my life, and
thus provided some necessary assurance that many of the things I was
experiencing were normal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">According to Keating, I possessed the symptoms of one
who was experiencing the “dark night of the senses” an expression coined by St.
John of the Cross. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">These symptoms included:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">(i) a generalized
aridity in both the conventional methods of prayer and discursive meditation,
and daily life in general,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">(ii) a manifestation
of a fear that one is going backwards, and that through some personal fault or
failure we have offended God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">(iii) an inability or
disinclination to practice discursive meditation in which one ponders the
teaching and example of Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">(iv) a desire to
spend more time alone and in solitude, not for the sake of isolating oneself
from society, but to be obscurely in God’s presence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let’s look at each of these symptoms in a little more
detail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">(i) I was quite aware
that I could not find the same interest in the conventional methods of prayer
that use to be very satisfying. Formal prayer seemed too structured. My attention to this prayer was very distracted,
sometimes to the point of having little recollection of the contents of what I read. Also, the sense of satisfaction that use to
come from fulfilling these prayer commitments was dulled and
ineffective. The old enthusiasm for them
was not there. Keating would explain this
phenomenon in this way:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>“This aridity springs from the realization that no created
thing can bring us unlimited satisfaction or the satisfaction previously
experienced. In light of this intuition,
we know that all the gratifications we were seeking when we were motivated by
our emotional programs cannot possibly bring us happiness. This creates a period of mourning, during
which all things that we had counted on to bring us happiness are slowly
relativized.” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">(ii) Although I
experienced much consolation during my times of solitude and prayer of quiet, I
carried with me a sense that following God required that I become more rooted
in activity (Christian Service). In wanting to do otherwise, it was as if I was
not being charitable, that I was being self-centered. I carried an underlying belief that this
outward action is what God expected of me, and I multiplied these actions in
hopes of purging this self-centred attribute.
Again, Keating says:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>“During these times, some people mistakenly think it is the
end of their relationship with God. This
is not true. What has ended is there
over dependence on the senses and reasoning.
God is really offering a more intimate relationship. If they would not reflect on their anxious
feelings, they would begin to perceive it.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">(iii) In prayer, I spontaneously moved towards more times of
quiet and solitude. I continued with the
other types of prayer but ultimately, stillness would result. My outward prayer activities, however, were
principally unsatisfying. Keating
remarks:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>“Our ordinary ways of relating to God are being changed to
ways that we do not know. This pulls the
rug out from under our plans and strategies for the spiritual journey. We learn that the journey is a path that
cannot be mapped out in advance. God
helps us to disidentify from our preconceived ideas by enlightening us from
within.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">(iv) I discovered
that looking too close at this tension, or attempting to purge this tension through more activity just did not work.
It only split, to a greater degree, the inner self (which truly wishes
to be aligned with God’s will) from the exterior person who identifies and sees
him(her) self in the frantic activity that never satisfies. However, during this time it was difficulty
to stop, to become composed, and then to place complete trust in God to do what
I was unable to do myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6FwrqarEhAErw15Lxoz2oPOjxR3bVtpQtwIlkFeGbCoshrcJZxuEC6nra_mAog9uEU6AAY4-2toyJdm1H9lQE9KjFXJomHlXuxuN1LMT6VcMqzmtOFB44PrmgfVxa-keJXRNb3knyEs/s1600/passages15.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6FwrqarEhAErw15Lxoz2oPOjxR3bVtpQtwIlkFeGbCoshrcJZxuEC6nra_mAog9uEU6AAY4-2toyJdm1H9lQE9KjFXJomHlXuxuN1LMT6VcMqzmtOFB44PrmgfVxa-keJXRNb3knyEs/s1600/passages15.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A "saving grace" for me at this time (and for many years following) was the discovery of an the eight-day contemplative retreat experience in a book written by Fr. George Maloney SJ called "Alone With The Alone".</span><br />
<br /></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-51124560550658687232016-01-30T08:35:00.001-08:002016-01-30T08:38:33.619-08:00Grandparent's Road To Saintly Behavior<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eZKCQ4lKVJ_xBAobTNuZ986LXnpqMXmYi5CaJNQxZTVXSqFeLsWdKtwHor4cVgPinL057CZa6yR1VoMjNhXmpMSJv6SebT3HtQzlXCtR2t_w56dHM-kjHJ3UM2WyoApp-WDZK162eYI/s1600/blogvision1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eZKCQ4lKVJ_xBAobTNuZ986LXnpqMXmYi5CaJNQxZTVXSqFeLsWdKtwHor4cVgPinL057CZa6yR1VoMjNhXmpMSJv6SebT3HtQzlXCtR2t_w56dHM-kjHJ3UM2WyoApp-WDZK162eYI/s400/blogvision1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><br /></strong></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. Find God in simple chores. We all share responsibility for doing simple chores. Place emphasis on the sharing and doing. Be available.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />2. Be positive. Complement one another. Look for the best in others. Give people the benefit of the doubt.<br /><br />3. Spend an hour each day reading about things that matter. Spend time talking about things that matter, praying with each other. Good substitute for TV.<br /><br />4. Balance solitude with activity. Provide space for quiet time.<br /><br />5. Move towards more prayer, spiritual reading, masses or church services.<br /><br />6. Take periodic retreats away from home.<br /><br />7. Be in touch with nature, such as gardening, walks, beaches.<br /><br />8. Be a part and keep in touch with small group in your communities. Find places of trust, respect, safe havens to be.<br /><br />9. Exercise, eat healthy, share physical activities with others.<br /><br />10. Listen to the still small voice inside you and follow what it tells you.<br /><br />11. Rediscover your purest inner self. You become pleased with yourself when you know that God is pleased with you, and self-concerns disappear.<br /><br />12. Be charitable and giving. We express this by taking care of each other, kindness and respect for each other, living the golden rule, sharing of time talent and treasure.<br /><br />13. Encourage and find ways to enhance your faith. Focus on God and living the Spiritual life.<br /><br />14. Look back on life's experiences to rediscover meaningful times of growth and happiness.<br /><br />15. Base your decisions and actions on what you perceive to be right, not on possibilities for benefits and entitlements.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFylNHxqEP0PuBGFYZbJ3e0-dQBYYLMeOtrBJl0EK-Hd-PTZnRKvCj_UTMqxi1tjkFOywpche0wrMxD6nCRVBacUuAZgJGwpa-aFBL7e7TqBU3z-aWvF85eKQ0Em8EPgHoirOeOCcfck/s1600/confirmation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFylNHxqEP0PuBGFYZbJ3e0-dQBYYLMeOtrBJl0EK-Hd-PTZnRKvCj_UTMqxi1tjkFOywpche0wrMxD6nCRVBacUuAZgJGwpa-aFBL7e7TqBU3z-aWvF85eKQ0Em8EPgHoirOeOCcfck/s1600/confirmation.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-66245911320121383882016-01-28T07:44:00.004-08:002016-01-28T07:56:06.040-08:00Archdiocese Letter Re Lenten Video Series 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYOjUEsTeJkttZamNxOLyxE6xQAIv-JhQsKhRW8K-U0FJQldngDrtKiNwcFz8dsd1kGhgyy5jRbDwoRf1-3w7jqUH4OFtLBq6eyFKZOwpq-w-na4J8h8epM2JdfKTZyQ9VgfHZPz3HjY/s1600/archdiocese.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYOjUEsTeJkttZamNxOLyxE6xQAIv-JhQsKhRW8K-U0FJQldngDrtKiNwcFz8dsd1kGhgyy5jRbDwoRf1-3w7jqUH4OFtLBq6eyFKZOwpq-w-na4J8h8epM2JdfKTZyQ9VgfHZPz3HjY/s640/archdiocese.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: 12.0pt; page-break-after: avoid;">
<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 24pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: 12.0pt; page-break-after: avoid;">
<b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 24pt;">MEMO<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14pt;">TO: <b>All Pastors,
Parishes, and Parish Pastoral Planning Contacts</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14pt;">FROM: Office of
Pastoral Life & New Evangelization <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14pt;">DATE: January 27,
2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: windowtext 1.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 14pt;">RE: 2016 Lenten Series <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-size: large;">Hello friends,
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-size: large;">Many have been
inquiring about the 2016 Lenten Video Series and we are happy to provide you
with some details. We are putting the final touches the videos and the
resources and will have all material available shortly. Below is an article
that will be featured in the upcoming February edition of <i>Discipleship</i> and
it further details the content and format of this year’s Series. Should you
have any questions or need more information please contact your region’s
PL&NE representative noted in the table following the article.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Lenten Series 2016 – Taking the Next
Step<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">“This three part series is designed to help you imagine what
a dynamic community of missionary disciples looks like in concrete terms.”
Archbishop Mancini<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our second Lenten Series, being held in the context of the
Year of Mercy, is designed to activate our spiritual imaginations. Through
prayer, conversation, and reflection, the series will help us to imagine what a
community of believers, focused on the mission of Christ, looks and acts like in
our time and place. Each of the three sessions explores fundamental aspects of
Mission, Community, and Formation with the goal of helping each one of us
articulate the necessary actions required to be modern day followers of Jesus
Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">At the heart of the Archbishop’s 2014 Pastoral Letter is a
question: <i>Lord, Where Are You Going?</i> Over the past year we have looked at
our parish communities in terms of mission, community, and formation in order to
discern <i>where we are </i>- but to get <i>where we are going</i> requires
taking the next step. The next step is to look beyond where we are now and
envision what actions must be undertaken to get to where the Lord is calling us
to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>This phase of our process of transformation asks each parish,
or group of parishes, to create a pastoral plan. <u>Pastoral planning isn’t about
trying to keep doing the same things we’ve always done in the way we’ve always
done them. That’s no longer possible. </u> Our world has changed dramatically, and
the pace of change continues to quicken.</b> Therefore, through the course of this
series we must identify the actions required to face the challenge of proposing
Jesus Christ in today’s circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Identifying these actions requires a process of discernment
and spiritual conversation. This year’s Lenten series is intended to let you do
most of the talking! Each session features a short introduction from Archbishop
Mancini, followed by three 10 minute segments focused on a particular aspect of
the topic. A time of prayer and group discussion follows each segment. From
there each participant completes a short survey aimed at capturing where the
parish is excelling and may need improvement. This information will be used by
your parish pastoral planning team to help create the action plan for your
community. All sessions conclude with a short reflection from Archbishop Mancini
focused on the Gospel readings for the 2<sup>nd</sup>, 3<sup>rd</sup> and
4<sup>th</sup> Sundays of Lent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">In session one, John Stevens – Manager, Pastoral Life &
New Evangelization – identifies our mission using Biblical examples, the wisdom
of Pope Francis’ exhortation <i>The Joy of the Gospel</i>, and the contents of
Archbishop Mancini’s 2014 Pastoral Letter. Each short segment focuses on an
aspect of our mission; Sharing Christ with Others, Ministry to Those in Need,
and Reliance on the Holy Spirit and ends with questions to consider in our
personal and parish life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">In session two, Fr. Rob Arsenault, C.C. – Chaplain at
Dalhousie & St. Mary’s University – brings our focus on the crucial aspect
of community. Speaking from his experience as a pastor, working with young
adults, and as a member of a religious community Fr. Rob challenges our
assumptions about our sacramental life, our relationships with one another and
the world, and our systems and structures. Each segment seeks to answer the
question, “if someone who knew nothing about Christ came to our church, what
would they see?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">In the third, and final, session, Chris O’Hara – Staff Member
at the St. Therese School of Faith and Mission – reflects on our need for
Formation. Combining his experience working in youth leadership with the
writings of Saint John Paul II Chris offers us a look at formation, in terms of
the maturation of our Christian life. As someone working regularly in the
formation of youth and young adults Chris brings a fresh perspective to our
understandings of faith formation. Each segment looks to explore how growing in
discipleship, leadership, and service are essential to accomplishing our
missionary mandate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sessions can be completed in a variety of ways. Small groups
meeting in homes offer an excellent opportunity for in depth discussion. The
format also lends itself to a weekly series, parish missions, day long retreats
and other creative uses.</b> <b><u>Additionally, the diocese is exploring other means of
participation using web based opportunities.</u></b> Hopefully, parishes will offer a
variety of ways for people to participate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Last year an average of 1,000 people participated in the
three sessions of the Lenten Series, often despite terrible weather conditions!
Given the important nature of the material being discussed we hope you will add
your input to this process. <b>If you have ideas, hopes, passions, and aspirations
for our church the 2016 Lenten Series offers a forum to share them with others
in a context of faith and prayer.</b></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 703px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background: black; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: black 1pt solid; border-right: medium none; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 2.95in;" valign="top" width="283"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="FR-CA" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt;">REGION</span></b><b><span lang="FR-CA" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: black; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="FR-CA" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt;">NAME</span></b><b><span lang="FR-CA" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: black; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: black 1pt solid; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 202.5pt;" valign="top" width="270"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="FR-CA" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt;">CONTACT</span></b><b><span lang="FR-CA" style="color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-bottom: black 1pt solid; border-left: black 1pt solid; border-right: medium none; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 2.95in;" valign="top" width="283"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="FR-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">Les paroisses
acadiennes dans les regions d’ Argyle et Clare</span></b><b><span lang="FR-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: black 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Wanda Comeau</span><span lang="FR-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: black 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: black 1pt solid; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 202.5pt;" valign="top" width="270"><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="mailto:wcomeau@halifaxyarmouth.org"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">wcomeau@halifaxyarmouth.org</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">PH: (902) 769-3844</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: black 1pt solid; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 2.95in;" valign="top" width="283"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Annapolis
Valley-Yarmouth-South Shore </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">Sr. Bernadette Cool,
foh</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: black 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 202.5pt;" valign="top" width="270"><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="mailto:srbernadette@halifaxyarmouth.org"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">srbernadette@halifaxyarmouth.org</span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;"> PH: (902) 429-9800 ext 322</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-bottom: black 1pt solid; border-left: black 1pt solid; border-right: medium none; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 2.95in;" valign="top" width="283"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dartmouth/Eastern Shore
</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: black 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">Lydia
Hood</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: black 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: black 1pt solid; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 202.5pt;" valign="top" width="270"><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="mailto:lhood@halifaxyarmouth.org"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">lhood@halifaxyarmouth.org</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">PH: (902) 429-9800 ext
311</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: black 1pt solid; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 2.95in;" valign="top" width="283"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Halifax/Central
</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Aurea Sadi</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: black 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 202.5pt;" valign="top" width="270"><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="mailto:asadi@halifaxyarmouth.org"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">asadi@halifaxyarmouth.org</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">PH: (902) 429-9800 ext
310</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-bottom: black 1pt solid; border-left: black 1pt solid; border-right: medium none; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 2.95in;" valign="top" width="283"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">North/Central</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: black 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">John Stevens</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: black 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: black 1pt solid; border-top: black 1pt solid; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 202.5pt;" valign="top" width="270"><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="mailto:jstevens@halifaxyarmouth.org"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">jstevens@halifaxyarmouth.org</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">PH: (902) 429-9800 ext
331</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-bottom: black 1pt solid; border-left: black 1pt solid; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 2.95in;" valign="top" width="283"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: black 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="150"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: black 1pt solid; border-left: medium none; border-right: black 1pt solid; border-top: medium none; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 202.5pt;" valign="top" width="270"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Aurea
Sadi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Office of Pastoral Life &
New Evangelization<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Archdiocese of
Halifax-Yarmouth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ph: (902) 429-9800 ext.
310<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cell: (902)
802-5486<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Fax: (902)
423-5201<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-64655762173506158972016-01-25T07:22:00.000-08:002016-01-25T07:22:19.584-08:00Passages<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Our Christian destiny is, in fact, a great one: but we
cannot achieve greatness unless we lose all interest in being great. For our own ideas of greatness are illusory,
and if we pay too much attention to it, we will be lured out of the peace and
stability of the being God gave us, and seek to live in a myth we have created
for ourselves.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thomas Merton “No Man Is An Island” <span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAhH76fG0ukz0fMqbaYy2y2BCb_yvnozDdC1pG0QoL4xnR-A5NIox46F8XLd64X8mdcX0A_0DdTra4pQ9x3Np-rgnegNXszOGRCuUzzSneHr8VEq4CihjhyphenhyphentKgSYh5OSD3kI2yGvafdA/s1600/passages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAhH76fG0ukz0fMqbaYy2y2BCb_yvnozDdC1pG0QoL4xnR-A5NIox46F8XLd64X8mdcX0A_0DdTra4pQ9x3Np-rgnegNXszOGRCuUzzSneHr8VEq4CihjhyphenhyphentKgSYh5OSD3kI2yGvafdA/s400/passages.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There seems to be passages through which we must
go at certain intervals in our lives.
The most obvious one would be the transition from adolescence to
adulthood. The events of this passage
are well documented; raging hormones, a striving for independence, a general
lack of maturity in dealing with life’s situations. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">But are there not other passages in life that we must go through as well?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If one were to look at Jesus’ life, three passages are
easily observable: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first being His baptism in the river Jordan when He was more fully awakened to His own personal
identity as one with a special mission. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The second being the forty days He spent in the desert overcoming the world, the flesh, and the devil so that He
could begin His ministry unobstructed by worldly ambitions, compulsions, desires, and anything else that
might become an obstacle to following His inner voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">His third passage being His final surrender in the garden of Gethsemane where, in obedience to faith, He gave consent to let go of
His very life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many of these passages we are also called to experience. And the more we resist these movements of Grace, the </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iFjAKUgxh9CjMOLr3DAG225jzq0jo858BurdksiEiqN_WEUxms_tOeLlpVD6KnhJ7H6-IdYxRIOEaZkcmukGNniZOEWJ3jzFBxlPLJ6AsiF_lWYDGOEqESaf1gTv9LBOxoLnCibeKhw/s1600/passages4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iFjAKUgxh9CjMOLr3DAG225jzq0jo858BurdksiEiqN_WEUxms_tOeLlpVD6KnhJ7H6-IdYxRIOEaZkcmukGNniZOEWJ3jzFBxlPLJ6AsiF_lWYDGOEqESaf1gTv9LBOxoLnCibeKhw/s320/passages4.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">greater our suffering.
Through the process of letting go, we eventually discover that something
of greater value lies beyond. The only
difficulty is that as we are passing through, the fear of being cut off
from the familiar obscures our vision and confuses our mind. We experience what Thomas Merton and other
mystics call “spiritual dread”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In my first posting, I began by describing early graced
moments as times of wonder and awe, something that we desire and seek. We must realize too that graced moments are
also those times of passages, times of tension, when life is calling us to
emerge like butterflies from a caterpillar’s cocoon. These graced moments can be frightening to us
because they are asking us to move away from the familiar. And we do not know what to expect as we are
drawn into these uncharted waters. We
do not look forward to or seek these times as they go against some of our natural
build-in defense mechanisms that seek comfort and certainty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One such passage (and therefore grace) began for me in my late forties. The following tension was noted in my journal at that time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>“The tension that I’m trying so hard to overcome is this growing lack of interest in exterior things. This becomes evident in how I feel about activities that use to be an important part of my life. I struggle to understand why this is happening, but I'm beginning to believe that I may have to learn
to live with it. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Deep within myself, I'm beginning to experience a growing sense
of presence and peace to which I am drawn.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It resides interiorly when I am in silence
and solitude.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">During these times, exterior
things lose their relevance.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My outward striving,
plans and worldly concerns disappear into insignificance.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is from within that I am at peace, knowing
that I’m loved for who I am.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is here
that I experience God; loving, nourishing, healing, allowing the inner fire of
His love to glow, assuring me that what I search for cannot be found in any
other place. ”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At this time of passage, it was apparent that I was
beginning to experience increasing dissatisfaction with my exterior life; but
this was being compensated by a richer and more satisfying interior life. It seemed that a solution to such a dilemma
would be to escape entirely to this interior reality and leave the exterior behind. Of course, on quick reflection, one could
easily conclude that such, if even possible, was not the solution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thomas Merton in his book “No Man Is An Island” touched on
what I was experiencing with the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVuy6fRHzvuJZcJawoLQIbqnRzaoJbAHx6kcicq9Aj7U3Ol2uWFoMCbStrkvZkE8FpGiD9S6l5A2MrRTpbjZqt7geVCx-s9ny2mZ-_2gD6GWMikl-2BORlfqgeem775MdYt5_7_DzjoU/s1600/passages11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVuy6fRHzvuJZcJawoLQIbqnRzaoJbAHx6kcicq9Aj7U3Ol2uWFoMCbStrkvZkE8FpGiD9S6l5A2MrRTpbjZqt7geVCx-s9ny2mZ-_2gD6GWMikl-2BORlfqgeem775MdYt5_7_DzjoU/s320/passages11.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>“When a man constantly looks at himself in the mirror of his
own acts, his spiritual double vision splits him into two people. And if he strains his eyes hard enough, he
forgets which one is real. In fact, reality
is no longer found either in himself, or in his shadow. The substance has gone out of itself into the
shadow, and he has become two shadows instead of one real person.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Then the battle begins.
Whereas one shadow was meant to praise the other, now one shadow accuses
the other. The activity that was meant
to exalt him reproaches and condemns him.
It is never real enough; never active enough. The less he is able to be the more he has to
do. He becomes his own slave driver – a
shadow whipping a shadow to death, because it cannot produce reality,
infinitely substantial reality, out of his own nonentity.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Then comes fear. The
shadow becomes afraid of the shadow. He
who “is not” becomes terrified at the things he cannot do. Where for a while he had illusions of
infinite power, miraculous sanctity (which he was able to guess at in the
mirror of his virtuous actions) now it had all changed. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Why do we have to spend our lives striving to be something
that we would never want to be, if we only knew what we wanted. Why do we waste our time doing things which,
if we only stopped to think about them, are just the opposite of what we were
made for.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>We cannot be ourselves unless we know ourselves. But self-knowledge is impossible when
thoughtless and automatic activity keeps our souls in confusion. In order to know ourselves, it is not
necessary to cease all activity in order to think about ourselves. That would be useless, and would probably do
most of us a great deal of harm. But we
have to cut down our activity to the point where we can think calmly and
reasonably about our actions. We cannot
begin to know ourselves until we can see the real reasons why we do the things
we do, and we cannot be ourselves until our actions correspond to our
intentions, and our intentions are appropriate to our own situation. “<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The way through this uncertain and turbulent passage, I
discovered, would be through inward stillness.
In quiet stillness, allowing my body, my thoughts, my feelings to be
at rest, an inner light began to guide me through the difficult passage until a new life blossomed. And it would
never fail that I would be in a better place after than before, emerging once
again more whole, and more accepting of the mystery contained
in the human journey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the spring of 1997, this passage took me to the Abbey of
Gethsemane in Bardstown Kentucky, the Trappist monastery that captivated and
inspired Thomas Merton for the majority of his life.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJ8apbUpamKjaCicWinwwPpc5mFpl7EjTSKtgoAF7A7YQrqNnLT-d60TNNkrKOMbrGdI9V4Ia0FMOaQs66z4EOp9uuwuz0gjgIbmdpFE6siO_s1dAmYVyD1sIWu97OmKW9gm8vDeZuRM/s1600/passages3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJ8apbUpamKjaCicWinwwPpc5mFpl7EjTSKtgoAF7A7YQrqNnLT-d60TNNkrKOMbrGdI9V4Ia0FMOaQs66z4EOp9uuwuz0gjgIbmdpFE6siO_s1dAmYVyD1sIWu97OmKW9gm8vDeZuRM/s400/passages3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-91683451265467288962016-01-15T08:28:00.002-08:002016-01-15T08:50:02.421-08:00Why Share A Faith Legacy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Often today, we see posters and signs encouraging us to live
in the “present moment”.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“The past is
gone, the future is yet to be determined.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Real life happens “now”, in the present moment.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOo2eUt_UPew7tT_AXMcdgIJYW9ePtXBxfkrDNNrzF84so4Q5hT-90-SSE7PrlfVIL-d1KyHunL8J66FrETSeceWTWU3AOpOMgZ7EOWOFKCcSPAEI26Jk9A3NBaCgHsYMJmoP0Qn5weLE/s1600/livingpresent3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOo2eUt_UPew7tT_AXMcdgIJYW9ePtXBxfkrDNNrzF84so4Q5hT-90-SSE7PrlfVIL-d1KyHunL8J66FrETSeceWTWU3AOpOMgZ7EOWOFKCcSPAEI26Jk9A3NBaCgHsYMJmoP0Qn5weLE/s400/livingpresent3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Being a long-time meditator, I certainly
believe in this myself. Let’s face it,
too much time can be wasted dwelling on past hurts or mistakes, mulling over past
stories that only stir up a sense of sadness or regret.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If this is the case, then what is the purpose of sharing the
stories of our past, our faith legacy?
Is this not giving too much attention to what lies behind us, and takes
us away from living our lives in the present moment?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If we are writing our stories in order to romanticize the
past or to dwell negatively on the burdens and hardships we had to bear, then I
agree it would be best to let them go and forget the past. Do your best to live your life to its fullness
“now”. After all, why create a life that
is lost in the drama and pain of past events that take away the joy of this
present moment. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, our stories, the legacy of our faith can be a “present
moment” experience. What is a “present moment” experience? When we give our attention to something that
is immediate, whether it is a mountain view, a sunset, a flower, an ocean scene
etc., we become immersed in an awe and wonder that produces joy, peace, love
and contentment. If this is your
experience, you have entered the world of your true self. You are living in the present moment. This
is the place where your Spirit comes in contact with God’s Spirit, and the two
unite.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Psalm 139 does that for me as well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>“Lord, you have searched me and know me, You know when I sit
down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and
are acquainted with all my ways. Even
before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind
and before, and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot
attain it.”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Vo2MS-N58ySNq0yvM7iNO7a5oxM22sSNqYGFSaKoN2uk7VqGdjX5D24fVeGiBQswEc88SiJES7x2u5VRcM2KtyVVWj7zaqBzwoSL8JcrOAWy55TmQvs88pQIYNUQjsB0GvSXX1H6o3k/s1600/livingpresent4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Vo2MS-N58ySNq0yvM7iNO7a5oxM22sSNqYGFSaKoN2uk7VqGdjX5D24fVeGiBQswEc88SiJES7x2u5VRcM2KtyVVWj7zaqBzwoSL8JcrOAWy55TmQvs88pQIYNUQjsB0GvSXX1H6o3k/s400/livingpresent4.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Psalm 139 is a legacy of faith. It speaks of a past story of one’s experience
with God, but brings it alive to the “now”.
It produces the joy, peace, love and contentment of the present
moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over the years, we discover that we have been guided by that
which lies beyond the false notion of ourselves. When we
can more fully experience this eternal connection that we possess, then we also
can more easily embrace the life we have at this moment which we see as
fleeting but also most precious. From
this standpoint, the human experiences of the past become of immeasurable value
and are treasured because they represent for us (and others) moments that have provided for our growth, our well-being, and our happiness. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUPxMyfMyEPP-ZFQjspyhu30OaGIUpmLYIuuGjWn-LZysejzfAMsLQJHu03NAS2daCcjc2LZEMRmCB6zeayxNhTgPTrgs-sian3TomsFrm3CvH9jxXr_8JaTz2s24DEAqQzfHS1AeHV0/s1600/livingpresent6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUPxMyfMyEPP-ZFQjspyhu30OaGIUpmLYIuuGjWn-LZysejzfAMsLQJHu03NAS2daCcjc2LZEMRmCB6zeayxNhTgPTrgs-sian3TomsFrm3CvH9jxXr_8JaTz2s24DEAqQzfHS1AeHV0/s400/livingpresent6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our
connection with God through these past experiences becomes a witness to
ourselves and to others of God’s continuous presence in each moment of our
lives. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-76660904605212567562016-01-11T07:43:00.000-08:002016-01-12T07:15:13.974-08:00Moving Towards A Contemplative Live<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b>People have the fundamental duty to orientate their entire being and life to God.</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thomas Merton<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">I cannot recall the specific time that my new life and prayer took a turn from discursive to contemplative. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">By discursive prayer, I mean prayer that uses the faculties of the mind and imagination in the development of concepts, images </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnYlKleRp9R3Os9BfpNAh-x-WmKeftRxZyfYIcANaOJJP-OBNedBfHoyCCg-RYfhv2SKCtNmRyBaEhJh4mVatfZbU_UdZcGR7BYhLZLSc-EV0Yb8mLwpgbdWIf1lXJXDmpyJxKWOuzy8/s1600/contemplative.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnYlKleRp9R3Os9BfpNAh-x-WmKeftRxZyfYIcANaOJJP-OBNedBfHoyCCg-RYfhv2SKCtNmRyBaEhJh4mVatfZbU_UdZcGR7BYhLZLSc-EV0Yb8mLwpgbdWIf1lXJXDmpyJxKWOuzy8/s320/contemplative.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">and understanding of God. In contemplative prayer, these faculties are by-passed, and one becomes immersed in God as mystery, God as love. It is experiential but not at the level of the intellect or emotions. There is only a sense of being in God’s presence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">It all seemed to happen quite naturally. As a result of participation in the prayer group, and church activities, prayer became a norm that I grew to love. Through all of this, I did not cling to any particular style of prayer; so when the time came to change to a different type of prayer, it was not from any conscious decision but </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">seemed to flow from what I was experiencing at the moment</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">During times of scripture reflection, reading, or ordinary prayer, I would often find myself slipping into a silence where all I wanted to do was to be still, to let my obsessive thoughts fade away, and strangely sit in the presence of "nothingness". I was quite happy to be there for a time, soaking in the peaceful stillness as if some mysterious force was present there changing me and shaping me into something of its own design. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">This was the beginning of the time that I seemed to desire solitude, of not being disturbed. And often this time was followed by some form of consolation, of being united with that "nothingness". So rather than being a planned activity like many other things in my life at that time, there was a flow about it that made it feel quite natural and right. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">As I read and was influenced by the many books of Thomas </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvwg7rcs9X9cu04FIWy5uHg3BZlTR0YOJFAFaNYI8ZKpuc2MByCnqPpy9dboNh7yIJNXLovdOxPyCRZd9P7ZXHEyg10bkfSoNwzvFJ6P4IPhrUSyWt2O52wlKejyBxRcB6XbDpppimcA/s1600/contemplative8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvwg7rcs9X9cu04FIWy5uHg3BZlTR0YOJFAFaNYI8ZKpuc2MByCnqPpy9dboNh7yIJNXLovdOxPyCRZd9P7ZXHEyg10bkfSoNwzvFJ6P4IPhrUSyWt2O52wlKejyBxRcB6XbDpppimcA/s320/contemplative8.jpg" width="210" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Merton, Thomas Keating, James Finley, William Shannon, Richard Rohr etc., I began to better understand and desire this form of contemplative calling. And somewhere deep inside, I was drawn to the simplicity that a contemplative lifestyle could bring. It had an appeal at that stage of my spiritual life, even though I knew that such a life would be difficult for a working parent, with three young children. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">But balance among activities of family, work and ministry would always be an important consideration in my life, and I was learning the effects of imbalance as I plunged at times into too many activities. These would be times of feeling overwhelmed, out of control. And when these times would arise, adjustments had to be made so that life would take on some semblance of balance and smoothness. So I would always return to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">these quiet moments, times of just sitting in the presence of "nothingness" when life became overwhelmed with activity. It was often all that was needed to return to a balance that was more appropriate for my personality. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">During the years of transition towards this prayer of quiet, it seemed that my life could be broken down into two components. The most frequent part had to do with carrying out of the normal day to day activities with job, family, and church. Those moments were filled with all of their ups and downs, successes and failures, joys and sorrows. The less frequent part were those moments when I would slip into a space that can only be described as the total absence of all those things. It would be as if “self” no longer existed, and </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQ8pQWq24gTPOTwTr7NuNTtNxmweTtQbndsu5bBXMqyLFR1uOnku6NETTd1lValabId0ecyOvv0m2u5zMFlzjyhRAWfGeMOz60EGHv_tNwe1EgK53GTcY0ta7oe8c7ZhQha1sXPbcYCo/s1600/contemplative4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQ8pQWq24gTPOTwTr7NuNTtNxmweTtQbndsu5bBXMqyLFR1uOnku6NETTd1lValabId0ecyOvv0m2u5zMFlzjyhRAWfGeMOz60EGHv_tNwe1EgK53GTcY0ta7oe8c7ZhQha1sXPbcYCo/s400/contemplative4.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">nothing remained but a sense of oneness with God. Momentarily, it was a nice place to be, and when the time came for me to return to my outward life, I would venture back reluctantly. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Fr. Richard Rohr describes the experience well:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>God is always given, incarnate in every moment and present to those who know how to be present themselves. It is that simple and that difficult. To be present in prayer can be like the experience of being loved at a deep level. I hope you have felt such intimacy alone with God. I promise you it is available to you. Maybe a lot of us just need to be told that this divine intimacy is what we should expect and seek. We’re afraid to ask for it; we’re afraid to seek it. It feels presumptuous. We can’t trust that such a love exists—and for us. But it does.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-30662542248646265862016-01-07T13:04:00.000-08:002016-01-07T13:28:30.460-08:00Cosmic Christ - Fr Laurence Freeman<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is a level of relationship with Jesus where we come to see Him as the cosmic Christ. We begin to see that Jesus is at work everywhere.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vI0tiN88ldE/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vI0tiN88ldE?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First of all, we see Him in other people, at first perhaps in our Christian friends and Christian community. That’s the importance of Church. We reflect Jesus to each other; we share with each other what we have experienced of Jesus. We begin to build up a picture that this isn’t just my little Jesus who I’ve got in my pocket, but that this personal relationship with Jesus is a community relationship too. This might be a little bit challenging to us because we tend to be possessive about love. We want to be loved exclusively. We think that if anyone loves us, then they shouldn’t love anyone else. And if they love me and somebody else, that means they’re not giving me all their love. So we get jealous and possessive. But as we grow up, we learn what love means. The nature of love is that it is completely personal. We can be loved completely and uniquely, but not exclusively.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwethVjHpTWbmH9887EBjTB4QuYsm2pUkA-HTvBveLastBGZ5u0VMydlTyYaT9HaDBg0l2n8OMuz1xESxU-yRsiOZeQTXzONsmELiq_eZdcqCTaqfbl8FKNNnWgmUw31VGpt1fSHkFrs/s1600/cosmic+christ1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwethVjHpTWbmH9887EBjTB4QuYsm2pUkA-HTvBveLastBGZ5u0VMydlTyYaT9HaDBg0l2n8OMuz1xESxU-yRsiOZeQTXzONsmELiq_eZdcqCTaqfbl8FKNNnWgmUw31VGpt1fSHkFrs/s400/cosmic+christ1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />So we begin to see that this love we have with Jesus is also a cosmic thing, and it isn’t restricted to the church either. We can’t be possessive about Jesus and say that He only works in the Church. He works in different ways in different places. We begin to recognize that the Holy Spirit doesn’t work just in the Church or among Christians.<br /><br />In other words, our hearts and minds begin to expand. We begin to grow. Usually the heart grows first and the mind has to stretch afterwards. This is what we are facing today; a great challenge to the Church as we enter into dialogue with other religions. This is a new, historical moment because Christians have never been in this kind of relationship with other religions before.<br /><br />Most of us can remember the days when we used to think that if you weren’t Christian you were damned, more or less. Maybe this did not make total sense to people, but it was the mind-set of the time. </span><br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />That is no longer the teaching of the Church. The Church, according to the 2nd Vatican Council, rejects nothing that is true and holy in other religions. The present Pope has urged Christians to enter into dialogue, and deep spiritual dialogue, with other faiths. But that poses lots of questions. What is the uniqueness of Jesus? Is Jesus the only way to salvation? These are the questions that we will now have to listen to. We have to work out new theological language, new ways of thinking. Our encounter with the religions of the East do not threaten our Christian faith, but it challenges us to grow and to find new ways of expressing the mystery of Christ. This is the great new era we’re moving into. This is where the cosmic Christ begins to emerge.<br /><br />Also, in the past, this cosmic Christ was often thought of as an emperor sitting on his throne, reducing everybody else, putting everybody else down. But this is not the meaning of the cosmic Christ. The Cosmic Christ is not an imperialist Christ. But often on the past, Christianity became an imperialist religion; not very true to the teaching and humility of Jesus.<br /><br />The cosmic Christ does not mean an emperor. The cosmic Christ means as St Paul says in Cor. , “The secret is this: Christ within you, the hope of your glory to come.” The cosmic Christ is the inner Christ, recognized as being present in everyone else as well as yourself. When I see the Christ in me, in you, then I’m beginning to see the cosmic Christ. <br /><br />In the Upanishads, there’s a beautiful description of the heart, the symbol of the inner temple. And it says:<br /><br />“At the centre of the castle of Brahman, the human body, is<br />the heart; and in the deepest place of the heart, there is a<br />flame, the size of a thumb; and in that tiny space, are all the<br />worlds, the whole universe, everything that is.”<br /><br />So the Christ who dwells in us, in the deepest part of our <br />being, is our way into communion with everything that is; with<br />everyone and everything. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Cosmic Christ - Fr. Laurence Freeman Spiritual Director for World Community of Christian Meditation</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-45514978131012938572016-01-04T15:54:00.000-08:002016-01-04T16:00:28.337-08:00Movement Towards Stillness<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“To Reach satisfaction in all</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Desire satisfaction in nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">To come to possess all<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Desire the possession of nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">To arrive at being all<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Desire to be nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">To come to the knowledge of all<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Desire the knowledge of nothing.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8WyXLVst_fjcATk36lDUjHu6BM0W5LW743kJqkujUM3RgwutIdc66UG-Xr7NwU47CQpIOsbUJSJuy_jSpMKNqCVoT17uBgMc4q3Id0K3vExheIJnQcUEqHDw8_RvdNBk__gAd3c9dYA/s1600/ascent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8WyXLVst_fjcATk36lDUjHu6BM0W5LW743kJqkujUM3RgwutIdc66UG-Xr7NwU47CQpIOsbUJSJuy_jSpMKNqCVoT17uBgMc4q3Id0K3vExheIJnQcUEqHDw8_RvdNBk__gAd3c9dYA/s400/ascent.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“The Ascent of Mount Carmel” The Collective Works of St. John of the Cross</span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">When I first read these words of St. John of the Cross over forty years ago, they rang of a truth, as have many similar expressions that I've heard over the years. I was drawn to them as if they contained some deep revelation that would change my life. However, at that time, I must admit, I did not have a very deep understanding of what they meant. And for certain, I was not able to incorporate them fully into my life. But reflecting on these words and many others like them, I have been led to an experience of grace that would exceed anything that I could possibly imagine at that time. What do these words mean to you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGN9OikAuBeJ3U5yxEdyPziWmlsbVlFLjy6X91t1STbICZfG59n_jHEjjl4dcCAjfiGXqQsRErVGmYL6KAwnqajqWLLl7Z5qxd_wJ3KaJ453rgutCll2UvKRkdg1R5i64Q-WyK4aBE4Mk/s1600/ascent2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGN9OikAuBeJ3U5yxEdyPziWmlsbVlFLjy6X91t1STbICZfG59n_jHEjjl4dcCAjfiGXqQsRErVGmYL6KAwnqajqWLLl7Z5qxd_wJ3KaJ453rgutCll2UvKRkdg1R5i64Q-WyK4aBE4Mk/s400/ascent2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">There is a story of a ten-year-old boy who wanted to catch a Monarch butterfly. These butterflies frequently were found in the field back of his house, fluttering from flower to flower. So this morning, he set out with the intention of catching one. As he walked in the field, he saw one at a distance, and he quietly approached the area where he saw it. But before he could get close enough, the butterfly took off. Again and again he pursued the colorful butterfly, and again and again, it would take off as soon as he approached it. He tried outrunning the butterfly but with no success as it was quick to notice the boy’s advance, and dart out of harm’s way. After an hour of chasing, the boy grew very tired, so he laid down on the grass to rest. As he rested he closed his eyes and became very still. When he opened his eyes, he was surprised to find a Monarch butterfly gently resting on his arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikouLxjnO9oHVqvTKcCDiaXnvZFBjHBndBVqkNuh0INQwx-lq9_dC3eCRSpdhszgre8p1qXwY1QNoQTH9gJzsVcJMsvwQIAx1a4r0T_tdB1PTtphdGWA8KZYVPS95fz55jLjDe85xcVYQ/s1600/ascent4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikouLxjnO9oHVqvTKcCDiaXnvZFBjHBndBVqkNuh0INQwx-lq9_dC3eCRSpdhszgre8p1qXwY1QNoQTH9gJzsVcJMsvwQIAx1a4r0T_tdB1PTtphdGWA8KZYVPS95fz55jLjDe85xcVYQ/s320/ascent4.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">This simple story begins to explain the meaning of the often-quoted words of St. John of the Cross:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>“To come to possess all, desire to possess nothing.”</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are all searching for those things in life that will provide what we believe is necessary for our happiness and well-being. The direction we take is most often preceded by a desire for something, a desire for someone who will fill our needs at that particular moment. It is this desire that moves us in the direction of our choice. But I've discovered that some of the most important things we need and want cannot be obtained using the conventional approach. This conventional approach involves our chasing or grasping after things, in order to possess them. These things of which I am speaking are very elusive, like the butterfly. They are things that we cannot take possession of by grasping them and holding onto them. And yet, they are things that are very real and very important to us. They are things that are life enhancing. They are things like peace and joy and love. In our search for these elusive needs, we must grow to realize that they cannot be attained following the conventional approach to acquiring things. But they can become a part of our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">People like St. John of the Cross have taught me that by simply being still, with my eyes closed, with my mind quiet, not desiring anything, a space is created within me where those elusive qualities of peace, joy, love, and yes, even God, become very real. They gently come and rest in the centre of my being bringing with them the very thing the heart desires. They come, not as something to be acquired and possessed, but as gift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Is this not part of God’s plan put together so brilliantly to bring us into relationship with Him and with others? But it is a part of God’s plan that is often hidden, particularly from those whose spotlight is constantly focused on “self”. It’s in loving, that we are loved. It’s in giving joy to another and we ourselves experience</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> joy. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">By being gently and quietly attentive to the stillness and silence within, we mysteriously begin to open to the experience of God love at the centre of our being. We are no longer chasing, grasping: We are waiting. Through this stillness and silence, we begin to shed the barriers and obstacles that prevent this love from being experienced. In mystery, through silence and stillness, God’s divine plan begins to unfold in our lives as we discover God’s hidden truths. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrXL3wexD-PJC8eaUdSBFijp11wguhA_mgV0Kf02cOAPmPD_bJY0-LP_nTzR8S6ujClF8ndmxMwmTy0XlJPGPkpo0mesO0c8t-jWsOSb9XVAEOhpifSk6Dq3cHzS8MnNRl98mwFnnsg4/s1600/ascent7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrXL3wexD-PJC8eaUdSBFijp11wguhA_mgV0Kf02cOAPmPD_bJY0-LP_nTzR8S6ujClF8ndmxMwmTy0XlJPGPkpo0mesO0c8t-jWsOSb9XVAEOhpifSk6Dq3cHzS8MnNRl98mwFnnsg4/s400/ascent7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-58464258605925342522016-01-02T11:13:00.001-08:002016-01-04T11:39:12.494-08:00A New Year's Presentation at St. Anne's Group SVdP Parish<div class="s4" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; text-align: start;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKVYwaIliAqr7ElSZ-PmCExoJHGuakQBJy_eZ_XnjIA1njCJE_Ci4D-yoUwI8f_uOpqOB_pWe62OzKdSWbHil3Y3GEPzrJICtRZpSQs0OTEcyQdl7Sq3PRXUfoladSzCD8PwiYaAEaDc/s1600/newyear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKVYwaIliAqr7ElSZ-PmCExoJHGuakQBJy_eZ_XnjIA1njCJE_Ci4D-yoUwI8f_uOpqOB_pWe62OzKdSWbHil3Y3GEPzrJICtRZpSQs0OTEcyQdl7Sq3PRXUfoladSzCD8PwiYaAEaDc/s400/newyear.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">January is traditionally the time for new beginnings, fresh starts and new opportunities. The practice of making New Year's resolutions goes back over 3000 years. It is a time when people feel that they can begin anew with their lives. </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Common New Year's resolutions are to lose weight, exercise more and eat healthier; or to spend more time with family. Still others include managing money better and being more organized.</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">For the Christian, the grace of being given another day, or God willing, a whole new year, stirs our deep gratitude. </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Although there is nothing in the Bible or notable in Christian tradition </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">about </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">New</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Year's resolutions, many </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">people</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> take advantage of this time of year to become closer to the Lord. They may re-commit themselves to pray more, to read the Bible, or to attend Mass more re</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">gularly. If you are looking for some help in making your New Year’s resolutions, here are a few suggestions to get you started:</span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuSdAmyEM9heEx_GjET4DwQSDA5yDuQnDxkJ7gOYDafaTQgiiQKFgAHLUnI1d8H6K9YBRUCZp2Hknx3hhY3xHyNyU65eIx1GvpxiL35cdEYfBBdWCbHreBwwu5JsZWDkZrnT5lyc8Ixw/s1600/IMG_00001074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuSdAmyEM9heEx_GjET4DwQSDA5yDuQnDxkJ7gOYDafaTQgiiQKFgAHLUnI1d8H6K9YBRUCZp2Hknx3hhY3xHyNyU65eIx1GvpxiL35cdEYfBBdWCbHreBwwu5JsZWDkZrnT5lyc8Ixw/s640/IMG_00001074.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="s5" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Practice gratitude</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> – Cultivating a grateful heart is the hallmark of a Christian steward. Every day, express thankfulness to the Lord and to others. Seeing the good in your life will allow you to keep your heart compassionate and loving.</span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="s5" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Encounter the Lord each day</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> – Find time to be with the Lord each day, whether it be for an hour or ten minutes. Have a conversation with the Lord. Give your joys and worries to Him as well. Allow God's love to transform them. Our encounters will keep our eyes and ears open to the presence of Christ in our midst.</span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="s5" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Be present to others</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">– </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">,</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> Jesus himself instructed us, “Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate” (Luke 6:36). </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">There is much celebration and mourning, joy and sorrow in peoples' lives. What a blessing it is to be able to share those times and not let others experience them alone. The gift of your presence to others is much more valuable than you realize.</span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="s5" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Resist overwork</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> – There is a pressure to produce, meet goals, </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">be</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> successful. But activities that lead us to overwork, constant fatigue and worry do not give glory to God. What God calls us to do we can do well. Be mindful that life requires balance, down time and letting go of unrealistic goals.</span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="s5" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Nurture friendships</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> – Our friends are those we choose to be with, those with whom we spend our evenings, with whom we vacation, to whom we go to for advice. Friends are gifts from God who give us a greater appreciation of God's love for us. Friends need our time and love.</span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="s5" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Give more</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> – Good stewards realize that everything they have is entrusted to them as gift to be shared. There is no better place to begin than sharing with the community that gathers around the Lord's </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">table</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> at Mass. Consider what you are giving to your parish and local diocese and commit to an even greater contribution as circumstances allow.</span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="s5" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Make a difference in your parish community</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> – Believe it or not, your parish community can use your talents. Offering your talents to your faith community is one of the most effective ways to feel useful and connected to others, and it is a potentially life-changing New Year's resolution.</span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="s5" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Consider living more simply</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> – We cannot find fulfillment in possessions. They add nothing to our self-worth. Jesus blessed the "poor in spirit" in his Sermon on the Mount; and Saint Francis of Assisi urged us to live with only what was necessary, for that is how we begin to find God.</span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="s5" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Get healthy</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> – Studies show that most people in North America are accelerating their own decline into premature old age, owing to poor diet and lack of physical activity. Be a good steward of your body. Plan a complete overhaul of your diet and exercise habits.</span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="s5" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Don't give up</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> – People give up their New Year's resolutions because of perfectionism and unrealistic expectations. So take it slow, be kind to yourself and keep trying. Resist the urge to throw your hands up and quit. You succeed through small, manageable changes over time.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="s5" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Turn to the Lord</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> – Ask the Lord for guidance, strength and perseverance in achieving your resolutions. In his letter to the Philippians, Saint Paul writes: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Phil 4:13). If God is the center of our New Year's resolutions, they have a better chance for success.</span></span></div>
<div class="s2" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-f5yRiHtKSgkIzuk0jGvKgj_4hygOk-9CBpO7EC3K7RbSrigq97Lx3lrxJpTMItWogfui3CnXzvKUhpLredYw6E3fV90Sm9LNOtcTaMpvd9uBPWeJqAqnWJNLMqs41ttqUaGNRet88c/s1600/IMG_00001076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-f5yRiHtKSgkIzuk0jGvKgj_4hygOk-9CBpO7EC3K7RbSrigq97Lx3lrxJpTMItWogfui3CnXzvKUhpLredYw6E3fV90Sm9LNOtcTaMpvd9uBPWeJqAqnWJNLMqs41ttqUaGNRet88c/s640/IMG_00001076.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Meeting of St. Anne's Group At St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Dartmouth, N.S.</div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-29086374877216192302016-01-01T16:13:00.000-08:002016-01-02T03:27:49.987-08:00Further Along the Road Less Travelled<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sharing our own experiences of coming to faith and inner </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWL-IY7BDCJlCTzDjMY6Ce0ZTlFzViF6Z_3E4megCzoiVOYp1PczE7WlLhpKTOCF9S8TGDCA6ZoyhIo34-qGYf86EWjmnCE1HYSw0wmZFsk_TSjxtKI-nBKno9A5TvabTo31zbqhseNc/s1600/confirmation4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWL-IY7BDCJlCTzDjMY6Ce0ZTlFzViF6Z_3E4megCzoiVOYp1PczE7WlLhpKTOCF9S8TGDCA6ZoyhIo34-qGYf86EWjmnCE1HYSw0wmZFsk_TSjxtKI-nBKno9A5TvabTo31zbqhseNc/s1600/confirmation4.png" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">awakenings are great ways to evangelize. After all, the Acts of the Apostles are full of stories of how God worked in the lives of the people of the early church. St. Stephen had a vision of Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Father, a vision that turned the Pharisees against him resulting in his death by stoning.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Saul, who was instrumental in Stephen’s death, would later have his own awakening on the road to Damascus on </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMBN_ya7KubWpBTEphd4sbgN4cRVddsAgT-XNcmOsSU3KVEX4HatVW6_he-W3WpjAU81CueG8nkHCDgyOfvtlmzPWH45lDugFLTB7ICsYnNWrM2EB5tN-Xcpe7I2JViYRR_4GIZsnIJs/s1600/confirmation3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMBN_ya7KubWpBTEphd4sbgN4cRVddsAgT-XNcmOsSU3KVEX4HatVW6_he-W3WpjAU81CueG8nkHCDgyOfvtlmzPWH45lDugFLTB7ICsYnNWrM2EB5tN-Xcpe7I2JViYRR_4GIZsnIJs/s320/confirmation3.jpg" width="215" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
his campaign of persecuting Christians. Hearing a voice from heaven, “Saul, why are you persecuting me”, he is knocked to the ground by a light so intense that it leaves him blind. From this experience, he would rise as one of the greatest Christian evangelizers in history. The unpredictable Peter shines in the Acts of the Apostles, healing as Jesus healed, preaching as Jesus preached, and dying as Jesus died. And the other rag tag disciples of Jesus would all grow to give witness, often with their lives, to their experience of Jesus bringing them to new awareness. When anyone places their life on the line to declare the truth of their experience, then it truly is a testament that the story is real. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Are not our stories as important to this generation as the disciples stories were to theirs? These stories are not so much a record of personal goals or achievements, but a witnessing to that mysterious power we each experience in our lives which, in the Christian tradition, we call the Holy Spirit. </i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Do we not have to share this treasure we have discovered in clay pots so that it may be not lost?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So in my late twenties, as I expanded my reading and my prayer life, I often felt in my heart a longing for a deeper spiritual life, a longing to share or serve in some way. I would be driving along and listening to the car radio when suddenly it was there: This longing to be with God, to become immersed in His love and to give witness to His love, to somehow act this out in the stage of my own life. I developed a desire to express what I was experiencing in respect to my faith, but the expression of the experience was very difficult if not impossible to put into words. Yet, it had to find expression somewhere and somehow.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Two events would follow at this point in my life. First was the desire to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Second, was the desire to serve Christ and His Church in some capacity.<br /><br />The first desire was easily accomplished. After speaking to my parish </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">priest, he arranged, with others, a short time of preparation, and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">then we all received the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Mary's Basilica a few weeks later.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDlYC_lZY25RYirof49OL9I1T0KS6P5gBB468PKeubKpon6It0PkWyewLFFVWSjckUZ46yXLYn1VY0JshKyPQ_Xx4KQXR46351bpg0pTKovB0caJjMq1J4V0IWRgB-8w_VeZx-GI2iLI/s1600/Doug+Marian.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDlYC_lZY25RYirof49OL9I1T0KS6P5gBB468PKeubKpon6It0PkWyewLFFVWSjckUZ46yXLYn1VY0JshKyPQ_Xx4KQXR46351bpg0pTKovB0caJjMq1J4V0IWRgB-8w_VeZx-GI2iLI/s320/Doug+Marian.JPG" width="274" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As for the second desire, a seminarian, who attended our prayer group, suggested that the Diaconate formation program might be an area of service to consider. I didn't know too much about deacons or what they did in their ministry, but the prayer group to which I belonged brought me in touch with two people who would influence my life deeply. One was an ordained deacon. The other was in formation. I was deeply influenced by Deacon Doug and his wife Marian who were also very active in the Charismatic renewal at the time, and illustrated for me faith in action. Also, I was influenced deeply by Herb and his wife Gert, two very humble and spirit-filled people. Herb was in the preparation program to become a deacon. In fact, even </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">before I made the decision to apply to the formation </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvzKZ-stYistmniB2jgM_ycsqsNkjC5X0e_ok4Z5Ph8sB0lTA3T0YidWyjAr2yOyORHXQRdAkIGK49x8J0bzp90lEW4CzkSs5CyN-bTOfHsMX3sz8PaLzv1rnfrdevS5LLXxrDSkEY-Y/s1600/Herb+Gert+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvzKZ-stYistmniB2jgM_ycsqsNkjC5X0e_ok4Z5Ph8sB0lTA3T0YidWyjAr2yOyORHXQRdAkIGK49x8J0bzp90lEW4CzkSs5CyN-bTOfHsMX3sz8PaLzv1rnfrdevS5LLXxrDSkEY-Y/s320/Herb+Gert+001.jpg" width="242" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">program, I had the opportunity to attend Deacon Herb’s ordination and witness his acceptance into diaconate service. It was impressive, to say the least, to see this married family man, with his wife Gert, enthusiastically pledging their lives in service to Christ and the Church. This instilled within me a deep desire to begin the journey that these men had already taken. <br /><br />A question that came to mind as I pondered this goal was my wife’s reaction to it. Mary Anne was a very faith filled person, however, how would she respond to my desire to enter this public role that would certainly flow over into her life, whether she liked it or not. Mary Anne, up to this time, had been a quiet witness to all of the changes that were happening to me in respect to my faith. For the most part, she was very pleased that I was taking my faith seriously. She certainly wanted the faith that she loved to be passed to our three sons, and this required the support of both parents. When I mentioned to her my interest in applying for the diaconate formation program, she took it to prayer, and immediately responded by agreeing to support me in this new direction.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This response was a confirmation that this area of ministry was a true call, not only for me, but for our whole family. It was something that we would share, and the formation that began shortly after my application certainly did begin the process of solidifying our family relationships. Much healing would result from our participation in the ministries program.</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-JrL7GOMCxmUw0OLg0BQRdUDpyx8S8qNFspHctocCTeo7ZX0GcoulRV3vjcWzcnen8eCXeTPZav6exn4yioJ47kIOHE0d1Z_wM_u-g55lZaKLJfNM5vb8Mhep7-mwJdLlv_yj67R3VQ/s1600/ordination+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-JrL7GOMCxmUw0OLg0BQRdUDpyx8S8qNFspHctocCTeo7ZX0GcoulRV3vjcWzcnen8eCXeTPZav6exn4yioJ47kIOHE0d1Z_wM_u-g55lZaKLJfNM5vb8Mhep7-mwJdLlv_yj67R3VQ/s640/ordination+003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have often said that Mary Anne and I were the least likely candidates for diaconate formation and ministry, but the gifts that we received as a result of this surrender changed the whole direction of our lives. As with most who have participated in such a program of preparation, what we have received far outweighed anything that we could have given.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWtxPCfvbDyoTjApc6M9RFsACZAkN2Y4fB887LtqQ4Ra5s1tBrWcUobMlUD7-fbvirFQ_2PLRaSwdrAu0alR5S_hKi0svmyllLyLmRuE3Cyu7ttlmzDMe7K8CTe3ixnkBKt-RNNppnUI/s1600/ordination+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWtxPCfvbDyoTjApc6M9RFsACZAkN2Y4fB887LtqQ4Ra5s1tBrWcUobMlUD7-fbvirFQ_2PLRaSwdrAu0alR5S_hKi0svmyllLyLmRuE3Cyu7ttlmzDMe7K8CTe3ixnkBKt-RNNppnUI/s640/ordination+001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-67838605205711645792015-12-29T13:56:00.002-08:002015-12-29T13:56:56.520-08:00Has He Risen In Your Heart <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Has He risen in your heart</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Have you let Him be free<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Do you show Him the lock on your door<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Or do you give Him the key.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Song by Joe Fahie from “Don’t Give Up the Ship”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWjk6dqzO1Pk-_gWp_b-Wvu9CBA0NLFRF-Ml0NCjIeizwT3vijPFhRwg9ykj6KcMPECSafSWa0yTUo6wOGPHJBR2C7tQOqkTtZiaMGU3SLWS_vXAlnZ-sE-lanOD9O47K_JLnVpw3SB8/s1600/christian+meditation4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWjk6dqzO1Pk-_gWp_b-Wvu9CBA0NLFRF-Ml0NCjIeizwT3vijPFhRwg9ykj6KcMPECSafSWa0yTUo6wOGPHJBR2C7tQOqkTtZiaMGU3SLWS_vXAlnZ-sE-lanOD9O47K_JLnVpw3SB8/s400/christian+meditation4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Once we have journeyed forward in life and look back, the path that we have taken becomes quite clear. The events that make up our life and the fruits that flowed from them can be clearly seen; getting married, having a family, getting a new job, a death of a family member, etc. Each of these events causes one’s life to turn in a certain direction, often taking on a different perspective. But </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">as we are going through them, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">their future impact lies in mystery . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">So on looking back to my late twenties, a time when I was experiencing much confusion and pain, I now see it as a time of tremendous growth. It was a time of feeling lost, but also a time of remarkable insights. It was time of uncertainty in respect to the future, but also a time of expanding horizons and new discoveries. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">The lessons that life teaches us is those moments of turmoil are really gateways that lead to something greater. Perhaps </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7H3WG3h7-e6QFSYkjmIpVbTzLNiPIgh_hhjy_sPUvParIW-dH9dn2cXvd96i7Zy7ZgH11Fa2n_ElgBYTyy1Ii3K-82G7r-nOzVRhJFPS3CnukjOPrdPxHxjKunSHmM4r5q3U3UV1pl38/s1600/insights.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7H3WG3h7-e6QFSYkjmIpVbTzLNiPIgh_hhjy_sPUvParIW-dH9dn2cXvd96i7Zy7ZgH11Fa2n_ElgBYTyy1Ii3K-82G7r-nOzVRhJFPS3CnukjOPrdPxHxjKunSHmM4r5q3U3UV1pl38/s320/insights.png" width="278" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">one of the greatest lessons that I had learned in my late twenties was that I could count on faith to guide me through these gateways. Faith, as I had discovered, became something real, sustaining, and life giving. We have nothing to fear from faith. My upbringing might argue that faith meant not accepting reality, but faith actually takes us to a different level of reality where hope is the dominant attribute. And with hope, comes joy; joy even in the face of what appears to be trying circumstances.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">The cause of my pain and confusion was a problem with love and trust. And pain and confusion will remain until we begin to travel the road towards greater love and trust. Even though we may know this in our heads, it will benefit us little until it becomes an experience of the heart. And this is where the dilemma lies. How can we begin the journey </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xCL0nDh9wxGsW6gt_ElenYeexJt7M4MXkflp7xvKzH_i80H0UMRITDt4zhBwAa8D92od9GogWPZ5eNX-yYfIxvw_Qqm1QJmuouTwW7DUZtIXQmCB3DwkiaNUnqVW9S5c5rr73tT23TM/s1600/crisis.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xCL0nDh9wxGsW6gt_ElenYeexJt7M4MXkflp7xvKzH_i80H0UMRITDt4zhBwAa8D92od9GogWPZ5eNX-yYfIxvw_Qqm1QJmuouTwW7DUZtIXQmCB3DwkiaNUnqVW9S5c5rr73tT23TM/s320/crisis.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">towards something as elusive as love and trust when love and trust may be lacking from one’s experience. The lessons that I had to learn, and that each of us must learn, is that you cannot, not by yourself. Nothing we can do by our own genius, wit, intellect, or personal effort can bring love and trust to a heart that lacks it, "by ourselves". Until we face and accept this fact, then the fruits of love and trust will remain elusive, and our efforts will lead only to disappointment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The love and trust of which I speak had little to do with how we might normally understand these terms. After all, I had a very loving marriage and family. The love and trust of which I speak has to do with a respect for oneself, to see oneself and one's life as a valuable gift. This in turn leads to gratitude, a counting of one's blessings. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">These special qualities of heart are available to everyone, but many never attain it, or acquire it fully.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The reason for this is that love and trust of which I speak are gifts to be received, not possessions to be earned. They are free for anyone who may want them, but many fail to ask.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This is the human tragedy of our time.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Many fail to ask.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Many do not know how.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">How can we discover this “pearl of great price”?</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLx9kAWbV3WPbEonAiveIPitPJnUYnv79xWhxz9tE0Tal2QoOU6pnr04FhwIGe_qvvU7we7BMZY5763aJm2MjfPHsHqQXSuFl3fW3pd1iofbrL8p7KXsP_njJ3fzGIzewGjtFk3K_nAg/s1600/crisis1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLx9kAWbV3WPbEonAiveIPitPJnUYnv79xWhxz9tE0Tal2QoOU6pnr04FhwIGe_qvvU7we7BMZY5763aJm2MjfPHsHqQXSuFl3fW3pd1iofbrL8p7KXsP_njJ3fzGIzewGjtFk3K_nAg/s400/crisis1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">My search not only took me to many fine writers: It also took me to community. Since my baptism into the Catholic faith tradition, I attended mass weekly with my family. Attending mass is one thing, but the experience of being a part of that community of faith is another. Although at times, I would experience a sense of oneness with those around me, largely I attended mass out of some sense of obligation, not so much to the church itself, but to those within my circle who thought it was important.. I enjoyed the services and the music. I enjoyed listening to the words of wisdom from the priests who presided over these services, but I was not involved in the community. I was more like a spectator at a football game. I watched from the bleachers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">It was during one of these masses that an invitation was extended to all of us in the congregation to be a part of the religious education program. Before, this would have passed right over my head. But this time I heard it, and I said to myself: why not. When I arrived home, I called the parish to express an interest in becoming a teacher. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">My invitation was accepted without hesitation, and before I knew it, I was meeting with a group of new catechists to be prepared in this role of teaching a Sunday school class. This time of teaching not only provided a much needed service for our parish church, but also grounded me more firmly in my own understanding of the Catholic faith. It was after one of these classes, when speaking to one of the other teachers that I learned about the prayer group in our parish that met on Thursday nights. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">For some reason, I was instantly interested. That next Thursday, I attended my first prayer meeting. The connection that I experienced with this small group of people began the moment I walked through the door and I discovered a place where I not only felt welcomed but very much at home. My experience with the people of this small group remains vivid in my memory today even though we have since dispersed and moved off in many different directions. The songs we sang began to touch my heart as my love for music expanded. With new found trust, I began to share some of my inmost fears. I was given the gift of their time, their listening, their attentiveness, and their care.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Still I struggled much from isolation and an inability to enter deeply into a sense of relatedness. This became more obvious as I continued to meet with this group of people who were so open in their faith. It was as if that still flicker of inner light within me was smoldering and one little breeze would blow it out. I experienced this deeply one cold November evening as I sat at this meeting with the others. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then one of the other people in the group shared a scripture. “Let me turn your heart of stone into a heart of flesh so that you may love as I love you.” It was as if these words were spoken to me personally, and tears welled up in my eyes as I cried out in faith: "Jesus please help me”. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNGzfkysqt3gww_mdpC3RvlGlhzsbwQV8jGtwS2ZboQiA12yVi9YZgsjVGw2puEB0Xyjr6VX-ecbQgBMPm3aSZTke-t9sdZvT49pYW_yK5ML9IGWNV1ZYULU5Ba9NVzJeHZNY0F9jQZA/s1600/crisis3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNGzfkysqt3gww_mdpC3RvlGlhzsbwQV8jGtwS2ZboQiA12yVi9YZgsjVGw2puEB0Xyjr6VX-ecbQgBMPm3aSZTke-t9sdZvT49pYW_yK5ML9IGWNV1ZYULU5Ba9NVzJeHZNY0F9jQZA/s320/crisis3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I cannot possibly explain what happened at that moment. But it was as if the walls around my heart shattered into a thousand pieces, and I was overwhelmed with a sense of love different from anything I had ever experienced before. It filled me with a joy</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, and I burst into laughter and proceeded to hug everyone in the room, much to their surprise and mine as well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">This awakening that I had experienced caused a shift of priorities within. Things that I thought were so important for my happiness and well-being fell away. My faith in God, and Jesus’ brotherly love came to the forefront of my life. These were not things I initiated. They happened as a result of my asking. “Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be opened. Ask and it will be given.” It was this beginning experience that brought me in touch with the true essence of faith. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It was now clear to me why the Christian faith took root some two thousand years ago and continued to spread through each successive generation up to this moment of time. The Holy Spirit was not a fabrication of some mystical writers in ages past. The Holy Spirit of Pentecost is the same Holy Spirit that continues to transform burdened hearts today. Unbelievably, I became a recipient of that same Holy Spirit. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-32287076866101323602015-12-23T18:31:00.000-08:002015-12-24T06:10:42.220-08:00Jesus as Saviour and Healer<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Witnessing to Christ often means moving away from our theological language and expression - eg Jesus died on the cross for you. I like this explanation of Jesus as Savior given by Fr. Laurence Freeman, Spiritual Director for the World Community of Christian Meditation. Enjoy!</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OuY3IqZpmSnRSdAggsWTlb3yTFWjOdXPoBJ4bgPIDCtxmFZ7sTghs7-QbShzFsnvklOzOmTyZ5T9JBX76HT8pUS99iShlILkgD5Wzhzp6-i0PjkELU3bDqfwLIKJjeIq4yzbGFk7R-U/s1600/jesushealer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OuY3IqZpmSnRSdAggsWTlb3yTFWjOdXPoBJ4bgPIDCtxmFZ7sTghs7-QbShzFsnvklOzOmTyZ5T9JBX76HT8pUS99iShlILkgD5Wzhzp6-i0PjkELU3bDqfwLIKJjeIq4yzbGFk7R-U/s400/jesushealer1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For some people, those whom Jesus calls to be disciples, the</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">experience of His message enters into us and we move to another level of relationship with Him. This is where, you might say, we begin to experience Jesus as Savior. The word Savior means </span><span style="font-size: large;">healer</span><span style="font-size: large;">. The early Christians spoke of Jesus very often as the Divine Physician.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">He heals us of the wounds of sin, of the wounds of our suffering, the wounds of humanity. No one gets very far in life without being wounded, without being hurt, without having their self-esteem damaged or their hope disappointed, or their love rejected, or without the experience of betrayal. Being let down. No one gets very far without being hurt. And those hurts that life give us can run very deep into our psyche. And then to deal with those wounds, we often build walls to protect ourselves: </span><span style="font-size: large;">‘This isn’t going to happen to me again. I’m not going to put myself in that position again.’</span><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>So we start to get hardened hearts; we start to build up resistance to love, resistance to other people. We become more isolated, less trusting. Then we wonder why we’re sad. This is where we need healing.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">For some people, who we could call the disciples of Jesus, the experience of His teaching enters into us and begins to heal us of those wounds. It may be through any number of ways; maybe through scripture, maybe through friends, maybe through an inspired spiritual teacher, maybe through the sacraments. </span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Different ways for different people. He gets in in all sorts of different ways. He’ll find a way under the door, even if we’ve locked the door. When we begin to sense that we are feeling better as a result of this relationship with Jesus, we begin to feel more self-acceptance and wholeness. We begin to see how we can relate to other people more lovingly. We’re capable of forgiving the hurts that people have put upon us, and letting them go. We’re capable of more compassion. We’re capable of being more patient with ourselves even though we have lots of problems and lots of faults, but we don’t beat ourselves up all the time.<br /><br />These are the ways in which we begin to experience the saving and healing work of Jesus. It’s gradual. There may be dramatic moments, but it’s gradual and it is irreversible. It’s not like the pills you take when you’ve got a toothache, a temporary relief of pain. It’s a curing, it’s a healing. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the gospels, Jesus is often shown as a miraculous healer, but again, he didn’t want his disciples advertising him as ‘Jesus the miraculous healer’. He told them not to promote Him like that. In many of those healing stories, He heals by touching; and He still heals us by touching us. There is an interior touch, a spiritual touch which heals when his power comes into us.<br /><br />As we begin to recognize Jesus in this way, as our Savior, as one who heals in our life, our relationship with Him has moved to a much deeper and more personal and intimate one. He’s no longer just a great spiritual teacher of humanity but we now have a personal, mysterious, experience of Him, and it will be expressed in different ways by different people.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fr. Laurence Freeman </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spiritual Director for World Community of Christian Meditation </span></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-50865475489641963322015-12-22T11:46:00.004-08:002016-11-28T18:41:34.563-08:00Continuing My Early Faith Story<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: large;">We have each experienced milestones in our lives, events that give rise to radical change in our outlook on life. In my first posting, I shared with you about my early spiritual life and values up to the time I was baptized. In this posting I would like to continue with my faith story during my early post-baptismal years. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipG1ELnF0IgwETVSgkPKBKdW5joiCP4fCaFAaYdfDN4ItzphzjoWhIo4IEttpfRYbflZHEfg59iGXrDfro0751IHJdcb3dfPpFTl5HODeCL_XDZjfY754jd-vrCtKwTQjucDLPSEun5ec/s1600/career.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipG1ELnF0IgwETVSgkPKBKdW5joiCP4fCaFAaYdfDN4ItzphzjoWhIo4IEttpfRYbflZHEfg59iGXrDfro0751IHJdcb3dfPpFTl5HODeCL_XDZjfY754jd-vrCtKwTQjucDLPSEun5ec/s320/career.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">When I was twenty-seven years old, I remember reading an article in a business magazine called: “Career Success! Personal Failure!” It was an article about the dilemma experienced by many people in business pursuing a career for the purpose of attaining success, recognition, achievement and financial security. The author of this article pointed out that despite the successes of many people in accomplishing their goals, they nevertheless continued to feel that they were failing. They continued to carry, within themselves, a sense that something was missing from their lives. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: large;">When I read this article, it related so much to what I was feeling. Although I was fairly successful with my career, and accomplished many of the things that I set out to do, I was still unhappy and very dissatisfied with myself. The things that I desired and thought would fulfill both my outer and inner needs were failing me, and left me with this question as to what I might be doing wrong. Although this was a painful concern at the time, I see now that much good came from this time of trial. It's only when we feel the pain of the moment that we have the courage to look within ourselves and admit that something is wrong. The pain I felt gave me the courage to begin to look at my beliefs, to examine their source, and then to make the necessary changes that would lead in a more positive direction. This discernment would eventually change the direction of my life, and lead me into areas not previously imagined.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Growing up farm was a great place to be as a child; however, our family did suffer financially. My early life witnessed this struggle, particularly with my parents, who worked very hard, but had trouble making ends meet. Although these were happy years, I did receive a lot of reminders, particularly from my mother, about the importance of education, and pursuing a career, and having a secure job. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8xlR8NWy3w7zG8Lg8VRMPujOLU55rqKml-574Yn9rlcgM0e43nGX-zas1jRVs8tRQ7yVWCmHP-csfEYabhr182rCmUY7M3TAmUW7WknY6lgxEXHORDkm1qgflh5gc58eo45WSoXIKBc/s1600/career1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8xlR8NWy3w7zG8Lg8VRMPujOLU55rqKml-574Yn9rlcgM0e43nGX-zas1jRVs8tRQ7yVWCmHP-csfEYabhr182rCmUY7M3TAmUW7WknY6lgxEXHORDkm1qgflh5gc58eo45WSoXIKBc/s400/career1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: large;">When I finished high school, I approached my career and early working life with a deeply engrained belief that my happiness and well-being depended principally upon what I could accomplish for security. This was what I believed, and this is what I pursued. And it really took me by surprise, several years later, to discover that all of those things I was accomplishing did not bring the happiness that I expected. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: large;">In writing this, I am not suggesting that there is anything wrong with success, recognition, achievement or financial security. Gerald May, in his book “Will and Spirit” stresses that the wholeness we seek is comprised of two needs; our need for meaning and purpose, and the need for belonging and love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Meaning and purpose in life will result from moments of success, recognition and achievement. There is a sense of mission and growth that we experience from our efforts in this area. However, if our primary focus and attention is only in that area, then we may sub-consciously deny the fact that that we also have as great a need for belonging and love. Without the fulfillment of this latter need, our lives will feel incomplete on another level. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: large;">In my mid twenties, I did not know this. I was beginning to discover that, although my efforts were bearing fruit in one way, in other ways they were failing. The pain of this experience was for me Providence’s way of saying that a change was necessary. I needed to begin to take the time from my preoccupations with success, and make some shifts that would lead to a feeling of greater wholeness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: large;">My search brought me too many exciting authors who spoke to me through their books. The one who had the most impact at me at this young age was John Powell SJ. His light psychological approach to dealing with relationship issues </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWudnuj6dt3zaCa-88ngPkW7ZOUQhkGUDLVV6gzu613XoPsQiAQNzIcsjHdlt9Dk8dMYQ-NlZFQt6lmEMxs_xfVh5z_wCJg-X785jk3NttR-Enjw29Qj9mmeSzXCAUeELdVyd3nbTvezo/s1600/career3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWudnuj6dt3zaCa-88ngPkW7ZOUQhkGUDLVV6gzu613XoPsQiAQNzIcsjHdlt9Dk8dMYQ-NlZFQt6lmEMxs_xfVh5z_wCJg-X785jk3NttR-Enjw29Qj9mmeSzXCAUeELdVyd3nbTvezo/s320/career3.jpg" width="209" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: large;">appealed to me as I gobbled up his books: “He Touched Me”, “Why Am I Afraid to Tell You Who I Am”, “Reason to Live Reason to Die”, “The Secret of Staying in Love”, “Fully Human Fully Alive” and the list goes on. It was through these books that I discovered I had difficulty in loving. Although I was growing in awareness of the importance of love, and loving relationships, it became increasingly clear to me that what I understood in my head was not as strong in my heart. Inside, I experienced a deep sense of isolation and alienation that kept me at a distance from others. I was functioning well in my working relationship, a good listener to other people’s concerns, but revealed little about myself. I thought that if anyone knew who I really was inside, (the darkness, fear, and doubt) I would be immediately rejected. Therefore, it was best to keep such things to myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Fortunately for me, my faith was growing stronger, and I began to turn to God to seek a path that might lead me away from my painful dilemma. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-27561774718042451602015-12-22T05:38:00.001-08:002015-12-22T11:21:19.133-08:00Christmas Greeting From Catholic Grandparents Association<div style="font-stretch: normal;">
<div style="background: rgb(245, 245, 245);">
<div style="font-stretch: normal;">
<div style="background: rgb(245, 245, 245);">
<div>
<b style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">From:</b><span style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><a href="mailto:enquiries@catholicgrandparentsassociation.org" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;" title="mailto:enquiries@catholicgrandparentsassociation.org CTRL + Click to follow link">Catherine Wiley </a></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, December 21, 2015 3:14 PM</div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">
<b>Subject:</b> Grandparents News December 2015</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEW9tyBFY0Fi7coTDNkwLDzQ2bNVAWWhSZPNVo31ndM2EsXiTx7iJTxqLVvGBqh3kqXNOxc6eIsOXAz9Ppb299GD6TmcLiHYOr_QYJ9gDaKT2A13h6MFejX2LIWEkYyP5TbnrTOrPNF3M/s1600/christmas+message1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEW9tyBFY0Fi7coTDNkwLDzQ2bNVAWWhSZPNVo31ndM2EsXiTx7iJTxqLVvGBqh3kqXNOxc6eIsOXAz9Ppb299GD6TmcLiHYOr_QYJ9gDaKT2A13h6MFejX2LIWEkYyP5TbnrTOrPNF3M/s400/christmas+message1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">
Dear Ronald</div>
<div style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">
<div style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">
<i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">
<i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Wishing you a Joy filled, Blessed and Peaceful Christmas.</span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;"><b><i><a href="http://www.catholicgrandparentsassociation.org/Christmas2015News.pdf" target="_blank" title="click to open our pdf newsletter">Please be kind enough to click here to open our Newsletter - and please print and share with your friends.</a></i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUFh7YHmDMWkU-xR6g4X1_pLLr-2tHyliWxD2IDJnqun1g4NZUMwGEklh555cxssXhR0qwWBJy9RX9IiUg3fEwPz3AlCxYkDV36qAhVKnxWKHwljYATSvvHntDOBSPhXRMixX_6uDlZo/s1600/christmas+message.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUFh7YHmDMWkU-xR6g4X1_pLLr-2tHyliWxD2IDJnqun1g4NZUMwGEklh555cxssXhR0qwWBJy9RX9IiUg3fEwPz3AlCxYkDV36qAhVKnxWKHwljYATSvvHntDOBSPhXRMixX_6uDlZo/s400/christmas+message.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">We hope that you will enjoy reading it and also will be able to pass copies onto others who you may know. It is wonderful also if you could get a copy printed for your local parish or, perhaps, for those who don’t have access to the internet.</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">The work of the CGA continues to spread across the world. We are entirely supported by donations and it is through the generosity of our members that we are able to further our mission and purpose in keeping Prayer at the Heart of the Family and in passing on the Faith. </span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Your sincerely</span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKolTektwjDQN4WaU55q9ydi12G-WZpWl9QUbD_-qiqfkEF_eRKEUXhKEZGWsXNa9C1pSHojBy3SzJlV9slYCxgxhcVx9SnsXOn6cmKDgvAmGetcL1CT07gWOlaXmqifOoIvaA-g4B3Vw/s1600/christmas+message2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKolTektwjDQN4WaU55q9ydi12G-WZpWl9QUbD_-qiqfkEF_eRKEUXhKEZGWsXNa9C1pSHojBy3SzJlV9slYCxgxhcVx9SnsXOn6cmKDgvAmGetcL1CT07gWOlaXmqifOoIvaA-g4B3Vw/s320/christmas+message2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Founder of The Catholic Grandparents </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqu1AN3PKjOwGkTLhyDaXnW7O_MZqso97LX_9QXF4Jjgcv4iKWzkZ97vCJnacGdPalGRGXzmXsTgzD4iMUPRZZ9AsFwkCRVMWDIaA57GVjsNqWyWPJWmZ2hfEDzgsljLMVvg7cXkofmIM/s1600/witness6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqu1AN3PKjOwGkTLhyDaXnW7O_MZqso97LX_9QXF4Jjgcv4iKWzkZ97vCJnacGdPalGRGXzmXsTgzD4iMUPRZZ9AsFwkCRVMWDIaA57GVjsNqWyWPJWmZ2hfEDzgsljLMVvg7cXkofmIM/s640/witness6.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481405792366332323.post-42124027138275810502015-12-21T10:14:00.002-08:002015-12-21T10:14:52.148-08:00Notes Taken From Archbishop On Witnessing<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">During one of the presentations by Archbishop Mancini on the building blocks of the New Evangelization, the followings notes were taken as it relates to being witnesses to our faith. T</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">his may be of particular interest to Grandparents who wish to share their faith within the family context. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrfnlKlroCbfc6l7bLx0xIlO-gWrbKgmyEHnKxnneE75eSOMUls5r3ohuoFNnit47kxuYL5BLyWqEeya_3H-pWsCcEGz2aSi5U7OLocepkXNDUs7YUIM89h68oA3ZrpRSPHqq6O4B3UA/s1600/witness4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrfnlKlroCbfc6l7bLx0xIlO-gWrbKgmyEHnKxnneE75eSOMUls5r3ohuoFNnit47kxuYL5BLyWqEeya_3H-pWsCcEGz2aSi5U7OLocepkXNDUs7YUIM89h68oA3ZrpRSPHqq6O4B3UA/s400/witness4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />If we are to be a disciple of Christ, a follower, then we must also be a witness. We must possess within ourselves a sense of our own story or personal testimony. We profess that we are Christian. We profess that we are a follower of Christ. What goes out from us that gives witness to that? If we have a relationship with Christ, how has it changed us?<br /><br />This can be experienced at various levels. The first level of witnessing is usually expressed in the way we live. Through the way we live, we convey to those around us, who we are and what we believe. This is living our faith. </span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjUuxR_vER6gjEzFz54_H0lK_tz1W_LKuWz_yAzTnmiZqjE5T9NQU5-2EGjXXL7pNP_Zf91yBeJxcbWbuxozEeWG-UMgfC7UPXMAHNwIPqZMOYw2-XrR5JkLjODnTYZalAsZqDk0tYf0/s1600/witness1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjUuxR_vER6gjEzFz54_H0lK_tz1W_LKuWz_yAzTnmiZqjE5T9NQU5-2EGjXXL7pNP_Zf91yBeJxcbWbuxozEeWG-UMgfC7UPXMAHNwIPqZMOYw2-XrR5JkLjODnTYZalAsZqDk0tYf0/s320/witness1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now there’s another side of that. Through the way we live, we also convey who we are <b>not</b>. As a result, this does not, by itself, completely convey the Christian message. Living by example is usually not enough.<br /><br />So that moves us to the area of witnessing in other ways. What is witnessing? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First of all, perhaps we should look at what it is not. Think of a court situation. In witnessing, we do not become the judge. In witnessing, we do not become the policeman, or the arresting officer. In witnessing, we are conveying to another what we have seen, what we have heard, what we have experienced. And when we witness to our faith in Christ, we focus on our experience as it relates to our encounter with Christ. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In 1st Cor. 2:1-5, St. Paul says: </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>“When I came to you, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom but with a demonstration of the Spirit of power so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.”</b></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9ZhSGZMNJArjxKLIoSgLWEqN9-5_6cOq95NJomG0eyXu5I1Ox5vxKVCgDjK-WFDFOHU5J38due1rsxb4oM44QAIgR-3a_ruMVOjww_Xwl662JtZCB-fjeZ7vChtzc3irVcKZisfYBCg/s1600/witness.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9ZhSGZMNJArjxKLIoSgLWEqN9-5_6cOq95NJomG0eyXu5I1Ox5vxKVCgDjK-WFDFOHU5J38due1rsxb4oM44QAIgR-3a_ruMVOjww_Xwl662JtZCB-fjeZ7vChtzc3irVcKZisfYBCg/s320/witness.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> To St. Paul, witnessing is proclaiming the power of Christ. <br /><br />Perhaps witnessing could be described as the sharing of what we’ve seen and what we’ve heard from our own experiences. What has Christ taught you? What has Christ done for you? Do you have life experiences of moments of your own death and resurrection?<br /><br />Tertullian defines grace as <b>"the awareness of the fact that I am acceptable by God despite my unacceptability."</b> Can we imagine the New Evangelization to be like an AA meeting. Joe comes forth during the meeting, and introduces himself: "My name is Joe. I’m an alcoholic." And the community responds: "Good evening Joe. Welcome to our meeting." Grace becomes an awareness of the fact that I am acceptable despite my unacceptability. This awareness that we are acceptable despite our unacceptability gives us cause to witness to the goodness of the transforming presence of Christ. <br /><br />Being a witness makes us ambassadors of Christ. An </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ambassador is one who is called to represent, or to be a witness for the other.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJK2ABpOPGdFkbQNQtObMMts4sKct27BFjpPTF93BwQs1Zqyljgnad5NeGQ5OKM0vOHGCS3XNfeR296Ka3X8okGnb1YzXlRoWAVPsoT6oMYsflUP4XTcte1GYJt7PxHZ4KJEQlkuxZdAc/s1600/witness3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJK2ABpOPGdFkbQNQtObMMts4sKct27BFjpPTF93BwQs1Zqyljgnad5NeGQ5OKM0vOHGCS3XNfeR296Ka3X8okGnb1YzXlRoWAVPsoT6oMYsflUP4XTcte1GYJt7PxHZ4KJEQlkuxZdAc/s320/witness3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Nova Scotia Catholic Grandparentshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05405256861282802867noreply@blogger.com0