Spirituality

                One of my “favorite,” most meaningful, aspects of evangelizing about has been topics based on spirituality.  It teaches how to live out the truth of the Catholic Faith as well as identifying it with the lessons of daily living.

                I have gotten a glimpse of different spiritualities while discerning with different religious communities.  I have especially come to love Salesian spirituality while at the Visitation Monastery, as St. Francis de Sales was their founder.  He definitely is a gentle saint!  I have read so many of his writings that have “softened” the hard grip of judgment that I had on myself previously.  No, I’m not perfect still, but he continues to remind me that gentleness is indeed a virtue!

                I’m sure a lot of what is developed into spirituality also comes with life experience.  For example, St. Therese, a Carmelite nun, could have easily become discouraged about the road to holiness; but she didn’t.  Looking back through the Scriptures and knowing God to be merciful rather than harsh, she knew she could run to Him like a child, arms outstretched towards His welcoming embrace. 

                The emphasis of different spiritualities are a great guide to Christian living.  Learn from your own life or the lives of others, and you’ll realize an exemplary way to holiness!  God be ever praised!

The Time of Fulfillment

“This is the time of fulfillment” Jesus says in this Sunday’s gospel.  Do you ever reach a point in your life when you feel yourself saying this?  Sometimes I feel this way when I’m about to give a talk at youth group.  But I also remember reaching this “epic” time at the beginning of my formation while at the monastery.  It was this pivotal moment that had long been awaited.  And at every Night Prayer when we made the Sign of the Cross and chanted “Now let Your servant go in peace, Your word has been fulfilled,” I truly sensed a completion to my life.  I was wearing the habit, chanting the office, gliding through the monastery as a Sister…  Yes!  Now is the time of fulfillment. 

Back out in the world as a lay person, I don’t need to feel like those days are over.  I can still live out a “time of fulfillment” by living out the gospel from day to day.  I can be a witness, a channel of God’s love, and live out that “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” 

Now is the time!  What time are you living out?

Union and Glorification

 As a former religious novice, I have often referred to the phrases of doing “all for the glory of God” and “the salvation of souls.”  I’ve also liked to consider myself as a “spiritual mother,” but today’s Second Reading from Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians reminded me of doing “everything for the glory of God.”  Everything must be offered up for the Divine Good Pleasure, with the faith that it is received by a Loving Father rather than offered into thin air. 

It is important that we do everything for God rather than to please others.  Though it is important to do things for, say, our boss, or some sort of leader; but we cannot always be people-pleasers.  I have learned this from experience.  We must do everything for this Higher Power, especially because He cares so much for us. 

Let us do everything in acknowledgment of God.  Not just out of fear, but in response to love.  It is a connection that must be in continuum, and union with our Creator Who stoops down to us.  Should we not also reach up to Him?

Wonder and Awe

Sorry it’s been so long!  I’ve had a lot of health needs to attend to.  I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, though it lands on a Sunday this year.  It snuck up on me.  It seems like we were just celebrating Christmas, and now we are preparing for Lent!  God likes to keep us on our toes. 

Even while we are still in Ordinary Time, let us remember to observe it extraordinarily well!  There is always a Mystery or a gospel scene we can be meditating on.  What will come to light?  I like praying with the daily readings, and go to daily Mass when I can.  It brings a sense of wonder and awe to my day. 

Having daily devotionals can add flavor to our day too.  Having that fervor brings more meaning to our day.

Have a blessed weekend!

Celebrating Reconversion

Faith is always in need of a reconversion.  As St. Augustine says: Oh beauty ever ancient, oh beauty ever new.  Faith, hope, and love must never grow dismal.  It requires constant rekindling with both joy and wholeheartedness. 

Let us celebrate this gift of faith.  Does it thrive in our hearts, or has its sparks been tampered down?  As we commemorate the Conversion of St. Paul today, may we too be challenged from the normalcy of weekly church attendance to doing something extra for the Sacred Heart of Jesus!

Answering the Call

The past couple of weeks in the gospel, Our Lord has been calling the disciples to follow after Him.  Do we feel the call?  Is it a summons to walk away from the world’s temptations, or to go to daily Mass?  Sometimes the call is attractive, while other times it can feel too radical.  It is often about self-denial.  Are we accepting the call to radical holiness, or are we determined to blend in? 

Give Jesus some of your time: I’m ready Lord.  I’m ready.

The Whole Deal

As a young, lay Catholic, I’m currently aspiring to what it means to feeling “whole” and thriving.  This is part of the call to holiness.  What do I mean by “whole?”  I’m thinking about the times I have been a workaholic (even in ministry) and never taken a break for rest and leisure.  After all, being a former religious in formation, was not being spiritual being “leisurely?”  Yes and no.  For example, praying may mean resting in the heart of God, but it does not involve laughing and socializing with friends.  You see what I mean?  We need to be well-rounded emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically.  This sense of balance is healthy not just for the mind, but for the soul.  We can do all these practices with God (I’m not saying we have to take a break from God).  It’s about embracing and thriving in a healthy, human way.  This will prevent mental burnout from whatever it is we are doing (however much we may love it), as well as promote a sense of endurance and of thriving in what you love.  God be Ever Praised!