Our two Feast Days the end of last week, The Feast of the Sacred Heart and the Feast of the Immaculate Heart brought with them a great gift. Starting early in the morning of the Feast of the Sacred Heart every fiber of my being felt a connection with all the RSCJ and Associates with whom I am connected and have been connected. During Mass there was the realization that somewhere in the world others were also celebrating the Eucharist with the same focus on God's love poured out for us. All day small reminders of our connectedness with His Love and with each other kept popping up. Reminders that God's love is everlasting and surrounds me all the time. Remembrances of connections with people I have not seen for many moons and yet still feel in touch with. As I clean out boxes and corners for a yard sale coming up, items, notes and pictures show up unexpectedly that remind me of a funny time, a sad moment, a happy occasion - all signs of connection. For one who used to worry about abandonment, Our Lord has certainly filled my life with signs of love and caring, pouring from the wellsping of his heart.
cape cod cathy
Monday, June 18, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
Today is a beautiful day.A spring-summer day. warm sun, cool breezes, the scent of blooming flowers on the air, a sense of freshness all about. It makes me wonder if Jesus experienced days like this? How did He see them, feel them?
These days are God's gift to us-out of God's love for us. The Eucharist is also God's love for us,a way of uniting us with God, with Jesus. Yesterday at Mass we sag-"Here I am, Lord". I always sing this hymn with my heart as well as my voice. This is the only way of saying "thank you" for the gift of the Eucharist and for all the gifts God gives me on a daily basis.
cape cod cathy
These days are God's gift to us-out of God's love for us. The Eucharist is also God's love for us,a way of uniting us with God, with Jesus. Yesterday at Mass we sag-"Here I am, Lord". I always sing this hymn with my heart as well as my voice. This is the only way of saying "thank you" for the gift of the Eucharist and for all the gifts God gives me on a daily basis.
cape cod cathy
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
As I was praying this morning, I suddenly realized (inspiration from above!) that today begins the Novena for the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Immediately the Novena of Confidence also came into my thoughts:
"Lord Jesus, to your Sacred Hear we confide this intention.
Only look, then do what your heart inspires.
Let your heart decide. We count on it. We trust in it.
We throw ourselves on its mercy.
Lord Jesus you will not fail us."
When I was at Oakwood Sister Clare Pratt suggeted for the Novena for St. Madeleine Sophie that we "confide all our sisters and brothers who are ill". I am going to do that again, since there are relatives, friends and acquaintances all dealing with various stages of illness.
On another note my prayers are very much still with the LCWR. What brave women to make the statement they did in response to the Vatican. Again in prayer, Mary and her role as Mother of God was the focus on Saturday. Images of her confronting Jesus in the Temple when he was a child, "telling" him what to do at Cana, calling for him in Galilee and staying with him through the whole passion and death and holding him in death, came to mind. Our Lady is our role model. The Board of the LCWR is following in her footsteps and drawing on her strength, as I see it.
Love and peace to all,
cape cod cathy
"Lord Jesus, to your Sacred Hear we confide this intention.
Only look, then do what your heart inspires.
Let your heart decide. We count on it. We trust in it.
We throw ourselves on its mercy.
Lord Jesus you will not fail us."
When I was at Oakwood Sister Clare Pratt suggeted for the Novena for St. Madeleine Sophie that we "confide all our sisters and brothers who are ill". I am going to do that again, since there are relatives, friends and acquaintances all dealing with various stages of illness.
On another note my prayers are very much still with the LCWR. What brave women to make the statement they did in response to the Vatican. Again in prayer, Mary and her role as Mother of God was the focus on Saturday. Images of her confronting Jesus in the Temple when he was a child, "telling" him what to do at Cana, calling for him in Galilee and staying with him through the whole passion and death and holding him in death, came to mind. Our Lady is our role model. The Board of the LCWR is following in her footsteps and drawing on her strength, as I see it.
Love and peace to all,
cape cod cathy
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
An attitude of gratitude - that is what is on my mind today as I review the last month. School ended! I left for a week at Oakwood with my beloved Sisters in retirement. What gifts of love and acceptance and warmth they give to me. There is a tinge of sadness as I watch them fade as they grow older-some I have known since they were first professed and came to teach at the Sacred Heart school in Cincinnat-62 years ago. However it is balanced with the joy of long term friendships and the mutual exchange of love and prayers.
And now I am home for a month until I go to celebrate success with Casey my oldest. She will host her agency's annual Tribute to Change in Philadelphia and I am able to be there to cheer her on. How grateful I am for that and for her in my life.
In August I go to England to visit my other blessings, daughter Trish, Ian and baby Jack for two blessed weeks. They too are such a grace in my life and give me much joy.
God is very good to me and has been all through my life - even when I have not noticed it. Today I am very aware of it every day and thank God frequently throughout the day for the many blessings with which I am showered;my sobriety, the beauty around me, loving family, loyal friends, opportunities to grow, interesting students - and I could go on and on.
Today I am also praying for the Board of the LCWR who are meeting in D.C. They have much to think, pray and talk about. May our loving God surround them with care and protection.
Cape Cod Cathy
And now I am home for a month until I go to celebrate success with Casey my oldest. She will host her agency's annual Tribute to Change in Philadelphia and I am able to be there to cheer her on. How grateful I am for that and for her in my life.
In August I go to England to visit my other blessings, daughter Trish, Ian and baby Jack for two blessed weeks. They too are such a grace in my life and give me much joy.
God is very good to me and has been all through my life - even when I have not noticed it. Today I am very aware of it every day and thank God frequently throughout the day for the many blessings with which I am showered;my sobriety, the beauty around me, loving family, loyal friends, opportunities to grow, interesting students - and I could go on and on.
Today I am also praying for the Board of the LCWR who are meeting in D.C. They have much to think, pray and talk about. May our loving God surround them with care and protection.
Cape Cod Cathy
Sunday, May 13, 2012
It has been awhile since I wrote here. Mostly because I had conflicting thoughts and feelings about what I wanted to write and no clear sense of it. But today being Mothers' Day there are several feelings that come to the surface.
First I just read that a good RSCJ friend of mine died this week. This is the third one that has gone to God in a short period of time. These women were friends, not mothers. But there were many like them who were "mothers" to me and who are gone now. They made my life safe when it wasn't, gave me comfort when I was sad, made me walk straight when I wanted to go crooked, laughed with me, prayed with me and did many of the things a mother does.
My own mother did the best she knew how. We developed a deep strong relationship in the years before she died. She was able to tell me how proud she was of me and that she loved me- large accomplishments for her. She has been gone 16 years and every Mothers' Day I miss her.
My own children remind me of what it is to be a mother. And I look to Mary, the universal Mother for guidance in dealing with them, particularly today when they are adults. Last Saturday I heard a speaker talk about Mary and how she must have felt when Jesus was an adult. And I thought about my own conflicted feelings, pride in my girls because of what they are accomplishing and the wonderful strong women they have become. I am delighted that they have found life partners whom they love and who love them in return. And my one daughter who is such a good momma to her year old-how happy I am for her. And yet sometimes I miss them, the geographic closeness we used to have, their need for me. And I think of Mary when Jesus was 12 and stayed behind in the Temple and later as an adult when he said,"And who are my mother and my brothers?" When I am in pain not knowing where my son is, I turn to Mary. And I ask her to keep me steadfast with my eyes on her and her Son. And to learn from her. Salve Regina.
First I just read that a good RSCJ friend of mine died this week. This is the third one that has gone to God in a short period of time. These women were friends, not mothers. But there were many like them who were "mothers" to me and who are gone now. They made my life safe when it wasn't, gave me comfort when I was sad, made me walk straight when I wanted to go crooked, laughed with me, prayed with me and did many of the things a mother does.
My own mother did the best she knew how. We developed a deep strong relationship in the years before she died. She was able to tell me how proud she was of me and that she loved me- large accomplishments for her. She has been gone 16 years and every Mothers' Day I miss her.
My own children remind me of what it is to be a mother. And I look to Mary, the universal Mother for guidance in dealing with them, particularly today when they are adults. Last Saturday I heard a speaker talk about Mary and how she must have felt when Jesus was an adult. And I thought about my own conflicted feelings, pride in my girls because of what they are accomplishing and the wonderful strong women they have become. I am delighted that they have found life partners whom they love and who love them in return. And my one daughter who is such a good momma to her year old-how happy I am for her. And yet sometimes I miss them, the geographic closeness we used to have, their need for me. And I think of Mary when Jesus was 12 and stayed behind in the Temple and later as an adult when he said,"And who are my mother and my brothers?" When I am in pain not knowing where my son is, I turn to Mary. And I ask her to keep me steadfast with my eyes on her and her Son. And to learn from her. Salve Regina.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
In the liturgies of the last few days we have focused on the love and goodness of God.
I have just finished reading several hundred blogs spurred into being by the Vatican's latest antics. A frivolous name for a serious matter, I realize, Since we have been encouraged not to interact with "the press" , I am not adding to the many I have read online at the NCR site. There have been several I want to blast out of the water and others I want to add my support to.
Only the love and goodness of God will pull our Church through this morass as God has done so many times before. Having read an article earlier today on politics and religion which discussed how many fewer religious people in the younger generation there are today then in 1950, I am surprised at the storm the Vatican's indictment has caused. That article talked about the resurgence particularly in the Catholic Church in the 60's and the fact that it is also dwindling quickly especially since the scandals of the early 21st century.
I pray that people coming together in their support for "the sisters" will also come together to worship and love God in the process. Wouldn't that be a true gift in response to God's love and goodness?
Cape Cod Cathy
I have just finished reading several hundred blogs spurred into being by the Vatican's latest antics. A frivolous name for a serious matter, I realize, Since we have been encouraged not to interact with "the press" , I am not adding to the many I have read online at the NCR site. There have been several I want to blast out of the water and others I want to add my support to.
Only the love and goodness of God will pull our Church through this morass as God has done so many times before. Having read an article earlier today on politics and religion which discussed how many fewer religious people in the younger generation there are today then in 1950, I am surprised at the storm the Vatican's indictment has caused. That article talked about the resurgence particularly in the Catholic Church in the 60's and the fact that it is also dwindling quickly especially since the scandals of the early 21st century.
I pray that people coming together in their support for "the sisters" will also come together to worship and love God in the process. Wouldn't that be a true gift in response to God's love and goodness?
Cape Cod Cathy
Friday, April 20, 2012
Good morning. It is a beautiful day outside here on Cape Cod. The sun is shining, flowers are blooming and trees are budding. God's creation is awake and alive.
Last Sunday at the Associates' meeting in Boston El shared with us a meditation she received from another friend. It was titled " Blessed Poverty". Seems to be a theme in my life right now? Anyway the lines that struck me were:
" It is to know that in Jesus Christ God loves us first, the one who constantly takes initiative in our lives. It is to understand that his work in us is far more important than any work we can offer him. I have learnt to say: My God, I welcome my day, I receive it with all that it will bring, rather than <I offer you my day>."
Again there is a meaning for the words of St. Madeleine Sophie to "pray in silence and in poverty of heart". It is God who gives the opportunity to do the work that he gives us to do, it is up to us to accept the invitation. WOW what a change of thought!
I too have heard about the Vatican's latest bit of interference in the work of God's laborers in the vineyard. Although I would love to spout off about it, I will follow the example of my wiser sisters and friends and wait until we know more:-)
Have a beautiful day - in all ways.
Cape Cod Cathy
Last Sunday at the Associates' meeting in Boston El shared with us a meditation she received from another friend. It was titled " Blessed Poverty". Seems to be a theme in my life right now? Anyway the lines that struck me were:
" It is to know that in Jesus Christ God loves us first, the one who constantly takes initiative in our lives. It is to understand that his work in us is far more important than any work we can offer him. I have learnt to say: My God, I welcome my day, I receive it with all that it will bring, rather than <I offer you my day>."
Again there is a meaning for the words of St. Madeleine Sophie to "pray in silence and in poverty of heart". It is God who gives the opportunity to do the work that he gives us to do, it is up to us to accept the invitation. WOW what a change of thought!
I too have heard about the Vatican's latest bit of interference in the work of God's laborers in the vineyard. Although I would love to spout off about it, I will follow the example of my wiser sisters and friends and wait until we know more:-)
Have a beautiful day - in all ways.
Cape Cod Cathy
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