Yesterday was the 1st Sunday of Advent...the beginning of a new year for our Church. Coming a few days after Thanksgiving and Black Friday and just before Cyber Monday the beginning of Advent can often seem like just a little bump on the road on the way to Christmas.
This year, the 1st Sunday of Advent was truly memorable since that was the day designated for the implementation of the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal. Although many faced this day with a mixture of excitement and concern, the first liturgical weekend is now behind us and all went fairly well. Yes, there were a few mistakes and some awkward moments as we all tried to remember the appropriate new responses--or juggle multiple sheets and books but overall it was good.
Our monastic community took an extra leap in also revising our Office books (common prayer books) this past weekend. So now even the psalms which we had been praying together for years have a few new words or phrasing that is a little different. We had been working towards revising our books for a few years so in one sense it was a welcome change and exciting--although still one more new thing.
We are learning patience with ourselves and others as we pray together. We are grateful for the wonderful gift of the liturgy. We are most grateful to God for providing the grace, strength and insight needed to remember what is most essential in our faith.
Sr. Catherine, OSB
Monday, November 28, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Needs vs Wants
It is written: Distribution was made to each one as he had need (Acts 4:35). RB80.34.1
I seem to be a thing magnet at times. Even though I try very hard to limit what I have, use or acquire, things seem to pile up little by little around me. This is especially true of paper, books, and gadgets. As much as possible, I try to limit the amount of stuff that tends to accumulate around me but it often seems to be a losing battle from the very beginning.
Paper, books and some tech gadgets (cell phone and laptop) are a natural part of my various ministry commitments. After all, how can I cook without a printed recipe, shop for supplies without a written list, or produce financial reports without multiple spreadsheets and graphs?
There is a point beyond which I can be either hanging on to unnecessary paper or hiding behind an overwhelming pile of stuff just to look busy or important.
Benedict invites me today to work on simplifying rather than increasing the amount of clutter and stuff around me. No amount of things is ever going to fulfill all of my needs and make me feel complete. I need to step back and listen to God's voice within me that calls me to rely on God's grace rather than depend on things for my security and value. In heeding God's invitation to simplify my life, I am making myself open to God's will in my life.
How am I listening to God's voice today?
Sr. Catherine, OSB
I seem to be a thing magnet at times. Even though I try very hard to limit what I have, use or acquire, things seem to pile up little by little around me. This is especially true of paper, books, and gadgets. As much as possible, I try to limit the amount of stuff that tends to accumulate around me but it often seems to be a losing battle from the very beginning.
Paper, books and some tech gadgets (cell phone and laptop) are a natural part of my various ministry commitments. After all, how can I cook without a printed recipe, shop for supplies without a written list, or produce financial reports without multiple spreadsheets and graphs?
There is a point beyond which I can be either hanging on to unnecessary paper or hiding behind an overwhelming pile of stuff just to look busy or important.
Benedict invites me today to work on simplifying rather than increasing the amount of clutter and stuff around me. No amount of things is ever going to fulfill all of my needs and make me feel complete. I need to step back and listen to God's voice within me that calls me to rely on God's grace rather than depend on things for my security and value. In heeding God's invitation to simplify my life, I am making myself open to God's will in my life.
How am I listening to God's voice today?
Sr. Catherine, OSB
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Love for the Weak
Rather, as the Apostle says: Let love for him be reaffirmed (2Cor 2:8), and let all pray for him. RB80.27.4
We all have our times of weakness, when our frailty seems to be closely connected with our identity. It is good for me to remember that during these times although life may look bleek it is not a time to dispair.
Today's selection of the Rule, which is from the disciplinary section of the Rule, reminds the community that it is at the time when one is that weakest that the love and concern of the group needs to be reaffirmed in order to gently guide the wayward or weak back into relationship. I know that when I begin to wander away from the boundaries set by the norm it is time for me to reach out to others and ask for extra support.
What does this support look like? It does not necessarily have to be anything spectacular or flashy,,,it can be taking time to listen to another's concerns, it can be a smile, a hug or a touch of the arm. It only needs to be some genuine expression of compassion or concern for the other. Just letting the person know that someone cares. I know that for me these brief moments of connection allow me the space and confidence needed to reassess my current situation and move forward in the future.
Whenever possible, I try to be that connection point for others also. It is in these encounters that we find surprising strength at times. How am I being a connecting point for others today?
Sr. Catherine, OSB
We all have our times of weakness, when our frailty seems to be closely connected with our identity. It is good for me to remember that during these times although life may look bleek it is not a time to dispair.
Today's selection of the Rule, which is from the disciplinary section of the Rule, reminds the community that it is at the time when one is that weakest that the love and concern of the group needs to be reaffirmed in order to gently guide the wayward or weak back into relationship. I know that when I begin to wander away from the boundaries set by the norm it is time for me to reach out to others and ask for extra support.
What does this support look like? It does not necessarily have to be anything spectacular or flashy,,,it can be taking time to listen to another's concerns, it can be a smile, a hug or a touch of the arm. It only needs to be some genuine expression of compassion or concern for the other. Just letting the person know that someone cares. I know that for me these brief moments of connection allow me the space and confidence needed to reassess my current situation and move forward in the future.
Whenever possible, I try to be that connection point for others also. It is in these encounters that we find surprising strength at times. How am I being a connecting point for others today?
Sr. Catherine, OSB
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