“You will catch more flies,” St. Francis used to say, “with a spoonful of honey than with a hundred barrels of vinegar. Were there any thing better or fairer on earth than gentleness, Jesus Christ would have taught it us; and yet he has given us only two lessons to learn of him – meekness and humility of heart.”
Similarly, Pope Francis said,
“Just think of religious who have hearts as sour as vinegar – they are not made for the people. In the end, we must not form administrators (and) managers, but fathers, brothers and traveling companions.”
Pope Francis wrote, “There are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter.” Why is it important that Lent ends with a celebration? “From silly devotions and sour-faced saints, good Lord, deliver us,” prayed St. Teresa of Avila. Why might she make this prayer? How do we recognize our own identity? In what ways do we reach out to others and help to heal one another?
Sister Susan Marie: Did you get a chance to read the Oblates article, comparing Pope Francis and St Francis de Sales?
Ca: Yes! Believe it or not; even took a look at Bondings
Apr 6 2014, 7:37 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Yes I thought it was a good comparison and stretching
Ca: Mission focus& humility
Loving attitude
All impressive
Sister Susan Marie: Esp the mission part, yes, St Francis de Sales converted thousands by his gentle approach and Pope Francis surely is winning millions at least thru his presence thru media
Sister Susan Marie: St Francis de Sales believed in balance and that’s why I think this Oblate article was so good in its brevity- it showed balance
Sister Susan Marie: The sense of Pope Francis winning hearts and St Francis famous phrase- catching flies with honey, not vinegar, is particularly apt
Ca: Good for all of us loudmouth academics
Sister Susan Marie: Chasing sinners away- Jesus did not do that!
Sister Susan Marie: So how can we speak the truths of faith and not chase people away?
Ca: Great dr of church is right on; when u r abrasive or pompous you scare others of good will
Guest102 (guest): The holy Father is bringing people to the church by his love and example.
Ca: Have pope as real dad + spiritual dad
So kind
Sister Susan Marie: He is helping with the Father image, yes, so difficult for many
Guest102 (guest): He is without ego. Just pure love. The love of Jesus who works thru him and in him..
Sister Susan Marie: And St Vincent de Paul saisd St Francis de Sales was the most Christ like in his era
Ca: Wow, did not know that;
Apr 6 2014, 7:48 PM
Sister Susan Marie: So the similarity as suggested by Fr Greenfield in the article can be extended to other areas as well
Sister Susan Marie: Oh Yes!
Ca: St Vincent of course great example too
Sister Susan Marie: They were friends, of course
Sister Susan Marie: St Vincent became St Jane de Chantal’s spiritual director after St Francis died
Ca: I still have a heck of a lot to learn
Sister Susan Marie: About as many years, close to 20 but few letters exist
Sister Susan Marie: Academics like to learn!
Ca: St Vincent great example of self less
Love of neighbor
Corporal wks
Sister Susan Marie: Yes that was his great gift
Sister Susan Marie: I always wonder his influence on the Visitation Order; how pervasive was it? Like I said, not too much scholarship on that? Anybody looking to write a dissertation?
Ca: Hey I might be game
Sister Susan Marie: Vincentians probably have the documents
Apr 6 2014, 7:52 PM
Ca: One of my fave priest professors was CM
He has deep joy like pope
Sister Susan Marie: What do you think about the Pope Francis statement: the Church is a field hospital
Sister Susan Marie: after battle
Ca Haha we are all wounded in need of Divine Physician,
So yes his observation is on the mark
I include myself too
Sister Susan Marie: If you think about it yes almost all of us have been wounded
K (guest): In the Sacraments we receive healing and a renewed relationship with Christ and His Church.
Guest102 (guest): I love that statement as it’s so true.
Sister Susan Marie: How did we experience our own healing process?
Sister Susan Marie: Yes thru Sacraments, confession, prayer
Ca: In Christ we are a new creation
Sister Susan Marie: There is much grace there. But accountability too!
K (guest): Yes, we must choose to cooperate with the grace offered.
Ca: Yes; part of the penance
No cheap grace
Sister Susan Marie: I think that’s where some issues may lie- wounded people still need to hear the truth- but gently, unless they are the type that needs to be confronted with strength
Sister Susan Marie: It’s hard to approach the whole world- as the Pope needs too- with one path- yet he seems to be doing it. In the confessional, there are souls who need unique approaches
Sister Susan Marie: So how is he accomplishing this? What grace from the Lord.
Ca: The pope’s charisma & genuinely pastoral heart will win over many I think
Not syllabus of errors type
Sister Susan Marie: Fr Greenfield said:as we strive to
be disciples who are eager to
advance the mission entrusted
to us, we are called to a clear joy,
straight from the Gospel, that
marks us as sons of a Salesian
tradition whose joy is enflamed
as we live Jesus
Sister Susan Marie: The Pope is exhibiting great joy
Ki(guest): He is eager to advance the mission entrusted to him.
Ca: Joy no doubt indicates great union w/Jesus
Need that for mission I think
Apr 6 2014, 8:03 PM
K (guest): I think a key factor is following God’s specific plan for our lives and then we can be free and joyful (in spite of difficulties).
Ca: Re evangelization needs to encounter that kind of joy
Sister Susan Marie: Yes: what about this that he said: In
the end, we must not form administrators (and) managers, but
fathers, brothers and traveling companions.
Sister Susan Marie: Re Priests
CaK, I think that is absolutely true too
Sister Susan Marie: Yes who live an interior life
K (guest): We must love one another, not try to control one another.
K(guest): Saintly priests will lead to more saintly laity.
Sister Susan Marie: You are all leaders in one way or another. How do we stay close in proximity to those we are responsible for, as the Pope said the Church should do
K(guest): Pray for them and for a loving and gentle heart in helping them. Hello Sister Mary Roberta.
Ca: K no better advice than that
Sister Susan Marie: He says, “The thing
the Church needs most today is
the ability to heal wounds and to
warm the hearts of the faithful.
The Church needs nearness, proximity. How can they want a fellow Jesuit to be to drop out?
Mary Roberta Viano: I hope he can persevere, despite the criticism from his confreres.
Ca: Sister Susan you are so right;
K (guest): We must pray for our orthodox priests and seminarians, that they remain faithful.
Sister Susan Marie: The Pope is a Jesuit. He should call him!
Mary Roberta Viano: His superior thinks he’s not “pastoral” enough.
Sister Susan Marie: Unfortunately jealousy erupts. Can happens in the Monastery too if someone seems “too pious”
Guest102 (guest): I can not understand that..
Sister Susan Marie: But authentic piety can take it!
Ca: Envy/jealousy/pettiness infect us all
Mary Roberta Viano: – reminds me of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and her sisters, who thought her too pious!
Ca: Envy probably
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, her authentic piety “took it,” thanks be to God!
Ca: Yes, can overcome that kind of abuse in Christ
Sister Susan Marie: And her Sisters eventually “came around”, no?
Mary Roberta Viano: Right
Ca: That’s a relief
Mary Roberta Viano: It caused her a lot of suffering, though.
K (guest): If we could just remain faithful to God’s call and not be concerned about what others think. :20 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: So true, K!
Ca Very true; sin of human respect is all around
Sister Susan Marie: Hours of monastic solitude helps with that I think
Am: I’ve never heard it said that way, Carla, sin of human respect
Sister Susan Marie: Alone with the Alone, one gets strength,for the next round..!
K (guest): although, in reading what I just wrote, maybe we should be concerned about what other think in a sense.
Apr 6 2014, 8:21 PM
Ca: Sin of human respect=placing glory before God
: Like idolatry
Alone with God=great spiritual book & story of my last 5 yrs
Mary Roberta Viano: Although our sisters’ lack of respect for us can lead to true humility sometimes.
Ca: Now that is a good one Sister
K (guest): God works good in all things for those who love Him.
Am: I think it doesn’t matter what people think or do. It’s your relationship with Jesus.
M
Guest102 (guest): Am I agree.
Mary Roberta Viano: True, Am, but when you have to live with your sisters 24/7, that’s sometimes hard.
Ca: Thank you for that reminder Am!
K (guest): And we should also desire that we all be one in Christ.
Ca Sister MR, it’s nothing compared to a Long Island high school
Guest102 (guest): Love the sinner and forgive the sin. Share in the suffering of Jesus.
Am: I agree. But I remember when I felt the call to wear a skirt when I went to church and all the women wear pants, at first they thought I was nuttier than a fruitcake but I just felt like it was right for me
K (guest): Yes, Guest 102!
Mary Roberta Viano: As in any human situation, you learn to keep a low profile to avoid conflict!
Ca: Am, that is beautiful; I wear chapel veil in church
PM
Am: But if something is wrong, how can you avoid conflict if you don’t speak up?
Mary Roberta Viano: Good witness – like our habit.
Guest102 (guest): Silence in the face of adversity with love in the heart.
Mary Roberta Viano: Righ, Guest102!
Apr 6 2014, 8:27 PM
Ca: Low key loving approach
Without abandoning witness
Mary Roberta Viano: Not shunning, but not engaging where conflict is inevitable
Guest102 (guest): Silence can be more difficult but makes us stronger and more humble. :
K (guest): And pray for a solution8
Am: Ok, so, I need some advice, I see a group doing something that could be hurting some other people, howcan one keep silent/28 PM
Ca: Check out Vietnamese Cardinal & Walter Czisek SJ
Mary Roberta Viano: SFdS says: “One ounce of virtue acquired amid contradictions, reproaches, sarcasms, censures, and reprimands is worth more than ten pounds gained in any other way.” :
Ca: Speak out only in virtue 4
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, stepping up to defend others is super-important, Amy. That’s for sure.
Am: And expect reproaches, I guess0
Mary Roberta Viano: -with the possibility of martyrdom
Ca: Perhaps that kind of witness can convert too
Mary Roberta Viano: Some have lost their livelihood by standing up for what they believe.
K (guest): If we are praying, God will show us the right time and way to speak (or act) in regard to defending “truth”.
A: Yes, I know
But Christ spoke out against the moneychangers in the temple
Ca: Nothing more glorious than defending our way truth & life
K (guest): But, it may also be sacrificial acts.
Ca , I think He was demonstrating righteous anger there!
Apr 6 2014, 8:34 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Right, K! Fasting and prayer obtains much – our own strength, if nothing else.
Mary Roberta Viano: So hopefully we’re all much stronger after our Lenten sacrifices!
Am: Yes, and righteous anger didn’t win Him any fans with the powers to be
Ca: Hahaha oh boy keep praying!
Mary Roberta Viano: It led Him closer to the cross.
Ca: He has def overcome such powers
Glory of his resurrection
Am Yes!
Apr 6 2014, 8:37 PM
Ki(guest): “My reign will be established in the midst of contradictions and only by weak and despised subjects…” words of Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary.
Ca: But in the end their immaculate hearts will triumph!
Sister Susan Marie: I think Kim had a good point; how do we know when to keep silence and when to speak out? Deep prayer will lead us to hear the Lord in a new way and we will be led to the right move in each case. Jesus prayed over everything
Mary Roberta Viano: Right! There’s no following Our Lord without acceptance of our cross.
Apr 6 2014, 8:38 PM
Am: And we each have our own special cross
Sister Susan Marie: Thank you all, I have to leave . Blessed 5th week of Lent!