Sister Susan Marie: Welcome to tonight’s session on temptations and distractions in prayer
Sister Susan Marie: and spiritual direction by Fr de Caussade
Sister Susan Marie: Did you find his statements surprising?
Guest311 (guest): I found the first one, at first glance, heavy duty. But as i considered it, I realized that holy contempt is something that is neither sick nor morbid, but rather a healthy recognition (with an appropriate sense of remorse) of our weakness and sinfulness.
Ali:
Yes holy contempt is not a phrase we toss around, is it? But the holy certainly gives pause to consider the phrase
: I tried to look it up online but they dont usually go together
Sep 7 2014, 7:30 PM
Sister Susan Marie: With so much low self-esteem these days I always say one must be integrated personally within before one can begin to see ourselves as “nothingness”
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Sister Susan Marie: But humility is a better word to work with anyway, do you agree?
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Car: I think that people only think of the negative aspect of contempt-that you are holding something as lower than you are
Ali: yes the term humility sounds better but that is still a tough pill to swallow
Sister Susan Marie: I agree Contempt is a word that is so negative today we almost can’t get around it- but truth of who we are I think we can still manage
Guest311 (guest): Yes, definitely. That’s why I refer to a healthy sense of our weakness, with appropriate remorse. Also, endurance with humility is smething more than something with which to resonate. Rather it is essential or else we could very easily give in to despair.
Car: Because if we acknowledge how weak and small we really are before God, we cannot help but be humble-but the negativity of the modern usage of contempt gets in the way. If we view contemptible things as dirty and evil, how will we view ourselves if we apply that term to our own self?
Sister Susan Marie: That’s why we do need to be soaked in God’s love and Presence and in that place our smallness is absorbed by His grandeur, love and comfort.
Mary Roberta Viano: However we can “look with loving attention at the truth of God’s beauty and goodness” (TLG) is the way to contemplation.
Guest311 (guest): Yes! Taking delight in the goodness of God. I was outdoors today and for the first time in my life saw a chickadee up close and personal. I was absolutely and always thank God for such special moments.
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Alit: are you still thinking about religious life then? PM
D(guest): Yes, I’ve made a private vow already. But for some reason it didn’t feel like it was authentic.
Car: I was ready to give up too, or at least take a break, but then I made the one phone call my director wanted me to, and now things are moving forward again
Ali: its sure not easy finding where you belong!
D (guest): I did love the Toledo Visitation Nuns…but I’m not sure if I’m called to cloistered life…beautiful community however. I strongly encourage anyone to visit.
Cardid you know there’s a program where you can make that vow directly to your bishop? It’s not everywhere again yet, but it is coming back
Sep 7 2014, 7:41 PM
D(guest): …can you share where you are “moving forward”?
PM
D(guest): C..no I’m not aware of that. Only Consecrated Virgins and Consecrated Widows. I don’t qualify for either.
Ali: i think i need to be in community
PM
Ca Yes, I found out about the Little Portion monastery here a few weeks ago. I loved the idea, but was scared to try. ut I finally called and actually spoke to the vocation director. I may not qualify for the monastic wing, but she advised me to meet with the local cell of the domestic branch.
(guest): where is that exactly? I live in Colorado right now.
Sister Susan Marie: John Michael Talbot’s group?
Ca: I still feel called to cloister, and I may end up in one, but this is different. I could start as a domestic if that’s what they want and switch. Who knows?
D(guest): What’s a domestic?
Car: it’s in Arkansas, www.littleportion.org
D(guest): Ha! I feel for the first time like I have a support group here. PM
Guest311 (guest): Ah, John Michael Talbot’s monastery. He is sure on the right track with that. He is so forward looking having both the monastic expression as well as the domestic expression (members of the congregation who live in their own homes).
D(guest): Ahhh, a hermitage. Yes I’ve considered that also. I’ve lived by myself for a long time.
Car There are several different expressions of the vow, one is traditional monastic, one is small “cell” of individuals who live in their own homes far from the actual monastery, they call domesticsPM
D (guest): I’ve never heard of the “domestic expression”. But I have to admit, I loved praying the LOH with the Sisters in Toledo. There’s something special about praying in community.
Sister Susan Marie: Can several “domestics” get together and eventually become a new monastery?
Ca: Yes, I especially like that the domestics have the same vow and are equally important
Guest311 (guest): What is unique about Little Portion is that it includes both married and celibate members both within the monastery and in the domestic expression.l
Ca: I fon’t know, but it sure sounds like a good idea! There are some domestic cells that run houses of prayer.
Guest194 (guest): I wish to share with you that I “came & saw” and knew this was the place for me…
Guest194 (guest): To anyone just thinking about a vocation…it is Jesus knocking on your door…let Him in
De (guest): I have been told by so many people that it’s too “late” for a vocation…but everytime I’m in Adoration I feel that pull on my heart…
Guest194 (guest): Debbie, you are before Jesus in Adoration. He does speak to your heart…
Sep 7 2014, 7:50 PM
Guest194 (guest): I entered this Monastery of Brooklyn Visitation in December 2011.
Sep 7 2014, 7:50 PM
D (guest): Yes he does. And I know He will lead me and enlighten me to His Will.
Guest311 (guest): Idon’t think it is ever too late to discover a vocation. There is always a way to fulfill this desire.
Ali: How long did you know you were called Sister?
D(guest): It seems that there were a lot of us lost during the 70’s and 80’s that are now discovering that call. I returned to the Catholic Church 3 1/2 years ago and have been on fire with the Holy Spirit since then. I just love Jesus so much…and I have no desire to date. I just want to be with him. PM
Guest311 (guest):have you ever heard of Diocesan Hermits. Check out the website notesfromstillsong the site of Sr. Laurel O’Neill who is a Diocesan Hermit. You might find somethig there that resonates with you.
Sister Susan Marie: It sounds to me that there is a call there so do not let age be an obstacle
De (guest): Is guest 194 a novice at the Brooklyn Visitation Community? Are you cloistered or the apostolate?
Guest194 (guest): The Lord called me during a Eucharist Adoration hour in our Diocese in Michigan and it took me a while to accept Our Lord’s invite! When I did surrender to the idea of a vocation, God led me here just to “come & see”.
Ali: the funny thing is, i knew i had a call in Catholic school- maybe early teens and now i have moved back home and feel His call even more when i am in my home Church- St Agnes
Guest194 (guest): Yes, I am a Temporary Professed Sister. I entered in Dec 2011 and made my 1st profession August 15 this year.
D (guest): Hmmm, very interesting about the Hermits. But I will need to work to support myself. I’m not independently wealthy…although currently I have no debt.
Car: Yes, I have heard of Diocesan Hermts and also consecrated virgins. The Vicar of Women Religious in our archdiocese has my name down for that too, should the Archbishop wish to start a program
Guest194 (guest): I currently teach religion to 7th & 8th grade girls…they are delightful!
Ali: I needed to hear what you said
Daw: how does one discern if they are called to be a contemplative? PM
DebbieScott (guest): Yes, the Toledo Visitation Nuns were very welcoming to me. But I feel such a strong call to evangelization. I LOVE scripture and I want to help as many people as possible find Christ.
Guest194 (guest): We have a perfect mixture of contemplative prayer life and teaching apostolate if desired. A contemplative heart loves prayer!
Guest311 (guest): I always get a little frustrated when, in the Petitions, they say “that more young people will respond to the call to the priesthood or consecrated life.” What about older people–it seems that more older people are seeking consecrated life these day.
D(guest): Yes, I like the idea of the mix.
Guest194 (guest): We are all God’s children…young at heart, yes?
Dt (guest): Amen guest 311!! My thoughts exactly. Every time we pray for vocations I want to scream…what about the older adults?!!
:01 PM
Guest194 (guest): Well then…potential sisters online! God calls…!
Daw: is part of the discernment process thinking about your family life obligations and desires and or going into vocation?
Sep 7 2014, 8:02 PM
D (guest): I think it’s wonderful that the Visitation Communities are open to late vocations. So very few communities are. I had no idea and was shocked to discover this when I started discerning. I even had a priest try to talk me out of it…instead of helping me to discern.
Sep 7 2014, 8:02 PM
Ali: A potential Sister… i like that
Guest194 (guest): I will continue to pray for each of you. Surrender is the key!
Sep 7 2014, 8:03 PM
Guest110 (guest): Interesting and surprising. When I was about 6o I looked for a community, found only 4 listed. Visted them all. Applied to one.
Alimy priest did too and He is a wonderful priest. i almost cried
Daw: a priest told me ” that means you are still seeking” when I told him my desire?
Guest110 (guest): SOLT
Sep 7 2014, 8:04 PM
Car: Me too, Debbie, and I have divested of a lot
Sister Susan Marie: There is a list on line of communities that accept older vocations; I would need to look for it
Daw: what is SOLT?
Mary Roberta Viano: I like Holy Father’s definition of contemplation as “other other than taking delight in the goodness of God.”
Mary Roberta Viano: “nothing other”
D(guest): Yes, I also visited the Capuchin Poor Clares in Denver. Beautiful community! But they are all from Mexico and say some of the prayers in Spanish. There just was a disconnect for me with the culture. But still a very beautiful community.
Sister Susan Marie: A third order is a lay group associated with a religious order that usually has both a male and female branch of religious
De(guest): I have to admit, I love everything about Salesian Spirituality. I love St. Francis de Sales, St. Theresa of Avila and especially St. Augustine.
Sep 7 2014, 8:17 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Then you can join the Daughters of SFdS, Debbie.
Sep 7 2014, 8:17 PM
Car So Beatitudes follows the same pattern as John Michael Talbot’s hermitage?
Sister Susan Marie: The Visitation does not have a third order because we have no male counterpart. But there is the Daughters of St Francis de Sales- or rather the Association of SFDS
Guest110 (guest): There are Carmelite third orders, too.
Sep 7 2014, 8:18 PM
Guest194 (guest): Yes! Joy and delight… and Debbie, St Augustine is our “grandfather”…our constitutions have his influence.
D(guest): I’m already working with a group of the Daughters of SFdS. I told them that I was discerning a religious vocation and they were OK with that and said that my period of aspirancy should help with that.
Sep 7 2014, 8:18 PM
Guest311 (guest): , I have been a Cooperator Salesian (of St. John Bosco) for over 32 years now and have really found a home with them. there are groups in New York and New Jersey.
Sep 7 2014, 8:18 PM
Guest110 (guest): But I don’t think there are any Carmelite communities that accept older candidates.
S
Sister Susan Marie: Wonderful- their formation is very organized and you will have a spiritual companion for life
Sep 7 2014, 8:19 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: The Salesians of Don Bosco cooperators are good, too.
Sep 7 2014, 8:20 PM
Sister Susan Marie: You will see if that is “enough” for you or whether Jesus calls you to live with Him under the same roof
Guest311 (guest): That’s the group– several years ago the name was changed to Cooperator Salesians to put the emphasis on Salesian. :21 PM
DebbieScott (guest): Yes…still feeling a call to community life. Not sure why.
Guest110 (guest): I’m an Associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
.
PM
D (guest): I think that I really like community prayer…it’s the prayer life that is so key to me. Even though I’m doing that by myself in my Parish here…I really like praying with the sisters. PM
Guest110 (guest): Here, in the North Country, Adirondack Park, there are only a few communities.
Sep 7 2014, 8:22 PM
Sister Susan Marie: That is a very important element of your discernment, Debbie
Sep 7 2014, 8:22 PM
Guest311 (guest): Now there’s another possibility. A number of congregations have Associates–Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Ursuline Sisters,and I am sure that there are others.
Sep 7 2014, 8:22 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Being formally connected to consecrated religious is a great way to move to receive their graces.
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Daw: question….and think I am having computer issues today….but which is the best Visitation order to visit for a retreat/discernment?
Sep 7 2014, 8:23 PM
D(guest): But I also feel a call to evangelization…so contemplative life doesn’t seem like enough to me.
Sep 7 2014, 8:23 PM
Alit: yes to me trying to form my spiritual life alone is like having Mass alone or watching it on TV
Guest311 (guest): Wow, we sure got off the rack of this week’s discussion topic. But there seems to have been a great need among some of you for this discussion. I hope that you found something helpful in the posts.
Sep 7 2014, 8:27 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, Steubenville has become a source of many religious vocations.
Sep 7 2014, 8:27 PM
Guest110 (guest): I was commissioned by our bishop to teach RCIA.
Sep 7 2014, 8:28 PM
Guest110 (guest): It was after a two year “Formation for Ministry.”
Sep 7 2014, 8:28 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Our Lord gives us all kinds of ways to serve Him.
Sep 7 2014, 8:28 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Yes I did not steer it back becaise this seemed like the need. But we did talk a little about prayer- tho not its distractions. We livedthe distraction, so to speak!
Sep 7 2014, 8:28 PM
Ali: we sure did!
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Guest110 (guest): I grew up on Long Island.
Sep 7 2014, 8:29 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Everyone was longing for a life of prayer!
PM
Guest311 (guest): That’s one thing to do with distractions– incorporate them into the prayer.
Sep 7 2014, 8:29 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: thus the talk about discernment
Sep 7 2014, 8:29 PM
Dawn LaBorde: on long island?
Sep 7 2014, 8:29 PM
Ca That’s the key
: And then we all thought of Jesus and all plans went right out of our heads9 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Let Christ decide for each of us! M
Guest194 (guest): Ahhh, we lived the distraction…and the fruits of it will be in the upcoming prayers. I will keep all of you in prayer. May you surrender to God. Let Him act. Good night to all…
Sep 7 2014, 8:30 PM
Ali: Jesus is like a very handsome man in the room…so distracting!
Sep 7 2014, 8:30 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: He knows the deepest desires of our hearts.
earts.
Sep 7 2014, 8:30 PM
Dt (guest): Speaking of prayer, have you read The Sermons of SFDS on Prayer? So beautiful!!
Sep 7 2014, 8:30 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: True,
Sep 7 2014, 8:31 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: So let’s pray ourselves to sleep! G’night.
Sep 7 2014, 8:31 PM
Daw good night everyone. interesting discussion. thank you