How do you think integrity is lost (or shown) in today’s world?The Foundress speaks against acting with a “sterile routine.” How do you think virtue can be used as a remedy against what some perceive Christianity as being a “follow the rules” religion?How do you work on purifying your intentions?How can we more consciously take time to reconsider the purity of our intentions, especially when we are in the heat of anger, for instance?
Judy K: Hi Sister! I’ve been logging in early since i have been having so much trouble getting on. Tonight I had good luck. Before we get going with our topic for tonight, I want to correct something I said last week. In order to reach the United States Conference of Secular Institutes, you have to enter United States Conference of Secular Institutes.org in your browser. I tried using just USCSI.org and that doesn’t get you to the right website. Sorry for leading in the wrong direction!
Nov 9 2014, 7:08 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Oh thank you I think Car wanted that info I’ll save it for her
Sister Susan Marie: I thought the questions for tonight were more “chewable”! than usual.
Sister Susan Marie: All of them call for “mindfulness” consistently I think
Dawn : a good topic…
Sister Susan Marie: One can get caught up in the present moment, which definitely St Francis wants us to be present to, and yet not be truly intentional in actionPM
Judy : Purity of intention is something for which I pray daily. Looking at the first question, I have to say that I see a real lack of integrity in our Legislative leaders. Our Vice President identifies himself as a Catholic yet he support abortion. The same with Kathleen Sibelius and our own Governor Cuomo. People who seem to have integrity are those who march in the Right to Life March on Washington or those who pray in front of abortion mills. 3 PM
Guest8527 (guest): I agree
Sister Susan Marie: Yes integrity and “human respect” do not always go together. I mean doing things so one “fits” in rather than for priniciple
Sister Susan Marie: The more I read history, thru the eyes of saints, like in a saint’s bio, I see it has ever been the same
Sister Susan Marie: Intrigue rather than integrity!
Dawn : Can purity of intention also be in simple matters..like why you are doing something to help another person…is it for myself to feel good or is it truly for them?
Guest8527 (guest): Yes, I believe so..you can do something right for the wrong intentions..
Nov 9 2014, 7:16 PM
Dawn or is it for Jesus? that is the purest of intentions, is this right?
Sister Susan Marie: That’s a good observation. I think in a classic sense purity of intention means doing all for God, but yes, that’s a point- to look at our inner motive
Sister Susan Marie: And integrity would be a consistent virtue then in all your actions, not bending to pressure:18 PM
Judy The second question speaks of “sterile routine” and a religious that is “follow the rules.” It is actually a “follow the rules” religion but not out of slavishness but out of love for God. If we love Him, we will seek to grow in virtue which is dynamic rather than static or sterile. Living by the rules, or by the standards of living taught in the Gospels is living with integrity. Is it always easy? Nope. As Dawn says, are we really doing such and such out of love for God or others, or just to make ourselves, 7:18 PM
Judy : look or feel good.
Dawn : Sr Susan, such as when you said to try to “fit” in
Sister Susan Marie: Yes, and that’s what Judy mentions at the end of her most recent statement.
Nov 9 2014, 7:20 PM
Sister Susan Marie: But that “sterile routine” idea is an obstacle for so many who say things like ” I get nothing out of Mass” for instance
Judy : I tend to think that such people are not putting anything into it. Yes, maybe the homily is boring. But there is always something to be gleaned from at least one of the readings. And the greatest thing they are missing is receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, the greatest gift of all.
Nov 9 2014, 7:22 PM
Sister Susan Marie: “Rules” are truly a challenge but because they are difficult and our love for God can waver, we “dress down” those rules and make them un important
Dawn good point Judy….that living the standards taught in the Gospel is living with integrity!
Dawn sorry I seem to have delayed thoughts…will try to keep up
Sister Susan Marie: Serious chats like these take thoughtfulness, which can take time!
Judy : I sometimes wonder why the Lord does not give every priest the gift of dynamic and inspirational preaching. We so need this in these days.
Sister Susan Marie: We are blessed with some good preachers- they move the soul
Sister Susan Marie: But even if they are not dynamic if the Spirit is working thru them, we can ggrow
Nov 9 2014, 7:26 PM
Sister Susan Marie: I liked the idea of virtue being a remedy, or in another way of looking at it, saintliness. Too many of us don’t even aim at that- yet in the past it was a prime motive
Nov 9 2014, 7:27 PM
Judy : People frequently think of rules as taking away their freedom. But I think that they are preserving our freedom by keeping us from doing things that are sinful, or hurtful to others. Living according to the will of God is true freedom.
Judy : Question 3 is a toughie. How do we work on purifying our intentions? I can think only of one way, taking deed by deed approach rather than just the morning offering of the day. We need to develop a consciousness of everything that we do. Sometimes we just go through our days on “automatic pilot” as it were, giving little or no consideration to our motives.
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Judy It just occurred to me that the daily examination of conscience could be a help in that as well.
Nov 9 2014, 7:32 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Yes I agree. Absolute mindfulneess, which in our case, would be asking for the grace of God before each new action taken. That’s how the Spiritual Directory guides us
Sister Susan Marie: Asking for the grace from the Heart of Jesus
Dawn : absolute mindfulness. that is slowing down and listening to how the Holy Spirit is directing ?
Sister Susan Marie: Hi Carol. Judy found a web address for you for secular institutes
Judy : It might also mean slowing down and not rushing through our days without really thinking about our actions.
Sister Susan Marie: Slowing down, yes, asking for grace and listening for His response
Caro: Hi all! I’ve been trying to catch up to the conversataion
Judy The address is United States Conference of Secular Institutes.org You have to enter the whole name rather than just the USCSI initials. They have a list of institutes on the website.
Nov 9 2014, 7:35 PM
Car: thank you! i will open that up in another window and have some fun when we are done here
Judy Good luck with your search!
Sister Susan Marie: The initial direction of intention at the beginning of our day is essential but then we need to repeat it in one form or another throughout the day. Even in our own words; simply asking Jesus and Mary for help
Sister Susan Marie: Don’t you thin confession also helps purify our intentions? PM
Car: yes, if we find a confessor who will try to unravel the sins to get at the one underneath it all
Sister Susan Marie: Ah! Yes
Dawn : I do. and thats on point Caro;
Dawn : so there is one root sin?
Car: So often we are rushed-it’s either only half hour for general confessions, or you’re at a penance service with a bazillion people and are asked to name only one or two before receiving general absolution
Judy It would be wonderful if making that initial morning offering would actually take care of the whole day? But we are so frail, that our resolve breaks down sometimes. That is where confession is really helpful. And having a consistent confessor is essential.
Car: Dawn, sometimes there is only one. Sometimes there is an underlying cause to different kinds of sins we may have.
Nov 9 2014, 7:40 PM
Judy : Dawn, I have heard it said that pride is usually at the root of all sin.
Car: and fear
Dawn : thats makes sense. pride, and fear! ah big one!
Car: and yet related because both put us at the center of ourselves instead of God
Dawn : but fear has to do with pride? and needing to increase our faith
Dawn : so I read someplace….becoming holy is dieing to self. Was this on here?
Nov 9 2014, 7:42 PM
Car: it’s kind of a perverse pride-we are so fearful that we can’t see anything but what we fear and we forget everything else as ‘fight or flight’ kicks in
Sister Susan Marie: That’s where love can keep us balanced. If we say as the Sr Marie Bernaud suggested, To help us, we do not hesitate to take a look to God from time to time in our days saying “My God, everything to please you all for your love
Dawn thank you for those words
Nov 9 2014, 7:43 PM
Judy : I think that pride has us thinking that we are better than we really we are and we make choices based on our feelings of superiority. I don’t need to do this because I am already better than others. Or I don’t need any help; I can do it on my own.
Sister Susan Marie: Sometimes we are running from love so we want to do all alone
Judy : I wonder if our sinfulness comes really from a lack of “mindfulness” which you mentioned earlier, Sister. We do tend to breeze through our days and not really thinking about what we are doing. How can we have a pure intention under those circumstances!
Sister Susan Marie: I hark back to that word ” virtue” because despite all our pride and superiority we don’t aim for virtue, in general, these days, or sanctity. So many feel so inadequate they can’t approach even the thought of it
Judy Sanctity is something I think about all the time and frequently pray for holiness in my life. :48 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Mindfulness and purity of intention are one route to that. But we need to “count to ten” so to speak before each new action, with love of God as our motive. It is not easy and requires alot of practice I think
Nov 9 2014, 7:50 PM
Sister Susan Marie: It’s a good challenge for Advent.
Judy : And I look at the lives of those people whom we call “saints” for examples of how to be holy. But each of us needs to discover our way path to holiness. As deeply as I love and admire St. Gertrude the Great, I am not she. And my path has to be different from hers.
Car: yes, and time to actually count to ten. life can be so rushed you might only get to two before something else grabs you too
Judy : Uh, that should read discover our own path to holiness.
Nov 9 2014, 7:52 PM
Guest672 (guest): It seems to me that my big problem these days is no longer rushing but taking too long, and once I start a good project running out of time or energy before it is finished.
Nov 9 2014, 7:52 PM
Sister Susan Marie: True about the individual paths- the Holy Spirit will lead us if we can learn to take the time to listen. Perhaps role playing with a trusted friend would help. Have someone interrupt you as you reach “2” and practice how you can keep going to 10!
Car: I think you have me there, Sister!
Judy : I just realized that we should not discover our own paths to holiness, but rather allow the Lord to create the path for us. It’s that old saying “let go and let God!”
Nov 9 2014, 7:54 PM
Sister Susan Marie: “Procrastination” is the opposite of the big rush, not saying that’s what’s happening guest 672, but a tendency to need “breaks” in work or project is something I have struggled with
Guest672 (guest): Count to ten? I can sit for two hours grateful for Christ’s presence but with scarcely a clue about the next step. 014, 7:56 PM
Car: oh, the counting is to keep you from losing your temper, or becoming impatient, things like that, basically not to be ruled by your emotions
Judy : There can also be good reasons for taking a “break.” For instance, it is time to start writing Christmas cards. Physically, I can sit for only a certain amount of time before I can hardly get up and walk. Or if I am cleaning,I have to take a break because I am in pain. I have severe back trouble and MS so doing things on my feet can be difficult for me.
Judy K: Guest 672, perhaps the Lord is just pleased with your gratitude for His presence and wants you to just remain in that presence for a longer time.
Guest672 (guest): It was not always this way. But it IS a challenge since my injuries. Even the sitting is painful so I am grateful if I am in a chapel where I can walk about part of the time.
Sister Susan Marie: One has to be realistic and have common sense; also expectations might change with physical difficulties. Readjustment is not easy either!
Sister Susan Marie: Yes that, and being mindful of doing the next step for Him alone
Sister Susan Marie: Sometimes trusting that we are being guided every moment and we are abandoning ourselves to that moment, in His Will, and whatever it might bring
Judy : You are right there, Sister. I am beginning to have difficulty dealing with my increasing problems with walking. I try offer them for the sanctity of priests and seminarians. But there are times when the pain becomes too great and I have to stop everything. I sometimes tell the Lord that I don’t mean to complain, but I just want to talk to Him about it.
Sister Susan Marie: That’s a very good way to handle it- keep talking to Him. And the Psalmist’s often complained. Read and pray those! Hi Sr M Roberta!!! M
Mary Roberta Viano: Hello!
Nov 9 2014, 8:03 PM
Carol Ann: Hi Sr Mary Roberta
Nov 9 2014, 8:04 PM
Dawn : Hi Sr Mary Roberta
Guest672 (guest): Thank you Sr. Susan Marie. Yes, I am having a hard time accepting my limitations. And also afraid that if I accept them — surrender — I won’t be doing ALL that is possible to serve HIM.
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, those complaining Psalms come in very handy!
Judy : Hi Sister! We got started kind of early. We’ve been on since a little after 7 so quite has gone on.
Guest672 (guest): And to overcome them.
Judy K: Quite a bit has gone on.
Guest672 (guest): So that’s why it took so long to catch up. Welcome sister Mary Roberta Viano.
Guest672 (guest): I had trouble signing in again — even though I changed my password so I could. Oh well, here we are.
Mary Roberta Viano: RE: our limitations – I like SFdS’s pointing out in a sermon that Our Lord chose to mount an ass at His solemn entry into Jerusalem because “the ass, though heavy, sluggish and lazy (i.e., limited!) is unlike the haughty horse..”
Guest672 (guest): Funny you should quote that, Sister.
Judy : 672, do not be afraid of not doing “ALL” that is possible to serve HIM. He knows your difficulties and is surely pleased with each effort you make. We do have to accept (surrender) realisticaly to our limitations. To attempt to go beyond them might cause damage to our bodies.
Car: One of the Bible scholarship books I read quoted the diary of a Roman (forget who) who was in Jerusalem that day. The Roman commander was riding in on horseback with his legion through one gate as Jesus rode the ass through the other.
Guest672 (guest): Years ago I was trying to make a clay angel for a friend. We were on a retreat and I had done my “homework” looking at a lot of books of artworks depicting the angel Gabriel.
Mary Roberta Viano: I always have trouble knowing how far is too far to stretch my limits and how little is too little.
Sister Susan Marie: That’s where obedience helps.
Guest672 (guest): The clay insisted upon becoming a donkey — an ass — the wings became the ears and it just sat down. That reminded me of Balan’s ass.
Mary Roberta Viano: True. Mother knows best, as she stands in the place of Christ for us in community. PM
Judy : What about those of us who do not live in community.
Nov 9 2014, 8:12 PM
Sister Susan Marie: But the dilemna still exists for those who live more independently
Mary Roberta Viano: That’s where spiritual direction is useful.
Guest672 (guest): Yes, Sir Mary Roberta, that is the problem I see. If I do not stretch, push myself, I may not grow as I should.
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, that’s definitely true, too.
Judy : In cases of physical difficulties, perhaps our obedience is due to our doctors.
Guest672 (guest): If I do not rest enough — try too hard — I am constantly frustrated and do worse.
Nov 9 2014, 8:15 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Good! Consulting with doctors, loved ones. friends and taking their viewpoints seriously will win grace for our decisions
Mary Roberta Viano: I just heard on the news about the blind, young man who hiked the Grand Canyon – guided every step of the way by his good friends. He REALLY stretched!
Guest672 (guest): I don’t understand, Sr. Mary Roberta. You were still married when you entered?
Mary Roberta Viano: No, that was before. I was married 33 years before my husband died of cancer.
Guest672 (guest): Oh, wow! What a full life!
Judy : That blind young man had great trust in his friends. So we have that same trust in the Lord!
Nov 9 2014, 8:17 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Like our Foundress St Jane de Chantal
Judy : Uh, that should read “Do” we have that same trust in the Lord! I must be tired.
Nov 9 2014, 8:18 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, I feel very blessed to be able to continue following my baptismal promises of growing closer to the Lord.
Nov 9 2014, 8:19 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: SO, we DO have that trust!
Judy K: Good, Sister. Maybe that was a Freudian slip on my part.
Mary Roberta Viano: I like what SFdS wrote to SJFdC, advising her to avoid “indignation at untoward events.” Whatever God’s will of good pleasure brings is what we respond to lovingly.
Sister Susan Marie: What happens to trust when we get angry?
Nov 9 2014, 8:22 PM
Sister Susan Marie: I think the above just opened up that answer
Mary Roberta Viano: like my uncle, who refused to go attend church after his daughter was killed in a bus accident at age 11
Guest672 (guest): When I was feeling very frustrated by my limitations my confessor said, “Four nails — in his hands and feet — were frustrating, too.” So I try to “offer up” my frustration in union with his, for the salvation of whoever Out Lady figures needs the merits of my offering.
Judy K: It might depend, in part, on whether the anger is justifiable or no
Mary Roberta Viano: My uncle did finally return to church before his death, though. His anger kept him away for decades.
Sister Susan Marie: Like the Lord’s in today’s Gospel?
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Guest672 (guest): I’ve recently been reading about Blessed Chiara (Luce) B who died at age 18. That was a death with dignity.
Mary Roberta Viano: Our priest said Our Lord wasn’t really angry but was making a prophetic gesture, like the prophets in the OT.
Nov 9 2014, 8:24 PM
Sister Susan Marie: I heard of her. Remind us tho
Judy K: In looking at question 4 about reconsidering our purity of intention in the heat of anger, I thought that we probably would be able to do that only if we were in the habit of stopping before each action and making the intention.
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, one of our sisters suggests we stop, take a deep breath, and wait at least 15 minutes before saying anything when we get angry
Ca: because by that time we are usually no longer angry
Sister Susan Marie: That would be a real sign of sanctity- that the heat of the anger stays within without exploding and without making one sick too
Judy : Blessed Chiara Bedano was a wonderful Italian girl who, I think developed bone cancer. if I remember correctly, she was athletic and she accepted the fact that she was dying with love for the Lord.
Nov 9 2014, 8:27 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: SFdS says in the Intro: “As soon as you perceive yourself guilty of an act of wrather, repair the fault immediately by an act of meekness toward the same person with whom you were angry.”
Judy K: What about those of us who do not live in community.
Sister Susan Marie: But the dilemna still exists for those who live more independently
Nov 9 2014, 8:12 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: That’s where spiritual direction is useful.
Mary Roberta Viano: SFdS says in the Intro: “As soon as you perceive yourself guilty of an act of wrather, repair the fault immediately by an act of meekness toward the same person with whom you were angry.”
Nov 9 2014, 8:27 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: oop. wrath
Nov 9 2014, 8:2
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Guest672 (guest): She was the only child of a truck driver and a housewife mother in Italy.. . . Here’s a link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcIGGRtBskE
Blessed Chiara “Luce” Badano, a beautiful plan – YouTube
Nov 9 2014, 8:28 PM
Sister Susan Marie: And the intention being for the glory of God, especailly as expressed in the temple of the other person, their interior
Nov 9 2014, 8:28 PM
Guest672 (guest): Badano is the last name. She said “What ever you want, Jesus, I want PM
Mary Roberta Viano: I think that’s what Holy Father means by repairing anger “by a contrary act of meekness,” accepting God’s will right away. M
Dawn L: if I become frustrated with another the only remedy I have found is to begin prayer for them or say part of rosary for them. this will shift my focus. well then after awhile, when I encountered someone with this reaction, I began to think the Lord was moving me to pray for them PM
Dawn m not quite sure about this is why I mention :
Judy K: In the second reading today, Paul tells us that we are the temples of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in us. I have read that passage many times, but today it really touched me. I am the temple of God. That means that I should be striving for purity of body, mind, spirit and intention so as to provide a fit dwelling place for the Lord. How awesome that He wants me to be His dwelling place! I truly must exercise more care in my daily life to be a little less unworthy of this indwelling of the Lord.
Mary Roberta Viano: That’s good Dawn – to consider the frustration a strong hint from God to pray for something.
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Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, Judy, I think that’s what living more “intentionally” means.
Nov 9 2014, 8:34 PM
Car: if we start our prayer, I don’t know what to pray for so you decide, does that help?
Nov 9 2014, 8:35 PM
Judy K: And I think that it means that we must have a deeper reverence for one another since we are all His temples.
Mary Roberta Viano: Right. When I’m praying with our girls in homeroom, I always ask them to lift up the first person they think of – that’s God’s urging them to pray for him/her/them.
Nov 9 2014, 8:36 PM
Guest672 (guest): I pray for people who’ve treated me badly — multiple felonies and threats — but unlike in the convent where you can assume that you have a basically shared outlook, an “act of meekness” is likely to bring on just greater violence from some people.
14, 8:37 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, dealing with bullies in a meek way doesn’t work.
Nov 9 2014, 8:37 PM
Judy K: And maybe having that deeper reverence would help us in our purity of intention since our actions are usually directed at another temple.
Nov 9 2014, 8:37 PM
Guest672 (guest): It is likely to be seen as weakness.
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Mary Roberta Viano: Maybe just being gently firm is the way. 39 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: I have to get music ready for tomorrow’s Office. Let’s continue praying for one another in our “virtual” community! G’night.
Nov 9 2014, 8:39 PM
Guest672 (guest): I find it hard, for example — especially as we talk about ourselves and others as being temples — to get a phone call telling me that if I report a crime committed by an officer, I will come home and find my house burned down. And then come home from adoration and see a huge fire not far from my house!
e!
Nov 9 2014, 8:39 PM
Carol Ann: Oh that is frightening!
Nov 9 2014, 8:40 PM
Judy K: Oh my, that is heavy. You certainly have a lot to deal with.
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Guest672 (guest): Please pray for me! I will not be intimidated by bullying, but I know that in a case like this, “Acts of Meekness” are not the answer. , 8:42 PM
Carol Ann: no, the proper action is to stand against injustice, and find a way to protect yourself 8:43 PM
Judy K: Lord,I ask you to touch out guest with a special measure of Your love. She is hurting and needs all the strength You have to give her. Help her to lean on You in times of struggle and to trust in You completely. Give her good friends who can support her in her struggles and a legal system that will protect her. In Jesus’ name we pray!
Nov 9 2014, 8:43 PM
Sister Susan Marie: St Michael the Archangel pray for her.
Nov 9 2014, 8:43 PM
Car: I will pray too