Sunday’s Chat focused on how we are to spiritually view destructive events of nature like Hurricane Sandy and how St Francis de Sales suggested we handle it.
Sister : Tonight we hope to share some of the circumstances of this past week and see if we can glean wisdom from St Francis
Nov 4 2012, 7:00 PM
X (guest): I hope you were okay and the rest of your collective during and after the storm sandy
Sister : Yes the Monastery was ok but our school families did not do as well and some lost homes What harrowing stories!
One family grabbed onto a floating deck from a house Some jumped in a canoe
X (guest): one act of kindness in our everyday life is all we need,but most people forgot that,only for most of us to realize it when we can only lean to each other
Xell (guest): I guess that’s what God wants us to remember
Sister : Yes for sure. The people who were to run the NY marathon ran with food to peoples shelters instead, for ex
X (guest): I hope it’s not as bad as Huricane Katrina as I see in the news
Sister : I don’t know for sure- to compare the two
Sister : Here it was devastating and that’s why we thought we shpould see how St Francis would have handled it
But how do you reach that inner calm?
Sister : People who live there said many outdoor statues were still standing Is that a sign or what
Ro: Yes, it is, no doubt.
Sister : Alot of Blessed Mother statues were standing
Ca: That means she will be there to help rebuild?
Ca: I think you;re on to something there-especially since people tend to want to blame God for not stopping the disaster
Ro: We pray for St Barbara to intercede with the Lord for us when we hear a bad storm is coming. And directly to the Sacred Heart to protect us by sending His Angels to surround us.
Sister : And I think that turning to His Heart is the only way to keep our hearts calm as St Francis advises
Ro: Yes.
Ca: yes, we could never stay calm by ourselves
Ro: We are helpless without Him.
Sister : St Francis says Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ?” (Rom. xiv. 8, and viii. 35.) Nay, verily, nothing can ever separate us from that Love;—neither tribulation nor distress, neither death nor life, neither present suffering nor fear of ills to come; neither the deceits of evil spirits nor the heights of satisfaction, nor the depths of sorrow; neither tenderness nor desolation, shall be able to separate us from that Holy Love, whose foundation is in Christ Jesus.
Ca: yet, He does allow the destruction to happen. I don’t think it’s to punish us, but to help us remember that which is eternal and to make us stronger
Ro: At times I do believe HE is trying to get the attention of mankind
__Ra: it seems in times of trouble a lot of people turn to Christ
Ro: HE knows it works. Mankind needs God and yet they turn away from HIM and HIS mercy
Nov 4 2012, 7:52 PM
__Ra: I know after the Henryville tornado (it’s up the road from me) the Church was FILLED after it hit
Ca: lots of thanksgiving going on as well as pleas for aid and mercy
Ro: If people would only attend Mass all the time so much would change in this country and world for the better
__Ra: if the people only understood how much Christ loves them they would flood the Church weekly!
Sister : How do we get across God’s great love for each of us
RA: I think we get the love across by pleading with the Lord to make their hearts open to accept it, and we do what we can to show them Christ’s love in our actions and words
Ro: And by praying that people accept His love and mercy
Sister : Catechesis done in a very loving manner?
Ro: It has to be taught that way.
Ca: it must be done lovingly, or we will only add to the guilt, not take it away
Sister : What about the woman whose 2 children were snatched from her arms by the storm?How do we help her cope?
Ro: People who lose their children are hand picked by God as HE brings us into a special bitter sweet friendship with HIM. After all HE sacrificed HIS only Son for us.
Ca: that is beautiful, and beyond words
Sister : Our prayers need to be with others that they can grow into this precious understanding and relationship
SrM: I most admire those who simply get in their cars and go offer whatever on-the-spot help they can.
Ro: yes
Sr M: One of our Sr.s nieces, who’s a chef, went to the closest soup kitchen and starting cooking for anyone there.
SR M: The rest of us can pray in intercession and send money and open our extra rooms to refugees.
Sister:Our daily rosary intention in community has been for the victims these past several days; but one never feels one is doing enough sometimes
Sr M: Our priest this morning quoted one saint who said he distrusted anyone whose God was “up there” and not imminently present through on-hands service here on earth.
Sister: From St Francis again: in order that they may resist the storm, and not be driven at its will,—so the soul, which has firmly grasped the Unchanging Love of God, will abide unshaken amid the changes and vicissitudes of consolations and afflictions,—whether spiritual or temporal, external or internal.
Sr M: Our St. Francis de Sales says, “Accept any suffering from Our Lord’s hand as if you saw Himself putting and pressing it on your head.” That’s hard!
Nov 4 2012, 8:24 PM
Ro: We must always conform to Gods’ will for our lives. As difficult as it may be
Sr M Yes, yes, and ever yes, Lord!
Sister : This disposition might be argued by some these days, but it never fails to bring inner peace
Nov 4 2012, 8:25 PM
Ro: That is so true
Sr M: SFdS also says, ” Our Lord wishes to despoil you of everything, so that He alone may be all things to you.”
Sister: Also very true but difficult
Sr M: And to St. Jane SFdS wrote, “The essence of prayer is in keeping our wills clearly united to God’s will in all events.” What a challenge
Ro: Jesus never told us life would be easy but as long as we follow Him we will reach our Eternal Reward
Sister : And the cross is a special way of loving Him
Nov 4 2012, 8:29 PM
Ro: yes it is
Sr M: In his Treatise on the Love of God, SFdS insists that “afflictions, if we look at them apart from God’s will are naturally bitter. If we consider them in that eternal good pleasure, we find them all gold and more lovely and precious than can be described.” Hmm…