Faith- the dawn of devotion- Sunday’s chat
Sister : What devotions do you practice and how were you led to them?
How do you perceive your faith and love of God in relation to your knowledge of Him?
What is your balance between prayer, worship and theological study?
How do the fires of your love for God become stirred up and grow into flames?
J: that is a problem I have Sister…the long road between the intellect and the heart
Sister : Yes that is probably not unusual- maybe especially with certain personality types
Ro: The daily Rosary, morning and evening prayers. Private devotion on Thursday evening to the Sacred Heart for religious vocation.
Nov 25 2012, 7:26 PM
Sister: Obviously St Francis de Sales, by titling his book, Introduction to a Devout Life, with emphasis on Devout, understood devotions as well
Ca: I like liturgy of the hours, the Rosary and the divine Mercy
__Ra: I pray the LOTH, Rosary, First Friday/First Sat
Sister : Our community has a daily devotion to the Rosary and Divine Mercy and of course the Sacred heart. We have a Visitation Manual that includes many other devotions as well
J: I love St Francis de Sales’ way of getting in union with God…by saying or just lifting heart to God throughout day with a short saying with zeal….or putting yourself into a scene with Jesus
Ca: that almost sounds like Ignatian prayer
Sister : That’s a good way of moving from head to heart- esp with meditation. St Francis studied under the Jesuits
Ca: oh, that explains it!
Ro: I can tell you there have been many Rosaries said while cleaning our barn by Heidi & I.
Ca: it’s far too easy to get busy and forget in who’s presence we’re standing
Sister : For me knowledge of God came first. I still remember my mother teaching me about God and the angels before I went to school
J: even if in hustle and bustle of day…while even involved actively…just take a moment and lift heart to God through a small saying or a heart felt thought
Sister : Yes keeping in the presence of God
But my heart became engaged with God many years later- and slowly at first and then it was strong. I think it’s a real grace
A type of conversion-
Sister : How do you keep your heart aflame with the love of the Lord? Or does He do that for you?
__Ra: daily Mass, and lots of praying
Sister : The crucifix was the only Book for many of the saints- after the Bible I imagine
Sr M: The crucifix and early frescoes in the town churches
Ca: I recently got to see some fabulous religious art at a museum. It seems like the painting were designed to teach
Ro: Yes, I am certain the art was used to teach. It is a very valuable teaching tool.
I home school my daughter Heidi with Seton. And the Art books with so many frescoes and other paintings are so inspirational.
Sister : That’s interesting Ca, not exactly prayer, worship or theological study, but fanning the flames through art
Ca: yes, good literature can do that too
Ro: Yes, a solid Catholic library is truly a way to keep the flames blazing away.
Guest883 (guest): I love sitting in an adoration chapel and just looking at the Blessed Sacrament, my only prayer is God, Help me to love you more and know what you want me to do for you.
Sister Ma: And good people, serving Our Lord in deep humility – and with alacrity, as SFdS asks his daughters to do!
Ca: but the paintings were marvelous-telling the entire story of say, the infancy narratives with symbols that everyone knew the meaning of
Sister : Nothing better than that guest 883. YOu are with Him!
That’s the origin of stained glass windows too- to tell biblical stories to those who could not read
Ca: yes, and now most people don’t know the meanings of the symbols! Can’t win, can we?
SR Ma: And the changing light through those windows highlights different things
Ro: interesting about the changing light…it is true…it appears to highlight one area early in the day and a different one as God’s holy light changes
J: I love the image of the stained glass windows…on outside they are dark and drab…once in church and sunny….they really come alive…good representation of being inside the Eucharist
Sister : That’s a beautiful thought. I’d love to share the stained glass window of the Sacred heart we have in our chapel.
SR Ma: Good insight, Jim!
Guest187 (guest): did I miss any picture?
Sister : The light comes in right thru His Heart and makes his Heart seem like it is encased in a golden monstrance
Ro: Yes, the windows in the Sacred Heart Chapel are absolutely beautiful!
Ca: (sigh) I can just picture it!
SR Ma: Christ is the world’s Light, and that’s how we physically experience Him in the light from those glorious windows.
Guest883 (guest): sometimes the sunlight shines through the windows and the different colors shine on the tabernacle. It reminds me of the part in mass when they say “welcome them into the light of your face” I imagine the light of Jesus’ face to be so radiant and beautifup
Ro: beautiful thought
Sr Ma: You can lose yourself in adoration in that light!
Ro: yes
inspires devotion as you contemplate what aspect of God the window is illustrating
Sr Ma: But the humble light of candles is also a reminder of Christ’s humble origins.
Sister : J, maybe art is the path from head to heart!
J: but the great part is you have to be inside God’s Church to really see it or a chapel…when you put yourself on outside you can’t see anything…all seems dark..like putting ourselves in hands of God’s church gives us a secret light or understanding
Ca: I would agree with that! Because it engages our imagination, and so uses our whole self.
Ro: Inside God’s House or in the wrold…light vs dark
Sr Ma: SFdS says that “in heaven, divinity will unite itself to our intellect without mediation of any species (appearance) or representation whatever.” But in the meantime we need all the representations we can get!
Ca: why then are so many against using imagery?
Sr Ma: Not Catholics! That’s partly why I became one!
Sister : Different schools of spirituality have different methods I think
J: You are right Sister …sometimes just the art of a beautifully lit colored sunlight makes that path from the head to the heart open up
Sr Ma: St. Teresa of Avila holds imagination suspect, but that’s only when it gets out of hand. 54 PM
Ca: now there’s the rub—not easy for a writer!
Sr Ma: If the imagination leads us to God, more power to it!
Nov 25 2012, 7:54 PM
Sister: I think they are trying to protect against illusion-or delusion- esp where phenomena might be concerned
Ca: yes, I think I don’t include phenomena in imagination-it seems to be a separate question for me
J: I understand that..so many today our having visions or locutions…I wonder how many are real though
Sr Ma: I’ve been reading Graham Greene, who uses his imagination to the max, as he leads his characters (many reluctant) to belief in God/Christ.
Sister : All of that needs to be thoroughly tested
Guest883 (guest): I love reading St. Francis Desales & the Imatation of Christ and also St. Faustina’s Diary
Sr Ma: Yeah, Guest 883! Let’s stay with the tried and true!
J: True Devotion is great…I need to read it again
J I want to read his book on Treatise on Love also
Sister : Reading saints works’ is a way of balancing theological study and fanning the flames of your love of God, along with art and good literature
Sr Ma: I’ve been so amazed how SFdS handled the Calvinists he was trying to convince to return to Catholicism – totally humble and open, he was
Guest883 (guest): whenever I am feeling down I can open one of those and they help me. I have only read the Intro to the Devout Life of St. Francis of DeSales but want to read more
J: …I love Fr Fiorelli’s book on Salesian spirituality
Sister: Treatise on the lOve of God is deep. I had a course with Fr Don Heet that really opened it up for me
Sr Ma: And he used his imagination to talk about the faith all the time – like the industrious, humble honey bee.
Nov 25 2012, 8:04 PM
Sister : Fr Fiorelli’s book is available thru De Sales Resources and I’d recommend it along with J
Sr Ma: Try Book Nine of the Treatise – our former Superior’s favorite!
And try Fr. Heet’s online course.
If you take the Treatise in small sips, it’s wonderful.
J: how many books are there on it Sister Ma?
Ma Lots. Try Bernard Bangley’s version of it – very readable.
Sr Nov 25 2012, 8:08 PM
Sister: Book 12 is the last book in the Treatise is that what you mean
Sr Ma: He’s a Presbyterian minister who fell in love with SFdS’s writings.
Guest883 (guest): I will try to get Treatise. I think St Frances Desales speaks so clearly to the simple people. St Augustine is too hard for me to understand.
Sr Ma: St. Augustine’s Confessions are good, but I like SFdS’s writings on the faith better. I compare them to C.S.Lewis, who’s super clear in the 20th century.
J I love his sweet, gentle, humble way
as he says…never try to convert or evangelize with force but with love
Sr Ma Salesian spirituality is called “inspired common sense,” so it’s more accessible to more people for that reason.
J: yes…that is the name of the book by Fr Fiorelli
,Sr Ma: Strange that it’s so accesssible after more than 400 years! 14 PM
Ca: truth doesn’t change, just how we espress it
J: I read St Augustine’s confessions…loved it…truly a great read on the weaknesses of the flesh and how one can change
Sister : City of God is more difficult but also speaks to today if we probe it
Sr Ma When an author has been through it all, like St. Augustine, he can honestly tell it all.
Sister : St Augustine is our “grandfather”- Visitandines follow the Rule of St Augustine
J: ahhh…interesting..didn’t know that
Ro: Yes. One thing we must realize altho they are Saints…they all started out like us…just people struggling through this fallen world.
Ca: I did not know that eiter!
Sr Ma: SFdS is a wonderful mix of Augustinian and Jesuit spirituality.
Ji: yes Ro..and St Augustine is really one I can relate to…other than his saint side
Ro: Yes, he was as great a sinner as he is a Saint.
Sr Ma All distilled through SFdS Savoyard roots
That’s why I like Graham Green’s novels: we are all touched-by-grace sinners.
Guest883 (guest): this is the first time I’ve been on a chat room. I was only drawn to it to give thanks for the graces that God has given me. I am so thankful that He has drawn me back to going to Confession and receiving Communion. I have foung such Joy in practicing my faith the way the Church wants us to. I continue to pray for people who say they are Catholics but don’t take part in the Sacrament of Confession, because I know that is what saved me from the depths of despair!!!!
J: I have heard of him Sister
J: Guest…I love confession…I truly feel like I am floating on air after I leave…most times any way
Ro: Yes, Guest 883, it is sad so many do not know their faith and the wonderful graces we receive from the Sacraments!
Sr Ma: SFdS says in the Intro: “Sin is ahameful only when we commit it; when it is converted into confession and penance, it becomes honorable and wholesome.”
J: Sister Ma..do you have a lot of the Salesian sayings by memory?
J she is like a wikapedia of Salesian Spirituality
Sr Ma: SFdS continues, “Contrition and confession are so beautiful and of such good odor as to deface its deformity…the confession of our sins will become sweet and agreeable, because God is honored thereby.”
Ro: beautiful!
Ca: I wish more pastors would teach like this
Sr Ma: SFdS continues, “Contrition and confession are so beautiful and of such good odor as to deface its deformity…the confession of our sins will become sweet and agreeable, because God is honored thereby.”
Ro: Catholics need to hear it…that is why so few really know their faith
Sr Ma: No, I have a great book to refer to: “On Living Jesus,” ed. Gerard J. Quinlan!
J: yes but are you flying through those pages while in here to get the quotes you want? haha
Nov 25 2012, 8:24 PM
Sister : Invite them to the chat room Carol Ann! Smile Forgot how to do smiles
Guest883 (guest): God Bless All of You! Let us pray for those not practicing their faith the way they should!!!
Sr Ma The quotes are by topic – ha ha!
Nov 25 2012, 8:25 PM
Ca: Now, there’s a thought…I wonder if mine would come?