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VisitationSiste: In Matthew 6:6, Jesus says, “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and prayto your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” How do we find harmony between these words of Jesus and the advice that St. France de Sales gives in the above reflection? Let us consider Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” How do these words of Jesus help us gain more insight into the wisdom that St. Francis is
Aug 14 2016, 11:21 AM
VisitationSiste: trying impart to us?
Do you own (or have ever prayed) the Liturgy of the Hours (the Divine Office)? How might you be able to incorporate this official prayer of the Church into your daily prayer life
VisitationSiste: So what do you think of tonights chat questions
Aug 14 2016, 7:31 PM
Dawn L: It encourages me to be more disciplined praying the hours!
Aug 14 2016, 7:32 PM
VisitationSiste: Have you prayed them a long time
16, 7:33 PM
Guest3065 (guest): Hi Everyone, it’s Judy
Aug 14 2016, 7:33 PM
Dawn L: I have not with consistency. our last priest showed me how to download Divine Office and its good to pray with others around the world. It shows on a world map who is praying, so there is a sense on communion
Aug 14 2016, 7:33 PM
Jennifer Koo: Trying to keep up with all or most of the prayers is challenging for a working person.
Aug 14 2016, 7:34 PM
Dawn L: Hi Ruth and Judy!
6, 7:34 PM
Lisa C: Using the books has always been confusing for me, but now they have the prayers online and it is easier
Aug 14 2016, 7:34 PM
Dawn L: – of communion with others
Aug 14 2016, 7:35 PM
VisitationSiste: That’s a good way to pray it Dawn but truly when we have a day here that is different it is hard for us to pray all the Hours at the right time- like yesterday with the solemn profession
Aug 14 2016, 7:35 PM
Dawn L: The people who put together Divine Office are reading out loud and they point to where we join in
Aug 14 2016, 7:37 PM
Dawn L: I try invitory, and morning prayer, then night
Aug 14 2016, 7:39 PM
VisitationSiste: Do you need the questions or content
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) The first question about praying in your room vs praying together with others. As it says in Ecclesiastes, “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.” Just so, there is a time to pray in common, and a time to go to one’s room to pray in private. And we need both. Just as the Eucharist is celebrated in common, and is our central act of worship, and a sign of our unity in Christ and the source of
Aug 14 2016, 7:39 PM
Dawn L: so for longer discernment…but yes for older vocations it does seem daunting
Aug 14 2016, 7:40 PM
VisitationSiste: I like that answer Judy I thought the question was challenging!
:41 PM
Lisa C: Yes, I was thinking that there are many ways I pray, and many places
Aug 14 2016, 7:41 PM
Dawn L: Judy, that is insightful answer!
Aug 14 2016, 7:41 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) that unity, so the common recitation of the Hours is a participation in the Official prayer of the Church and another means of unity. However, it is not usually possible for people like me to pray the Hours with others, but I really enjoy it when the opportunity presents itself.
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Lisa C: I love how the Visitation Sisters chant the prayers
Aug 14 2016, 7:42 PM
2 PM
Jennifer Koo: Yes, I love that too
Aug 14 2016, 7:42 PM
Dawn L: I imagine the chant is beautiful!
Aug 14 2016, 7:42 PM
VisitationSiste: We are blessed to have original chant written by a Benedictine
Aug 14 2016, 7:43 PM
VisitationSiste: Some day i may get it online!
there is always more profit and more consolation in the public Offices of the Church than in private acts of devotion, God having willed to give the preference to communion in prayer over all individual action. :43 PM
Lisa C: In the choir you can hear individuals, but out in the chapel they all melt into one
Aug 14 2016, 7:43 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) That must be awesome~ Plain chant is nice but way less beautiful. You are blessed to have it.
Aug 14 2016, 7:44 PM
Guest1825 (guest): Hi Lisa ,Sister Susan Dawn Ruth Judy and Jennifer ! God Bless You All ! Brian
6, 7:44 PM
VisitationSiste: Do you agree with this:there is always more profit and more consolation in the public Offices of the Church than in private acts of devotion, God having willed to give the preference to communion in prayer over all individual action.
Dawn L: I do not know how to measure that
Aug 14 2016, 7:45 PM
Lisa C: Communion is more like the Trinity
Aug 14 2016, 7:46 PM
Lisa C: One intent with more than one person
Aug 14 2016, 7:46 PM
Dawn L: because, in question 2, Jesus speaks of this
Aug 14 2016, 7:46 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) Not necessarily. Reflecting in private on the Scriptures and really getting into them is, I think more profitable and can be more consoling. But they can also be convicting.
Aug 14 2016, 7:46 PM
Ruth (guest): I have trouble with the word “always” in this. Even if public prayer: Mass & Divine Office are “higher,” somehow more noble — Mass because it is Christ’s act, Consulation can come at unpredictable times and places.
Aug 14 2016, 7:47 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) I agree Ruth.
, 7:47 PM
VisitationSiste: Maybe there is more power in group prayer?
Jennifer Koo: I agree. 16, 7:49 PM
Dawn L: seems there would be more power in group prayer , 7:49 PM
VisitationSiste: But as for what I get from prayer sometimes praying alone gives me more time for meditation :50 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) Well that it is what is implied by “Where two or three are gathered together…” the Lord promises to be in the midst of the group and His presence surely gives more power to the petition. But there is still something so very satisfying about private prayer which as Sister Susan just said, there is more time for meditation.
Aug 14 2016, 7:50 PM
Dawn L: in this scripture, Jesus is not omitting private prayer. he often went alone to pray
Aug 14 2016, 7:50 PM
Lisa C: I am going on google maps looking at the monastery in Vilnius on street view.
Aug 14 2016, 7:51 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) Certainly the Lord would not advise us to omit something that He did on a regular basis.
Aug 14 2016, 7:51 PM
Jennifer Koo: Both group prayer and individual quiet time are as important
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Lisa C: I am going on google maps looking at the monastery in Vilnius on street view.
Aug 14 2016, 7:51 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) Certainly the Lord would not advise us to omit something that He did on a regular basis.
Aug 14 2016, 7:51 PM
Jennifer Koo: Both group prayer and individual quiet time are as important
Aug 14 2016, 7:51 PM
VisitationSiste: Lisa thanks for helping in this!
Aug 14 2016, 7:52 PM
Ruth (guest): I thought that I had written only one poem in German; yesterday I happened upon an old notebook from multiple bible studies. I read a poem in there — about consulation. At first I wondered who had written it; it was dated but had no name; and then I saw my draft. I had written it. It was upon recovering from an illness. The really odd/surprising thing was the part about what I intended to DO, because that morning I had, in prayer, felt drawn by God to at least TRY to volunteer to bring Meals on Wheels
Aug 14 2016, 7:52 PM
Lisa C: Mother it is pretty
Aug 14 2016, 7:52 PM
Guest1825 (guest): We are a family and God desires us to be together with others in prayer and to have that personal time together with Him , He does not want us to isolate ourselves ,,An isolated Christian is a paralyzed Christian !
4 2016, 7:52 PM
Ruth (guest): home delivered meals and the poem seemed to me to CONFIRM what God wants me to try to do now that I can walk bette PM
Lisa C: I had to read about what order was there now, then look up where they were in the city then look on the map.
Aug 14 2016, 7:53 PM
VisitationSiste: Any type of prayer has value though and if St Jane says Visitandines are called to a simple gaze on God, that must have the value for us
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Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) Ruth, perhaps you are hearing the Father say, you are hearing from my beloved Son. Listen to Him.
Aug 14 2016, 7:54 PM
Lisa C: What is really reassuring is that sometimes I pray in dreams.
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) I think St John Vianney speaks about someone whom he saw in church every day just sitting there. He asked the man what he was doing. He replied that he was looking at Jesus and Jesus was looking at him. And so I agree with St. Jane that there is much to be said for that simple gazing upon the Lord.
Aug 14 2016, 7:55 PM
Dawn L: Thank God for our saints who walk before us and guide us!
Aug 14 2016, 7:57 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) As the second reading said today, we have a great cloud of witnesses. I love to think about that and the witness that the Saints have given us.
Aug 14 2016, 7:57 PM
Lisa C: There is a white wall around the monastery
Aug 14 2016, 7:57 PM
Dawn L: I mean, I thank God for them. and that so many wrote letters and writings
Ruth (guest): Yes, Lisa, I’ve done that, too. In fact there was once one where I was a little girl looking up at a bird on a wire. A mother was squatting, holding me between her legs. She was looking too. And the bird sang the entire Adoration song — in Latin — word for word. I could not have done that AWAKE, but in my sleep it was all there, and I wrote it down when I awoke.
Aug 14 2016, 7:58 PM
Guest1825 (guest): Pope Francis in Philidelphia last year stressed the importance of providing our family a hot meal and that is the wonderful importance of Meals on Wheels ! An Awesomec ministry that shatters isolation !
Aug 14 2016, 7:58 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) Hi Sister Mary Roberta!
Aug 14 2016, 7:59 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Hello! Happy Birthday tomorrow to Mother Susan Marie! And Happy Silver Jubilee to Mother the same day!
1 PM
VisitationSiste: That is such a blessing! Please tell all the community I deeply appreciuate it
Aug 14 2016, 8:01 PM
Ruth (guest): Happy Birthday! Will you do anything different from your usual day?
Aug 14 2016, 8:01 PM
Dawn L: Happy Birthday Mother <3
Aug 14 2016, 8:01 PM
VisitationSiste: The community is planning something- not sure what!
Aug 14 2016, 8:01 PM
Aug 14 2016, 8:01 PM
Guest1825 (guest): Happy Birthday Sister Susan !!Have a wonderful day !!!
Mary Roberta Viano: Regarding community prayer, I love praying the Office (Breviary) together. It’s the prayer of the Church, so it feels like praying with the whole Church when we’re chanting the Psalms together.
Aug 14 2016, 8:02 PM
VisitationSiste: Thank everone one of you and you will be in my heart when I renew my vows at mass tomorrow
8:03 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Our Sr. Philomena’s feast day is tomorrow, and her birthday on Thursday – a special week!
Aug 14 2016, 8:03 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) I forgot to mention that praying the Hours gives me a greater awareness of being a part of something much larger than myself. And it does not matter if I pray in private or in common with others.
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Mary Roberta Viano: It’s interesting that all of Italy is on vacation on Our Lady’s Day tomorrow 8/15! 2016, 8:04 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: No one works, so if you’re on vacation there, good luck1 PM
Lisa C: Even when they work they stop work in the middle of the day
Aug 14 2016, 8:04 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: That’s every day, Lisa!
Aug 14 2016, 8:05 PM
Lisa C: Yes
Aug 14 2016, 8:05 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) Is anyone familiar with a custom of going into the water, lake or ocean on the Feast of the Assumption. I think that there are supposed to be special graces of healing that take place on that day.
Aug 14 2016, 8:05 PM
Dawn L: water anywhere?
Aug 14 2016, 8:05 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: In that sense, they are very civilized, I think.
Aug 14 2016, 8:05 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) Yes, anywhere
6 PM
Lisa C: The food deserves the time to eat it
Aug 14 2016, 8:06 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: That may be why the Italians stop everything that day and go plunge into the nearest body of water!
Aug 14 2016, 8:06 PM
Lisa C: What about a blessing with Holy Water?
Aug 14 2016, 8:07 PM
Dawn L: and may be why they are off work so they can do so!
Aug 14 2016, 8:07 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) As far as I know, it is supposed to be going into a body of water.
Aug 14 2016, 8:07 PM
Guest1825 (guest): Reminder of our Baptism very special !
Aug 14 2016, 8:08 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) Good connection, Brian!
Aug 14 2016, 8:08 PM
Ruth (guest): Computer or program jammed again.
8:10 PM
Ruth (guest): Sorry, My timing ia naturally off, but the technical problems make it worse. I copied something that would not send: I was just thinking about the 9-year rule. Pope Francis is Jesuit, and they take at least 9 years. Probably that contributed to his idea of lengthening the time for preparation.
Aug 14 2016, 8:10 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: In a letter to a Jesuit on prayer SFdS wrote: “I find in prayer my greatest happiness and profit; for in this union of my heart with God I always learn something useful that I can apply fo my greater good.”
Aug 14 2016, 8:10 PM
Dawn L: Im sure there are many who would agree with you Judy
Aug 14 2016, 8:10 PM
Ruth (guest): Dawn, for a while I was off-line and then I could See and Hear but not send.
Aug 14 2016, 8:11 PM
VisitationSiste: It might have but at the meeting in Rome in Jan there was great concern about people not being ready and also dispensation from vows has greatly increased
2 PM
Ruth (guest): Imagine if couples had to wait nine years to make their marriage vows!
Aug 14 2016, 8:12 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) For some strange reason, I am saddened when I hear of someone leaving consecrated life. Odd, since I did it myself.
Aug 14 2016, 8:12 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: It has a lot to do with the general suspicion of “commitment,” I think.
Guest3065
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Mary Roberta Viano: People can’t imagine committing for a lifetime.
Aug 14 2016, 8:13 PM
VisitationSiste: My concern is we mostluy receive women 50 and older- that may affect their decisions
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Lisa C: I think the Pope would listen if you wrote to him, Mother
Aug 14 2016, 8:13 PM
VisitationSiste: Who knows- there may be indults for older women
Aug 14 2016, 8:13 PM
Dawn L: perhaps there would be special consideration to older vocations
Aug 14 2016, 8:13 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Congrats on Sr. Theresa’s final profession yesterday!
Aug 14 2016, 8:13 PM
Ruth (guest): Yes, Sr. Mary Roberta. I think that is something that has become a part of this new culture.
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Guest1825 (guest): We all receive different. Calls from our Lord Jesus ,All are equally important to our family ! The Family of God !
Aug 14 2016, 8:15 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) That’s amazing. Most congregations would not admit anyone of that age. I say, why not. If they are willing to give themselves to the Lord, then they should be given the opportunity to do so. If it turns out that it is not their vocation, at least they tried. If they had not, they may have spent the rest of their lives wondering if they should have done so.
Aug 14 2016, 8:16 PM
Dawn L: Yes, Brian, God calls each of us differently
Aug 14 2016, 8:16 PM
VisitationSiste: yes 8 in Brooklyn
Aug 14 2016, 8:16 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: of course, our calls are different…I’m just reading WV’s Sr. Papin on St.Francis and Vatican II. She sees St.Francis de Sales as its forerunner – not sure I entirely agree.
Aug 14 2016, 8:16 PM
Lisa C: What was the total number at the time
Aug 14 2016, 8:17 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) When I entered the convent in 1962, there were 23 of us.
17 PM
Ruth (guest): I am not entirely clear on how joining a religious community adds or takes away anything from “giving oneself to the Lord.
Aug 14 2016, 8:17 PM
Guest3065 (guest): There are only 5 left.
Mary Roberta Viano: He was definitely a Christian humanist, but I don’t think he would have seen Vatican II as principally the full “empowering” of the laity.
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VisitationSiste: When you join a religious community it is the way He is calling you to give yourself- there are many ways
Aug 14 2016, 8:18 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: which essentially meant: Why be a consecrated religious? That’s now passe’ after Vatican II.
:19 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) I used to wonder that too, Ruth. I finally realized that anyone can give herself to the Lord, but only in the vowed life can one live in true imitation of the Lord Who was poor, chaste and obedient.
Aug 14 2016, 8:19 PM
VisitationSiste: We only always do what he asks of us- if we are able to discern that
Aug 14 2016, 8:19 PM
VisitationSiste: It is all mystery
Aug 14 2016, 8:20 PM
VisitationSiste: I think of it this way sometimes- I did not choose my family, my race, my nationality my talents etc so …
Aug 14 2016, 8:20 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: It’s the discerning of it that seems so problematic these days. Discerning is ongoing, even after the commitment to one’s vocation.
Aug 14 2016, 8:20 PM
Guest1825 (guest): We have a wonderful Family ! Praise God !!!
Aug 14 2016, 8:20 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) Anyone can live poor, chaste and obedient, but professing the vows gives it a deeper dimension and a greater responsibility.
Aug 14 2016, 8:20 PM
Dawn L: I made in my heart vows of chastity, poverty , and obediance..that would be to Lords commands. Its not the same thing as being in religious order, I know
M
Mary Roberta Viano: Yes, making the vows (any vows) publicly is different. We now have others who are helping us live them. 2 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: and holding us to them! 8:23 PM
Dawn L: what a great help that would be! M
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) As to the last question, I have been able to successfully integrate the Liturgy of the Hours into my life. I pray Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer and Night Prayer daily. It is a joy to do so 4 PM
Dawn L: that almost goes a 8:24 PM
Dawn L: being in community with others or being alone PM
Mary Roberta Viano: As SFdS said in a Conference to the sisters: “If a person shows a firm and persevering determination to serve God in the manner and place to which His divine majesty calls her, she gives us the best proof we can have that she has a true vocation.” , 8:25 PM
Dawn L: do you pray from the book Judy? 25 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) Yes, I do.
Aug 14 2016, 8:26 PM
Guest1825 (guest): I Love this group because we all seem to naturally pray and encourage one another within our calling from God ! Thank you Sister Susan for starting this Chat !
Aug 14 2016, 8:26 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: The breviary is the Church praying, so in saying those words, you are praying with the Church as it prays.
Aug 14 2016, 8:26 PM
Dawn L: Amen Brian
Aug 14 2016, 8:27 PM
VisitationSiste: You are welcome- thank the Holy Spirit!
Aug 14 2016, 8:27 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: I get to pray with another group of our Visitation sisters in Mobile, AL, during my retreat next week, which I’m looking forward to.
Aug 14 2016, 8:27 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (JUdy) I am using the large print Christian Prayer now since the MS is messing with my vision.
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Lisa C: Sister, have you been there before?
Aug 14 2016, 8:27 PM
VisitationSiste: I will be praying for this special retreat Sister!
Aug 14 2016, 8:28 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: No, so it should be quite a prayerful adventure!
Aug 14 2016, 8:28 PM
Guest3065 (guest): (Judy) I also thank you, Sister Susan, for beginning this chat. It is so wonderful to be able to talk about our faith with others.
Aug 14 2016, 8:28 PM
Guest1825 (guest): Many prayers for you Sister and all on retreat !
Aug 14 2016, 8:28 PM
VisitationSiste: And for all of you tomorrow- need to go now Blessigs! Stay on awhile!
Aug 14 2016, 8:28 PM
Mary Roberta Viano: Check them out online: Mobile Visitation.