Saint Francis makes it clear that the non-Christian is capable of good works. What does he say about how this does or does not influence one’s salvation. Is Saint Francis saying that there is good that can come from the sinner? Saint Francis seems to make it clear that these good works of virtue and following some of the commandments is an act of grace. What does teach us about grace and the sacrament of baptism? Could we assume from this that baptism is unnecessary? How can we better “watch an
Aug 11, 10:24 AM
VisitationSiste: watch and pray?
Aug 11, 10:24 AM
VisitationSiste: Sun Aug 11 chat at 730pm est
Aug 11, 7:12 PM
anne goetze: just checking to see if logged in!
Aug 11, 7:25 PM
VisitationSiste: Hi all!
Aug 11, 7:26 PM
VisitationSiste: Hi Anne You are in!
Aug 11, 7:27 PM
VisitationSiste: Happy Feast of St Jane tomorrow
Aug 11, 7:39 PM
VisitationSiste: Hi Carroll
Aug 11, 7:40 PM
VisitationSiste: Did you see I added the link for the St Jane booklet
Aug 11, 7:40 PM
Carroll (Guest): Happy Feast Day tomorrow!
Aug 11, 7:40 PM
VisitationSiste: Thank you! May St jane bless you too!
Aug 11, 7:42 PM
Carroll (Guest): Thank you for resending the link for the booklet of her thoughts. I am looking forward to praying with it.
Aug 11, 7:42 PM
VisitationSiste: It is only one dollar- I have a copy- it is good!
Aug 11, 7:43 PM
VisitationSiste: Not too many tonight Dawn said she could not get here
Aug 11, 7:44 PM
anne goetze: I thought today..how appropriate for St Jane de Chantal to pass her guidance to you and then for us today…thank you!
Aug 11, 7:45 PM
VisitationSiste: She understood St Francis de Sales so well- so we can ask her intercession for inspiration
Aug 11, 7:45 PM
Carroll (Guest): Before we begin reflecting on the quedtions at hand, would it be ok to ask a question related to previous discussions?
Aug 11, 7:46 PM
VisitationSiste: Sure
Aug 11, 7:46 PM
Carroll (Guest): It is about the will…
Aug 11, 7:47 PM
VisitationSiste: Ours or the Lord’s
Aug 11, 7:47 PM
Carroll (Guest): I was talking with my new spiritual director about wanting to totally relinquish my will, such that my will would not even exist anymore… only God’s Will in me…
Aug 11, 7:48 PM
Carroll (Guest): lofty ideal, I know. But still our ultimate goal- right?
Aug 11, 7:49 PM
VisitationSiste: St Gertrude apparently reached that height
Aug 11, 7:49 PM
VisitationSiste: it is an ideal and possible but only the Lord knows the degree of sanctity He wills for us
Aug 11, 7:49 PM
Carroll (Guest): He cautioned me… said in today’s world we should strive to strengthen our wills such that we choose to sacrifice our own desires for God…
Aug 11, 7:50 PM
VisitationSiste: step by step is the way we need to go
Aug 11, 7:52 PM
anne goetze: I feel peace when it is God’s will, unsettled when or if my own.
Aug 11, 7:52 PM
Carroll (Guest): So, first one, … building towards the ideal, which I am sure can only truly be achieved by God’s Grace.
Aug 11, 7:52 PM
VisitationSiste: the spiritual director should be able to see where your soul is and lead you to the next step toward sanctity
Aug 11, 7:53 PM
Carroll (Guest): Yes, good point about peace signifying God’s Will.
Aug 11, 7:54 PM
VisitationSiste: Anne, that is a priceless gift- the discernment of God’s Will and yes peace is the key sign
Aug 11, 7:55 PM
VisitationSiste: So we all should have the goal of holiness but how and when we arrive at the heights is the mysterious journey we take towards God
Aug 11, 7:55 PM
anne goetze: I pray for discernment in the many pulls. ‘Striving’ I noticed was something in your reading posted.
Aug 11, 7:56 PM
VisitationSiste: in which post?
Aug 11, 7:56 PM
anne goetze: the one for today. God’s grace with good works…
Aug 11, 7:58 PM
VisitationSiste: striving is what we are doing but it does not imply stress I do not think
Aug 11, 7:59 PM
Carroll (Guest): Doesn’t the reading for today talk about how many people, even in the midst of sin, strive to do “right” things ( though often for the wrong readon)
Aug 11, 8:00 PM
Carroll (Guest): In my experience, the Holy Spirit is not the author of stress!
Aug 11, 8:00 PM
VisitationSiste: Who can say for sure when we are in sin or not- esp re venail sin, but yet we are hopefully still going towards God in our hearts and the ways of charity
Aug 11, 8:00 PM
VisitationSiste: venial
Aug 11, 8:01 PM
anne goetze: To be more Cristlike is striving without the stress because of His peace
Aug 11, 8:01 PM
VisitationSiste: As St Francis says if you fall a hundred times a day get up and start over
Aug 11, 8:02 PM
VisitationSiste: St Jane says that too
Aug 11, 8:02 PM
anne goetze: Amen Sister!
Aug 11, 8:03 PM
VisitationSiste: The will points to God, or the spirit does but as St paul says our flesh is weak God knows that. If our hearts are with Him, He gives us grace to keep “striving’
Aug 11, 8:03 PM
Carroll (Guest): I love that quote- about beginning again!
Aug 11, 8:04 PM
VisitationSiste: Saint Francis seems to make it clear that these good works of virtue and following some of the commandments is an act of grace. What does teach us about grace and the sacrament of baptism?
Aug 11, 8:07 PM
VisitationSiste: Baptism is the key sacrament which brings us mystically into Jesus passion, his death and His resurrection
Aug 11, 8:07 PM
VisitationSiste: What grace there is in that!
Aug 11, 8:07 PM
anne goetze: Is it that the baptism gives us more of His grace and personal relationship with Jesus?
Aug 11, 8:07 PM
Carroll (Guest): Our baptism is something to always remain very grateful for…
Aug 11, 8:08 PM
anne goetze: yes..we were typing the same time.
Aug 11, 8:08 PM
Dawn (Guest): Just stopping in at the last , hi everyone
Aug 11, 8:09 PM
Carroll (Guest): Hi Dawn- blessings!
Aug 11, 8:09 PM
VisitationSiste: Glad you stopped by Dawn!
Aug 11, 8:10 PM
VisitationSiste: Definitely not only grace but we become part of his mystical Body
Aug 11, 8:10 PM
VisitationSiste: we are parts of the Mystical body of Christ by our Baptism
Aug 11, 8:10 PM
VisitationSiste: That is why we are all united as one
Aug 11, 8:10 PM
VisitationSiste: We are all in Him
Aug 11, 8:11 PM
Carroll (Guest): We are His forever!
Aug 11, 8:12 PM
VisitationSiste: If we only understood how close we are to Him and He to us!
Aug 11, 8:13 PM
VisitationSiste: and to each other in Him
Aug 11, 8:13 PM
VisitationSiste: How do we each “watch and pray” or how can we lead others to do this?
Aug 11, 8:14 PM
Carroll (Guest): I’ve been thinking/ praying a lot about Orthodox Christians this past week… probably because I am learning more about early Church history… but, I’ve been praying for unity… Baptism is the basis for this- what a gift!
Aug 11, 8:16 PM
anne goetze: To see each other thru Him..and therefore love.
Aug 11, 8:16 PM
VisitationSiste: I have also had the Orthodox ways touch me, for a long time there is great depth there
Aug 11, 8:16 PM
VisitationSiste: Thru His eyes, Anne? That is beautiful
Aug 11, 8:16 PM
Dawn (Guest): Jesus said to his disciples watch and pray….to not be overcome by temptation. Then I know he has given me a way
Aug 11, 8:17 PM
Dawn (Guest): perhaps the way we live is how we can lead others, by our life
Aug 11, 8:18 PM
VisitationSiste: yes by example!
Aug 11, 8:18 PM
Carroll (Guest): Wow- Anne! I often pray to see Jesus in the faces of others, but it has never occurred to me to pray to see them through His eyes, as He sees them- beautiful!
Aug 11, 8:18 PM
VisitationSiste: and temptation is always creeping around, but He and Mother Mary are even closer!!
Aug 11, 8:19 PM
anne goetze: That is what I see with the Visitation sisters..humble and yet a quiet example.
Aug 11, 8:19 PM
VisitationSiste: Painting thru His eyes.. no wonder the art touches the soul, Anne
Aug 11, 8:19 PM
Dawn (Guest): Yes, they are a good example, as Mary is
Aug 11, 8:20 PM
Carroll (Guest): Yes!
Aug 11, 8:21 PM
VisitationSiste: welcome viewers
Aug 11, 8:21 PM
Dawn (Guest): I also am drawn to Orthodox
Aug 11, 8:21 PM
VisitationSiste: This is really fascinating- 3 of us
Aug 11, 8:22 PM
VisitationSiste: Maybe unity is approaching- and forthat we need to understand the tradition better
Aug 11, 8:23 PM
VisitationSiste: with this too we watch and pray!
Aug 11, 8:23 PM
VisitationSiste: for me, to watch and pray is to sit in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Jesus Himself
Aug 11, 8:24 PM
Carroll (Guest): What a consolation- yes… and there are so many simple practices that help me stay focused on God in the midst of the world…
Aug 11, 8:25 PM
anne goetze: Yes
Aug 11, 8:26 PM
Dawn (Guest): While opportunity is present, I see prayer in your paintings Anne. Thank you for sharing with everyone!
Aug 11, 8:26 PM
Carroll (Guest): Adoration is such a precious gift… I can’t get there like I used to because of my job, but even Adoration on line makes a huge difference… sometimes I quietly turn it on from YouTube on my phone, to bring Christ more palpably into the room here at home. Even when others are not aware, He brings peace!
Aug 11, 8:27 PM
VisitationSiste: That good use of technology!!
Aug 11, 8:27 PM
Dawn (Guest): It is wonderful when we can not be in a chapel
Aug 11, 8:28 PM
VisitationSiste: St Jane said that for Visitandines our prayer is a simple gaze on God- that too is to watch and pray
Aug 11, 8:29 PM
VisitationSiste: Hi Ruth!
Aug 11, 8:30 PM
VisitationSiste: to each of you I pray for a very specially graced Feast of St Jane de Chantal tomorrow!
Aug 11, 8:30 PM
VisitationSiste: May she intercede for you!
Aug 11, 8:30 PM
Carroll (Guest): Accepting where I am, embracing the sacredness of the present moment, trusting God to bring whatever comes next… that is how I watch and pray.
Aug 11, 8:30 PM
Dawn (Guest): Thank you Sr Susan
Aug 11, 8:30 PM
VisitationSiste: Keep on in conversation- it is necessary for me to go now.
Aug 11, 8:30 PM
VisitationSiste: God bless!
Aug 11, 8:30 PM
anne goetze: Thank you dear Sister and nice to be with you other dear women!
Aug 11, 8:30 PM
Ruth (Guest): At last! My recalcitrant old computer has just taken a half hour to let me sign in. Was late getting home, and then these computer problems! Well, at least I can say hello and good night.
Aug 11, 8:31 PM
Dawn (Guest): God bless, Good night
Aug 11, 8:31 PM
Dawn (Guest): Hi Ruth!
Aug 11, 8:32 PM
Carroll (Guest): Hi Ruth!
Aug 11, 8:33 PM
Dawn (Guest): Thinking of Orothodox which is so beautiful, ancient. I pray there would be Unity!
Aug 11, 8:34 PM
Carroll (Guest): Yes-
Aug 11, 8:36 PM
Carroll (Guest): I need to attend to Elisabeth, so I will say goodnight… Blessings for the Feast of St. Jane Frances de Chantal and also Thursday as we celebrate Our Blessed Mother Mary’s Assumption!
Aug 11, 8:38 PM
Dawn (Guest): Thank you Carroll. To you as well. Ruths computer may have dropped! But Happy Feast Day and Marys Assumption , yes, a blessed week!
Aug 11, 8:38 PM
Dawn (Guest): Good night~ pax
Aug 11, 8:40 PM
Ruth (Guest): Hi Dawn and Carroll. Sorry I missed the whole chat. I’ll read it in archives when I get a chance. May you both — all, including viewers — have a blessed week. I am so grateful that I’ve had a few good days — and could three times this week spend an hour in adoration. Peace to you, too. Good night.