What does it mean to love God above
ourselves? Wouldn’t a lack of love for ourselves be a form of not loving God?
Saint Francis says that love aims at union. What exactly is union? How can we
describe it?
How might loving God above all be the path to loving ourselves and others
better?
What are ways that we can love God? In other words, what does loving God ‘look
like’?
Aug 4, 10:49 AM
Aug 4, 7:33 PM
Aug 4, 7:35 PM
VisitationSiste: Glad to be here tonight!
Aug 4, 7:36 PM
Alice (Guest): Oh wonderful. How are they doing?
Aug 4, 7:36 PM
Brian (Guest): Tired but taking it easy today !!! Hope all is well with you Sister Susan and Alice !!! Beautiful week but very busy !!!
Aug 4, 7:36 PM
VisitationSiste: Toledo is doing very well and glad you took some Sunday rest Brian
Aug 4, 7:37 PM
VisitationSiste: Shall we start?
Aug 4, 7:37 PM
Alice (Guest): yes
Aug 4, 7:37 PM
VisitationSiste: What does it mean to love God above ourselves? Wouldn’t a lack of love for ourselves be a form of not loving God?
Aug 4, 7:38 PM
VisitationSiste: I think the question is a bit misleading or I am misinterpreting it
Aug 4, 7:38 PM
Brian (Guest): Thanks Sister Susan !
Aug 4, 7:38 PM
VisitationSiste: The 2 sentences do not go together I don’t think
Aug 4, 7:39 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): Opps. Looks like I got a number this time. Thanks for signing in with your name Brian. Greetings, Sister, Brian and Alice and Viewer. Ruth
Aug 4, 7:39 PM
VisitationSiste: Hi Ruth!
Aug 4, 7:40 PM
VisitationSiste: I think loving God above ourselves does not mean we don’t love ourselves
Aug 4, 7:40 PM
Brian (Guest): Hi Ruth ! Thanks for the signing in tip ! God Bless You !
Aug 4, 7:41 PM
Alice (Guest): It’s hard to find a healthy balance in those 2 questions, at least from my perspective.
Aug 4, 7:42 PM
VisitationSiste: Share that perspective if you will
Aug 4, 7:43 PM
Brian (Guest): Putting God’s Will above our own will . We know God is calling us to do something and our Love for God allows us to follow His Call and to put aside what we want to do !
Aug 4, 7:44 PM
VisitationSiste: To me loving God a bove ourselves can mean choosing His will over our own
Aug 4, 7:44 PM
VisitationSiste: same idea as you Brian!
Aug 4, 7:46 PM
VisitationSiste: and loving ourselves can mean wanting what is best for our souls, which only God knows completely as to what that is, so again His will predominates
Aug 4, 7:46 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): The pairing of these questions makes sense to me. I remember puzzling over a similar combination: Love your neighbor as yourself but be humble, consider yourself in the last place . . . (As when I was first reading the Imitation of Christ.)
Aug 4, 7:48 PM
VisitationSiste: interesting-like love God and your neighbor asyourself?
Aug 4, 7:48 PM
Brian (Guest): We live in a World that puts self first and has forgotten God !!! We must Love God with all our Hearts and Love our Neighbor even our Enemies !!!! We can Shine through Jesus to others !!!
Aug 4, 7:50 PM
Brian (Guest): Rejoice and Be Glad when others persecute you for Loving God and Others !!!!
Aug 4, 7:51 PM
Brian (Guest): Let Your Light Shine for Others !!!
Aug 4, 7:51 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): The ultimate lack of love for oneself comes with depression, even depression leading to suicide. I’ve never, not in the deepest feelings of helplessness, hopelessness or despondency acted to harm myself precisely because I KNOW — whether I feel it or not — that God loves me, and I am obliged to love what God loves (and hate what God hates.)
Aug 4, 7:54 PM
VisitationSiste: Love for self honors God because He created us- we are His
Aug 4, 7:55 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): It is HE who gave me life and paid the awful price to redeem me. Gratitude demands that I love these amazing gifts of life and the possibility of eternal life.
Aug 4, 7:57 PM
Brian (Guest): Trauma can lead to Depression !!! Suicide can happen when multiple stressors are happening at the same time ! Our enemy is a predator he attacks us when we are weakest . We must live in Christian Community and not isolate ourselves . Especially when we are ill or in need of support through a very very stressful time !
Aug 4, 7:57 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): Yes, proper self-live is a healthy, holy thing. But, like you say, Alice, in practice, it is sometimes hard to distinguish what is loving oneself rightly and loving oneself in such a way as to NOT be subordinating our self-love to God’s plan for us.
Aug 4, 7:58 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): proper self love, I meant to type.
Aug 4, 7:59 PM
VisitationSiste: Sometimes a trusted other person can help us see that. But not everyone always has such a person in his life.
Aug 4, 8:00 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): You are right, Brian. There are truly no SINGLE Christians; we are meant to live in community — even those called to the life of a hermit. But sometimes finding community, real community, is very, very hard.
Aug 4, 8:01 PM
VisitationSiste: how can we help others find community then?
Aug 4, 8:02 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): That is why the Saints in heaven can be such a help. They are close to God. They can — with God’s Holy Spirit — strengthen us during challenging times.
Aug 4, 8:02 PM
Carroll (Guest): This Sunday night chat is a beautiful example…
Aug 4, 8:03 PM
VisitationSiste: Hi Carroll- and yes we are blessed to be able to share so freely and with alot of harmony
Aug 4, 8:04 PM
Carroll (Guest): Simply being present with others- accompanying them during the moments we are together… can give even a transient acquaintence a sense of community.
Aug 4, 8:06 PM
VisitationSiste: Saint Francis says that love aims at union. What exactly is union? How can we describe it?
Aug 4, 8:07 PM
Carroll (Guest): There is a homeless man named Eddie who sits outside the Church after daily Mass… He clearly feels a sense of community from the brief greetings and conversations he has as we are all leaving…
Aug 4, 8:07 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): And, Brian, it is a good insight to recognize that The Enemy, the Chief of Lies, is just trying to take advantage of us when we are down. We can renounce him and turn to Christ in such situations. The enemy is very intelligent — for the wrong purposes — but he does not read our minds, only our behaviors; so it helps even to renounce him our loud, once, emphatically verbally, and TURN — in whatever way we can — to God — have NOTHING further to do with that Liar.
Aug 4, 8:07 PM
Brian (Guest): Soo True Ruth !!! St Ignatius of Loyola started his journey home with a book of the Saints !!! Reading the lives of the Saints !!! We should be bombarding Social Media with the lives of the Saints !!!! This will shatter the stronghold the enemy has on Soo many !!!!
Aug 4, 8:07 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): out loud I meant to type, not our loud
Aug 4, 8:12 PM
VisitationSiste: Can reading the lives of saints help in union with God? I think it can as they awere in union with Him
Aug 4, 8:13 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): We can help others have a sense of community by just reaching out — rejoicing WITH and suffering WITH others. I remember a neighbor across the hall from me in one of my apartments, when she was having an awful time, asking me for some alcohol. I invited her in and gave her peppermint tea. She went away — eventually — feeling much, much better. But I had to be willing to give up the TIME in which I was planning to do something else.
Aug 4, 8:14 PM
Brian (Guest): When I take my Clients to Fatima Shrine always deep sharing takes place . Same when we visit Our Lady of Victory Basilica !!! Just bring people to visit Church or Adoration !!! Never forget visit to Actors Chapel St Malachis in New York City Sister Susan !!!
Aug 4, 8:14 PM
VisitationSiste: That was loving your neighbor with Time and TEA
Aug 4, 8:16 PM
Carroll (Guest): Reading the lives of saints helps me immensely! … and so does other spiritual reading
Aug 4, 8:16 PM
Brian (Guest): God’s Will Ruth !!!! What a Great Friend You Are Ruth !!!
Aug 4, 8:16 PM
VisitationSiste: and those loving actions unite you to Christ
Aug 4, 8:19 PM
Brian (Guest): Amen Carroll !!!
Aug 4, 8:19 PM
Carroll (Guest): Yes- unity in action = true charity.
Aug 4, 8:22 PM
VisitationSiste: I think we even love ourselves better when we do kind deeds for others, but our motive is always to be for the glory of God, that He shines out
Aug 4, 8:22 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): Yes, Carroll, and DOING whatever we can, directly, for that neighbor. When I was a student in Munich, I always saw — like you — a man by the church door. He was begging, and I was way too poor to offer much of anything. It was evening Mass, around supper time, so I got in the habit of packing a sandwich and some fruit for him after he gladly accepted it the first time. Other beggars I was not able to help because they would SAY they were hungry, but when I’d offer food — even to take ’em to a fast fo
Aug 4, 8:23 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): food place and they declined. I’d just say a prayer for ’em and move on. If they began going through withdrawal, then the paramedics and the hospitals would take over.
Aug 4, 8:24 PM
Carroll (Guest): …let’s not forget how praying Liturgy of the Hours brings us into community with all of Heaven! … Sometimes I will pray an hour at a time when I know others are praying… sometimes I use Divineoffice.org and join in with the audio… a palpable way to remember that we are never alone!
Aug 4, 8:24 PM
Brian (Guest): I asked my Friend Rev Jim Brown how he was feeling couple weeks ago and he started to say something and stopped himself ! I regret not digging deeper with him . He passed away from catastrophic cardiac event couple weeks later . I could have helped him to get help sooner !!! We must listen to our friends and gently guide them to get help when needed . Busy life can prevent us from being truly present for others. A painful lesson !!!!
Aug 4, 8:27 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): Yes, Brian. And that is a great big piece of the problem of “professional” life: everything goes by the clock. It is sometimes as if the clock begins to take the place of God!
Aug 4, 8:31 PM
VisitationSiste: In God, there is no time, and holy people often take all the time needed to listen to others. It’s a lesson I can grow from
Aug 4, 8:31 PM
Brian (Guest): Big mistake replacing Doctors with Business people running Health Care . We need a proper balance . The paperwork comes before care all too often !!!
Aug 4, 8:32 PM
VisitationSiste: True! People first!
Aug 4, 8:32 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): You said it Brian. Many older people notice how different — worse — things are now, even though medicine has “advanced” tremendously.
Aug 4, 8:32 PM
VisitationSiste: I need to leave now- but please continue the conversation. Night prayers will be for each of you. God bless!
Aug 4, 8:34 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): Thank you, Sister Susan Marie. Praying for your Visitation Monastery, too.
Aug 4, 8:34 PM
Brian (Guest): Jesus teaches us too be fully present for others !!!! Love His encounter with the Samaratan Woman at the Well !!!
Aug 4, 8:35 PM
Carroll (Guest): That’s one of my favorites, too, Brian!
Aug 4, 8:36 PM
Brian (Guest): God Bless You Sister Susan !!! Thank You for Your Loving Service for God !!!
Aug 4, 8:36 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): So do I. It makes me smile. And there is a song about it: Jesus met the woman at the well, and he told her everything she ever did . . .
Aug 4, 8:37 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): I first heard it in NYC at a Franciscan Church near Penn Station.
Aug 4, 8:37 PM
Carroll (Guest): I want to quickly share with you a huge ” thank you” for your prayers for Elisabeth’s re-conversion… I let my service dog wake her up in the morning and today she told Benigna, ” You are going to say hello to God and baby Jesus is going to help us!”
Aug 4, 8:38 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): How sweet! Thank you for sharing.
Aug 4, 8:39 PM
Carroll (Guest): I want to thank you for your prayers for Elisabeth…
Aug 4, 8:40 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): And what a good name for a service dog.
Aug 4, 8:41 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): Do you have a handicap for which your dog is especially trained to help?
Aug 4, 8:41 PM
Carroll (Guest): I let my service dog wake her up in the morning and today she told Benigna, ” You are going to say hello to God today and baby Jesus is going to help us!”
Aug 4, 8:41 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): You have a service dog?
Aug 4, 8:42 PM
Brian (Guest): Read a book with some testimony about people helped by Woman at Well ! Man helped street woman come to Christ through this Scripture . She became Christian and involved in Ministry many years . She assisted Group to Holyland years later . When they went to Holyland while she was at Jacobs well . She ministered soo powerfully a hardened Muslim tour guide heard her testimony and gave his life Too Christ !!!! God is Soo Amazing !!!!
Aug 4, 8:42 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): Sorry — my computer’s been
Aug 4, 8:43 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): “acting up” — not showing things, locking up, turning all pink and grey . . .
Aug 4, 8:45 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): That is precious, Carroll. And your story, too, Brian.
Aug 4, 8:45 PM
Brian (Guest): Soo Wonderful Carroll !!! God Bless You and Elizabeth !!!!
Aug 4, 8:47 PM
Brian (Guest): Have a Wonderful Week and Keep Shining for Jesus !!! God Bless You All !!!
Aug 4, 8:49 PM
Carroll (Guest): Tech glitches here, too..
Aug 4, 8:49 PM
Carroll (Guest): Thank you for sharing, Brian- God bless!
Aug 4, 8:50 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): My eldest grandniece’s name is Elizabeth, too. She is to be married on August 24th, in a suburb of Boston. I ask for prayers for her and her husband, and for me — that I make it there, make it on time (always a challenge for me!) and that the family/families grow in love for one another . . .
Aug 4, 8:52 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): Each of you — and your ministries — and those of the absent “regulars” — remain in my prayers. Peace and blessings for the coming week and weeks.
Aug 4, 8:52 PM
Guest8537 (Guest): Good night.
Aug 4, 8:53 PM
Carroll (Guest): Ruth- Yes, I have a medical alert dog for PTSD and migraine headaches… perhaps by God’s grace I won’t need her to be working forever, but she has truly been a God send in many ways…for me AND as a therapy dog with my patients…
Aug 4, 8:53 PM
Carroll (Guest): Same to you- Good night!
Aug 4, 8:55 PM
Carroll (Guest): I will definitely be praying for your family!
Aug 4, 8:55 PM
Carroll (Guest): Goodnight.