Why is it so often that we do not make proper use of our mortifications? How is this notion of temperance with regard to our spiritual life a safeguard against extremism and scrupulosity? Consider and discuss 1 Timothy 2:15: “Yet woman will be saved through bearing children, if she continues in faith and love and holiness, with modesty.” Francis says we should “complain to God in a spirit of dependence.” Did you expect him to warn us against complaining? What are your thoughts on complaining to
Jul 19, 8:46 AM
VisitationSiste: What are your thoughts on complaining to God?
How can we meet our suffering with love?
We can surmise that St. Francis is easing the demands of spiritual practices because of the burdens of pregnancy. What other situations in our lives would justify this mitigation?
Jul 19, 4:55 PM
Carroll V (Guest): Hello dear Mother Susan Marie and “chat” friends- I want to thank you for the weekly meditations and discussions to reflect on through the week. Everyone’s participation here is a gift that keeps on giving… Unfortunately, we have had several nurses out over the past few weeks with high acuity patients, so I have been working extra shifts including 3pm-7am last night and 7pm-7am tonight. So, I will miss being here with you again. Hopefully, the perfect Providence of our dearest Lord will provide for a more
Jul 19, 4:56 PM
Carroll V (Guest): regular schedule in the coming weeks and I will be chatting with you soon. Until then, know my heart is here and I am praying for/with you all. Blessings!
Jul 19, 7:17 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): Hi sr susan
Jul 19, 7:17 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): this is bettychao’
Jul 19, 7:21 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): mother susan marie hollo how are you?
Jul 19, 7:23 PM
VisitationSiste: hello!
Jul 19, 7:25 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): mother susan marie I hear a sister niece die I just pray for her after the online novena of blessed sacred heart mass a church father priest say a sacred heart prayer I put her in my prayer
Jul 19, 7:26 PM
Dawn (Guest): Hi Sr Susan and Betty
Jul 19, 7:26 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): HI dawn how are you?
Jul 19, 7:27 PM
VisitationSiste: Thank you Hi Dawn Hi Betty
Jul 19, 7:27 PM
VisitationSiste: I hope Ruth is here tonight but she is getting ready for surgery please pray
Jul 19, 7:28 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): Dear sr susan I will pray for ruth
Jul 19, 7:28 PM
Dawn (Guest): I am well thank you. Yes keeping prayers for her
Jul 19, 7:30 PM
VisitationSiste: first Q: Why is it so often that we do not make proper use of our mortifications?
Jul 19, 7:32 PM
VisitationSiste: Hi Ruth- glad you are here !!
Jul 19, 7:32 PM
Dawn (Guest): Hi Ruth
Jul 19, 7:33 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): Sr susan I always waiting to tell you that when I sleep at midnight I say a big big version about the novena of the divine mercy of jesus appear to me I just saw him when I sleep I pray and When I sleep when I go to mass I ask them for a rosary but they give me a olives tree leave that olive tree that has a big crucifix cross that olive leave come from the parade when they welcome jesus in jerusalem remenber jesus ride donkey they use olives leaves welcome him but I dream about they give me the olives leave
Jul 19, 7:33 PM
VisitationSiste: I think when we are mortified we are thinking of the hurt of it and not spiritually
Jul 19, 7:37 PM
Ruth (Guest): Thank you, all of you for your prayers and your presence here. I’ll probably be leaving at 8 PM — some live presentation from the Bishop of Ogdensburg, not sure how long.
Jul 19, 7:37 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): Dear sr susan I tell these things to mom becuase I pray to the holy spirit come to my soul mom say becuase God and jesus want you seek the holy spirit and peace of the holy spirit that is why you see all those things appear to you and one day I remeber when I dream about a dream about I holding a bible mom also tell me because God want you listen and obey him
Jul 19, 7:37 PM
VisitationSiste: Who is your Bishop now?
Jul 19, 7:37 PM
Dawn (Guest): That is good focus Sr Susan. How often the hurt of it gets in way. I like when he points out we never lack contradictions , when there is no one to contradict us, we impose contrainess on ourselves. Deep!
Jul 19, 7:38 PM
VisitationSiste: Yes we are our own best enemies sometimes!
Jul 19, 7:38 PM
Dawn (Guest): Contrariness
Jul 19, 7:39 PM
Ruth (Guest): Terry LaValley. Homegrown! The first.
Jul 19, 7:39 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): sr susan have you see my letter about the sacred heart of jesus that I see I think I did tell you before so what do you think
Jul 19, 7:40 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): I am most love is the picture of blessed sacred heart jesus
Jul 19, 7:40 PM
VisitationSiste: That’s great!
Jul 19, 7:40 PM
VisitationSiste: Was he recently appointed
Jul 19, 7:42 PM
Ruth (Guest): Ten years ago.
Jul 19, 7:43 PM
VisitationSiste: That’s a long time. I remember Bishop Barbarito there- he was from Brooklyn
Jul 19, 7:43 PM
VisitationSiste: 25 years ago maybe
Jul 19, 7:44 PM
VisitationSiste: repeating q How is this notion of temperance with regard to our spiritual life a safeguard against extremism and scrupulosity?
Jul 19, 7:44 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): dear sr susan when I was in kansas city I got car accident with mom in the road free high way that happened in 1994 we got big car accident I just get hurt my shoulder but still jesus save me because I was hold a book guess what I hold I hold a holy bible and their is notthing happened in the back becuase God save me so I was the first get out the car and put in the emergency car I was hold notthing but bible only so I am save.
Jul 19, 7:45 PM
Ruth (Guest): Did you hear, Sister. Practically all day yesterday I thought it was Sunday. Downpour! Gotta close windows.
Jul 19, 7:46 PM
VisitationSiste: That’s amazing Betty
Jul 19, 7:47 PM
VisitationSiste: Yes I answered you Ruth last night about chat but you thought it was the webmaster I think
Jul 19, 7:48 PM
VisitationSiste: anyway temperance looks for a balanced life- not extremes
Jul 19, 7:48 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): I was finished all the novena of the secrad heart of jesus mass that mass teaching is very open my heart to jesus and welcome the holy ghost come to my heart
Jul 19, 7:48 PM
Dawn (Guest): I’m not able to answer q2
Jul 19, 7:48 PM
VisitationSiste: so scrupulosity is I guess considered an extreme
Jul 19, 7:48 PM
VisitationSiste: ok Dawn
Jul 19, 7:48 PM
VisitationSiste: Let’s move on!
Jul 19, 7:49 PM
Dawn (Guest): Ok! But I will look for it later
Jul 19, 7:49 PM
VisitationSiste: Francis says we should “complain to God in a spirit of dependence.” Did you expect him to warn us against complaining?
Jul 19, 7:50 PM
VisitationSiste: What are your thoughts on complaining to God?
Jul 19, 7:52 PM
Dawn (Guest): I have learned I can just open up to him. He already knows our hearts, so I do not try to be perfect at all. I am his child, I just talk to him maybe like a best friend. Learning he is with me always even as I stumble
Jul 19, 7:52 PM
VisitationSiste: The psalms sometimes are prayers of complaint to God
Jul 19, 7:53 PM
VisitationSiste: Talking to God like that Dawn reminds me of St Therese
Jul 19, 7:53 PM
Michelle Pingel: Hello?
Jul 19, 7:54 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): psalm 54 my heart pray o God by you name save me by you strentgh defend my cause O God please listen to my prayer Listen to the words of my mouth .stranger have risen against me and ruthless seek my life and they do not keep the lord God is present as my helper and the lord sustain my life .let us getting closed to the lord for his name is all good
Jul 19, 7:55 PM
VisitationSiste: Hello Michelle Welcome
Jul 19, 7:55 PM
Dawn (Guest): St Therese she is a gift to us
Jul 19, 7:55 PM
VisitationSiste: I think though many hesitate to complain to God
Jul 19, 7:56 PM
VisitationSiste: But like St Therese we need to be simple with our Heavenly Father
Jul 19, 7:56 PM
VisitationSiste: and be who we are at that moment
Jul 19, 7:57 PM
Ruth (Guest): I’m back. That was the fastest I’ve moved in a long, long time. Rain coming in from BOTH front and back of house. I’d closed some windows in advance, but still had a lot to wipe up.
Jul 19, 7:58 PM
VisitationSiste: We also show our gratitude for grace and trust in God
Jul 19, 7:59 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): psalm 104 bless the lord all my soul.the lord my God you are greatist and indeed you are the majersty the king of kings lord of lords.you spread out the heaven like a tent and setting the beams of you chamber upond the water and you make the clouds of chariot and traveling on the wind and you make wind you messengers flaming fire you minister.
Jul 19, 7:59 PM
Dawn (Guest): Wonderful are summer storms!
Jul 19, 7:59 PM
Michelle Pingel: Is there sound? Sorry, first time.
Jul 19, 7:59 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): this is prayer come from psalm 104 this is prayer i share with sr susan and all of you
Jul 19, 7:59 PM
Dawn (Guest): thanking him always
Jul 19, 8:00 PM
Dawn (Guest): Thank you Betty!
Jul 19, 8:00 PM
VisitationSiste: Sound? No we only type in this chat
Jul 19, 8:00 PM
VisitationSiste: Complaints are also cries for help
Jul 19, 8:00 PM
Ruth (Guest): Michelle, just clicking when someone presses enter, after typing down the bottom.
Jul 19, 8:02 PM
Michelle Pingel: Thanks Ruth!
Jul 19, 8:02 PM
Dawn (Guest): And so, when we receive a relief from the things that we complain of, those things which greatly hurt us, then it’s a great sign of his love and mercy
Jul 19, 8:04 PM
Dawn (Guest): and bring a strong desire to cling evermore to him
Jul 19, 8:04 PM
Dawn (Guest): Hi Michelle, welcome
Jul 19, 8:05 PM
VisitationSiste: Yes!
Jul 19, 8:05 PM
Ruth (Guest): I try not to complain too much. Just unite what I “suffer” to what he did on the cross, and consider it a privilege if some good can come out of it. But I know that when I do cry out, He’s listening; He will help me bear what I must or give me relief. , it’s OK. A little like an older kid, who knows (s)he must do her part, too, but has the good example of good parents.
Jul 19, 8:05 PM
Michelle Pingel: Hi Dawn, Ho Visitation and all. 🙂✝️
Jul 19, 8:05 PM
Michelle Pingel: *Hi
Jul 19, 8:06 PM
VisitationSiste: How can we meet our suffering with love?
Jul 19, 8:06 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): Dear sr susan I found another prayer from psalm 149 sing alelluia to the lord sing to him with new hymns and his praise in a assembly of the faithful .let the israel people be glad in its maker the people of zion rejoice their king and lt them praise his name in the trumphet sound dance and make music .for the lord take delight in his people honor the poor with victory
Jul 19, 8:08 PM
Dawn (Guest): Through our suffering we can or do learn to love. I see suffering~love as United
Jul 19, 8:09 PM
Ruth (Guest): Betty, the Psalms are good teachers of prayer. When I was in a new school in 8th grade, a math teacher from my previous school sent an illustrated book of psalms to me via my homeroom teacher. It was such a good help in my search for the Lord.
Jul 19, 8:09 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): how to meet our suffereing with love God give us a one more direction that seek him wisdom and learn to love God and one another
Jul 19, 8:10 PM
Michelle Pingel: Being able to offer our sufferings up to Jesus through Our Mother Mary for others is such a great Grace. It’s one of my favorite parts of Christ’s Catholic Church
Jul 19, 8:11 PM
VisitationSiste: Yes and the Lord unites us to Him this way too
Jul 19, 8:12 PM
Michelle Pingel: I was raised a Baptist. Non-Catholics are missing so much.
Jul 19, 8:12 PM
VisitationSiste: What a blessing you received!
Jul 19, 8:14 PM
VisitationSiste: St. Francis is easing the demands of spiritual practices because of the burdens of pregnancy. What other situations in our lives would justify this mitigation?
Jul 19, 8:14 PM
Ruth (Guest): I agree Michelle — although it is the Eucharist that I find Central. And it is in the Divine Office that we, with various responses, can relate the Old Testament prayers to our New Testament faith. SOME of the Psalms have parts that I find hard to pray, too harsh . . . “dash their children’s heads against a rock” for example.
Jul 19, 8:14 PM
Michelle Pingel: Yes! I didn’t understand it or appreciate the Blessing for many years. All I knew was that Christ so drew me to the Catholic Church, that I had to stay
Jul 19, 8:14 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): no matter you protistant or catholic we only put jesus in our life and we trust the same lord and same bible and same blessing from him their is no other way to get in the good life but only we accept the lords way will go to good life
Jul 19, 8:14 PM
Dawn (Guest): Ruth, thinking about the book you received. Even a bit of encouragement like this can move one forward
Jul 19, 8:14 PM
Ruth (Guest): Opps! I’m late again!
Jul 19, 8:15 PM
Dawn (Guest): But on the right day!’
Jul 19, 8:16 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): sr susan where are you?
Jul 19, 8:17 PM
Michelle Pingel: Actually, Guest393, Catholics and Protestants do not use the same Bible, per se. I learned that it was Christ’s Catholic Church which compiled which books were inspired and belonged in the Holy Bible. And, sadly, Protestants’ bibles are missing 7 important books.
Jul 19, 8:17 PM
Dawn (Guest): Are you leaving ruth¿
Jul 19, 8:18 PM
VisitationSiste: Ruth has to see something re her Bishop
Jul 19, 8:18 PM
VisitationSiste: Maybe on tv or internet?
Jul 19, 8:18 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): the old testment the same just missing 7 books but most are the same that is my church father tell me and my church pastor told me.
Jul 19, 8:19 PM
Michelle Pingel: Wow! Ruth, God bless!
Jul 19, 8:19 PM
VisitationSiste: I think sickness calls for some mitigation
Jul 19, 8:19 PM
VisitationSiste: Certainly the Visitation Nuns have a monastic life that is not as austere as others because we accept weaker persons, physically
Jul 19, 8:20 PM
Dawn (Guest): Yes. Sickness.
Jul 19, 8:20 PM
VisitationSiste: Or maybe other trying circumstances
Jul 19, 8:20 PM
Michelle Pingel: Yes, God is merciful, kind, and compassionate. He understands our sicknesses. I wonder whether offering sufferings to Him is like praying twice. 🙂
Jul 19, 8:21 PM
Dawn (Guest): temporal suffering
Jul 19, 8:21 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): if you be a nun you must think that you are the bride of christ and you have to do his job to help other people to understand the way of jesus.
Jul 19, 8:21 PM
Michelle Pingel: ☝️
Jul 19, 8:21 PM
Dawn (Guest): over trying circumstances.
Jul 19, 8:22 PM
Michelle Pingel: What a Blessing a religious vocation is!
Jul 19, 8:22 PM
Ruth (Guest): On YouTube live, the announcement said. Part of it was cut off. It was 8:00 AM, Mass with the Bishop from the Cathedral. I can check it out another time. Right day but 12 hours and 15 minutes late! I did get to our local Catholic Church this morning though.
Jul 19, 8:23 PM
VisitationSiste: Interesting thought Michelle!
Jul 19, 8:23 PM
Dawn (Guest): I believe it is a beautiful way of life.
Jul 19, 8:23 PM
Michelle Pingel: Visitation-I need all the “brownie points” ☺ with God I can get! Lol
Jul 19, 8:23 PM
VisitationSiste: Oh well Ruth at least you got to Mass we still don’t have Sunday Mass here
Jul 19, 8:24 PM
VisitationSiste: only 3 times a week so far
Jul 19, 8:24 PM
Michelle Pingel: May I ask where you are located Visitation? You are on Central time
Jul 19, 8:24 PM
VisitationSiste: Np eatern time in Brooklyn NY
Jul 19, 8:24 PM
VisitationSiste: But we have other monasteries
Jul 19, 8:25 PM
Dawn (Guest): Sr Susan, has the Bishop still keeping Mass closed? In all parishes?
Jul 19, 8:26 PM
Dawn (Guest): Yet read you have Mass 3 x week
Jul 19, 8:26 PM
VisitationSiste: not parishes but our priest friends have not returned to us yet I am looking for a Sunday priest until they do
Jul 19, 8:27 PM
Dawn (Guest): will pray for you and sisters now
Jul 19, 8:27 PM
Ruth (Guest): I feel you are so fortunate to have Mass three times per week. Is it just for the monastery? We are never allowed to have the church full — but, hey, it wasn’t BEFORE COVID-19 either.
Jul 19, 8:28 PM
VisitationSiste: Right now just for the Sisters
Jul 19, 8:28 PM
VisitationSiste: Thank you Dawn
Jul 19, 8:29 PM
Michelle Pingel: Oh no! No Priests?! My Parish is so Blessed. Pray to Blessed Fr. Miguel (martyr in Mexico, 1927) for help getting a Priest to come. He ministered to Catholics during the persecution in Mexico.
Jul 19, 8:29 PM
VisitationSiste: Thank you Michelle!
Jul 19, 8:29 PM
VisitationSiste: and Ruth we are praying for you esp this week
Jul 19, 8:29 PM
Michelle Pingel: Miguel Pro
Jul 19, 8:29 PM
VisitationSiste: I have to leave now. God bless!
Jul 19, 8:30 PM
Dawn (Guest): Yes, Ruth
Jul 19, 8:30 PM
Dawn (Guest): Thank you Sr!
Jul 19, 8:30 PM
Ruth (Guest): Very strictly regulated: Masks, hand sanitizing, social distancing. No missles or song books in the seats, but we can each take one home and bring it for each Mass. If it is left behind it has to be destroyed. The first few weeks it was very awkward, especially that the Mass in completed before the people can receive Holy Communion.
Jul 19, 8:30 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): sister susan is that protastaned bible and catholic bible are the same I hear some priest and bishop told is the the same bible but just missing some books?
Jul 19, 8:33 PM
Dawn (Guest): I think some scripture changed or removed. But no problem! Anyone can get a Catholic bible!
Jul 19, 8:35 PM
Dawn (Guest): I noticed each of the three parishes I have visited are observing guidelines a bit differently. My parish quite strict , others more relaxed. But all observing guidelines
Jul 19, 8:36 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): dawn my parish is closed becuase covid 19 and we have to go to mass online and I just went to mass online talk about sacred heart jesus
Jul 19, 8:37 PM
Dawn (Guest): Where do you live Betty? If you can say
Jul 19, 8:37 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): I live los angles now
Jul 19, 8:38 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): I live rowland hightes and my church my parish closed to where I live
Jul 19, 8:38 PM
Dawn (Guest): Ok. I’m in northern California. Rural mountains. Are all the churches still closed in LA?
Jul 19, 8:38 PM
Ruth (Guest): Sr. Susan is gone now. Michelle is right, the Catholic Bible has seven books more than the Protestant Bible. But there IS a lot of agreement. The old King James (Protestent) Bible translation is being used less and less because of the OLD, more difficult to understand, English. And BOTH Catholics and Protestants accept the translation called the New International Version (NIV).
Jul 19, 8:38 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): I know sister susan from the tv show ewtn and wake up world
Jul 19, 8:39 PM
Dawn (Guest): That is where you first saw Sr Susan? That is wonderful!!
Jul 19, 8:41 PM
Ruth (Guest): Good night all! God bless you! I keep you in my prayers as I trust you will me.
Jul 19, 8:41 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): sr susan is talking to father mitch packwa they bove talk about their monastery and saint francis de sales and saint chantel
Jul 19, 8:41 PM
Dawn (Guest): Yem I remember seeing s
Jul 19, 8:41 PM
Michelle Pingel: Hi Guest3934, I hadn’t known about the NIV translation…I highly recommend Douay-Rheims. Not only is it older than any other, it includes the correct greeting to Mary at the Annunciatuon: “Hail Full of Grace!” It’s crucial because that refers to Her Immaculate Conception and Her fullness of Grace and being without sin.
Jul 19, 8:41 PM
Dawn (Guest): the show on ewtn.
Jul 19, 8:42 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): ok I have to go peace be with you and God bless you all
Jul 19, 8:42 PM
Michelle Pingel: Other Bibles (except The New Adventure Bible) only have St. Gabriel greet Her as “Hail, highly favored one.” That is too vague.
Jul 19, 8:43 PM
Dawn (Guest): Goodnight everyone. God bless, stay safe and close to Jesus. Hope you come back Michelle, good meeting you
Jul 19, 8:43 PM
Michelle Pingel: Thank you Guest 3934 for being here tonite. God bless you!
Jul 19, 8:43 PM
Guest3934 (Guest): dawn I must go to walk exercise and I chat with you next time
Jul 19, 8:44 PM
Michelle Pingel: Goodbye Dawn! Great meeting you and everyone here!
Jul 19, 8:44 PM
Dawn (Guest): Ok! Good night all. Peace