1. Saint Francis is trying to express the unique freedom enjoyed by the children of God. How can you put all of this into your own words?2. St. Francis says that it is important for our peace of mind that we acknowledge that “God’s name is hallowed, his Majesty reigning in our heart, his will being done….” What can we do to make this become part of our mental habits?3. This Lent, how can we not let our spiritual disciplines get in the way of the duties of love?4. Are you familiar with the idea that every
Feb 28, 5:29 PM
VisitationSiste: 4. Are you familiar with the idea that every virtue has not one but two opposing vices? Reiterate and discuss the opposite vices of liberty as mentioned by St. Francis.
5. Why is “doing whatever you want” not true liberty?
6. Connected with that: Jesus warns us that when we sin we become slaves to sin. Sin is Satan’s charade of freedom. Discuss the sad irony that this “freedom” makes us slaves.
Feb 28, 5:30 PM
VisitationSiste: newsletter for above http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=1029793&f=1988&s=2046&m=612166&t=44f0d18c19339967b1be43b205c1596fa07d3b2574e5f4560987969cb886fdda
Feb 28, 5:30 PM
VisitationSiste: chat Sun 730pm est Feb 28
Feb 28, 7:24 PM
VisitationSiste: Hi Dawn!
Feb 28, 7:26 PM
Dawn (Guest): Hi Sr Susan! this is a good topic tonight.
Feb 28, 7:26 PM
VisitationSiste: Yes these letters are so good!
Feb 28, 7:26 PM
VisitationSiste: We can wait a few minutes Hope you have been well
Feb 28, 7:28 PM
Dawn (Guest): Others will come in soon I hope. yes I am well, very grateful for my health
Feb 28, 7:28 PM
VisitationSiste: Lent is really underway now- I am alsways starting over in Lent
Feb 28, 7:29 PM
Dawn (Guest): was reading today the good it does for our body when we fast. so much healing occurs, they meant physical, but I believe spiritually as well
Feb 28, 7:30 PM
VisitationSiste: But it is not easy to fast sometimes
Feb 28, 7:31 PM
VisitationSiste: I am just going to check if Ruth is doing this via e mail tonite
Feb 28, 7:31 PM
Dawn (Guest): o ok
Feb 28, 7:32 PM
VisitationSiste: Not there
Feb 28, 7:33 PM
Dawn (Guest): maybe she will soon, others as well
Feb 28, 7:33 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): Hi Sister Susan and Dawn !!! God Bless You !!!
Feb 28, 7:33 PM
VisitationSiste: Hi Brian! Glad you are here
Feb 28, 7:34 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): Glad to be here !!!
Feb 28, 7:34 PM
Dawn (Guest): Hi Brian! Glad you are here
Feb 28, 7:35 PM
VisitationSiste: We can start!
Feb 28, 7:35 PM
VisitationSiste: 1. Saint Francis is trying to express the unique freedom enjoyed by the children of God. How can you put all of this into your own words?
Feb 28, 7:36 PM
VisitationSiste: I think we are free when we know we are loved by God. That is how I would put it
Feb 28, 7:37 PM
Dawn (Guest): yes. when he understand he is with us in all things, and God willing we will spend eternity with him
Feb 28, 7:38 PM
Dawn (Guest): Meant we not he
Feb 28, 7:38 PM
VisitationSiste: So we would not be scrupulous nor careless in our lives esp with the things of God
Feb 28, 7:39 PM
VisitationSiste: Love would guide us
Feb 28, 7:39 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): My heart is Restless until I rest in You !!! St Augustines quote . Without God there is a restlessness about everything that’s why Soo many are drawn too addictions of many kinds . With God their is freedom and peace when we Trust God !!!
Feb 28, 7:40 PM
Dawn (Guest): yes!
Feb 28, 7:40 PM
VisitationSiste: So true! Looking for God but not knowing it they turn to other things
Feb 28, 7:40 PM
VisitationSiste: Freedom also to confess our sins
Feb 28, 7:41 PM
VisitationSiste: not hiding them from the confessor or burying them in more sins
Feb 28, 7:41 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): Soo True Sister !!!
Feb 28, 7:42 PM
VisitationSiste: welcome viewers
Feb 28, 7:42 PM
VisitationSiste: 2. St. Francis says that it is important for our peace of mind that we acknowledge that “God’s name is hallowed, his Majesty reigning in our heart, his will being done….” What can we do to make this become part of our mental habits?
Feb 28, 7:42 PM
Simone (Guest): Hi everyone!
Feb 28, 7:42 PM
Simone (Guest): sorry I am late
Feb 28, 7:43 PM
Dawn (Guest): One way is by those very prayers
Feb 28, 7:43 PM
Dawn (Guest): Hi Simone!
Feb 28, 7:43 PM
VisitationSiste: Welcome Simone!
Feb 28, 7:43 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): We know that God already knows everything about us but to bury our sin and not confess our sin can find us drifting away from God over time .
Feb 28, 7:44 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): Hi Simone !!! God Bless You !!!
Feb 28, 7:44 PM
VisitationSiste: Yes Dawn, saying the Our Father slowly and meaning every word, pondering it in depth
Feb 28, 7:45 PM
Simone (Guest): one thing is that it becomes part of “our mental habits”.. and this can be done as Dawn said.. through the Lord’s Prayer and engaging with these words mentally during the day…BUT another thing is, that we truly Desire these things. That it becomes a burden on our heart – so that we sigh and utter these prayers – because they relieve the pain on our heart –
Feb 28, 7:45 PM
Simone (Guest): thanks for all the nice welcomes from all of you
Feb 28, 7:47 PM
Simone (Guest): Did I shut everyone down? HELLO
Feb 28, 7:48 PM
Dawn (Guest): very good, clear, reflection Simone
Feb 28, 7:48 PM
VisitationSiste: Yes
Feb 28, 7:49 PM
Simone (Guest): I personally find it interesting that St. Francis links it with “peace”.. can anyone say something to that?
Feb 28, 7:49 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): Soo many distractions get thrown at us during the day . The Our Father Prayer brings us back too God immediately !!!
Feb 28, 7:50 PM
VisitationSiste: I think peace is a sign of God’s Presence within our souls
Feb 28, 7:50 PM
Simone (Guest): yes..
Feb 28, 7:50 PM
Simone (Guest): is peace of mind in any way different?
Feb 28, 7:51 PM
VisitationSiste: a bit
Feb 28, 7:51 PM
Simone (Guest): can you clarify maybe Sister?
Feb 28, 7:51 PM
Dawn (Guest): Do any of you experience both times when surrender is the sweetest gift. then others where you realize your attachment to things, no, mostly persons ( Im thinking of family) , and worry takes hold
Feb 28, 7:51 PM
VisitationSiste: peace of mind would mean no mental anxiety but peace of soul might be deeper
Feb 28, 7:51 PM
Simone (Guest): thanks for clarifying.. makes sense
Feb 28, 7:52 PM
VisitationSiste: so even if you have nervousness for ex your soul might still be at peace, the core of you
Feb 28, 7:52 PM
Simone (Guest): got it
Feb 28, 7:52 PM
Dawn (Guest): I wish I could talk with those Saints, like St Jane or St Brigett who had many children then became cloistered nuns
Feb 28, 7:52 PM
Simone (Guest): so, for our peace of mind..we should pray ” hallowed be thy name”.. I get it now
Feb 28, 7:53 PM
VisitationSiste: I guess praying to them Dawn is the next best thing?!?
Feb 28, 7:53 PM
Dawn (Guest): right!
Feb 28, 7:53 PM
VisitationSiste: 3. This Lent, how can we not let our spiritual disciplines get in the way of the duties of love?
Feb 28, 7:54 PM
Dawn (Guest): one way is to know our duties of love are the higher good
Feb 28, 7:54 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): I’m starting a new job tommorow and I am anxious about it because it’s new . I know God has gotten me through Soo much in the past but I still am anxious until job begins . I don’t know why !!! Jesus I Trust in You !!!
Feb 28, 7:55 PM
Dawn (Guest): Brian, I agree because we still have our human nature!
Feb 28, 7:55 PM
VisitationSiste: Brian we send our prayers of peace to you now
Feb 28, 7:55 PM
Simone (Guest): WOW.. new job is a big thing. Of course you feel some anxiousness. So many new things awaiting. Exciting but can also be scary.
Feb 28, 7:56 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): Thanks Dawn , Sister Susan , and Simone !!!!
Feb 28, 7:57 PM
VisitationSiste: Duties of love vs spiritual disciplines- something to think about!
Feb 28, 7:58 PM
Simone (Guest): When my husband became a Benedictine oblate – he started to have seven prayer times PER DAY! It really had a bad impact on our marriage and we had to find a way for him to pray and at the same time to be present for our family too. I am sorry this is not related to this Lent season. but it reminded me of it
Feb 28, 7:59 PM
Simone (Guest): I see my spiritual disciplines as the “fuel” for my duties of love. That said though.. I know I could be a better house wife if I would not spend so much time reading about Salesian spirituality
Feb 28, 7:59 PM
VisitationSiste: No that is exactly what I think St Francis means because St Jane went thru some of that
Feb 28, 8:00 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): Remember the Good Samaritan !!!!! He put aside everything too Love and care for another !!!!!! The others put disciplines ahead of Love !!!!! The Lord Teaches us here to Love others First !!!!
Feb 28, 8:00 PM
Simone (Guest): It is so much easier to pray” LORD help me to love”, than actually getting up from the chair and make supper ( out of love)
Feb 28, 8:01 PM
Simone (Guest): Sister, I know that you are very much involved in “duties of love” on a daily base. Plus you have a rich life with spiritual disciplines. How do you juggle these two areas?
Feb 28, 8:01 PM
VisitationSiste: I can relate tho it is not for supper nor a husband but perhaps another monastic duty for a Sister
Feb 28, 8:02 PM
VisitationSiste: We have set prayer times but if an aide comes running to us during them that a Sister is ill I go to her, but I must also do that out of love and not with annoyance
Feb 28, 8:02 PM
Dawn (Guest): I like thinking of it as you said Simone, prayer is the fuel for duties
Feb 28, 8:04 PM
Dawn (Guest): yes, Brian, he does teach loving others the highest good
Feb 28, 8:04 PM
VisitationSiste: But we don’t have to juggle as others because we follow a schedule which helps
Feb 28, 8:05 PM
Simone (Guest): But, in theory I can have this schedule too. A rule of life. No-one would hinder me to make my life easier this way. I am starting to work on it now actually. Together with a friend
Feb 28, 8:06 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): We are Like God’s First Responders !!!! We can respond in Soo many situations with God’s Genuine Love which people never forget !!!! Or we may respond half heartedly very forgetable !!!!
Feb 28, 8:06 PM
VisitationSiste: so true!
Feb 28, 8:07 PM
VisitationSiste: This is a tough one: 4. Are you familiar with the idea that every virtue has not one but two opposing vices? Reiterate and discuss the opposite vices of liberty as mentioned by St. Francis.
Feb 28, 8:07 PM
Simone (Guest): I like the term ” God’s first responders”
Feb 28, 8:07 PM
Dawn (Guest): That would be in supernatural love
Feb 28, 8:10 PM
VisitationSiste: from letter: There are two opposite vices which beset this liberty: instability and constraint, lack of discipline and slavishness. Instability or lack of discipline is a certain excess of liberty which makes one want to change one’s devotional exercises or state of life without adequate reason and without knowing whether it is God’s will. The least pretext is enough to make one change an exercise, a plan, a rule; a mere trifle causes one to give up a rule or good habits, and in this way the heart grows dis
Feb 28, 8:10 PM
VisitationSiste: dissipated and distracted; it is like an orchard unfenced on all sides so that the fruit is not for the owner but for any chance passer-by.
Feb 28, 8:11 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): Queen Esther put her life on the line to save her people !!!! Such Bravery and Faith combined !!!!
Feb 28, 8:11 PM
VisitationSiste: I don’t usually think along these dual lines
Feb 28, 8:11 PM
Dawn (Guest): this is good to reflect on, the opposite virtues, will take me awhile
Feb 28, 8:11 PM
VisitationSiste: I know- not typical thought for me either
Feb 28, 8:12 PM
Simone (Guest): I love the picture with the orchard
Feb 28, 8:13 PM
Dawn (Guest): I have been thinking of Queen Ester, maybe since the readings this week
Feb 28, 8:13 PM
VisitationSiste: She was acourageous woman who relied on prayer and God
Feb 28, 8:13 PM
Simone (Guest): I felt deeply convicted when I read this passage in this letter. Specially the one on ” lack of discipline”. I am prone to change fast a given course, if it does not seem to be fruitful. It can be a good leadership quality to be flexible, but it also can be very “frazzling”
Feb 28, 8:14 PM
VisitationSiste: That’s where knowing the Will of God for us helps
Feb 28, 8:14 PM
Simone (Guest): YES.. and when I see little fruit, I assume that I might not have heard GOD rightly.. and then I look for change
Feb 28, 8:15 PM
VisitationSiste: Spiritual direction can help with this too
Feb 28, 8:16 PM
Simone (Guest): these two vices that are linked with liberty.. show that we have to be “free from” something – and “free for” something – only when both conditions are met can we say that we are truly free
Feb 28, 8:17 PM
Simone (Guest): Yes, Spiritual Direction can help – discernment of Spirit and a good soul search for pure motives sure can help
Feb 28, 8:17 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): Esther was disciplined also she prepared herself the best way she knew how in order to bring her appeal to the King . She was Soo overwhelmed she passed out !!!! Her Faithfulness allowed God to work Powerfully to rescue her people and bring about justice !!!
Feb 28, 8:19 PM
VisitationSiste: Great model for us
Feb 28, 8:19 PM
VisitationSiste: 5. Why is “doing whatever you want” not true liberty?
Feb 28, 8:20 PM
Dawn (Guest): those times when I have truely surrendered and God takes over, its what he does not what I have done ( other than to be willing or to cry out in prayer) but really it is him. For apart from Him we can do nothing
Feb 28, 8:20 PM
VisitationSiste: Surprised by God within us and within our actions
Feb 28, 8:21 PM
Dawn (Guest): yes!
Feb 28, 8:21 PM
Simone (Guest): as for Q5) because if we “do whatever we want” we are still not free to follow GOD’s will. We are still in un-freedom to our attachments
Feb 28, 8:22 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): Doing whatever we want removes us from being available too God where He wants us to be when he wants us to be there to assist Him in some way for someone . Remember it is God’s Desire too Save Everyone !!!!
Feb 28, 8:22 PM
Dawn (Guest): I believe doing “whatever you want” is not necessarily from God
Feb 28, 8:23 PM
VisitationSiste: Sometimes what we want is what God wants and that’s why we want it- because we are committed to His Will
Feb 28, 8:24 PM
VisitationSiste: But other times we are rebellious
Feb 28, 8:24 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): Soo True Sister !!!!
Feb 28, 8:25 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): He Brings us Together at Mass and sends us all Out Too Serve !!!
Feb 28, 8:25 PM
Dawn (Guest): Love this Brian!
Feb 28, 8:26 PM
Simone (Guest): Glad you pointed that out Sister. True.. Sometimes our desires are truly nurtured by God’s desires for our lives. I just read it as a’ rebellious’ statement
Feb 28, 8:26 PM
VisitationSiste: Yes!
Feb 28, 8:26 PM
VisitationSiste: Last q 6. Connected with that: Jesus warns us that when we sin we become slaves to sin. Sin is Satan’s charade of freedom. Discuss the sad irony that this “freedom” makes us slaves.
Feb 28, 8:28 PM
Simone (Guest): oh the temptations. This is one of the devil’s biggest tools. To make us think we are gaining freedom – and at the same time we get more and more tangled in the net of sin. The sexual revolution sure is one example. Women thought they would be more “free’ – and see how “unfree” women feel nowadays.
Feb 28, 8:28 PM
VisitationSiste: Guess this is not the happiest note to end on!
Feb 28, 8:28 PM
Dawn (Guest): living in sin has the appearance of freedom but this is the lie of satan, yet we may become enslaved to repeating it. it is a disordered idea of freedom
Feb 28, 8:28 PM
VisitationSiste: But we do face it ever more in our culture
Feb 28, 8:28 PM
Simone (Guest): It is happy, when we encourage each other to step more and more into the freedom GOD offers us
Feb 28, 8:29 PM
Simone (Guest): Freedom to live the life HE offers. Leaving behind a life of “grasping” and “self possession” and reaching out to the life of “self-giving love”
Feb 28, 8:30 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): Sin leads us into a constant cycle of addiction that can only be broken by Jesus Christ !!!! We must Pray and take other actions guided by the Holy Spirit to Lead others toward Christ !!!!
Feb 28, 8:30 PM
Dawn (Guest): I pray for the Conversions of souls who are enslaved in sin and do not yet know the Love Jesus has for them.
Feb 28, 8:30 PM
VisitationSiste: Yes and that’s agreat perspective
Feb 28, 8:30 PM
Simone (Guest): Wonderful Dawn. Keep praying. I do not pray enough for that.
Feb 28, 8:31 PM
Dawn (Guest): Yes Brian! you are a good evangelist!
Feb 28, 8:33 PM
Dawn (Guest): Your stories and thoughts you share are helpful, thank you
Feb 28, 8:33 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): It has been an extroidinary year God has brought Soo many new people into my life with the COVID Redeployment at work !!! I see Him working in Soo many people’s lives !!! It has helped me too remember Listen Listen Love Love !!!!!
Feb 28, 8:34 PM
Dawn (Guest): Amen
Feb 28, 8:36 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): God Bless You All !!! Keep Shining for Jesus !!!! You are All such an Encouragement too me and others in the Lord !!!!
Feb 28, 8:36 PM
Simone (Guest): All the best for your start tomorrow at your new job! Will keep you in prayer
Feb 28, 8:36 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): Thanks Soo Much Simone !!!!
Feb 28, 8:37 PM
Dawn (Guest): Prayers for you Brian. I just thought how wonderful, a new opportunity to serve him around new people. You are needed there!
Feb 28, 8:38 PM
Simone (Guest): Good night everyone. May God bless you all richly this week. Love from Canada! Simone
Feb 28, 8:38 PM
Dawn (Guest): Thank you Sr Susan! and everyone. Goodnight. God bless
Feb 28, 8:39 PM
Brian Bunny (Guest): Thank You Dawn and Sister Susan !!!! You are right Dawn !!!! God has a Great Plan !!!
Feb 28, 8:39 PM
Dawn (Guest): Yes. God speed!