Why do we so easily neglect our souls and focus on our bodies? Why do you think attractiveness or natural physical abilities are something people treat as their own doing, rather than a gift they have received? Why is this spiritually dangerous? Why is our disposition before starting something (especially prayer) so important? Let’s discuss holy hours. How can we spend one well? What sets them apart from regular prayer times? In a world driven so by utility/productivity/efficiency, ho
Jun 13, 7:08 PM
VisitationSiste: In a world driven so by utility/productivity/efficiency, how could we share the importance of prayer, which to some degree is the exact opposite of those things?
Jun 13, 7:09 PM
VisitationSiste: SUNDAY CHAT 730 P EST
Jun 13, 7:09 PM
VisitationSiste: SEE BLOG FOR THE LETTER UNDER DISCUSSION
7 PM
VisitationSiste: The first question sort of makes an assumption that I am not sure we agree with, all of us
Jun 13, 7:27 PM
Dawn (Guest): from St. Francis de Sales to Madame Louise de Ballon, Sister at the Abbaye Sainte Catherine in June 1617
Jun 13, 7:27 PM
VisitationSiste: q1 Why do we so easily neglect our souls and focus on our bodies? for me I am more neglectful of body than soul but I should take better care of externals too
8 PM
Dawn (Guest): q1) maybe this changes with our age, and what our vocation is?
Jun 13, 7:28 PM
Elena (Guest): Our bodies are very demanding.
Jun 13, 7:29 PM
Elena (Guest): hunger, thirst, etc.
3, 7:32 PM
Dawn (Guest): In this letter, StF is addressing a woman who is begotten with herself! and is counseling this sister how to help
Jun 13, 7:32 PM
VisitationSiste: Souls are invisible while bodies are visible so that mite contribute to the choice
32 PM
Carol (Guest): Yes, and the press of so many duties to accomplish M
Dawn (Guest): do you think this “poor woman” is entering the convent?
Jun 13, 7:33 PM
Elena (Guest): I think the needs of our soul get louder as we get older, perhaps.
Dawn (Guest): I do love how St F writes in this letter!
Jun 13, 7:34 PM
Elena (Guest): The emptiness of only satisfying the body becomes more evident. In youth, our bodies are vibrant and ready to go. As we get a little older, wisdom can help us to pay attention to the needs of our invisible soul.
5 PM
Carol (Guest): It almost sounds like she is very beautiful and all that attention has turned her head PM
Dawn (Guest): yes Carol, and she seems to be a woman this sister knows that lives apart from the convent
Jun 13, 7:37 PM
VisitationSiste: It sounds either like a convent or a boarding place for women
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VisitationSiste: The Sainte-Catherine-du-Mont abbey located in Haute-Savoie, was founded in the 12th or 13th century in the current town of Annecy, but in an isolated valley of Semnoz, the valley of Sainte-Catherine. In 1772, it was closed and its occupants joined another convent located in the city center.
Jun 13, 7:39 PM
VisitationSiste: from wikipedia
Jun 13, 7:39 PM
VisitationSiste: q2 Why do you think attractiveness or natural physical abilities are something people treat as their own doing, rather than a gift they have received? Why is this spiritually dangerous?
6 online
Elena
Carol
Dawn
2 viewers
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VisitationSiste: q2 Why do you think attractiveness or natural physical abilities are something people treat as their own doing, rather than a gift they have received? Why is this spiritually dangerous?
Carol (Guest): We are born with them so we think they belong to us
Jun 13, 7:41 PM
Dawn (Guest): It is secular thought to raise oneself up as a creator!.
Jun 13, 7:42 PM
Simone (Guest): hmm.. interesting
Jun 13, 7:42 PM
Elena (Guest): “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.”
Jun 13, 7:42 PM
Simone (Guest): we don’t Elena
Jun 13, 7:42 PM
Elena (Guest): “Maybe she’s born with it. Maybe it’s Maybelline.”
Jun 13, 7:42 PM
Carol (Guest): Lol
Jun 13, 7:42 PM
Simone (Guest): lol
Jun 13, 7:42 PM
Dawn (Guest): are you ?
Jun 13, 7:42 PM
Dawn (Guest): Lol
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Elena (Guest): Both quotes from cosmetic industry ads… the culture emphasizes our physical beauty according to artificial, fabricated standards. PM
Simone (Guest): when I was doing the course “theology of the body” – it was interesting how many women struggled saying ” I am a body”.. they also struggled a lot with pointing out, what they liked about their bodies
Jun 13, 7:43 PM
Elena (Guest): We are encouraged to do things to ourselves (products, surgeries, etc.) to achieve the “look” of beauty according to the advertising industry.
Jun 13, 7:44 PM
Elena (Guest): As if the self is dependent upon our physical beauty.
Jun 13, 7:44 PM
Simone (Guest): there was one man in the group – when asked if he liked his body – he said “YES”.. when asked ‘What do you like about your body?” He answered ‘ It functions”
Jun 13, 7:44 PM
Carol (Guest): Yes. And it will never satisfy, because beauty, as well as fashion trends, are fleeting
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Carol (Guest): Yes. And it will never satisfy, because beauty, as well as fashion trends, are fleeting
Jun 13, 7:46 PM
Dawn (Guest): I dont think in terms of… I am a body? have to think about this
Simone (Guest): this is such a loaded theme.. I do not even know where to start to be honest
Jun 13, 7:46 PM
Simone (Guest): Hi Sister..
Jun 13, 7:47 PM
Simone (Guest): How can we honour God with our beauty?
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Simone (Guest): The exposure of beauty and the presence of lust are so intertwined often I find.
Jun 13, 7:48 PM
Simone (Guest): and when I say “exposure”, I do not mean “nudity”
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VisitationSiste: we honor Him by taking care of this gift
Jun 13, 7:49 PM
Dawn (Guest): taking care of our body honors the gift God gave us, and using our health to be able to help others
Jun 13, 7:49 PM
Simone (Guest): Yes, to both
Jun 13, 7:49 PM
Carol (Guest): Because we are not our bodies
Jun 13, 7:50 PM
Simone (Guest): But is not taking care- something “I” do? Can it be that it is the same principle as “cooperating with God’s graces”?
Jun 13, 7:51 PM
Simone (Guest): well Carol.. I also thought that.. but – then I read the readings from John Paul 2 – and he says ” We are our bodies”.. it really stretched me..
Jun 13, 7:51 PM
Dawn (Guest): Sr Susan, your thoughts?
2 PM
VisitationSiste: We are body and soul and that is why we will be reunited with our bodies in the Resurrection somedau
Jun 13, 7:52 PM
Simone (Guest): apparently – the church defines a “person” — a body and soul together forever
Jun 13, 7:52 PM
Elena (Guest): body and soul
Jun 13, 7:54 PM
Simone (Guest): I really do not want to cause confusion here. I am referring to the teachings of ‘Theology of the Body”. It has really helped me to heal in some areas around my body issues – but also made me understand the gospel and mostly the cross in a better way
Jun 13, 7:54 PM
Simone (Guest): I grew up always thinking – that the “body is just a shell” – it does not matter.
Jun 13, 7:54 PM
Dawn (Guest): 1 Corin 6:19-20 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
Simone (Guest): all that matters are my thoughts – so I identified mostly from the neck UP-wards
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Simone (Guest): I think it is almost impossible in our culture to come out with a positive and healthy body image and feeling.. as I said.. just my thoughts..
Jun 13, 7:55 PM
Dawn (Guest): You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies”
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Simone (Guest): yes, the bible speaks a lot about the body. And it was the body that suffered on the cross – why did I always ignore that so much?
Jun 13, 7:57 PM
Elena (Guest): Descartes did a lot of damage with “I think, therefore I am.” Therefore, only *I* get to determine what or who I am. The fundamental stance of humanism. The schism of body and soul.
Jun 13, 7:57 PM
Simone (Guest): yes Elena.. that is actually the background. exactly that
:58 PM
Simone (Guest): but I never realized HOW much it has influenced me PM
Elena (Guest): St. Teresa of Avila helped me to see the truth of Jesus Christ as body and soul on the cross. Catholicism became for me and for many others, I’m sure, about denying the body as evil or unwanted or unholy. Sort of Calvinist, almost.
Jun 13, 7:59 PM
Simone (Guest): For me the Catholic teaching was a saving grace – compared to my protestant teaching.
Jun 13, 7:59 PM
Elena (Guest): A different sort of focus on the body… either we indulge our bodies and passions, or we try to separate them from our soul as somehow evil.
Jun 13, 8:00 PM
Elena (Guest): I’m glad to hear that, Simone. Growing up Catholic, there were many mixed messages and certainly watered down teachings.
Jun 13, 8:00 PM
Carol (Guest): Yes, and isn’t that why the Creed is so careful to say that Jesus has an actual body?
Jun 13, 8:00 PM
Simone (Guest): I think – this is where we come back – to “being a holy temple”
Jun 13, 8:00 PM
Simone (Guest): oh Carol.. this is interesting.. what do you mean by that?
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Simone (Guest): do you mean.. the focus on the physical suffering in the Creed?
Jun 13, 8:01 PM
Simone (Guest): suffered under Pontius Pilate
Jun 13, 8:01 PM
Elena (Guest): He redeemed our bodies as well as our souls, perhaps?
Simone (Guest): I think we are going away from our core question. but it is so interesting.. Yes, he DID redeem our bodies
Jun 13, 8:02 PM
Simone (Guest): and the bodies will resurrect
Jun 13, 8:02 PM
Simone (Guest): so mind blowing
Jun 13, 8:03 PM
Carol (Guest): Yes to all of that!
M
VisitationSiste: So much develops as we chat here real theology!
Jun 13, 8:03 PM
Simone (Guest): yes- and thanks for giving space Sister
Jun 13, 8:04 PM
VisitationSiste: The next q goes in a different direction: Why is our disposition before starting something (especially prayer) so important?
3, 8:04 PM
Carol (Guest): We have been together so long, inspiring each other
Jun 13, 8:04 PM
Simone (Guest): true Carol
Jun 13, 8:04 PM
Carol (Guest): Attitude iseverything
4 PM
Dawn (Guest): we just celebrated Corpus Christi….The solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ 5 PM
Simone (Guest): The “body of Christ”.. oh my.. makes me feel dizzy – it has so many angles to look at
Jun 13, 8:06 PM
Simone (Guest): Ok.. Sister.. I am all in on question 3 now.. promise
Jun 13, 8:06 PM
Dawn (Guest): John 6:54-57 whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life
Jun 13, 8:07 PM
VisitationSiste: Let the S[irit finish I think!
Jun 13, 8:07 PM
VisitationSiste: Spirit
Jun 13, 8:07 PM
Simone (Guest): the disposition is important, because we have a tendency to do things” for our own”. But when we stop – and dedicate our action to GOD – it becomes something that contributes to “they kingdom come”
Carol (Guest): Oh! And the Romans thought that meant cannibalism, something we’re still having to explain 8 PM
Simone (Guest): it is like the fish and the loaves – we dedicate it to GOD – and He makes it big and worthy.. if we do not stop and dedicate our action to GOd.. it is like “eating the fish and the loaves” – having missed out – on making our action part of the redemptive work in the world
Jun 13, 8:09 PM
Simone (Guest): and Dawn and Carol.. It is almost painful.. not to answer to both of you.. We HAVE to talk about this one day.. the body of Christ..
Jun 13, 8:09 PM
Carol (Guest): We do!
Jun 13, 8:10 PM
Simone (Guest): oh.. you mean now?
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Dawn (Guest): yes!
Jun 13, 8:10 PM
VisitationSiste: yes go with this flow
Jun 13, 8:12 PM
Dawn (Guest): typed replys come in their own order it seems, but the Spirit is guiding us
Jun 13, 8:12 PM
Simone (Guest): We are the body of Christ – and we “consume” the body of Christ” –
Jun 13, 8:13 PM
Carol (Guest): And because we partake of the one body, we are united
Jun 13, 8:13 PM
Simone (Guest): The body of Jesus suffered for us – so – how can we think, that we should not suffer as His body.. I wonder?
Jun 13, 8:13 PM
Simone (Guest): Yes, Carol.. that is the one part I try so hard to tell my protestant brothers and sisters.
Jun 13, 8:13 PM
Simone (Guest): Why did Jesus need a human body?
14 PM
Carol (Guest): We are told that all suffering is bad
Jun 13, 8:14 PM
Simone (Guest): what? Who says that Carol?
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Dawn (Guest): I dont think he “needed” it, but in order to dwell among us, and to sacrifice
Jun 13, 8:15 PM
Simone (Guest): I mean.. I do not want to “glorify” suffering – but if we are not willing to accept it – then.. I wonder.. well -how can we be in His likeness too.
Jun 13, 8:16 PM
Simone (Guest): I think so too Dawn. and also.. He became human — a human is a person – as we said.. body and soul together forever. not an angel.. they are only souls.. but do not have a body.
Dawn (Guest): we suffer here because of original sin
Jun 13, 8:16 PM
Carol (Guest): Oh, society at large
Jun 13, 8:16 PM
Simone (Guest): yes, I just read yesterday.. every suffering goes back to original sin.. if we look close enough
Jun 13, 8:17 PM
Simone (Guest): yes, society teaches us that we should not suffer. you are right
8 PM
Simone (Guest): Ladies.. what do you think about this statement ” What I do to my body, I do to my soul”
Jun 13, 8:18 PM
VisitationSiste: Jesus came to be like us in all but sin
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Simone (Guest): You are right Sister.. and I heard that many times.. but I somehow managed to ignore that He has chosen to be a “body person” – a true human. I think, deep down – I still thought- He was God in a “human costume” – but He took on human nature – and that included a body
Jun 13, 8:20 PM
Carol (Guest): That’s a bold statement Simone
Jun 13, 8:20 PM
Simone (Guest): there is so much mystery involved too.. and I find that the mysteries of the Rosary can help a lot too – to understand better – the humanness of our Lord
Jun 13, 8:20 PM
Simone (Guest): I agree Carol.. but could it be true?
Jun 13, 8:21 PM
Carol (Guest): Yes, I think it is true
Jun 13, 8:21 PM
Simone (Guest): wow.. you are much faster than me Carol. It took me several months to come to this conclusion
Jun 13, 8:23 PM
Carol (Guest): I have your good example to follow
Jun 13, 8:24 PM
Simone (Guest): There are so many things in our world.. that show that deep down people believe that ” it does not matter what we do to our bodies” – abortion – same sex life style ( not just attraction, but life style) – sex outside of marriage etc…
Jun 13, 8:25 PM
Simone (Guest): I like it – when it says that the Eucharist is ‘ body, blood, soul and divinity” – it shows that they come together – we receive them as ONE – not just the SOUL
Jun 13, 8:25 PM
Carol (Guest): Some science is still teaching that we are mammals acting on instinct
Jun 13, 8:25 PM
Elena (Guest): Good night, ladies. Have a blessed week.
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Carol (Guest): Good night Elena!
Jun 13, 8:26 PM
Dawn (Guest): goodnight Elena!
Jun 13, 8:26 PM
VisitationSiste: Blessings Elena
Jun 13, 8:26 PM
Simone (Guest): well, that is a wrong understanding of a “human soul”.. we have “human souls” not “animal souls’ – different creation – an animal is an animal .. a human is – but at the same time becomes
Jun 13, 8:26 PM
VisitationSiste: Well we wont finish all tonite but the diversion was very good
Jun 13, 8:26 PM
Carol (Guest): Yes, I’m just repeating now
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Simone (Guest): thanks for letting us ” talk” Sister..
Jun 13, 8:27 PM
Dawn (Guest): chat went quickly. thank you Sr
Jun 13, 8:27 PM
Simone (Guest): blessings everyone
Jun 13, 8:27 PM
Carol (Guest): We do go off topic in interesting directions
Jun 13, 8:27 PM
VisitationSiste: definitely very important!
Jun 13, 8:27 PM
VisitationSiste: Our homework: n a world driven so by utility/productivity/efficiency, how could we share the importance of prayer, which to some degree is the exact opposite of those things?
, 8:28 PM
Carol (Guest): By taking the time for prayer throughout the day
Jun 13, 8:28 PM
Dawn (Guest): Good! thank you for this assignment Sr
Jun 13, 8:28 PM
Simone (Guest): Great assignment