| St. John Paul II once said that we should not be satisfied with mediocrity, yet St. Francis counsels here that we should expect an ordinary path upon which we pursue our vocation. Is this a contradiction between the two saints?How do we practice self-annihilation with cheerfulness?Reflect on what St. Francis says regarding the Eucharist: Jesus “humbled himself to unite himself to us, even making himself our food and nourishment, whereas we are nothing but the food and repast of worms.” What are some practical ways we can increase our Eucharistic devotion (especially for those who cannot make use of frequent adoration)?Regarding gossip and murmuring, St. Francis mentions that the complaints of others “will turn into blessings.” How can we embrace this and allow this to truly set us free? |
1. St. John Paul II once said that we should not be satisfied with mediocrity, yet St. Francis counsels here that we should expect an ordinary path upon which we pursue our vocation. Is this a contradiction between the two saints?
Jun 27, 7:43 PM
dawn (Guest): The parish I attend is in another town. it is usually the priest and two three other women. this is it. it is very peaceful and Im well suited to this
Jun 27, 7:44 PM
dawn (Guest): My first thought is yes, it seems like a contradiction. but how could this be so?
Jun 27, 7:45 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): I think one can live an ordinary path extraordinarily
Jun 27, 7:46 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): In fact a book was written about our Mendota Heights Srs with such a similar title
Jun 27, 7:46 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): Hi Ruth!
Jun 27, 7:47 PM
dawn (Guest): Hi Ruth!
Jun 27, 7:47 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): Live an ordianry path with meaning and gusto
Jun 27, 7:48 PM
dawn (Guest): This is profound….ordinary, extraordinarily!
Jun 27, 7:49 PM
Ruth (Guest): Yes, that’s what I was thinking, too.
Jun 27, 7:49 PM
Ruth (Guest): Do ordinary tasks extraordinarily well.
Jun 27, 7:50 PM
Ruth (Guest): Opps. Hi Sister Susan Marie, hi Dawn!
(Guest): I think if these 2 Sainta had a dialogue together they would agree
Jun 27, 7:52 PM
dawn (Guest): so, how does this apply to our question?
Jun 27, 7:52 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): do you mesan if it is a contradiction I dont think so
Jun 27, 7:52 PM
dawn (Guest): oh, that it is NOT a contradiction?
Jun 27, 7:53 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): not a contradiction
Jun 27, 7:53 PM
dawn (Guest): yes, thank you!
Jun 27, 7:53 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): mediocrity and ordinariness are not opposites I dont think
Jun 27, 7:53 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): or not necessarily
Jun 27, 7:55 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): 2. How do we practice self-annihilation with cheerfulness?
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Ruth (Guest): I thought our Philippine priest prepared his sermon well, but his delivery had almost everyone looking like they were not listening,asleep or in a trance.
Jun 27, 7:56 PM
dawn (Guest): this next paragraph of his letter is important. and beautiful.
Jun 27, 7:58 PM
Ruth (Guest): Such unfortunate translation: self-annihilation. . . It sounds to the contemporary ear like suicide. I know that is not what is meant.
Jun 27, 7:58 PM
dawn (Guest): I have thought about dying to self and often wish I could more wuickly. but this is not dying to self, self annihilation. and it has nothing to do with us, and everything to do with Him
Sr Susan (Guest): Hard words yes but we could take it as selflessness PM
Sr Susan (Guest): 3. Reflect on what St. Francis says regarding the Eucharist:Jesus “humbled himself to unite himself to us, even making himself our food and nourishment, whereas we are nothing but the food and repast of worms
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dawn (Guest): when one is surrounded by others, and caring for others.during the busy of the day, or night, it is quite different when suddenly one is alone. and you are faced with your self. I am finding the key is to be busy,to have tasks and chores to do joyfully, crafts like painting and such. and to release you are not alone. rather, he has placed you in a situation to be alone with him
Jun 27, 8:03 PM
dawn (Guest): it then is important to do much reading, spiritual reading
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Reflect on what St. Francis says regarding the Eucharist:Jesus “humbled himself to unite himself to us, even making himself our food and nourishment, whereas we are nothing but the food and repast of worms.”
Jun 27, 8:08 PM
Ruth (Guest): Hi Mary!
Jun 27, 8:09 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): Welcome Mary!
Jun 27, 8:09 PM
dawn (Guest): Hi Mary
Jun 27, 8:09 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): The Eucharist is the greatest gift of all gifts
Jun 27, 8:09 PM
dawn (Guest): it is life
Jun 27, 8:10 PM
Ruth (Guest): The passage makes me chuckle a little. Not the first part: that speaks to me deeply. But the second part. Maybe because some people are so distressed by worms that that is the reason they now want to be cremated!
Jun 27, 8:10 PM
dawn (Guest): His life in us.
Jun 27, 8:10 PM
Ruth (Guest): And it reminds me of the kid’s song:
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Ruth (Guest): Sittin’ in the Garden Eating Worms
Jun 27, 8:11 PM
Mary (Guest): Eucharist is the fullness of our catholic faith and when you become daily communicant, you yearn to always be with Jesus
Jun 27, 8:11 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): I dont know that song
8:12 PM
dawn (Guest): I am certain it is his true Body and Blood. His life fills me and the Holy Spirit comes right then!
Jun 27, 8:12 PM
Mary (Guest): What song?
Jun 27, 8:12 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): So true Mary
Jun 27, 8:12 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): and Dawn
4. What are some practical ways we can increase our Eucharistic devotion (especially for those who cannot make use of frequent adoration)?
Jun 27, 8:14 PM
Ruth (Guest): Sorry I’m distracting you; the important part is Jesus makes himself food for us. Sacraments and sacramentals use ordinary things of our bodily life to unite us to himself.
Jun 27, 8:14 PM
Mary (Guest): to adore Sacred Heart of Jesus where we are and doing all for honor & glory of God
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Ruth (Guest): Sorry I’m distracting you; the important part is Jesus makes himself food for us. Sacraments and sacramentals use ordinary things of our bodily life to unite us to himself.
Jun 27, 8:14 PM
Mary (Guest): to adore Sacred Heart of Jesus where we are and doing all for honor & glory of God
Jun 27, 8:14 PM
dawn (Guest): this would be a great gift, to sit in adoration with him. I rarely am able to
Jun 27, 8:15 PM
Mary (Guest): Honor Guard is perfect way doing any chore or work &consoling Heart of Jesus at foot of Cross with Mother Mary & St John &Mary Magdalen
Jun 27, 8:15 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): reading about the Eucharist, oraying
Jun 27, 8:15 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): praying
Jun 27, 8:16 PM
Ruth (Guest): While in medical school somehow I did it for an hour every day.And I had time to do everything else I needed to do. Even one to five part time jobs in addition to attending classes.
Jun 27, 8:16 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): are you in the Guard of Honor Mary
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Mary (Guest): I attend Adoration tuesdays & thursdays as franciscan secular
Jun 27, 8:17 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): Beautiful
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dawn (Guest): perhaps reading about Eucharistic miracles? the young boy,Carlos…..he had strong devotion to adoration
Jun 27, 8:17 PM
Mary (Guest): However, I will stop in other times for visits
Jun 27, 8:17 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): Yes
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Mary (Guest): Adoration before the Lord will draw us closer to Him
Jun 27, 8:17 PM
dawn (Guest): So, it is available at all times Mary?
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Mary (Guest): our neighboring church as Adoration Chapel next to rectory &is always available..one needs a fob to open door for entrance and privacy 9 PM
dawn (Guest): the parish nearest me, they ( the reg parishnors) have a true resistance to having Adoration at all! they say no. the new priest has managed to get one hour before Mass on First Fridays
Jun 27, 8:19 PM
Mary (Guest): Chapel is named in honor of St Theresa the Little Flower
Jun 27, 8:19 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): what a blessing! All parishes should have this if possible
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Sr Susan (Guest): So sorry tio hear that Dawn I will pray for that parish and its parishioners
Jun 27, 8:20 PM
Ruth (Guest): When we had a time of “Eucharistic Adoration” by internet –ZOOM — following a brief “day of recollection” at first it distressed me: we must not adore an image on the screen. Virtual Eucharist? But after inviting Jesus into myself, asking for his presence, suddenly I felt completely surrounded by , inside of him, right there in my room, independently of what was shown on the computer/iPad.
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dawn (Guest): I agree Ruth!
Jun 27, 8:21 PM
Mary (Guest): es, but unfortunately with the pandemic this past year, it was closed but has now reopened…
Jun 27, 8:21 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): Ruth He penetrated walls and doors after the Resurrection so I guess a computer is not an obstacle to His Real presence if He chooses to show up, within you or without
ast q: 5. Regarding gossip and murmuring, St. Francis mentions that the complaints of others “will turn into blessings.” How can we embrace this and allow this to truly set us free?
Jun 27, 8:22 PM
dawn (Guest): oh yes. I wonder if I should be bold and call this new priest and ask him if he could leave a way to go in for Adoration? I could ask
Jun 27, 8:22 PM
Mary (Guest): I would love to spend all my day there…few yrs ago, our parish held the 40 Hours Adoration and I remained all thru the nite..Awesome!
Jun 27, 8:22 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): yes Dawn!
Jun 27, 8:23 PM
dawn (Guest): ok thank you Sr!!
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Mary (Guest): I would love to spend all my day there…few yrs ago, our parish held the 40 Hours Adoration and I remained all thru the nite..Awesome!
Jun 27, 8:22 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): yes Dawn!
Jun 27, 8:23 PM
dawn (Guest): ok thank you Sr!!
Jun 27, 8:23 PM
Ruth (Guest): Yes, we can adore God anywhere. He is, after all, all present.
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Mary (Guest): How about starting with one day of the week..like every Monday & the priest can have Benediction at the end…
Jun 27, 8:25 PM
Mary (Guest): that would be a great start for parishioners, especially new adorers
Jun 27, 8:25 PM
Ruth (Guest): Still, I found it hard when, after moving within walking distance of a Catholic Church it was closed practically all the time.
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Mary (Guest): Our parish has Adoration on Tuesdays after 8:30 AM Mass until 3:00, then our Pastor does Benediction..only time we wouldn’t have it on tuesday is when a funeral is scheduled
Jun 27, 8:27 PM
Ruth (Guest): Good things always come of spending time in Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
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Sr Susan (Guest): Lets adore the best we can this week and keep each one of us in prayer for the other May many graces flow!
Jun 27, 8:29 PM
Mary (Guest): Suggest it to your Pastors…St John Paul II advocated that time spent before Adoration was of the essence and brings great blessings upon the parish
Jun 27, 8:29 PM
Sr Susan (Guest): I will be leaving now but please stay if you wish
PM dawn (Guest): Yes Sr, thank you. good night Jun 27, 8:30 PM Ruth (Guest): My parish in Wantagh, Long Island (St. Frances de Chantal) has what is called a Ministry of Praise. Jun 27, 8:30 PM Mary (Guest): yes thank you Sr Susan for this opportunity…Ruth and Dawn, you will be in my prayers Jun 27, 8:30 PM Ruth (Guest): Thank you Mary. Jun 27, 8:30 PM dawn (Guest): And you Mary, Ruth, and Sr Susan. thank you all. Jun 27, 8:31 PM Mary (Guest): God bless us one and all..good night girls,,have blessed week Jun 27, 8:31 PM Ruth (Guest): Peace, Blessings! to you, Sr. Susan, and the Visitation Monastery. Jun 27, 8:31 PM Ruth (Guest): Good night. Jun 27, 8:31 PM dawn (Guest): Gods love to you all Jun 27, 8:32 PM Mary (Guest): Check out the Honor guard Jun 27, 8:32 PM Mary (Guest): Peace & Blessings to you Jun 27, 8:33 PM dawn (Guest): The last question. I came back for this.Regarding gossip and murmuring, St. Francis mentions that the complaints of others “will turn into blessings.” How can we embrace this and allow this to truly set us free? Jun 27, 8:33 PM dawn (Guest): I would love to exam this reflection more deeply…. Jun 27, 8:35 PM dawn (Guest): what does he mean, the complaints of others turn into blessings? the Beatitudes say blessed are those who are persecuted.. I think I will read those again! Jun 27, 8:35 PM dawn (Guest): good night all