Yet again, we get a great glimpse into the mind and heart of St. Francis. What struck you from this letter? What if more bishops had this desire to lead their flocks at all cost? How would that change things for the Church? How can we all have docile hearts, ready to serve the Lord? St. Francis told St. Jane that he was not praying for her healing, but that he was praying for her to always be guided by God. Why not just pray for healing? Discuss.Have you ever met any “saintly village woman” that St. Francis s
Aug 1, 7:16 PM
SrSusan (Guest): St. Francis told St. Jane that he was not praying for her healing, but that he was praying for her to always be guided by God. Why not just pray for healing? Discuss.
Have you ever met any “saintly village woman” that St. Francis speaks of? What do you think about their “indefinable quality of excellence” as he puts it? How does this type of person point us toward holiness?
How can we be more at peace in our lives knowing that we belong to God?
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SrSusan (Guest): WE can begin First Q- if you read the newsletter- or if not see above the first q refers to the letter: Yet again, we get a great glimpse into the mind and heart of St. Francis. What struck you from this letter?
Aug 1, 7:29 PM
Bettychao (Guest): Sr Susan today we go to a protanstand church name call lexana baptist church . Their pastor teach us the Bible gaspel chapter Titus in the New Testament this chapter of the gaspel is tell us about St. Paul apostle.
Aug 1, 7:29 PM
PattiMcClellan9: His deep humility and devotion to laying it all on the line for God.
Aug 1, 7:30 PM
Bettychao (Guest): Hi patti this is bettychao
Aug 1, 7:31 PM
SrSusan (Guest): I liked his recognizing saintliness in the simple people of the village he was in
Aug 1, 7:31 PM
PattiMcClellan9: Yes. The holiness of the lay person.
Aug 1, 7:32 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Hi Ruth and Simone
Aug 1, 7:32 PM
SrSusan (Guest): St Francis was so helpful to the laity of his time
Aug 1, 7:32 PM
Simone (Guest): Hi Ruth! Hi Sister!
Aug 1, 7:32 PM
Ruth (Guest): Hi Bettychao, Hi Patti, Sr/ Susan and Simone amd viewer
Aug 1, 7:33 PM
PattiMcClellan9: Hi! Hope you are doing well.
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Simone (Guest): as for q1 – I found it very interesting how SF processes his thoughts about – how he prayed for her
Aug 1, 7:38 PM
Bettychao (Guest): Sr Susan some monastery like Dominican sisters of Mary mother of the Eucharist has so many digital interview but you monastery is very private ? Why some monastery rule are different I mean they are catholic monastery’s? PM
Bettychao (Guest): Sr Susan some monastery like Dominican sisters of Mary mother of the Eucharist has so many digital interview but you monastery is very private ? Why some monastery rule are different I mean they are catholic monastery’s?
Aug 1, 7:39 PM
Simone (Guest): Like – not getting in the way – of GOD’s answer to her deepest healing.
Aug 1, 7:39 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Each Order has different rules or slightly different, Betty
Aug 1, 7:39 PM
Simone (Guest): I wish – we would often stop and consider how it is the best to pray for someone.
Aug 1, 7:40 PM
SrSusan (Guest): We are a tiny Monastery and elderly for the most part not young like those Dominicans
Aug 1, 7:40 PM
Ruth (Guest): One thing that struck me was that St.F. didn’t seem to know for sure that whatever it was that was troubling St. Jane — apparently meantioned in a prior letter, was what he should be praying for. specifically, so he promised to pray in a more general way, basically that she cooperate with what God’s plan for her wellbeing is
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Simone (Guest): yes Ruth.. I did not make the connection about a former letter.. but that makes perfectly sense
Aug 1, 7:41 PM
SrSusan (Guest): q2 What if more bishops had this desire to lead their flocks at all cost? How would that change things for the Church?
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SrSusan (Guest): q2 What if more bishops had this desire to lead their flocks at all cost? How would that change things for the Church?
Aug 1, 7:43 PM
Simone (Guest): Well.. I think if a bishop has such a soft (melted) heart – then it would trickle down to the priests.. and probably would be reflected also in the ongoing formation of the priests – Once the priests would have caught the fire of love for their flock – the fhearts of the flock would melt too – and the world could be reached with the love of Jesus
Aug 1, 7:43 PM
SrSusan (Guest): St Francis is an excellent model for all Bishops!
Aug 1, 7:43 PM
Simone (Guest): sigh…
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Simone (Guest): Not complaining about my bishop here 44 PM
Ruth (Guest): Perhaps SOME do, but, oh my goodness, the very presence of Christ could be felt, discerned, and the Church might grow like it did in ancient Rome. 45 PM
SrSusan (Guest): The power of the Holy Spirit- how we need it M
Simone (Guest): YEs, the power of the Holy Spirit -but also this incredible love – the divine love -that comes with Him
Aug 1, 7:46 PM
SrSusan (Guest): and the faithful would not be as confused as we are now with the different voices
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Simone (Guest): The Holy Spirit always brought UNITY – the entitled to Babel . I meant the antidote PM
Ruth (Guest): Yes! PM
Ruth (Guest): And we would not be “bleeding out” idealist young Catholics.
Aug 1, 7:47 PM
SrSusan (Guest): I always wonder why people are afraid of unity
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Simone (Guest): what do you mean by “bleeding out” Ruth? PM
Simone (Guest): interesting Sister Susan.. where and how do you experience an angst about unity? 9 PM
SrSusan (Guest): our 2 federations PM
Simone (Guest): oh.. I have absolute no insight in this.. but I can imagine that there is grounds for disunity probably. PM
SrSusan (Guest): a little bit different lifestyles but the same charism
Aug 1, 7:50 PM
Simone (Guest): I would LOVE unity between protestants and Catholics.. in the way.. that protestants come BACK to the Eucharist.
Aug 1, 7:50 PM
Simone (Guest): And that we Catholics learn from their love for fellowship and the word of GOD
Aug 1, 7:51 PM
Bettychao (Guest): Holy Spirit of light of fire can shine upon us so we can live in the light of the holyspirit without the Holy Ghost that God is give us we are
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PattiMcClellan9: I pray for unity amongst all Christian person’s. If only others could see the joy that valuing tradii as well as scriptures can bring.
Aug 1, 7:53 PM
SrSusan (Guest): q3 ? How can we all have docile hearts, ready to serve the Lord?
Aug 1, 7:53 PM
SrSusan (Guest): I agree Patti! PM
Ruth (Guest): Simone, I mean that Catholics, especially young Catholics, are leaving the Body of Christ, at an incredible rate. They are not finding what they are looking for, even those who are honestly searching, and not particularly materialistic.
Aug 1, 7:54 PM
Simone (Guest): oh… I am not aware of this Ruth. I wonder what they are not finding.
Aug 1, 7:54 PM
PattiMcClellan9: I think we can try to live in the holy space between call and response. Holy silence on holy ground seems to produce inner peace.
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Bettychao (Guest): I saw some catholic dont go to church to worship the lord and find a horrible reason not to go to church I think that is no good we need to help them pray for them and let God do his work to help them guide them go to church for sermons and worship the lord. Bettychao
Aug 1, 7:56 PM
Simone (Guest): as for “docile hearts”. One of the things I value most about Salesian Spirituality is that everything is supposed to be done out of love – not constraint.. such a wonderful approach to freedom. So – if I want to have a docile heart – it probably should start with loving GOD with all my heart. Then it will be so much easier to follow Him
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SrSusan (Guest): yes sweetness gentleness douceur words that try to bring us to a docile heart
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SrSusan (Guest): q4 St. Francis told St. Jane that he was not praying for her healing, but that he was praying for her to always be guided by God. Why not just pray for healing? 1 PM
Ruth (Guest): This is true mainly in developed countries USA, Canada, Europe. A priest from India tells me they started an order to encourage priestly vocations — I don’t remember the date, but it was quite recently. Although Catholics are a small minority in India, they now have some 600 priests serving all over the world and 60 new seminarians, and the Catholic community in very cohesive. Every family wants to have a priest in the family. They support one another. 3 PM
Simone (Guest): as for question 4… I find SF’s answer more to a “non healing” situation – he calls it “trial” – 5 PM
Simone (Guest): but even if it was a physical trial – It is the true love of a friend – to want the best only for the other – and He knew that not interfering with the plans of GOD – by fervently praying for a desired outcome – is probably the best for his soul mate Jane g 1, 8:06 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Sometimes trials are harder than physical needs, I mean spiritual trials PM
Carol (Guest): I think so too
Aug 1, 8:07 PM
Simone (Guest): oh.. I totally agree
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SrSusan (Guest): St Francis always points us to God’s Will, never our own
Aug 1, 8:08 PM
Ruth (Guest): And sometimes they occur together.
Aug 1, 8:08 PM
Simone (Guest): I did not understand the word “dereliction” here.. can anyone shed some light on that maybe?
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SrSusan (Guest): abandonment, like dereliction of duty? not sure :10 PM
Simone (Guest): oh.. ok.. yes abandonment makes sense
Have you ever met any “saintly village woman” that St. Francis speaks of? What do you think about their “indefinable quality of excellence” as he puts it? PM
PattiMcClellan9: I met a man I think was holy. He was my spiritual director for a while. He advocated truly changing one’s,s actions as penances. He was never harsh. And if I was ashamed, he would say, “But this is a positive thing. You have an opportunity to grow!” He died about five years ago. I shall not see his like again.
Aug 1, 8:15 PM
Simone (Guest): I asked what SF meant -when he said that he prays with the “abandonment” dereliction – for her trial
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PattiMcClellan9: I met a man I think was holy. He was my spiritual director for a while. He advocated truly changing one’s,s actions as penances. He was never harsh. And if I was ashamed, he would say, “But this is a positive thing. You have an opportunity to grow!” He died about five years ago. I shall not see his like again.
Aug 1, 8:15 PM
Simone (Guest): I asked what SF meant -when he said that he prays with the “abandonment” dereliction – for her trial
Aug 1, 8:16 PM
Simone (Guest): funny. now I cannot get into the Newsletter I wonder if someone in the invisible realm does not want us to look closer at that
Aug 1, 8:16 PM
SrSusan (Guest): That he suffers for her greatly in his prayer I think
Aug 1, 8:16 PM
Carol (Guest): Patti, he sounds like a wonderful man
Aug 1, 8:16 PM
Simone (Guest): ooh..
Aug 1, 8:16 PM
Ruth (Guest): Immediately a simple woman who was my landlady the first year when I was teaching in Germany came to mind. I do not even know what religion she was, but she seemed to me saintly. She was caring for her completely disabled husband, ran a small gas station, took care of the free range chickens, was never anxious about the building project she was supervising — my apartment was brand new, and she did some of the work, hands on, herself — and always seemed cheerful.
Aug 1, 8:16 PM
Simone (Guest): do you mean He suffers on her behalf in His prayer?
Aug 1, 8:16 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Yes he suffers for her somehow :16 PM
Ruth (Guest): Immediately a simple woman who was my landlady the first year when I was teaching in Germany came to mind. I do not even know what religion she was, but she seemed to me saintly. She was caring for her completely disabled husband, ran a small gas station, took care of the free range chickens, was never anxious about the building project she was supervising — my apartment was brand new, and she did some of the work, hands on, herself — and always seemed cheerful.
Aug 1, 8:16 PM
Simone (Guest): do you mean He suffers on her behalf in His prayer?
Aug 1, 8:16 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Yes he suffers for her somehow
Aug 1, 8:17 PM
Simone (Guest): thank you
Aug 1, 8:17 PM
Simone (Guest): and I love all your descriptions of the saintly people in your life
Aug 1, 8:17 PM
Simone (Guest): I often think, that holiness is the best evangelization tool we can have
Aug 1, 8:17 PM
PattiMcClellan9: I think Francis is so empathetic that feels Jane’s suffering himself.
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PattiMcClellan9: I think Francis is so empathetic that feels Jane’s suffering himself.
Aug 1, 8:18 PM
SrSusan (Guest): That is a good point
Aug 1, 8:18 PM
Simone (Guest): Yes.. we can step into the suffering of someone else
Aug 1, 8:18 PM
SrSusan (Guest): and great example Ruth of your landlady!
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PattiMcClellan9: Yes, Ruth. She sounds holy indeed. 19 PM
Simone (Guest): also great to see – how our hands on – showing up – is connected with holiness – it is not always just the hidden prayers
Aug 1, 8:20 PM
SrSusan (Guest): ? How does this type of person point us toward holiness?
:20 PM
Simone (Guest): you mean Ruth’s landlord?
Aug 1, 8:20 PM
Simone (Guest): lady?
Aug 1, 8:20 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Yes her or others like her
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Carol (Guest): They inspire us by showing us what we can be too
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Simone (Guest): I think, holy people live in a State of constant “knowledge” of the love of GOD – and by this -their love – which is GOd’s love really – spills over. There is a spirit of generosity in love – and giving yourself away we only can reach, when we live close to God’s heart
Aug 1, 8:21 PM
SrSusan (Guest): I knew a holy married woman with 4 children who was so pryaerful that I wanted to be like her but for me I had to be in a Monastery to even try
, 8:22 PM
Simone (Guest): awww.. that touches me SisterPM
PattiMcClellan9: I think we can use their example to ask ourselves, What would Joe do, or what would my landlady do in this situaty. Also, we can realize that we can only see what we ourselves contain. If we see someone holy, it’s only because we have at least the seeds of holiness ourselves.
Aug 1, 8:23 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Good point too- like recognizes like
Aug 1, 8:23 PM
Simone (Guest): what a good point Patti :24 PM
Simone (Guest): Holy people are sermons with a heartbeat
Aug 1, 8:24 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Beautiful phrase
Aug 1, 8:24 PM
Carol (Guest): Yes, and grace awakens the longing for the same gift
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Simone (Guest): I am glad you bring the word “grace” in Carol. Cause it is grace ultimately that longs for holiness and allows us to grow in it
Aug 1, 8:25 PM
SrSusan (Guest): How can we be more at peace in our lives knowing that we belong to God?
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Carol (Guest): Why do some not respond to grace though because I think He calls us all
Aug 1, 8:26 PM
Ruth (Guest): That’s it! He takes care of His own.
Aug 1, 8:26 PM
SrSusan (Guest): I do not know- it is a mystery
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Carol (Guest): Nothing happens without His will and all bad things are used for our salvation
Aug 1, 8:26 PM
Simone (Guest): that’s the question. I think.. Grace has to go through many layers of self-made ” heartstones” – it trickles through
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SrSusan (Guest): and searching for peace can also break thru those stones eventually
Aug 1, 8:27 PM
Ruth (Guest): If we don’t get in the way.
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SrSusan (Guest): so true PM
Ruth (Guest): I often think that that is why God has allowed me to live this long. He knows I want to live entirely in his grace, and have so far to go to make enough room for what he has to offer.
Aug 1, 8:29 PM
Simone (Guest): I was many years ridden with anxiety – peace truly came when I understood, that I am a child of GOD. I lived with this “phrase” for many years – but one day ” I got it” – and I just know and I know and I know – that I am cared for. Not that this is a free ticket for every day to be super happy and painfreee – but I truly cannot fall deeper than in His loving hands. And peace comes
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Carol (Guest): I understand Simone PM
Simone (Guest): <3
Aug 1, 8:30 PM
Simone (Guest): should be a heart
Aug 1, 8:30 PM
Simone (Guest): sideways
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Ruth (Guest): I have been given that gift, too. Thanks be to God.
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Ruth (Guest): I have been given that gift, too. Thanks be to God.
Aug 1, 8:31 PM
Simone (Guest): and a <3 for you too Ruth
Aug 1, 8:31 PM
Carol (Guest): This week I read Bishop Barton’s reflection on the pearl if great price. Jesus is the man and we are the pearls. He gave away everything for us!
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Simone (Guest): I have never heard this interpretation. Bishop Barron always delivers