. Last week we learned that almost seven years after the above letter was written, St. Francis passed away. We see that he and St. Francis were very close. How can information like this help us read the advice of St. Francis with greater insight?2. Connected to that, how can we better understand how the genre and historical context help us better understand Holy Scripture?3. St. Francis describes the father-son relationship they have developed as something supernatural. Why is a biological father-son relat
Jan 2, 10:16 AM
SrSusan (Guest): son relationship they have developed as something supernatural. Why is a biological father-son relationship not inherently supernatural, and how can it become so?4. St. Francis tells the Duke to keep his “eyes steadfastly fixed on that blissful day of eternity.” Does this mean we are supposed to think of this time on the journey toward eternity as insignificant and a “necessary evil”?5. What does it mean that “in these passing moments there lies enclosed as in a tiny kernel the seed of all eternity”?6. St.
Jan 2, 10:17 AM
SrSusan (Guest): 6. St. Francis died the next day, at age 55, after apparently catching a severe cold while talking to the duke in bitterly cold weather. How could a saint with the stature of St. Francis make a mistake like this?
Jan 2, 10:17 AM
SrSusan (Guest): Sun chat 730pm est Jan 2
Jan 2, 10:18 AM
SrSusan (Guest): newsletter for chat: http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=1029793&f=1988&s=2046&m=629872&t=44f0d18c19339967b1be43b205c1596fa07d3b2574e5f4560987969cb886fdda
Jan 2, 7:16 PM
Simone (Guest): Happy New Year Sister Susan!
Jan 2, 7:17 PM
Simone (Guest): I want to tell you, that the very next day – after our last chat – I woke up the next morning – completely FREE of any of my symptoms, I usually have in an episode of depression. And none of them have come back so far. I am so so happy and thank you for every prayer you prayed on my behalf.
Jan 2, 7:17 PM
Simone (Guest): I can lead today, if you are not feeling well.. or have to go..
Jan 2, 7:18 PM
Simone (Guest): haha.. just saw that you are not on the chat now. I look like this crazy person that talks to themselves
Welcome to our Living Jesus Chat Room. Just sign in, using any of the methods below.
Jan 2, 7:20 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Hi Simone So glad you are better
Jan 2, 7:20 PM
Simone (Guest): thank you Sister
Last week we learned that almost seven years after the above letter was written, St. Francis passed away. We see that he and St. Francis were very close. How can information like this help us read the advice of St. Francis with greater insight?
Jan 2, 7:37 PM
Simone (Guest): Not sure, if I understand this question rightly.. also.. I find St. Francis de Sales writes so fatherly to everyone.. it is his “signature attitude”.
Jan 2, 7:37 PM
SrSusan (Guest): I think any written advice from a close friend or director is a treasure particularly after they pass. I held on to a letter my first director sent me- the only one he ever wrote to me
Simone (Guest): awww.. that sounds precious. Although my Father is still alive, I have a little handwritten note from him on my fridge.. the last one he left when he was visiting me the last time here in Canada. he won’t be able to come anymore here
Jan 2, 7:38 PM
SrSusan (Guest): But it is true that St Francis was affectionate to many in his letters and in ways expressed that we might not do so today
8 PM
Simone (Guest): specially for a man.. 39 PM
Simone (Guest): but – I find that one can FEEL the Spirit of God in his words. They never sound superficial to meM
SrSusan (Guest): You are right there probably was not a superficial bone in his bodyPM
Simone (Guest): 2. Connected to that, how can we better understand how the genre and historical context help us better understand Holy Scripture? PM
Simone (Guest): 2. Connected to that, how can we better understand how the genre and historical context help us better understand Holy Scripture?
Jan 2, 7:41 PM
Simone (Guest): My husband Peter was my biggest bible teacher. And he connected almost every sermon / homily to the jewish roots of the New Testament.. it really came alive for me – and helped me not to interpret the New Covenant specially with the eyes of a 21st century woman
Jan 2, 7:41 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Not sure how to go with this question as Scripture was not a direct element in the letter although it influenced so much of St Francis de Sales
Jan 2, 7:41 PM
Simone (Guest): you are right.. let’s go to the next question
Jan 2, 7:41 PM
SrSusan (Guest): What a grace you have in him
Simone (Guest): 3. St. Francis describes the father-son relationship they have developed as something supernatural. Why is a biological father-son relationship not inherently supernatural, and how can it become so? PM
SrSusan (Guest): From my way of thinking, all is based on the supernatural, especially marriage and family3 PM
Simone (Guest): well.. a biological father- son relationship is built on shared DNA basically – but when we share the DNA OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – then we have a supernatural relationship
Jan 2, 7:43 PM
SrSusan (Guest): But there is something special in unrelated souls who feel drawn to each othetr
Jan 2, 7:43 PM
Simone (Guest): oh my..I so echo this
PM
SrSusan (Guest): I think God puts souls togetheM
Simone (Guest): Some of my directees, truly feel like daughters to me. Some like sisters now. I love my daughter, but it is very different, than my spiritual “daughters”
Jan 2, 7:44 PM
SrSusan (Guest): hi Ruth
Jan 2, 7:44 PM
Simone (Guest): Yes, Sr. Susan, I also think that God puts souls together
5 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Can you elaborate on the difference Simone, since I never had a bio daughter5 PM
Simone (Guest): Hi Ruth! Ruth.. listen! The very next day after our chat, I woke up with NO symptoms of my depressive episode.. And it is not just sadness.. but there are usually many more, where I can tell that a depression is hitting again.. But I am absolutely symptom free – and so enjoy the freedom of being able to love and function again. Thank you for your prayers7 PM
Simone (Guest): oh. as for my daughter.. There is something in me, that LOVES her – it is linked though with a sense of responsibility too – it is something I cannot really step out – I love this child.. although I do not always like her – but still – even in these moments I would throw myself in front of a truck to safe her life.
Jan 2, 7:48 PM
Simone (Guest): The love I have for my spiritual daughters is – more a deep deep bubbling joy – a praise in me – it is as love explodes in me- when I talk with them – I also often find supernatural insights for them.. as it is easy to enter their hearts – and supernatural love is just poured out into me for them.. and I can pour it into them
Jan 2, 7:48 PM
Simone (Guest): not sure if that all makes sense
Jan 2, 7:49 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Yes I think so- it is a different level and faith is the bind with the spiritual daughters in a different way
SrSusan (Guest): St. Francis tells the Duke to keep his “eyes steadfastly fixed on that blissful day of eternity.” Does this mean we are supposed to think of this time on the journey toward eternity as insignificant and a “necessary evil”? PM
Ruth (Guest): To the question. I’d say no. Not a necessary “evil” but indeed what the whole thrust of living on earth is all about —
Jan 2, 7:52 PM
Simone (Guest): I must confess, that before I got into the readings of St. Francis de Sales, I was a bit tempted to think like this. Just waiting for heaven.. why hang around here on earth? But once I started to see that everything here on Earth is linked with our Eternity in Heaven, life actually became so meaningful. It is like eternity is scooped up with all our actions and thoughts here
PM
Ruth (Guest): Baltimore Catechism No 2. Question and answer to question 2.
Simone (Guest): lol.. you are great Ruth.. How am I supposed to know what that is?
Jan 2, 7:54 PM
Simone (Guest): will look it up
Jan 2, 7:54 PM
Ruth (Guest): I like that: “eternity is scooped up with all our actions and thoughts here”.
Jan 2, 7:55 PM
Ruth (Guest): Why did God make you? God made me to show forth his goodness and to share with me his everlasting happiness in heaven.
Jan 2, 7:55 PM
Simone (Guest): putting an “eternal spin” on our daily life, makes a big difference I find. In motivation, etc..
Jan 2, 7:55 PM
Simone (Guest): thank you Ruth.
56 PM
Ruth (Guest): We had to memorize it as kids. Didn’t matter if you understood or not. But that phrase kept me hopeful at times when there was seemingly nothing left on earth to offer hope.
Jan 2, 7:57 PM
SrSusan (Guest): We live towards an incredible goal and destiny and we make our way there daily
M
SrSusan (Guest): We live towards an incredible goal and destiny and we make our way there daily
Jan 2, 7:57 PM
Simone (Guest): ohh Ruth. I know you had such hard times. Thanks for sharing your ray of hope
Jan 2, 7:58 PM
Simone (Guest): by the way Ruth.. before I forget. Elena has COVID and asks for prayer.. Thought I let you know
Jan 2, 7:58 PM
Simone (Guest): well put Sister Susan
:59 PM
Simone (Guest): Does anyone else allow themselves to daydream a little bit of heaven once in a while? 00 PM
SrSusan (Guest): I long to be with Jesus but I don’t have mental ima\ges of heaven 0 PM
Ruth (Guest): It even gave me the assurance that my life would be meaningful whether or not I ever recovered — from a bad concussion that made me look really crazy. I was in medical school in Munich. I will include her in my prayers.
Jan 2, 8:00 PM
Simone (Guest): I also don’t have mental images – but an imprint on my heart.. which I sometimes visit
Jan 2, 8:01 PM
Ruth (Guest): Daydream? Every Mass offers a foretaste of heaven.
Jan 2, 8:01 PM
Simone (Guest): you are so right Ruth. Every single Mass
Jan 2, 8:02 PM
Simone (Guest): as for your surrendering with your concussion. I remember one of my big depressive episodes in Fall 2003 – there was the debate if I should admit myself to the hospital – and I thought – LORD, if I glorify you more in the psych ward – let it be done.. I remember it so vividly because this was NOT a protestant way to pray .. but peace came after this – and I actually was never hospitalized for depression then
Jan 2, 8:03 PM
Ruth (Guest): Some people don’t appreciate that, think that if it is so, they are not sure they’d want to go to heaven. They’re bored at Mass. But Our God knows of what we are made. He made us. And he knows what it would take to make us happy.
Jan 2, 8:03 PM
Simone (Guest): oh my goodness. How can one think that Heaven could be boring? If it is boring – it is not Heaven
04 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Love is never boring PM
Simone (Guest): even the smallest movements of the Holy Spirit in me -make me burst of Joy – and this is in my sinful body and nature here– can you imagine how it will be – when we are fully HIS in His presence.. WOW..
Jan 2, 8:04 PM
SrSusan (Guest): 5. What does it mean that “in these passing moments there lies enclosed as in a tiny kernel the seed of all eternity”?
04 PM
Ruth (Guest): It can be painful, but never boring. I’ve been tired, and exhausted, even confused, but not bored a day in my life.
Jan 2, 8:05 PM
Simone (Guest): that’s because you have a brilliant mind Ruth and you are connected to the Spirit.
Jan 2, 8:05 PM
Simone (Guest): oh, that is a beautiful way to say, what I meant in a way with “scooping up”.
Jan 2, 8:06 PM
Ruth (Guest): Mind? What is left of it! But that is enough. “My grace is enough for you.”
Jan 2, 8:06 PM
Simone (Guest): whatever we do – here – has the seed of eternity in it – because it bridges to outside of time and space through our soul one day – and what we do – shapes our soul..
PM
Simone (Guest): Let HIS grace be enough for you Ruth. But I can tell that your mind is still very sharp08 PM
SrSusan (Guest): “shapes our soul”- beautiful phrase
Jan 2, 8:09 PM
Ruth (Guest): Thank you, Simone. I like that phrase, too. I think there is a poet in Simone, or she is a poet.
PM
Simone (Guest): Thank you ladies, I am not a poet – and I know that for sure, because my daughter is one – and it blows my mind how she can express things with words and poems. :10 PM
Simone (Guest): But, love expresses in a lot of ways.. and whenever the Holy Spirit works through us – it can show up as art. that I am convinced
Jan 2, 8:11 PM
SrSusan (Guest): seed of eternity and seed of poetry- you perhaps were that seed for her
Jan 2, 8:11 PM
Ruth (Guest): Is English or German your daughter’s first language?
:11 PM
Ruth (Guest): Good observation, sister. M
Simone (Guest): I am 55 right now.. just saying
Jan 2, 8:16 PM
Simone (Guest): I am not sure if his death was really linked to the cold. Didn’t St. Francis die of an aneurysm? Now we would need our doctor Ruth. Did she leave the chat?
Jan 2, 8:17 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Nmae not here but you are right it was a stroke or something similar
Jan 2, 8:17 PM
Simone (Guest): How do you see this Sister Susan? I am sure you have discussed that in your monastery before
Jan 2, 8:17 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Maybe the cold brought it on Anyway charity first in his life
Jan 2, 8:17 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Ruth is here
Jan 2, 8:17 PM
Simone (Guest): good point..
Jan 2, 8:17 PM
Simone (Guest): Yes, Ruth is back
PM
SrSusan (Guest): Maybe the cold brought it on Anyway charity first in his life
Jan 2, 8:17 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Ruth is here
Jan 2, 8:17 PM
Simone (Guest): good point..
Jan 2, 8:17 PM
Simone (Guest): Yes, Ruth is back
Jan 2, 8:17 PM
Simone (Guest): actually really good point.. Charity first..
Jan 2, 8:18 PM
Ruth (Guest): I turned on the heater and it blew the circuit breaker cord to which the computer was plugged in.
Jan 2, 8:18 PM
Ruth (Guest): OK now.
Jan 2, 8:18 PM
Simone (Guest): oh my.. Ruth.. hope all is OK
Jan 2, 8:19 PM
Simone (Guest): What bothers me much more about the death of St. Francis is, that at the last visit with St. Jane, she could not tell him all the things she wanted to tell him.. and that she did not have a good bye with him. That makes me always sad when I think about it
Jan 2, 8:20 PM
Ruth (Guest): Gonna read what I missed.
Jan 2, 8:11 PM
Simone (Guest): interesting connection Sr. Susan. never saw it like this
Jan 2, 8:12 PM