| What do you think about St. Francis calling the office of the bishop a “burden”? · What would be a good reason for a bishop to resign? And why might this have been a difficult deliberation? · As part of the decision-making process, St. Francis instructs that this bishop should double down on his commitment to his bishopric to ensure he has been giving it his all, instead of just abandoning his flock (like a husband who didn’t really try at his marriage). Discuss this. Does it seem illegitimate for someone wanting to retire to be told he possibly needs to be doing more (and not giving up) in order to find peace? · St. Francis said in this letter, “The soldier who leaves the field trembling with fear no doubt finds rest but no greater safety than he who goes on fighting.” What does this tell us about peace and safety, compared to the anticipation of them? · How can the admonishment of Jesus to Peter about feeding his sheep be applied to our own lives? What might it teach us about the purpose of our own vocation? · Think of saints who did not want to carry out their jobs, such as Moses, who did not want to speak to pharaoh. (Exodus 4:10) Or St. John Vianney who ran away from the confessional until his bishop told him to return. Does this give us hope :33 PM VisitationSiste: q1 What do you think about St. Francis calling the office of the bishop a “burden”? Mar 6, 7:33 PM Carol (Guest): And Dawn, and Brian, Elena. I wonder if Betty would come Mar 6, 7:33 PM Simone (Guest): Yes, Carol Mar 6, 7:33 PM VisitationSiste: hello JOSEPH Mar 6, 7:33 PM Simone (Guest): good idea Mar 6, 7:33 PM Joseph (Guest): Hello Mar 6, 7:33 PM Simone (Guest): Hi Joseph Mar 6, 7:34 PM Carol (Guest): To be responsible for so many souls would be quite a burden for a true shepherd Mar 6, 7:34 PM Carol (Guest): Hi Joseph Mar 6, 7:34 PM Joseph (Guest): Hello Mar 6, 7:34 PM Simone (Guest): I agree Carol. Such a responsibility. Mar 6, 7:34 PM Simone (Guest): So much to consider 35 PM Carol (Guest): We could make it happen though Mar 6, 7:35 PM Simone (Guest): being a bishop? :0 6, 7:37 PM VisitationSiste: What would be a good reason for a bishop to resign? And why might this have been a difficult deliberation? Mar 6, 7:37 PM Carol (Guest): Ok, I think I have many of our emails 7:38 PM Carol (Guest): A good resign to resign might be poor health, such that he could not perform duties Mar 6, 7:38 PM Simone (Guest): health reasons, feeling inadequate to serve properly, feeling emotionally and/or spiritually overwhelmed 7:39 PM Simone (Guest): feeling that they are not able to serve out of God’s love Mar 6, 7:39 PM Simone (Guest): having committed grave sin Mar 6, 7:39 PM Simone (Guest): and it has become public Mar 6, 7:40 PM Carol (Guest): Sometimes when we feel inadequate it is because we have forgotten we are relying kn Christ’s strength ar 6, 7:40 PM Simone (Guest): yes, that’s true , 7:40 PM Simone (Guest): In some ways, we always should feel a bit inadequate – so we are not tempted to live out of our own limited strength 7:41 PM Carol (Guest): Ie: Practice humility 42 PM VisitationSiste: q As part of the decision-making process, St. Francis instructs that this bishop should double down on his commitment to his bishopric to ensure he has been giving it his all, instead of just abandoning his flock (like a husband who didn’t really try at his marriage). Discuss this. Does it seem illegitimate for someone wanting to retire to be told he possibly needs to be doing more (and not giving up) in order to find peace? r 6, 7:44 PM Simone (Guest): I think, we are not talking here about “normal retirement” Mar 6, 7:44 PM Carol (Guest): It depends. Not if he is wanting to retire for age and health. But if he is wanting to step down because he is giving up, then he should pray before acting, but act , 7:45 PM Carol (Guest): There should be someone involved who can discern spirits :45 PM Simone (Guest): I also like the analogy to marriage. There was this famous movie – about 10 years ago – where a husband – instead of getting the divorce – started to fully “love on his wife” – with little things – but never told her any of that. It was really powerful Mar 6, 7:45 PM VisitationSiste: I can undertand wanting to retire from leadership PM Simone (Guest): I am sure you can Sister. I can also understand. Mar 6, 7:46 PM Simone (Guest): When one of my directees want to leave something – and bring it to the session – I often ask “Have you loved enough to leave?” Mar 6, 7:46 PM Joseph (Guest): I think that movie might be “Fireproof” 2008. Mar 6, 7:47 PM VisitationSiste: BUT when something is GODS WILL ONE DOES NOT Mar 6, 7:47 PM Carol (Guest): That’s a question that should slow us all down Mar 6, 7:47 PM Simone (Guest): Yes Joseph. You are right 47 PM Simone (Guest): Yes Joseph. You are right Mar 6, 7:47 PM Simone (Guest): Sister Susan.. I am not sure if I understand your last post Mar 6, 7:47 PM Carol (Guest): We need to be aware of our motives Mar 6, 7:47 PM VisitationSiste: ONE DOES NOT GO AGAINST GODS WILL :48 PM Simone (Guest): oh yes, there is definitely a right time to leave .. absolutely.. not the sacraments – but any worldly office for sure :48 PM Simone (Guest): but as Carol has said.. it has to be discerned 9 PM Simone (Guest): in fact.. it can be against God’s will to stay too long Mar 6, 7:49 PM Carol (Guest): That is also true 1 PM VisitationSiste: Q St. Francis said in this letter, “The soldier who leaves the field trembling with fear no doubt finds rest but no greater safety than he who goes on fighting.” What does this tell us about peace and safety, compared to the anticipation of them? 2 PM Simone (Guest): Being in God’s will is the safest place maybe? 6, 7:53 PM Carol (Guest): It is. The frightened soldier who runs to find rest won’t find it. He has PTSD 53 PM Carol (Guest): God’s will is safest , 7:54 PM Simone (Guest): well, he might find rest – but in the old days, they often shot the people who left the battle field…so he runs from one “unsafe” place – to another basically :54 PM Simone (Guest): It is an artificial safety sometimes- to what we are running 7:55 PM VisitationSiste: we have a war happening and these questions play into it 55 PM Joseph (Guest): I believe in the movie about St Francis, he was accused of Treason for leaving the battlefield. Mar 6, 7:55 PM Carol (Guest): Here people are not running away Mar 6, 7:56 PM Simone (Guest): it is so easy to write about battle fields – when one is sitting in a safe living room – meanwhile there are young men – who have to make brutal decisions Mar 6, 7:56 PM VisitationSiste: st francis of Assisi you mean Mar 6, 7:56 PM Carol (Guest): He was? I didn’t know that Mar 6, 7:56 PM Joseph (Guest): Yes 55 PM VisitationSiste: we have a war happening and these questions play into it Mar 6, 7:55 PM Joseph (Guest): I believe in the movie about St Francis, he was accused of Treason for leaving the battlefield. Mar 6, 7:55 PM Carol (Guest): Here people are not running away Mar 6, 7:56 PM Simone (Guest): it is so easy to write about battle fields – when one is sitting in a safe living room – meanwhile there are young men – who have to make brutal decisions Mar 6, 7:56 PM VisitationSiste: st francis of Assisi you mean Mar 6, 7:56 PM Carol (Guest): He was? I didn’t know that Mar 6, 7:56 PM Joseph (Guest): Yes Mar 6, 7:56 PM Simone (Guest): Interesting Joseph.. I have not heard about this. But peace loving as St. Francis de Sales was – I could see that in a way Mar 6, 7:56 PM Joseph (Guest): Oh, I am sorry…wrong St Francis. Mar 6, 7:56 PM Simone (Guest): oh, it was St. Francis of Assisi Mar 6, 7:57 PM VisitationSiste: st FRANCIS de sales was never in battle 6, 7:57 PM Simone (Guest): I thought so.. but one can always learn 6, 7:57 PM 58 PM Joseph (Guest): Yes Mar 6, 7:58 PM Simone (Guest): Hi Ruth! Mar 6, 7:59 PM VisitationSiste: There are our own personal battlefields that we might want to run from , 7:58 PM Simone (Guest): Hi Ruth! Mar 6, 7:59 PM VisitationSiste: There are our own personal battlefields that we might want to run from Mar 6, 7:59 PM Simone (Guest): yes… absolutely Mar 6, 7:59 PM VisitationSiste: even our workplaces, or sometimes our homes Mar 6, 7:59 PM Carol (Guest): Yep…. Mar 6, 7:59 PM VisitationSiste: Hi Ruth Mar 6, 7:59 PM Carol (Guest): Hi Ruth! Mar 6, 7:59 PM Simone (Guest): double yep 00 PM VisitationSiste: we also carry our battlefiels within our own hearts :01 PM VisitationSiste: personal spiritual warfare 1 PM Carol (Guest): The battle is individual, and it is also a battle for the Church Mar 6, 8:01 PM Simone (Guest): yes we do. There are great battles fought in our hearts sometimes. Very draining Mar 6, 8:01 PM Carol (Guest): The battle belongs to the Lord 1 PM Simone (Guest): Yes, the battle belongs to the Lord, but we have to stand in there – holding up our shield of faith Mar 6, 8:02 PM VisitationSiste: Yes and the Church, very true, is where much struggle happens Mar 6, 8:02 PM Simone (Guest): wearing the armor of GOD Mar 6, 8:02 PM Joseph (Guest): At confession a Priest told me St Michael can help us with interior battles. Mar 6, 8:02 PM Carol (Guest): The sword of prayer :02 PM Carol (Guest): He can Joseph Mar 6, 8:02 PM Simone (Guest): Yes Joseph, so powerful to evoke St. Michael Mar 6, 8:02 PM VisitationSiste: yes Mar 6, 8:02 PM VisitationSiste: Did you hear about a bleeding statue of St Michael in Denver r 6, 8:03 PM Simone (Guest): no.. was that recently? Mar 6, 8:03 PM Joseph (Guest): No, I will look it up. Mar 6, 8:03 PM Carol (Guest): No, please tell Mar 6, 8:03 PM VisitationSiste: Yes recently like this past week PM VisitationSiste: Yes recently like this past week Mar 6, 8:03 PM Carol (Guest): St Michael is the patron of Kyiv Mar 6, 8:03 PM Simone (Guest): oh St. Michael – watch over your city Mar 6, 8:03 PM VisitationSiste: Yes maybe it is connected to that 6 online VisitationSiste 4 PM VisitationSiste: q How can the admonishment of Jesus to Peter about feeding his sheep be applied to our own lives? What might it teach us about the purpose of our own vocation? Mar 6, 8:04 PM Carol (Guest): The Ukrainians have been so brave, I think he is 8:04 PM Carol (Guest): Our vocation is not for ourselves, but for others r 6, 8:05 PM Simone (Guest): good point Carol. Like our Charisms 8:05 PM Ruth (Guest): Hello everyone. Just reviewed what you’ve been saying. With the ice out there it took me over an hour to walk, and partly crawl only about 1/2 mile. Almost didn’t make the trip to my rural letterbox. Mar 6, 8:05 PM VisitationSiste: oh my glad you are safe Mar 6, 8:05 PM Simone (Guest): oh Ruth, I am so sorry. I am glad you made it home safely. Mar 6, 8:05 PM Carol (Guest): Oh goodness Ruth! Ruth (Guest): I did, thanks be to God! Mar 6, 8:06 PM VisitationSiste: I am not good at feeding people who are not asking for food 6 PM Simone (Guest): hmm.. interesting Mar 6, 8:07 PM VisitationSiste: preaching to the congregation rather than evangelizing- just cant seem to get there yet 8:07 PM Carol (Guest): I can see that. If people refuse what you give them, there’s not much you can do 07 PM Simone (Guest): my thoughts were going in the direction, that Peter was not really equipped to feed the sheep – at least he has just proven that he can mightily fail – BUT – if He stays in the love for Jesus – He can do the rest Mar 6, 8:07 PM VisitationSiste: very true 8 PM Simone (Guest): The love for GOD is what really equips him for his vocation r 6, 8:09 PM VisitationSiste: has to be deep love, yes Simone (Guest): yes, a 360 degree love – that’s why he asks three times too maybe. :10 PM VisitationSiste: yes apparently the words Jesus used for love were different each time, said a priest in a homily ar 6, 8:10 PM Simone (Guest): yes, they are 8:11 PM Simone (Guest): I also heard that he asks three times – one for each time Peter denied him 12 PM Ruth (Guest): Thanks the explanation I heard of Jesus repeating the question and command three times. Mar 6, 8:12 PM Carol (Guest): It could be both Mar 6, 8:13 PM VisitationSiste: What is the purpose of our individual vocations is something to ponder and is somewhat mysterious too Mar 6, 8:13 PM Ruth (Guest): That is not thanks. 8:13 PM Simone (Guest): I find vocation discernments one of the most exciting things PM VisitationSiste: Probably never get the whole picture of any of our vocations, but glimpses and glimmers of purpose and mission PM Ruth (Guest): For yourself, Simone, or are you trying to help someone else discern. , 8:15 PM Simone (Guest): Ruth.. both Mar 6, 8:15 PM Carol (Guest): And that can change over time 15 PM Simone (Guest): although – they say it is an inner martyrdom if your vocation changes , 8:15 PM Simone (Guest): Sister, I am interested in what you wrote – 6 PM Simone (Guest): what does “vocation” mean for you – or what does it involve? Mar 6, 8:16 PM Ruth (Guest): I never imagined that I might be called to live something like a hermit! M VisitationSiste: I thought I was called to be here to pray Mar 6, 8:16 PM Simone (Guest): Have you ever looked into the vocation of the life of an official hermit? My Spiritual Director is a female hermit Mar 6, 8:16 PM VisitationSiste: but as years went on so much more evolved 6 online VisitationSiste Joseph Carol Ruth Simone 1 view 17 PM VisitationSiste: how special Simone! Mar 6, 8:17 PM Carol (Guest): Think about it, community in solitude Mar 6, 8:17 PM 8:17 PM Ruth (Guest): Simone, since you are married, doesn’t that pretty much define what your vocation is. Everything else has to do with just HOW you are to live out that vocation, doesn’t it? 8 PM Simone (Guest): Oh Ruth…this is a loaded question in our household here VisitationSiste: maybe it is that, not sure Think of saints who did not want to carry out their jobs, such as Moses, who did not want to speak to pharaoh. (Exodus 4:10) Or St. John Vianney who ran away from the confessional until his bishop told him to return. Does this give us hope PM Simone (Guest): There are many couples in history, who lived their marriage in very unusual ways – and still in the full will of GOD. One of them were Maximilian Kolbe’s parents for example – another couple was St. Therese of Lisieux’s parents , 8:20 PM VisitationSiste: I dont know th story of St Kolbe’s parents Mar 6, 8:20 PM Carol (Guest): Yes, Sr. Because when Jesus speaks a word, it is fulfilled in spite of us Mar 6, 8:20 PM Joseph (Guest): It gives hope that God is patient with us. :20 PM Simone (Guest): I am happily married. Just thought that would be important to say. I have NO doubt, that my life only makes sense on the side of my husband Peter PM Ruth (Guest): Thanks for clarifying. Mar 6, 8:22 PM VisitationSiste: It feels good to have saints who struggled with their vocations as we sometimes do 6, 8:22 PM VisitationSiste: We are in good company … [Message clipped] View entire message ReplyForward |