St. Francis describes practicing virtues as an exercise. How can we flex our virtue muscles so as to become spiritually stronger? How can this analogy help us realize the due diligence our spiritual life needs in order to remain healthy? How can we avoid the trap of getting “spiritually lazy”? Does this need for practice and exercise in the spiritual life mean that Christ’s redemption is insufficient? How can we not allow ourselves to become discouraged our scrupulous as we meet the inevitable
hurtles and setbacks in our pursuit of holiness?
Why is self-reflection and an examination of conscience so important? Isn’t this just putting a focus on ourselves instead of Christ?
Discuss the difference between failing due to deliberate sin, and failing through our weaknesses.
St. Francis suggests that we say, “Come now, my heart, come my friend, in the name of God, be of good cheer….” How does this help the scrupulous person?
May 29, 6:40 PM
VisitationSiste: Sun chat May 29 730pm est
May 29, 6:40 PM
VisitationSiste: newsletter for chat http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=1029793&f=1988&s=2046&m=637057&t=44f0d18c19339967b1be43b205c1596fa07d3b2574e5f4560987969cb886fdda
Welcome to our Living Jesus Chat Room. Just sign in, using any of the methods below.
2 online
1 viewer
Please sign in
28 PM
SrSusan (Guest): I will begin with q 1:St. Francis describes practicing virtues as an exercise. How can we flex our virtue muscles so as to become spiritually stronger? 0 PM
Carol (Guest): One way is to pray for it. I started with the litany of humility, then found its companion, the litany of trust. Recently I found a litany of patience which seems to pinpoint some of my current struggles
May 29, 7:31 PM
Simone (Guest): Hi everyone.
May 29, 7:31 PM
Carol (Guest): Hi Simone!
May 29, 7:31 PM
Simone (Guest): Carol, Can you post a link for the litany of patience. Sounds great!
May 29, 7:31 PM
Bettychao (Guest): I was make milk tea for myself
May 29, 7:32 PM
Carol (Guest): https://youtu.be/T5b35BgDtfY
5 online
Simone
Bettychao
Carol
1 viewer
33 PM
Simone (Guest): as for our question 1 – I just went with a group through the book “Spiritual Combat” -which is mostly about practicing virtues – and how not to give into spiritual sloth or be deceived by the enemy of human nature – it was a hard reading sometimes – but we all benefit a lot from it
May 29, 7:33 PM
SrSusan (Guest): One can always practice virtue when you live with others
May 29, 7:33 PM
Simone (Guest): thanks for the link Carol
4 PM
Carol (Guest): There seems to be a litany for everything doesn’t there
May 29, 7:34 PM
Simone (Guest): yes, that is in a way the basic idea of the Visitation order, right? to practice virtues in charity with each other
May 29, 7:34 PM
Bettychao (Guest): I was listen to communion song I had to receive living God
May 29, 7:34 PM
SrSusan (Guest): when I first came to the monastery I was only interested in prayer and did not concentrate on virtue- BUT I learned that virtue is essential to living
May 29, 7:34 PM
Simone (Guest): yes Carol, there are a lot of litanies nowadays – but I find them so helpful in my personal prayer time
May 29, 7:34 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Yes Simone
May 29, 7:34 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Hi Ruth
May 29, 7:34 PM
Simone (Guest): there is no holiness without virtues
May 29, 7:34 PM
Carol (Guest): Ruth!
PM
Simone (Guest): oh Ruth is here. YEAH! that means one of the devices is working again.
May 29, 7:35 PM
Carol (Guest): Litanies can express simply what we don’t have words for
PM
Simone (Guest): yes Carol – or keep forgetting – litanies are such a great reminder I find. And they are often so “to the point” M
Simone (Guest): yes Carol – or keep forgetting – litanies are such a great reminder I find. And they are often so “to the point”
May 29, 7:37 PM
Bettychao (Guest): I did listen to Lenexa baptist church sermon they talk about revelations of the bible
May 29, 7:37 PM
Simone (Guest): I find- flexing our virtue muscle – is very difficult alone – that really does work best when working with a Spiritual Director
PM
Ruth (Guest): hi everyone , sorry i missed the pre-chat chat. your father Carol?
May 29, 7:39 PM
Simone (Guest): we need an objective observer from the outside I find. Sometimes I think I am doing really well – and my Spiritual Director points out – that I am inwardly not changing at all.. maybe just some behaviour – and then I come – full of despair – because I feel, like I fail non stop – and my Spiritual Director points things out – that actually seem to conclude spiritual progress.
May 29, 7:39 PM
Ruth (Guest): sometimes it seems that God has his curriculum all set up by presenting us with the challenges we need in order to practice the virtues.
May 29, 7:39 PM
Simone (Guest): good point RUTH
May 29, 7:39 PM
Carol (Guest): No, my coworker, who was eight months pregnant, passed away unexpectedly along with the baby. This is her husband
M
SrSusan (Guest): q2 How can this analogy help us realize the due diligence our spiritual life needs in order to remain healthy?
May 29, 7:41 PM
Bettychao (Guest): Chad McDonald love to tell a true story of the Bible the end of this book revelation and he teach that in the Lenexa baptist church a
May 29, 7:41 PM
Carol (Guest): We actually don’t know because they didn’t make it public
May 29, 7:41 PM
Bettychao (Guest): All the time
May 29, 7:42 PM
Bettychao (Guest): Sr Susan do you teach the Bible before covid
May 29, 7:42 PM
Ruth (Guest): Carol I’m so sorry that’s really tragic. I’ll add that family to my prayer list.
May 29, 7:42 PM
SrSusan (Guest): No I have not taught in 20 years
:44 PM
SrSusan (Guest): I think due diligence is what you said having a spiritual director
May 29, 7:44 PM
Simone (Guest): So, I guess, if all our muscles in our body – would be not used – the body could not be carried
5 PM
Simone (Guest): you start to walk ” funny” ( don’t know the English word for what I would like to say here)… and the weakness would in a way even affect organs after a while.
May 29, 7:45 PM
Carol (Guest): The virtues are not separate from each other then, but intertwined
May 29, 7:45 PM
Bettychao (Guest): Sr susan my mom was studied in Catholic school some sisters teach the sermon of the bible
May 29, 7:46 PM
Simone (Guest): The spiritual muscles need to be strong –
:46 PM
Simone (Guest): St. Ignatius of Loyola also compared spiritual exercises with physical exercises 47 PM
Simone (Guest): Carol, I agree – the virtues are intertwined – and I dare to say, that they are all linked with humilty.
May 29, 7:48 PM
Carol (Guest): Humility is the base.
:48 PM
Simone (Guest): I think so too
May 29, 7:48 PM
Bettychao (Guest): It is covent school
:48 PM
Carol (Guest): But there is a difference between humility and humiliation
May 29, 7:48 PM
Simone (Guest): of course- I want to be humble – but I do not like to be humiliated
49 PM
Simone (Guest): God, does not require humiliation – which is shame based – but to be humble – knowing our place
May 29, 7:49 PM
SrSusan (Guest): accepting humiliations humbly is possible
yes, that is true
May 29, 7:49 PM
Carol (Guest): But very difficult
May 29, 7:49 PM
Ruth (Guest): Just wait until til you see me Simone! I walk funny all the time now. And I don’t think the brace I’ll get on Tuesday will make me walk any less funny. Hopefully more securely.
May 29, 7:49 PM
SrSusan (Guest): that’s what makes it a virtue- or even a heroic virtue
May 29, 7:49 PM
Bettychao (Guest): Ask divine Jesus mercy to guide you
May 29, 7:49 PM
Simone (Guest): I like funny. In every way Ruth!
May 29, 7:50 PM
Carol (Guest): Excellent Betty!
May 29, 7:51 PM
Bettychao (Guest): Thanks
May 29, 7:51 PM
Simone (Guest): I just talked two days ago – that it is interesting that the wordstem of “humility” is hum – like human – we are stepping into the limitations of our humanness- and in a way that’s happening – in not a loving way – when we are humiliated – we are reminded that we have limitations and we fail – humans do have limitations –
? How can we avoid the trap of getting “spiritually lazy”? Does this need for practice and exercise in the spiritual life mean that Christ’s redemption is insufficient
May 29, 7:53 PM
Carol (Guest): We do, and St Francis pointed out in today’s letter that we will always have them. Why then are we so hard on each other?
May 29, 7:53 PM
Simone (Guest): Good question Carol. I think we feel better if things around us are “perfect”
7:54 PM
Carol (Guest): In this particular moment that sounds like we are just fooling ourselves
May 29, 7:55 PM
Simone (Guest): Christ’s redemption is the foundation, that it makes sense to step into a virtuous life. It does not mean – he lives it for us.
May 29, 7:56 PM
Carol (Guest): No, He is not a puppet master
:56 PM
Ruth (Guest): human, humiliate, humble and humus ( earth, soil, especially rich soil derived from previously living matter) all have the same root.
May 29, 7:57 PM
SrSusan (Guest): we want to imitate Jesus, live like He did as best we can
Share
Tweet
57 PM
Bettychao (Guest): Divine mercy Jesus shrine a pound us because we are sinners we need his help
May 29, 7:57 PM
Simone (Guest): Spiritual laziness is mostly present I think, when we lose the sight of God’s amazing love for us. When I am deeply steeped in the knowledge that HE is my bridegroom and his love is eternal for me – then spiritual laziness sounds counter productive. I WANT to be with my groom – I WANT to grow closer to Him. But when the world gets louder in my life – then I sometimes lose sight of this amazing love – and then I am most tempted to become spiritually lazy
May 29, 7:57 PM
Carol (Guest): Humility–remember thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return
May 29, 7:58 PM
Simone (Guest): Ruth and Carol – love both your answers on “hum-” wordstem
May 29, 7:58 PM
Carol (Guest): The people who coined What Would Jesus Do? Were on to something
May 29, 7:59 PM
Bettychao (Guest): Sr susan my church had a friend she is friend of my mother she is Catholic but she reject to go to church and confused to join the church community please pray for her back to the church
8 PM
Carol (Guest): The people who coined What Would Jesus Do? Were on to something
May 29, 7:59 PM
Bettychao (Guest): Sr susan my church had a friend she is friend of my mother she is Catholic but she reject to go to church and confused to join the church community please pray for her back to the church
May 29, 7:59 PM
SrSusan (Guest): what is her name Betty
May 29, 7:59 PM
Bettychao (Guest): Mom want guide her but she refused to
May 29, 8:00 PM
Bettychao (Guest): Her name is Alicia she is also come from Singapore like sister Jennifer koo
May 29, 8:00 PM
SrSusan (Guest): I will tell Sr Jennifer
May 29, 8:00 PM
Bettychao (Guest): Alicia Chung is her name
6 online
Ruth
Simone
Carol
Bettychao
1 viewer
8:00 PM
Simone (Guest): May God ever so gently guide Alicia back home into Mother Church. He did it with me – he can do it again – and again – and again
May 29, 8:01 PM
Bettychao (Guest): Also tell sister Jennifer to pray for her too
May 29, 8:01 PM
SrSusan (Guest): What parish does she come from do you know
May 29, 8:01 PM
Carol (Guest): And with me too. He speaks gently in the heart of each soul
2 PM
SrSusan (Guest): q How can we not allow ourselves to become discouraged our scrupulous as we meet the inevitable
hurtles and setbacks in our pursuit of holiness? M
SrSusan (Guest): Trust in the Lord!
May 29, 8:03 PM
Carol (Guest): I get scrupulous
May 29, 8:03 PM
Ruth (Guest): The Imitation of Christ by Thomas aKempis has a lot about humility.
May 29, 8:03 PM
Simone (Guest): When I spoke with my Spiritual Director recently – being very discouraged about my spiritual progress – blaming myself for many failings – My spiritual Director said, that this is a sign of pride too. Because somehow we expect to be holy – We should not be surprised when we fall – but take it as another lesson of humility.
:04 PM
Ruth (Guest): Just let the Divine master teach us!
May 29, 8:04 PM
Simone (Guest): Yes Ruth, I love the Imitations of Christ – and you are right… lots in it about humility
4 PM
Carol (Guest): Thats a wise statement. We get proud a out all kinds of things
May 29, 8:04 PM
Bettychao (Guest): Jesus is divine mercy master and rabi
May 29, 8:05 PM
Simone (Guest): not being surprised when we fall – does not mean though – that I do not care if I am not progressing –
May 29, 8:05 PM
Bettychao (Guest): I love to listen a song name call in Christ alone my hope is found
May 29, 8:05 PM
Simone (Guest): I am still allowed to desire spiritual progress – just wanted to clarify
May 29, 8:06 PM
Simone (Guest): Betty – this was my nephew’s wedding song
6 PM
Simone (Guest): the whole wedding was around this theme
May 29, 8:06 PM
Carol (Guest): Of course Simone, I was off on a tangent
8:07 PM
Simone (Guest): Carol. I want to come back to your statement – when you said, you are getting scrupulous.. can you describe a bit maybe? 9, 8:07 PM
Simone (Guest): what helps you to step out of this then? :08 PM
Carol (Guest): It’s like I see a fault, or something done poorly, and I kind of rehearse it and how terrible it is 8:09 PM
Simone (Guest): thank you for sharing Carol. Maybe the approach of “not being surprised that we fall” – would be helpful then for you? Just thinking out loud here
May 29, 8:10 PM
Carol (Guest): It should–if I can remember!
May 29, 8:10 PM
Ruth (Guest): I used to find that confusing. How to be humble and mentally healthy, until I realized that humility is being face to face with reality. It is not kicking yourself in the teeth every time you fail to live up to your own expectations — or someone else’s.
May 29, 8:10 PM
Simone (Guest): that’s why GOD gave us post its Carol
May 29, 8:10 PM
Bettychao (Guest): Sr susan sr
Share
Tweet
6 online
Carol
Ruth
Simone
Bettychao
1 viewer
M
SrSusan (Guest): Why is self-reflection and an examination of conscience so important? Isn’t this just putting a focus on ourselves instead of Christ?
May 29, 8:11 PM
Simone (Guest): Ruth, I was surprised when I learned that humility means simply ” to know who you are” to know your “righteous” place in the “cosmos”. in front of GOD and in front of other people
May 29, 8:11 PM
9, 8:12 PM
Simone (Guest): Sr. Susan.. may I quickly ask if your monastery has something special planned for Tuesday? 31st of May?
May 29, 8:12 PM
Carol (Guest): We must examine ourselves in the light of Christ with the Spirit’s guidance
May 29, 8:13 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Yes Mass and we get an indulgence that day plius a crowning of Blessed Mother
8:13 PM
Simone (Guest): There is a difference between “navel gazing” and “intro section” which often has the aim of ” feeling better in the future” -but has nothing to do with growing in holiness. Self- examination in the light of spiritual growth has at its aim to become more like GOD –
Share
Tweet
:14 PM
Simone (Guest): meant “introspection”
6 online
4 PM
Simone (Guest): what exactly is a “crowning of Blessed Mother”?
May 29, 8:16 PM
Simone (Guest): hello? anyone there still ?
May 29, 8:16 PM
SrSusan (Guest): WE pray and place flowers on th head of the statue of the Blessed Mother
May 29, 8:16 PM
Carol (Guest): I’m here
May 29, 8:16 PM
Bettychao (Guest): I got a wood rosaries is make from the brown color and had big wood crucifix and had a heart that is made from the Latin America convent South America spainish convent
May 29, 8:17 PM
Simone (Guest): ok, thanks .. I felt abandoned for a second
6 online
Ruth
Carol
Bettychao
Simone
1 viewer
PM
Simone (Guest): Would love to see a picture of this Sr. Susan.
May 29, 8:17 PM
SrSusan (Guest): it is a traditional devotion
May 29, 8:17 PM
Bettychao (Guest): They give that rosary to me those sisters from south Latin america
May 29, 8:17 PM
SrSusan (Guest): If we have pics I will send you
8 PM
Simone (Guest): well.. I guess – in these things it really shows that I was not in the Catholic Church for many years.. Lots of tradition I am not familiar with. But I would LOVE to have a picture of it.. if you do not mind
May 29, 8:18 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Imight have some from anothert year but will have to look around
:19 PM
Carol (Guest): Tradition is what keeps us rooted
May 29, 8:19 PM
Simone (Guest): don’t stress yourself Sister. I know how busy you are. Maybe I can google it too. Don;t want to add another item on your ToDo list
May 29, 8:19 PM
SrSusan (Guest): q St. Francis suggests that we say, “Come now, my heart, come my friend, in the name of God, be of good cheer….” How does this help the scrupulous person?
6 online
Ruth
Bettychao
Carol
Simone
1 viewer
8:19 PM
Ruth (Guest): Perhaps post on the website.
May 29, 8:20 PM
Simone (Guest): that would be a good idea
PM
Bettychao (Guest): Sister I hope I can meet you maybe COVID is gone when God keep us live
May 29, 8:20 PM
Carol (Guest): You can’t be scrupulous and joyful at the same time, so follow God’s command
May 29, 8:21 PM
SrSusan (Guest): It is posible Betty
May 29, 8:21 PM
Simone (Guest): I think “scrupulosity” has its own dynamic. Once it starts I think it can quickly down spiral in your soul. So an encouraging and genuine word from a brother or sister in Christ. can help us to step out of this false self condemnation that only the enemy of human nature so enjoys
, 8:22 PM
Carol (Guest): Rejoice in the Lord always M
Simone (Guest): the “always” makes this verse so challenging – but I am getting there – more and more
May 29, 8:24 PM
Carol (Guest): Another discipline, lol
PM
Simone (Guest): the “always” makes this verse so challenging – but I am getting there – more and more
May 29, 8:24 PM
Carol (Guest): Another discipline, lol
May 29, 8:24 PM
Simone (Guest): specifically when one wants to grow in holiness and humility – every negative event – and failing is even a reason to rejoice – cause we have been given an opportunity to overcome ourselves
May 29, 8:24 PM
Bettychao (Guest): I had to leave I going to say good bye and God bless you all next week Sunday I had go to church mass so I will not be in chat I will be in chat next next Sunday I promise good bye everyone
May 29, 8:24 PM
Bettychao (Guest): God love you
May 29, 8:24 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Have agood and blessed week
6 online
Ruth
Carol
Simone
Bettychao
1 viewer
7 PM
SrSusan (Guest): This week brings us The Visitation Feast and retreat for Pentecost
May 29, 8:27 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Will you be here on Pentecost?
May 29, 8:27 PM
Carol (Guest): I think I can be
May 29, 8:27 PM
Simone (Guest): With fire!
May 29, 8:27 PM
SrSusan (Guest): I will pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit for ALL
8:27 PM
Carol (Guest): Yes please!
May 29, 8:28 PM
Ruth (Guest): THAN YOU!
8:28 PM
Simone (Guest): thank you Sr. Susan. Thank you- that is so my prayer- that the Holy Spirit will get a hold of all of us even more – and that His gifts will be used to build up the Church
May 29, 8:28 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Yes!!
May 29, 8:28 PM
Simone (Guest): Come Holy Spirit. Come!
May 29, 8:28 PM
Carol (Guest): Like St Francis and St Jane