What does it mean for devotion to generous? Does it mean we give a lot of it to others? How does one give it to God?St. Francis says, “The divine Lover of our souls often leaves us, as it were, entangled in our miseries, in order that we may know that our deliverance comes from Him.” Does this make God seem petty and needy? What does this mean?Is aiming for perfection unrealistic? Won’t it just lead to scrupulosity?What does having “the glory of God” as our aim mean?Why is humility in devotion so important?
May 30, 2:34 PM
SrSusan (Guest): It seems that St. Francis allows each of us to follow our own path of spirituality. How do we come to form our own religious practices — especially if we want to avoid being too lax, or being too excessive?
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May 30, 2:35 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Sun June 1
Jun 1, 4:26 PM
Carol (Guest): Hi Sr Susan
Jun 1, 4:37 PM
Carol (Guest): Im not sure what devotion to generous is
Jun 1, 4:37 PM
Simone (Guest): I understand that we are giving ourselves generously to God – in time and in love.
un 1, 4:38 PM
SrSusan (Guest): yes Simone that helps the sentence
un 1, 4:38 PMSimone (Guest): and if we give ourselves generously to God.. this will help us when times of difficulties come
Jun 1, 4:38 PM
Carol (Guest): Is it like surrender?
Jun 1, 4:39 PM
SrSusan (Guest): giving our all is a generous action and state of being and devotion as being focused on God- well continually if possible thru our direction of intention at least
Jun 1, 4:38 PM
Simone (Guest): and if we give ourselves generously to God.. this will help us when times of difficulties come
Jun 1, 4:41 PM
SrSusan (Guest): is devotion like surrender do you mean Carol?
Jun 1, 4:41 PM
Simone (Guest): I think.. it also means that we are not counting the minutes – in our time with and for God.. but we are generous with our ” YES” to Him.
un 1, 4:42 PMCarol (Guest): Yes, thats what i mean
un 1, 4:42 PM
SrSusan (Guest): I think that is an aspect of devotion, yes
Jun 1, 4:42 PM
Simone (Guest): I think surrender and devotion propel each other towards God
un 1, 4:43 PMSimone (Guest): the one pulls the other closer to God.. and then the other one takes up the momentum and does the same..
Jun 1, 4:43 PMSimone (Guest): hope you can “see” the visual I am trying to create
un 1, 4:44 PMCarol (Guest): I am seeing, this is a new way to see for me
un 1, 4:45 PM
Ruth (Guest): I’m not sure Simone if I understand the phrase he was saying about not counting the minutes.
Jun 1, 4:45 PM
SrSusan (Guest): St. Francis says, “The divine Lover of our souls often leaves us, as it were, entangled in our miseries, in order that we may know that our deliverance comes from Him.” Does this make God seem petty and needy? What does this mean?
Jun 1, 4:46 PMCarol (Guest): It is an expression of His power so that we see it is Him, not us
un 1, 4:47 PM
Ruth (Guest): When I was a medical student in Germany, I sat aside exactly 60 minutes for Eucharistic adoration daily, not more not less. Sometimes maybe even often it seemed that nothing happened in the first 55 minutes or 59 minutes and then in the last minute, I would feel like I want to stay here forever and have to leave that discipline was good for me at that time.
Jun 1, 4:47 PM
Simone (Guest): Ruth.. by that I meant.. doing our prayer times ” as is asked”.. do you know what it means.. when they say ‘ someone does the job by “description?” it means.. everything that has to be done is done.. but not a single bit more.. these are people who leave the workplace sharp at 5:00 PM for example.. and are not willing to take an extra phone call or so 3 minutes after 5:00 pm
un 1, 4:48 PMSimone (Guest): Ruth.. that is a healthy boundary.. what you are describing.. not a sign that you do not care
Jun 1, 4:48 PM
Ruth (Guest): Now I have trouble keeping track of time my clock announces each hour and often it feels to me like it’s 10 minutes and that’s whether or not that hour is dedicated to prayer or almost anything else. It seems so odd that I was thinking of calling the lymphoma research foundation to ask if it might be a consequence of either lymphoma or of the chemo. I’ve tried so hard to get onto a regular schedule and I just can’t do it or I haven’t been able to do it yet. That’s probably a better attitude.
Jun 1, 4:49 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Jesus is our Savior and we need to realize this from our heart fromn our experience
Jun 1, 4:49 PMSimone (Guest): as for our new question.. I love it when it is so clear — only GOD could have orchestrated the outcome so perfect. very faith building
Jun 1, 4:50 PM
Simone (Guest): it also reminds me a bit on the miracle at the wedding of Canaa
Jun 1, 4:50 PM
Carol (Guest): It is proof that He is God
Jun 1, 4:50 PM
Simone (Guest): when Jesus wanted the water to be filled in the water jars.. not in the old wine jugs.. where it would have fit better
Jun 1, 4:51 PM
Simone (Guest): there was no “human” wine to be intermingled.. it was clear.. this wine was all from Jesus
Jun 1, 4:51 PMSimone (Guest): so – God often makes it impossible for us to be part of the solution – so we know.. He delivered us fully in this
Jun 1, 4:51 PMSrSusan (Guest): ah
un 1, 4:52 PMCarol (Guest): Yes
un 1, 4:54 PMRuth (Guest): I understand, now, what do you mean Simone. It is I guess what I might call. Just going through the motions. Or plainly just not caring.
Jun 1, 4:54 PMSimone (Guest): yes Ruth.. that is a good re-wordign.. “just going through the motions”
Jun 1, 4:55 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Is aiming for perfection unrealistic?
Jun 1, 4:55 PM
Carol (Guest): Sometimes quiet prayer stops time. It feels like i am there for just a few minutes but in reality an hour has gone by
un 1, 4:55 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Is aiming for perfection unrealistic?
Jun 1, 4:55 PM
Carol (Guest): Sometimes quiet prayer stops time. It feels like i am there for just a few minutes but in reality an hour has gone by
Jun 1, 4:56 PM
Carol (Guest): We should aim for it while remembering we won’t have it on Earth
Jun 1, 4:56 PM
SrSusan (Guest): that is great prayer- God has taken over
Jun 1, 4:56 PM
Simone (Guest): oh Carol.. isn’t that wonderful that you can experience such deep prayer times.. that seem to transcend time even?
Jun 1, 4:56 PMCarol (Guest): Yes, it doesn’t exist
Jun 1, 4:56 PMSimone (Guest): contemplation at its best
Jun 1, 4:57 PMCarol (Guest): There are no words, literally, and then it defies description
un 1, 4:58 PMSimone (Guest): God be praised.. I love it when he draws me into His chamber.. but it has been a while now since I was allowed to experience it
un 1, 4:58 PMSimone (Guest): as for our question: aiming for perfection is not unrealistic.. as long as we do not expect it to happen in our time on earth here
un 1, 4:59 PMCarol (Guest): He does it when He knows we need it. If we are consciously remembering He is here, then we are already aware
un 1, 4:59 PMSimone (Guest): but.. coming as close as possible.. to “perfection” ( holiness), is a right aim for a person following the invitation of our Lord
un 1, 4:59 PMRuth (Guest): Carol, that’s a great version of “time flies when you’re having fun!” Much better than that! Such a gift! I do it think that that is what’s happening with me at least not most of the time. It’s more like being distracted or maybe absent minded and or so tired that I can’t move.
Jun 1, 5:00 PM
Simone (Guest): oh Ruth.. you are laying your life down for prayer under such difficult circumstances – God truly sees your beautiful devoted heart
Jun 1, 5:01 PM
SrSusan (Guest): We therefore understand the tendency toward perfection as an habitual disposition of the Christian soul through which, not content to fulfill the duties that devolve upon it under threat of sin, it surrenders itself entirely to God to love and serve Him, and consecrates itself for this same purpose to the service of its fellow man.The perfection of every free human activity as well as that of every rational creature consists in the voluntary adherence to God. This perfection is partly obligatory because it
Jun 1, 5:01 PM
SrSusan (Guest): because it derives from the very condition of being. One must strive to achieve it for fear of not fulfilling one’s ultimate end.We do not need to define the elements of perfection here. We intend to speak only about the habitual and permanent tendency that goes beyond all that falls within the realm of obligation and takes man wholly to consecrate him without reserve to the service of God.This perfection consists above all in union with God which is achieved through charity. It therefore finds its fulfillm
Jun 1, 5:01 PM
SrSusan (Guest): in charity. It is also called a perpetual and universal sacrifice of oneself, performed for love of God and as a voluntary expression of that love.
Jun 1, 5:01 PM
Carol (Guest): Ruth, you are doing as you are able and He is doing the rest
Jun 1, 5:02 PM
SrSusan (Guest): abovefrom Pope Pius 12
un 1, 5:02 PM
Simone (Guest): you are so fast in finding resources Sister.. impressed. and thank you for copying here.. it is a deep deep text
Jun 1, 5:03 PM
Carol (Guest): Another way to say practicing the virtues
Jun 1, 5:04 PMSimone (Guest): you mean.. by practicing virtues – we aim for perfection?
Jun 1, 5:05 PMCarol (Guest): Yes, that’s what i mean
un 1, 5:06 PMSimone (Guest): yes.. that’s certainly true Carol.. I would not have seen that in the text so much.. but you are right
Jun 1, 5:07 PM
Carol (Guest): It seems like each Saint has an individual path to sanctity and describes it differently, even though there is only,one path
Jun 1, 5:07 PM
SrSusan (Guest): yes
Jun 1, 5:07 PM
SrSusan (Guest): What does having “the glory of God” as our aim mean
Jun 1, 5:07 PMSimone (Guest): the name of the path is charity.. or Love
Jun 1, 5:08 PM
Carol (Guest): To have Him make us one with Him in the end
Jun 1, 5:08 PM
Simone (Guest): as for our new question: having the glory of God as our aim.. means, that we do not live a virtuous life for our own advancements.. We truly live it for HIM
un 1, 5:09 PM
SrSusan (Guest): which is generous devotion
Jun 1, 5:09 PM
Simone (Guest): it is not about fulfilling a checkmark list.. it is about HIM.. and if we have to leave our checkmark list behind.. then it is also FOR HIM
Jun 1, 5:10 PMCarol (Guest): That is true
Jun 1, 5:10 PMSimone (Guest): it is also holy indifference
un 1, 5:10 PMSimone (Guest): we do not cling to one way of perfection
Why is humility in devotion so important?
un 1, 5:13 PM
Simone (Guest): I guess the same – so that we do not make our devotional life for ourselves
Jun 1, 5:13 PM
Carol (Guest): And yet there are so manynways–Franciscan, Carmelite, Salesian, Ignatian
un 1, 5:13 PMSrSusan (Guest): Humility undergirds all spiritual growth
un 1, 5:14 PMSimone (Guest): yes there are so many ways.. but we do not “cling” to one.. we go on the way God invites us to walk towards Him
Jun 1, 5:14 PM
Simone (Guest): yes there are so many ways.. but we do not “cling” to one.. we go on the way God invites us to walk towards Him
Jun 1, 5:15 PM
Simone (Guest): I totally agree Sister.. Humility is a powerhouse for spiritual growth
Jun 1, 5:15 PMCarol (Guest): I guess that’s why its so hard to place me in any one order.
Jun 1, 5:16 PM
Simone (Guest): I often feel the same Carol.
Jun 1, 5:16 PM
Carol (Guest): There are so many ways and sometimes it seems like imhave a bit of all,of them
Jun 1, 5:16 PMSimone (Guest): but then I realize.. as you have said earlier.. they overlap so much too.
Jun 1, 5:17 PM
Simone (Guest): well.. they all do have a bit of all.. they are all streaming out of the Holy Spirit
Jun 1, 5:17 PM
Simone (Guest): facets of Love
un 1, 5:18 PM
Carol (Guest): Each catches the Light as it passes through them
Jun 1, 5:18 PM
SrSusan (Guest): It seems that St. Francis allows each of us to follow our own path of spirituality. How do we come to form our own religious practices — especially if we want to avoid being too lax, or being too excessive?
Jun 1, 5:18 PMCarol (Guest): Under direction and in community
Jun 1, 5:18 PMSimone (Guest): like.. I love my husband with different forms of love.. but mainly by companionship.. but that does not mean that I do not show my love also by cooking an extra meal or running an errand for him, so he does not have to go. It all comes out of ONE LOVE.. but has different faces
Jun 1, 5:19 PM
Simone (Guest): Good answer Carol.. oh how I long for a community that would provide that fully
Jun 1, 5:19 PM
Ruth (Guest): And perhaps one more appropriate or useful to one person or personality than another., OR And this is the problem I have with specific spiritualities of different communities or spiritual practices, It can be that a different sort of spirituality or a different pattern of spiritual practices are more appropriate at one time in life then at another time of life.
un 1, 5:20 PMSimone (Guest): that is so true Ruth.. as our bodies change… so doe our spiritual practices often..
Jun 1, 5:21 PMRuth (Guest): Surely it must be realistic to seek perfection because our Lord tells us to, and he would not tell us to do the impossible. Other hand, all things are possible with God with his “ordinary” and special graces.
Jun 1, 5:21 PMCarol (Guest): It is a pattern of growth, an ascending spiral
un 1, 5:22 PM
Simone (Guest): but from the outside.. it can even look like a descending spiral.. because we make judgements often.. what kind of spiritual practices are better than other – from the outside that can be very deceiving I think
Jun 1, 5:23 PM
SrSusan (Guest): I was drawn to monasticism more than any particular spirituality but I have grown into the Visitation way of life and spirit
Jun 1, 5:23 PM
Carol (Guest): Yes, and this is where a director is crucial
Jun 1, 5:23 PM
Simone (Guest): Isn’t it wonderful to have found a spiritual home?
Jun 1, 5:24 PMSimone (Guest): Yes, a spiritual director is truly necessary if we want to grow in our love for God. There is no way we can realistically see the movements of our soul longterm on our own
Jun 1, 5:25 PM
Ruth (Guest): That image of the spiral is important to me. I even drew it and tried to discuss it with a biology lab instructor who was a candidate for a degree in philosophy that was I think a ninth grade or maybe the beginning of 10th ninth probably.
5 onlineun 1, 5:25 PM
Simone (Guest): Sister.. speaking about the Visitation life and spirit.. I order the book ” Behold this heart” from Fr. Thomas Dailey.. and lo and behold.. who is one of the references on the back? Our very own Sister Susan Marie.. I had such a smile on my face when I saw it
Jun 1, 5:26 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Yes, he had asked me when I was Federation president
un 1, 5:26 PM
Simone (Guest): you were an old and deep soul Ruth from the beginning of your life
Jun 1, 5:26 PM
Carol (Guest): Ruth, that is awesome. Some day i must tell you about my labyrinths
un 1, 5:27 PMSimone (Guest): I feel really ridiculous- cause mine was always only a heart with two arms coming out of it.. spirals and labyrinths are much more sophisticated
un 1, 5:28 PM
Carol (Guest): I was on retreat and the director there said to write about where in my,life the Spirit intervened. Then i went out for “art therapy” and started drawing labyrinths. New Skete had to point out that ihad written it and then drawn it
Jun 1, 5:28 PM
SrSusan (Guest): This has been a full and helpful evening for me. Thanks! I am leaving now. Have a good novena week before Pentecost!
un 1, 5:29 PMCarol (Guest): Aah, Simone, hugging Jesus!
Jun 1, 5:29 PMSimone (Guest): and people around too
un 1, 5:29 PMCarol (Guest): Thank you Sr!
Carol
Simone
Ruth
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