Reflections:What’s the difference between true liberty (obtained by surrender to God) and the idea of no-holds-barred “freedom” that is emphasized today?How do we determine the necessity of choosing some good deeds over others?Discuss the two opposing vices to liberty: instability of spirit and constraint.How can devotion and freedom become idols in our lives? Here we are talking about a disposition to be too eager to change plans, and too rigid.The spiritual life and devotion always seems to be about a prudent balance of always choosing the right good in any given moment. This could seem like it would lead to scrupulosity about which to choose. How can this be “mastered” and actually lead to peace?Under what circumstances can a member of a family exercise an apostolate outside their home? This would be teaching catechism, helping the poor, visiting the sick, and so on. Or what if a parent of a family needs to make a business trip? point
At what point has a person gone too far and ignored their vocational responsibilities?
un 15, 4:40 PM
Carol (Guest): No holds barred freedom is actually license. It leads to,the soul’s enslavement and destruction
Jun 15, 4:40 PM
Simone (Guest): I would say.. true liberty is freedom from and freedom for.. something..
un 15, 4:41 PM
SrSusan (Guest): anything that depends on ourselves can go sour
Jun 15, 4:42 PM
SrSusan (Guest): God is essence, constantly the same and His strength never fails. Depending on Him helps us share in that
Jun 15, 4:43 PM
Simone (Guest): the so called freedom nowadays.. is in reality another bondage
Jun 15, 4:43 PMSimone (Guest): that’s interesting Sister.. I like this. I never thought that strength stability is a result in my life.. out of my dependence on God.. but it is true
Jun 15, 4:44 PM
Carol (Guest): He is our foundation
Jun 15, 4:44 PM
Simone (Guest): He truly is
Jun 15, 4:45 PMRuth (Guest): Good ideas.
Jun 15, 4:46 PM
SrSusan (Guest): How do we determine the necessity of choosing some good deeds over others
Jun 15, 4:46 PM
Carol (Guest): I don’t know–it would have to be discerned in the moment I think
Jun 15, 4:46 PM
Ruth (Guest): so doI say he did not want me to attend Mass today, since I was unable to get a ride or that I should blame myself for not starting to look for one on Friday instead of Saturday?
Jun 15, 4:46 PM
Simone (Guest): that’s a hard one… and not easy to discern on the spot often during the day.
Jun 15, 4:47 PMSimone (Guest): I would say.. the decision criteria should be the fruit of charity maybe? I don’t know.. just thinking out loud here
Jun 15, 4:48 PM
Carol (Guest): I think we tend to say things are God’s will when they may be only things that God permits
Jun 15, 4:48 PM
Simone (Guest): Ruth.. as for your example.. that’s a tricky one I guess.. I can understand the pattern of your thinking.
Jun 15, 4:48 PM
SrSusan (Guest): interesting
un 15, 4:49 PM
Simone (Guest): But – when God permits it.. it is in his realm of will…so it is His will
Jun 15, 4:49 PM
SrSusan (Guest): according to St Francis de Sales we preceive God will in 2 ways, signified will and will of His good pleasure
Jun 15, 4:49 PM
Simone (Guest): everything that is in the realm of His will.. has the potential to grow into something good, divine.
Jun 15, 4:49 PM
Ruth (Guest): I did get to pray morning prayer with Pope Leo — remotely — and it touched my heart.
Jun 15, 4:49 PM
Simone (Guest): See Ruth?
Jun 15, 4:50 PMCarol (Guest): Where did you find it Ruth?
un 15, 4:50 PM
Simone (Guest): That’s the beauty of living in the Love of God… Nothing can truly separate us from him.. not even our mistakes..
Jun 15, 4:50 PM
Simone (Guest): should not make us careless of course
un 15, 4:50 PMRuth (Guest): good point, Carol! God permits.
un 15, 4:51 PMCarol (Guest): It was not really Ruth’s will to not go to Mass
Discuss the two opposing vices to liberty: instability of spirit and constraint.
Jun 15, 4:53 PM
Ruth (Guest): On YouTube.
Jun 15, 4:54 PM
Carol (Guest): Instability of spirit would mean vice is in control of you, listing you here and there
Jun 15, 4:54 PM
Simone (Guest): I thought of St. Jane de Chantal.. when the people in her household said, that when she was under the first Spiritual Director – it was not easy to live with her..
un 15, 4:55 PMSimone (Guest): whereas. .when she was under st. Francis’ direction – although she prayed more.. there was more “freedom”.. so I think the first Spiritual Director somehow contributed to the Spirit of constraint.
un 15, 4:55 PM
Carol (Guest): I’m not sure I understand spirit of constrainr
Jun 15, 4:55 PM
SrSusan (Guest): rigidity perhaps
Jun 15, 4:55 PM
Simone (Guest): think of someone who is very unflexible.
Jun 15, 4:56 PM
Simone (Guest): yes – rigid. .is a good word for it
un 15, 4:56 PM
Carol (Guest): I would say it’s impossible to be rigid and follow the Spirit
Jun 15, 4:56 PM
Simone (Guest): someone.. who has determined ” this is how it is going to happen”.. and cannot get away from this path
Jun 15, 4:57 PM
Simone (Guest): well Carol.. but how do you then see when religious pray the Liturgy of the Hour every day?
Jun 15, 4:57 PM
Simone (Guest): Is that not compatible with the work of the Spirit?
un 15, 4:57 PM
Simone (Guest): Hi Victoria! Glad you came back!
Jun 15, 4:58 PM
Carol (Guest): That is part of the normative schedule of monastic life.
Jun 15, 4:58 PM
Victoria (Guest): Hi simone
Jun 15, 4:58 PM
Victoria (Guest): Hi Susan
Jun 15, 4:58 PM
Carol (Guest): hi Victoria
un 15, 4:59 PM
Simone (Guest): Yes Carol.. I know.. but one could say, that these prayers are not a response to the leading of the Holy Spirit.. that the set up is rigid.
Jun 15, 4:59 PM
Simone (Guest): Just to be clear.. I don’t say that..
Jun 15, 5:00 PM
Carol (Guest): Except that this path started with the desert fathers who were led by the Spirit into the desert to pray and do spiritual,battle. Here LOH is necessary
Jun 15, 5:00 PM
SrSusan (Guest): But if the rules were inspired by the Holy Spirit…
un 15, 5:01 PMCarol (Guest): If you have a burning desire to follow Me exclusively this is the way tomdo it
un 15, 5:03 PM
SrSusan (Guest): How can devotion and freedom become idols in our lives?
Jun 15, 5:03 PM
Ruth (Guest): LOH is necessary?
Jun 15, 5:04 PM
Simone (Guest): I think for religious and clergy they are necessary
un 15, 5:04 PMSimone (Guest): or mandatory
un 15, 5:05 PMCarol (Guest): Yes, it is the backbone of prayer and sets the rhythm ofmprayer and work each day
un 15, 5:05 PMSrSusan (Guest): It is Scripture which is the living word of God
un 15, 5:06 PM
Ruth (Guest): Idols? do you mean specific devotions, or putting the recitation of certain prayers ahead of charity?
Jun 15, 5:07 PM
Simone (Guest): it’s the latter I think Ruth
Jun 15, 5:07 PM
SrSusan (Guest): devotion in general is usually how St Francis approaches it tho not sure in this case
Jun 15, 5:07 PM
Carol (Guest): I don’t think we’re supposed to,put a devotional ahead of charity
Jun 15, 5:08 PM
Ruth (Guest): Or maybe it just means Certain prayers at Certain times no matter what, I’m not sure.
Jun 15, 5:09 PMSimone (Guest): I remember when Peter became a Benedictine oblate – many years ago.. He was supposed to do 7 prayer times a day. I was so angry.. Cause everytime I needed him.. or just wanted to talk to him.. He was in His prayer chair downstairs.. and cut off from us as a family. It took us quite a while to figure out a way – how to integrate the rhythm of prayer with the rhythm of family
Jun 15, 5:09 PMRuth (Guest): and Freedom in the Spirit to do the will of God is different from that other type of freedom that insists on one’s own will?
Jun 15, 5:11 PMCarol (Guest): It is different because we are seeking His will above our own.
Jun 15, 5:12 PMSimone (Guest): we are back to Holy Indifference – but Holy indifference is always a response to what GOD’s will is.. and not mine
Jun 15, 5:13 PM
Simone (Guest): The text and the questions are really intense today.. ufff..
Jun 15, 5:13 PM
Ruth (Guest): I know a guy who posted on Facebook as he changed volumes of the Liturgy of the Hours from Lent, Easter, Pentecost back to Ordinary time.
Jun 15, 5:13 PM
SrSusan (Guest): The spiritual life and devotion always seems to be about a prudent balance of always choosing the right good in any given moment. This could seem like it would lead to scrupulosity about which to choose. How can this be “mastered” and actually lead to peace?
n 15, 5:14 PMCarol (Guest): Scrupulosity is very self focused. Doing God’s will is to,forget self altogether
un 15, 5:14 PMSimone (Guest): I think we need a certain kind of security that we do know God’s voice. I mean.. I somehow trust that my conscience would ring an internal alarm.. if I would totally stray from charity in a decision
Jun 15, 5:15 PMSrSusan (Guest): the direction of intention might help here
un 15, 5:15 PM
Ruth (Guest): Good Carol, but that is a recipe for burn out, too.
Jun 15, 5:16 PM
Ruth (Guest): Self,reflection
un 15, 5:16 PM
Ruth (Guest): Is needed to be able to be present to Godoranyone else.
Jun 15, 5:16 PM
Simone (Guest): the direction of intention.. is like a “divine buffer”… even.. if I would have chose the wrong path.. I still can offer it up .. that I make the best out of it for the glory of God
un 15, 5:17 PM
Simone (Guest): what do you mean with “self reflection” Ruth?
Jun 15, 5:17 PM
Carol (Guest): It was just a general observation on focus
un 15, 5:18 PMRuth (Guest): I like that idea Simone.
Jun 15, 5:18 PM
Ruth (Guest): I like that idea Simone.
Jun 15, 5:18 PM
Simone (Guest): I think the Will of God is never an instrument of torture.. In a way.. The will of God is exactly where our best version of us wants to be – our wills become one..
Jun 15, 5:20 PM
Carol (Guest): We can do all things in Christ
Jun 15, 5:20 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Under what circumstances can a member of a family exercise an apostolate outside their home? This would be teaching catechism, helping the poor, visiting the sick, and so on. Or what if a parent of a family needs to make a business trip? point
At what point has a person gone too far and ignored their vocational responsibilities?
Jun 15, 5:21 PM
Carol (Guest): They have tombs careful that their apostolate does not take away from the family.
Jun 15, 5:21 PM
Ruth (Guest): F@by self reflection I mean thinking about why I do what I do or do not do something that I believe I should.
Jun 15, 5:22 PMSimone (Guest): This is such a difficult question. I think most people do not really dive into their depth of vocational calling..
un 15, 5:22 PMSimone (Guest): I guess – our family is a good example.
un 15, 5:23 PMCarol (Guest): Oops, I’m in typo mode again. To be careful not to take away from the family. both spouses need to,agree to the one’s participation and communication needs to stay open
un 15, 5:23 PMSrSusan (Guest): always keep primary call in mind, if possible
un 15, 5:25 PM
Simone (Guest): but in marriage – the fleshing out of the vocation of being a wife and mother changes drastically over the years. If I would dedicate the same time to our marriage and to motherhood like I did 20 years ago.. I think I would not fully live in the will of God
Jun 15, 5:25 PM
SrSusan (Guest): a simple example someone who volunteers for a good cause but forgets the kids are waiting at home for a meal
un 15, 5:25 PM
Ruth (Guest): when I was doing Formation for Ministry they made clear that Family and Employment/work/profession were to go ahead of the FFM asignments. But there are only so many hours in a day, and there are times when the demands of work are even greater than other times.
Jun 15, 5:25 PM
Simone (Guest): yes.. good example
un 15, 5:26 PM
Carol (Guest): We sure need a lot if flexibility
Jun 15, 5:26 PM
Simone (Guest): I always called the wives of protestant pastors ” Church widows”.. because they are often neglected for the sake of endless church meetings
Jun 15, 5:27 PM
Carol (Guest): It happens more than we think
un 15, 5:27 PM
Simone (Guest): how many children are ‘busines- orphans”…. sacrificed on the altar of financial success
Jun 15, 5:27 PM
Ruth (Guest): When I got behind on some assignments — and they were long or demanding — even though I did not have to juggle family responsibilities, there was a question whether or not I would be able to graduate.
Jun 15, 5:28 PM
Carol (Guest): Business orphan is epidemic
Jun 15, 5:29 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Next week I cannot be here as we begin our Sacred Heart Novena at this time and Sunday also , for 9 days so there will be a newsletter but yoou can do without me
Jun 15, 5:29 PM
Carol (Guest): We will miss you!
Jun 15, 5:29 PM
SrSusan (Guest): I will keep you all in prayer during the novena masses
Jun 15, 5:29 PM
Simone (Guest): Next Sunday is our last Sunday in our church…Please pray for us.. as we prepare for the assignment for our new church
Jun 15, 5:29 PM
Simone (Guest): I try to make it next Sunday evening.
Jun 15, 5:30 PM
SrSusan (Guest): Ok will do Have a great week! Blessings!
Jun 15, 4:41 PM
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Jun 15, 2:20 PM