Called to follow St. Francis

I came across this lovely and thoughtful video presentation about St. Francis and Franciscans. I hope you enjoy it and that it helps you to think of the least among us and how we might help them and each other. Peace and all good to you in this holiday season and all year long. Technorati … Read more

With the ear of your heart

I have come across a rich resource that I have not seen links to elsewhere. It’s from the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. I have a CD created by these beautiful ladies. It is some of the most beautiful music I’ve ever listened to. I hope it blesses your day and that you find the … Read more

Wisdom

Once there was a well known philosopher and scholar who devoted himself to the study of Zen for many years. On the day that he finally attained enlightenment, he took all of his books out into the yard, and burned them all.–Zen Story There are lots of things in this life that you can’t learn. … Read more

Which Gospel?

Reading the news today that a group of evangelical Christians at the Pentagon, Christian Embassy are proselytizing military leaders is not really shocking. There are a lot of Bible believing Christians in our military. It’s often said that there are no atheists in foxholes. So, it’s not strange that there would be a large number … Read more

Franciscan Prayer

I came across this prayer at the website of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. They are the ladies responsible for my initial formation as a Franciscan nearly 50 years ago. May this day remind us of our call and desire to follow Christ.May the Spirit of the Lord find its dwelling place in us, that … Read more

The false spirituality of violence

Fr. John Dear has a well written piece that goes to the heart of much of what I’ve been feeling in my own heart lately. “Open your Bible to Matthew 5 and you will never be the same. Gandhi and King called those passages the grandest manifesto of non-violence ever written — beginning with the … Read more

Chant

I love to listen to Gregorian Chant. This year I was able to spend a couple of different periods at Mt. Saviour Monastery and yesterday I visited Genesee Abbey with my mother. There is something very restful and sacred about chant. Today with the help of Apple’s ITunes I was able to download “Chant from … Read more

Road to Damascus

The Road to Damascus was a point of conversion for the Apostle Paul and each of us has had his or her own Road to Damascus. I’ve frequently read Sister Joan Chittister’s weekly columns in the National Catholic Reporter, but I’ve skipped a few weeks because I’ve gotten sidetracked reading other things. Today I followed … Read more

Satyagraha

When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall — think of it, ALWAYS!–Mahatma Gandhi. This gives me hope when thinking of the Iraq War and … Read more

Ending the War on Christmas

We live with the conviction that acts of goodness reflect the hidden light of His Holiness. His light is above our minds but not beyond our will. It is within our power to mirror His unending love in deeds of kindness, like brooks that hold the sky.”- Rabbi Abraham Heschel I read a well written … Read more