Don

Today at Mass at Mt. Irenaeus we emerged to full canonical status as a fraternity in the Secular Franciscan Order. Holy Peace Chapel was filled to overflowing with Secular Franciscans from a number of fraternities in Western and Central New York State. Emotions were at flood tide as we remembered those who had helped us … Read more

In 1944, the Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko’s mother took him from Siberia to Moscow. They were among those who witnessed a procession of twenty-thousand German war prisoners marching through the streets of Moscow: The pavements swarmed with onlookers, cordoned off by soldiers and police. The crowd was mostly women — Russian women with hands roughened … Read more

I made a mistake in judgement today and further complicated it by not communicating with fellow Secular Franciscans. I had originally promised to bring a platter of Subway sub sandwiches to Mount Irenaeus for a luncheon today.  There was a communication error and I was the one at fault. I hope that I can make … Read more

Today is the 34th anniversary of my graduation from Great Lakes Naval Training Center. I was in the 13th Battalion and we graduated in at 1300 hours on the 13th of October in 1972. I was a draftee who joined the United States Navy rather than take my chances in the jungles of Vietnam. I … Read more

“Nothing is more like God than silence.” –Meister Eckhart. I’ve thought of this quote many times since reading it earlier this week in Albert Nolan’s “Jesus Today: A Spirituality of Radical Freedom.” I came from a time and a home where much emphasis was placed on wrote prayers, the Rosary, the Our Father or Lord’s … Read more

In reading Nolan’s work there is a lot of discussion of the importance of meditation and contemplation in the Spirituality of Jesus. The older I get the more important contemplation becomes to me. Churches and communities that emphasize busy-ness have no appeal to me. Meister Eckhart once said, “Nothing is more like God than silence.” … Read more

Yesterday I mentioned that I purchased a new book while at Genesee Abbey. That book, “Jesus Today: A Spirituality of Radical Freedom” is an incredible piece of thought and writing and yet it’s really easy to read and a book that I have not been able to put down. I’m almost done with it and … Read more

Yesterday my day began with a thirty mile drive to Mt. Irenaeus for Mass. The weather has been bright and blue the last few days and yesterday’s ride was beautiful. Fr. Lou McCormick was the celebrant and the chapel was full of people. Brother Joe has returned from hiking the Appalachian trail and it was … Read more

“The true nature of all things is continuously manifesting. When a dog barks or pees on the ground, that dog’s true nature is in realization. The dog is manifesting dog nature, just as a stick lying on the ground manifests its stick nature. All things are always manifesting their true nature. We never look at … Read more

Today I received a wonderful reflection from Every Church a Peace Church. I get a regular email from them and have for a couple of years. I’m glad I took the time to read this one today because it’s great. Follow this link to that reflection.Technorati Tags:peace, forgiveness, amish