The Future is Open

I’m writing about a documentary I have not seen yet. Nonetheless, I feel compelled to comment on the apparent success of a movie about contemplatives. Into Great Silence has drawn large crowds in Germany. There is no talking, no commentary only the sights and sounds of a great monastery. In a day when most of us are overloaded with sensory input. In a day and time when religion is sometimes about saying the right words, it is telling that many people are drawn to great silence.

Peace.

When I was growing up in the late 1950’s and 1960’s the Catholic Church was booming in western New York. I attended a Catholic primary school where we had eight Franciscan nuns for teachers. There was one lay person who taught kindergarten but all the rest of the instructional staff were nuns. Every week one of the diocesan priests would come to our room and teach us about our religion. It was great. We got to know all of them. They were young men fresh from the seminary. I loved every one of them. We had Mass every friday in our cafetorium at the school. In eighth grade many of us made the decision to go on to Catholic high school.

Catholic high school in nearby Olean, New York was staffed by Franciscan Friars and Allegany Franciscan nuns. There were a few layman who were teaching there but for the most part we continued our formation in both the church and as Franciscan young adults. In the nearly forty years since that time there have been tremendous changes in the church. The paucity of vocations to the religious life has become a blight that threatens the very existence of parishes in small towns in western New York and even in the nearby City of Buffalo. The diocese of Buffalo doesn’t have enough priests to fill all the parishes and each year more and more parishes are closed and local Catholics must travel elsewhere for the sacraments.

This week at St. Philomena’s Parish in Franklinville, Fr. Mike will bid his congregation good-bye as he retires. The future for Catholics in Franklinville and nearby Machias is in doubt. Where will these people go? What changes will they make to their lives? What is happening? No one really knows any of these answers, but safe to say the face of the church will change.

Today I was thinking of St. Francis as he prayed before the San Damiano Cross in the crumbling roadside chapel. “Francis, go and rebuild my church, for as you can see it is falling into ruin.” The worldwide Catholic church continues to grow and thrive. In other countries vocations to the priesthood and religious life are growing but not here in the United States. Why?

Peace.

“I will lead you into the desert and there I will speak to your heart.”-Hosea 2:14

What a wonderful passage and yet how often have I moaned and groaned about being in the desert? How often do I long to be constantly living in the land of milk and honey. Life is full of bumps and bruises and it’s during these times of trial that God often speaks to our hearts. In the past number of months I’ve been in another desert. It seems that I have a thirst to read, but every book I pick up turns dry in a few pages and I’m left wondering again. With the exception of the two books I read last month by Sue Monk Kidd, every other book has been just that. Finally today I sat down with a friend and shared my journey with him. He made some suggestions which I intend to follow. The past year has been a very rocky road at times, and yet it has also been a very enlightening period for me. I feel as though I am being led, but where I don’t know. One of the questions from Sue Monk Kidd’s book that I’m still pondering is, “who am I really?”
When all of what I am is stripped away, who am I really. I’m wrestling with that.

Now, I have a spiritual advisor. Up until now, Fr. Lou has been my confessor and a close friend. Now, we’ll spend some time each month examining where I’m going. Thank you for leading me into the desert and speaking to my heart. Peace.

If you’d like to support other monastic communities who produce a variety of goods then Monastery Greetings is a great online resource. I became aware of them about three years ago and since that time have made several orders. Their website boasts, “the website and catalog that sells only products from monasteries, religious communities and hermitages. Here you will find products from more than 50 different communities in the United States and abroad.”

Looking at their latest catalog is almost like making a retreat and as they continue to add new products I’ve become aware of more and more communities that I usually visit on the web.

Peace.

I received a note from the Buddhist community at nearby Alfred, New York that the Dalai Lama will be visiting the University at Buffalo in September of this year. I hope to attend. I have read a few of the Dalai Lama’s books and I am delighted that I will be able to see him at my alma mater. For more information about his visit follow this link. The theme of his visit will be “Promoting Peace across borders through education”.
Peace.

Today I am filled with hope as I spotted the first robin of the spring time. Spring was my grandmother’s favorite season. I can still hear her voice as she delightfully announced the sighting of her first robin. This has been a relatively easy winter in western New York. Still it is always a delight to welcome the robins home.

I was reading Steve Bogners’ blog, Catholicism, Holiness and Spirituality, this morning and came across a post for LaserMonks. A pastor friend of mine first recommended them to me several years ago. They have a great line of inks and toner and stand behind what they sell. Like other monastic communities their proceeds go to support their community. Buying from them can be an act of holiness.

Man does not live by bread alone, but if you’d like a loaf of heavenly bread I recommend that you get it from Abbey of the Genesee. This community of Trappist Monks has been making and selling bread since I was a little boy. They have a great product and you can order a box of six loaves of their bread from their online store if you don’t live in western New York or northwestern Pennsylvania where you can buy it in the grocery store.
This morning I had a bowl of granola that I purchased at Mt. Saviour Monastery in Pine City, New York on my recent visit there. The monks of Mt. Saviour offer a variety of products. They raise sheep which they shear and turn into lovely comforters, quilts and the like. They also have an apiary with some great honey for sale and they make their own beeswax candles. I recommend you visit the monastery and browse the bookstore, but if you can’t travel there by car, plane, train or bus I recommend a visit to Mount Saviour Monastery Online Store. Peace.

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 can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall, always.-Mahatma Gandhi

Gospel living can seem quaint, idealistic and naive. This is one of my favorite quotes by the Mahatma because it speaks truth and when I despair at times that all is spinning out of control I try to remember this sage advice. My mother used to tell me, “kill them with kindness.” She was right. I hope she reads this blog someday. What seems like the way of weakness is paradoxically the way of strength. In St. Matthew’s Gospel there is a quote I was thinking on yesterday, “resist not evil.” That’s a radical idea. You won’t hear that kind of thinking in any pop culture or popular wisdom. I’ll write more later. Peace.

Most High, glorious God, enlighten the shadows of my heart, and grant unto me right faith, certain hope and perfect charity, sense and understanding, Lord, so that I may accomplish Thy holy and true mandate.

This is one of my favorite Franciscan prayers. Enlighten the shadows of my heart and grant me a faith, hope and perfect charity to accomplish your holy and true command. How is my heart enlightened? Do I spend my day or even parts of my day in prayer. What do I read? What do I think about? There are lots of distractions. Blogs and even bloggers can be distracting, so too can television, email, and the hectic pace of communication. Where can I draw the line? How much time is necessary to listen to the still small voice that enlightens the darkness of my heart?

I decided this Lent not to give up anything per se, but to add more quiet time. I’m committing myself to at least ten minutes of centering prayer a day. “Be still and know that I am God”-Psalm 46:10.

Peace.

Today as I left work and was walking across the parking lot to my car I heard the sweet sound of Canada geese. My eyes misted up a bit and I gave thanks for hearing the sound of fellow aviators winging their way north. I looked to see if I could spot a flock and there about fifty feet above the tree tops was a flight of fifty or more geese. I love the sound of their voices as they wing their way north from their winter home in the Chesapeake Bay and make their way towards Quebec and their mating grounds.

Most High, all-powerful good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory and the honor, and all blessing
To You alone, Most High, do they belong
And no human is worthy to mention Your name.

Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures…including the Canadian Geese who are returning home and reminding us of the beauty of your creation.

Peace and all Good.