Gerry Straub stopped by today and left a comment. I’m flattered. Gerry’s got a blog, that I’ve added to my blogroll. You might enjoy looking at. I own one of Gerry’s films, “No Room at the Inn.” I purchased it at St. Francis Inn where I spent some time last summer. I hope to return again this year. You might enjoy visiting Gerry’s other site, The San Damiano Foundation, where his work is displayed.
The Passover of the Lord
I was running a bit late last night as I drove to Mt. Irenaeus for the Easter Vigil. We had company and one of them needed maps for a trip back to Rochester. Several maps from Google were needed before I could leave home for the trip to the Mountain. As I drove down Route 16 and later Interstate 86 I thought that I might arrive in time for at least part of the service. Continue reading “The Passover of the Lord”
Compassion
I listened to a TED Talk about Bringing Compassion Back to Religion by Karen Armstrong. It’s very interesting, thought provoking and very appropriate for this week as we look to Easter.
Karen Armstrong talks about how the Abrahamic religions — Islam, Judaism, Christianity — have been diverted from the moral purpose they share: to foster compassion. People want to be religious, she says; we should act to help make religion a force for harmony. She asks the TED community to help her build a Charter for Compassion — to help restore the Golden Rule (“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”) as the central global religious doctrine. To brainstorm on this wish and get involved, visit TEDPrize.org >> (Recorded February 2008 in Monterey, California. Duration: 21:27.)
Prelude
This morning I drove toward Mt. Irenaeus in with a hint of snow in the air and a pall of overcast. It didn’t look like an idyllic Palm Sunday. Our liturgy began in the library under Holy Peace Chapel. Fr. Dan Riley, OFM blessed the palms and invited us to process outside, along the path and up the steps to the chapel. As we walked we sang, “oh Sacred Head surrounded by crown of piercing thorns, oh bleeding head so wounded, reviled and put to scorn…” It’s a song I remember well from my youth. The words of the song are ascribed to Bernard of Clairvaux. That information was new to me but the symbolism was not lost as I am a frequent visitor to Trappist Abbeys. Continue reading “Prelude”
Awaiting on you all
One of my favorite musicians is and was George Harrison. He was the mystical Beatle. Harrison more than Lennon and McCartney seemed to be most in touch with the world around him. That might be very unfair to Ringo Starr and if so I apologize. One of my favorite Harrison lyrics is “Awaiting on You All.” Last night I was listening once again to the Concert for Bangladesh and the song played. Lent is a time of renewal for many people and those lyrics speak volumes to me about renewal.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P-2MthG190] Continue reading “Awaiting on you all”
We do not live for ourselves
I’ve often heard this especially from Fr. Dan Riley at Mt. Irenaeus, but today this gentle reminder came in the mail from the Merton Institute.
To live for oneself alone is to die. We grow and flourish in our own lives in so far as we live for others and through others. What we ourselves lack, God has given them. They must complete us where we are deficient. Hence we must always remain open to one another so that we can always share with each other.–Seasons of Celebration: 229–Thomas Merton.
In all things..
We must in all things seek God. But we do not seek Him the way we seek a lost object, a “thing.” He is present to us in our heart, in our personal subjectivity, and to seek Him is to recognize this fact. Yet we cannot be aware of it as a reality unless He reveals His presence to us. He does not reveal Himself simply in our own heart. He reveals Himself to us in the Church, in the community of believers, in the koinonia of those who trust Him and love Him.
Seeking God is not just an operation of the intellect, or even a contemplative illumination of the mind. We seek God by striving to surrender ourselves to Him whom we do not see, but Who is in all things and through all things and above all things.
Thomas Merton. Seasons of Celebration. (New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1950): 223-224.
Angels in our midst
I was on Route 1 nearing the turn for Mt. Irenaeus when suddenly I spotted three deer entering the roadway about a tenth mile ahead. One looked normal and the other two looked different. From a distance they almost looked like fawns, but then as I got closer I realized that two of the deer were albino. I have never seen anything like that, but here on Sunday morning as I neared Mt. Irenaeus I saw three deer. Continue reading “Angels in our midst”
Power of Kindness
Friday morning I left my sister’s home in Tempe, AZ bound for Changing Hands bookstore to purchase some gifts for my children. It is my habit when out of town to remember those closest to me with a small gift. I also frequently remember my two co-workers in the same fashion. Examining the shelves of the “new non-fiction” section I came across a title that was very inviting. “The Power of Kindness-the Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life, ” just kind of leaped off the shelf into my hands. I bought four copies of the book and today I’ve been reading one of them.
I think this is the best book I’ve read in awhile. I recommend it to you. The preface is written by His Holiness The Dalai Lama.
Thoughts on prayer
Yesterday, I wrote about what makes a monk. It was a popular post and even invited a response. I am a contemplative and maybe could even claim to be a mystic or at the very least attracted to mysticism. I love to sit in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Holy Thursday is approaching quickly. The celebration of the Liturgy of the Lord’s Supper is one of my favorites. I’ve often wished that I had been among the disciples that evening.
During Lent I try to do something positive. This year I’ve made a commitment to two periods of contemplative prayer each day. So far I’ve been able to sit. Sitting is not always easy and each time I’ve tried to stay with the sacred word I’ve chosen. In the past I’ve given up because I didn’t think I was accomplishing much, but I have noticed that I’m more upbeat and more relaxed and I’m drawn each morning and evening to stay with the practice.