Vita Dulce

Did you ever go through an experience in public with your children where things went poorly and the people around you at the time simply did not understand the complexities involved in the situation?  Have you ever been embarrassed by the way you responded to a difficult experience in the heat of the moment? Have you ever wondered why you or your loved ones struggle in areas that others don't ever seem to have to worry about? This scripture reading from Wednesday Evening Prayer, Week II  brings some consolation.  Through the grace of God, perhaps we can look at difficult moments that appear to be humiliating , rather in the context of humbling . While humiliation leads us to embarrassment, shame, anger and other lingering toxic feelings that drag us down; viewing a circumstance as humbling can change the perception by leading us to deeper insight and compassion for others or self.    Humiliation is isolating, it gives us the sense that others (and even God) are ...

  Freedom and the Spirit A few thoughts from Mysticism of Everyday Life by Ed Carter, SJ in his chapter on "Life in the Spirit."  As a Jesuit, he uses Ignatian principles and scripture and these three parts of the chapter struck me:      1. "Spiritual Freedom  is the ability to relate to persons, places, things, circumstances, and all else                     according to God's will ...  (it is to) not be attached ... (to anything) which prevents us from following          the lead of the Spirit." (54)      2. " Flexibility of Will  is openness to the Spirit's guidance; a disposition open to legitimate changes,                    modifications and adaptations we are called to make at certain junctures of our spiritual journey."(56)      3. "We have not received the spirit of the world ...

Today is my Name's Day.  In my grandparent's generation, many of the men did not celebrate their birthday but rather their 'Name Day' which was the date of the feast of the saint they were named for.  September 29th used to be reserved for St. Michael ( Michaelmas)  in the liturgical calendar, but over time, he came to share the feast with two of the other archangels (Gabriel and Raphael). Name's carry power and understanding the Hebrew origin behind Michael helped me get a deeper insight into God's call in my life.  Originally, upon hearing that Michael means 'who is like God' one could get a sense of hubris in thinking one is actually 'like God,' But in looking into the Hebrew origin Mi-ka-el actually is a rhetorical question:  Who is like God?   The answer: no one.  My thought is that in pondering the great actions of the archangel in overcoming evil, he was given the name in the sense that such great things were done through him by God, that ...

 "God is Wise in Heart     and Mighty in Strength; Who has withstood Him     and remained Unscathed ?"                                   -JOB 9:4 *I love the idea of this encounter with God as described by Job.  The word unscathed  is used in a wonderful way.  When we bring our deepest thoughts, feelings, words to God and dump them onto his lap we cannot expect to walk away unscathed. If we only bring him the 'sugar and spice' superficial musings of our lives but hold back the deepest corners of our heart we will never fully be affected by God's love and power.  But if are truly honest and bring forward all the pieces of our lives, particularly those that are hurting, wounded, bruised, confused, suffering, angry, jilted, abused ... when we bring all these real parts of ourselves - we will not walk away unscathed.    We will walk away ...

  This is the type of statue that stood at the end of the hallway on second floor at St. Vincent's School.  As a student at the time because it was always just 'there' I never thought much about it.  As time passes, however, it has come to sear itself in my memory and I find so much meaning and value in the image. The trust the two children exhibit as they lean in to be close to the figure of Vincent and the generosity of the saint, who as a man of great poverty, shares the warmth of his cloak, which symbolizes all he possesses, are for me a reminder of the love that was shown to me at St. Vincent's School. It also calls me to the responsibility I have as a Catholic school administrator to help students receive the love and direction they deserve while doing my best to share my all with them.  St. Vincent de Paul ... pray for us.

  Privileged Moments With 30 minutes left of the Homecoming Dance we let the teacher chaperones go home early.  I took over the supervision of the dance floor which was inhabited by only 7 sophomore girls and the DJ. The girls danced with such joy and enjoyed each others company so much that it actually brought a tear to my eye.  They appeared to have no concern for who had already left, who was invited to which party, who might be judging them as being unpopular and 'left behind' ... they left behind all the little things teenagers (and adults!) get anxious about and they simply danced . Supervising dances isn't always top of my list of favorite things to do as an administrator.  But sometimes it's in those events that God shows you something beautiful.

Our Lady of Sorrows is the Feast on September 15th.  It commemorates Mary and the suffering she experienced watching her Son at the foot of the Cross and appropriately falls the day after he Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.   On Friday's during Stations of the Cross at St. Vincent's School we would say small portions of the prayer the Stabat Mater .  Until this morning when I reread the whole thing in the Liturgy of the Hours for this feast, I had never realized how fully beautiful it was or how it could serve to draw someone who had lost a loved one into a deep sense of companionship with others who have experienced loss.  Listen to this sung version while pondering the text below: https://youtu.be/BTHwodbnTrs Stabat Mater At the cross her station keeping,  Stood the mournful Mother weeping, Close to Jesus to the last.  Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,  All His bitter anguish bearing,  Now at length the sword had passed....