When I read Chapter 3, entitled Sweet Surrender, of Breathing Under Water Spirituality and The Twelve Steps written by Richard Rohr, OFM, I read about "Sacrificial Love". Fr. Rohr explains that "Sacrificial Love" is not really love at all, but a way to boost one's own ego, self-worth and self-importance while acting very much like a martyr.
I realized, as I read the words, that I have, more often than not, "loved sacrificially." I have looked at certain relationships in terms of what I've done and how I've loved in spite of feeling ignored, disregarded, rejected. I still hung on and still loved but never really understood, until now, that wasn't really love. That was ego-based, self-serving and certainly designed and doomed to fail.
Reading about "Sacrificial Love" was such an epiphany for me. A stunning revelation of how I have approached many relationships. That is not to say that the none of the feelings were real or genuine or that I do not and have not really loved anyone in my life. But the seeds of that real love grew into "Sacrificial Love".
I read the chapter again and will continue to read and meditate on the words. It continues to be both illuminating and humbling to realize and understand that what I have called love and what I have done because I love has not been love at all. Rather it has been a way to boost my own ego and convince myself that I love better than the person I said I love. No wonder I have struggled to love unconditionally. How could my love be unconditional when it wasn't real love at all.
"Holy Mary, Mother of Creation, bless us that we may experience God
as Love in praise of all creatures, in love of all of creation. Amen."
Father Michael Adams - www.livingrosaries.org
Peace and Blessing!
Sister Pat, FMT
Friday, May 24, 2013
Friday, April 5, 2013
Embracing lepers
Thursday evening I listened to In the Footsteps of Francis: Awakening to Creation the CD of a webcast by Father Richard Rohr, OFM. After Fr. Richard finished talking, he answered some questions. One question had to with St. Francis conversion. Fr. Richard said that Francis, by his own admission, did not like lepers and did everything possible to avoid them. However, one day Francis found the courage to embrace a leper. That embrace was Francis moment of conversion.
I thought about that and, perhaps for the first time, really understood that I, like Francis, have been avoiding lepers. Now I don't mean that I know people with leprosy and have refused to interact with them. But there are people I know, people I see on a regular basis, whom I have not been able to love unconditionally, whom I have not been able to always show kindness and patience. They irk me, aggravate me, drive me crazy. Ah, that "me" word, like the "I" word, focuses on me and not them, causes me to judge them and not myself, allows me to see their leprosy but not my own.
If I want to be converted, to grow spiritually, to love as God, Jesus, Mary, Francis and Clare love, then I must embrace the lepers, too.
"Holy Mary, Mother of Creation, bless us that we may experience God as Love in praise of all creatures, in love of all of creation. Amen."
Father Michael Adams - www.livingrosaries.org
Peace and Blessing!
Sister Pat, FMT
I thought about that and, perhaps for the first time, really understood that I, like Francis, have been avoiding lepers. Now I don't mean that I know people with leprosy and have refused to interact with them. But there are people I know, people I see on a regular basis, whom I have not been able to love unconditionally, whom I have not been able to always show kindness and patience. They irk me, aggravate me, drive me crazy. Ah, that "me" word, like the "I" word, focuses on me and not them, causes me to judge them and not myself, allows me to see their leprosy but not my own.
If I want to be converted, to grow spiritually, to love as God, Jesus, Mary, Francis and Clare love, then I must embrace the lepers, too.
"Holy Mary, Mother of Creation, bless us that we may experience God as Love in praise of all creatures, in love of all of creation. Amen."
Father Michael Adams - www.livingrosaries.org
Peace and Blessing!
Sister Pat, FMT
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Good Friday with Mary
I spent Good Friday with Mary. My friend Fr. Bill Petzing invited me to join him at the Good Friday service at St. Maurice Roman Catholic Church in Dania, FL. Each year they reenact parts of the Passion of Christ with parishioners dressed in the clothing of the time, including Roman soldiers and officials.
This was the first time I had seen a live performance. I had watched the various movies throughout the years, including Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ", but there was something about being there that stirred much deeper emotions in me and a much deeper feeling for Mary's suffering.
As the crowd yelled "CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!" I thought about Mary hearing those words and perhaps wondering how the people who had welcomed Jesus with words of praise and jubilation were now condemning Him to death on a cross.
As Mary knelt before the cross and gazed at the bloodied body and face of Jesus, how that sword must not only have pierced, but surely ripped apart her very being. Did she question God then? Did she wonder why this was all really necessary?
The most emotional moments for me were watching Mary hold, kiss and then anoint her dead son's body.
When I returned home after the service, I watched two movies: Jesus and then Mary, Mother of Jesus. Again the scenes were repeated and again my eyes filled with tears as I watched Mary's reactions to the crowds, to the sounds of her Son's screams of pain as the nails were driven into His hands and feet. Again I saw Mary holding her Son's dead body.
We all know that Jesus rose from the dead. Surely Mary must have been prepared for what would happen and have been assured and reassured that Jesus would rise from the dead. But just as surely, she lived every moment of His Passion and Death and just as surely that sword tore through her heart.
"Holy Mary, Mother of Creation, bless us that we may experience God
as Love in praise of all creatures, in love of all of creation. Amen."
Father Michael Adams - www.livingrosaries.org
Peace and Blessing!
Sister Pat, FMT
This was the first time I had seen a live performance. I had watched the various movies throughout the years, including Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ", but there was something about being there that stirred much deeper emotions in me and a much deeper feeling for Mary's suffering.
As the crowd yelled "CRUCIFY HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!" I thought about Mary hearing those words and perhaps wondering how the people who had welcomed Jesus with words of praise and jubilation were now condemning Him to death on a cross.
As Mary knelt before the cross and gazed at the bloodied body and face of Jesus, how that sword must not only have pierced, but surely ripped apart her very being. Did she question God then? Did she wonder why this was all really necessary?
The most emotional moments for me were watching Mary hold, kiss and then anoint her dead son's body.
When I returned home after the service, I watched two movies: Jesus and then Mary, Mother of Jesus. Again the scenes were repeated and again my eyes filled with tears as I watched Mary's reactions to the crowds, to the sounds of her Son's screams of pain as the nails were driven into His hands and feet. Again I saw Mary holding her Son's dead body.
We all know that Jesus rose from the dead. Surely Mary must have been prepared for what would happen and have been assured and reassured that Jesus would rise from the dead. But just as surely, she lived every moment of His Passion and Death and just as surely that sword tore through her heart.
"Holy Mary, Mother of Creation, bless us that we may experience God
as Love in praise of all creatures, in love of all of creation. Amen."
Father Michael Adams - www.livingrosaries.org
Peace and Blessing!
Sister Pat, FMT
Friday, March 29, 2013
Jesus and Mary and Good Friday
John's Gospel is the only Gospel that speaks of Mary being at the cross when Jesus was crucified. The beautiful song New Again by Brad Paisley and Sara Evans is a dialogue between Jesus and Mary on Good Friday. In the song, Mary asks "God how can this be your will to have your Son and my Son killed?" Such an honest question from a mother watching as her son is beaten, whipped, crowned with thorns and forced to carry a heavy wooden cross. Whatever Mary knew about the events on Good Friday before they happened, whatever Jesus had prepared her for, what ever strength God had given her, she was still human and still had to live through every moment.
"Holy Mary, Mother of Creation, bless us
that we may experience God as Love
in praise of all creatures, in love of all of creation.
Amen."
Father Michael Adams - www.livingrosaries.org
Peace and Blessing!
Sister Pat, FMT
Monday, March 25, 2013
The Feast of the Annunciation
March 25 is the Feast of the Annunciation. That moment when Mary said a courageous and faith-filled "Yes" to becoming the mother of the Son of God. This year, the Feast will be celebrated on April 8 because Holy Week is this week.
Mary has usually been described as docile, obedient and submissive, much like a marionette controlled by a master puppeteer. But that kind of thinking diminishes Mary, her free will and her courage. Mary could have turned and run away when the stranger appeared out of nowhere with an odd greeting. She could have said "No thank you, I already have plans for my life!" Instead, she said "Yes!" to God's plan for her.
We all want to know and become the person God created us to be. Unfortunately, we don't always get heavenly messengers to let us know what God's plan is. What we do get, surely, are messages, signs, something inside us that we can't seem to let go of, that can tell us which path to follow. Do we have the courage and faith to listen and echo Mary's unconditional "Yes"?
"Holy Mary, Mother of Creation, bless us
that we may experience God as Love
in praise of all creatures, in love of all of creation.
Amen."
Father Michael Adams - www.livingrosaries.org Peace & Blessing! Sister Pat, FMT
Mary has usually been described as docile, obedient and submissive, much like a marionette controlled by a master puppeteer. But that kind of thinking diminishes Mary, her free will and her courage. Mary could have turned and run away when the stranger appeared out of nowhere with an odd greeting. She could have said "No thank you, I already have plans for my life!" Instead, she said "Yes!" to God's plan for her.
We all want to know and become the person God created us to be. Unfortunately, we don't always get heavenly messengers to let us know what God's plan is. What we do get, surely, are messages, signs, something inside us that we can't seem to let go of, that can tell us which path to follow. Do we have the courage and faith to listen and echo Mary's unconditional "Yes"?
"Holy Mary, Mother of Creation, bless us
that we may experience God as Love
in praise of all creatures, in love of all of creation.
Amen."
Father Michael Adams - www.livingrosaries.org Peace & Blessing! Sister Pat, FMT
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Pope Francis and Paul Ryan
On Saturday March 16 2013, Pope Francis told reporters: "How I would love a Church that is poor and for the poor." On March 21 2103, The United States House of Representatives passed Paul Ryan's budget. Last summer, a group of Roman Catholic Sisters, Nuns On The Bus, literally got on a bus and traveled to nine States to to protest the devastating effects Representative Paul Ryan's budget would have on the elderly, low-income families and those dependent on Medicare and Medicaid. One of the reasons the Sisters were upset is because Rep. Ryan said his budget reflected Catholic social teaching. They disagreed.
Catholic Bishops have expressed their concern about the Ryan budget just passed by the House because of the cuts to social programs while increasing tax cuts for the rich. Sister Marge Clark would like Pope Francis to write to Rep. Ryan. Perhaps Pope Francis could explain to Rep. Ryan that the Jesus they follow said sell what you have and give to the poor, not keep what you have, get as much as you can and take from the poor!
"Holy Mary, Mother of Creation,
bless us that we may experience God as Love
in praise of all creatures, in love of all of creation. Amen."
Father Michael Adams - www.livingrosaries.org
Peace and Blessing!
Sister Pat, FMT
Catholic Bishops have expressed their concern about the Ryan budget just passed by the House because of the cuts to social programs while increasing tax cuts for the rich. Sister Marge Clark would like Pope Francis to write to Rep. Ryan. Perhaps Pope Francis could explain to Rep. Ryan that the Jesus they follow said sell what you have and give to the poor, not keep what you have, get as much as you can and take from the poor!
"Holy Mary, Mother of Creation,
bless us that we may experience God as Love
in praise of all creatures, in love of all of creation. Amen."
Father Michael Adams - www.livingrosaries.org
Peace and Blessing!
Sister Pat, FMT
Thursday, March 14, 2013
New Pope, New Name, same doctrine
Jesuits and Franciscans around the world are celebrating Pope Francis. The first Jesuit elected Pope and the first Pope to choose the name Francis. As someone who chose to name her Independent Catholic Order The Franciscans of Mary the Theotokos, I should be happy and celebrating, too. But I'm not filled with joy because the former Cardinal from Argentina fought unsuccessfully against both same sex marriage and birth control. Francis of Assisi embraced a life of poverty as has Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Francis embraced the poor as has the newly elected Pope. Francis believed that all of Creation was holy and blessed. Only time will tell if Francis I feels the same way. But one thing is certain, the doctrines that keep the GLBT community feeling unwelcome and wanted will likely not change.
The new Pope has been hailed as a reformer. Perhaps he chose the name Francis because he understands that the the Roman Catholic Church is surely in need of repairing. The question is what Church will his reforms rebuild: the inclusive one that follows the Gospel message of Jesus Christ? Or the exclusive on that follows the narrow-minded doctrines of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XIV? Since he one of the group of Cardinals chosen by John Paul II and Benedict XIV to elect the Pope, he likely shares their views.
Holy Mary, Mother of Creation, bless us that we may experience God as Love in praise of all creatures, in love of all of creation. Amen.
Father Michael Adams - www.livingrosaries.org
Peace and Blessing! Sister Pat, FMT
The new Pope has been hailed as a reformer. Perhaps he chose the name Francis because he understands that the the Roman Catholic Church is surely in need of repairing. The question is what Church will his reforms rebuild: the inclusive one that follows the Gospel message of Jesus Christ? Or the exclusive on that follows the narrow-minded doctrines of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XIV? Since he one of the group of Cardinals chosen by John Paul II and Benedict XIV to elect the Pope, he likely shares their views.
Holy Mary, Mother of Creation, bless us that we may experience God as Love in praise of all creatures, in love of all of creation. Amen.
Father Michael Adams - www.livingrosaries.org
Peace and Blessing! Sister Pat, FMT
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