contrasts

Today's Weekday Gospel is one that I would prefer never to read, and yet it is recounted at least three, maybe four times, in the liturgical year. It is the story of the death of John the Baptist (my hero!). But today I am struck by the characters and their qualities.

Herod (who has political power and position and anything else he wants, including his brother's wife) is controlled by fear. He is afraid of John's "ghost" (as he presumes Jesus to be, showing that he has been haunted by John's death ever since it happened); he is afraid of the people, who all thought of John as a prophet; he was afraid of what his party guests would think of him if he reneged on a promise. Herod is king, but he was a craven, slavish person. John, on the other hand, is utterly fearless, even though his life is in the balance. He is free and outspoken. Like Paul, he could say, "I put no value on my own life, if only I can run the race appointed to me" (Acts 20:24). And Herodias obviously put no "value" on life. She and John are, in their own way, the powerful figures in the story. Herodias didn't have to answer to anyone, and so she used her daughter to achieve her will. Maybe this is an outgrowth of women's position in society at the time. The only way you could exercise political power would be through ruthlessness and manipulation. Herodias knew that the way to control Herod's behavior was through his fear.

So  you have Herodias, with her utter disregard for the value of human life; and you have Herod whose primary value seems to have been overweening concern for his own (ridiculous) reputation--his manhood, if you come down to it, and evidently there wasn't much there. And then you have John, whose life had "value" only insofar as it was given to his prophetic mission.

Resurrection and Life

This was my reflection on yesterday's Gospel for the Feast of St. Martha. (I am stealing a few minutes to catch up on all the blogging I wanted to do during the week!)

Actually, yesterday's first reading (from 1 John) got a lot of my attention. Perhaps it primed me to read the Gospel in a bit of a new light. Because after (imagine!) over 30 years of daily Mass, as I read the Gospel (John 11) it struck me. I never quite took note before that when Martha said to Jesus "If you had been here, my brother would not have died," she was not saying that in his friendship for the family Jesus would have healed Lazarus. The fact is that none of the Gospels EVER have Jesus present when someone dies. (A pious tradition, dating probably to the 1600's, imagines Jesus present at his foster-father's deathbed, but the Scriptures definitely do not give us that picture.) In the Gospels, no one dies around Jesus. "In him was the life, and the life was the light of men." Julian of Norwich, explaining the all-sufficiency of Jesus, commented that were we to be at the bottom of the sea, and yet with Jesus, we would have all we need to live. Jesus is LIFE. "If you had been here, my brother would not--could not--have died."

Makes the death of Jesus himself all the more mysterious and obviously salvific, if you think about it. He who is all sufficient in himself, the all-powerful Word by whom God sustains all creation in being, dies himself, whereas no one ever died in his presence. Life was all around him, life was in him, but "for us and for our salvation he gave himself to death and was nailed to the cross."

"offer it up!"

It's one of those phrases I grew up hearing. When there was some inconvenience or little pain, we were told to "offer it up!" We had the "Morning Offering" prayer on our bathroom mirror: "Oh Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I OFFER you all my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day..." (I think the Sacred Heart League sent them out; the leaflet had an adhesive backing for the very purpose of being used on bathroom mirrors, so you could make the Morning Offering while brushing your teeth.) My brother-in-law (brought up Baptist) has heard the recommendation so often in the almost-25 years of being part of our family that he uses it to, but with his own Mississippi rendering: "Send it up!" (Hey, that works, too!)

But the concept of "offering" is, of course, sacrificial language. Liturgical language. Priestly language. And "offering it up" is part of our baptismal priesthood.

This was all brought to mind when I read the weekly bulletin from St. Peter's Church (downtown "chapel of convenience' here in Chicago). Fr. Larry wrote about an organization called CUSA: An Apostolate of the Sick or Disabled. Basically, what CUSA does for its membership (all persons who are disabled or chronically ill) is support them in their priestly service of "offering it up" for the good of the Church. Members maintain communication with each other, sharing their experiences of consecrated suffering in that spirit of an offering, a gift freely and willingly given for the Church. Fr. Larry's article was genuinely inspiring. How many people of faith who are afflicted with chronic illness do not yet know how to make their sufferings a gift? The CUSA apostolate has a website; please pay them a visit. If you know someone who would find consolation in belonging to a wider network of Catholics who give new meaning to their sufferings, this may be just the thing.

promises

I know I promised last week to write a bit on the implications for evangelization of the findings of the book "The Tipping Point." I will, I will! But I am swamped in catch-up stuff, which also includes ironing blouses so I don't bring shame upon my community by my wrinkled, just-out-of-the-dryer (and we're not talking PermaPrest here) condition.

Today we had a community meeting as part of bringing the new superior up to snuff. It lasted way past the time for chapel, so our communitarian Hour of Adoration extended all the way to supper time. And now we have a lighting company here to finish installing new lights in our book center, and to figure out why the light over our back alley door does not work. (New way expensive bulb and everything.)

I didn't do a bit of work on my talk for New Orleans today. So naturally I can't allow myself to go back into "The Tipping Point" to pull out the salient issues and address them with you. How about you go and read the book first, and then my salient points will really resonate?! It's a terrific read, and very thought provoking, so don't wait for my input: read it!

spam

Well, I did it to myself: somehow I set my AOL Spam Blocker to block mail from everyone BUT the crazy list of spammers. So for 24 hours I got exactly no e-mail. That is not normal. Anybody out there who tried to e-mail me in these last 24 hours (that includes you, Mom!), please resend if possible!

 

catch-up time

You know how things pile up when you're away? Well, I was away for almost three weeks, so...

Not only am I playing "catch-up" with myself, we are also in a huge transition as a community, welcoming a new superior. She has to become acquainted with the lay of the land, the various alarm codes, bookstore procedures, employee names, location of churches, all the while negotiating the "welcome" and "farewell" goings on. Naturally, we are all a part of this.

And I am preparing a talk on new media resources for teaching the Liturgy of the Word to children, and guess what? Most of the companies that used to make catechetical media aren't really doing much any more. So I am putting together some ideas of my own. In between stuff. Because next week the Knights of Columbus will descend upon Chicago, so we want to have a sign to welcome them--even though our side of the sidewalk on Michigan Avenue is under some work and so not very welcoming to pedestrians. In between other things, as well, of course! Such is life.

Next week I also go home to see my family and celebrate with them my Mom and Dad's Golden Anniversary!

Somehow, everything always comes together in the end.

tonight

Well, no coyotes tonight--just the #172 bus roaring down Michigan Avenue. Let me tell you, that is an improvement! Last night again I was awakened by the coyotes. I analzyed the sounds a bit: first there is a long solo call (Ar-ar-ar-aroooooooooooooo). It is creepy because the vocal quality seems like a woman's. A bit like that voice that open the show "Cold Case" (or did last year when I watched it). Then the rest of the pack joins in with little yips and yelps. It lasts about 45 seconds, and then they all quiet down!
Prayers for a safe trip to Midway and downtown, please!
And prayers for the conversion of those minds and hearts bent on using terror to achieve their political goals.

London

We heard from our sisters in London that the city is a ghost town. Providentially, our book center and convent in what is considered a high risk area of London will be undergoing some renovation (something about the pipes and air conditioning), so they will not be around during the rest of the summer.
Prayers all around.

wildlife

A cool breeze settled over our Boston hilltop and drifted through the open windows as I went to sleep last night...only to be startled awake at 12:45 by the unearthly, high-pitched calls of a pack of coyotes.
That got the local dogs into action.
It was some time before the yelping settled down. My heart slowly returned to its normal pace and alI fell gently back to sleep.
As I tell Jesus, if I don't quite remain alert in chapel, you know why!
Turns out that two of the sisters had a close encounter with three "very, very large" coyotes just after supper yesterday. But it seems that coyotes are an endangered species, so nothing can be done. We have been warning Sr. Augusta, age 90, not to keep going down to the convent mausoleum by herself. That's where they hang out. But then, Sr. Augusta is afraid of nothing and carries a big stick.

what a day

Most of my day was taken up with doctor stuff. Thanks be to God, that's out of the way! In between appointments, however, I found a Barnes and Noble. My intention was to pick up a CD for one of my sister friends in Italy (either the latest "Libera" album, entitled "Free" or the new Karl Jenkins "Requiem"... or is it a Dies Irae?), but this was a small B&N and had no music department. So I just looked around, not at all expecting to use the generous gift certificate I had been given by my superiors as a kind of "thank you" for the presentations I had given the sisters. Well, I walked out with three books and nothing left on the gift card. So it's my vacation reading! (Along with the latest Harry Potter book, which is supposed to be waiting for me in Chicago...) The three books are: Guns, Germs and Steel, by I don't remember whom; A History of God (or something like that) by Karen Armstrong; The Tipping Point by I don't remember. I started this last one and am enjoying it immensely. The implications for evangelization are enormous. When I have read and processed the book a bit, I will write something on that.
Tomorrow is my catch-up day. Hope the weather will be as pleasant as today's--about 10 degrees cooler than yesterday. I won't have to camp out on the novices' living room floor tonight.

Church Music Survey

Here is the official statement from the organization that is looking for input on Church music. Your chance to weigh in!

Songs That Make a Difference

What are the songs that make a difference in the faith of American Catholics? The National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) is trying to find out.

Between now and September 30, 2005, Catholics all over the U.S. may respond to that question by visiting the NPM web site at www.npm.org and completing a short survey.

Psalms, hymns and other liturgical songs have long helped to form and sustain the faith of Christian believers. Nearly everyone can identify a favorite or special song that they learned in church – perhaps a song associated with a particular person, event, or stage of life.

The words and melodies of songs used in the liturgy often create a profound sense of God’s presence and action in our midst. This experience can be even more powerful when people are part of a singing congregation.

NPM is inviting all American Catholics, not just musicians, to offer their selection of a liturgical song that makes a difference in their own lives. The organization is hoping to discover the texts and tunes that have done the most to help Catholics in the U.S. to form, nourish, and deepen their faith.

Results of the survey will be published later in the fall in the Association’s journal, Pastoral Music, and on the NPM web site.

community

Back at the mother house in suburban Boston. (The retreat house is over by Lexington and Concord, just downriver from the original battlefield.) We had a community party, sponsored by the junior professed sisters who just finished their annual retreat and formation encounter. It was such a fun gathering! There were homemade desserts like Kenyan beignet (I forget the African name for them, but they tasted just like New Orleans beignet--and no, I don't know if I'm spelling even that correctly), flan made by a Costa Rican sister, "coffee delight" from Sr. Grace (my successor as editor of My Friend magazine), Sr. Clare's homemade cream puffs, and other delicacies, along with (why did we have supper before this party?) Sr. Irene's chili and chili-cheese nachos. Music was mostly Latin, since Sr. Maria Ruth loves to offer her Colombian dances. There were also board games (mostly ignored) and a Ping-Pong tournament in which I took a very interested part. We don't keep score, we just try to keep it going! Tomorrow most of the junior professed will be returning to their assigned communities, and the others of us who were here for retreat will also begin filtering back. I head back to Chi-town on Saturday.

Update

Retreat ended with Mass this afternoon, and this evening as I checked my email, I received information about the baby we have been praying for. He was delivered at 5 months gestation.
Here is what his parents wrote:

God blessed us with the birth of Mateo Germán at 6:52 P.M. July 13th of 2005, we were lucky enough to have him among us for about half an hour, when God decided to call His little angel to his side.

We'd like to thank all of you for all your prayers, well wishes, kind words and support in our time of need, I am sure Mateo Germán is very grateful as well for he is enjoying God's presence and in return for all this kindness I'm sure he is interceding for all of us.

Thank you for keeping us close to your hearts

Reminder

If you happen to come by this week and notice that my blog isn't being updated right now, that is because I am on retreat. Praying for you and for me, trying to listen to Jesus with greater attentiveness and focus. So when you visit, please offer an extra prayer that this time will be particularly rich in grace.
Thanks!

The Ghosts of St. Thecla's

Well, in my earlier post I mentioned strange legends surrounding our place. We had been having so many experiences of prowlers. The most serious was a case of arson in which the small guest house on the property was torched. All that remains is a bit of foundation. Thankfully, no one was staying there at the time. Most of the escapades involve high-schoolers daring each other to run up to touch the front door or egg the windows, kids coming onto the front lawn and knocking over the lovely statue of Our Lady that had literally graced the place since this location was the Maryknoll novitiate (we finally removed the statue to spare it further desecration), and once two of the sisters even caught some young adults who had clambered over a small roof into our courtyard! Turns out they were all motivated by St. Thecla's reputation as...a haunted house. Yep. It is even listed in New England guidebooks to haunted houses. The haunted retreat house. Creepy.

Not that we haven't taken advantage of that when under attack! One sister on retreat "spooked" a group of teens whom she spied tip-toeing to the front door in the middle of the night by quietly opening her window and giving a rough, indeterminate yell. The kids high-tailed it back to their waiting cars. The next morning, their abandoned beer cans (the brew of choice over here is Bud) were the only sign that our privacy had been invaded.

Anyway, as far as we've been able to determine, the legend is that our retreat house is haunted by nuns who were either murdered or committed suicide by hanging from the trees. As a sign of the nefarious doings, the cross in the bell tower was crooked, so maybe one of the suicides was from the bell tower. Just to dispel all that in one fell swoop, none of our sisters has ever died here, and the bell tower dates only to 1979. However, the Italian sisters were accustomed to hang their habits from the trees to dry them in the old days--meaning in the 60's when we first got the property and most of our sisters were Italian missionaries who had grown up on the farms. So there were habits dangling lifelessly from the trees, yes, but nobody in them. And if the cross was crooked (it has been fixed--and gilded), that can be attributed to... the contractor.

Anyway, the legends presume that this monastic-style building is of ancient vintage, but the fact is that when the Italian sisters were there washing their habits in outdoor metal tubs, we didn't even have this building, but used a Colonial-era farmhouse, of which one part still remains on the property. Our retreat "cells" were really the stalls of the large Colonial barn! (Yes, I remember it well.) The old place was torn down the year I made first vows, so even my family remembers it. Shortly before that auspicious event, our novitiate group made our solemn eight-day retreat there. The last day we had a cookout, and I offered a song I had made, to the tune of our "Hymn to St. Thecla" (more about her some other day). Among the verses: We have a re-treat house, in Bill-er-i-i-ca. It's called St. Thecla's. We love it so-o-o-o-o. We've had it for many years. It's about---to---go!" and then the refrain, "Good old St. Thecla's. Bugs and dead trees. We'll be glad -- when you get rid -- of some of these."  In other words, any ghosts around the place are the shades of a thousand spiders, and maybe a few ghostly pigeons and chipmunks who got into the plumbing. (I had a special refrain for the plumbing: "Good old St. Thecla's. Broken plumbing. We'll be glad -- when you get new -- facilities.")

Well, now it's time to put away the ghost stories and prepare for the HOLY Ghost in retreat! We just finished a three day workshop on Ignatian discernment of spirits as an extra help for attention to the Lord during the next eight days, beginning tomorrow at 5:00. One more short workshop tomorrow morning and then it's Jesus time. Please keep me in prayer!

St. Thecla's

St. Thecla's

Retreat starts Monday evening. More soon about this past week--and the strange legends about our venue.

On my walk

On my walk

Arrived at the retreat house and took a walk after settling in- a process which included removing about a pound of pollen from the blinds in my room. Anyway, somebody is building my dream house down the road.

Retreat Time

I am headed for Boston (again!), this time to make my own retreat. It won't start until the weekend; meanwhile I will be giving the presentation on the founder (again, but for the last time) and taking part in other community "ongoing formation" events. Please pray that these may be fruitful, spiritually and apostolically.

I may post one more time before retreat starts, but in the meantime, please send me your special prayer intentions so that I can bring them to Jesus during this special time.

Blessings!

The last comfortable pair of shoes on earth

We walked so many miles together.... ran for trains in Italy... served the Lord. And now they have taken their last step.

Too bad I walked a hole right through them (see the upturned edge on the sole of the upside down shoe? that's a hole). Easy Spirits seems to have discontinued this line. (This always seems to happen to me!) Is anyone else out there engaged in a fruitless search for "comfort footware"?

Happy Anniversary

Either today or tomorrow is the 49th anniversary of ordination of my dear friend Father Joseph Henchey, CSS (Stigmatine). The dear soul was my teacher at St. Charles Seminary (Philly) and then my confessor in Rome--he was on the faculty at the NAC while I was working for the Jubilee; it was quite providential. A lovely man of God.

And today I got a surprise Starbucks card from my brother! Bless him, too!