July 15 Feast of Saint Bonaventure and continuing the Letter of Pope Francis- The Light of Faith

 

The Tree of Life

 

As St. John has Jesus say"Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad. "Jn 8 v56

According to these words of Jesus, Abraham's faith pointed to Him.  The patriarchs were saved by faith not in faith in Christ who had come but Christ who was yet to come.  Christian faith is centered in Christ.  It is the confession that Jesus is LORD and that He has risen from the dead. 

Christ is the "Yes" to all the promises and  the ultimate basis of our Amen to God.
Jesus manifests God's reality.
The word which God speaks to us in Jesus is not simply one word among many but His eternal WORD.

Christian Faith is Faith in a perfect love in a power that is able to transform us and the world.
God's love revealed in Jesus makes faith the foundation on which all reality and its final destiny rest.
Th clearest roof of God's love for us is His dying for us, for enemies to transform heart.

In the hour of Jesus' death the depth and breath of God's love shone forth.
St. John's testimony:" He who saw this has borne witness so that you may believe and his testimony is true.
Christ's total self-gift, his terrible crucifixion overcame every doubt and enables me to entrust myself to Him completely.

Christ's death discloses God's love above all in the light of His resurrection.

As the Risen Christ He is the trustworthy witness deserving of Faith and a solid support for our Faith.
Had the Father's love not caused Jesus to rise, had he not been able to restore His body to life then it is not a reliable love.

Our culture has lost its sense of God's presence and action in our world. We think that God is in the beyond and on another level of reality whereas God is found in our everyday relationships and events.
If so God would not be powerful, real and thus not able to deliver what He promises making no difference if we believe or didn't.

Faith does not just gaze at Jesus but comes to see things like Jesus seems them.
 
Posted by S florence

Pope Francis' Letter on The Light of Faith- Continuation Friday July 12

The opposite of Faith is idolatry.

Martin Buber cited a definition of idolatry proposed by the Rabbi of Kock:

Idolatry is when a face addresses a face which is not a face.  It is worshipping the work of our own hands.

An idol does not ask us to risk our security.  Idols set us up as the center of reality worshiping the work of our doing.  Our life story disintegrates into many unconnected instants.  It is a path leading no where.  If we do not put our trust in God we hear all
the idols crying out "Put your trust in me:"

(Car commercials: Put your trust in a car you can believe in)

Believing means entrusting yourself to a merciful love which always accepts and pardons, sustains and direct our lives.
By constantly turning toward the Lord we have a sure path which liberates us from dissolution of idols.

In the Faith of Israel we encounter Moses, the mediator.
With Moses in its midst Israel learns to journey together in unity.
Our act of Faith finds its place in community within the common "we" of the people who in faith are a single person"my first-born son."As God would describe all of Israel.
 
Faith, then, is God's free gift which calls for HUMILITY, the courage to trust and entrust.  It enables us to see God's path and ours.

Continuing Pope Francis' Letter as a Cheat Sheet

Quick quotes according to an in house Reader: 

Faith can be associated with darkness.
Light  autonomous reason is not enough to illumine the future.
Yet in the absence of light everything becomes confused: it is impossible to tell good from evil.

Faith is born from an encounter with the living God who reveals His love.
A love which we can trust for building our lives.
That love changes us and gives us a fresh vision
This light is built on from the past, from the foundation which is the memory of the life of Jesus.
His love overcame death, His and in the end ours-and that is the future light.

That light is a spark which becomes a burning flame.
Faith is a star to brighten the horizon of our life at a time when all of us need this light.
To follow the route of Faith we have Abraham , our Father in Faith, as an example.
Faith is a call and a promise.
Abraham took the step when he was called and God promised Abraham and his descendant that he would be the Father of a great nation. Faith lives in hope of this future.
St. Agustine says:

We are faithful when we believe in God and His promises- and God is faithful when He grants to us what He promised.

As Abraham did, so we all recognize a profound call which was always present at the core of our being.
God sheds light on Abraham's Faith-he realizes that his life is not the product of chance-but the fruit of a personal call.

The history of the people of Israel as found  in the book of Exodus helps us follow Abraham and Israel's trust in God's promise to set His people free.
God's light shines for Israel remembering God's mighty deed, recalled, celebrated, passed down from parents to children.  See how the light of Faith is liked to concrete life stories.
In great Cathedral windows the light coming from heaven and  passing through the windows shows the story of salvation.
Israel's story also shows us the temptation to unbelief.

To be Continued

 Posted by Sister Florence

Cheat Sheet of the Encyclical -Encyclical Letter of Pope Francis with Benedict XVI -Light of Faith

 

A Cheat Sheet of the Encyclical

 

 

God who said "Let light shine out of darkness has shone in our hearts." 2Cor v4-6

The pagan world had seen the cult of the sun god invoked each day at sunrise. Yet though the sun was born a new each morning it is incapable of casting light on all o human existence.

 

"No one ",says St. Justin the martyr ," has ever been ready to die for its faith in the sun."

 

Christians invoke Jesus as the true Sun.

Faith for the modern person thinks  that the light of faith was suffiecent for socities of old but no use for new times.

 

Nietzache says,"If you want peace of soul and happiness then believe but if you want to be a follower of truth then seek. For Nietzache belief would be incompatabile with seeking.

 

S Florence Vales

'Silver Fish' prize awarded to best Catholic film of the Year

'Silver Fish' prize awarded to best Catholic film of the Year

The Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

From My Way of Life by Walter Farrel OP and Martin J.Healy

Reflections on Mary, The Mother of God

When God the Father resolved to send His only begotten Son into this world born of a woman, He chose and fashioned a woman to be the worthy mother of so great a son.  When we meet a very good child, we are quite likely to say, The child must have a very good mother",.We explain the child's goodness by the goodness of the mother. We believe that it is the goodness of the mother which has made the child good.  But in the mystery of the incarnation, it is the contrary which is true.  Mary of Nazareth is the perfect Mother of God because her son, Who is God, has made her so.  Because the Son of God is all holy and perfect, Mary His Mother in the flesh, must be as holy and perfect as she can be.  God did not cast His eye over all the woman in the world, seeking to discover which one was the best fitted to be the mother of His son.  Mary was not chosen by God because He found her to be the most perfect of women. Rather, He made her the perfect woman because He had chosen her to be the Mother of His Son.
Posted by Sister florence Vales OSC

Feast of the Sacred Heart

Today is the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Below is a quote from Oswald Cambers, non-Catholic, but speaks well of the Love of God:
"Love is indefinite to most of us. We do not know what we mean when we talk about love. ..When the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ easily comes first.The first thing God does is knock out pretence and pious pose right out of me. The Holy Spirit reveals that God loved me not because I was lovable but because it was His
  nature to do so.Now He says to me show that same love to others-'love as I have loved you' I will bring any number of people who you cannot resect, and you must exhibit my love to them and you will not reach it on tiptoe.Am I prepared to be so identified with the Heart of Jesus that His life is poured out all the time? Neither natural love or Divine Love will remain unless it is cultivated. It has to be maintained by discipline.

 

Thoughts from Evlyn Underhill

 

Love ever moves

yet love  Eternal is.

Love ever seeks

yet seeks itself to find;

 

O Sacred ceaseless flow;

O wonderous meeting

of the unchanging and

ever-fleeting

 

Posted by Sister florence Vales OSC



Pope Francis and a Dove

The Holy Father, Pope Francis, seems to invite God's creatures to himself.
Here the Holy Father makes friends with a dove.  Is it a sign for us?
Posted by Sister Florence Vales

Feast of the Visitation

A Visitation and A Song

                                   The world waited     

And watched for this moment

For many generations.

All the years

And all the prophets

And all the seers

Bow to the young girl of Nazareth.

Along comes

This Daughter of Zion

Untying the knot of Eve

And by her “Yes”,

This favorite Daughter

Of the Father  

Becomes the Mother of the Redeemer.

Woman of Israel

With Jewish roots,

Stepping out

Of the Hebrew Bible

Changing BC to AD

Stepping into the New,

Changes History.

The mother of the living

Walking softly,

Walking gently

Among us

Is pregnant now

With the Messiah

Emmanuel, God-with-us

The cousin greets the Mother of God

And Elizabeth’s unborn child

Leaps in her womb

Like David dancing

Before the Ark,

Like the messianic leap of joy

Among Isaiah’s poor.

She, the cause of our joy,

The New Ark

Housing the Word,

Chosen and willed

Into Motherhood

Finds her glory, like all mothers,

In being for her Son.

Elizabeth speaks chosen words,

“Blessed is the child

You will bear.”

Mary, who carries Jesus,

Carries the Church,

Carries us,

Virgin made Church,

From the beginning.

The new Eve, fashioned in Heaven,

Sings a new song.

Not the ancient one of Eden

But the perfect song

For her Son,

A sign of favor to us,

To the Church forever.

As exalted spouse of the Spirit

She stands out

Among the poor and humble 

Of the Lord,

Her heart full and

Overflowing to the heart of another

Sings her astounding secret.

“My whole spirit is soaring

in the greatness of Adonai.

My very being is joyful

Because of God my Savior.

For God has been aware

Of His lowly one

And because of this

All people will find hope.

All ages will look at this moment

As a blessing for me and for them.

Our Mighty God, in this one great act,

Has done wonderful things for me,

Blessed be He.

His Name, too holy to utter

Blessed be He.

Holy is that Name.

His undeserved kindness is for all

Who worship Him in every generation.

His mighty Arm shows His power,

Most of all, in caring for the needy.

He changes the plans of the proud,

In their hardened hearts.

He has brought them down

From their high position

And sets the lowly ones in their place.

Wonders are given to those who long for it

And those, not of opened heart,

Go away empty.

He never forgets Israel or you,

Always full of loving-kindness for us all.

For God promised Abraham and Sarah,

And their family, to be with them always.

He promises us the same.

From now until forever.

We ask you, then,

Virgin Mother of the Savior

To intercede for us.

You who  brought forth

Your son in the flesh

Bring us forth in spirit.

Help us to see your Son

Appearing now in our neighbor

Making all of us one,

Making us Church.

“Blessed are you among women,

Blessed is the fruit

of your womb.” 

FJV

Sources:

·          Gospel of Luke

·          Vatican Document :Lumen Gentium

·          Francis of Assisi: Prayer to the Virgin

·          Litany of Loretto

Pope celebrates Mass with Swiss Guards: Courage is needed to truly live the faith

Pope celebrates Mass with Swiss Guards: Courage is needed to truly live the faith

Sister Karen's First Vows April 27, 2013

Posted by Sister Florence Vales OSC

Sister Karen's First Vows, April 27, 2013

Sister Karen promised to follow the Gospel Way of Life of Saint Clare on Saturday, April 27, 2013.
Father Steve Kluge OFM of Brant Beach, NJ was the main celebrant and homilist for the Mass.
It was a beautiful Day for Sister Karen and for our Community.

Left to right:Fathers Lennon SVD, Peter Celbuka,Jack McSherry SVD and SteveKluge OFM Main Celebrant and Homilist.




Sister Karen is fourth from the left.

Celebrating the Baptism of the Lord with the Franciscans of the Holy Land | Travelujah

Celebrating the Baptism of the Lord with the Franciscans of the Holy Land | Travelujah

Celebrating the Baptism of the Lord with the Franciscans of the Holy Land

9 January, 20122 comments The Church in the Holy Land

On January 8, Travelujah.com arranged for me to to accompany the Franciscans of the Holy Land on their annual pilgrimage to the Jordan River. This "annual" trip was rather unique, because the same event was celebrated at the same place... less than three months ago. The reason: Until recently, the Baptismal Site known as "Qasr al Yahud" was a closed military zone, and pilgrims were allowed to go there only once a year, on the last Thursday of October. But last summer the Israeli authorities opened the site all year-round. With the site now much more accessible, the Franciscans decided to move the date of their annual pilgrimage to the most appropriate liturgical time for it, on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, celebrated on the first Sunday after Epiphany (January 6).

The busload of friars left Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem shortly after 8 AM, with a festive atmosphere on board. The attempts of Fr. Artemio Vitores, the Custodial Vicar, to announce the order of the day on the microphone were periodically interrupted by various jokes and songs. After only a half-hour ride, we made a brief first stop at the Parish of the Good Shepherd in Jericho, where the friars and faithful were welcomed by the local civil authorities. Fifteen minutes later, we were back on the bus and heading for the Jordan River.

 

At the Jordan River

As soon as we arrived, the Franciscans lined up for their ceremonial procession, starting from an abandoned monastery next to the parking lot. The friars led the procession towards the river, walking through the rocky ground in two orderly rows while singing Latin hymns such as "Lauda Ierusalem Dominum" and "Christus vincit". They were followed by the Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, accompanied by religious, civil and military dignitaries, and with the faithful closing ranks just behind them.

 

Once arrived at the shore of the Jordan, the Mass began promptly, celebrated by the Custos. The setting was ideal as we sat in balmy weather under the palm trees, just a few feet away from the water in which Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. The reading from the Gospel of Matthew reminded us that this is the place where Jesus' calling and mission were revealed by the Father, when after coming out of the water the heavens were opened, the Spirit of God descended like a dove upon Him, and a voice from heaven said "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Mat 3:17).

 

When the Custos walked around the crowd, sprinkling the people as a reminder of our baptismal promises, it felt like a unique privilege to be blessed with a few drops of water from the Jordan on this Feast of the Baptism of Jesus. As Fr. Ibrahim, the parish priest of Jericho, reminded us in the homily, our baptism signifies a dying with Christ and rising to new life with Him. The moment was surely especially moving for the parents of the five children who were then baptized by Fr. Ibrahim.

In contrast to the deserted Jordanian shore of the river facing us, just a stone's throw away, the large joyful crowd on our side left no doubt that a festive event was being celebrated.

"It's great to be here, a real privilege" said Brother Mauritius, a Benedictine seminarian who joined the Franciscans for the day. "It was a very nice celebration at the Jordan River, on the day of Jesus' baptism at the place of his baptism."

Fr. Paul, a young Indian priest studying in Jerusalem, echoed him: "I really enjoyed this day, it was really wonderful to see five children being baptized at the same place where Jesus was baptized."

The Mount of Temptation

After Mass, we got back on the bus and headed for the Mount of Temptation, traditionally believed to be the place where Jesus went into the desert after His baptism to be tempted by Satan for 40 days. The hike up to the Greek Monastery, known as Qarantal, protruding from the rock high above Jericho, was not as daunting as it looked from below - a mere 20 minute walk from the parking lot.

 

At the entrance of the monastery, a Franciscan deacon read the account of Jesus' temptation before we entered for a short visit. We walked through the narrow passageway that connects the entire monastery, and were treated to some refreshments and snacks, courtesy of the Orthodox Monks who take care of the monastery. We then had a quick peek at the few modest chapels and caves carved into the rock in this masterpiece of monastic architecture, before heading back down to the bus towards our last top of the day.

Lunch at the Jericho Parish

We ended where we began, on the lawn of the parish church of Jericho. Friars and guests were treated by the local Palestinian Christian community to a fantastic lunch of grilled meats, Arabic salads (including the obligatory hummus and eggplant spread), and various baked goods. It was a light time of casual conversation, old and new encounters with much good humor and laughter, and the sharing of experiences in many languages: in addition to the lingue franche of the day, Italian and Arabic, one also heard plenty of Spanish, French, English, Hebrew, and other tongues.

In a time of conflict and turmoil in the Middle East, it was a mini-reversal of the Tower of Babel and actualization of the unity and fraternity of Pentecost. This was most visible at the end of the day, when some of the Franciscans got together to sing songs in their various languages. The improvised talent show crowned a day well spent celebrating the beginning of Jesus' ministry and our own participation in the mystery of His life, death and resurrection.

 

View the photo album of the Franciscan Pilgrimage to the Jordan River

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Posted by Sister Florence OSC