INSPIRATION FROM THE IMITATION OF CHRIST

Photo: R. Massaro (C)Spirit Singing

In silence and stillness the devout soul advances and learns the hidden truths of Scripture. There it finds the salutary tears that wash away the guilt of sin, so that it grows more intimate with God as it severs itself from the clamor of the world. The more you keep away from friends and acquaintances, the more our Lord and His Angels will draw near to you.

The Imitation of Christ, Book 1:6.







Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

The Fruits of the Holy Spirit-Fifth Hymn of Virtue: Kindness

Photo: R. Massaro (c)2017SpiritSinging

 “The Lord's kindness is everlasting

 to those that fear him.” (Psalm 103)

Continuing this series on the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, let's take a closer look at the fruit or virtue of kindness.

We might first ask the question, “What is kindness?” When reflecting on this virtue, it seems to get lost somewhere between gentleness and patience, two distinct fruits of the Spirit. According to the definition in the dictionary, kindness describes a person who exhibits love, affection, and a gentle nature. In our spiritual life dictionary, we agree with this definition but also want to take it to a higher level, a level of the Spirit. Kindness is a holy attribute of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Recently, I watched a repeat of EWTN Live with Mother Angelica. Toward the end of the program, there was a caller who seemed to make an impression on Mother Angelica. Although the caller was troubled by something, her voice was gentle and peaceful. Mother Angelica remarked on this, saying something to the effect, “Be very grateful for your gift of gentleness, my dear. Many people work very hard for what seems to come very naturally for you.” We could take her statement and insert any one of the gifts or fruits of the Spirit-we could say, "be very grateful for the gift of patience, be very grateful for the gift of kindness, because many spiritual people desire these gifts." And it is sad to say, but many people never receive these gifts in this life. Why? Attraction to worldly desires and pleasures are stronger than a desire for prayer and self-denial that bring about virtue in the soul.

In St. Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle, she teaches us that the soul in the second mansion is not content with staying there and not because they want to advance. They do not want to advance because they are still attracted to the world and to sin.

This stage pertains to those who have already begun to practice prayer and have understood how important it is not to stay in the first dwelling places. But they still don't have the determination to remain in this second stage without turning back, for they don't avoid the occasions of sin. 
Interior Castle, II:1

If a person dies in this state, he must be purified in the holy fire of Purgatory. Once God purifies his heart, he receives all the gifts of the Holy Spirit in their full glory, and the soul is prepared for the beatific vision. 

When speaking of spiritual gifts that we do possess, we must be very careful that we do not take credit for any virtue or gift that God has bestowed upon us. We could boast and say we obtained such and such a gift by our own efforts at prayer. We must be careful not to steal the Lord's glory. If we must boast, we must boast in the Lord (I Cor 1:31). Remember, God chooses the weak to shame the strong. We must remain humble in the sight of the Lord.

If we know a person who is kind, they will most likely be gentle and patient and loving as well. The fruits of the Holy Spirit could be likened to inseparable friends. When you see one, you see the other!

Photo: R. Massaro (C)2017 SpiritSinging Upper Basilica Lourdes, France

The meeting between Our Lady of Lourdes and Bernadette has always impressed me. Bernadette was lowly in the eyes of the world. She was poor and uneducated. Yet, Our Lady appeared to her and showed her great kindness, saying to her:  “Would you do me the favor of coming here for fifteen days?” Bernadette said that no one in her life had ever spoken to her with such great kindness. 

May we imitate the beautiful kindness of Our Lady when we deal with others. May we be especially kind to those who are looked at unfavorably by our society. May we offer them the sweet fruit of the Spirit and share with them what the Lord has given to us: His love, mercy, and kindness!

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

The Power of the Holy Spirit-in the hand of the Bishop

Photo: R. Massaro (c)2017 Spirit Singing-St. Joseph Church Dover, Ohio

Many parishes during this time of year are celebrating the sacrament of Confirmation.  A lot of preparation takes place before the event. The children and adults, the confirmandi, as they are referred to, must be given instruction before they stand before the bishop ready to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

I was confirmed in 1969. The way the sacrament is conferred has changed since I was a young girl. I was confirmed at the age of 12, now teens are a little older when they are confirmed. Today, the candidates stand before the bishop as he or she is confirmed. On October 16, 1969, I knelt before Bishop Clarence Elwell to be confirmed. I also remember being told that as the bishop confirmed me he would slap me on the cheek!  As children, we were petrified about this part of the ceremony. We wondered, will the bishop actually hit us? Will it hurt? We didn't know what to expect, only to brace ourselves for the blow!

I remember walking up the aisle of the church, in a long procession of candidates to be confirmed. At the time, it seemed like two miles until I would reach the altar. I was in procession, behind my uncle, an adult convert, who was beaming with joy, ready to be confirmed.

My mother had helped me with trying to choose a saint for my confirmation name. She told me stories about the saints, which I found fascinating. I remember the agony I went through in trying to decide between St. Bernadette and St. Margaret Mary. I finally decided on St. Bernadette, but as Divine Providence would have it, I was confirmed on the feast of St. Margaret Mary. 

Continuing with my memory of approaching the bishop...I remember kneeling before the bishop and announcing my confirmation name of Bernadette, he anointed me and gently patted my cheek. All that worry over nothing! The power of the the Holy Spirit, through the hand of the bishop, was imparted gently and tenderly with a soft pat on the cheek. 

Let us pray that the Holy Spirit continue to work in our lives. Let us pray that He imparts all of his gifts on us. Gifts that are needed to live with Him in the company of all the angels and saints forever. 

I'll be re-posting a series on the Holy Spirit I wrote a few years ago. These meditations about the gifts of the Holy Spirit are in light of Carmelite spirituality. I hope you are blessed by these posts.


Seven Songs of the Spirit-First Song: Wisdom

https://rosemarie-spiritsinging.blogspot.com/2008/07/seven-songs-of-spirit.html




Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

SPIRITUAL LIFE DICTIONARY

TODAY'S TERM: HEROIC VIRTUE

Photo: R. Massaro, St. Henry Church Nashville, Tennessee

Our Lady: Full of Grace and model of virtue

In a previous post, I touched on the subject of heroic virtue. Many Catholics believe that a person is canonized because of mystical gifts or supernatural phenomena.  However, this is not the case. A person is canonized because they led a heroic Christian life and possessed all of the virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit. We know that it takes a very long time for someone to be raised to the Altar and be recognized as a Saint in the Church. It takes a long time because the Church investigates the person's life, their writings, their verbal statements, etc. If witnesses are still living, they are interviewed to help determine if the person led a holy and virtuous life. And, as I stated in a previous post, the Church does not canonize a person because they possessed one virtue, they must possess all of the virtues. 

While discussing this subject, we should make it clear that we are not speaking of natural virtues, those good habits that are acquired through repetition. While this is good, we are speaking of infused virtue. Infused virtue, a gift of God's grace, makes supernatural acts possible, although not necessarily easy, that is why it is considered heroic. The saintly soul cooperates with God's gift and responds in charity when it is clearly not easy.

We could read the lives of the saints and recount each story of the unique gift of heroism particular to that saint. But for the moment, let's bring sanctity into the modern day world. For example, a person in the work place, who is known as a Christian, is ridiculed for their faith day after day after day. The person being ridiculed, in turn, responds in charity, day after day after day. The person ridiculed also does not lose his joy or peace over the mistreatment. This is an example of heroic virtue.

The late Fr. Thomas Dubay, S.M. is a scholar on this subject. He states that there are five traits of heroic virtue. This is from his classic, The Fire Within:

We may indicate five traits that signal when a virtue is practiced to a heroic degree. The first is that one does what is to be done even in difficult or excruciating circumstances. We love truth heroically not simply when we accept Jesus' and the Church's teaching in ordinarily difficult or unpopular circumstances but even if we must undergo persecution or martyrdom rather than deny it...

The next three traits can be grouped together: one acts promptly,easily and joyously. The saint does not delay or procrastinate in reacting in a humble manner or in loving an annoying neighbor. The correct response comes readily and easily, as if by second nature, for it is part of the new creation produced by the indwelling Trinity. What needs to be done is done joyously as well, and for the same reason: one is living a new life...

The fifth trait of heroic virtue is habitual constancy. The preceding characteristics are found not simply on an isolated occasion when one may conceivably act with an apparent ease and joy (prompted possibly by pride or a vain defiance) but are customarily observed in whatever situation calls for the virtue in question. This is the kind of sanctity the Church looks for and requires in her canonization processes. It is a result of reaching the summit of union. 

Dubay, Thomas, S.M. The Fire Within. San Francisco: Ignatius, 1989. Print.

St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila) warns us that we should be constantly on guard that we do not give up prayer and thus lose virtue. Let us pray for each other, that the Holy Spirit give us a great desire for sanctity. 

St. Augustine's Prayer to the Holy Spirit:

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,

That my thoughts may all be holy.

Act in me, O Holy Spirit,

That my works, too, may be holy.

Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,

That I love but what is holy.

Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,

To defend all that is holy.

Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,

That I always may be holy. Amen.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

THREE WORDS OF WISDOM

A HAPPY DEATH

SS. Cosmas & Damian Church-Twinsburg, Ohio
St. Joseph-Patron of a Happy Death

For the person on the road of spiritual perfection, the thought of death should be on one's mind daily. Keeping the goal of heaven in mind helps us to make choices throughout the day that are pleasing to the Lord. We are pleasing to him when we try to respond in charity to the challenges of every day life. We please him by forgiving and showing mercy to our neighbor. We please him by bearing patiently our own sufferings and trials, as well as helping others to bear their sufferings patiently.

There are many spiritual books with the theme of preparing for death. St. Alphonsus Liguori wrote a book with that actual title, Preparation for Death.  It is an excellent book that I would highly recommend. However, recently, I picked up one of my favorite spiritual books, The Imitation of Christ, and opened to the meditation in Chapter 23 entitled, Meditation on Death.  In my opinion, it is one of the best spiritual pieces written on helping the soul to prepare for death.  Here are some excerpts from the chapter:

The Hour of death will soon come for you. See to it that you spend your time here well. There is a common saying that human beings are here today and gone tomorrow. And once they are out of sight, they are soon forgotten.

How dull we are and hard of heart, for we think only of the present and make little provision for the life hereafter! If you were wise, you would so order your life as though you were to die before the day is over.

If it is frightening to die, it may be more dangerous to live long. You are truly blessed if you keep the hour of your death before you and prepare yourself for it. If you ever saw anyone die, remember that you too must travel the same path...

Strive to do good deeds while you are well, for when you are sick you do not know what you will be able to do. Sickness does not often change us for the better. Also, few are sanctified by making many pilgrimages...

How many people will remember you and pray for you once you are dead?

Attend to those things that are to God's honor and glory. Honor the Saints and follow their example and you will have friends waiting to receive you into everlasting dwellings (Lk 16:9) when your life here is ended.
The Imitation of Christ, Thomas A Kempis

In point number 4 of his meditation. He states there are 6 things the wise person seeks to obtain a happy death:

1.  A perfect contempt of the world
2.  An ardent desire to progress in virtue
3.  A love of discipline
4.  A prompt obedience
5.  A denial of self
6.  A patient bearing of all adversities for the love of Christ

Let us pray to Our Lady through the powerful prayer of the Rosary to help us at the hour of our death: ...Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

PRAYER OF BLESSED CARDINAL NEWMAN
FOR A HAPPY DEATH
FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 9


Oh, my Lord and Savior, 
support me in that hour
in the strong arms of your Sacraments,
and by the fresh fragrance of your consolations.
Let the absolving words be said over me,
and the holy oil sign and seal me,
and your own Body be my food,
and your Blood my sprinkling;
and let my sweet Mother, Mary, breathe on me,
and my Angel whisper peace to me,
and my glorious Saints (NN.) smile upon me;
that in them all, and through them all,
I may receive the gift of perseverance,
and die, as I desire to live,
in your faith, in your Church, in your service,
and in your love. Amen.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

The Fruits of the Holy Spirit-Seventh Hymn of Virtue: Faithfulness

The Seventh Hymn of Virtue:

FAITHFULNESS

Faithfulness or fidelity is the perfect virtue of Justice. This fruit gives us the grace to give to everyone what is due him. For instance, the unborn have the right to life. It is our duty to protect that life. If we are married, our spouse is due fidelity and mutual respect on our part.

As secular Carmelites we are expected to be faithful to our promises. Students are expected to give their teachers the proper attention and respect. These are just a few examples of faithfulness.

To be faithful requires humility and docility of spirit. At times we may not "feel" like giving someone their due, but we must die to ourselves and our ego and let go of always having to have our own way.

Let us think for a moment of how God is faithful to us (keep in mind He owes us nothing). For he is faithful in so many ways!

We could talk forever about God's great mercy. I think another definition of faithfulness would be steadfast love and to me steadfast love is nothing short of mercy.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his mercy endures forever!

(Psalm 118)

What a glorious statement: God's mercy endures forever! This gives the sinner great hope and consolation that even though our sins be scarlet, they can be white as snow through the mercy and forgiveness of our Father.

Think of the faithfulness of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture tells us that Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. Sometimes we get confused thinking that God is like us--thankfully he is not. We know from scripture and from our personal experience with God through the Sacraments that he is slow to anger, abounding in kindness, full of gentleness and compassion. These are attributes of the Father that we see in the portrait of Our Lord as painted in the Sermon on the Mount.

I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you.

Think of Jesus' faithfulness in his remaining with us in the Holy Eucharist and in all the Sacraments of the Church.

The Holy Spirit gives us the grace of faithfulness to help each other. It is an act of charity to give others their due. If someone has a legitimate right to something, we have a serious obligation to try and fulfill it. Let's also keep in mind that the fruits of the Spirit are acts of virtue. For it to be a holy act, it must be selfless and pure. Let us pray for each other, that the Holy Spirit create in us clean and pure hearts for service to God and our neighbor.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

Spiritual Life Dictionary

Today's Term:

MORTIFICATION

Mortification, then, may be defined as the struggle against our evil inclinations in order to subject them to the will, and the will to God. It is not so much a virtue as an ensemble of virtues--the first degree of all the virtues--which consists in overcoming the obstacles that stand in the way so as to restore to our faculties their lost balance and reestablish among them their right order. Thus it is easily seen that mortification is not an end in itself, but a means to an end. We mortify ourselves only to live a higher life; we despoil ourselves of external goods only the better to lay hold of spiritual goods; we renounce self but to possess God; we struggle but to obtain peace; we die to ourselves but to live the life of Christ, the life of God. Hence, the end of mortification is union with God.

The Spiritual Life, By Fr. Adolphe Tanquerey, #754

(click on photo for Stations of the Cross)

This definition of mortification as an ensemble of virtue will help us in our continued study of the fruits of the spirit also known as virtues. My next post on the fruits will take a closer look at the fruit of "Faithfulness."

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS