Today is a “double header” for us as Sisters of Notre Dame! Not only do we join the Church in celebrating the feast of St. Therese of Lisieux, but we also celebrate our congregational Foundation Day.
Both celebrations highlight for me the importance of doing little things well. Hilligonde and Elisabeth did the little things involved in teaching each day and caring for the children. Therese offered the little things of her daily
convent life and sufferings. For each of them, the little things were their way of showing great love and following in the footsteps of Jesus.
These women give me courage and hope for living a holy life – doing little things is within my reach. My prayer today is that they will intercede for me the grace to see that it really is the little things done well that can make a difference in our world.
What “little thing” has someone done for you lately that has truly touched your life?
“Humility, a little virtue, because it loves the shade and annihilation, blossoms only in great souls.” (Mgr. L. Giraud) I was given this quote thirty-five years ago by my novice director and wondered what on Earth she was thinking!
I’ve been reading the Rule of Benedict and the other day came to his rather lengthy chapter on, you guessed it, HUMILITY! Benedict says: “We descend by exaltation and we ascend by humility.” Up is down and down is up! In her commentary, Joan Chittister, OSB says: “Humility … is the basis for right relationships in life.” My meditation led me to see that humility has to do with knowing our place within the universe. It has to do with realizing we are not God. It has to do with respecting the other. It has to do with claiming and using our own gifts, without pretense, and without pride. It has to do with justice, with truth, and with integrity.
Hmmmm …. Thirty-five years later I’m beginning to wonder if this is such a “little virtue” after all! Be on the lookout for where humility could blossom today. Notice it in your own life. Cultivate it. Sow its seeds in your home and workplace. Nurture right relationships with God, with your neighbor, and with all of creation!
This morning I sat with Psalm 23. It’s a familiar one to all of us, a psalm of comfort. “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” Most of us could recite much of it by heart. Today what struck me was the line “You prepare a table before me.” The first tables I thought of were the Eucharistic table and the tables at which we are fed and nourished as families, as communities. But another thought came to me: “What are all the other tables prepared for me today?”
As evening comes, I reflect on these tables of grace where I was fed and nourished: at the Eucharist … at lunchtime when we celebrated a retreatant’s 86th birthday … sharing some McDonald’s gift cards with a homeless man and receiving his hug in return … answering the phone and receiving good news about the health of one of our aged monks … speaking with a future monastery guest and discovering we have a friend in common … feeling grateful for someone listening to my story … feasting my eyes on a double rainbow before supper … and assuredly countless more! Indeed, I shall not want!
What tables were prepared for you today?
Listen for His call.
L-I-S-T-E-N. S-I-L-E-N-T. E-N-L-I-S-T. All three words have the same letters. All three words make a great way to live one’s Christian life. LISTEN to what God wants of you from the good desires of your hearts, your talents, and the affirmation you receive. Be SILENT and let the mystery of Christ penetrate your inmost being, deepening your awareness of God’s closeness. Then ENLIST in taking up the ministry God asks whether it’s the day’s mission or a lifetime discipleship. All three words can become your prayer for today. LISTEN. SILENT. ENLIST. AMEN.
Bishop Albert Ottenweller enetered eternal life early yesterday morning. When I heard this news later yesterday, I couldn’t help but thank God for the gift that he has been to so many. Bishop Ottenweller truly loved people and truly loved the Church. He loved the People of God.
So many of our Sisters’ paths have crossed the Bishop’s path over the years, including his sister (Sister Mary Jogues) and his nieces (Sister Mary Dean and Sister Diane Marie) all of whom are members of our community. I recall many times when he would stop by for a visit with them and with all of us.
My most recent memories of the Bishop include many weekday Masses at the Cathedral where he would celebrate Mass for us. One of the parishioners has aptly named him “Our Friend, the Bishop.” He cared for all of us and helped us to enjoy the simple things in life.
I have no doubt he will continue his presence among us and intercede many blessings for us – just from a slightly different place. May he know the joy of eternal life!
How was Bishop Ottenweller a blessing in your life?
I’ve been reading the Rule of Benedict …. Benedict really does not like grumblers … complainers … he has little use for such smallness in the monastic life. Joan Chittister, OSB, in her reflection on this part of the Rule, says this about the complainers and grumblers in community life: “We become a living lamentation. We become a lump of spiritual cement around the neck of the group.” WOW! Have you ever met a “living lamentation?” What about a “lump of spiritual cement?” We might call them “sad sacks.” I’ve met a few in my life;
in fact this morning even before I read the Rule’s segment for the day, I was actually praying for one, that this person might know a bit of JOY in life. This is Sunday … the Lord’s Day … a day for joy … a day for relaxation … a day to spread some good cheer … a few laughs …. We might take a moment to call to mind a person or two who fits that description of a “living lamentation” and lift her / him up in prayer. Drop by for a visit. Take something homemade and delicious. Pick a flower and share it. Be on the lookout for opportunities to share your joy. And watch how it brightens YOUR life too!
Today many of the educators of the Toledo Diocese are gathered for
an inservice at Seagate Center here in Toledo. Our Sisters are among this group of professionals who continue to daily offer our young people the hope of a promising future.
Education has always played a significant role in who we are as Sisters of Notre Dame. Sister Maria Aloysia and our first Coesfeld Sisters were professional educators even before they entered religious life. They were formed in the spirit of Fr. Bernard Overberg for whom school learning and faith were deeply connected. Overberg recognized the dignity of both student and educator and advocated an education that was clearly linked to daily life. We continue today to educate in his spirit and principles.
I am most grateful for our Sisters and collaborators who educate in many different venues. They offer an invaluable gift and truly make a difference in our world! Thank you!
Who is a teacher who has made a difference in your life and has helped you to change the world for the better?
My brother and sister-in-law were in a serious car accident this past week. We are so fortunate that they are on the road to recovery and doing well. It’s amazing how life can change in a matter of seconds.
As we navigated this past week with them through emergency rooms, surgeries, physical therapy and rehab, I was touched once again with the reality of how very fragile the gift of life is and how much I take for granted. Their new struggles shed a very different light on my small aches and pains, fatigue and busy schedule. I don’t want to miss this opportunity to be renewed in gratitude for the life I’ve been given. God is indeed very, very good.
I’m also aware in a new way of the tremendous support system we have among family, friends, co-workers, Sisters and so many others. It’s good to know we have wonderful companions on our journey through life.
May you experience in some small way today a renewed awareness and gratitude for the amazing gift of life.
Recently I noticed how often in Scripture Jesus experienced rejection. Passages were easy to find: the skepticism of religious leaders, the disciples who left after the Bread of Life discourse, the choice of Barabbas over Jesus, even the feeling of abandonment by his Father, and many more.
But Jesus does not reject. I can imagine Jesus saying to us when we feel rejection:
“There is nothing you can do that would cause me to reject you. No, today and always you are my friend, and I will stand by you. I will not only stand by you, I will protect you, guide you, help you in your decisions. I am not a magician that will make your problems disappear. I am not a repairman who will fix every mistake. But I am one who loves you intensely.”
I’ve been reading the Rule of Benedict …. This morning Joan Chittister, OSB ended her commentary on today’s reading from The Rule with this: “Imagine a world that was run by holy listeners.” I began to think about the gift of “holy listening.” I reflected on the places I’ve been in the past few days … here at the monastery … up the road at the Family Dollar store … in our teeny tiny post office … at San Antonio parish … at a local restaurant … at a busy Jiffy Lube … in very ordinary places with very ordinary people. In each place I can truly say I experienced the gift of holy listening! Wouldn’t that be something if we could say that about every place we go? Today I’m going to try to give that gift to someone along the way. How about you?