Comments for Welcome

• Colleen A. Cericola

  Jul 07, 2010

  I received the letter about the sad news of the Passionist Spiritual Center. Something good needs to happen as a result of this because God is always good everywhere we go if but we call upon His name. Financially these last two years have been very tough. I was on a sabbatical in 08 through 09 which put me in a lot of debt. I tried to get a small group of women to come on retreat and was not successful. I will try again. I will pray for all of you. Fr. Paul and Fr. Michael definitely had a great impact on my spiritual growth. Thank you. Today is the Feast day of St. Maria Goretti. Some years back I remember raising my hand in Mass acknowledging to God that I would like to be a saint. I know the Passionists had an impact on Maria's spiritual life. Please pray for me and hopefully I will see you soon. God Bless You.

• Erica

  May 09, 2012

  or done bad words, actions, atttiudes…•When we’ve been hurt…•When we’re confused, doubting, discouraged……it is a human inclination to avoid God at these timesWe saw it very early in our Story•In the Garden, Adam hid from God•I’m naked. That ashamed me. I hide from You But the first movement in prayer we’re talking about is to come to God honestly.Let’s break it into two parts1. come to God2. be honest w/ where we areWe see both of these in the psalms of lament•It is profoundly spiritual to come to God when in a tough place•It is profoundly spiritual to be honest w/ where we areSTORYI was reading a story of a spiritual leader recentlyNot his words, but he was processing what we’ve been talking about…Spiritual journey as a dance, a song of call/responseAnd he was rethinking prayer in light of this way of thinking about spiritual journey•One day, on way home from appt w/ someone in his community•Begins to pray… to hold that person before God•Lord, I met w/ Jane today.•She’s having difficult time because of XYZ”•Lord, may she keep her focus on you during this difficult season•and Lord, may she…”And he said, “but I caught myself…”•Here I am asking God to do stuff•Here I am functioning out of the “prayer gets God to do stuff” paradigm, the very one I’m so tired ofHere I am wanting to be more of a listener/learner w/ God…And first thing out of my mouth is a God-Fix-This-Problem monologue•There was nothing of listening, responding, dancing, call/response•No wonder about God’s heart, mind, ways•It was simply me all primed and ready to start spouting off the right religious words•Had em all lined upThere may/may not be time to ask God to do something in Jane’s life•But first, I simply want to be present to the Divine SpiritSo I set myself to 1) come to God, and 2) be honest w/ where I was1. come to God2. be honest w/ where we areSo, he said, I began to disclose my heart to God•God, I appreciate Jane•When I’m with her she never makes me feel like I have to be the “leader-guy,” like I’m obligated to do the leader-thing for her•She has such a soft heart, she is so humble•God, I like her, and I feel bad that she’s having a hard time•I want to jump right in and help her out•That’s where I am, God•It’s a privilege to know her, it’s a good part of my life to get to walk this closely with such good people•And I have a strong “fix the problem” impulse going on inside meThat’s where I was, he said…•So I told God about it•I came to God as honestly as I knew how•I’m sure God didn’t learn anything He didn’t already know•But somehow just telling God where I was, I felt closer to him•I came to God, not as a servant, hat in hand, trying to get the master to attend to some matter that needed tending•Instead, I came to God as a friendI opened a dialogue built on a different foundation•God is already at work in Jane’s life•God is already up to something in this challenge, this difficult time•And now, I’m just talking to God in a way that may open the possibility of learning what that isSimply coming to God and talking about where I am•Simply being as honest as I can be w/ myself…•Somehow, it made me more present to the moment•More present to Jane•More present to GodWe began w/ a psalm of lament•We did so because talking about the hard times are the most difficult times to bring ourselves honestly before God•When my life circumstances are very, very difficult…•When I’m embroiled in pain, conflict, challenge, emotion…•When fear or shame are nearly swamping me…Like Adam, our disposition is often to hide from GodSo when times are simpler, less demanding…When we’re not overrun by challenge and difficulty…These are the times to practice the first movement of a different kind of prayer1) Come to God; 2) be as honest as I can w/ where I amAnd if I do this in the simple timesIt becomes a habit, a patternA prayer practice1. Come to God2. Be as honest as I can w/ where I amThose who have done this have found a pattern…•When we present ourselves to God•When we 1) come to Him…engage ourselves w/ the Divine Spirit•And 2) report the honest state of being inside usNot obsessing or doing self-analysis about our subconscious…Simply reporting to God our state of being…we open ourselves to dance w/ GodWe tune ourselves to the songWe make ourselves available to the conversationSometimes the coming to God can be quite ordinary, mundane•Not being dramatic in any way, we tend to overlook the value of this first movement in prayer•But again, it is in the ordinary and mundane that the pattern is set•It is here we determine if we will be able to come to God in times of lamentPerhaps, like this spiritual leader relating around the needs of a member of his community•Your honesty reporting would simply catalogue state of being•And in so doing…“I just felt closer to God”“I was more present to the moment, to God, to Jane…”Or…Your reporting may be less shiny•God, I never even think to talk to you•I’m so engaged in my business, in my job, in my kids•You don’t even come to mindOr…God, You seem a million miles away. If I had to decide right now if you exist, on the basis of what I feel, I’d say no.•And on top of that, there’s very little inside me that even cares to changeOr…I’m really confused right now. I don’t know what to do about this crazy schedule our family, life, job demand of us.•I’m afraid the years will slip by, and we’ll have missed out on something very important.•I’m afraid, I’m trapped, I’m caught up in itOr…I’m feeling very good right now.•I’m filled w/ hope, I’m optimistic, I’m happy to be alive.And in each of these, we are …1) coming to God, and2) being honest w/ where we areNotice what this simple first movement in prayer will do…It makes you stop long enough to do an assessment of where we are•What am I feeling?•Where am I this moment?•What, of this I feel, is real? What is up for debate?Let’s say you set your drive time as a time for this talk w/ God•Or morning w/ a cup of coffee and you write your prayers out•Or whatever marker triggers you to return to the dance, the song……when you start by 1) coming to God, 2) being honest…You set the stage for prayer as dancing w/ God•You put yourself in a space to participate in the call/response of the Divine song•You’re making yourself available to experience Jesus described…no longer servants to God, but friendsSo…Movement One of prayer as a dance…1) come to God, often and regularly2) honestly present where you are (good, bad, and indifferent)Build on a different foundational assumption about prayer…Set the stage for a new experience of God…Let new prayer practices emerge