Holy Thursday 2017: Service and Love

Image: “The Washing of the Feet” by Ghislaine Howard (2004)

Service and love – two key themes for reflection on the feast of the Lord’s Supper, that we celebrate today, this Holy Thursday.

To love without service is not really love, because love calls us out of ourselves and into the other. To serve without love might work for a little while, but it inevitably brings difficulties, because the mere doing of tasks that do not come from a place of love eventually bears nothing.

It is my personal prayer for each one of you, and in holding the memory of Marie Madeleine whose feast was 5th April, that love and service be part of your daily activity. My own heart is filled with love and gratitude at being able to serve in my own way, through these blog posts. With blessings for you, this Triduum, and toward Easter.

Sincerely

Geralyn

FCJ Mission and Identity Promoter

13 November (Feast of St Stanislaus Kostka): Thank You for Saying ‘Yes’

Today (13 November) is the feast of St Stanislaus Kostka SJ, patron saint of novices. I admit that I am not familiar with this saint, apart from hearing his name in passing, and upon some research, discovered that he died at the young age of seventeen. Despite his short life, and even shorter time still, within the Society of Jesus (he entered as a novice in October 1567, and died August 1568), we can still see in him, values and virtues to be admired and imitated. As such, we pause to remember and pray for all who have said ‘yes’ to God’s calling, as religious, and especially our novices within the Society of Sisters, FCJ. We thank you for being open to the Spirit of God at work within your lives, and thank you for choosing to say yes and accept the gifts and challenges that life holds.

Surrender does not come easy to most of us, yet in all of us, we are called to do just this. It is not just for those discerning a vocation, or for the youth, because we are all called to surrender to the greater dream God has for us. It takes humility and trust to be empty vessels in which to carry living water. And it takes courage and strength to be open to the workings of love within us and for us.

We continue to pray and work for the building of God’s kingdom through the formation of people. We continue to say ‘yes’ and to say, ‘thank you,’ especially to our novices and those in training.

 

Day 23 of #31DaysWithIgnatius

#Day23of31WithIggy: Gratitude is countercultural.

The development of today’s post was particularly challenging because I have been confronted with very strong feelings of anger and disappointment at the actions of someone very close to me.
This occurrence has seen me read over a chapter in my class notes on “Ignatian Discernment and Decision-making,” (I know I’m such a nerd!) in search of the terminology to articulate this particular movement of the #Spirit.

Briefly put, the way of Christ is #countercultural. The devil seduces and tricks us into believing that we are entitled to x, y, z in a consumerist ideology and that we deserve things. Of course we have rights, but the distortion lies in the soleness of taking; without the awareness of where it comes from; that it is a gift in itself from God. (Think, Principle and Foundation, SpEx No. 23)

So although today has brought about its challenges, I am #grateful for them. Human emotions, especially the less-celebrated ones like anger, sadness and disappointment, have their place and purpose. For me, that place is with God; always with God, who is always with me. #ThankYou

#IgnatianSpirituality #31dayswithIgnatius #spex #spex23 #principleandfoundation #31dayswithIgnatius #emotion #anger #counterculture #Jesus #faith #discernment #bemagis #bemore #bemorehuman

In celebration of Ignatian Spirituality, and to mark the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola (31 July), I have taken on the challenge of posting a picture a day that speaks to me of the lessons learned from all things ‘Ignatian’; including ‘finding God in all things.’ Here it is, as posted on Instagram (@fcjAustralia).

Day 17 of #31DaysWithIgnatius

Here is tonight’s glorious #sunset; which when coupled with this #prayer by@jamesmartinsj, makes for an invitation to an #examen:

“Who did I love today, God?
Who did you let me love?
Who did you call me to love?
Who was difficult to love?
Who loved me?

Thank you.”

#IgnatianSpirituality
#ignatian
#spirituality #magis #fgiat #nature #sky#FcjSisters #australia #winter #love#gratitude #amdg

In celebration of Ignatian Spirituality, and to mark the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola (31 July), I have taken on the challenge of posting a picture a day that speaks to me of the lessons learned from all things ‘Ignatian’; including ‘finding God in all things.’ Here it is, as posted on Instagram (@fcjAustralia).

Day 11 of #31DaysWithIgnatius

Today’s#Ignatian theme borrows from a quote from#Fcj foundress, Marie Madeleine d’Houët, who as superior of the society, wrote letters to her communities. In a letter dated #1839, she wrote: “I order her to look after herself and send her, as I am telling you to do, some #chocolate and some wine.” I believe this is a term known as #curapersonalis or care of the whole self. Since I’m unwell, may this action be my contemplation.

 

In celebration of Ignatian Spirituality, and to mark the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola (31 July), I have taken on the challenge of posting a picture a day that speaks to me of the lessons learned from all things ‘Ignatian’; including ‘finding God in all things.’ Here it is, as posted on Instagram (@fcjAustralia).

Day 8 of #31DaysWithIgnatius

 

St Ignatius said to his #Jesuits – “Go, set the world on fire!” No, not literally, but apostolically. Go and live the #magis – the #more – in a way that seeks to know Christ more fully, to love him more deeply and to follow him more passionately.

Even in the small quiet moments, one can still #celebrate with #joy and #gratitude. And #sparkle.

In celebration of Ignatian Spirituality, and to mark the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola (31 July), I have taken on the challenge of posting a picture a day that speaks to me of the lessons learned from all things ‘Ignatian’; including ‘finding God in all things.’ Here it is, as posted on Instagram (@fcjAustralia).

REFLECTION: Companionship on this Feast of St Ignatius

Today is the 31st of July, marking the feast day of St Ignatius, founder of the Society of Jesus and father of ‘Ignatian spirituality.’

As one associated with the Asia-Australian province of the FCJ Society, an order of Catholic women religious, who live according to the Ignatian principles, this day is not without its celebration. But furthermore, as an individual person who professes discipleship and faith, I am invited into companionship with God, who is found in all things.

I have been reminded of this in a very simple way today when I received the company of ‘boss-extraordinaire’ and friend, Maureen, on her return from her two-month trip overseas. How blessed we human beings are as a specie, to be gifted with the grace of intentional companionship that we so often take for granted!

What this enabled me to see is that even in the midst of an ordinary visit from one person to another, even in the passing of one smile to another, we can see and are invited into the loving relationship that is union with God.

And in a spirit of gratitude, not unlike that of St Ignatius in the Suspice, we acclaim:

You have given all to me.
To You, Lord, I return it.

Where have you found God today? Where are you being called into companionship today?

One Way to Pray: Articulating Desire

Some unwelcome anxiety visited me recently. I grew restless, bothered and even fearful. But then I recalled a song and let it play, and soon this prayer became my prayer and the anxiety fleeted.

What I learnt here is that one way of praying is by being open and availing in oneself, space for the Spirit to work. Furthermore, this doesn’t always require words or gestures, merely presence and sincere desire.

God will take care of the rest.

This is my desire:
To honour you.

In my waking at first light.

Through each task before me,
Whether a challenge or easy.

In every word and thought
Every blessing and every greeting
In every grit and every grace

No matter the score
In victories or loss
In worry or doubt
In confidence or contentment

Until the cloak of night
At the end of the day.

This is my desire:
To honour you.

Where have you been open to God?

Insight: Eternal Communion

It is by the love of God through his incarnate Son, joined in the Spirit that we are here. We are social beings, community-seekers and home-makers.

I found this insight cause for meditation tonight, so I share it with you.

I am created for eternal communion.

21 September 2014: Happy Birthday, Marie Madeleine

We were driving through the French countryside as Sr Mary Campion told us about the caring quality of Madame d’Houët. This was not news to us since we know that as a landowner, mentor,  founderess and caregiver,  she was a woman who looked after and cared for  the many in her charge.

What did occur to me however was that in the midst of hard work and discipline, Marie Madeleine ensured and encouraged that those in her care took Sundays off to picnic, play games and simply enjoy each other’s company. Her love for dancing as well as playing with the many children in her domain taught me that life for this woman, was ultimately for living and for celebrating, echoing the gratuitous joy expressed in the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius:

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my understanding, my memory and my will. You have given all to me, and I return them. Give me only your love and your grace, for that is enough for me.

How have you celebrated today?

I know that for two of our FCJs in Melbourne, they celebrated their own birthdays with their sisters gathered around them with cream sponge cake.

For other companions, glasses were raised in memory of Marie Madeleine.

As for me, although I had a very sombre and much-needed day of rest, I now have champagne to sip on as I wind down for the evening with my husband and children.

Thank you, chère Marie Madeleine, for reminding me that life is for living and for celebrating, no matter how unceremoniously. That we take time to to pause and reflect and ponder the gifts given to us in this world is grace enough,  don’t you think? What are your thoughts?