December 30, 2011

Reflection on the Spirit of the Sacred Heart December 30, 2011

Christmas in Faith  Christmas of peace,  Christmas of joy. A Child is born to us not only in a manger but in the heart of my neighbour. (From a poem by Ana Maria Gallart rscj, Province of Argentina-Uruguay)    (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/creative-space-publicmenu-35/3036-argentina-poem-by-ana-maria-gallart-rscj.html)

For Reflection...    Mary and Elizabeth each received a son who is pure gift, as is our charism. Let us have an attitude of deep gratitude for the gratuitousness of God in choosing to take on a human heart and to dwell among us. Let us open our eyes to the revelation of God's love in each one. Clare Pratt, rscj (Opening Conference - General Chapter 2008) (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/alerts-notshown-48/2429-december-25-2008.html)          Artwork by Lee Suki, rscj Korea          http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/creative-space-publicmenu-35/2618-korea--artwork-by-lee-suki-rscj.html

December 23, 2011

Reflection on the Spirit of the Sacred Heart December 23, 2011

Advent 1994 "And John sent asking Are You the One we are looking for?" We have so tinsel-towned the story that God's inbreaking Love' ceases to amaze us. We know the words so pat The Angel declared and Mary said. That God should so love the World To seed, fruit, bear that Love nine months enwombed till she brought forth The First born, God's love manifest. What is it? How is it? To bear God's Love? Easier to seek and name it outside but to bear it humanwise To see it in another's eyes - in the tenderness of lovers touch - - in the intimacy of heart - though Emmanuel - God-with-us. wished it so Is it not amazing? The Word is made Flesh.    (Poem by Anne Hine rscj, Province of England - Wales)    (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/creative-space-publicmenu-35/2597-various--poetry-by-anne-hine-rscj-carmen-smith-rscj-anna-mae-marheineke-rscj-helen-condon-rscj.html)

For Reflection...    The Lord himself, therefore, will give you a sign.  It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)  O Emmanuel   (O Antiphon for December 23) O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people: Come and set us free, Lord our god.    (For more information on the on the O Antiphons: http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0374.html)          The Cosmos Crown Jewels 2 by Angelina Vick           http://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-cosmos-crown-jewels-2-angelina-vick.html

December 16, 2011

Reflection on the Spirit of the Sacred Heart December 16, 2011

Prepare for his coming into your hearts, for that is why he came on earth:    to be born, to develop in your souls, and when the beautiful day of Christmas arrives    you will taste that peace the Angels announced to persons of good will. (St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, Conferences, II, 1855, p. 300)    (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/pray-with-sophie/celebrate-with-sophie/2700-second-sunday-of-advent-year-c.html)

For Reflection...    How am I preparing for the arrival of the Divine Gift? Am I open in my heart, in my spirit, in my life to see the Christ in others as well as myself? "Prepare the way of the Lord." (Luke 3, 4) How can I prepare the way of the Lord? I can go into a church and stay awhile; read regularly a passage from the Bible that refers to the coming of Jesus, Isaiah, for example; take some action that opens my heart to others; pay a visit that I have put off for a long time... From an online retreat by Marie-Thérèse Deprecq, rscj, France (The full text may be found here: http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/pray-with-sophie/celebrate-with-sophie/2700-second-sunday-of-advent-year-c.html)           Painting by Paz Rosales, rsj, Spain          http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/pray-with-sophie/celebrate-with-sophie/2700-second-sunday-of-advent-year-c.html

December 9, 2011

Weekly Reflection on the Spirit of the Sacred Heart December 9, 2011

I told them that for our Lord to be born in our hearts, we must empty them of all attachments... That to motivate ourselves, we ought to consider the infinite love of our divine Savior, who puts aside his glory to take a body like ours, to become a little child, and in such lovable guise to win our hearts. That if we want the divine Infant to be born in our hearts, we must get rid of all pride and all that could make his stay unhappy; we must go to him with confidence, for he does not inspire fear but rather love.       St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, Journal of Poitiers, p. 54    (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/pray-with-sophie/celebrate-with-sophie/2716-fourth-sunday-of-advent-year-c.html)

For Reflection...    Picture the scene: the meeting of two women, cousins; one is quite young but tired from a journey, the other is older. They are both expecting a child. Their faces show their joy at seeing each other. Ask for the grace to recognize the passage of the Lord in your life, the "visitations" of the Lord. The meeting calls forth a blessing. To bless is to wish well to another. Ask the Lord for the grace to bless, to put yourself out for a particular person. From an online retreat by Marie-Thérèse Deprecq, rscj, France (The full text may be found here: http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/pray-with-sophie/celebrate-with-sophie/2716-fourth-sunday-of-advent-year-c.html)           Painting of the Visitation by Arcabas           http://www.arcabas.com/accueil/index.php?lalangue=uk

December 2, 2011

Weekly Reflection on the Spirit of the Sacred Heart December 2, 2011

Advent is not only the time in which we name the darkness; it is also the time in which we refuse to dwell in this darkness. We ask for this grace of hope, through Christ our Lord. Amen Maureen Currie, rscj Province of Canada (The full text of Sister Currie's Advent reflection may be found here:  http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/reflections/212-december-2007/1610-advent-season-of-hope.html)

For Reflection...    As I hurry and scurry through so much of the holiday season, let me make time to be still, to be quiet and hear the Voice, to reconnect with God's promise and to rekindle the hope. Although creation is unfinished, still in the process of being born, it carries within, a secret hope.  And the hope is this: A day will come when we will be rescued from the pain of our limitation and incompleteness and be given our share in a freedom that can only belong to the children of God. At the present moment all creation is struggling as though in the pangs of childbirth. And that struggling creation includes even those of us who have had a taste of the spirit. We peer into the future with our limited vision, unable to see all that we are destined to be, yet believing because of a hope we carry so deep within.    Maureen Currie, rscj Province of Canada (The full text of Sister Currie's Advent reflection may be found here: http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/reflections/212-december-2007/1610-advent-season-of-hope.html)        Photograph of Sprout Creek Farm from Georgie Blaeser, rscj:          http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/creative-space-publicmenu-35/155-united-states--photography-by-georgie-blaeser-rscj.html