July 27, 2012

Reflection on the Spirit of the Sacred Heart July 27, 2012

I knew, then, there was neither flight nor death nor drowning. That when the sea comes calling you stop being good neighbors, Well-acquainted, friendly-from-a-distance neighbors. And you give your house for a coral castle, And you learn to breathe under water. From the poem, House by the Sea, by Carol Bialock, rscj    (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/creative-space-publicmenu-35/2600-usa--poetry-by-carol-bialock-rscj.html)

For Reflection...      Without water, human life cannot sustain. But we can be overwhelmed by it, overcome by it, founder and drown in it; or we can learn to be in it, to breathe in it, to trust in it - both water and life. As newborns we wail, our first lesson in adaptation, and so we continue, trusting ever in the Divine, believing the promise of God, I am with you always, breathe...     Photograph by Sandy Schadewal, rscj      http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/creative-space-publicmenu-35/943-united-states--photographs-by-sandy-schadewal-rscj.html

July 20, 2012

Reflection on the Spirit of the Sacred Heart July 20, 2012

To the season of Summer, God said: 'To you I will give the gift of growth. You shall live twixt Spring and Autumn. You shall inherit the gift of Spring as well as touch the gift of Autumn. You, with your gift of growth, shall be the bridge between life and death... And God smiled and saw that it was (all) good. From Seasons of Our Life, a reflection by Maureen Currie, rscj, Canada    (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/reflections/91-0804/394-winter--spring--summer--autumn.html)

For Reflection...      Lord, God, You come into our lives from beginning to end: in the dawn of anticipation; in the morning as life unfolds; in the noon days of growth, with success and failure, fear and comfort; in the twilight of harvesting with joy. Help us to be attentive to Your presence, and your gifted-ness at each 'season of our life' so that we respond generously and build your Kingdom of love. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen. From Seasons of Our Life, a reflection by Maureen Currie, rscj, Canada    (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/reflections/91-0804/394-winter--spring--summer--autumn.html)   Painting by Trinidad Alvarez, rscj    http://media.rscjinternational.org/general/whoweare/creativespace/resources/0409art/Trini03.jpg

July 13, 2012

Reflection on the Spirit of the Sacred Heart July 13, 2012

Loving after the manner of Jesus Christ is loving those we have been given, not just those we choose. Loving after the manner of Jesus Christ is learning to live without illusions and perhaps even with a measure of regret.  Loving after the manner of Jesus Christ is loving with Christ's unfailing love, with forgiveness, forbearance, evenness, generosity, and surely a dollop of humor when things get really tough. Kathleen Hughes, rscj, 2006 From a speech delivered in St. Louis for the Feast of St. Madeleine Sophie     (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/reflections/196-may-2007/1294-we-can-never-unite-ourselves-to-jesus-without-union-with-one-another.html)

For Reflection...      Charity for Madeleine Sophie Barat was not just one virtue among many others from which we might pick and choose; mutual love for her is the essence of our lives; ... Mutual love, Sophie knew, was costly, but in the long run she was convinced that a lack of charity was costlier still.   Yet in the midst of trial she could say: "Seek your sanctification in bearing lovingly with all around you, in forgiving and excusing and not dwelling on their faults. People in general are very little culpable in God's eyes, and God sees more often weakness and not malice." http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/reflections/196-may-2007/1294-we-can-never-unite-ourselves-to-jesus-without-union-with-one-another.html)   Photo by Juana Lopez, 2002   http://www.rscjinternational.org/images/stories/creative_space/0612/0612_cs10.jpg

July 6, 2012

Reflection on the Spirit of the Sacred Heart July 6, 2012

What reassures me is that you are not alone; you have the good God with you; God will never desert you if you continue to be faithful to him. Our good Master pursues us ceaselessly; it seems that he expects more of you than of many others. He is urging you to give of yourself wholly, without the slightest reserve. St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, Letter, 1813    (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/pray-with-sophie/celebrate-with-sophie/2878-tirteenth-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-c.html)

For Reflection...     We are not alone; we always have the Divine with us, within us. Through faith, we connect with God, we have confidence in God, we are in relationship with God.       Within the context of our Sacred Heart charism, we have an avenue for exploration and expression of our faith. What a gift! With love for God, love for each other and love from each other, we feel the warmth of God's presence, reassuring us that we journey always, through Him, with Him and in Him. Artwork by Beth Sulleza, rscj    http://www.rscjinternational.org/images/stories/profile/2009/0907_beth_sulleza_2_zoom.jpg

June 29, 2012

Reflection on the Spirit of the Sacred Heart June 29, 2012

Jesus le Christ   Lord Jesus Christ, your light shines within us. Let not my doubts and my darkness speak to me. Lord Jesus Christ, your light shines within us. Let my heart always welcome your love.  From the Sacred Heart Taize Prayer Group, Japan      (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/home/projects-with-young-people/3047-japan-sacred-heart-taize-group.html)

For Reflection...     God calls us to transform the world, with great ambition but also deep humility. This transformation has to begin with ourselves: we must allow the risen Christ to change our hearts, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us out into deep waters so we can head courageously into the future. Let us rejoice in the thirst God has placed in us! It gives renewed vitality to our whole lives. "Let whoever is thirsty come; let whoever desires it receive the water of life, free of charge."    Sumiko Debuchi, rscj Province of Japan (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/home/projects-with-young-people/3047-japan-sacred-heart-taize-group.html)   Artwork by Ana Luengo  http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/reflections/90-0704/397-preparing-for-retreat.html

June 22, 2012

Reflection on the Spirit of the Sacred Heart June 22, 2012

"Duc in altum - Put out into the deep." After Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch."   Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets."   When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. ...    When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him. From the gospel of St. Luke, Chapter 5, verses 4 - 11

For Reflection...     And where is "the deep" for all of us? We know that it is a dark and scary place, as it was for Simon Peter. He and his brothers had truly labored all night and caught nothing, but they had, like so many of us, remained safely close to shore, in a sheltered harbor, unwilling to venture into the deep waters where sudden storms and tumultuous waves put their livelihoods and, in fact, their lives at risk.    The "deep" is a place of war, pestilence, famine, and death; a place of suffering, and above all, a place of fear and uncertainty. And even when we hear the words of Jesus, "Do not be afraid," without a deep faith - one of the goals of Sacred Heart education - it will be difficult, if not impossible, to find the courage to venture into that place, much less to struggle against it.  Excerpt from a graduation address given by Dr. Robert Bérard to the first graduating class from Fountain Academy, Halifax, Nova Scotia on June 12, 2010    (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/home/projects-with-young-people/2910-canada-fountain-academy-of-the-sacred-heart-halifax.html)   Photograph by Miyako Namikawa, rscj, Japan  http://media.rscjinternational.org/general/whoweare/creativespace/resources/0507Miyako/0507Miyako11.jpg

June 15, 2012

Reflection on the Spirit of the Sacred Heart June 15, 2012

Prayer for the Feast of the Sacred Heart    Father,    We honor the Heart of your Son    broken by man's cruelty    yet symbol of love's triumph,    pledge of all that man is called to be.   Teach us to see Christ in the lives we touch,    to offer him living worship    by love-filled service to our brothers and sisters. The Roman Missal (http://www.rscj.org/node/620)

For Reflection...   "...either we live our fellowship authentically, in the spirit of the Beatitudes, or our life ceases to have meaning." To do that, we were called to "build fraternal communities centered in Jesus Christ." (p. 7) Among fundamental elements of this life, "a contemplative outlook on the world, which presupposes times of deep prayer, both solitary and shared." (p. 14) Community prayer is seen as a way to build communion for mission. Selections from  The Chapter of 1970 (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/reflections/157-0206/722-the-tradition-of-community-prayer-in-the-society-and-its-contemporary-challenges.html)   Steel Sculpture by David Norris, 2000,   At Digby Stuart College,  Roehampton, London, England Wording on the sculpture reads: "We discover and make known the Love of Christ  through the service of Education."   (Constitutions of the Society of the Sacred Heart) "Think glorious thoughts of God and serve Him with a quiet mind."   (Janet Stuart, rscj Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart 1911-1914) http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/creative-space-publicmenu-35/3048-england-wales-sculpture-by-david-norris.html