Inspired by Scholastica

In his Holy Rule, St. Benedict advises his monks to keep death daily before their eyes. That sounds a bit morbid but is actually a worthy practice. Since none of us knows the day or the hour when we will breathe our last breath, it behooves us to be ready when God calls us. If we knew this day would be our last, we certainly would live it the best way we possibly could. That means we would forgive anyone who has hurt us and seek forgiveness of those we have harmed.  It would also make us contact family members and friends to tell them we love them, especially if we have not talked to them lately. Another thing we would want to do is avoid wasting time on trivial things and do what is important to us, which might mean taking a walk outside and savoring the beauty of nature, or making a loved one’s favorite meal, or visiting someone in a care center who is ill or lonely, or reading a good book we have been putting off for a while. We also might want to clean out som...

When I read some lives of the saints, I cringe at their desire for hardship and suffering. I feel like a wimp because I try to avoid any kind of pain or distress. After all, isn’t the gospel supposed to be good news and bring joy to people? Most spiritual writers tell us that ordinary life brings enough suffering without looking for more. So I am glad for medication that reduces pain and modern conveniences that make life easier. As I grow older with less energy and more aches, I am grateful for ways to cope with my diminishment. I probably won’t be ranking among the highest order of saints who sought more intense discomfort, but surely there is a place for softer people, who keep going with a little help now and then. Why would God give humans the intelligence to discover ways of easier living if he did not want us to use them?  Can’t we pray better without pain or weariness to distract or weigh heavily on us? I’m probably just looking for ways to justify my “wimpiness,” ...

    “Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord;  let it be with me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) I gasped, amazed when Gabriel appeared, telling me God had chosen me to birth the Messiah. I wanted to do God’s will, but this was perplexing, disturbing. Was this angel really God’s messenger? How could I explain it to my family? What would my beloved Joseph say? “Do not fear,” the angel said, but it was hard not to tremble at such news. And then the long trip to Bethlehem on a donkey, and giving birth in a stable, surrounded by scruffy shepherds and smelly animals. Shivering, Joseph piled straw around the Babe for warmth, and covered me with his meager cloak. Was this befitting the Son of God? The flight into Egypt to escape Herod’s threat was harrowing; foreigners in a hostile land. People looked at us with suspicion, Joseph again had to find shelter, provisions and work.  I loved watchi...

Pope Francis has appointed a group of six men and six women to study the possibility of women deacons in the Catholic Church. We know women served as deacons in the early church so there is an historical precedent. It does seem to be a step toward equal opportunity for women in the Church. We do not know what will be the outcome, but at least there is an openness to dialogue. I have one concern. For so long complementarity has been stressed as women's role in the Church, I fear that a deacon position will be one exclusively of service, not one of authority. Certainly men deacons perform service in the parish, but they also are able to preach and administer some sacraments. Hopefully, if women deacons are approved they will have comparable roles and not just train servers and oversee parish dinners. Father Thomas Reese, former editor of America , recommends that deacons be allowed to administer the anointing of the sick, a real need when a priest is not available. Women do w...

When we look at statistics on religious life,  the numbers are startling. In most women's communities, there are more sisters above 90 than below 60. This has caused many to think that religious orders of women will die out in the not too distant future and that women today are no longer interested in religious life. But studies show that one in every ten never-married women born since Vatican II has seriously considered a vocation to religious life. However, there are many challenges for those who are involved in vocation or formation ministry. One is the generational challenge. Older sisters who have grown up in a very different church with different experiences of religious life have to understand and connect with younger women who are exploring a religious vocation. Another is the challenge of diversity. Those entering religious life today are more racially and ethnically diverse than they were in the mid-1950s and 60s. Other research showed that young peopl...

God’s mercy is not measured out by spoonfuls or cupfuls or even wagonloads but overflowing, brimming over, juiciness oozing in all directions, drenching our shriveled spirits, deluging our Saharan hearts, opening the floodgates to enlarge our paltry understanding of compassion.

S ilence is a value not much appreciated in today's world. With iPhones, IPads, cell phones, and other electronic devices, people are always in contact with others or listening to music. If there is no noise people get nervous or uncomfortable. Mindless chatter seems as necessary as cold water in 100- degree heat.   Yet how do we hear the whisperings of the Spirit if we are always talking? How do we know if God responds to our prayer when we are never listening? We need quiet times to refresh our spirits after being constantly bombarded by words. We also need times of rest for enjoying the beauties of nature and the universe. We need silence to reflect on our lives and to be grateful for our blessings. The psalmist says, "Be still and know that I am God."(46:19) Busyness keeps us from taking time to be quiet. Many of us task-oriented and drive ourselves to get things done. We think we don't have time to be still, yet when we do, we become more focused and attentiv...