Benedictine Spirituality of Accountability, a Heart-to-Heart Talk

Monica,   Columbus, Ohio

What a precious night with the Hope on High people! Such a quietness and gentleness in these homeless people and especially in how they ask for something. They barely ask and only after you have been talking for a while. You can barely hear their voices, just above a whisper, that they almost say in passing, trailing off,.. something like, "Do you have any sterno to heat my tent, it's supposed to stay cold tonight," or "are there any heavy blankets?" All these things they are in DIRE need of too, but never push, never in demanding (except for Stanley -- ha ha --- long story).
I wanted to post snippets that spoke to me from a booklet one of my beloved Benedictine priests from "my" Archabbey in Indiana, St. Meinrad's, called "Accountability as a Heart to Heart Talk," by Fr. Mateo Zamora, OSB. I will just quote him. I also changed the order to read the most important part if you do not have time for longer. Just in time for Lent too! Praise Jesus.
"Although it [accountability] presents consequences for bad behavior, the "Rule of St. Benedict" actually provides us with a very positive and refreshing take on accountability, .... a heart-to-heart talk..:
'Listen carefully, my son, to the master's instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice from a father who loves you; welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice' (RB Prol:1).'
The 'Rule' begins with a command: 'Listen!' I don't know about you, but whenever I am told to listen, it usually means that I am in trouble. Either I am in trouble or I am not paying attention...
It is interesting to note that the word 'obedience' is rooted in the Latin word 'audire,' which means 'to listen.' ... Accountability, then, as a discipline of mutual obedience, is first of all a practice of listening to one another.
'Listen carefully' (RB Prol:1)
The reason, I think, that some calls to accountability do not work is because, instead of a heart-to-heart talk, it is a mouth-to-ear talk.... this is counsel 'from a father who loves you.' (RB Prol:1).
The father is doing this not to make the son feel bad for doing bad. He is opening up his heart because he cares about him. He is concerned about what he is doing -- or not doing...
Why is it a heart-to-heart talk? It has to be a heart-to-heart talk because the topic is deeply personal. It involves one's behavior, one's faults, one's mistakes, those delicate details that nobody ever wants to discuss ...
Genuine accountability has to be a heart-to-heart talk because it involves hurts.... because there is a relationship that exists (child and father) and this relationship is very important to both.
.... because that is how love operates: not through the mouth or guts or brain or the liver (ha, ha, I liked that line), but through the heart.
In this model of Christian accountability from St. Benedict, both parties are willing to be vulnerable. They are opening up their hearts to one another. That is why it works. To be vulnerable here -- from the Latin "vulnus," which is translated as wound --means that they show their wounds to each other; they reveal their injuries.
Both have been wounded and the relationship itself has been damaged. They show their wounds to each other so that they can be tended to and healed.
Christ who 'humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross' (Phil. 2:8) We see our Lord hanging on the cross and there He bares not only His heart to us, but also all the wounds that our sinfulness has caused.
The Almighty has put his utter vulnerability on display on that cross to reassure each one of us that He is willing to do anything and suffer everything, if only we would be reconciled with Him. He opens up his Sacred Heart, not to demand justice, much less to exact vengeance, but rather to offer us mercy and forgiveness.
From that cross, the Lord invites us to a heart-to-heart talk. The question is: Are we ready? Are we ready to bare our hearts to Him?"
..this discipline of accountability ... can be a way of life, just as it has been for those who have followed the "Rule of St. Benedict" these 1,500 plus years.
[Finally, his Part 1)
Obedience is a blessing to be shown by all and to all. It is a blessing, or better yet, a benediction, which comes from the Latin verb "benedicere," which literally means to speak well of somebody, to commend another, to say something good to someone. Obedience is a blessing to be shown by by all and to all.... we owe it to everyone in the community.
When we forget that obedience is a blessing to be shown by all and to all, we start neglecting one another's feelings, one another's needs, and one another's dignity.
Christian accountability is a discipline of mutual obedience in a community of disciples. It means that everyone cares about everybody, and everyone looks out for everybody. It is a culture not of selfishness, but of selflessness. It is a discipline, the way of the disciple of Christ, for He said, 'This is how all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another' (Jn. 13:35).

These photos remind me of many of my friends on the south end.  No, they are not homeless, they usually live in tents, boarded up houses, sheds, make-shift shacks, and one even on a bench on the side of High St.

Christmas Benedictine Style

by Monica

        This Advent and Christmastide are a very special time of year to focus on Jesus and on our level of love for Him -- in other words, to "Come let us adore Him."  One way is just to speak to Him for at least 15 minutes straight every day, even if you have to do so on returning to bed when you wake up for that middle of the night bathroom stop.
        Also, there is a new book put out by the Children of Mary called I Will Think of Everything And You, Only Loving Me."  It is a powerful push to put the focus of our lives on Christ and loving Him as much as we can and offering "ceaseless acts of perfect love" to Him every waking moment possible.
        Simplifying your prayer life is another way to focus almost exclusively on Christ and His bidding in this holy season commemorating His birth.  From reading this book (above), I decided for Advent and Christmas that my only petitionary prayers are going to be: "For everyone in my past, present, and future, and all affecting them."
         I was spending a large part of my prayer life with rosaries, chaplets, etc., in lengthy and time-consuming petitions for others instead of putting all things into His hands totally, letting even the prayers along with outcomes, etc., be fully in His decision-making hands.  I decided to let Him FULLY figure out what even to ask for and when, leaving all to Him alone, with full trust.
       I feel I have been freed and actually feel more trust by not burdening or busying my head and heart with things out of my control anyways.  I can also better "meditate on the actual mysteries" of the rosary.  I feel these things have drawn me closer to Him, but I have a ways to go!
       Here are further reflections written by Benedictine monks over the years for Third Order Benedictines of St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana at Advent and Christmas time in order to draw all of them, us, closer to Jesus, Our Lord.  Dorothy Day was a Benedictine Oblate, or Third Order Benedictine, which is why many Benedictine monasteries are praying for her canonization.

      Come, Holy Spirit, come, through the powerful intercessory prayers of Mother Mary on this feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Fr. Schalk preached this morning at mass how the single most powerful person to ask intercessory prayers of against Satan Himself, from the Revelations scripture of the woman clothed with the sun against the seven-headed dragon, is Mother Mary herself.

     This season is also to honor her amazing yes at such a youthful age and in so dangerous a society to do such a momentous thing. We love you Jesus.  We love you Mary.  Come be with us, Jesus, and as the famous song of Mary says, "Come walk with us, Mary, come walk with us," "Ven Con Nosotros a Caminar, Santa Maria Ven."

"Christmastide 1941"  by Fr. Bernardine Shine, OSB

    .." With the activity, haste, and busyness, the world rushes towards Christmas.  But what has the world to do with Christmas?  The world missed the first Christmas completely because of its spirit; that same spirit reigns in the world today.
      ... There was no room for two spirits in the cave; the world did not enter.  It had all the song, tinsel, and good cheer of the season, but it did not have Christmas.
     Angels directed the shepherds to Him Who made the true Christmas.  Good oblates look to St. Benedict for the spirit that feels at home in the cave, for the safe way that leads to Christ."

"The Mystery of Christmas, 1945" by Fr. Walter Sullivan, OSB

   " ... Now what does it mean to believe and live the Whole Mystery of Christmas?  It means to ponder in your heart with Mary how this Infant cradled in His Mother's arms is the Wisdom from on High, The Root of Jesse, The Key of David, The King of Nations, The Emmanuel, The Expectation and Savior of Peoples, The King of Peace whom the whole earth has desired to see.
   ... It means to ponder in your heart how the Song of God, begotten from all eternity of God the Father, took to Himself of the flesh of Mary a human body, and created for Himself a human soul.
     ... For the mystery of Christmas is a soul-searching test of true Christianity, and it demands of the Christian seven profound acts of living the faith:

1. To see Christ in the crib of Bethlehem and to adore Him.
2. To see Christ in His Church and to obey Him.
3. To see Christ in Holy Mass and to offer Him.
4. To see Christ in Confession and unburden the heart to Him.
5. To hear Christ in the Gospel and to imitate Him.
6. To see Christ in the other members of His Body and to love Him.
7. To see Christ in our own bodies and to reverence Him

    ... its purpose [Christmas] is to divinize people -- to make them partakers of Divine Life in the living Body of Christ that is the Church.

      By the mystery of Christmas, we are more closely knit to one another than are Americans under the same flag, our club members wearing the same pin, or even kinfolk of the same family.  For regardless of club, country, race, or family, we are One in Christ, if we are faithful members of His Body."

"Christmas 1951" by Fr. Walter Sullivan OSB

     "Amidst the frills and sweet sentiment that have been associated with the Babe of Bethlehem, we may forget the prophecy of Simeon to Our Lady: 'Behold this Child is destined for the fall and rise of many.'

     ... The struggle between what is weak in us and what is strong in us is a necessary element of Christian life on earth.  If there were no weakness, there could be no spiritual maturity in people.  Our Lord says plainly to St. Paul (2 Cor. 12:9), 'Strength is made perfect in weakness.'  The apostle, recognizing the reserve power of grace in his soul, says a startling thing to us, 'I will glory in my weakness that the strength of Christ may dwell in me.'

    St. Benedict speaks forcibly of this life-long conflict between self-indulgence and the life of Christ in us when he says in the last part of the Prologue to the Holy Rule, 'We must prepare our hearts and bodies to do battle under holy obedience to God's command.  Let us ask God  to give us grace (strength) for anything which our nature finds almost impossible.  A person, counting merely on his own strength without seeking sincerely and perseveringly help from God, will remain miserably disillusioned.'

    "... Best news of all, He has come to save us from our despair and from ever losing hope.  His grace is ours for the asking in every crisis of our life, if, trampling pride and selfishness underfoot, we ask Him for help."

"Christmas 1957" by Fr. Blaise Hettich OSB

     "... In the middle of the whirl of shopping, partying, ... the hub of all our activities should be Christ.  It's His birthday we are celebrating.
     ... Let us recall that when Moses made Aaron high priest of Israel, he poured oil over his head.  The people saw this as a sign of God's power coming upon the priest.  Likewise, the prophet Samuel poured oil on the head of David to show that God had chosen him as king.
     To the Jews, 'the Anointed' meant the great King and Priest who would be sent from god to be their leader.  'Messiah,' a Hebrew word, and 'Christ,' a Greek word, both mean 'the Anointed.'  When the Son of god became a human being, He remained God.  The divine Christ 'anointed' the human.
     .... May God bless you this Christmas with 'the oil of gladness,' so that the Life and Love of
Christ may strengthen your hearts."

"Christmas 1964" by Fr. Gerard Ellspermann, OSB

       "These are the days of quiet joy.  They are days of prayer and pondering.  In imitation of Mary, who 'kept in mind all these words, pondering them in her heart,' we should not let these days go by without much prayer and frequent meditation...  He 'for us and our salvation was born of the Virgin Mary, and became flesh.'
       "... He has come to give us life, and make us sharers in His life.  The very impressive words of the Vespers refrain for the feast of the Octave of Christmas fill us with joy:  'Oh wondrous exchange!  The Creator of the human race, taking onto Himself the living body, deigns to be born of a Virgin; and becoming man from no human generation, has bestowed upon us His divinity.

       [Pope Leo the Great] had this to say in strong and vibrant words: 'Remember all Christians, your dignity.  You  have been made a partaker of the divine nature.  Do not return to your former base way of life.'  In a sense, then, this is the point of no return.  We can't look back. We cannot even think about turning back.
     ... As Fr. Emerick Lawrence, OSB, has said, 'This feast means  ... social justice, racial justice, tolerance, charity.  It is a call to all of us to contemplate the goodness and kindness of God in His gift of Himself to us, and then to carry the fruits of our contemplation into our environment so that it may become Christ's ... It means patience and kindness in our homes, forgiveness of enemies, consideration for the weaknesses of our brethren, active charity, and a never-ending effort to promote unity in our parishes and communities."

"December 1981" by Fr. Gerard Ellspermann, OSB

"... God takes from Mary flesh.  The Incarnate Word gives us in return an incomprehensible gift.   This is a participation, real and intimate, in the Divine nature.  And thus is achieved the most wonderful event that ever happened to us -- God giving us a share in His divine life by taking upon Himself our human life.
      At this time of mutual giving of presents to those we love, we are reminded of the supreme gift God gives to us.  Exchanging gifts makes us think of the admirable exchange brought about by the Incarnation.  Give glory to God for His bringing peace to mankind!"

"Christmas 1993" by Fr. Michael Keene, OSB

  "... St. John the Evangelist speaks of Christ who was the 'Light that shines in the darkness' and the darkness cannot overcome it.  he is the 'true light that enlightens each one who comes into this world.'  Our Divine Savior said to his disciples:  'I am the light of the world; whoever walks by Me has the light of life and does not walk in darkness.'
   

"Christmas 2000"  by Fr. Meinrad Brune OSB

      "... God sent Jesus to be born into a poor family, far from their home.  God sent Jesus to tell us and show us how to feed the hungry, heal the sick, and offer forgiveness to sinners around us...
     ... We must slow down the pace and grow still...  This child, the Word of God, is God's promise that we never will be asked to travel down a harder road than Jesus has gone down before...
      Every time we listen to any person in his or her simple human need -- a confused teen, aching sick person, lonely shut-in, grieving widow or widower, repetitious elderly person, overburdened parents  -- we celebrate Christmas."

     Addition 12-16-17 from The Word Among Us, December, 2017, for Friday December 15, p. 35.  This is in the spirit of talking with Jesus for at least 15 minutes a day during advent.

"Psalm 1:1-3

'He is like a tree planted near running water.'

     It sounds peaceful: a big tree,

planted 'near running water,' its

roots sunk down into the fertile soil

(Psalm 1:3). That tree would be guar-

anteed constant refreshment and

nourishment.  Wouldn't it be great

to have a similar peaceful life?  Being 

tapped into what nourishes us, we

would always feel invigorated, care

for, sustained.

     The good news is that we do

have a constant, streaming source

of nourishment: Jesus.  How do 

we 'tap into' his refreshinglife?

If we listen to the saints, one part-

ticular way stands out:  Eucharistic 

adoration.

     Here is what St. Catherine Laboure

has to say:

     'Whenever I go to the chapel, I

put myself in the presence of our 

good Lord, and I say to him, 'Lord,

I am here.  Tell me what you would

have me to do.' ... Ande then, I tell

God everything that is in my heart.  I

tell him about my pains and joys,

and then I listen.  If you listen, God

will also speak to you, for with the

good Lord, you have to both speak

and listen.  God always speaks to you

when you approach him plainly and

simply.'

     St. Catherine describes spend-

ing time relaxed and comfortable

in Jesus' presence in the Blessed

Sacrament.  She brought him her con-

cerns and needs.  But she also sat and

listened to Him.  She was a lot like

the psalmist's tree, quietly absorbing

the constant flow of life.  We can do 

it too.  Eucharistic adoration provides

a time set apart from our everyday

responsibilities. It's a time to listen,

learn, and absorb.  Beyond pouring

out our concerns, we simply sit in his

presence.  we enjoy Him.

     Try this the next time you are able

to go to adoration:  sit with Jesus

with no particular agenda.  Enjoy

his company.  Soak in the peace of

those moments set apart for him.  If 

you find your mind wandering, you

might want to try to imagine that tree

near streams of water.  The more time

you spend with Jesus, the more com-

fortable you will become,and the

easier you'll find it to sense His pres-

ence and hear His voice. 

      So go!  Rest by the river and absorb

those nourishing, healthy waters.

      Lord, I thank you for the gift of

Eucharistic adoration!  I love Your

Presence!"

     He rejoices over YOU as well, he dances over you! -- Zeph. 3:17 – “rejoice over you” – literally means “dance, skip, leap, and spin around in joy.” God dances with shouts of joy over us!  O, come let us adore Him!  

Orlando: Nonviolent Readings Amidst Violence and Media Coverage

By Monica  The Lamb Catholic Worker, Columbus, Ohio

     Today, there was an article buried in the ninth page of the Washington Post at the bottom of the page that most people would not necessarily read.  At first I did not want to read about the mentality of sometimes sociopathic people entitled, "Displaced Hatred of Self Can Push People to Massacres, Psychologists Say."  Yet I did read it and was shocked by several details or actual evidential dialogue of this gunman that have somehow been left out of the nearly continuous repetitive coverage of this horrific evening.

     Patience Carter, a survivor of Sunday's early hour shootings, held hostage by Mateen in the club bathroom, "heard him talking to 911 saying the reason why he's doing this is because he wants Americans to stop bombing his country."  Most Americans have never and probably will never see this statement.  CNN did report this briefly as well, but nobody has seemed to inquire, "What bombings?  Isn't the war over?"

     Nothing can justify this grisly massive crime in Orlando - the end never justifies the means when it comes to murdering, or killing, any person for any and every reason.  Dorothy Day put it this way:  "No person has the right to choose the life or death of another person."  Sacred Scriptures emphasize that God alone is the sole Author of all life and death.  Moreover, we Catholics and those of most Christian churches believe that all human life is genuinely sacred, even from the first second we are conceived.

     This man seemed to demonize a collective group of people, for whatever reason he had conjured in his self-righteous mind, crossing the line to kill many.  In the midst of this, another piece of evidence was left out from the many broadcasts and coverage.  Carter also said he asked, "'Is there any African Americans in the club bathroom?' When one man answered yes, the gunman responded back to him saying, 'You know, I don't have a problem with black people.  This is about my country.  You guys have suffered enough.'" These pieces of courtroom evidence (what was done, said, what weapons were used, etc.) are valuable in truly understanding the complicated mind of this man who chose to kill and hurt over 100 people.

       Even though this may cast a hint of a compassionate light on this man who seemed to have a trace of empathy toward a burdened group of people (African Americans), in addition to anger, revenge, and frustration over the continuous drone bombings in his and other Middle Eastern countries by the U.S., the massacre itself is no doubt a terribly tragic event against the gay population that deserves unequivocal condemnation. 

        The timing of this horrific event, especially in light of these two comments of the gunman, is why I am writing this article. Literally hours after my second of two peaceful witnesses in two days, one in front of the White House, and one in front of the CIA grounds, against the bloody continuous drone bombings in the Middle East, this unspeakable massacre occurs.

       When I saw what the gunman's first words were of his call to 911, what came to my mind immediately for some reason was, "Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword." Even though this gunman acted alone, and their maybe no connection whatsoever to his country, etc, I can't help but think of larger scale action against many more people potentially.  Who will be the first to say "NO!" to killing people?

Represent prisoners at our Guatanamo Bay Detention Center
where torture is used.

    Malala Yousafzai, the Muslim girl-turned-peace advocate who had been shot in the head by the Taliban promoting education for girls has begged President Obama to stop the drone bombings that more often than not turn Middle Easterners toward terrorists to get it to stop.  She is obviously not doing this to protect a terrorist group such as ISIS or the Taliban because if anyone would be against them, it would be her, having been seriously injured by them. Many innocent people have been killed along with the questionable targets of our drone program.  It is an undeclared covert war without officially declaring war.  And many people, including the news media, do not know that it continues. These people have nowhere to turn.

     It is only a matter of time before drones will somehow be a threat to all of us in the future, such as with drug cartel leaders, gangs, or any targeted person or people that are in the demonized category and deemed worthy of death. This is not solely if they get into the "wrong" hands, but since it appears perfectly fine to incinerate people with these deadly guided missiles inside the drone aircraft, there truly is no telling what and how they will be utilized in the near or distant future here.

Washington Post Wed. June 15, 2016

       These are not tiny drones floating around stadiums to cover professional ball games, but fairly large jets and rockets equipped with multiple large guided missiles to blow up targeted people, groups of people, buildings, and whole areas, just as in war.   If they do indeed get into the wrong hands, whose to "morally" stop them from their choice of use, since we do the exact same thing arbitrarily?  Should a Catholic ever be part of these deadly "video games" creating genuine bloody carnage, devastation, and desperation?

       The following link or Youtube site is of Hispan TV coverage of drone bombing protests around the world by the U.S., including a June protest at the CIA headquarters, which Monica and her father, Tom Siemer, attended.

 Here is the link/site (if the link will not open):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqXLR0GZrac

We prayed at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in D.C.

            The other notable timing is of the "harder" teachings of Christ on nonviolence and love of enemy that have shown up in the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours) of all Roman Catholic Priests and others, as well as in our daily mass readings.  These began literally the day after the shootings as everyone ponders the impact, meaning, and Christian response of this killing spree.

         Monday, June 13 in the Divine Office (in the Christian Prayers, p. 869): Isaiah 2; 2-5 [Note - the build up to the quote lends to its power and truth]:

"In the days to come,
the mountain of the Lord's house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.

All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
'Come, let us climb the Lord's mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.'

For from Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks;
one nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again.

O house of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord!"

Monday, June 13, in the Gospel Reading
Matthew 5:38-40:
"Jesus said to his disciples, 'You have
heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, a tooth
for a tooth.'  But I say to you,
offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right
cheek, turn the other to him as well ..."

Tuesday, June 14, in the Gospel Reading
Matthew 5:43-48:
"Jesus said to his disciples: 'You have heard
that is was said, 'You shall love your neighbor
and hate your enemy,'  but I say to you,
love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you, that you may be children
of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun
rise on the bad and good alike and causes
rain to fall on the just and unjust ...
... So be perfect, just as your heavenly
Father is perfect."

Tom Siemer (Monica's Father) and Rita Clark D'Escoto

       If this does not inspire, please go on You Tube and listen to "Good, Good Father" by Chris Tomlin.  It describes the love the Father has for us all, for every single unique person the world over, each made in His image and likeness whose soul is  a brilliant rare diamond that no sin can diminish.
     Jesus said that if the Father lavishes rain and sun on the good and bad alike, so great is His love for all then who are we not to love all, even our enemies?

Good Good Father

  by Chris Tomlin

Oh, I've
heard

a thousand stories

of what
they
think you're like
But I've
heard
the tender whisper

of love
in

the dead of night
And you tell me

that you're pleased
And that I'm

never alone

You're a good, good Father
It's who you are,

It's who you are, 

It's who you are
And I'm loved by you
It's who I am, 

It's who I am, 

It's who I am

Oh, and I've
seen

many
searching for

answers

far
and wide
But I
know

we're
all searching
for answers 

only you
can provide
Cause you know

just what we need
before we
say a word

You're a good, good Father
It's who you are,

It's who you are, 

It's who you are
And I'm loved by you
It's who I am, 

It's who I am, 

It's who I am

'Cause you are perfect

in all of your ways
You are perfect

in all of your ways
You are perfect

in all of your ways

to us

You are perfect

in all of your ways
You are perfect

in all of your ways
You are perfect

in all of your ways

to us

Oh, it's love

so

undeniable
I, 

I can

Hardly speak
Peace

So

Unexplainable
I,

I can

hardly think

As you call
me

deeper still,
 As you call
me

deeper still,
As you call
me

deeper still

into love,

love, 

love

[x3:]

You're a good, good Father
It's who you are,

It's who you are, 

It's who you are
And I'm loved by You
It's who I am, 

It's who I am, 

It's who I am

You're a good, good Father
(You are perfect in all of your ways)

It's who you are,

it's who you are,

it's who you are
And I'm loved by you
(You are perfect in all of your ways)
It's who I am,

It's who I am,

It's who I am

       Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, in his book,
Toward the Future describes the "Omega Point
of Man," or culmination of a collective "spiritual
evolution" of mankind that has been building and
growing throughout all of time, heightening higher
and higher, bettering all of us in the area of
conscience, morality, and spiritual
clarity and action.  It climaxes at the Omega Point,
where we will be more like the Father,
more perfect.

     He does believe though that this Omega Point of Man in the continuum will coincide with the Parousia Point of salvation history. This is not to cause one to panic or become afraid, but to know that this level of love and conscious living like Christ will indeed come and it will be beautiful.  If you have never seen the movie, "Ghandi" you should consider it.  We just did here and he makes a strong point placed at the very end of the movie, that resonated what Christ would say as well.  He points out the lesson that throughout history, no matter how cruel, ruthless, and powerful a tyrant or country, they always eventually fade away, and good always, always triumphs, even in this life.  Beyond this life though, which lasts but a blink, the very ending of all, as foretold in Revelations, is also jubilously happy!

Farewell to the Franciscan Brothers, Faithful Sons of Mary

       By Monica Siemer, The Lamb Catholic Worker

      It is with sorrow that we bid farewell to the Franciscan Brothers Minor who have graced Columbus with their presence for the past few years.  They are moving back to Indiana, and our hope is that their quiet yet powerful and cataclysmic model of living the life of St. Francis will return here some day!

Brother Crispin Mary

      Whether seen on the icy or blazing hot pavements in their bare feet, or witnessing their humble prayerful voices alongside them at an abortion mill, or enjoying their contagious beard-lined smiles at dinner, they brought warmth to the heart and the spirit.
      Our community has had the pleasure of fellowship with 8-10 of them here, followed with a talk by Brother Crispin on living the life of poverty.  He eloquently gifted all of us with his knowledge and substantiation, from sacred Scriptures and Church teaching, on embracing a life of poverty.  When I find his notes he gave me I will better relay his wisdom (!)
       To be honest, more than any words could sound, his power and lesson came from he and his companions' way of life -- exuding Christ, His Apostles, and the early Church communities who were often spoken about as having great love, profound poverty, and profound joy.  In these they are all very rich.  These virtues are stated loudly and clearly in their coarse, patched, heavy, brown, hooded robes worn all year, their rough rope belts, nearly shaven heads and bare feet, and in other aspects and habits of their lives.

       They wear long rosaries that dangle and remind them to pray.  They never touch money and only eat what is donated to them, clearing the entire refrigerator each night, sharing it with those around them.  Knowing this last part, I kept pushing second or third helpings on many of them, but they would not take much.  It had become a way of life for them.  I was very moved.
       They are true sons of Mary, as Jesus said to John at the foot of the cross:  "Woman behold your son. John, behold your mother."  All of their middle chosen names are "Mary." Her prayers are special indeed for all, but especially for those who live a consecrated life, which has encouraged me to finally undergo a 33-day "total consecration to Jesus through Mary," as St. Louis Montfort promoted. I had never done this before. Single people and even married ones can make this consecration.  Two people within a year have suggested it for me, and on July 13, I will begin so that I finish on a Marian feast day (a requirement): the Assumption.

       There is a shortened version that is less complicated and allows for far more time to "ponder things in your heart," as Mary did.  Her prayers, those of the woman conceived of by God, or contemplated in advance, even before being conceived, are taken directly to her Spouse, the Holy Spirit, and to her most beloved Son, Jesus.  A person once challenged me that we Catholics worship Mary, and I answered the following: "Do you believe that Jesus had a mother?  (Give long wait time for them to think about and answer yes or no, which is quite a profound role of a human being).  Do you believe that Jesus wants us to honor His mother?"

        St. Louis de Montfort and Fr. Michael Gaitley put it most eloquently:  "'When Mary said, 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38),' we can see most clearly that she's the spouse of the Holy Spirit for at that moment, she gave the Holy Spirit permission to conceive Christ in her womb.  Thus, at that moment, the already unfathomably deep bond between Mary and the Holy Spirit that had begun at the first moment of her Immaculate Conception [when she herself had been conceived in an immaculate manner, planned in advance by God] was revealed as nothing less than a two-become-one marital union... As a result of that union [unique to no other human being but Mary], the Holy Spirit is pleased to work and act through his spouse, Mary,..." (Booklet: "33 Days to Morning Glory, p. 5).
        Another thought-provoking message of Fr. Gaitley in this booklet was that even God entrusted Himself  to Mary.  That Jesus, who existed before the world was even made, came down from His heavenly glory to become a human being - of a few extremely fragile cells - entrusting  Himself to her body, her soul, her very being to nurture Him and put into motion His plan for salvation.  Fr. Gaitley put it this way:  "We should give ourselves to Mary in imitation of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  After all, didn't Jesus give himself to Mary from the moment of the Incarnation?  Yes he did" (p. 9). If God entrusted Himself to Mary to that degree, we can trust in her intercessory action as well.

       Msgr. Reuf gave a stirring homily on Mary recently and explained how Mary freely decided to conform her will to God's will, and so began God's transformation in her that continued her whole life.  Mary also pondered things at length in her heart, a worthy trait and virtue for us all.

Mary Mother of the Eucharist

      Today I had to wait in line for an hour and a half at the BMV where there seemed to be not a single adult without one or more gadgets that monopolized their time, continuously.  These had complete power over them, keeping their minds and attention occupied (captive) the entire time.  It seems at the level of an alarming addiction now in society, with people having grown up with cell phones and somewhat with smartphones.  It appears to be almost a Satanic grip on all of society, choking up any hint of time for pondering and reflecting, or even conversing face-to-face with people beside them.

       Social networking online at the home computer and with a cell phone (Facebook, etc), and especially the feedback from others, can have a powerful effect on young minds too.  I have heard that it sometimes feels as though one's popularity and "worth" are directly tied to how many responses one gets to one's posts.  I am wondering if it contributed to a recent suicide of a mid-20's handsome, college grad here who posted his new picture 2 days before he killed himself.  One Catholic Worker supporter said that he had to get off of Facebook altogether because it was affecting his self-esteem somewhat.  Good for him.  He cut himself free.  I have even had to pull away from this website some, because, even though we are above 21,000 viewers, I will think that it should be much higher, and doubts creep in at times.  It is only the Evil One trying to pull downward.  It is good though, to step back from gadgets, even ones used for good intentions, and take a spiritual and psychological pulse.
       So, does this radical (meaning going back to one's roots) and counter-cultural Franciscan lifestyle look primitive and boring?  Talk about an adventure when one does not know if he will eat the very next day or not!  How exciting when God comes through for them, when Mary's prayers for them are answered!  What a thrill, each day, on how the prayer will be answered, who the Holy Spirit will place in their paths, and for what reason.  Every day would be unpredictable and quite a new adventure, but the greatest aspect of all seems to be the grace that comes with it in the joys, trials, and even sorrows.  What a brotherhood of support!  This is also very Catholic Worker, in the spirit of trust and adventure one must have to take up the call to live radically poor.

       On this feast of St. Benedict (who began monasticism), I can vouch for even those holed up in an abbey, whose entire life is dedicated to prayer - seven evenly-spaced scheduled chapel times per day, in addition to other prayers and reading!  When I had to end my 3-week silent retreat two years ago - the last 8 days being at Thomas Merton's Trappist abbey, Gethsemane, in Kentucky - I was so sad and could have gone for 4 more months.  It was exhilarating!! So much went on in my spirit, in my soul!
        I believe my spiritual life raised to such a higher level (hopefully) because of that very aspect of removing oneself from society, like the desert fathers.  There is little to distract you and to hold your time and attention captive - except for God and a rhythm of prayer and openness and listening constantly.  You can pick up that still small voice, that is God, in that wisp of communication here and there that would normally be very hard to catch.  Msgr. Mottet said that most of his active early priesthood he would take a whole day retreat every month just for listening to the voice of God all day, in a quiet, removed retreat to think and pray over all the typically social justice-oriented projects and people in his life.  He always says that he went in with questions and came out with answers.
       Most profound was an intimacy with God that I had not experienced since my youth.  I had focused mainly on the Carmelite spirituality of St. Teresa of Avila (Interior Castles) and St. John of the Cross with The Ascent to Mount Carmel and Dark Night of the Soul, which could be summarized with the first reading on the very last day of all three weeks (a recent reading as well):  "I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert where I will speak to her heart... On that day, says the Lord, she shall call me 'My husband,' ..."I will espouse you to me forever ..." (Hosea 2:17-21).
       It was actually quite a honeymoon in nearly every modality, not just interiorly too.  Strange and beautiful songs kept being put into my heart like the refrain of the Moody Blues song, "Knights in White Satin," that goes, "yes I love youuuu, ohhhhhh how I love you..." The other two main songs in my heart were:  "I Have Loved You With an Everlasting Love," and "Shepherd Me O God." It was a very touching time with the ultimate Bridegroom.  Even the details or special touch of awe-inspiring European castle-looking architecture and windows of the massive Our Lady of Consolation Shrine and Basilica in Carey, Ohio (the first week of the 3-week retreat) late at night with its changing lights - it is open all night - was almost too much. At one point there, I was the only one in the church and the organ started playing, "Shepherd Me O God," without me ever having noticed or heard anyone come in (which obviously they did).  When they finished the song, they left (so it wasn't organ practice).
       The exact same can be told of constantly meditating along the medieval-looking monastery and many high stone walls of the Abbey of Gethesemane, where I felt placed back in the time of St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila.  This was exhilarating since they fought hard to reform the Carmelite order back to its roots, back to holiness, back to its Bridegroom, which may also be in the works for the Catholic Worker movement.
      Even action-packed physical adventure was part of this retreat, beginning on day 1 at the Abbey of Gethsemane with the death of the most beloved Trappist, Brother Ambrose.  He had quite a large crowd of Kentucky locals come to pay tribute to the man from Mexico who could fix any of their tractors, knew and helped constantly on their farms, and was always there in other ways for their families.  The many stories reminded me so much of Peter Maurin, especially the monks' stories about him being so talkative (which was ironic!).  Retreatants at that time were able to join in for the funeral in a part of the chapel no outsiders were ever normally allowed to go. Later, I helped with shovel to bury him deep in the ground on a bed of Juniper (yes, it is true!), getting to further know the personalities of the monks and brothers.  This life for Christ is not boring!  I conversed with and asked Brother Ambrose's prayers for our Catholic Worker, as I sat at his gravesite many hours, having made a small flower bed on the tall pile of dirt that will eventually sink down even with the ground.  I did the same at the gravesite of Thomas Merton (Brother Louis), where I placed many natural, beautiful things.
       As Columbus has lost quite a witness to living the life of radical poverty in these austere Franciscans leaving, I pray that the Catholic Worker community here will take up that baton valiantly, even to a World Cup level, or even, to the early Church level, of living out the call to embrace "Lady Poverty." I pray that, like St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila, those drawn to this life become truly consecrated to Jesus, to Truth itself, through the intercession of Mary and her simple, immaculate heart.  I am certain that these Franciscans have had a lasting effect everywhere, especially to other seminarians and faculty at the Josephenum.  It is a call to all in living more simply in this world, and to solely be channels of love and of peace, as St. Francis preached and lived.  They are a great inspiration for other Franciscans too, I am sure.

     The shorter version of total consecration to Jesus through Mary is in a booklet called, "33 Days to Morning Glory," a "Do It Yourself Retreat."  There is also a bestseller book (same title) explaining it in full depth, but for those who feel nudged by the Holy Spirit to do this and wonder when they will have enough free time to read a whole book, this large booklet makes it accessible to everyone right now. It is also for those who cannot give up 33 days at a retreat center.  In addition, it's also for those who do not have a great deal of time figuring out the flipping back and forth with daily, building prayers, given the complexity of their lives in de Montfort's book (which I also have as a resource and plan to read fully), but who still feel very called to undergo this.  You can call and order the booklet at 1-800-462-7426 or online at ShopMercy.org. You must begin in 33 days before a Marian feast day, and some start dates to come are: start on August 6 - with Fr. Schalk - to end on Sept. 8, the Nativity of Mary; start on August 13 to end on the September 15, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. The cover is the Mary picture above (although she was probably dark-haired and dark-skinned).

     *For those who are pacifists, like the Christ-followers of our Church for its first 300 years, the comments on the first day can be disturbing, with the analogy of having the zeal of nearly crazed, slashing, passionate Celtic warriors.  I see it more as the even higher passion and zeal of the Apostles who gave all, their very lives, passionately, to be martyred brutally as Christ had been.  That one sits much better in this world that justifies participation by Christ-followers in modern war killing - the ending of another sacred human life (even children), for whatever reason the secular government at hand orders, even if it is against our Pope (as in the Iraqi War).  

       One can also see it more along the lines of the disciplined, self-sacrificing passion of a Brazilian soccer player, or those rugby players in the movie, "Forever Strong."  Pushing oneself in an over-the-top strenuous manner, in body, mind, virtue and soul, is always a good thing from time to time.  The harder one strikes out for God, the harder Satan strikes back at him or her.  One needs spiritual readiness, preparedness, for what comes his way in his personal life and in the world, putting on the armor of love and self-sacrifice. 

       Mother Mary and St. Francis, pray for us!  Brother Ambrose, Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, we need your prayers too!

Shepherd Me O God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5a1M9OxOZI

Here you go: Refrain 

Shepherd me, O God, 
beyond my wants, 
beyond my fears, 
from death into life. 

1. God is my shepherd, 
so nothing shall I want, 
I rest in the meadows 
of faithfulness and love, 
I walk by the quiet waters of peace. 

2. Gently you raise me 
and heal my weary soul, 
you lead me by pathways 
of righteousness and truth, 
my spirit shall sing 
the music of your Name. 

3. Though I should wander 
the valley of death, 
I fear no evil, 
for you are at my side, 
your rod and your staff, 
my comfort and my hope. 

4. You have set me a banquet of love 
in the face of hatred, 
crowning me with love 
beyond my pow’r to hold. 

5. Surely your kindness and mercy 
follow me all the days of my life; 
I will dwell in the house of my God 
forevermore.

I Have Loved You With an Everlasting Love

I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have called you, and you are mine
I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have called you, and you are mine

seek the face of the lord and long for him
he will bring you his light and his peace

I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have called you, and you are mine
I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have called you, and you are mine

seek the face of the lord and long for him
he will bring you his joy and his hope

I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have called you, and you are mine
I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have called you, and you are mine