Fourth day of the Novena to Saint Francis
| Quote for the Day: If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men. St. Francis of Assisi |
Friday,
I was on the radio today - for those EWTN afflicated stations who are holding their pledge drives this week. It was fun. At least once it got started. I also found it very nerve wracking as I haven't been interviewed for several months. I interview all the time.. but being on the other side of the microphone was back to being scary. It all goes to show... our comfort zone can change whenever we stop doing something for awhile.
I remember after I entered the monastery there was quite a period of time when I didn't do any driving (we do go out to the store and do community business) and it was like scary to start in driving again! Amazing. So I think basically anything we do over and over we gain confidence and anything we stop doing over and over again... we lose confidence.
I think.. we could apply that to our spiritual life as well. If we don't pray every day or go to Mass or any number of "Holy and Good" things.. then these spiritual practices can get outside of our comfort zone as well.
Here in the monastery we think of our habit as our "holy habit" but I think besides the things we wear .. the things we do also become our "holy habits!"
Blessings of Peace and All Good,
Sister Patricia and all the Sisters
The Confession Connection Preparing for Confession: Taking Your Spiritual Temperature by Fr. Thomas M Casey. Day One: Have you ever heard the question, "Why should I confess my sins to a priest, when I can go directly to God?" One answer is that we can talk directly to God and ask forgiveness for the sins or faults that weigh on us. There is allowance made for this approach in the penitential rite at the beginning of Mass, and surveys indicate that many Catholics use this opportunity to examine their conscience or take their spiritual temperature and ask forgiveness. The Church has always taught that God's love and acceptance are available whenever anyone is truly sorry for harmful words, deeds or attitudes. Most of you probably find yourselves talking to God at some point during the week, perhaps even daily. You may ask God to help you do well on a test, to make a sports team or just to be liked by your classmates. Other times you may be uncertain about a decision that you have to make and you feel the need to pray over it. Maybe a close friend has asked you to lie to his or her parents about being with you when the friend was really with someone the parents disapprove of. At time like this, talking to God will help you sort out your feelings and be honest to your conscience. At other times you find that you need to ask someone else for advice, simply to get a second opinion about some concern. You might ask an older brother or sister: "What should I say when my friends pressure me to drink or try drugs?" to be continued A selected article from "101 Inspirational Stories of the Sacrament of Reconciliation." |
