Batten Down the Hatches

The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes is fantastic.  I keep calling it Ship of Fools, by mistake.  Freudian slip?  No, because Ship of Fools is a book by Katherine Ann Porter and also an award winning movie.  So it's just unthinking slip of the tongue.

However, the plot is the same but different.  Both take place entirely on board ships.  But that's it.  The passengers drive the story line and there's the difference.

You know how I'm usually reading several books at a time.  Once I got into The Ship of Brides, everything else was put on hold.  That's all I wanted to do was to read the book.

The time is after WWII, 1946.  The ship is the aircraft carried, Victoria.  The passengers are Australian brides going to England.  One cabin has four passengers that will pull you into their lives.  You'll be the fifth passenger.

"
Batten down the hatches", you're in for the duration of the voyage.

LWOP

 

Pope Francis has branded life-long prison terms "a hidden death sentence" in an attack on "penal populism" that included severe criticism of countries that facilitate torture.  He said that believers should oppose life-long incarceration as strongly as the use of capital punishment.

 

Below please find a Petition to the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to replace all current laws imposing lifelong prison sentences offering no possibility of parole with legislation providing for parole reviews at 25 years.

 

We hope that you will sign this petition and send it to the Criminal Justice Policy Coalition at the address provided. 

So many of us know men and women who are doing 1st degree life sentences, many of who were sentenced at a young age who would be an asset to society.  They would pose no threat to public safety and would significantly save the Commonwealth money .

 

Thank you all for your love and support to our sisters and brothers both in and out of prison.

Anacleto Gonzalez Flores

I was reading about Anacleto Gonzalez Flores in Aleteia, this morning and was poignantly moved.  Here is a saint after my own heart.

He didn't grow up in a particularly devout household--his father barely tolerated the mother's religiosity.  


He was studious and religious.

He was a lawyer and went to daily Mass.

He was married and had two children.

He visited prisoners and taught religion.

He was a writer and published a magazine.

At that time, the Mexican government became very anti-religion.  The government purposely aimed to rid the country of Catholicism.  Anacleto Gonzalez Flores worked to defeat the government's policies.  Eventually, he was martyred for his activities.

May he rest in peace and may we all be as steadfast in faith as he.  Lord Jesus in Your Name I pray.

Thinking Our Loud

So to speak...the word "suss" is new to me.  I googled it and learned that it means to figure out. Using my frame of reference then does "suss" mean the same as "discern."  Do you suss out a vocation?

Looking further I found out that the word "suss" comes from "suspect."  Oh!  There you go.  Suss does not mean the same as discern.  But I can suss that you are thinking of a religious vocation.

Called by Name

S. Zdislavae de Moravia (O.P.)

More details

Called by name

Lectio

John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come, and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah," which is translated Christ. Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas," which is translated Peter.(JN 1:35-42)

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John tells us who’s coming. Ver. 29. Behold the Lamb of God. John the Baptist let the Jews know who Jesus was. He’s the sacrifice who comes to redeem them. And that He is greater than he, (John) and greater than any man before and after him. Ver. 32. John saw the Holy Spirit descent upon Jesus and baptize Him. Finally, in Ver. 34. John announces that this is the Son of God.

To be called by a Rabbi was no small thing. It was an honor, which explains why these chosen men left their jobs to follow this Lamb of God, the Son of God. Ver. 37-38. So these two follow Jesus. He takes notice of them and asks what they want Ver. 38. They don’t answer directly but humbly, implying that they want to learn more from him. They want more than a conversation. They want to be His students. Ver. 39. Where dwellest thou? Jesus understands and invites them to come and see.

Andrew was one of these followers. Ver. 40. After spending the day with Jesus, Andrew finds his brother, Simon Peter. Simon goes to see himself because Andrew tells him that this Man is the Messiah. Ver. 42. When Jesus meets Simon, He changes Simon’s name to Cephas (Peter). Note that giving someone a new name signifies dignity.

This day, January 4, also celebrates two memorials. Elizabeth Ann Seton, August 28, 1774 – January 4, 1821, was the first native-born citizen of the United States to be canonized by the Church (September 14, 1975). She established the first Catholic girls' school in the nation in Maryland, where she also founded the first American congregation of religious sisters, the Sisters of Charity. Also on this day is the memorial of Blessed Zedislava Berkiana. Bl. Zedislava, 1220-1251, was a Lay Dominican. She was a married woman who was known for her piety and generosity.

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John the Baptist’s role is the same as ours—to point Jesus out to others. Then we let them go in their own journey. Jesus’ question at that time is the same question to us in our time, “What are you looking for?” We’re looking for a relationship with Jesus. “Come, and you will see” (John 1:39). If you are sincere then commit yourself. Will you accept Jesus, like our two holy women (ST. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Bl. Zedislava Berkiana)? Are you ready to go on an unexpected journey? This might involve change. Are you OK with that?

The Documents of Vatican II spell out a vocational call just like Jesus does in this Lectio. Our vocational call, begun at Baptism and affirmed in Confirmation, is our promise to enter into a relationship with Jesus. You are called to holiness, to be perfect like your Heavenly Father. This call may ask you to convert like Elizabeth Ann Seton and start initiatives. It may call you to uphold your family and support them with prayer. Are you being called to grow deeper in your commitment by becoming a Lay Dominican like Zedislava Berkiana? It will be a communal call to relationship with Jesus, carried out in various lifestyles, depending on what we are attracted to and for what we discern we have as gifts.

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Lord, Our God, thank you for the insights we have received, for desires awakened and thoughts clarified, for the gifts of sensitivity and understanding. Thank you especially for the gift of your Son, Jesus. Grant us the power of the Spirit to discern the best way to respond to Your invitations. Give us the determination and perseverance to continentally respond as Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and Bl. Zedislava Berkiana. We ask this in the name of Jesus.

Contemplatio: 

Lord, thank you for my many gifts.  May I delight You with my efforts to live up to Your expectations. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and Blessed Zedislave Berkiana pray for us.

Additions to the Experiment

A couple of days ago, I blogged "The Experiment" where I posted an activity aimed at putting God in the forefront of your mind.  Additionally, I was hoping that you would see a difference in how people treated you.  Your behavior made them better persons.  Following, you became a better person.  It was an experiment.

I can tell you that humming "He ain't heavy, he's my brother," brought smiles to everyone.  I hope it also brought some to reflexion.

Here are some additions to the experiment.

15.  Improve today--read, learn, exercise, etc.

16.  Be cheerful all day.

17.  Praise someone's success.

18.  Telephone someone you haven't heard from in awhile.

19.  Pay it forward.  Coffee would be nice.

20.  Treat yourself.

At the end of each of these don't forget to take an assessment.  The assessment will be how others reacted and then assess how you feel.  Do this each day for 20 days.  What do you think?

Love is Evident

Since I'm the lector for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, I will be proclaiming the Responsorial Psalm.  To understand it the best that I am able, I am doing a Lectio Divina on it. This is the selection:

Lectio: Psalm 40: 2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10.

R.     Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.       

I have waited, waited for the Lord,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.

Sacrifice or offering you wished not
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."

"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
to do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!"

I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you,
O Lord, know.

Studium:

These verses are only selections from Psalm 40.  The psalm in its entirety sings of the experiences of being exiled.  Temple sacrifices are helpful but the worship of God needs expressions of love.  Psalm 40 also has supplication and thanksgiving.  These expressions speak of interior postures for the type of worship God wants.

The beginning has the psalmist listening to God.  His prayers are being answered.  He is learning the type of worship God desires.  Praise and glory to God, express the correct thanksgiving and love.  Obedience to God's commandments is his due.  The psalmist delights in pleasing God.

Meditatio

Everything I have is given by the Lord.  All my talents, gifts, family, etc. are freely given and due through the grace of God.  Of course, I owe Him everything; it's His to begin with.  And what does He want in return?  He asks for obedience to His Will.  Following His way with love of Him is the best I can do.

Oratio:

Lord, Jesus Christ, I owe you everything I am.  I give you thanks and praise.  The least I can do for you is obey your commandments and teachings.  Help me hear Your voice, O Lord.  I come to do Your will.

Contemplatio:

Glory and praise to You, O Lord.  Pleasing You is all I desire.