Special Intention

         Please pray for a special intention of mine.  It's important.

Ash Wednesday in Two Minutes

Thanks, Therese and Busted Halo.

Lent = Spiritual Path

During the general audience, the Pope explained that Lent is a spiritual path.

That TONE, Again

My "cloistered brothers" and I were talking about what to give up for Lent.  Instead of childishly listing things like candy, gum, sweets, etc.  We thought we would give up, or at least work on, our bad habits.  After all, that's what we confess as sins, again and again and again.  They're habits.  We could work on them for the rest of our lives, and still have them.  But that's what we decided to do.  We are going to work on our bad habits.  Try to be better people.

And for the life of me, I couldn't think of one.  (There's one.)  But I didn't know what to do.  Unanimously, everyone told me to work on my tone.       Moi?  Tone?  

In a way, I really don't know what they mean.  Yeah, yeah, I know what they mean by someone who has a tone.  But I don't.  Do I?

Suppose they're right.  Suppose I'm wrong and what everyone is telling me is correct.  That's terrible.  It's a wonder I have any friends.  

OK.  I'm working on the supposition that I have a "tone."  How do I get rid of it?            Any suggestions?

The only thing I can think of is not to talk.  But that would be impossible.  How about not talking unless I can complement the person I'm talking to?  I don't know how to approach this.  I really don't know what to do.  So until, I can figure out how to eradicate my "tone,"  my conversations will be extremely limited.

Prayer for Discernment

  Oh Lord, I am confused by the assault of pressure, stress, and oh so many voices.  Please give me a discerning heart, to listen to what You say.

There is an old joke about living in the jungle.  There was so much vicious infighting.  Why couldn't they all just get along?  So a disarmament meeting was called.

The hawk wanted all teeth removed.  The lion wanted all talons removed.  Other animals wanted stingers, poison removed,  and there were other demands.  Finally, the bear said, "You are all being selfish and self-serving.  We need to get along and hold one another in a big embrace."

Can nobody be trusted?

Jesus, I trust in You.

Kiss of Peace

March 7th is the Memorial of Perpetua and Felicity.  In this morning's Office of Readings, from the story of the death of the holy martyrs of Carthage, I came across a passage that had me pause for reflection.

The people, however, had demanded that the martyrs be led to the middle of the amphitheater.  They wanted to see the sword thrust into the bodies of the victims, so that their eyes might share in the slaughter.  Without being asked they went where the people wanted them to go; but first they kissed one another, to complete their witness with the customary kiss of peace.


I knew that the Kiss of Peace was a custom from early Christianity.  I had no idea that it was so important a witness to Christian faith.

I had stopped giving the Kiss of Peace during Mass.  I don't hug, or even shake hands.  I nod to my neighbor--that's the extent of my witness.

But from now on, I'm giving a "kiss."  It's the least I can do.  Martyrs died giving witness, in just this way.

BTW, the picture is Dominic and Francis exchanging the Kiss of Peace.

Satan

For Formation yesterday, our Spiritual Director had assigned, Summa Theologica, Prima Pars, Q. 114.

I couldn't believe it.  Why did he give us this?  This is silly.  Satan?  This is 2011.  C'mon!

But Father was serious.  And so were my "cloistered brothers."

This lesson happened yesterday, and I was going to post it, but I spent the time looking for an appropriate picture.  This is Satan, so I wanted the ugliest picture I could find.  Nothing was ugly enough.  That's why I'm posting, now, minus a picture.

I was shocked to find out that some of my "cloistered brothers" have had personal encounters.  !!!!  And not only with Satan, but with their Guardian Angels.  Some of my brothers even know the names of their Guardian Angels.

I'd tell you more, but I'm still trying to lift my jaw up off the floor.