Don't Wait

Alright ladies, moment of truth. How many times were you distracted by your dream wedding pinterest board during class today? In general, how many times have you begged the question “When?! When will it happen to me, God?”

Whatever that “it” is, I think sometimes (or in my case oftentimes) we fall into the discrete trap of not simply waiting, but waiting in vain. That is, waiting with the wrong mentality, the wrong intentions.

Here is an article specific to living as a single woman called “Single and Not Waiting” by Rachael Selinger. 

My challenge to all those reading this – single or not – is to ask yourself what areas of your life have you fallen prey to the temptation of this waiting mentality? Where does this mentality rob you of your joy? In what ways do you use God?

Let us seek fulfillment in Him first.

“What we can and must do is open ourselves to grace; that means to renounce our own will completely and to give it captive to the divine will, to lay our whole soul, ready for reception and formation into God’s hands.” –Edith Stein 

Spe Salvi – Saved in Hope

Have you read this document by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI? If not, it is definitely worth picking up! Saved. In. Hope. HOPE! Who doesn’t need HOPE in their lives?!

I could probably go on FOREVER about this encyclical because it’s pretty much awesome, but I’ll focus on 4 main points.

Point 1 - FAITH IS HOPE

Ok great. Faith = Hope. Papa B writes that Christians have a distinguishing mark about them in that they KNOW they have a future… maybe the details ABOUT this future aren’t all there, but the fact remains that their lives won’t end in emptiness. (Spe Salvi 2) We can have HOPE that there is more than just this world that we currently live in - the constant ups and downs, heartaches and losses, even the joys and successes we encounter – there’s something even GREATER yet to come. Papa B encourages that this Christian understanding of a life after death isn’t just information for you to store away as happy thoughts, but rather it is PERFORMATIVE. This is a hope that makes things happen and is LIFE CHANGING. The one who lives with hope lives differently! (2) “To come to know God – the true God – means to receive hope.” (3) Papa B talks about the great faith that St. Josephine Bakhita had without even really being taught who God was. She had heard there was one Master greater than all the other “masters” she had, and came to know His love and presence in her life. She gained hope. “I am definitively loved and whatever happens to me – I am awaited by this Love. And so my life is good.” (3) To grasp that you are known, loved, and created good by the ultimate Master… to believe that He has a plan for your life now and for the future no matter what happens…that, my sisters, is Hope.

Point 2 – CHRISTIAN HOPE IS RELATIONAL

What can we hope in? What can we not hope in? Science is good. Reason is good. But both of these cannot be void of Love. “It is not science that redeems man - man is redeemed by Love.” (26) This love is relational – with God and with those around us.Jesus, who died for you, for me, and for Susie down the hall, won redemption for US out of LOVE. “Christ died for all. To live for Him means allowing oneself to be drawn into His being for others.” (28) Jesus wants a relationship with you. He wants to tell you how good you are, how much He loves you, and how you were and still are worth dying for. This relationship = HOPE. “Man’s great, true hope which holds firm in spite of all disappointments can only be God – God who has loved us, and who continues to love us ‘to the end’…” (27) It is only by being in this communion with Jesus that we can truly be there for others. Papa B hits this relational point home again further in the document, but I’ll come back to that.

Point 3 – HOPE REMAINS

Basically. Papa B knew how to target a young audience when he wrote paragraphs 30 and 31. Hope is something that is infinite. We might have the hope of finding our one true love or the hope of getting that dream job… but once those things are fulfilled, then what? Hope for the everlasting is what remains. I’m just going to let Papa B speak:

“This great hope can only be God, who encompasses the whole of reality and who can bestow upon us what we, by ourselves, cannot attain…God is the foundation of hope: not any god, but the God who has a human face and who has loved us to the end, each one of us and humanity in its entirety. His Kingdom is not an imaginary hereafter, situated in a future that will never arrive; His Kingdom is present wherever He is loved and wherever His love reaches us. His love alone gives us the possibility of soberly persevering day by day…His love is at the same time our guarantee of the existence of what we only vaguely sense and which nevertheless, in our deepest self, we await: a life that is ‘truly’ life.” (31)

Point 4 – PRAYER TEACHES US HOW TO HOPE – FOR ME AND FOR OTHERS

“When no one listens to me anymore, God still listens to me. When I can no longer talk to anyone or call upon anyone, I can always talk to God. When there is no longer anyone to help me deal with a need or expectation that goes beyond the human capacity for hope, He can help me.” (32)

Remember how Papa B said that a relationship with Jesus, with Love Incarnate is hope? Prayer, my sisters, is how we build that relationship with Him who loves us. He is always there, ready to hear what your heart has to say, and is ready to respond to you with Love. Papa B says that when we pray, we undergo an inner purification which opens our hearts up to God and thus to our fellow human beings as well. (33) Hope is always a hope for others. We pray for others, we interact with others, we LOVE each other. Especially when we suffer, we suffer with and for others.

“…No man is an island, entire of itself… no one sins alone. No one is saved alone… So my prayer for another is not something extraneous to that person, something external, not even after death. In the interconnectedness of Being, my gratitude to the other – my prayer for him – can play a small part in his purification…It is never too late to touch the heart of another, nor it is ever in vain.” (48)

Papa B ends the encyclical on Mary, the Star of Hope. Really. She’s the true model of what it means to have hope for something more in this world. Look to her, who will lead you to Him. And for real, PICK UP THIS DOCUMENT! It’s so good! 

Mary, Mother of Hope and Mother of Christ, lead us your daughters to His Heart, to have hope in all He has planned for our lives, and to know that we are truly good, loved, and enough. Amen. 

My HOPE and prayer remain with you in His Heart,

Caty

"The cross means there is no shipwreck without hope; there is no dark without dawn; nor storm without haven." ~ Blessed Pope John Paul II

I Shall Not Want

For the past several weeks Audrey Assad's song, "I shall not want," has constantly played on repeat in my mind or from my computer. When I find a song that I really like or am moved by, I tend to play it over and over and over again, to the point that I will drive people who are frequently around me crazy. For whatever reason, this song absolutely captivated me the first time I heard it, and in taking time to listen and think about the lyrics, I wanted to share some of the beauty I have found in the song with all of you.

"From the love of my own comfort
From the fear of having nothing
From a life of worldly passions
Deliver me O God"

This song starts by beautifully quoting from the litany of humility. I don't know about you all, but this is one of the most difficult prayers for me to pray. In the prayer, I feel as though I am asking Christ to completely strip me of my wants and my desires and to replace them with His will; it leaves me raw before God. It is a huge act of surrender and trust before God, truly believing that He will take care of me.

"From the need to be understood
From the need to be accepted
From the fear of being lonely
Deliver me O God
Deliver me O God"

I want to be comfortable and have possessions in the world to make me more comfortable; I want to be understood and accepted; I don't want to be lonely. To be stripped of these "possessions" leaves me empty before the Lord.

We should not fear this emptiness before the Lord, for He finds great beauty in this emptiness which has the capacity to be receptive. This is one of the special traits a woman has that makes her truly beautiful. Beauty is so incredibly fragile and vulnerable, yet this openness that is in a woman is a gift to humanity. There is a beautiful book titled, "The Reed of God," written by Caryll Houselander, and in this book Caryll talks about an empty hollowness that the Virgin Mary had within her. Each woman has a special emptiness within her similar to Mary; women have both a physical and spiritual emptiness in which she is able to accept life into her (either God or a child). This capacity is what allows her to bear life to the world.

So may we as women be unified in being open to those around us and to the Lord, to bring His goodness to the world rather than taking it for ourselves.

"And I shall not want, I shall not want
When I taste your goodness I shall not want
When I taste your goodness I shall not want"

In Christ's Peace,
Ali

Alice Says

Alice Says

The Privilege of Being A Woman by Alice von Hildebrand

   1.       Alice says:  Behind every great man is an even greater woman.

When writing about Gandhi, Louis Fisher shares “Gandhi feared neither man nor government, neither prison, nor poverty nor death.  But he did fear his wife.”  As women, when we live out our calling, men notice.  Not only do they notice, but it brings about change.  Alice writes, “The influence that she can exercise over her male partner is great indeed when it manifests itself…by example and gentle persuasion.” So what exactly is our calling, this calling that is so great, it even inspires men?  To love.  To love, with our uniquely feminine hearts. 

   2.      Alice says:  Contemporary feminists are “women’s great enemy.”

It seems modern culture has exchange all that is truly feminine and exceptionally beautiful for what is masculine.  Do I have to say this? No, Kierkegaard will for me: “No base seducer could think out a more dangerous doctrine for woman, for once he has made her believe this she is entirely in his power, at the mercy of his will, she can be nothing for him except a prey to his whims.”  Cardinal Josef Ratzinger calls feminism one of the greatest threats of the Church.  Ouch.  How do we return to who we really are as women?  Scripture and Mama Mary.  Alice writes, “But it is in the New Testament that the full glory of the female mission and vocation shines in the person of the Holy Virgin of Nazareth.” 

 3.      Alice says:  To serve is not to be degraded.

Today, power and fame are esteemed.  Alice writes, “In our society to be a “self-made man” calls for awe.  A Bill Gates, an Oprah Winfrey, or even a Bill Clinton inspire people with a totally illegitimate feeling of admiration.  But success does not guarantee authentic greatness.”  We only have to look at our Holy Father, servus servorum Dei (the servant of the servants of God) Pope Francis to see a living example of true greatness.  So why is it that modern feminism has such a kink in the neck with serving one another? After all, Christ Himself says, “I have not come to be served but to serve” (Matthew 20:28).  Alice writes, “How can anyone meditating on these words come to the conclusion that to serve, which is a form of love, is degrading?” 

 4.      Alice says:  Being a woman rocks.

The role of a woman is of special dignity in relation to God and to everyone else.  For who else but woman can bear a child?  Alice writes, “One thing is certain: when the time has come, nothing which is man-made will subsist. One day, all human accomplishments will be reduced to a pile of ashes. But every single child to whom a woman has given birth will live forever, for he has been given an immortal soul made to God's image and likeness.”

My sisters, there is no greater dignity than to be God’s very crown of Creation.  So let us not run away from what we are and who we are, as society will try to persuade us.  But let us run to the Living Word, to Christ Himself, through the perfect Woman, Mary.   It is there that we will learn how to love in our uniquely feminine way.

May you see yourself as God sees you,

Sierra

A Crucifixion type Love

A Crucifixion type Love

It's beautiful to desire to love someone so deeply and to want to carry their crosses for them daily, but we should not reserve this desire only for the person we're in a relationship with; this is the way that we should love all of our brothers and sisters, everyone we encounter. We should always be willing to sacrifice anything and carry their crosses for them. But, most importantly, we should crucify ourselves with Christ daily, stretch out our arms to leave our hearts completely unguarded with Him, and give Him our sacrifices in the hope of entering into a deeper relationship with Him.

I thought this youtube video expressed that in a beautiful way.


-Angel

Gratitude

Gratitude

This morning was a perfect fall morning; after the usual struggle to get up early in the morning, I was able to grab a cup of coffee, sit outside on a bench, and enjoy the beautiful fall weather while doing some Theology reading. It was such a simple way to spend an hour of my morning, enjoying clear, sunny skies, and it gently reminded me of the beauty in life in the nature around me.


This gift led me to reflect on how frequently I ignore or take the beautiful moments each day in my life for granted . It is much too easy to get caught up in my own worries about school or maintaining friendships or the unnecessary list of day-to-day worries. How many of these peaceful moments, like this morning, do I miss?

Something I have learned more with every passing day is the importance of gratitude. Not to be cheesy, but in a VeggieTales episode there was a little song sung that said, "for a thankful heart is a happy heart..." This little song always pops into my head (and no I'm not ashamed of it!). For there is such truth in these words. The more I am able to pause throughout my day and notice the little blessings all around me, and turn my heart to God in gratitude, the happier I am. 

Each one of us, unique as we are, is affected differently by the simple things of life, which can bring us great joy. I really enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning or friendly greetings from people I don't know or those surprising moments in a day that make you burst out in laughter. All of these little, simple moments fill my heart with gratitude and give me the stamina to persevere through the difficult moments in life.

There are no coincidences in life. God allows everything to happen and works through all things, good or bad. If this is the truth, then it also means that all the simple and beautiful things in each day of our lives is a gift from God. Don't be afraid to focus on the good that is in your life; allow the song of your heart to be a song of gratitude and watch the change that takes place. 

'Learn, too, to be grateful.
May all the wealth of Christ's inspiration have its shrine among you; now you will have instruction and advice for one another, full of wisdom, now there will be psalms, and hymns, and spiritual music, as you sing with gratitude in your hearts to God. Whatever you are about, in word and action alike, invoke always the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, offering your thanks to God the Father through him.' 
                                                                                        Colossians 3:16-17

"O my children, how great is Divine Providence! How generous God is to us! How much He loves us! Let us always be grateful and good! Let us love Him and never offend Him! In turn He will always provide for our needs."
                                                                                         Don Bosco

Your sister in Christ,
                 Ali

Music's Instrumental Role

Music's Instrumental Role

• I don't know about you, but I don't do well with silence. Music plays such an instrumental role in my life - pun intended :)

  Do you ever have that moment when you’re in the car with some friends and a song comes on that y’all just have to belt out? Whether it’s Matt Maher, One Direction, Lecrae, Backstreat Boys, or even the “Beibster,” I think we’ve all got at least one song that brings a smile to our face each time we hear it.

  Something that’s been on my mind lately is how powerful some of the lyrics I sing are, yet I absentmindedly sing the words. I’m not talking about the “bad songs” that “fill our minds with questionable messages.” I’m speaking to those songs that if we wholeheartedly meant what we were singing, it could truly start to transform us.

  “I’m trading my sorrows, I’m trading my shame. I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord.” – Trading My Sorrows Darrell Evans

  “I will open up my heart and let the healer set me free. I’m happy to be in the truth and I will daily lift my hands. I will always sing of when your love came down. I could sing of your love forever.” – I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever Hillsong

  “Blessed be your name on the road marked with suffering. Though there’s pain in the offering, blessed be your name. Every blessing you pour out I’ll turn back to praise. When the darkness closes in Lord, still I will say blessed the name of the Lord.” – Blessed By Your Name Matt Redman

  I encourage you, whether it’s at Mass, Tuesday night Praise and Worship, the FOP, or in your dorm room – when you sing – mean the words that you say. We’re not just singing “about” God, we’re singing to Him. Allow your song to be a prayer to the Healer who wants to set us free and give us joy. The above listed songs truly have been my prayer lately and it’s really uplifted me. My reason to sing is not based on my circumstances. Jesus gives me the reason.

  God Bless You,

  Katrina