Inspiration::Theophan the Recluse

"There is a widely-accepted misconception among us that when one becomes involved in work at home or in business, immediately one steps out of the godly realm and away from God-pleasing activities. From this idea, it follows that once the desire to strive toward God germinates, and talk turns toward the spiritual life, then the idea inevitably surfaces: one must run from society, from the home—to the wilderness, to the forest.

Both premises are erroneous!

Homes and communities depend on concerns of daily life and society. These concerns are God-appointed obligations; fulfilling them is not a step toward the ungodly, but is a walking in the way of the Lord.

All who cleave to these erroneous premises fall into the bad habit of thinking that once they accept worldly obligations, they no longer need strive towards God.  

I see that these misconceptions have trapped you also. Cast them aside and grasp the concept that everything you do, in and outside your home, concerning social life, as a daughter, as a sister, as a Muscovite—is godly and God-pleasing. 

There is an appointed commandment for everything in our lives. How can the fulfillment of commandments be displeasing to God? Your misconceptions truly make them ungodly, because you fulfill your daily tasks with an attitude contrary to the one God intended you to have.

You complete godly deeds in an ungodly manner. They are needlessly lost and tear your mind from God. Correct this and, from now on, approach daily matters with the knowledge that to fulfill them is a commandment. Administer them as administering God's law.

Once you adjust yourself to this outlook, no worldly duty will distract you from God. Instead, it will bring you close to Him. We are all servants of our God. God has assigned to each his place and responsibilities, and He watches to see how each approaches his assignment. He is everywhere. And He watches over you. Keep this in mind and do each deed as if it were assigned to you directly by God, no matter what it is.

Do your housework in this manner: When someone comes to visit, keep in mind that God has sent you this visitor, and is watching. When you have to leave your house, keep in mind that God has sent you out on an errand, and is watching. Will you complete it as He wishes?

By orienting yourself to God at all times, your chores at home and responsibilities outside the house will not distract your attention from God, but, on the contrary, will keep you intent on completing all tasks in a God-pleasing manner. All will be performed with the fear of God, and this fear will keep your attention on God unswervingly.

To determine which duties inside and outside the family are God-pleasing, take the books in which these matters are discussed as your guides. Be careful to distinguish between concerns prompted by frivolity, passions, flattery and worldliness, from those that are correct, appropriate and honorable.

Of course, having expressed the firm determination to live in a God-pleasing manner, you will need no prompting to discriminate between godly tasks and ungodly ones.

~Theophan the Recluse
Letter 49

Everything is a Grace::Love

This is the third and last post in the Everything is a Grace series.

The fabric of graces is woven by God who watches over his creatures with solicitousness.  His Providence is paternal and it is guided by wisdom and love which echoes the depths of the richness of the Trinity.

How wonderful that each grace is an echo of the Trinitarian life!

All grace is a call to eternal life.  God's purpose is to unite us with Him...the beginning of eternal life here on earth.

"The burden of divine love enclosed in the smallest grace is worth more than the entire world and is, therefore, a merciful favor, even when it demands the sacrifice and renunciation of the entire world.

"If everything is a grace, everything is Love."

The changing circumstances in our lives, even those which convert life into a Calvary, are always guided by the loving wisdom of God.  God uses these means to put us on the path of eternity and they are offered to us to enrich our daily lives.

"Joy and suffering of mind and heart alternate in the depths of our personal living, and the provident love of God quickens each beat."

Within the rhythm of Providence, nothing that happens to us (including the consequences of sin), can help but be an occasion of Love...grace lovingly offered and ordered to eternal life.

"It is not now a question of accepting the weight of the cross, but rather of accepting the burden of love, knowing how to accompany the very act of acceptance with the smile of recognition."

The spiritual life is love and we have to accept every offer of grace with all the love of which we are capable.

"Love is repaid with love."

Resignation is not enough.  Grace is not an imposition or a chastisement...but a gift, a privilege.  

The most insignificant gestures of Providence are filled with divine charity which gives them life.  They deserve all our appreciative love that adores and glorifies.

"Each and every moment of our life must express our acceptance of Our Lord's invitation to the love of friendship which He presents in the continual flow of His grace."

Grace will not be fruitful unless it is freely accepted by the soul. Fidelity to grace is of the utmost importance in the spiritual life.

"If everything is a grace on God's part, everything has to be faithfulness on ours."

{For information on ordering on this booklet, please visit my OCDS Vocation page and scroll down to the bottom.}

Catholic Woman's Almanac

Joining in with the lovely ladies over at Suscipio...

Beauty in the ordinary...

{Dusk outside my window} 

Moments of gratitude...

:: spring rainfall

:: vibrant greens of new growth

:: listening to chant that lowers my anxiety level

:: confirmation during prayer
:: oldest daughter treating to dinner
:: flowers galore!
:: homemade cards
:: second oldest son making me dinner

In the kitchen...

:: Philly cheese sloppy joes

:: pasta in white sauce, salads

:: chicken breaded in almond meal

:: chicken sandwiches

:: french toast with strawberries and whipped cream
:: grilled chicken, salads

Reading...

From the library: Ancient Christian Wisdom by Fr. Alexis Trader--good stuff--some of the psychology and science goes right over this head but I can still follow easily and I love the application of the asceticism of the Desert Fathers to the psychological life since we are body AND spirit!

Prayer: The Better Part

Book review: The Healing Power of Prayer: Overcoming Emotional and Psychological Blocks by Fr. McAlear

Favorite pins...

:: Love this quote
:: New board: Contemplative spaces
:: Prayer for discernment

Pondering...

“You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.” ― Thomas Merton

Yes...I DO need to know precisely what is happening <laugh>.  See...that's my problem...I want it all laid out.  You are working something Lord but I wish you would just reveal the whole plan right now.  Where is all this going?  Oh Lord...help me to focus on the now...now has enough to challenge me!

Holding in prayer...

:: where God is leading me in Carmel
:: praying novena to the Holy Spirit
:: for all mothers...especially those who have lost children or are unable to have children but are mothers at heart

Sharing....

Youngest is becoming quite the poet...had to share this:

Night

It's silent.

Moonbeams dance on the water.

The grass bends down when the wind blows.

It's silent.

Yet, someone walks...

lost in the creation of God.

~ © Angeline G.

Maybe all my reading of St. John of the Cross is seeping into my daughter <smile>.

Everything is a Grace::Hope

This is the second of three posts on Everything is a Grace.

There are experiences in the life of the soul that may seem to escape the luminous Everything is a Grace.

We have all felt the burden of sin, frustration of faults and imperfections that we seem unable to get a handle on, and the anxiety felt over that particular weakness.  We should, instead, try to comprehend this interior sadness that casts us down and sometimes paralyzes us.

We must repeat again: everything is a grace.

"When God permits a sin, though it be that of Judas, there is in the very permitting of it an offer of grace which can be so great as to force us to cry: O felix culpa!  With the aid of this grace humility can replace despair and lead one again to life."

God does permit the habitual falling into infidelities where a weak will will not know how to defend itself.  His  permission is at the same time a gesture of grace in which we are lifted up into His arms...in the strength of His omnipotence...and the tenderness of His unfathomable mercy.

When we are suffering in our heart, does not the Lord offer us His grace, a sure refuge, protection?

There is no reason to despair.

"Even that which, in the light of Providence seems a shadow, such as sin and evil, is definitely an occasion of grace for the one who knows how to accept it and to place his trust in faithful abandonment by hope."

From the perspective of St. Therese, the practice of abandonment is the expression of unshakeable certitude in the continual and actual offering of graces like droplets bedewing all the things of life.

"This certitude is what gives to abandonment the lilt of serenity and joy, far different from the clamor of desires."

A simple equation: abandonment {with hope} = serenity + joy.  

{For information on ordering on this booklet, please visit my OCDS Vocation page and scroll down to the bottom.}

Prayer in the Carmelite life

"Prayer is the characteristic of Carmelite life. It is its very soul.  The aim of prayer is to lead the soul to contemplation.  Even from the beginning, the Carmelite method of prayer includes as it central point an act called contemplation, accompanied by an affectionate colloquy.  Little by little this colloquy becomes simplified, leading finally to a simple loving look at God, which is the essence of contemplation.  The Carmelite must, then, keep his mind fixed on God, loving Him in silence, giving himself to Him, and enjoying Him.  This prayer is, of course, always nourished by faith, but its essential act is love.

"However, the Carmelite is not to devote himself to prayer only during the {designated times} which are especially assigned to this.  He is expected to pray the whole day long. His love should lead him always to seek God, and to keep himself orientated towards Him.  Under the action of the Holy Spirit, he must strive to keep himself in constant contact with Christ living within his soul. If sometimes an occupation or distraction interrupts this communion, he should hasten to return to it the moment he becomes aware of the interruption. 

"Such is the life of prayer which the Carmelite seeks to realize: to live in God with Christ."

~Fr. Francois Jamart OCD

"The Spirit and Prayer of Carmel"

Everything is a Grace::Faith

I decided to do a short series of posts from a gem of a little booklet "Everything is a Grace" by Fr. Anastasius of the Holy Rosary OCD.  I am sure I have shared from this resource before but would like to go a little more in depth since there is so much wisdom contained within it.  All quotes are taken directly from the source.

This week's focus is Faith.

"...accept Providence and make good use of grace or reject Providence and waste it."

The tapestry of our life is made up of many threads: temperament, attractions and aversions, endowments, tendencies, ability and inability.  They are woven together to form each unique personality.

In addition, our environment...family, country, faith, occupations, culture...also determine the needs of our life.

Both of these together influence the efforts that make up the dynamic of our daily life.  It is in this atmosphere, we make use of the gift of freedom God has bestowed on us.

In these aspects, we have described nothing less than providential design; therefore, everything in it is a grace.

We must, in faith, accept this fabric of graces that is woven mysteriously through our daily lives.  

"In this fabric everything is ordered with such profound wisdom that not even temporary rebellion of the will allying itself with sin can undo it."

In order to accept with faith our concrete life, we must let go of the envy and jealously that takes root and robs us of our tranquility and peace when we are uselessly wasting time comparing our life with our neighbor. In addition, daydreaming saps the spirit of abandonment from us and our acceptance of Providence.

We have all been there...well...I can certainly speak for myself anyway...the yearning for a better life or different vocation, a better temperament, a less tried virtue, a firm will.

"These useless groanings, which, when they are not a lack of faith, are, at least, a falling back upon our human desires and a lack of delicate regard for the solicitous and paternal tenderness of God."

No one can say to the Lord without presumption, "I want a different grace or a greater grace."  The one thing needful is to say, "I have to be more faithful to grace."

Another common pitfall to the acceptance of grace is the mentality of considering certain material, moral or spiritual difficulties as obstacles to sanctity.

"Sometimes it is said: I want to become a saint in spite of my difficulties.  However, if everything is a grace, why not rather say: I will become a saint by means of all my difficulties?"

What can frequently happen is once we view a particular circumstance as an obstacle to virtue, we rebel against that very circumstance and we miss seeing the permissive will of God in it.

"Only faith can continually remind us that each moment of our life is governed by a gesture of the Providence of God our Father; as, on the other hand, only our selfishness can hide from us the fact that in any gesture of Providence there lies hidden a merciful offering of grace."

This can only come with frequent acts of abandonment and love.  Yes Lord...I accept and embrace this {circumstance, trial, irritation, difficulty, weakness}...for love of You.  I believe that you have a perfect plan for my life. Thank you...for this grace.  What better habit to begin right in this present moment?

{For information on ordering on this booklet, please visit my OCDS Vocation page and scroll down to the bottom.}

Moments of grace {pic}