NaPraGoMo 2008

Enter His Gates With Praise

2008-11-30T00:00:00.009-06:00

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
worship the LORD with cries of gladness;
come before him with joyful song.

Know that the LORD is God, our maker to whom we belong,

whose people we are, God's well-tended flock.

Enter the temple gates with praise, its courts with thanksgiving.

Give thanks to God, bless his name;

good indeed is the LORD,

Whose love endures forever,

whose faithfulness lasts through every age.

--Psalm 100

*****

I thank everyone who participated in this venture, and wish you many blessings on your continued journey with God. Perhaps you've found something that will help you keep up 15 minutes more a day...please feel free to share what that is in the comments, so others may benefit. If you are used to the internet prompt, I encourage you to transfer your habit to Sacred Space, which has a lovely lectio divina series of prompts for each day.

If you prefer books with short reflections, here are a couple of suggestions:

Bangley, Bernard. Nearer to the Heart of God: Daily Readings with the Christian Mystics. Paraclete Press. (An ecumenical text, this really has beautiful selections. The best I have seen of its kind....)
Griffin, Emilie. Doors to Prayer: An Invitation. Paraclete Press.

I'm also a huge fan of Fr. Thomas Dubay's Fire Within, which isn't "reflection style" but has meaty observations for the journey into full communion with God. He has shorter books but none better, because this is a masterpiece.

And finally, if you like the photos, many of these and more I wanted to use are in my Flickr Favorites photostream.

Blessed advent all, and thanks again! Let's pray for each other, and I'll see you next year!

Stay with it

2008-11-29T00:00:00.002-06:00

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If birds stop beating their wings, they quickly fall to the ground. Unless your soul works at holding itself up, your flesh will drag it down.

You must renew your determination regularly.

Oddly, a spiritual crash leaves us lower than when we began.

Clocks need winding, cleaning, and oiling. Sometimes they need repair. Similarly, we must care for our spiritual life by examining and servicing our hearts at least annually.

There is plenty of time for other things. You do not have to do it all every day.

Stay with it. Time flies away. Keep your eyes on heaven. Don't throw it away for earthly things. Look at Jesus Christ and be faithful to him.

Live, Jesus! To whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forevermore. Amen.

--St. Francis de Sales,
Introduction to the Devout Life

Week Four: Check-in

2008-11-28T20:00:00.002-06:00

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Welcome to our last "virtual coffee talk" about how the past week has gone.

Has the holiday (in the USA) made it more difficult, or is it a source of prayer for you? The theme of the prompts has been "going forth" from here, if that aids your reflection. Any struggles? Any fruit you wish to share?

Feel free to comment in the comments box.

(Two days left in November!)

Our closing scripture:

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19)

Silence

2008-11-28T00:00:00.001-06:00

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God speaks to us in the silence of the night. In concrete terms what actually happens when we experience silence? Often we feel rather uncomfortable because we are not used to silence. Our world is filled with noise - radio, television, constant chatting about this and that - words, words, words. When we pray, we do not change our human nature and so for this reason we may find silence difficult even at times of prayer. There exists the temptation even to fill the entire experience of Lectio Divina with words. Of course it is necessary to take time to read the Word of God, to meditate on it and to pray it with words and thoughts which arise spontaneously from our hearts but it is equally important to leave space for silence where God speaks to us in the sound of a gentle breeze.

The voice of God is so gentle that we run the risk of suffocating it with the noise within ourselves. Consciously we enter into silence and leaving aside our beautiful words and holy thoughts for a moment, we reserve a space which we hope God will fill. I have often been surprised by the number of people who do not seem to understand the value of silence and who cannot appreciate its place in Christian prayer.

The silence to which I am referring is not merely an empty space, a lack of words; it is a desire to which God alone can respond. There is a type of silence which is not Christian. Everything depends on one's intention. If we want to use the time of silence to sleep or daydream or for relaxation, that is not Christian prayer. It is, however, possible to enter into silence with the best of intentions and after a few minutes to fall asleep or become distracted but if our intention is to communicate with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, it remains prayer. To appreciate the value of silence, we must be convinced that God lives and works in us whether we are awake or asleep. God does not need our beautiful words and holy thoughts but our desire. What do we really desire? If we really desire that God transform us, He will do it.

--from the British Province of Carmelite Friars

i thank you god for this most amazing

2008-11-27T00:00:00.002-06:00

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i thank You God for most this amazing
day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday; this is the birth
day of life and love and wings: and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any-lifted from the no
of all nothing-human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

--e.e. cummings

Contemplation

2008-11-26T00:00:00.001-06:00

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What we plant in the soil of contemplation, we shall reap in the harvest of action.

--Meister Eckhart

Fire

2008-11-25T00:00:00.001-06:00

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Abba Lot came to Abba Joseph in the desert and said: Father, as best I can I keep my little rule, I fast, I pray and meditate, I live in peace, and I purify my thoughts. Now what else should I do?

The elder stood up and stretched out his hands, and his fingers were tongues of flame. He said: Why not become all fire?

—Apophthegmata Patrum

Loving

2008-11-24T00:00:00.004-06:00

Clouds and light.

Lift up your heart to God with simple love. Let God be your aim rather than the things he can provide. Try to forget the world and everything material. Focus on God alone.

When you begin you will only find darkness. This is like a cloud of unknowing. You will not be able to identify it. As you reach out to God, this dark cloud will always be between you and God. There is nothing you can do about it. It will prevent you from seeing him clearly. Neither the reasoning powers of your rational mind nor the affections of your emotions will permit a complete experience of God.

Accept this as natural. Try to be comfortable and content in this darkness for as long as it takes. Continue to call out for God. If you are going to have any experience of God in this life, it will be in this cloud and in this darkness.

You have a knowing power and a loving power. God, who gave both of them to you, is incomprehensible to the knowing power. But he is entirely comprehensible to the loving power. This is the miracle of love.

Anonymous,
The Cloud of Unknowing

Christ the King

2008-11-23T00:00:00.004-06:00

"Christ the King of Life"

Listen: Timeless, Matt Maher.

All I Have

2008-11-22T00:00:00.002-06:00

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Lord Jesus,
I am not an eagle.
All I have are the eyes
and the heart of one.
In spite of my littleness,
I dare to gaze at the sun of love
and long to fly toward it.
I want to imitate the eagles,
but all I can do is flap my small wings.
What shall I do?
With cheerful confidence I shall stay
gazing at the sun until I die.
Nothing will frighten me,
neither wind nor rain.
O my beloved sun,
I delight in feeling small and helpless
in Your presence;
and my heart is at peace.

--St. Therese de Lisieux

Check-in: week three

2008-11-21T20:00:00.004-06:00

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More virtual coffee talk and sharing after the third week of 15 more minutes a day...

This is an opportunity to share the struggles and the joys in the comments box. This week's prompts have had a focus on devotion this week:
becoming,
patience,
encouragement,
the cross,
the ordinary,
and living out delight.

How is it going, and where are we at?

This week's scripture: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)

The duty of delight

2008-11-21T00:00:00.003-06:00

Delight.

How necessary it is to cultivate a spirit of joy. It is a psychological truth that the physical acts of reverence and devotion make one feel devout. The courteous gesture increases one's respect for others. To act lovingly is to begin to feel loving, and certainly to act joyfully brings joy to others which in turn makes one feel joyful. I believe we are called to the duty of delight.

--Dorothy Day

In the ordinary

2008-11-20T00:00:00.004-06:00

Raindrops on dandelion.

You may be wrong when you say that being religious is difficult. The truth is there is only one thing required of you--total faithfulness to God.

This devotion can become a part of your life in active and passive ways. You are actively loyal to God when you keep his commandments. Passive loyalty is a loving acceptance of whatever God sends you every moment of every day.

God does not require of us more than we can deliver. Could anything be fairer or more sensible? He will not push you beyond your strength and capacity.

Your life is made up of innumerable trivial activities. If they are done in the right spirit, this is enough to satisfy God. We do our part and God does the rest....

This is what it means to be holy. It may be difficult to see, but there is nothing hidden or secret about it. God offers holiness to us everywhere, all the time. We will receive it in great quantity from both friends and enemies. There is no better way to be "religious" than by finding God in everything that comes our way each moment.

--Jean-Pierre de Caussade,
Abandonment to Divine Providence

Carrying your cross

2008-11-19T00:00:00.002-06:00

Crucifixes.

God is a clever designer of crosses. Some are as heavy as iron or lead. Others are as light as straw. He constructs impressive crosses of gold and jewels. He uses all the things we like best. In spite of their great variety, crosses have two things in common. They are hard to carry, and they crucify.

...One may be crucified while the world envies his good fortune! Prestige can be more painful than arthritis.

--Francois de Fenelon,
Meditations and Devotions

Encouragement

2008-11-18T00:00:00.002-06:00

Look up.

Banish discouragement from your heart as best you can, and if trouble comes, never let it depress or hinder you for long. At the least, bear it bravely if you cannot bear it cheerfully. Even if you are reluctant to bear it, and feel indignant, yet control yourself, and let no rash words escape you that may harm Christ's little ones. The violence of your feelings will soon subside, and grace return to heal your inner pain. I live, (Isa 49:18) says the Lord, "ready to help and comfort you more than ever, if you will trust Me and call on Me with devotion.

--from The Imitation of Christ
Thomas a Kempis

Patience

2008-11-17T00:00:00.003-06:00

Sunrise in winter.

The rising of devotion in an ordinary soul is like the dawning of a new day. Darkness is not driven away immediately. Light comes in small increments, moment by moment. The saying is that a slow cure is best. Sicknesses of the soul are like those of the body. They come galloping in on horseback, but depart slowly on foot.

Have courage and by patient. Many see themselves as still imperfect after trying to be devout a long time. The opposite temptation is far more hazardous. Some figure everything is fixed on the first day! They have scarcely begun. They want to fly without wings. They are taking a great risk of relapse if they stop seeing the doctor too soon.

Purging the soul is a lifetime effort. There is no reason to be upset by our imperfections. Perfection is nothing more than fighting against them. How can we resist them unless we see them? How can we overcome them unless we face them?

--St. Francis de Sales
The Introduction to the Devout Life

Becoming

2008-11-16T00:00:00.003-06:00

Autumn reveals.

If you become who you are, you will set the whole world on fire.

--St. Catherine of Siena

Keep your gaze fixed

2008-11-15T00:00:00.001-06:00

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"I have told you again and again that I am coming.

I tell you I am here.

I tell you I am with you.

The time is now at hand. I have need of you.

Rise up; rise up but draw together around me.

Do not look yet to the battle that lies ahead. Look only to me.

Draw near to me. My arms are wide enough and great enough to embrace you all.

Draw near to me.

Draw near to my heart for I will reveal my plans to you,
and I will show you the part that I have given you to play.

You are little, you are small, but I can use you.
It is not your power; it is mine.
It is not your will; it is my Spirit.

Keep your gaze fixed on me.

Rise up from the bench. Gather around Me.

Stay very near to Me and I will speak, says the Lord."

--Word of God Community

Check-in: week two

2008-11-14T18:00:00.002-06:00

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Virtual coffee talk time again....

How are we doing, halfway through the month?

Please feel free to share any fruit or struggles from your prayer this week in the comments box.

As we move on:
Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope (1 Peter 3:15).

Strip your prayers

2008-11-14T00:00:00.005-06:00

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This is crucial: as long as we pray only when and how we want to, our life of prayer is bound to be unreal. It will run in fits and starts. The slightest upset–even a toothache–will be enough to destroy the whole edifice of our prayer-life.

"You must strip your prayers," the novice-master told me. You must simplify, deintellectualise. Put yourself in front of Jesus as a poor man: not with any big ideas, but with living faith. Remain motionless in an act of love before the Father. Don't try to reach God with your understanding; that is impossible. Reach him in love; that is possible.

The struggle is not easy, because nature will try to get back her own, get her dose of enjoyment; but union with Christ Crucified is something quite different.

After some hours–or some days–of this exercise, the body relaxes. As the will refuses to let it have its own way it gives up the struggle. It becomes passive. The senses go to sleep. Or rather, as St. John of the Cross says, the night of senses is beginning. Then prayer becomes something serious, even if it is painful and dry. So serious that one can no longer do without it. The soul begins to share the redemptive work of Jesus.

Kneeling down on the sand before the simple monstrance which contained Jesus, I used to think of the evils of the world: hate, violence, depravity, impurity, egoism, betrayal, idolatry. Around me the cave had become as large as the world, and inwardly I contemplated Jesus oppressed under the weight of so much wickedness.

Is not the Host in its own form like bread crushed, pounded, baked? And does it not contain the Man of Sorrows, Christ the Victim, the Lamb slain for our sins?

Letters From The Desert
Carlo Carreto

Abandonment

2008-11-13T02:00:00.000-06:00

Christ's passion, Gethsemane Monastery, Kentucky

Father, I abandon myself
into your hands;
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do,
I thank you.

I am ready for all,
I accept all.

Let only your will be done in me
and in all your creatures.
I wish no more than this, O Lord.

Into your hands
I commend my soul;
I offer it to you,
with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord,
and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself
into your hands,
without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father.

--Charles de Foucauld

Third, Love

2008-11-12T02:00:00.000-06:00

Charity

Have I told God today that I love Him?
Do I tell Jesus that I love Him with my whole heart?
Do I take the occasion to tell God that I love Him whenever I experience something I naturally dislike?
Have I capitalized on the difficulties today to tell God that I love Him just because He sent me the trial or misunderstanding?
Do I see God's love for me in allowing me to prove my love for Him in the crosses He sent me today?
Have I seen God's grace to prove my love for Him in every person whom I met today?
Have I failed in charity by speaking unkindly about others?
Have I dwelt on what I considered someone's unkindness toward me today?
Is there someone that I consciously avoid because I dislike the person?
Did I try to carry on a conversation today with someone who is difficult to talk to?
Have I been stubborn in asserting my own will?
How thoughtful have I been today in doing some small favor for someone?
Have I allowed my mood to prevent me from being thoughtful of others today?
Am I given to dwelling on other people's weaknesses or faults?
Have I been cheerful today in my dealings with others?
Do I control my uncharitable thoughts as soon as they arise in my mind?
Did I pray for others today?
Have I written any letters today?
Have I controlled my emotions when someone irritated me?
Have I performed any sacrifice today for someone?

--John Hardon, S.J.

Second, Hope

2008-11-11T00:00:00.002-06:00

(photo credit)

Hope

Do I immediately say a short prayer when I find myself getting discouraged?

Do I daily say a short act of hope?

Do I dwell on my worries instead of dismissing them from my mind?

Do I fail in the virtue of hope by my attachment to the things of this world?

Do I try to see God's providence in everything that "happens" in my life?

Do I try to see everything from the viewpoint of eternity?

Am I confident that, with God's grace, I will be saved?

Do I allow myself to worry about my past life and thus weaken my hope in God's mercy?

Do I try to combine every fully deliberate action with at least a momentary prayer for divine help?

How often today have I complained, even internally?

--John Hardon, S.J.

First, Faith

2008-11-10T02:00:00.001-06:00

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Before applying the particular examen to my own spiritual life, it is well to first ask myself, "What are the virtues that I know from experience I most need to develop?" The reason why this question should first be answered is that no two of us are equally prone to commit the same kind of sins. Nor are we personally always tempted in the same direction. There is wisdom in first knowing enough about myself, to be able to get to the root of my own moral weakness. Otherwise, I may be ignoring what really needs attention in my spiritual life and concentrating on what is not so necessary for me at this time in my service of God. Moreover, it would be a mistake to suppose that by attending to my moral failings, I am being "negative" in my pursuit of holiness. On the contrary. In God's providence, He allows us to fail in those areas in which He especially wants us to grow in virtue. We can fail in the practice of these virtues either by commission, omission, or by tepidity, in not acting as generously as we might in responding to the grace we have received from God.

Faith

Do I make an honest effort to grow in the virtue of faith by daily mental prayer on the mysteries of the faith as revealed in the life of Jesus Christ?
Do I make at least a short act of faith every day?
Do I pray daily for an increase of faith?
Do I ever tempt God by relying on my own strength to cope with the trials in my life?
Do I unnecessarily read or listen to those who oppose or belittle what I know are truths of my Christian faith?
What have I done today to externally profess my faith?
Have I allowed human respect to keep me from giving expression to my faith?
Do I make a serious effort to resolve difficulties that may arise about my faith?
Do I ever defend my faith, prudently and charitably, when someone says something contrary to what I know is to be believed?
Have I helped someone overcome a difficulty against the faith?

[to be continued...]

--John Hardon, S.J.

(Second and third parts in the days following. Full text here. The above has been very lightly adapted.)

Receptivity

2008-11-09T00:00:00.000-06:00

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In the state of abandonment the only duty is the rule of the present moment. In this the soul is light as a feather, liquid as water, simple as a child, active as a ball in receiving in receiving and following all the inspirations of grace. Such souls have no more consistence and rigidity as molten metal. As this takes any mould into which it is poured, so these souls are pliant and easily receptive of any form that God chooses to give them....[T]hey have confidence in God, they abandon themselves to Him, and, entirely absorbed by their duty, they think not of themselves, not what may be necessary for them, not of how to obtain it.

from Abandonment to Divine Providence, p 66.

--Jean Pierre de Caussade