A Love that Never Says Enough

Perpetual Vows, July 30, 2011

2011-08-25T19:59:00.000-05:00

On July 30,2011 I was finally able to say yes to God forever. My journey with the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament took a little over 13 years. I met the IWBS Sisters when I was 19 years old, rather insecure and frightened when contemplating such a big plan of God for my life.

My years of formation were long but blessed. There were many moments when I doubted that I had what it takes to be a Sister of the Incarnate Word, but I never, ever doubted that God wanted me. I just doubted my ability. God, however, carried me through, and on July 30, I responded to God: "Yes, I want to be yours forever!"

It is amazing how I have changed through the years. I started this blog as a postulant and I have journeyed through postulancy, novitiate, temporary and now final vows.

A dear friend of mine once asked me: "How is your life going to change?" And many times I have not been able to answer, but I think that this time I have my response:

Jeanne Chezard de Matel, our foundress, once heard from Jesus and recorded it in her journal: "I have made you a crystal, but remember that you are as fragile as glass. You make me known because your childlike simplicity renders you transparent. I reveal myself through you like a mirror. You have seen how I have placed you like a crystal vase upon the altar...your should be a transparent crystal wherein I wish to dwell. " (Complete Works 1, Autobiography, p.401)

I want to become a crystal vase. That my life may be so transparent that others may see Christ and not me. That I may be a place where Christ

chooses to dwell.

May my life be an extension of the Incarnation so that I may become, like thousands of others before me, an authentic Gospel of Love.

Praised be the Incarnate Word!

How to translate a medical document and babysit at the same time?

2011-07-19T18:25:00.008-05:00

Help a 7 year old make a pillow and let her stuff it for the longest time. When done, close stitch it for her.

Then, teach her how to make a scarf with a wonderful michael's device called the knitting loom....let her do it and then undue it until she gets it right while you translate.

When done, sign the documents and have them ready at about the same time that your charge is picked up.

Voila!

Holy Thursday

2011-04-21T13:32:00.006-05:00

I made bread today for Holy Thursday's supper at home. I tried a new recipe and prayed...and it worked.

Here are the ingredients if anyone is interested:

ITALIAN CHEESE BREAD RING

Bread:
4 1/2 to 5 1/2 cups of flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons of yeast
1 cup pf milk
1 cup of water
1/2 cup of butter
2 eggs
2 tablespoons sesame seeds

Filling:
1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 softened butter

1 Corinthians 11: 23-26

Brothers and Sisters:

I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,

that the Lord Jesus, on the night that he was handed over,

took bread, and, after he had given thanks,

broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you.

Do this in memory of me."...for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup

you proclaim the death of the Lord, until he comes.

This reading always humbles me, that Jesus is concerned about his disciples. That he doesn't want to leave them alone. And so, on his last day with them, he feeds them ad washes their feet. How humbling. Because sometimes, when everything piles up, when I feel that I can no longer keep on going, I feel like hiding, like running away, and I forget those I love, at least for that moment.

But Jesus reminds me to be a servant, to be a good teacher, to keep on giving until I have nothing else. Our foundress, Jeanne Chezard de Matel said that we should love with a love that never says enough. I will pray these days for the strenght to become like the one I love.

Happy Triduum. May these holiest of days allow you to be transformed so that like Jesus, we can give ourselves to others unconditionally, to become one with others.

May all of us become Eucharist. That is my prayer.

Happy Easter.

Mi bicicleta Olivia

2010-10-07T17:34:00.007-05:00

Esta es mi bicicleta Olivia. Olivia nacio en Nottingham, Inglatera mas o menos en los sesentas. No estoy segura cuando exactamente.

Olivia me lleva a trabajar fielmente. Le gusta pasar por el parquecito camino a la academia San Jose. Le gusta ir porque le caen bien mis alumnos. En las mananas, cundo los alumnos llegan, la saludan haciendo sonar su claxon y Olivia se rie y su risa suena ring-ring.

A Olivia le gusta visitar un taller de bicicletas en Mexico. No es como el taller de bicicltas de aqui. No, este taller tiene personalidad. Las bicicletas que Olivia ha conocido tienen mas o menos su edad y puede platicar de cosas de su epoca.

Este taller tiene accesorios que le gustan a Olivia, y yo se los compro porque no son muy caros. Los del taller de aqui no pueden comprarse, etonces la consiento cuando vamos de visita. Y me agradece con su voz de ring- ring.

En ese taller conoci al dueno. Un Senor, ya grande, pero con mucho amor por las bicicletas. Sobre todo la bicicleta popular, la del pueblo. A Olivia y a mi nos da gusto que existan talleres como esos donde bicicletas antiguas y cansadas puedan renovarse y sentirse bellas de nuevo.

A mi tambien me gusta ver como las bicicletas se renuevan. Me gusta ver a la gente del puebo. Me gusta escuchar las historias de la gente. Del numero de kilometros que viajan todos los dias para llegar a su trabajo. Y cargando tuvos y herramientas para su trabajo. Esas parrillas que venden en ese taller pueden sostener un elefante!

En fin, con gusto presentamos, Olivia y yo, al Taller de Bicicletas Royal. Ella y yo somos clientes especiales. Gracias, Mexico. (Olivia dice ring- ring)

Flooding in Mexico

2010-09-24T11:03:00.007-05:00

There has been a lot of rain in the area these last days. Last Sunday I went to the Mexican side to visit relatives. On the way back, trying to come home, the rain stopped me. I didn't mind getting wet, but no car could go through that amount of water.

There's over one thousand people homeless. The water has gone down but their houses are ruined, there's mud and mosquitoes.

Please pray for the people in Mexico and for an end to violence along the border towns.

Bread for the Journey

2010-08-17T12:53:00.017-05:00

Give us this day our daily bread...Mark 6:11

Just like the Jews waited for the manna in the desert, as Christians we know that our heavely Father will provide for our needs. "Look at the birds of the sky, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? "Mt 6:26

Making bread has become a passion of mine. It was in my bucket list. The first attemps were succesful, others were not. I performed a reversed miracle, I turned the bread into stone! Those failures taught me a few things, especially that I must be patient and that I must have the right intention. Too soft kneading, to much kneading, no, just the right kind of kneading.

The dough has been kind to me. It has shown me that if I work at it, if I intend to use it to feed people, it will show me how to get it right. In bread making the right touch is important. The right intention is too. The bread that one buys at the store, for example, never tastes as good as home made bread.

The art of bread making is ancient. The Jews for examplemake bread without yeast in remembrance of the years in the desert. Bread is important in almost every culture. There is something to say for bread that feeds the body and the soul. This is the Bread that nourishes me, it expands in my soul the way yeast expands in the flour. But yet yeast without flour is no good. I have the bread, I need the hunger.

When I make bread I pray for the people that will be eating it. It becomes a meditartion as I slowly and carefully knead the dough. I especially enjoy making bread for the Agape meal in Holy Week.

I love all the biblical images in the bible about bread. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough." Mt 13:33

The pictures of this bread show a bread I make, I do not know what to call it. It is a sweet yeast bread filled with apples, raisins, nuts and other things. It was good. But there is an even better bread. The Bread of Life.

As Sisters of the Incarnate Word daily Eucharist is a must. We have the privilege the receive the bread of life everyday. That is the Bread that fills us. The Bread that sustains our life as Religious.

We ask God everyday, "give us this day our daily bread" but, are we becoming bread ourselves?

Oblate Trail Ride

2010-05-15T17:26:00.006-05:00

The Oblate Trail Ride is a bicycle tour that follows along Military Highway in Brownsville. This is the area that the Oblates of Mary Immaculate traveled by horseback more than 100 years ago in order to provide spiritual and material help to the remote communities of the Rio Grande Valley.

There were 12, 25, 50, 62.5 and 115 miles. I only biked to the 12 mile stop. It was fun...and a bit painful since I am not a sports bike rider, I only ride to work and back. However, there was something beautiful happening inside me. At some point I was so tired (since I rode my princess bike, not really made for long rides) and I prayed. I said to those holy men "Come on Brother Oblates, you know what a sore butt feels like, help a Sister!" And I felt a surge of energy that allowed me to continue to mile 12.

The route was so long that I couldn't believe the Oblates traveled it by horseback in order to celebrate Mass. Those were holy men of God with hearts of gold. May God continue to bless the Oblates and may he grant them many vocations.

After this route I promised myself to go biking along that route more often. And next year, if I can get a hold of a road bike, the other cyclist will know that God is on my side (God is always here, they just couldn't tell because they went zoom! and were gone.) Seriously, I ate their dust. So, hopefully next year I will go to mile 50.
It was fun. God bless the Oblates!

Spring in Texas

2010-04-12T20:17:00.006-05:00

My beautiful nieces, Frida and Fatima

Wild flowers on the side of the road from Corpus Christi to Brownsville, TX.

still living

2010-04-12T20:05:00.003-05:00

I am still living. It's been so long since I updated this that I had no idea how to log in.

I' still here, still a Sister of the Incarnate Word. This is my second year as a temporary profesed Sister. I am ministering in Brownsville, Texas. I live in the convent here which is actually the craddle of the Order in America. It also happens to be my hometown.

This year I'm teaching Senior Religion at St. Joseph's Academy, a Marist school. We are a few weeks from graduation. 44 days to be exact. I'm really looking forward to attending graduation with my students. I'll be there, cheering them and praying for them.

At the end of May I clean my classroom and head to San Antonio, Texas to continue work on my MA in Theology. I love San Antonio, it's full of beautiful churches and most especially Vietnamese food, right across from the University!

I hope you had a beautiful Easter. More later.

US Bishops meeting in San Antonio, TX

2009-06-19T17:40:00.004-05:00

Express-News

To some Catholics, U.S. bishops have chartered the correct course by focusing on liturgical matters at their three-day spring meeting, which begins today in San Antonio.

More than 150 bishops from across the nation will fine-tune the English translation of the Mass to conform more closely to its Latin original. They'll seek more effective ways to spread their stated-but-little-known ministry goals. And they'll approve a new Mass of Thanksgiving.
But to others, the bishops' agenda is off base and might add to their perceived ineffectual leadership in dealing with the foremost Catholic university.

About 80 of roughly 200 bishops condemned Notre Dame University for having President Barack Obama speak and receive an honorary degree at its May graduation. The bishops' conference has a policy against Catholic institutions rewarding or giving a platform to politicians who support abortion rights.

Informally, Notre Dame's decision to ignore bishops' warnings and let Obama speak is sure to come up among the bishops. But devising a united response to it — and more broadly whether the U.S. Catholic Church should cut ties with Obama in protest or work with him on common-ground issues — is not on the agenda.

Supporters and critics closely watch the bishops' meetings for clues about the future of the church and its 68 million members in the United States. For the event's host, San Antonio Archbishop José Gomez, the liturgy rightly is at the top of the list.

“We are teachers of the faith, so it makes sense that we give a lot of attention and time to the liturgy,” he said. “The biggest challenge we have is that Catholics do not know the Catholic faith. They know it, but not as much as they need.”

Masses in contemporary, spoken languages were permitted — and translated from the original Latin — after the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s.

The English-language Mass was published in 1973, according to the conference, and has been memorized by two generations of English-speaking Catholics in America.

In 2001, the Vatican called on all bishops to review those translations for accuracy, and the revisions are expected to be released next year after some promised training. Some worry the change will cause confusion. Others say it'll clarify meaning lost in the first translation to English.
The whole effort epitomizes the widening gap between bishops and lay Catholics, a majority of whom voted for Obama and would rather have bishops' insight about him, said Father Tom Reese, senior fellow at Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University and former editor of America, a Catholic news magazine.

“Why the bishops are running toward the cliff is just, I find, incredible. People have finally gotten these things memorized and now they're going to change them?” he said.
For Russell Shaw, former spokesman for the conference, the bishops must openly weigh in on Notre Dame.

That about 110 bishops were mute has created a leadership vacuum, said Shaw, author of “Nothing to Hide: Secrecy, Communication and Communion in the Catholic Church.”
“Bishops are reluctant to crack down, and so they have moved slowly,” he said. “But they now confront a direct and highly visible challenge to their authority by the most highly visible Catholic university in the country. If they let that pass, it's going to gravely diminish their authority.”

Gomez said bishops should act individually concerning a Catholic institution and praised Bishop John D'Arcy, whose diocese encompasses Notre Dame in Indiana, for doing so. Gomez did the same last year in calling out San Antonio's St. Mary's University for allowing then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, an abortion rights supporter, to hold a campaign rally on campus.
The universities defended hosting the speakers as exemplifying academic freedom.

The Notre Dame issue “is already past, and I don't know what else we can do,” Gomez said. “I think what we are trying to promote is communication and collaboration with Catholic

universities. We support Catholic universities, but they need to be more aware that they need to work with us. It's surprising that some of them don't really work with us in a closer way.”

I am still living

2009-06-12T10:20:00.004-05:00

Thank you to those who wrote me a personal e-mail. I'm glad that sharing a bit of my journey has helped some.

I have been busy with ministry, formation, studies, prayer. I find that the longer I'm here, the more my responsibilities increase.

Right now I am in San Antonio, Texas, continuing studies for my MA in Theology. Right now I am taking Liturgy and Christology. The amount of reading is incredible. I daydream about the day when I can sleep and read some poetry.

These weeks, I am staying with our Sister community, another group of IWBS sisters from Victoria, Texas, stationed in San Antonio. I live down the street from the missions. I attend Mass every day at San Jose Mission Church This Mission was founded in 1720, I believe. (by the way, the picture is not mine, I found it online, credit goes to Hadassah28 from Flickr.)

The city is incrediby beautiful, and these days incredibly hot. I miss my sisters and I miss the bay's breeze.

Among other news, next year I will be teaching in Brownsville, TX. I had been teaching Montessori (3-6 year olds) this past year. Next year I will be teaching High school kids again. I am excited because Brownsville in my hometown, the place where my parents and siblings live and where my Alma Mater is found. I love Texas!

¡Que viva Tejas!

2009-01-14T19:16:00.003-06:00

It's been such a long time that it is hard to know where I left off. First of all, I want to wish everyone the sweetest, holiest year of your lives.

I have been busy with teaching. I am also finishing up a Montessori certification while also taking a history class at a local college (to keep up my Texas teaching certification.) I am also in formation. This is my first year in the scholasticate.

I have a lot going on, and I find that I am no longer able to keep a blog. My life is full with God, community life, ministry and studies.

Thank you for coming to visit and for writing and sharing with me/us. I will continue to pray for all of us.

If God is calling you, listen carefully...

Praised be the incarnate Word!

The Ladybug Nun, Halloween and the Dia de los Muertos

2008-10-31T16:07:00.007-05:00

Today is Halloween...costumes filled my day. Putting wings back on, readjusting zippers, hats, helmets, halos and crowns. I am tired!

But it was a beautiful day. The kids were so excited. They love costume day!

I made my costume right there in the classroom, as the children were doing show and tell. As I was there with my kids, I couldn't help but think of the markets in Mexico where the merchants are offer the things needed to prepare for the altar for the Day of the Dead.

In Mexico, this is more than a christian festivity, it is a celebration where the prehispanic culture meets with the catholic religion. This is where the Mexican people kept their ancestral traditions alive.

It is in this tradition where the sorrow of having lost a dear one looses itself in a colorful fiesta filled with delicious aromas and prayers of the faithful.

This festivity is divided in two parts, the first one being All Saints Day (Nov. 1) and the second one being The Day of the Dead (Nov. 2)

On All Saints Day we celebrate the lives of people who lived exemplary lives as well as the lives of children who died young (little angels.) This is a small celebration compared with Novemeber 2. People build altars to the Saints inside churches and many families build altars to thei rdeparted children either at home or at the cementery. The altars are adorned with colorful paper, flowers (marigolds) and they place toys, dolls, candy for their children.

On November 2 many families take flowers to the gravesites, but many others still celebrate the ritual of buiding an altar. The whole family participates and it takes a long time to build. Some of these altars are truly works of art. In some families it is just a very simple altar placed on a table where they put a picture of their deceased relative and it is adorned with flowers and the belongings of the departed one.

The altars built according to the tradition have seven steps that represents the seven levels that the soul has to go through in order to be able to truly rest. This altar is built in a room spacious enough to hold the altar and the whole family. A day before the altar is built the room is swept with aromatic herbs.

This is what the steps contain.

1-The deceased person's favorite Saint or Virgin.

2- This is reserved for the souls in purgatory.

3-This is reserved for the souls of children in purgatory.

4-This is where the family places the "pan de muerto" a special bread made only for this day, adorned with red sugar. it is recomended that the bread is made by the family of the deceased person.

5-This is for the deceased person's favorite food and fruit.

6- This is where the picture of the deceased person goes.

7-This is where the cross of a rosary is made of limes and tejocotes (a yellow fruit like a plum found in Mexico)

The offerings placed at the latar are the following:

Four candles pointing to the four cardinal points. On the side of the altar a pot of clay is placed containing aromatic herbs.

The altar must be decorated with yellow and purple paper reprersenting the union between life and death. "Papel picado" representing the joy of living. (Papel picado is the national art of folding and cutting paper, see picture)

Flowers in white, yellow and purple representing heaven, earth and mourning.

Candles representing the ascension of the soul They also represent light, the guide in the way to heaven.

White cloth representing purity and heaven.

An easter candle representing the soul.

Incense symbolizing the crossing from life to death.

Corn representing the aboundance of the earth.

Fruit representing the gift of nature. It is generally sugar cane, oranges, tejocotes and jicamas.

Sugar skulls (a prehispanic tradition)

Water which gives life and energy for the journey)

The deceased personas favorite dishes.

A crucifix to represent the person's unity with Christ.

A cross made of calcium lime simbolyzing the four cardinal points.

Salt so that the body does not get corrupted.

A way made of marigold petals from the front door of the house to the altar, to guide the soul of the deceased person.

A branch stick to free the person from the demon and evil spirits.

Personal objects belonging to the deceased person.

***********************************************************

This is a colorful tradition in Mexico and in everyplace of the Mexican Republic it is different. If you do a quick search you can find pictures and more information on it.

As a disclaimer: please do not e-mail me to tell me this is the work of the devil. Save yourself some time. This a cultural tradition where people pray and remember their loved ones...

Awaiting New Member!

2008-10-18T20:17:00.005-05:00

I am excited to announce the upcoming entrance to religious life of Ms. Agueda Oviedo from Donna, Texas.

Agueda will start the pre-postulancy with us on November 07, 2008. The entrance ceremony will be held at our chapel here in the Motherhouse followed by Vespers.

Please pray for Agueda as she prepares these days to embrace the Incarnate Word and begin her journey to becoming a Sister of the Incarnate Word.

Praised be the Incarnate Word!

Visit our new website

2008-09-20T20:37:00.002-05:00

Again, it's been a while since I updated, but I had a reason this time...We had been busy working on the last details of our website which went up today!

Please visit us at www.iwbscc.org

Praised be the Incarnate Word!

Be doers of the word and not hearers only.. ---James 1: 22

2008-09-07T10:35:00.002-05:00

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds…
Deuteronomy 11:18

It’s almost a month since my First Profession of Vows. It’s been tough finding the balance between work and prayer, not because of the time issue but because it’s been a difficult transition. School started right away, I only had one day to prepare, well not really because on Sunday I still had family and friends here. So, Monday came and I found myself in a classroom full of three, four and five year olds, a couple of criers and a screaming little darling.

I told the aide, I’m coming right back. I went home (right next to the school) and got my guitar. Back in the classroom I sang to them and they sang with me. It calmed them down. Every kid, and I mean, EVERY kid likes twinkle, twinkle little star. Thank you Lord, for music!

The following days were better, but I went right into work, not having time to write thank you notes, to figure out where I was and what I was doing. It’s all been happening too fast…whatever is happening.

Just this past week, I began to calm down, to figure out where I am and to breathe in between. I have been missing the time I had in the novitiate for prayer and more prayer. But I have been praying, very early in the morning and when I come back from school, then late at night. I mostly pray that God will speed up the “settling” process.

I have been trying to reflect on what it means to be a consecrated woman. When I first became a novice my Spiritual Director asked me: “How is your life going to change now?” and now, as a temporary professed, “How is my life going to change?”

I have been thinking, reflecting on the mission of our congregation which is “to adore and to proclaim the Incarnate Word.” Our spirit calls us in a special way to represent the Incarnate Word before the world as perfectly as possible. How am I growing there? How am I deepening my commitment? How does that translate into my life? What I do, say, think, feel?

And then this morning I read this phrase from Thomas Merton:

“Contemplation is the response to a call: a call from Him who has no voice, and yet Who speaks in everything that is, and Who, most of all, speaks in the depths of our own being: for we ourselves are words of His. But we are words that are meant to respond to Him, to answer to Him, to echo Him, and even in some way to contain Him and signify Him."

We ourselves are words of his. That is very profound.

In today’s reading, God warns Ezekiel against not speaking up, not being a word of God. The Gospel talks about the same thing, speak up, be a word of reconciliation, a word of God. The problem is that it is hard to be the person who points the finger. No one likes tattlers! It is so much easier to be a consoler, to be a word of love. And yet, we can not fashion a God according to our needs. God just is!

Thomas Merton says:

We ourselves become His echo and His answer. It is as if in creating us God asked a question, and in awakening us to contemplation He answered the question so that the contemplative is at the same time question and answer.

This life isn’t always easy. But I feel that in the midst of the unsettledness God is calling me to grow, to stretch some more. Please continue to pray for me, that God will give me the grace to be a true “extension of the Incarnation.”

Praised be the Incarnate Word!

Profession Pictures

2008-08-16T14:11:00.012-05:00

Sr. Michelle Marie: Sister Mary Helga, what do you ask of God and of God’s Church?

Sr. Mary Helga: I ask to be incorporated into the religious community of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament through the profession of the public vows of celibate chastity, poverty, and obedience. I pray for the grace of perseverance in dedicating my life, through the vows, to the formation of a community of worship and service centered in the Person of the Incarnate Word.

Sr. Michelle Marie: Why do you wish to take this step?

Sr. Mary Helga: In Baptism I have been called to participate in the life and mission of Christ. I wish to respond to the call as a vowed member of this religious community committed to bringing about “a Christian wholeness in each person and Christian unity among all.”

Sr. Michelle Marie: (addressing the religious community)

Sisters, are you willing to incorporate Sister Helga into our community as a Sister of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament?

Sisters: yes, we rejoice in God’s election of Sister Mary Helga, and we pray that together we may participate ever more effectively in the mission of Christ. May our community be an increasingly clear sign of the Reign of God yet to come.

Presider: The Church of Corpus Christi also rejoices in this new strengthening of one of her religious communities and sees it as a manifestation of God’s love and goodness. May the sign of your community be a continuing inspiration to all who witness your life together.

Sr. Michelle Marie: Sr. Helga, may God grant you the grace to fulfill what you desire.

All: Amen.

(The assembly stood while the choir sang Psalm 115 and all the sisters came to greet me and welcome me.

How can I repay You, o God, for your goodness to me?

What can I say? I am so overwhelmed with gratitude for all of God's goodness to me. It seems like a long time ago that I was 21 years old and discerning. I had no idea that God was going to give me so much more than what I left behind.

I had been waiting to write, to share with you this joy, this wonderful thing in my life, but I can not. I do not have the words to express this feeling, this "knowing with the heart." So, I will keep it and ponder these things in my heart.

Please continue to pray for me as I start this new stage of formation.

Praised be the Incarnate Word!

Now and forever. Amen!

New, more literal English translation of Order of the Mass approved by Holy See

2008-07-31T08:30:00.001-05:00

Washington DC, Jul 29, 2008 / 11:20 am (CNA).- The Holy See’s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has approved the new English-language translation of the Order of the Mass submitted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

The Order of the Mass, which is the first section of the translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal, includes most of the texts used in every celebration of the Mass, including the responses given by the people.

The new translation is more literal at times. For instance, the first line of the Sanctus, which follows the Consecration, reads “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts,” instead of “God of power and might.”

The people’s response at the Ecce Agnus Dei (Behold the Lamb of God) is to be “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed,” which more closely follows the Scripture passage on which it is based.

The response “et cum spiritu tuo,” previously translated as “also with you,” is now translated as “and with your spirit,” while the Confiteor (Penitential Rite) now includes the text “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.”

A letter from Cardinal Francis Arinze, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, said the text is provided now so that there is enough time “for the pastoral preparation of priests, deacons and for appropriate catechesis of the lay faithful. It will likewise facilitate the devising of musical settings for parts of the Mass.”

The new text is covered under copyright law and the Statutes of the International Commission on English and the Liturgy.

The release date of the entire translation of the Roman Missal is not yet available, and liturgists contacted by CNA were hesitant to comment on the new translations until the U.S. Bishops’ Conference offers its explanation, which is expected sometime in early August.

The new translation is meant to give Catholics a greater awareness of the transcendent nature of the Mass, to elevate the language with which worship is offered to God and to more accurately reflect the original Latin prayers.

Bishop Arthur Sarretelli, who chairs the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship, recently described the purpose of the changes, writing, “By the very fact that, in some instances, the new translations require thoughtful and careful attention to pauses when speaking helps to foster and create a less rushed and more reverent way of praying.”

He added that, “Liturgical language should border on the poetic. Prose bumps along the ground. Poetry soars to the heavens. And our Liturgy is already a sharing of the Liturgy in heaven.”

From Catholic News Agency

New English translation for Mass

2008-07-28T08:43:00.003-05:00

I read in the news today that the Vatican has approved a new English translation for the central prayers of the Mass in the United States. It also says that it will not to be used inmediately since the US Bishops are directed to begin pastoral preparations for the changes in the language of the Mass.

I like this alot since all of these changes will make the English Mass a lot closer to the Spanish Mass. I supppose it was a lot easier to translate the Latin into Spanish than into English.

The changes will be:

At the Consecration, the priest will refer to Christ's blood which is "poured out for you and for many"-- an accurate translation of pro multis-- rather than "for all" in the current translation.

In the Nicene Creed the opening word, Credo, will be correctly translated as "I believe" rather than "we believe."

When the priest says, "The Lord be with you," the faithful respond, "And with your spirit," rather than simply, "And also with you."

In the Eucharistic prayer, references to the Church will use the pronouns "she" and "her" rather than "it."

In the Agnus Dei, the text cites the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world," rather than using the singular word "sin."

In the preferred form of the penitential rite, the faithful will acknowledge that they have sinned "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault." In this part of the Mass in Spanish, the faithful touch their heart three times with a closed fist...as a sign of regret...

Throughout the translation of the Offertory and Eucharistic Prayer, the traditional phrases of supplication are restored, and the Church is identified as "holy"-- in each case, matching the Latin original of the Roman Missal.

I wonder how long it will take for the changes to be used, but I am looking forward to it.

To read full article click here

Dolly Aproaches

2008-07-23T11:19:00.006-05:00

UPDATE:

The strong winds cut our beloved pear tree in half. No more pear harvesting in the fall...

There was a small tornado near Incarnate Word ranch in San Patricio County, but other than knocking down an empty trailer house there was no other damage.

Please help me pray this prayer or any other prayer. Hurricane Dolly approaches the South of Texas, where my parents live. We are getting plenty of rain and winds in Corpus Christi, but Brownsville and Matamoros are getting the worst of it.

Prayer for Hurricane Season

O God, Master of this passing world, hear the humble voices of your children. The Sea of Galilee obeyed your order and returned to its former quietude; you are still the Master of land and sea. We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control. The Gulf, like a provoked and angry giant, can awake from its seeming lethargy, overstep its conventional boundaries, invade our land and spread chaos and disaster. During this hurricane season, we turn to You, O loving Father. Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with the passing of time. O Virgin, Star of the Sea, Our Beloved Mother, we ask you to plead with your Son in our behalf, so that spared from the calamities common to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude, we will walk in the footsteps of your Divine Son to reach the heavenly Jerusalem where a storm-less eternity awaits us. Amen.

Originally dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Audrey in 1957.
- Fr. Al Volpe, Cameron Parish, LA

Here's some more infromation from the National Hurricane Center

About becoming living altars....

2008-07-22T12:41:00.005-05:00

As I sit here, reading the homily of Pope Benedict, on the occasion of the dedication of the new altar at St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney during the EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION WITH BISHOPS, SEMINARIANS AND NOVICES, I can't help but be so touched. There are s many beautiful words there that this post would not be enough to express it.

First of all, I loved the image us "being set apart for Christ " like an altar. Because although many religious claim that they are just like anybody else, and try to be like anybody else, the truth is that by our calling, we have been set apart to be the hands and feet of Christ. Pope Benedict is right in saying that
"In the name of human freedom and autonomy, God’s name is passed over in silence, religion is reduced to private devotion, and faith is shunned in the public square." I, by choosing a clearly identifiable outer sign of my vocation, tell the world that I have been set apart for Christ. It isn't always easy. Sometimes people treat me differently, sometimes they want to pay for my stuff, or expect me to have an answer for every single thing in life...yet, I know that people need God. It is God they see, not me!

"We too can be tempted to make the life of faith a matter of mere sentiment...I do not want my life to be mere sentiment, therefore I have chosen the best part. But I know it doesn't stop there, or with my profession...I know it requires a constant conversion. As the Pope says: It is in this truth – this mystery of faith – that we have been “consecrated” (cf. Jn 17:17-19), and it is in this truth that we are called to grow, with the help of God’s grace, in daily fidelity to his word, within the life-giving communion of the Church. Yet how difficult is this path of consecration! It demands continual “conversion”, a sacrificial death to self which is the condition for belonging fully to God, a change of mind and heart which brings true freedom and a new breadth of vision. Sometimes people think that we pray all the time, or that things work out all right every time. They do not! Religious life is hard. If only it was about donning a habit and singing "The hills are alive..." but it isn't. Sometimes the hardest part is the everyday, realizing that the life, although prophetic is not grandiose, sometimes the sacrifice is staying behind curtains, dying to self and all it entails...not putting on the beautiful habit that will turn heads, being the last...

Then our Pope courageously spoke to the victims of abuse. He called the sin by it's name and acknowledged the pain it has caused in many people, especially the young, the future of our Church. I applaud the Pope for addressing this because it is the only way our Church and the victims will heal. I can sense that the young will transform the Church. I mean, just look at how many people came from every corner of the world. How many seminarians and young religious Sisters and Brothers are giving their lives to God. Our Church has a brilliant future.

The Pope tells us: Do not be afraid! Believe in the light! Take to heart the truth which we have heard in today’s second reading: “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and for ever” (Heb 13:8). The light of Easter continues to dispel the darkness! And he also calls us to walk in the light daily through fidelity to personal and liturgical prayer, nourished by meditation on the inspired word of God. I know that it is not easy, but that prayer and the nourishment I receive through the daily partaking of the Eucharist builds me up, prepares me and disposes me for a life of conversion, a life where I can be an extension of the Incarnation or as the Pope puts it to become living altars, where Christ’s sacrificial love is made present as an inspiration and a source of spiritual nourishment to everyone you meet.

So, I want to continue on this path. The Pope says that by embracing the Lord’s call to follow him in chastity, poverty and obedience, you have begun a journey of radical discipleship which will make you “signs of contradiction” And of that I am sure. A sign of contradiction is the most appropriate way to describe our lives modeled after Christ. I just pray that God will give me the strenght to continue to spread the scent of my youth and to put it all God's feet.

If you have ever thought of being a Priest, a Brother or a Sister, do not be afraid! This life is worth it. Do not be afraid to be a sign of contradiction, to become a living altar, the love and prayer of the Church is with you.

Praised be the Incarnate Word!

The song is almost ready...

2008-07-20T15:00:00.007-05:00

The song is almost ready. I want to use this opportunity to thank Sr. Rose Miriam Gansle, IWBS, for her amazing talent and patience in helping me to write my song into real music.

This song will be sung before Mass, like a sort of overture because it is not appropriate for Mass (I don't think.)

I do know it will help to prepare my heart for my FIAT. This song was a gift from God and it will be a gift from the Sisters, since it will be sung by them and the arrangements are still a mystery, but I know it will be beautiful.

After I finished writing the song, I looked closely at the words from Scripture. I loved the words: "I will give you back your vineyards and a door of hope."(Hosea 2:15) I was so touched that God is speaking to me directly, as if those words had been waiting for me since the beiginning of times.

Let me explain, I think I have said before that when I was growing up we had a vineyard. My earliest memories were of the leaves shining with the early morning dew...grapes remind me of my Grandmother's love, her Bible reading, her spontaneous prayer, her coffee cup and her mischievous smile...

The door of hope reminds me of the door to the backyard, where the vineyard was, where I could play and eat sour grapes until my tummy hurt, and then I would cross the door again to run to my grandmother, whom I afectionately called Mamá Ofelia (my mother was Mami Ofelia, how confusing can that be for a poor child?)

In this song, the door of hope, tells me that God is giving me back that door, to run back to him. The door of my freedom, the freedom I have found in Christ (See Galatians 5:1)

Please continue to pray for me...

Praised be the Incarnate Word!

Happy Feastday!

2008-07-16T09:35:00.006-05:00

Today is a day of celebration for all carmelites! I was remembering yesterday, how when I was younger and I was discerning , I went to several convents (I actually went tramping, traveling by day, visiting convents and churches, a pilgrimage sort of thing, and getting on a bus and traveling by night...) I was about 20 years old. And that time, by myself, allowed me to breathe deeply, to take in all the beauty of our earth, to find God deep within me, and in the people I met and eventually to find my place here.

One of the places I went to was a Carmelite Monastery . The Nuns had two young novices, I think they were around fifteen years old, I still remember their sweet little baby faces, but more than anything, I remember the face of every Nun glowing.

In this journal entry from yesterday (See drawing), I wrote about Elijah waiting for the Lord to pass by, but the Lord is not in the wind, and the Lord is not in the earthquake and the Lord is not in the fire but yet Elijah tunes his ears to listen and he hears the voice of God in the soft, gentle whisper. (IKings 19:11-13)

I was thinking how throughout my life, sometimes I want God to let the heavens loose and to speak to me with a thunderous voice, to be clear and specific...and yet, I have not put my face between my knees, waiting, like Elijah for the rain...

So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. (I kings 18:42)

Through these years in the Convent, I have learned that God does not come with a bang! God speaks to us through the Incarnation, in the day to day, sometimes in the dullness of routine, it is only a matter of being willing to listen. I keep on learning that with God it is never done MY WAY, but God's way, because as St. Edith Stein said "Love is the freer thing there is." I keep on listening. I keep on waiting...

I have alwyas enjoyed this poem of a great Carmelite of our times, Sr. Miriam of the Holy Spirit, also known as Jessica Powers...I like it because this poem is so carmelite and so Incarnational....

Creature of God

That God stands tall, incomprehensible,
infinite and immutable and freeI know.
Yet more I marvel as His call
trickles and thunders down through space to me.

that from His far eternities He shouts
to me, one small inconsequence of day.
I kneel down in the vastness of His love,
cover myself with creaturehood and pray.

God likes me covered with my creaturehood
and with my limits spread across His face
He likes to see me lifting to his eyes
even the wretchedness that dropped his grace.

I make no guess what greatness took me in.
I only know, and relish it as good,
that I am gathered more to God's embrace
the more I greet him to through my creaturehood.

Jessica Powers/ Sister Miriam of the Holy Spirit
Carmel of the Mother of God, Pewaukee Wisconsin.

Praised be the Incarnate Word!

A Fathers Mercy - Sr Marie Therese Sokol OCD

Countdown to profession

2008-07-13T14:30:00.004-05:00

It's been quiet around here...I keep on praying, preparing for my First Profession. This waiting is hard to describe, the only thing I can compare it to is Advent...I feel like I'm hosting something inside, something precious that will need all my care...And while I wait, I'm waiting inside the heart of God...

Basically my life looks the same and yet it is not. There is something that happens inside that I can't explain...I think that as my certainty grows that this life is for me, that I could not be anything other than a Sister of the Incarnate Word, there is a soft warm breeze that fills me. I am changing. I am no longer a young girl in love with God, I am a young woman in love with God who knows she is God's beloved! And that certainty keeps on transforming me.

I have so much to say and yet I do not know how. The Sisters tell me I look serious these days, but I feel so full of God that I don't want to open my mouth, I want my eyes fixed on God, I want to enjoy and savor this warm feeling inside!

I was never much for the bridal imagery, and yet, this morning, as I sat in prayer, it came to me...I'm a bride! I'm giving myself totally to God.. it's for real....I'll be the Spouse of the Incarnate Word! (and the warm feeling gets warmer)

Please pray for me these days as I stand with my oil lamp, waiting......

Sr. Elizabeth and her mischief

2008-06-29T13:50:00.006-05:00

Well, we're finally finished with Chapter. It was truly a gift and a blessing to be able to be present (even if I can not vote because I'm not finally professed.) The days were long (and there was lots and lots of sitting) but the conversation was good and just being there, with my nuns made the sitting seem like less.

One of the highlights of the week was Sr. Elizabeth playing a joke on Sr. Emma Marie. It all started because someone found an orphan rosary and Sr. Emma Marie said: "Oh, can I have it?" Some times I am outside or in a different placeo f hte house and I do not have my rosary with me..." So, Sr. Elizabeth, being so clever, went around the house, gathered A LOT of rosaries and taped them to her door with notes:

For 1st flor, for 2nd. floor, for 3rd floor, for laundry room, etc.

Of course, she was caught in fraganti by yours truly...and I happened to have a camera to capture her Irish humor...

Who said life in a convent was boring?

The prankster