Lectio Divina
Jesus said in reply,
"I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
But the woman came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me."
Matthew 15:24-25
Library
Continuing Day, On Pilgrimage, and McKenna, Mary.
Log
Today was our first day of recollection of the year, guided by Saint Bonaventure through Bro. Ignatius Feaver of the
Central Canada province. Our computers were turned off the last 24 hours! I
am becoming enlightened enough to see this detachment from our machines as
a sabbath.
Today was my little cave experience ... three and a half hours
in the chapel and many more in my bedroom resting, reading, and
reflecting. Coming out of the seclusion, it feels weird talking to people. Small wonder Francis, who went into seclusion at the beginning of his conversion, had only one trusted person waiting for him outside
the cave at the end of the day. The way he looked, the look in his eyes,
the words coming out of his mouth ... they would have surely
astonished, intimidated, and even alarmed all but his closest
companions.
A challenging day, looking outward at a creation that is too
good for us, looking inward at my impoverished self, and upward at the God
who is our riches to sufficiency. I am so far from living voluntary poverty, from living the sacrifical love that judges and saves us. How I want to yearn for love, to fall in love, to be in love. Do I really know what desire is? Do I feel passion? Will I ever feel joy? And if I do, or if I will, then how will I live?
I look forward to the next day
of recollection and another opportunity to see my soul fully
exposed before God, and to dare, in humility and utter honesty, to look
at God's face.
Thanks for your prayers. May God help me to become holier: not holier than thou, but holier than me. May God help the Capuchins, through their good example of
voluntary poverty, show the world more boldly who Francis is, who Jesus is,
and who their God and ours is....
Weather
Overcast in the morning and into the afternoon, clearing up in the evening. Temperatures lukewarm but expected to rise. Swift winds descending.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Spiritual Direction
Lectio Divina
I will invite him to approach me, says the Lord, for who would dare to come unless invited?
Jeremiah 30:21 (New Living Translation)
Library
Continuing Day, On Pilgrimage, and McKenna, Mary.
Log
This morning, continuing our workshop and practicum on prayer and contemplation with Brother Ignatius. This afternoon, initial meeting for spiritual direction at Old Mission Santa Barbara. Many thanks to the Franciscan friars stationed there for providing direction to me and four of my novice brothers. This evening, we begin our day of recollection. For the next 24 hours, we will maintain prayerful silence at all times except for meals, common prayer in chapel, and conferences. Brothers may choose to opt out of meals all together or take their meals in silence in the smaller dining room for friars in residence.
Weather
Partly cloudy, and slightly damp, with a cool front coming in.
I will invite him to approach me, says the Lord, for who would dare to come unless invited?
Jeremiah 30:21 (New Living Translation)
Library
Continuing Day, On Pilgrimage, and McKenna, Mary.
Log
This morning, continuing our workshop and practicum on prayer and contemplation with Brother Ignatius. This afternoon, initial meeting for spiritual direction at Old Mission Santa Barbara. Many thanks to the Franciscan friars stationed there for providing direction to me and four of my novice brothers. This evening, we begin our day of recollection. For the next 24 hours, we will maintain prayerful silence at all times except for meals, common prayer in chapel, and conferences. Brothers may choose to opt out of meals all together or take their meals in silence in the smaller dining room for friars in residence.
Weather
Partly cloudy, and slightly damp, with a cool front coming in.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Prayer and Contemplation
Lectio Divina
Sunday: The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
John 6:33 (New Living Translation)
Monday: Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.
Mark 9:8
Library
Continuing Day, On Pilgrimage, and McKenna, Mary.
Log
Sunday: Mass at Old Mission Santa Barbara. The main church and side chapel were teeming with people to overflowing. Communion must have taken at least 15 minutes. Reading in the afternoon, plus writing and conceptualizing of The Caperone. Celebration of a novice brother's birthday in the evening, followed by holy hour and evening prayer.
This morning: Bro. Ignatius Feaver begins his presentations on prayer and contemplation. We will have another session with him this afternoon and again on Tuesday morning in preparation for our day of recollection, which begins Tuesday evening.
My spiritual director, a Franciscan friar stationed at Old Mission Santa Barbara, has confirmed our first meeting, which will be tomorrow at two.
Weather
Brisk and bright.
Sunday: The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
John 6:33 (New Living Translation)
Monday: Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.
Mark 9:8
Library
Continuing Day, On Pilgrimage, and McKenna, Mary.
Log
Sunday: Mass at Old Mission Santa Barbara. The main church and side chapel were teeming with people to overflowing. Communion must have taken at least 15 minutes. Reading in the afternoon, plus writing and conceptualizing of The Caperone. Celebration of a novice brother's birthday in the evening, followed by holy hour and evening prayer.
This morning: Bro. Ignatius Feaver begins his presentations on prayer and contemplation. We will have another session with him this afternoon and again on Tuesday morning in preparation for our day of recollection, which begins Tuesday evening.
My spiritual director, a Franciscan friar stationed at Old Mission Santa Barbara, has confirmed our first meeting, which will be tomorrow at two.
Weather
Brisk and bright.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Every Word
Lectio Divina
The Lord gave me every word that I have spoken.
Jeremiah 26:12 (New Living Translation)
Library
Continuing Day, On Pilgrimage, and McKenna, Mary.
Log
This morning and afternoon: meeting with my novice brother to plan our first issue of The Caperone, followed by house chores.
Bro. Ignatius Feaver, a friar from the province of Central Canada, arrived last night. To help our discernment, he is here to lead presentations on prayer and contemplation on Monday and Tuesday, and to guide us on a day of recollection, which we will have next Wednesday.
Weather
Patchy fog and cool, with an outlook of sun.
The Lord gave me every word that I have spoken.
Jeremiah 26:12 (New Living Translation)
Library
Continuing Day, On Pilgrimage, and McKenna, Mary.
Log
This morning and afternoon: meeting with my novice brother to plan our first issue of The Caperone, followed by house chores.
Bro. Ignatius Feaver, a friar from the province of Central Canada, arrived last night. To help our discernment, he is here to lead presentations on prayer and contemplation on Monday and Tuesday, and to guide us on a day of recollection, which we will have next Wednesday.
Weather
Patchy fog and cool, with an outlook of sun.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Spiritual Direction
Lectio Divina
Whatever I command you, tell them, and hold nothing back.
Jeremiah 26:2
Library
Day, Dorothy. On Pilgrimage: The Sixties. New York: Curtis, 1972.
McKenna, Megan. Mary: Shadow of Grace. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis, 1995.
Log
This morning: concluding orientation with a group conversation about how to curb Internet usage and use personal time in constructive, positive ways. Also received the names of our spiritual directors. Now the novices are in the process of scheduling first meetings for spiritual direction.
This afternoon: anticipating reading and a brisk walk. May join in a group prayer activity, like the rosary or Stations of the Cross.
Weather
Cooler but clear.
Whatever I command you, tell them, and hold nothing back.
Jeremiah 26:2
Library
Day, Dorothy. On Pilgrimage: The Sixties. New York: Curtis, 1972.
McKenna, Megan. Mary: Shadow of Grace. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis, 1995.
Log
This morning: concluding orientation with a group conversation about how to curb Internet usage and use personal time in constructive, positive ways. Also received the names of our spiritual directors. Now the novices are in the process of scheduling first meetings for spiritual direction.
This afternoon: anticipating reading and a brisk walk. May join in a group prayer activity, like the rosary or Stations of the Cross.
Weather
Cooler but clear.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Breakfast in Buellton
Two new mini-features for the blog, which I will call "Library" and "Weather." The first tells you what I am reading currently, as provided by our novice library. By this I mean spiritual and theological reading, as well as anything of general interest, like literature, history, politics, arts and humanities. I am excluding the Catholic periodicals I subscribe to, as well as assigned reading, which I will note occasionally in the Log. I am also leaving out Scripture, which will always be part of my reading! The second tells you, with meteorological metaphors, how I am feeling.
Lectio Divina
Indeed, like clay in the hand of the potter,
so are you in my hand, house of Israel.
Jeremiah 18:6
Library
Stanton, Sue. Great Women of Faith: Inspiration for Action. Illus. by Charlie Craig. Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 2003.
Valentine, Mary Hester. The Post-Conciliar Nun. New York: Hawthorn, 1968.
Log
On Thursdays, we have personal time from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. We are permitted to go off site for group recreation.
This morning: breakfast at Ellen's Pancake House in Buellton with my fellow Province of St. Mary novice brothers. We were treated by our wise and witty elder Capuchin brother, Fr. Regis Armstrong, who is on faculty at the Catholic University of America and is a Franciscan scholar. He is living at Old Mission Santa Ines for the summer and mentoring one of our province's friars, who is making a transition into formation ministry and soon to be working with our postulants. (He will be moving to St. Michael Friary in Brooklyn in two weeks.) Also joining us for breakfast was another Province of St. Mary Capuchin "on loan" to the California province serving the Latino community at the mission parish. It was like a mini-chapter of the Province of St. Mary!
This afternoon: reading, rest, and jogging on the treadmill in our exercise room. Also washed my habit for the first time since receiving it almost two weeks ago.
Weather
Mostly sunny and warm, with a light breeze.
Lectio Divina
Indeed, like clay in the hand of the potter,
so are you in my hand, house of Israel.
Jeremiah 18:6
Library
Stanton, Sue. Great Women of Faith: Inspiration for Action. Illus. by Charlie Craig. Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 2003.
Valentine, Mary Hester. The Post-Conciliar Nun. New York: Hawthorn, 1968.
Log
On Thursdays, we have personal time from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. We are permitted to go off site for group recreation.
This morning: breakfast at Ellen's Pancake House in Buellton with my fellow Province of St. Mary novice brothers. We were treated by our wise and witty elder Capuchin brother, Fr. Regis Armstrong, who is on faculty at the Catholic University of America and is a Franciscan scholar. He is living at Old Mission Santa Ines for the summer and mentoring one of our province's friars, who is making a transition into formation ministry and soon to be working with our postulants. (He will be moving to St. Michael Friary in Brooklyn in two weeks.) Also joining us for breakfast was another Province of St. Mary Capuchin "on loan" to the California province serving the Latino community at the mission parish. It was like a mini-chapter of the Province of St. Mary!
This afternoon: reading, rest, and jogging on the treadmill in our exercise room. Also washed my habit for the first time since receiving it almost two weeks ago.
Weather
Mostly sunny and warm, with a light breeze.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Beach
Log
This morning and afternoon: a picnic and recreation at Refugio State Beach in Goleta, 20 miles west of Santa Barbara, a part of the California State Parks. The weather, hot and sunny in the valley, was cool and cloudy at the ocean, to our delight. We walked the shore in one direction and the cliffs in the other. Many of the brothers played football and volleyball when they weren't wading or swimming. Those less inclined to strenuous exercise opted for ladder golf or bean bag toss! The air was fresh, the views from the shore and cliffs were pleasing, and conversation was light and cheerful. A great day for our nascent fraternity.
This evening: personal time, with night prayer in private. Going to confer with one of the formators shortly about The Caperone.
If you repent, so that I restore you,
in my presence you shall stand.
in my presence you shall stand.
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