Prayer for Peace

Today after the Angelus prayer Pope Leo XIV said,

“Dear brothers and sisters,  

Alarming news continues to emerge from the Middle East, especially from Iran. Against this tragic backdrop, which includes Israel and Palestine, people’s daily suffering, especially in Gaza and the other territories, where the need for adequate humanitarian aid is becoming increasingly urgent, risks being forgotten.

Today more than ever, humanity cries out and calls for peace. This is a cry that requires responsibility and reason, and it must not be drowned out by the din of weapons or the rhetoric that incites conflict. Every member of the international community has a moral responsibility to stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable chasm. There are no “distant” conflicts when human dignity is at stake.

War does not solve problems; on the contrary, it amplifies them and inflicts deep wounds on the history of peoples, which take generations to heal. No armed victory can compensate for the pain of mothers, the fear of children, or stolen futures.

May diplomacy silence the weapons! May nations chart their futures with works of peace, not with violence and bloodstained conflicts!

I wish everyone a happy Sunday, and I bless those who are actively participating in the feast of Corpus Christi today, including those who are singing, playing music, decorating with flowers, displaying crafts and, above all, praying and taking part in the procession. Thanks to you all and have a good Sunday!

Let us pray for our world that there will be peace.

Prayer for Peace in our World

Lord, we pray for peace in our hearts, in our homes, in our world. We pray for countries to find diplomatic solutions that will bring harmony between nations. We pray for wars to end. We give thanks for your promise that one day there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. Until that day, we pray for your continued grace and goodness to overflow in this world so that humans can live alongside one another respectfully, allowing for mutual flourishing. Please give those in authority the patience, humility, wisdom and endurance to persevere in bringing about positive solutions for their nations. Amen.

Jubilee

Yesterday we celebrated the 25th anniversary of one of our sisters. The theme for her jubilee celebration was connecting circles. During her prayer service she reflected on the five circles of her life -- Family, Friends, Ursuline Community, Wider Religious Life and Ministry. For each circle she explained the connection and a symbol was brought forth to represent those in that circle. We started with her family with a beautiful crewel that her mother had made and a single rose to recall her mom's presence among us. For her friends three multi colored roses were brought forward. For the Ursuline Community our crucifix, and for her ministry the Serviam shield was brought forward. The Serviam shield is the Ursuline motto around the world. It means "I will serve."

Each of the symbols truly reflected the circle it portrayed and was brought forward by someone in that particular circle. After each was place in front of the altar we sang, "O God, you are the center of my life. I will always praise you, I will always serve you, I will always keep you in my sight." It was a most inspiring reflection for all those present. Needless to say there were tears of joy and happiness throughout the Chapel. The celebration truly was a reflection of the jubilarian. Everyone present whether in person or via Facebook Live was touched by the beauty of the prayer service. A community of circles joined together to celebrate the life they touched along the way. The image below was the focus for the celebration. It truly reflects the celebration and all its parts. May the years ahead be filled with many blessings for her and the Ursuline community.

                                            

Pentecost Sunday

Today we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost -- the Birthday of the Church. I always enjoy this Feast and have fond memories of it. At Mass this morning one of the songs was Send Down the Fire by Marty Haugen.

     Send down the fire of your justice, Send down the rains of your love;

     Come, send down the Spirit,breathe life in your people, and we shall 

     be people of God.

Call us to be your compassion, Teach us the song of your love; 

Give us hearts that sing, Give us deeds that ring, Make us ring 

with the song of your love.

Call us to learn of your mercy, Teach us the way of your peace; 

Give us hearts that feel, Give us hands that heal, Make us walk 

in the way of your peace.

Call us to answer oppression, Teach us the fire of your truth; 

Give us righteous souls, 'Til your justice rolls, Make us burn 

with the fire of your love.

Call us to witness your Kingdom, Give us the presence of Christ; 

May your holy light Keep us shining bright, Ever shine with the 

presence of Christ. Marty Haugen

This song speaks volumes to me especially during this time. 

Our world is in such need of the fire of God's justice and love. 

We need to pray for God's intervention to shower us with peace, love,

and hope. May this Pentecost fill us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The following prayer was shared by Liturgical Press.

Come, Spirit of God!

 

Pentecost by Navarro Pérez Dolz, Santuario de Nuestra Señora del Sagrado Corazón, Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Jozef Sedmak. Getty Images.

Pentecost Prayer The earth rejoices, it bears its first fruit of glory: Jesus has risen to the Father! In joy, the earth brings forth the promise! Calm in its humility, it draws the light from on high. Come, Spirit of God! Come engulf the universe in your glory! You are the life of all life, the youth that renews everything. You are the heart of the world, beating in the rhythm of love. You are the joy and hope that bear us to the Father. — Days of the Lord  “Pentecost Prayer,” Days of the Lord, Liturgical Press, 1993.  May your heart be ablaze with the love of God through the Holy Spirit.

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: "Holy Father, I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them." John 17: 20 – 26

I find this Gospel to be so pertinent for our time. Today we are treated to Jesus praying for his loved ones and friends. Jesus prays that we all may be one. His desire is for us to be unified. Wouldn’t it be great if our world would embrace Jesus’ invitation to be one. He is not asking for us to be cookie cutter molds – he desires us to be open to one another and to take each person where there are. We have so many diverse personalities making up our world that it is not always easy to be one. Each one of us has to make the choice to live out Jesus’ prayer to be willing to embrace relationship with one another. Take some time to reflect on God’s invitation to you. Are you able to accept God’s invitation that we may come one?

Come As You Are

Yesterday we celebrated a profound milestone: the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’. When the late Pope Francis released this prophetic encyclical in 2015, he invited the entire world to hear the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor—and to respond with courage, care, and community. Today, that response is alive in each of us. Across the globe, participants of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform have taken bold, creative steps to live out the Laudato Si’ Goals. We need to continue the response each day.

Today we celebrate the Sixth Sunday of Easter. The time since Easter Sunday has simply flown by and tomorrow, we commemorate Memorial Day. The readings we have listened to during these days have had a common theme, Jesus offers his disciples peace and tells them, “Do not let your heart be troubled or afraid.” As I prayed with this Gospel the song Come As You Are came to mind. It is a simple melody with a most profound message.

Come as you are, that’s how I want you
Come as you are, feel quite at home
Close to my heart, loved and forgiven
Come as you are, why stand alone?

No need to fear, love sets no limits
No need to fear, love never ends
Don’t run away, shamed and disheartened
Rest in my love, trust me again

I came to call sinners, not just the virtuous
I came to bring peace, not to condemn
Each time you fail, to live by my promise
Why do you think, I’d love you the less?

Come as you are, that’s how I love you
Come as you are, trust me again
Nothing can change, the love that I bear you
All will be well, just come as you are.

© Deidre Browne

Our loving God invites us to trust and have hope. We need to remember that our God is always with us. When we are fearful that is an opportunity for our God to draw near to us and give us God’s love and peace. We are never alone; God invites us to always come as we are and to remember that we are loved.  

Habemus Papam

On Wednesday, May 7th the Conclave to elect the 267th successor of Peter began. With the sealing of the Sistine Chapel door the work of the Cardinals began and the world waited in hope. At the end of the first day black smoke appeared signaling that there was no Pope elected. On Thursday, May 8th the white smoke appeared and the world waited for the announcement of the new Pope. The word came a little more than an hour after the smoke. I ran for the nearest television at work where I could watch it in real time. As I waited I experienced a number of emotions - hope, wonder, awe and excitement. When the announcement "Habemus Papam," my heart lept when I heard it was an American. I never expected an American to be named as the Pope.

When Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost emerged I was struck by the sense of warmth and humility on his face. It appeared more than once he was overcome by emotion. It was nice to hear his brothers speak of their relationship with him. When his brother was asked if he was going to call his brother "Pope" he simply replied that he never called him "Father" as a priest and was not planning on changing that. You could hear the pride in his brothers and those who know him well.

As he begins his pontificate let us pray for him that he will remain true to his quest for justice and peace in our world. May he take the lead of his predecessor Francis and serve with a caring heart. May God bless Pope Leo XIV.

Kindness & Compassion

Last evening I attended a Town Hall Meeting at the First Baptist Church in Bronxville. It was an interesting experience as I went not knowing what to expect. There were many elected officials and participants from all age groups. As the meeting began the moderator mentioned the guidelines for the time. He stated that the premise of the meeting would be “kindness.” I immediately thought what a wonderful way to begin. How important at this time in our country’s history that we practice kindness. We all need to practice this. The Town Hall Meeting was most informative, and I am grateful to those elected officials who are working so hard for the interest of their constituents. May we all participate and respond with kindness.

A friend shared the quote below from Thich Nhat Hanh with me and as I read it the words echoed for me the meaning of today’s Gospel. Jesus spoke to Peter with compassion. The disciples were called to follow Jesus and be leaders, we are called to do the same. We are called to be disciples of Jesus and whatever we do in life we never stop being a disciple. Being a disciple is a lifelong commitment. We are continuously transformed into the image of Jesus. The call to compassion is one that mirrors how Jesus treated people. May we always live with compassion and kindness.

 

Pope Francis

 On Easter Monday most of the world arose to the news that Pope Francis had died at his residence. The cause of death was a massive stroke. When I first saw the news on my phone I had a momentary sense of disbelief. I quickly turned on the television and the first news item I saw was that indeed Pope Francis had died. I had an instant overwhelming sense of sadness. I remember being in my classroom after school when Francis was elected. A few of us were watching the news from the Vatcian and when he first came out on the balcony I remember being struck by his humility and his smile. I remember being so touched by him when he asked the crowd to pray for him. Francis asked the world to pray for him as he began this new role.

I have several memories of being in his presence at different events. I had the honor of accompanying our Choir to Rome as they were to sing at a Mass with Pope Francis. The choir sang beautifully at the Mass with the Sistine Chapel Choir. We were seated behind the altar where Francis was presiding so we had an upclose view of him. What stood out for me at this event was his tender smile that radiated a deep joy. On that same trip we had the opportunity to go to a Wednesday general audience with the Pope. Our tour guide had alerted the choir director to be ready when our school's name was announced to break into song. The choir was ready and sang an Alleluia and as they did Pope Francis was tapping his foot to the music. It was a moment of joy and the girls where thrilled with his reaction

When Pope Francis came to New York I had the opportunity to go to Madison Square Garden for the Mass. It was a wonderful experience. After standing in line for over three hours we finally went through the security gates and entered the Garden. Our seats were up on the second level but were very close to the altar so we were able to see everything. It was an expereince of grace and the love for Pope Francis was papable.

Pope Francis lived his life welcoming all -- rich, poor, outcast -- as his brothers and sisters. He worked tirelessly for the poor and less fortunate. May we remember all that Francis taught us and live our lives at the service of others. May he rest in peace.

Easter Blessing

 

Alleluia! Happy Easter!

A friend shared this reflction with me and I found it perfect for the celebration of Easter. 

Today, we stand before the silence of the tomb of our Savior, Jesus. A profound silence, which invites us to enter into ourselves and question ourselves. 

What have I offered of myself out of love for others?

To what path of peace and justice is Christ calling me today?

What is it that holds back my confidence in following Jesus without fear?

From that silent tomb, a light emerges, a joy that nothing, not even the power of men, can extinguish. This Easter light illuminates the darkness of our lives.

May it illuminate you, wherever you feel closed in...

May it become a source of strength, peace, and confidence, so that you can accomplish what Christ is calling you to do today.

Passion Sunday

 

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday the beginning of Holy Week.  For the next week we will recall Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection. The Gospel for today is Luke’s Passion Narrative. Mass began with the palms being blessed recalling Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Every time I hear the Passion Narrative something always strikes me. Today I found myself listening as the centurion says, “this man was innocent beyond a doubt.” The second thing that struck me was the interchange between Jesus and the two thieves crucified with Him. One of them recognized the gift and value of God and asked Jesus to remember him. We too are called to recognize the gift of Jesus. This week during our journey to Calvary with Jesus may we increase our faith knowing that our loving God is always present to us.

Blessings on this Holy Week.

Fifth Sunday of Lent

 

Today we hear the familiar story of the Woman Caught in Adultery. What should we focus our vision on right now? We should focus on God. On what God is doing right now. In this story what Jesus does in the present moment is what holds value – not just for the woman but for all those gathered around trying to make sense of who Jesus is and what his brand of faithfulness actually entails.

Jesus refuses to get into the debate about the value of the law. Instead, he asks those gathered around to consider their own faithfulness. The scribes and Pharisees have dragged this woman into the temple area in order to exploit her sin for their own purposes. Jesus does not engage in this enterprise at all. Have you ever wondered – what in the world is he writing in the sand? What a strange reaction. Maybe he’s writing out a list of their sins or hinting at them. Whatever it is, though, it works, and everyone leaves, including the judgmental religious leaders. Instead, he waits for the crowd to disperse, and then engages the person. Jesus does not address her sin, he addresses her fear of condemnation, assuring her that she is not condemned. She is not perfect as we too are imperfect.

I remember being on retreat once and the director had me reflect on this scripture. We were at a house near a beach, and she encouraged me to go and walk on the beach and to sit on the sand and write what I heard Jesus saying to me. It was an extremely powerful prayer experience. I sat on the beach for a long time and kept writing in the sand smoothing it out and writing again. As I sat there, I kept thinking about the woman and what she must have felt. In the end she felt Jesus’ love and mercy and that is all that mattered.

Laetare Sunday The Fourth Sunday of Lent

 

Laetare is the first word in the entrance antiphon — meaning “rejoice” — in the Latin text. On Laetare Sunday (as similarly with the Third Sunday of Advent’s Gaudete Sunday) the Church expresses hope and joy in the midst of our Lenten fasts and penances. Call it pink — or, more fittingly, rose — this change in color indicates a glimpse of the joy that awaits us at Easter, just before we enter into the somber days of Passiontide. 

This Sunday we hear the story of the Prodigal Son. The most familiar parable Jesus ever told. It is a story that we all know. The younger son hurts his father and the family, he gets his inheritance and throws it all away. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. The older son is the one we most often identify with – we recognize his pain, his feelings were hurt, he feels neglected. This parable reminds us that the one thing that can separate us from God is ourselves. We can separate ourselves from God. God is always there waiting to celebrate our lives, welcoming us home. The younger son came to his senses once he was hungry while his brother ranted and raved at his father. Yet the father only shows them compassion and concern.

The father treated his sons very much the way God cares for each of us. God’s love is always present. The love God has for each one of us is not dependent on how good we are or if we do everything right. No matter what God keeps loving us. God is there for us in good times, difficult times, no matter what. Let us always remember that God’s love and care are always present. Let us take some time today or at some point during the remainder of Lent to take some time to be present to God and be open to God’s love.

Third Sunday of Lent

 

In today’s Gospel, we hear about suffering, repentance, and bearing fruit. To an outsider, these three things may seem to have nothing in common, but for us disciples, we learn an important lesson about living the Christian life.  The parable of the Fig Tree calls us to trust in God who always offers us a “second chance.” God waits for us with patience and mercy. Looking at the image of fig tree we see a tree that has gone barren, lost its fruitfulness, is bitter and thorny. There are times when I can be like this too. Jesus says give it a little more time. Allow it to be nourished and it will grow. In many ways this is what God wants to give me during this Lenten season. God wants to nourish me and help me to grow.

Lent is that time for us to come back to God with all our hearts. Like the fig tree we will grow if we allow ourselves to be nourished and pruned by God. Lent is the time where we confront our frailty, our weaknesses, and our struggles as we continue the journey to the cross with Jesus. We are invited to look at our lives through the lens of faith, trusting that God will be with us through it all.

What is God calling me to this Lent? Am I being invited to look at my own limitations, my own brokenness and surrender them to God? Am I being called like the fig tree to allow myself to be pruned and nurtured by God to be transformed at Easter? How can I cultivate this new life that is open to me? Loving God, during this Lenten season give me the grace to trust, grow and cultivate new life.

International Women's Day

Yesterday we celebrated International Women's Day (March 8) a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality.

IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country, group or organization specific.

Yesterday five of our sisters gathered at the March in Hastings, NY. It was a peaceful informative experience. One of the most impressive sights was the number of families that were present. One woman was there with her daughter and the first thing on the sign she was holding was “Be Kind!” As I reflected on the experience that was one of my strongest takeaways. We need to be kind to one another in our world today. Right now, our world is very divided and rather that just being angry we need to look at taking a more positive stance by being kind. May we heed that child’s sign and put kindness in front of everything else.

Lent

Lent means “springtime” – coming to new life after winter.  It marks the forty days before Easter, commemorating Jesus’ forty days in the desert and the Israelites forty years in the desert wilderness.  The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday when we recieve ashes on our foreheads. Ashes are a symbol of repentence.

Pope Francis reminds us that “Lent is a favorable season for opening the doors to all those in need and recognizing in them the face of Christ.”  We are called not just to abstain from sin during Lent, but to true conversion of our hearts and minds as followers of Christ. We recall those waters in which we were baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.

Lent is an experience. We are urged to pray, to do penance, and to sacrifice.  With Jesus we make the passage from death to life.  Our weaknesses and sinfulness are not the focus, but a catalyst for growth.  Lent can be a challenge for us; a time to invite Jesus into some area in our lives in need of growth.

During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by  giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.

May this Lenten season be filled with many blessings for each one.

Prayer for Pope Francis

Today on this Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time our thoughts and prayers turn to Pope Francis as he remains hospitalized with double pneumonia and anemia. He continues to be treated at Gemelli hospital in Rome and had a restful night but is still in critical condition.

In our Gospel today we are called by Jesus to love our neighbor and pray for those who persecute us. In our world today so much is happening that sometimes it is hard to remember to pray for all we need to. Our loving God hears our prayers and knows our needs. We need to trust that our God is always with us. Let us continue to pray for our world, one another, and ourselves that we might be Christ for one another.

Prayer for Pope Francis

O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful,
look favorably on your servant Francis,
whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd;

Grant, we pray, that by word and example
he may be of service to those over whom he presides
so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care,
he may come to everlasting life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

 

Beatitudes

 

In today’s gospel reading from Luke, we hear the reading of what is often called the Sermon on the Plain. The parallel to this passage if found in Matthew’s gospel and is often called the Sermon on the Mount. As these titles suggest, there are differences and similarities between these gospel readings.

In Matthew’s gospel we hear Jesus deliver the Beatitudes from the mountaintop. Jesus spoke with the authority and voice of God. The mountaintop is a symbol of closeness to God. As Luke introduces the location of Jesus' teaching, Jesus teaches on level ground, alongside the disciples and the crowd. Luke presents Jesus' authority in a different light. He is God among us.

Matthew uses eight Beatitudes to deliver Jesus’ message, and Luke uses four followed by woes. Beatitudes were not unique to Jesus. Beatitudes are found in the Old Testament, such as in the Psalms and in Wisdom literature. They are a way to teach about who will find favor with God. The word blessed in this context might be translated as “happy,” “fortunate,” or “favored.”

The Beatitudes invite us to trust and are often described as a framework for Christian living. By living the Beatitudes, we live our lives focused on the Kingdom of God. May the Beatitudes guide us in our living and give us the strength we need to follow Jesus’ teachings of love and mercy.

Give Us Hearts

Today we celebrate the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In our Gospel we hear the familiar story of Jesus telling the disciples to put out into the deep and lower their nets. The disciples are tired and discouraged as they hadn’t caught anything during their first time out. On their second trip out, they caught many fish, and their nets were almost breaking. Jesus showed compassion for His disciples, and they responded.

A prayer that I have found helpful during these times is one by Fr. Dan Harnett – Give Us Hearts. May we have hearts full of hope and reach out with compassion for all.

Give Us Hearts       

God of love and compassion: may we always recognize your spirit:

· in the refugee family, seeking safety from violence;

· in the migrant worker, bringing food to our tables;

· in the asylum-seekers, seeking justice for their families;

· in the unaccompanied child, traveling in a dangerous world.

Give us hearts that break open whenever our brothers and sisters turn to us.

Give us hearts that no longer turn deaf to their voices in times of need.

Give us eyes to recognize a moment for grace instead of a threat.

Give us voices that fail to remain silent, but which decide instead to advocate prophetically.

Give us hands that reach out in welcome, but also in work, for a world of justice until all homelands are safe and secure. Amen
            - Fr. Dan Hartnett S.J.

Consecrated Life Sunday

On Sunday February 2^nd, the universal Church gathers in prayer and gratitude in celebration of the gift of Consecrated Life to the World.

More than ever, our world that is in turmoil, needs the witness and hope that you and your Sisters/Brothers have brought, bring and will continue to bring.

Pope Francis speaking to the Consecrated Religious of the World challenges each of us to:

Wake up the World with Uplifting Words of Hope

Remember the beauty of your first call.

Jesus continues to call you today with same full love and untamed grace.

Go forth!  There is always more to do, to encounter, to appreciate, to be astonished by.

Begin and end with the joy of prayer-the marrow of consecrated life.

Go forth! Each of us has a role to play in the Church.

Witness and sow well each day and look to tomorrow with hope.

Go forth! Grow in love or God so that others will be attracted by the divine light in you.

Welcome the new vocations the Lord sends to continue the work of consecration.

Wake up the World with Uplifting Words of Hope

Let us pray for all those living Consecrated Life. May many others embrace the life.