I wanted to call attention to a very helpful post by an internet friend, Lisa Graas about the spiritual needs of those suffering from mental illness. Lisa suffers from depression and has outlined a very helpful means to emotional wellness.
She suggests offering up one's sufferings for others. These graces, she says, are important not to waste. It also gets us out of our own heads, something I had not thought of before. It does not matter if you don't have anyone or anything specific in mind to offer up your sufferings for. God will use them regardless. You can always offer them for others who suffer from mental illnesses.
Lisa suggests a devotion to Saint Dymphna, something that is close to my heart. She mentions St. Dymphna Shrines both in the United States and abroad, to visit.
Something else she talks about that I have also found crucial is the development of virtue. I recently posted about how helpful Totus Tuus Ministries have been to me in that regard. Overcoming one's shortcomings and avoiding their repetition reminds me very much of the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. We must squarely face how we have hurt others and make amends when possible.
Showing posts with label Spirituality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spirituality. Show all posts
Monday, May 9, 2011
Spirituality and Mental Illness
I wanted to call attention to a very helpful post by an internet friend, Lisa Graas about the spiritual needs of those suffering from mental illness. Lisa suffers from depression and has outlined a very helpful means to emotional wellness.
She suggests offering up one's sufferings for others. These graces, she says, are important not to waste. It also gets us out of our own heads, something I had not thought of before. It does not matter if you don't have anyone or anything specific in mind to offer up your sufferings for. God will use them regardless. You can always offer them for others who suffer from mental illnesses.
Lisa suggests a devotion to Saint Dymphna, something that is close to my heart. She mentions St. Dymphna Shrines both in the United States and abroad, to visit.
Something else she talks about that I have also found crucial is the development of virtue. I recently posted about how helpful Totus Tuus Ministries have been to me in that regard. Overcoming one's shortcomings and avoiding their repetition reminds me very much of the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. We must squarely face how we have hurt others and make amends when possible.
She suggests offering up one's sufferings for others. These graces, she says, are important not to waste. It also gets us out of our own heads, something I had not thought of before. It does not matter if you don't have anyone or anything specific in mind to offer up your sufferings for. God will use them regardless. You can always offer them for others who suffer from mental illnesses.
Lisa suggests a devotion to Saint Dymphna, something that is close to my heart. She mentions St. Dymphna Shrines both in the United States and abroad, to visit.
Something else she talks about that I have also found crucial is the development of virtue. I recently posted about how helpful Totus Tuus Ministries have been to me in that regard. Overcoming one's shortcomings and avoiding their repetition reminds me very much of the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. We must squarely face how we have hurt others and make amends when possible.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Ask God for Freedom from Sin
Do you feel as though you are not making progress in your spiritual life? Are you in a spiritual rut? Totus Tuus Ministries has a very down-to-earth and helpful page on overcoming one's root sin. According to this website, all sins can be traced back to one of three basic sins: Pride, Sensuality or Vanity.
Each sin has to do with where we place our sense of security. Pride involves basing one's security on the self, sensuality bases security in things and feelings, and vanity places security in what others' think of me.
After reading the specific characteristics of each of the 3 root sins, you decide which one you may be struggling with the most at this time. Then, list the manifestations of that sin in your life.
To root out the sin, choose its opposite virtue and list specific things you will do to practice that virtue in your life. Then, pick someone (Christ, or a saint, for example) whose life exemplifies that virtue for you to imitate.
The website has examples of the above program for each of the three root sins and is very helpful in making this concrete and easy to understand.
Totus Tuus Ministries is especially helpful for those who do not have a spiritual director, although it can be used for anyone.
Ask God for Freedom from Sin
Do you feel as though you are not making progress in your spiritual life? Are you in a spiritual rut? Totus Tuus Ministries has a very down-to-earth and helpful page on overcoming one's root sin. According to this website, all sins can be traced back to one of three basic sins: Pride, Sensuality or Vanity.
Each sin has to do with where we place our sense of security. Pride involves basing one's security on the self, sensuality bases security in things and feelings, and vanity places security in what others' think of me.
After reading the specific characteristics of each of the 3 root sins, you decide which one you may be struggling with the most at this time. Then, list the manifestations of that sin in your life.
To root out the sin, choose its opposite virtue and list specific things you will do to practice that virtue in your life. Then, pick someone (Christ, or a saint, for example) whose life exemplifies that virtue for you to imitate.
The website has examples of the above program for each of the three root sins and is very helpful in making this concrete and easy to understand.
Totus Tuus Ministries is especially helpful for those who do not have a spiritual director, although it can be used for anyone.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Heavenly Coincidence--John Michael Talbot on the Early Monastics
Today I was perusing the subscriptions on my Youtube channel when I came across the music of John Michael Talbot. After listening to his beautiful playlist, Quiet Reflections, a series of his songs along with some inspirational readings, I heard the following 2009 teaching on St. Antony of the Desert come up on the playlist I had subsequently clicked.
I was struck by his words on not placing blame on others for our problems. The current political situation in the United States is rife with blaming and this teaching really hit home for me. I know it is difficult, too, not to blame outside people and forces for our own personal problems.
I decided to post it today, wondering when the actual feast of St. Antony fell. I was shocked to realize it is January 17th, this coming Monday; surely a Heavenly coincidence!
I was struck by his words on not placing blame on others for our problems. The current political situation in the United States is rife with blaming and this teaching really hit home for me. I know it is difficult, too, not to blame outside people and forces for our own personal problems.
I decided to post it today, wondering when the actual feast of St. Antony fell. I was shocked to realize it is January 17th, this coming Monday; surely a Heavenly coincidence!
Heavenly Coincidence--John Michael Talbot on the Early Monastics
Today I was perusing the subscriptions on my Youtube channel when I came across the music of John Michael Talbot. After listening to his beautiful playlist, Quiet Reflections, a series of his songs along with some inspirational readings, I heard the following 2009 teaching on St. Antony of the Desert come up on the playlist I had subsequently clicked.
I was struck by his words on not placing blame on others for our problems. The current political situation in the United States is rife with blaming and this teaching really hit home for me. I know it is difficult, too, not to blame outside people and forces for our own personal problems.
I decided to post it today, wondering when the actual feast of St. Antony fell. I was shocked to realize it is January 17th, this coming Monday; surely a Heavenly coincidence!
I was struck by his words on not placing blame on others for our problems. The current political situation in the United States is rife with blaming and this teaching really hit home for me. I know it is difficult, too, not to blame outside people and forces for our own personal problems.
I decided to post it today, wondering when the actual feast of St. Antony fell. I was shocked to realize it is January 17th, this coming Monday; surely a Heavenly coincidence!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Calumny and Detraction--a Sin Against Peace
Detraction is saying something against another person that is not true--spreading falsehood against one's neighbor.
Calumny is harming another's reputation by saying something that is, nevertheless, true.
Both are sins against the 8th commandment and both are discouragingly easy to do.
They are also both sins against peace. If we are to have peace we are to be peace. It is difficult, but everything is possible through the grace of God.
Our Lady, Queen of Peace,
Pray for us!
Calumny and Detraction--a Sin Against Peace
Detraction is saying something against another person that is not true--spreading falsehood against one's neighbor.
Calumny is harming another's reputation by saying something that is, nevertheless, true.
Both are sins against the 8th commandment and both are discouragingly easy to do.
They are also both sins against peace. If we are to have peace we are to be peace. It is difficult, but everything is possible through the grace of God.
Our Lady, Queen of Peace,
Pray for us!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Sin and Civilization--How we lie to ourselves
Mark Shea has a blunt and important post on Inside Catholic on what is wrong with today's western democracies. We are so busy following and maintaining our pleasures at any cost, that we are becoming ripe for a tyranical form of government. As democracies become complacent and stop the honest self-critcism that is so crucial, any political huckster can easily sway us into giving up the rights and forms of self-governance we have fought for 200 plus years to preserve. This factual historic observation also parallels a personal and spiritual one.
A culture like ours, Shea says, that increasingly denigrates the notion of sin and repentance as a "Christian guilt trip" while exalting self-affirmation to the sky is a nation well-positioned to be...ignorant suckers for every flattery and threat some advertiser, prosperity gospel huckster, or politician...wants to sell us. Only a people capable of self-criticism in the harsh light of revelation can hope to survive.
We spend our time chasing after endless affirmation of our self worth and running in horror from anything as banal and old fashioned as honest examination of the ways in which we may be contributing to our own pain.
Mr. Shea points out that the Catholic tradition, ever countercultural, has preserved this tradition of self-examination and frank assessment of sin. It does this by elevating something as fear-producing and counter-intuitive as the confessing of our sins, in person, to another human being, to the level of a religious sacrament--recognizing and imparting the task of rooting out sin in our lives with a special, supernatural blessing.
It also preserves the Tradition, Shea continues, by giving us not one but two seasons each year, Advent and Lent, where we focus on the fact that we are not a great people admired by a God who hopes to be worthy of us, but are instead sinners who come from a race of sinners. (Emphasis, mine.)
This, my friends, is the only way our society is going to survive. Indeed, it is the only way we as individuals will survive. We must stop hiding the truth from ourselves. We must stop chasing the fantasy that we are immune from the need to change--every minute of every day.
A culture like ours, Shea says, that increasingly denigrates the notion of sin and repentance as a "Christian guilt trip" while exalting self-affirmation to the sky is a nation well-positioned to be...ignorant suckers for every flattery and threat some advertiser, prosperity gospel huckster, or politician...wants to sell us. Only a people capable of self-criticism in the harsh light of revelation can hope to survive.
We spend our time chasing after endless affirmation of our self worth and running in horror from anything as banal and old fashioned as honest examination of the ways in which we may be contributing to our own pain.
Mr. Shea points out that the Catholic tradition, ever countercultural, has preserved this tradition of self-examination and frank assessment of sin. It does this by elevating something as fear-producing and counter-intuitive as the confessing of our sins, in person, to another human being, to the level of a religious sacrament--recognizing and imparting the task of rooting out sin in our lives with a special, supernatural blessing.
It also preserves the Tradition, Shea continues, by giving us not one but two seasons each year, Advent and Lent, where we focus on the fact that we are not a great people admired by a God who hopes to be worthy of us, but are instead sinners who come from a race of sinners. (Emphasis, mine.)
This, my friends, is the only way our society is going to survive. Indeed, it is the only way we as individuals will survive. We must stop hiding the truth from ourselves. We must stop chasing the fantasy that we are immune from the need to change--every minute of every day.
Sin and Civilization--How we lie to ourselves
Mark Shea has a blunt and important post on Inside Catholic on what is wrong with today's western democracies. We are so busy following and maintaining our pleasures at any cost, that we are becoming ripe for a tyranical form of government. As democracies become complacent and stop the honest self-critcism that is so crucial, any political huckster can easily sway us into giving up the rights and forms of self-governance we have fought for 200 plus years to preserve. This factual historic observation also parallels a personal and spiritual one.
A culture like ours, Shea says, that increasingly denigrates the notion of sin and repentance as a "Christian guilt trip" while exalting self-affirmation to the sky is a nation well-positioned to be...ignorant suckers for every flattery and threat some advertiser, prosperity gospel huckster, or politician...wants to sell us. Only a people capable of self-criticism in the harsh light of revelation can hope to survive.
We spend our time chasing after endless affirmation of our self worth and running in horror from anything as banal and old fashioned as honest examination of the ways in which we may be contributing to our own pain.
Mr. Shea points out that the Catholic tradition, ever countercultural, has preserved this tradition of self-examination and frank assessment of sin. It does this by elevating something as fear-producing and counter-intuitive as the confessing of our sins, in person, to another human being, to the level of a religious sacrament--recognizing and imparting the task of rooting out sin in our lives with a special, supernatural blessing.
It also preserves the Tradition, Shea continues, by giving us not one but two seasons each year, Advent and Lent, where we focus on the fact that we are not a great people admired by a God who hopes to be worthy of us, but are instead sinners who come from a race of sinners. (Emphasis, mine.)
This, my friends, is the only way our society is going to survive. Indeed, it is the only way we as individuals will survive. We must stop hiding the truth from ourselves. We must stop chasing the fantasy that we are immune from the need to change--every minute of every day.
A culture like ours, Shea says, that increasingly denigrates the notion of sin and repentance as a "Christian guilt trip" while exalting self-affirmation to the sky is a nation well-positioned to be...ignorant suckers for every flattery and threat some advertiser, prosperity gospel huckster, or politician...wants to sell us. Only a people capable of self-criticism in the harsh light of revelation can hope to survive.
We spend our time chasing after endless affirmation of our self worth and running in horror from anything as banal and old fashioned as honest examination of the ways in which we may be contributing to our own pain.
Mr. Shea points out that the Catholic tradition, ever countercultural, has preserved this tradition of self-examination and frank assessment of sin. It does this by elevating something as fear-producing and counter-intuitive as the confessing of our sins, in person, to another human being, to the level of a religious sacrament--recognizing and imparting the task of rooting out sin in our lives with a special, supernatural blessing.
It also preserves the Tradition, Shea continues, by giving us not one but two seasons each year, Advent and Lent, where we focus on the fact that we are not a great people admired by a God who hopes to be worthy of us, but are instead sinners who come from a race of sinners. (Emphasis, mine.)
This, my friends, is the only way our society is going to survive. Indeed, it is the only way we as individuals will survive. We must stop hiding the truth from ourselves. We must stop chasing the fantasy that we are immune from the need to change--every minute of every day.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
A Saint's Day Surprise
Our church is not that large in and of itself. I think it fits about 200 people inside comfortably and snugly. The odd thing is, these statues make the building look bigger, not smaller. They dwarf the reader, who must stand underneath and in front of the statue of Our Lady, and literally put things "in perspective".
It is no longer about "us". Our focus is now on the unmistakable illustration of Love right in front of our eyes. The richly colored statues draw our attention away from whatever it is that might be distracting us on any given Sunday and towards what we are in Church for--the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and a literal reaching back to embrace a God who has been reaching towards us from all eternity. What a wonderful gift! I am blessed to have lived long enough to see some of the beautiful God-inspired artwork come back into the churches.
A Saint's Day Surprise
Our church is not that large in and of itself. I think it fits about 200 people inside comfortably and snugly. The odd thing is, these statues make the building look bigger, not smaller. They dwarf the reader, who must stand underneath and in front of the statue of Our Lady, and literally put things "in perspective".
It is no longer about "us". Our focus is now on the unmistakable illustration of Love right in front of our eyes. The richly colored statues draw our attention away from whatever it is that might be distracting us on any given Sunday and towards what we are in Church for--the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and a literal reaching back to embrace a God who has been reaching towards us from all eternity. What a wonderful gift! I am blessed to have lived long enough to see some of the beautiful God-inspired artwork come back into the churches.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
What is My Root Sin?
Have you ever looked at yourself and wondered why you struggle with the same sins, year after year? I wanted to share a website that talks about our root sins and what to do about them.
According to Totus Tuus Ministries, there are three "root sins"--pride, vanity and sensuality. Each one has some surprising manifestations and is well worth reading and meditating on.
In short, pride is the decision to base my security on myself. Vanity is the choice to place my security in others and sensuality is placing my security in things and feelings.
Totus Tuus outlines detailed characteristics (which may surprise you) of each sinful tendency, and a well thought out program to combat each sin as well as examples of how a program for each sin might be carried out.
Excellent, concrete spiritual advice here!!
By the way, totus tuus is Latin for "totally yours" and was Pope John Paul II's motto to Our Lady.
In short, pride is the decision to base my security on myself. Vanity is the choice to place my security in others and sensuality is placing my security in things and feelings.
Totus Tuus outlines detailed characteristics (which may surprise you) of each sinful tendency, and a well thought out program to combat each sin as well as examples of how a program for each sin might be carried out.
Excellent, concrete spiritual advice here!!
By the way, totus tuus is Latin for "totally yours" and was Pope John Paul II's motto to Our Lady.
What is My Root Sin?
Have you ever looked at yourself and wondered why you struggle with the same sins, year after year? I wanted to share a website that talks about our root sins and what to do about them.
According to Totus Tuus Ministries, there are three "root sins"--pride, vanity and sensuality. Each one has some surprising manifestations and is well worth reading and meditating on.
In short, pride is the decision to base my security on myself. Vanity is the choice to place my security in others and sensuality is placing my security in things and feelings.
Totus Tuus outlines detailed characteristics (which may surprise you) of each sinful tendency, and a well thought out program to combat each sin as well as examples of how a program for each sin might be carried out.
Excellent, concrete spiritual advice here!!
By the way, totus tuus is Latin for "totally yours" and was Pope John Paul II's motto to Our Lady.
In short, pride is the decision to base my security on myself. Vanity is the choice to place my security in others and sensuality is placing my security in things and feelings.
Totus Tuus outlines detailed characteristics (which may surprise you) of each sinful tendency, and a well thought out program to combat each sin as well as examples of how a program for each sin might be carried out.
Excellent, concrete spiritual advice here!!
By the way, totus tuus is Latin for "totally yours" and was Pope John Paul II's motto to Our Lady.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Seven Deadly Sins
This is one of a series of YouTube vids by PresbyterGeorge, a priest in the Orthodox Church. In this one, he explains the Seven Deadly Sins (or "passions") clearly and quickly, showing how they are related to each other. Excellent!
Seven Deadly Sins
This is one of a series of YouTube vids by PresbyterGeorge, a priest in the Orthodox Church. In this one, he explains the Seven Deadly Sins (or "passions") clearly and quickly, showing how they are related to each other. Excellent!
Friday, April 3, 2009
Pearls from God
I've lately gotten an "image" of pearls in my prayer life. An internet friend recently told me about the "Pearls of Life" devotion which was developed by a Lutheran Bishop. Each bead on the bracelet has a different focus for prayer. There is The God Pearl, the Pearls of Silence, The I Pearl, The Baptism Pearl, The Desert Pearl, The Serenity Pearl, The Love Pearls, The Mystery Pearls, The Night Pearl, and the Resurrection Pearl.I was listening to Mother Angelica the other day in the car, and she was talking about difficult people in your life being ways God uses to get you to heaven. She said something that I mistook for the word "pearls" and I immediately got this image of the difficult person "giving" me pearls--opportunities for growth in virtue. (Remember, pearls are born of irritation inside the shell of an oyster.) This really helped me the next time I've had to deal with this person--its been almost every day this week, in fact. So it seems that "pearl" is the word of the week from Our Lord.
Pearls from God
I've lately gotten an "image" of pearls in my prayer life. An internet friend recently told me about the "Pearls of Life" devotion which was developed by a Lutheran Bishop. Each bead on the bracelet has a different focus for prayer. There is The God Pearl, the Pearls of Silence, The I Pearl, The Baptism Pearl, The Desert Pearl, The Serenity Pearl, The Love Pearls, The Mystery Pearls, The Night Pearl, and the Resurrection Pearl.I was listening to Mother Angelica the other day in the car, and she was talking about difficult people in your life being ways God uses to get you to heaven. She said something that I mistook for the word "pearls" and I immediately got this image of the difficult person "giving" me pearls--opportunities for growth in virtue. (Remember, pearls are born of irritation inside the shell of an oyster.) This really helped me the next time I've had to deal with this person--its been almost every day this week, in fact. So it seems that "pearl" is the word of the week from Our Lord.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Spiritual Warfare--Helping the Holy Spirit by keeping the mind clear
I was relating the many trials that so many people known to me are currently experiencing, to a friend at church last Sunday when she suggested that we are "under attack." I admit to not having thought of that, and of being oddly comforted by that thought. For, Who can beat the Evil One but God Himself, and "if God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) At any rate, when I read the following passage from Diadochus of Photica on Universalis this morning I remembered my conversation.
Those who are struggling in battle ought always to keep their souls free of the tumultuous waves of distraction. If they do this, the mind will be able to distinguish among the thoughts that come to it. The good thoughts, sent by God, they can store in the treasure-house of their memory. The evil thoughts, sent by the devil, they can throw out.
Clearing and purifying the mind is the task of the Holy Spirit alone – just as when a house is being burgled, the spoils can only be recovered if a strong man bursts in and despoils the burglar. Therefore we ought to keep our souls at peace so that the Holy Spirit is welcome there, so that the lamp of knowledge will always be lit – for when it is, the dark and bitter impulses of the devil will be easy to see and they will be reduced to creeping helplessness as they are caught in that holy and glorious light.
This is why St Paul says ‘Do not extinguish the Spirit’ – that is, do not sadden the Holy Spirit with evil acts and thoughts, or his light may cease to protect you. Of course the eternal and life-giving Spirit is not actually extinguished: rather, it is the sad turning away of the Spirit that leaves the mind wrapped in gloom and without the light of knowledge.
~Diadochus of Photica, "On Spiritual Perfection"
Let us use the twin gifts of prayer and spiritual reading (Lecto Divina) to refresh our minds and keep them attuned to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Here is an essay on Lecto Divina and Haiku. It talks about slowing down and letting a passage of Scripture speak to your heart. I think this is important in letting the light of the Holy Spirit into our sometimes dark and frightening lives.
Spiritual Warfare--Helping the Holy Spirit by keeping the mind clear
I was relating the many trials that so many people known to me are currently experiencing, to a friend at church last Sunday when she suggested that we are "under attack." I admit to not having thought of that, and of being oddly comforted by that thought. For, Who can beat the Evil One but God Himself, and "if God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) At any rate, when I read the following passage from Diadochus of Photica on Universalis this morning I remembered my conversation.
Those who are struggling in battle ought always to keep their souls free of the tumultuous waves of distraction. If they do this, the mind will be able to distinguish among the thoughts that come to it. The good thoughts, sent by God, they can store in the treasure-house of their memory. The evil thoughts, sent by the devil, they can throw out.
Clearing and purifying the mind is the task of the Holy Spirit alone – just as when a house is being burgled, the spoils can only be recovered if a strong man bursts in and despoils the burglar. Therefore we ought to keep our souls at peace so that the Holy Spirit is welcome there, so that the lamp of knowledge will always be lit – for when it is, the dark and bitter impulses of the devil will be easy to see and they will be reduced to creeping helplessness as they are caught in that holy and glorious light.
This is why St Paul says ‘Do not extinguish the Spirit’ – that is, do not sadden the Holy Spirit with evil acts and thoughts, or his light may cease to protect you. Of course the eternal and life-giving Spirit is not actually extinguished: rather, it is the sad turning away of the Spirit that leaves the mind wrapped in gloom and without the light of knowledge.
~Diadochus of Photica, "On Spiritual Perfection"
Let us use the twin gifts of prayer and spiritual reading (Lecto Divina) to refresh our minds and keep them attuned to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Here is an essay on Lecto Divina and Haiku. It talks about slowing down and letting a passage of Scripture speak to your heart. I think this is important in letting the light of the Holy Spirit into our sometimes dark and frightening lives.
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