When Good Things Happen by Accident

Last night something really wonderful happened by accident.

The weather around here had been really dicey all day, and being the smart people that they are, the administration of the St. Paul Catholic Center (The Newman Center at IU where I volunteer in the RCIA program) decided to cancel all evening programs.



The only problem being, that they announced it on the closest local television station which is in Indianapolis 65 miles away, and probably on radi. Most of the participants, being college kids don't watch television or listen to local radio, so a lot of them didn't get the message and showed up anyway because there was supposed to be a pitch in dinner. I showed up because I had been driving around town all day and the roads were passable, so I figured that there wouldn't be a problem. I don't watch the news either ( the only news I ever watch I get from this source).



Anyway, when we all arrived at the Catholic Center it was dark, and no one was there to greet us, but we finally found Fr. Bob who said that if we were willing to make do he would turn the lights on in the church so that we could procede with the tour, which was the planned activity and then we could go ahead with our pitch in dinner since we had all brought food anyway.



All in all, it turned out to be a very nice evening in which fellowship and sharing happened and community was forged, even if we weren't supposed to be there. It just goes to show that God can use any opening to create stronger community; even our own mistakes.



Pax

God is Good All the Time

and thanks to my Internet pal Jeff at Curt Jester who led me to this awesome link when I was closing down my web browser this morning to get started on my Philosophy homework.

Really, I was just about to start working on my essay on Posterior Analytics and was saying a quick prayer as I shut down my browsers and pulled up Word when I happened to see a post of Jeff's on the revamping of a site run by John Brown S.J. called CompanionsofJesus.com. I clicked on the link out of curiosity, ( and a little bit to postpone writing about Aristotle) to find an awesome site for those with an interest in Jesuit Spirituality.

He has compiled a veritable prayerbook of Jesuit prayers all in one place, the ones I pray often and a few I had never seen before.

Of particular interest to me especially this week was the Prayer in Desolation. In particular I found these phrases to be very helpful as I begin the task before me:

But what I do know is, that with Thy grace,

which Thou wilt never refuse me,

and of which wilt never deprive me

although I may not always be sensible or conscious of its presence.

I shall be able to resist and overcome all my enemies:

therefore, establishing my confidence on Thy divine strength,

I will not lose courage.

It only remains for me to humble myself,

to abase myself to the very dust at the sight of my nothingness,

and to persevere in my former resolutions made in the day of consolation, awaiting in patience and calm for,

and looking with hope and confidence to,

Thy next visit: for I know that the day of desolation will pass,

and that consolation will not be long in coming.

Give me patience and hope,

give me the courage to remain fixed in my resolutions,

to attack and fight with the enemy

without making any change in my former decisions;

but, in order to dissipate this desolation,

let me change myself, by being more recollected,

more attentive, more silent, more mortified;

above all, by applying myself more fervently to prayer and meditation.

These were words I really needed to read and pray and take to heart today, because I have been so beaten down by my inability to find a way to begin these essays. Today, after reading this prayer I am confident that if I place my trust where it belongs, not in my own intellect, but with He who brought me to this place, I will find a way to tackle this assignment and write something coherent, and passable.

Then, I decided to take the time to read through emails before I started my homework (maybe a little avoidance there, but who's psychoanalyzing at this point) and what do I find but an email from my professor with this message and I quote here:

Due to my getting the questions out late and some email difficulties, I am giving everyone an extension on completing the questions. We can talk about it more this weekend. See you all then.

All the time, God is good.

Especially when I have a community like St. Blog's on my side.

Pax

Why, With God's Help, I Will Live and Die a Catholic

A Quote from Walter Burghardt, S.J in Tell the Next Generation:


In the course of half a century, I have seen more Catholic corruption than you have read of. I have tasted it. I have been reasonably corrupt myself. And yet I joy in this Church—this living, pulsing, sinning people of God, love it with a crucifying passion. Why? For all the Catholic hate, I experience here a community of love. For all the institutional idiocy, I find here a tradition of reason. For all the individual repressions, I breathe here an air of freedom. For all the fear of sex, I discover here the redemption of my body. In an age so inhuman, I touch here the tears of compassion. In a world so grim and humorless, I share here rich joy and laughter. In the midst of death I hear an incomparable stress on life. For all the apparent absence of God, I sense here the real presence of Christ.

Angelmeg's comment: I have been hurt by the self righteous and the well meaning and those who had no idea that their actions were hurting me. I have left in disgust because I didn't like what I thought the Church had become, and each time I come back because it is only in this community of faith that I am uniquely and completely the person that God created me to be.

h/t to Deacon John for the quote.

Pax

Prayer Requests Please

For the repose of the soul of the grandson of a woman who was a great friend to me when I really needed one. He died in a car accident on his college campus earlier this week. He was a passenger in a car and sadly wasn't wearing a seat belt. Everyone else in the two cars survived except him, he was the only one not belted in.

For the repose of the soul Gashwin's father, who died on Monday. And for comfort for his family.

For comfort and strength for a friend who is dealing with serious family issues.

For ongoing support for my dear sisters who are the daily caregivers for my mother who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

For safe practice and an injury free game this weekend in Miami. Did I mention that the Colts are in the Superbowl? I think I may have.

Heavenly Father, we know that we can come to you with all of our cares and offer them up to you and you will help us to shoulder the burdens of them. We do this today in the confidence that was given to us by your Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

Pax