Lent is the Time for Loving
Lenten Reflections by Sister Marie Therese

Again we are entering the joyous season of Lent.  Does that adjective surprise you?  We have long associated Lent with penance and sharing in the sufferings and death of Jesus by fasting, almsgiving, and prayer.  Of course that is correct, but it is only half the truth.  It is incomplete because we know the end of the passion story which is not death but resurrection: Christ has died; Christ is risen.  So why do Catholic Christians journey through the 40 days of Lent?

I'd like to suggest that Lent is the time for loving - not the hearts and flowers infatuation that is a prelude to real love but the unheroic, unsung, "ordinary" ways that are easily within our reach.  In his Treatise on the Love of God St. Francis de Sales, Doctor of Divine Love, teaches:

There are people who imagine doing great things for God, things that would involve great suffering and heroic actions.  Yet there is no opportunity to perform such deeds - and perhaps there never will be.  They believe that just be imagining these deeds, they have shown great love,, but they are often deceived.  For while they desire to embrace great future crosses, they anxiously avoid the much lighter burdens that are presented to them now.  Isn't it a big temptation to e heroic in imagination but cowardly in carrying it out? ... Great deeds do not always come our way, but in every moment, we may do little ones with a great love.

Francis' insight that by doing little acts, we practice loving more often, more humbly, and more usefully can give us a clue to making our Lent a time for love.  He continues with an ordinary-extraordinary agenda of "Little Virtues" we can practice in union with the suffering love of Jesus:

1. Putting up with other people's moods and troublesome behavior,
2. Gaining victory over our own moods and passions,
3. Renouncing our petty preferences, coming against our own revulsions,
4. Honestly acknowledging our faults,
5. Keeping our souls in peace,
6. Gently and graciously welcoming scorn or criticism.

Perhaps you would like to join me in choosing one of these practices for each of the six weeks of Lent?  Like St. Francis de Sales and St. Therese of Lisieux we will experience in little ways that "Lent is a time for loving."

Reflections on a Holy Land Pilgrimage
Sister Marie Therese

Since the gift of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land for 9 days this past November, I will never be the same.

In the past when I prayed the Psalms or read or listened to the Epistles and Gospels at Mass, I thought I appreciated them.  However, now that I have followed in the footsteps of Jesus in His earthly life in Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Jerusalem, the words of Scripture have taken on a whole new life.

I'm on the right, standing next to my good friend, travel companion and fellow Theology teacher, Carol.  We are in the shade of a tree in the gardens of the Church of the Beatitudes.

Each day of our trip, I was surprised to come upon places and things that Jesus saw and the evangelists described. 

Now I know what the sycamore tree that Zacchaeus climbed and the olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane looked like.

Sitting in a small ferry boat, I felt the breeze blow gently on the Sea of Galilee. 

Very early before the shops opened, I helped to carry a large wooden cross from one station to the next along the narrow Way of the Cross.

I'm on the right with my sister, Rita, next to me. 
Our pilgrimage group is in the background.

In Jericho I rode in a red cable car up to the Mount where Jesus, fasting, withstood Satan's three temptations. 

In the middle of the photo, in the distance, you can see what remains of a Byzantine monastery built into the side of the mountain.

I tried to float in the shallow salty waters of the Dead Sea and . . .

marveled at the sight of the cave where the Dead sea Scrolls were first found.

At another level, it is difficult to find words to describe the wonder of being present where Mary said "yes" and the Word was made flesh, of touching the star that marks the place where Jesus was born and the hole where the cross stood on Calvary where He died.  At each holy site, we were privileged to celebrate Mass or to read the Scripture passage that described what happened there.  At every opportunity I prayed for all our Visitation families and friends and their intentions.

A unique privilege for me was our stop at Ain Karim, where Mary traveled to visit her cousin Elizabeth.  Luke's Gospel says Mary went into the hill country, and not much has changed in that respect.  On the late afternoon we retraced the last part of Mary's journey, I was not sure I would make it up the long hill.  Without the help of another kind member of our pilgrimage, I probably would not have reached the top - or gotten safely down the slippery stones when we returned to the bus.

But then there it was, the lovely Church of the Visitation.  Although it was bright sunlight when we went in, hardly a half hour later it was completely dark and a pale crescent moon was shining!

PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

Saint Jane Frances de Chantal
An illustrated graphic for ages 10-14

The story of St. Jane de Chantal in a new contemporary graphic format especially designed to appeal to 'tweens. Saint Jane's inspiring life unfolds in easy to follow text.

Her story begins as an adventurous young girl and continues as a loving wife and mother, a strong woman of faith, and the innovative foundress of the Visitation Order.

The book is 46 pages with loads of full-color drawings throughout.
 
Our own Sister Mary Grace served as consultant.

Saint Francis de Sales

The story of St. Francis de Sales in a format especially designed to appeal to children. Saint Francis's inspiring life unfolds in easy to follow text.

This is an excellent read-aloud book with beautiful watercolor illustrations.   


The book is 46 pages with loads of full-color drawings throughout.
 
Our own Sister Mary Grace served as consultant.