Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

Peace

A Call for Peace

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A Call for Peace in the Holy Land

In response to the continued tensions and violence that erupted into warfare between Gaza and Israel on October 7, Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on International Justice and Peace, calls for prayers for peace in the Holy Land:

On October 7, the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary, the world watched the operation launched from Gaza and the rapid call to arms from Israel that ensued. Almost 50 years to the day of the launch of the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, once again war is spilling out in the Holy Land. With it brings the mounting casualties and hostilities unfolding on all sides, and increased threats to the Status Quo of the Holy Places among Jews, Muslims, and Christians further dimming any hope for peace.

The world is once again shocked and horrified by the outbreak of ferocious violence in the Holy Land. Reports have surfaced indicating large numbers of wounded and dead, including many civilians. 

I join with Pope Francis in his call for peace and his condemnation of this widespread outbreak of violence. As he stated in his Sunday audience, “May the attacks and weaponry cease. Please! And let it be understood that terrorism and war do not lead to any resolutions, but only to the death and suffering of so many innocent people.”

May all who love the Holy Land seek to bring about among all the parties engaged in the fighting a cessation of violence, respect for civilian populations and the release of hostages.

As we pray urgently for peace, we recall especially all the families and individuals suffering from these events.  We call on the faithful, and all people of good will to not grow weary and to continue to pray for peace in the land Our Lord, the Prince of Peace, called home.

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PEACE

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For today’s reflection I have chosen the theme PEACE because of the significance of tomorrow’s date: September 11 – Patriot’s Day.  I, probably like you, can remember exactly where I was when I heard the news of the attacks of 2001.

We find the theme of PEACE in our first reading from Exodus when Moses implores God to cool his wrath … and so, says the writer: “The Lord relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on the people.”  We might add: “And, so Moses and the people slept in peace for the first night in a long time.”

In the second reading, Paul tells Timothy that Jesus came to save sinners and “for that reason I was mercifully treated.”  We may add: “And, that night Paul slept peacefully, secure in God’s love for him.”

But what are we called to do when peace is fractured?  The burden of reconciliation falls on the shoulders of each and all involved.  Before healing can begin each person on both sides of the splintering – even if it is only a hairline fracture –  must assume ownership for the breakdown in the relationship.  This acknowledgement must be done without an attempt at justification for the blunder.  The REASON for a disruption may explain what or how it happened.  But rarely is a reason an EXCUSE for the gap in peace.  Nor will it prevent the breach from growing wider unless each one picks up her piece to fit back into the puzzle of PEACE.

Several years ago, the American Benedictine Prioresses adopted a statement that, with slight adaptation, speaks to all of us.  “All parties must assume responsibility for calling one another to ethical, moral and spiritual awakening that will end violence in all its forms so that peace will again be part of home, country and world.”

In our former monastery each time we entered or exited the chapel we were blessed with a mosaic of Benedict’s by-word: PEACE.  It was a reminder that we want to be a peaceful community.  But PEACE must be more that a decision, it must be a commitment.  We must do all that it takes to offer each other an environment where PEACE can flourish individually and as a group.

It takes many small tiles placed “just so”, and the cracks filled with an adherent, to make a beautiful mosaic – a symbol reminding us that we are a flawed people.  We have weaknesses, limitations, distractions that burden us and can rise up to put us on the defensive making us resentful, irritable, feeling picked on and sitting on the “pity pot”.   We have to hold strong to the belief in the words of Benedict when he says that seeking peace is the way to heaven.  And, he doesn’t mean just in the heaven of afterlife.  We strive, too, to have a little bit of heaven here on earth.

In the Prologue to The Rule, we find Benedict’s tip for maintaining PEACE in community (family and society).   “If you wish to have true and eternal life, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit; turn from evil and do good; seek PEACE and pursue it.”  Another translation says, “Seek peace and go after it.”  That conjures up quite an image:  dashing out of the chapel, down the hallway, into the dining room hoping to catch the coattails of PEACE.  We go climbing God’s holy mountain pursuing PEACE – never abandoning charity nor giving a false peace.  We peacefully perform whatever duties are entrusted to us and ensure that we have made peace before sundown.

Call to mind those beautifully colored tiles in the mosaic above the splashing holy water.  Ponder what a powerful impact PEACE can have on our lives.  Let us renew our commitment to make PEACE more than a concept we talk about; more than a gesture we exchange at Mass, more than a sign on a banner at a rally.  Let us make a daily pledge to nurture peace, be people of peace; to be a peaceful people.

 

~by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

First Reading  Exodus 32:7-11; 13-14      
Second Reading  1 Timothy 1:12-17
Gospel Reading  Luke 15 :1-32 or 1-10
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Old Things Have Passed Away

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Notice the rose colored appointments in our chapel!  It’s Laetare Sunday – a common name for this Fourth Sunday of Lent.  The Latin word comes from the Entrance Antiphon which begins “Laetare, Jerusalem” (“Rejoice, O Jerusalem”).  A little known custom for Laetare Sunday designates the day “Mothering Sunday”.  But it is not a celebration of mothers (although many countries do fix their Mother’s Day celebrations on this day).  It goes back to the 16th Century when it was common practice on the 4th Sunday of Lent for people to go “a-mothering” – to pay a visit to their “mother church” – the church of their baptism.

In England, Mothering Sunday was the only day during Lent when marriages could be celebrated.  In the United States, domestic servants were usually given a day off to visit their mothers.  Lenten fasting was relaxed and cakes were distributed to family members, giving rise to the name “Refreshment Sunday”.  The name Rose Sunday stems from the color of the priest’s vestments – a muted lavender bringing out red tones.

Let’s turn to our Gospel reading of a young man’s “growing up” experience.  It took moving away from home for this younger son to “come to himself.”   Developmental psychologists tell us, and parents know, that some young people need to reject their conventional faith in order to come to their own faith.  That reminds me of the story of Jesus straying from his parents after services in the temple in Jerusalem.  [Or, I wonder, was it his parents who went off without him.]  He was 12 now.  He was a man.  So he figured his parents would understand this “coming to himself” moment.  Put another way, like the young man in the Gospel, they both “came to themselves” and were welcomed back into the security of loving parents.

At such times parents may feel like a failure.  But let’s turn it around – it can be viewed as a success.  They’ve given the young person the confidence, and enough rope, to leave home, to spread their wings and find their own faith.  You’ve probably heard the saying: “If you love something set it free, if it returns it was meant to be; if it continues to fly, let it soar.  Have faith that God has something better in store.”

The gospel suggests that the parent was his look-out for the wandering child, daily scanning the horizon (or FaceBook, Tik Tok, Instagram and YouTube) hoping against hope for a sign of their child.  Upon sighting their child, the parent’s heart is “filled with compassion” and, in the case of our Gospel story, rushes out to welcome the one for whom they have yearned and prayed.  “Prodigals” of all ages need to know that, like the heart of God, we are hoping for their return and that they will always be welcome home – with open arms.

Our Gospel shows us the difference between “coming home” and a “home-coming.”  The son approached in fear and trepidation; the parent flung aside any resentment and ill-will.  The young man was coming home to he knew-not-what kind of a reception.  This parent threw a spontaneous homecoming party!  And, welcomed and embraced the Prodigal almost before he could utter his rehearsed apology.  What a picture of unconditional love!

It doesn’t matter if prodigals don’t return to our particular expression of faith within God’s family.  We pray that the good values that were instilled and modeled for them over the years – will sustain their journey, whatever road they take.  And, we pray that we remember: true “for-giveness” is present long before the embrace of their homecoming.  The waiting father, the renegade son and the “look at how good I have been” son … all knew peace at the end of the day.

We believe Benedict when he says that seeking peace is the way to heaven – heaven in the after-life and a little bit of heaven here on earth.  In the Prologue to Benedict’s Rule we find the admonition: “seek PEACE and pursue it.”  I like the translation that says “seek peace and go after it.”  That conjures up quite an image…  dashing out of the chapel, into the dining room, down the halls, out the door, into the neighborhoods, climbing God’s holy mountain pursuing PEACE – never abandoning charity nor giving a false peace.

Let us each renew our commitment to make PEACE more than a concept that we talk about.  Let us make a daily pledge to be people of peace, to be a peaceful people.  Make each day an echo of what Paul tells us in the second reading: “The old things have passed away; behold new things have come….  We have been reconciled through Christ and (this is the punch line) WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A MINISTRY OF RECONCILATION.”

~ Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

First Reading:  Joshua 5:9a; 10-12     Second Reading:  2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Gospel:  Luke 15:1-3; 11-32
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Pope’s Act of Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to Our Lady

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Act of Consecration

to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Basilica of Saint Peter

25 March 2022

O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, in this time of trial we turn to you.  As our Mother, you love us and know us: no concern of our hearts is hidden from you.  Mother of mercy, how often we have experienced your watchful care and your peaceful presence!  You never cease to guide us to Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Yet we have strayed from that path of peace.  We have forgotten the lesson learned from the tragedies of the last century, the sacrifice of the millions who fell in two world wars.  We have disregarded the commitments we made as a community of nations.  We have betrayed peoples’ dreams of peace and the hopes of the young.  We grew sick with greed, we thought only of our own nations and their interests, we grew indifferent and caught up in our selfish needs and concerns.  We chose to ignore God, to be satisfied with our illusions, to grow arrogant and aggressive, to suppress innocent lives and to stockpile weapons.  We stopped being our neighbor’s keepers and stewards of our common home.  We have ravaged the garden of the earth with war and by our sins we have broken the heart of our heavenly Father, who desires us to be brothers and sisters.  We grew indifferent to everyone and everything except ourselves.  Now with shame we cry out: Forgive us, Lord!

Holy Mother, amid the misery of our sinfulness, amid our struggles and weaknesses, amid the mystery of iniquity that is evil and war, you remind us that God never abandons us, but continues to look upon us with love, ever ready to forgive us and raise us up to new life.  He has given you to us and made your Immaculate Heart a refuge for the Church and for all humanity.  By God’s gracious will, you are ever with us; even in the most troubled moments of our history, you are there to guide us with tender love.

We now turn to you and knock at the door of your heart.  We are your beloved children.  In every age you make yourself known to us, calling us to conversion.  At this dark hour, help us and grant us your comfort.  Say to us once more: “Am I not here, I who am your Mother?”  You are able to untie the knots of our hearts and of our times.  In you we place our trust.  We are confident that, especially in moments of trial, you will not be deaf to our supplication and will come to our aid.

That is what you did at Cana in Galilee, when you interceded with Jesus and he worked the first of his signs.  To preserve the joy of the wedding feast, you said to him: “They have no wine” (Jn 2:3).  Now, O Mother, repeat those words and that prayer, for in our own day we have run out of the wine of hope, joy has fled, fraternity has faded.  We have forgotten our humanity and squandered the gift of peace.  We opened our hearts to violence and destructiveness.  How greatly we need your maternal help!

Therefore, O Mother, hear our prayer.

Star of the Sea, do not let us be shipwrecked in the tempest of war.

Ark of the New Covenant, inspire projects and paths of reconciliation.

Queen of Heaven, restore God’s peace to the world.

Eliminate hatred and the thirst for revenge, and teach us forgiveness.

Free us from war, protect our world from the menace of nuclear weapons.

Queen of the Rosary, make us realize our need to pray and to love.

Queen of the Human Family, show people the path of fraternity.

Queen of Peace, obtain peace for our world.

O Mother, may your sorrowful plea stir our hardened hearts.  May the tears you shed for us make this valley parched by our hatred blossom anew.  Amid the thunder of weapons, may your prayer turn our thoughts to peace.  May your maternal touch soothe those who suffer and flee from the rain of bombs.  May your motherly embrace comfort those forced to leave their homes and their native land.  May your Sorrowful Heart move us to compassion and inspire us to open our doors and to care for our brothers and sisters who are injured and cast aside.

Holy Mother of God, as you stood beneath the cross, Jesus, seeing the disciple at your side, said: “Behold your son” (Jn 19:26).  In this way he entrusted each of us to you.  To the disciple, and to each of us, he said: “Behold, your Mother” (v. 27).  Mother Mary, we now desire to welcome you into our lives and our history.  At this hour, a weary and distraught humanity stands with you beneath the cross, needing to entrust itself to you and, through you, to consecrate itself to Christ.  The people of Ukraine and Russia, who venerate you with great love, now turn to you, even as your heart beats with compassion for them and for all those peoples decimated by war, hunger, injustice and poverty.

Therefore, Mother of God and our Mother, to your Immaculate Heart we solemnly entrust and consecrate ourselves, the Church and all humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine.  Accept this act that we carry out with confidence and love.  Grant that war may end and peace spread throughout the world.  The “Fiat” that arose from your heart opened the doors of history to the Prince of Peace.  We trust that, through your heart, peace will dawn once more.  To you we consecrate the future of the whole human family, the needs and expectations of every people, the anxieties and hopes of the world.

Through your intercession, may God’s mercy be poured out on the earth and the gentle rhythm of peace return to mark our days.  Our Lady of the “Fiat”, on whom the Holy Spirit descended, restore among us the harmony that comes from God.  May you, our “living fountain of hope”, water the dryness of our hearts.  In your womb Jesus took flesh; help us to foster the growth of communion.  You once trod the streets of our world; lead us now on the paths of peace.  Amen.

~by Pope Francis

 

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The Cave of the Heart

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The Cave of the Heart

The question is, then, what is the way to the beginning of peace?

The philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote: “The unhappiness of a person resides in one thing, to be unable to remain peacefully in a room.” It is silence and solitude that bring us face to face with ourselves and the inner wars we must win if we are ever to become truly whole, truly at peace. Silence gives us the opportunity we need to raise our hearts and minds to something above ourselves, to be aware of a spiritual life in us that is being starved out by pollution, to still the raging of our limitless desires. It is a call to the Cave of the Heart where the vision is clear and the heart is centered on something worthy of it.

There are some things in life that need to be nourished simply for their own sake. Art is one, music is another, good reading is a third, but the power of the contemplative vision is the greatest of them all.  Only those who come to see the world as God sees the world, only those who see through the eyes of God, ever really see the glory of the world, ever really approach the peaceable kingdom, ever find peace in themselves.

Silence is the beginning of peace. It is in silence that we learn that there is more to life than life seems to offer. There is beauty and truth and vision wider than the present and deeper than the past that only silence can discover. Going into ourselves we see the whole world at war within us and begin to end the conflict. To understand ourselves, then, is to understand everyone else as well.

Because we have come to know ourselves better, we can only deal more gently with others. Knowing our own struggles, we reverence theirs. Knowing our own failures, we are in awe of their successes, less quick to condemn, less likely to boast, less intent on punishing, less certain of our certainties, less committed to our heady, vacuous, and untried convictions. Then silence becomes a social virtue.

Make no doubt about it, the ability to listen to another, to sit silently in the presence of God, to give sober heed and to ponder is the nucleus of the spirituality of peace.

—from For Everything a Season (Orbis) by Joan Chittister

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