Deep Friendship With The Lord

This is a lengthy interview, but if you are pressed for time skip to 25:51 and watch until the next question shortly after the 30 minute mark.  Very similar catechesis to the last sentences of his final audience and his final papal tweet.  He really wants us to get this and to be one of these uncanonized, humble people of prayer.  (35:11 and 42:15 also show his humor.)

Pope Benedict's final remark of his final papal audience, ". . . (I)n the heart of each of you, let there be always the joyous certainty that the Lord is near, that he does not abandon us, that he is near to us and that he surrounds us with his love."

Pope Benedict's XVI final tweet: "Thank you for your love and support. May you always experience the joy that comes from putting Christ at the (center) of your lives."

And 1 more, a little less recent -
Pope Benedict XVI, Vatican City, 3 Feb 2011, Address to Emmanuel Community:

"In a world frequently disoriented and in search of new reasons to live, the light of Christ must be taken to everyone. In the midst of the men and women of today, be ardent missionaries of the Gospel, supported by a life radically anchored in Christ

The Lord is Near and He Surrounds Us with Love

Published: February 27

Below is a translation of Pope Benedict XVI’s final General Audience address in St. Peter's Square Wednesday from Vatican Radio and published on the church’s news Web site:

Venerable brothers in the episcopate and in the priesthood!

Distinguished authorities! Dear brothers and sisters!

Thank you for coming in such large numbers to this last General Audience of my pontificate.

Like the Apostle Paul in the biblical text that we have heard, I feel in my heart the paramount duty to thank God, who guides the church and makes her grow: who sows his word and thus nourishes the faith in his people. At this moment my spirit reaches out to embrace the whole church throughout the world, and I thank God for the “news” that in these years of Petrine ministry I have been able to receive regarding the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the charity that circulates in the body of the church – charity that makes the church to live in love – and of the hope that opens for us the way towards the fullness of life, and directs us towards the heavenly homeland.

I feel I [ought to] carry everyone in prayer, in a present that is God’s, where I recall every meeting, every voyage, every pastoral visit. I gather everyone and every thing in prayerful recollection, in order to entrust them to the Lord: in order that we might have full knowledge of his will, with every wisdom and spiritual understanding, and in order that we might comport ourselves in a manner that is worthy of him, of his, bearing fruit in every good work (cf. Col 1:9-10).

At this time, I have within myself a great trust [in God], because I know – all of us know – that the Gospel’s word of truth is the strength of the church: it is her life. The Gospel purifies and renews: it bears fruit wherever the community of believers hears and welcomes the grace of God in truth and lives in charity. This is my faith, this is my joy.

When, almost eight years ago, on April 19th, [2005], I agreed to take on the Petrine ministry, I held steadfast in this certainty, which has always accompanied me. In that moment, as I have already stated several times, the words that resounded in my heart were: “Lord, what do you ask of me? It a great weight that you place on my shoulders, but, if you ask me, at your word I will throw out the nets, sure that you will guide me” – and the Lord really has guided me. He has been close to me: daily could I feel his presence. [These years] have been a stretch of the church’s pilgrim way, which has seen moments joy and light, but also difficult moments. I have felt like St. Peter with the Apostles in the boat on the Sea of Galilee: the Lord has given us many days of sunshine and gentle breeze, days in which the catch has been abundant; [then] there have been times when the seas were rough and the wind against us, as in the whole history of the church it has ever been - and the Lord seemed to sleep. Nevertheless, I always knew that the Lord is in the barque, that the barque of the church is not mine, not ours, but his - and he shall not let her sink. It is he, who steers her: to be sure, he does so also through men of his choosing, for he desired that it be so. This was and is a certainty that nothing can tarnish. It is for this reason, that today my heart is filled with gratitude to God, for never did he leave me or the church without his consolation, his light, his love.

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We are in the Year of Faith, which I desired in order to strengthen our own faith in God in a context that seems to push faith more and more toward the margins of life. I would like to invite everyone to renew firm trust in the Lord. I would like that we all, entrust ourselves as children to the arms of God, and rest assured that those arms support us and us to walk every day, even in times of struggle. I would like everyone to feel loved by the God who gave his son for us and showed us his boundless love. I want everyone to feel the joy of being Christian. In a beautiful prayer to be recited daily in the morning says, “I adore you, my God, I love you with all my heart. I thank you for having created me, for having made me a Christian.” Yes, we are happy for the gift of faith: it is the most precious good, that no one can take from us! Let us thank God for this every day, with prayer and with a coherent Christian life. God loves us, but He also expects that we love him!

At this time, however, it is not only God, whom I desire to thank. A pope is not alone in guiding St. Peter’s barque, even if it is his first responsibility – and I have not ever felt myself alone in bearing either the joys or the weight of the Petrine ministry. The Lord has placed next to me many people, who, with generosity and love for God and the church, have helped me and been close to me. First of all you, dear brother cardinals: your wisdom, your counsels, your friendship, were all precious to me. My collaborators, starting with my secretary of state, who accompanied me faithfully over the years, the secretariat of state and the whole Roman Curia, as well as all those who, in various areas, give their service to the Holy See: the many faces which never emerge, but remain in the background, in silence, in their daily commitment, with a spirit of faith and humility. They have been for me a sure and reliable support. A special thought [goes] to the Church of Rome, my diocese! I can not forget the brothers in the episcopate and in the priesthood, the consecrated persons and the entire people of God: in pastoral visits, in public encounters, at audiences, in traveling, I have always received great care and deep affection; I also loved each and every one, without exception, with that pastoral charity which is the heart of every shepherd, especially the Bishop of Rome, the Successor of the Apostle Peter. Every day I carried each of you in my prayers, with the father’s heart.

I wish my greetings and my thanks to reach everyone: the heart of a pope expands to [embrace] the whole world. I would like to express my gratitude to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See, which makes present the great family of nations. Here I also think of all those who work for good communication, whom I thank for their important service.

At this point I would like to offer heartfelt thanks to all the many people throughout the whole world, who, in recent weeks have sent me moving tokens of concern, friendship and prayer. Yes, the pope is never alone: now I experience this [truth] again in a way so great as to touch my very heart. The pope belongs to everyone, and so many people feel very close to him. It’s true that I receive letters from the world’s greatest figures - from the heads of state, religious leaders, representatives of the world of culture and so on. I also receive many letters from ordinary people who write to me simply from their heart and let me feel their affection, which is born of our being together in Christ Jesus, in the church. These people do not write me as one might write, for example, to a prince or a great figure one does not know. They write as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, with the sense of very affectionate family ties. Here, one can touch what the church is – not an organization, not an association for religious or humanitarian purposes, but a living body, a community of brothers and sisters in the body of Jesus Christ, who unites us all. To experience the church in this way and almost be able to touch with one’s hands the power of his truth and his love, is a source of joy, in a time in which many speak of its decline.

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In recent months, I felt that my strength had decreased, and I asked God with insistence in prayer to enlighten me with his light to make me take the right decision – not for my sake, but for the good of the church. I have taken this step in full awareness of its severity and also its novelty, but with a deep peace of mind. Loving the church also means having the courage to make difficult, trying choices, having ever before oneself the good of the church and not one’s own.

Here allow me to return once again to April 19, 2005. The gravity of the decision was precisely in the fact that from that moment on I was committed always and forever by the Lord. Always – he, who assumes the Petrine ministry no longer has any privacy. He belongs always and totally to everyone, to the whole church. His life is, so to speak, totally deprived of the private sphere. I have felt, and I feel even in this very moment, that one receives one’s life precisely when he offers it as a gift. I said before that many people who love the Lord also love the Successor of Saint Peter and are fond of him, that the pope has truly brothers and sisters, sons and daughters all over the world, and that he feels safe in the embrace of their communion, because he no longer belongs to himself, but he belongs to all and all are truly his own.

The “always” is also a “forever” --there is no returning to private life. My decision to forgo the exercise of active ministry, does not revoke this. I do not return to private life, to a life of travel, meetings, receptions, conferences and so on. I do not abandon the cross, but remain in a new way near to the crucified Lord. I no longer wield the power of the office for the government of the church, but in the service of prayer I remain, so to speak, within St. Peter’s bounds. St. Benedict, whose name I bear as pope, shall be a great example in this for me. He showed us the way to a life which, active or passive, belongs wholly to the work of God.

I thank each and every one of you for the respect and understanding with which you have welcomed this important decision. I continue to accompany the church on her way through prayer and reflection, with the dedication to the Lord and to his bride, which I have hitherto tried to live daily and that I would live forever. I ask you to remember me before God, and above all to pray for the cardinals, who are called to so important a task, and for the new Successor of Peter, that the Lord might accompany him with the light and the power of His Spirit.

Let us invoke the maternal intercession of Mary, Mother of God and of the church, that she might accompany each of us and the whole ecclesial community: to her we entrust ourselves, with deep trust.
 

Dear friends! God guides his church, maintains her always, and especially in difficult times. Let us never lose this vision of faith, which is the only true vision of the way of the church and the world. In our heart, in the heart of each of you, let there be always the joyous certainty that the Lord is near, that he does not abandon us, that he is near to us and that he surrounds us with his love. Thank you!

Wow -- I LOVE Our Pope!

Posted on Wed, Mar. 28, 2012 From Pope Benedict XVI’s homily in Havana Dear Brothers and Sisters, “Blessed are you, Lord God…, and blessed is your holy and glorious name” (Dan 3:52). This hymn of blessing from the Book of Daniel resounds today in our liturgy, inviting us repeatedly to bless and thank God. We are a part of that great chorus which praises the Lord without ceasing. We join in this concert of thanksgiving, and we offer our joyful and confident voice, which seeks to consolidate the journey of faith in love and truth. “Blessed be God” who gathers us in this historic square so that we may more profoundly enter into his life. I feel great joy in being here with you today to celebrate Holy Mass during this Jubilee Year devoted to Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre. . . . In today’s first reading, the three young men persecuted by the Babylonian king preferred to face death by fire rather than betray their conscience and their faith. They experienced the strength to “give thanks, glorify and praise God” in the conviction that the Lord of the universe and of history would not abandon them to death and annihilation. Truly, God never abandons his children, he never forgets them. He is above us and is able to save us by his power. At the same time, he is near to his people, and through his Son Jesus Christ he has wished to make his dwelling place among us. “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (Jn 8:31).  In this text from today’s Gospel, Jesus reveals himself as the Son of God the Father, the Savior, the one who alone can show us the truth and give genuine freedom. His teaching provokes resistance and disquiet among his hearers, and he accuses them of seeking to kill him, alluding to the supreme sacrifice of the Cross, already imminent. Even so, he exhorts them to believe, to keep his word, so as to know the truth which redeems and dignifies. The truth is a desire of the human person, the search for which always supposes the exercise of authentic freedom. Many, however, prefer shortcuts, trying to avoid this task. Some, like Pontius Pilate, ironically question the possibility of even knowing what truth is (cf. Jn 18:38), proclaiming that man is incapable of knowing it or denying that there exists a truth valid for all. This attitude, as in the case of skepticism and relativism, changes hearts, making them cold, wavering, distant from others and closed. They, like the Roman governor, wash their hands and let the water of history drain away without taking a stand. On the other hand, there are those who wrongly interpret this search for the truth, leading them to irrationality and fanaticism; they close themselves up in “their truth”, and try to impose it on others. These are like the blind scribes who, upon seeing Jesus beaten and bloody, cry out furiously, “Crucify him!” (cf. Jn 19:6). Anyone who acts irrationally cannot become a disciple of Jesus. Faith and reason are necessary and complementary in the pursuit of truth. God created man with an innate vocation to the truth and he gave him reason for this purpose. Certainly, it is not irrationality but rather the yearning for truth which the Christian faith promotes. Each human being has to seek the truth and to choose it when he or she finds it, even at the risk of embracing sacrifices. Furthermore, the truth which stands above humanity is an unavoidable condition for attaining freedom, since in it we discover the foundation of an ethics on which all can converge and which contains clear and precise indications concerning life and death, duties and rights, marriage, family and society, in short, regarding the inviolable dignity of the human person. This ethical patrimony can bring together different cultures, peoples and religions, authorities and citizens, citizens among themselves, and believers in Christ and non-believers. Christianity, in highlighting those values which sustain ethics, does not impose, but rather proposes Christ’s invitation to know the truth which sets us free. The believer is called to offer that truth to his contemporaries, as did the Lord, even before the dark omen of rejection and the Cross. The personal encounter with the one who is Truth in person compels us to share this treasure with others, especially by our witness. Dear friends, do not hesitate to follow Jesus Christ. In him we find the truth about God and about mankind. He helps us to overcome our selfishness, to rise above our ambitions and to conquer all that oppresses us. The one who does evil, who sins, becomes a slave of sin and will never attain freedom (cf. Jn 8:34). Only by renouncing hatred and our hard and blind hearts will we be free and a new life will well up in us. Convinced that it is Christ who is the true measure of man, and knowing that in him we find the strength needed to face every trial, I wish to proclaim openly Jesus Christ as the way, the truth and the life. In him everyone will find complete freedom, the light to understand reality more deeply and to transform it by the renewing power of love. The Church lives to make others sharers in the one thing she possesses, which is none other than Christ, our hope of glory (cf. Col1:27). To carry out this duty, she must count on basic religious freedom, which consists in her being able to proclaim and to celebrate her faith also in public, bringing to others the message of love, reconciliation and peace which Jesus brought to the world. It must be said with joy that in Cuba steps have been taken to enable the Church to carry out her essential mission of expressing her faith openly and publicly. Nonetheless, this must continue forwards, and I wish to encourage the country’s Government authorities to strengthen what has already been achieved and advance along this path of genuine service to the true good of Cuban society as a whole. The right to freedom of religion, both in its private and in its public dimension, manifests the unity of the human person, who is at once a citizen and a believer. It also legitimizes the fact that believers have a contribution to make to the building up of society. Strengthening religious freedom consolidates social bonds, nourishes the hope of a better world, creates favorable conditions for peace and harmonious development, while at the same time establishing solid foundations for securing the rights of future generations. When the Church upholds this human right, she is not claiming any special privileges for herself. She wishes only to be faithful to the command of her divine founder, conscious that, where Christ is present, mankind becomes more human and founds its consistency. . . . Invoking the maternal protection of Mary Most Holy, let us ask that each time we participate in the Eucharist we will also become witnesses to that charity which responds to evil with good (cf. Rom 12:51), offering ourselves as a living sacrifice to the one who lovingly gave himself up for our sake. Let us walk in the light of Christ who alone can destroy the darkness of error. And let us beg him that, with the courage and strength of the saints, we may be able, without fear or rancor but freely, generously and consistently, to respond to God. Amen.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/28/v-print/2718835/full-text-of-pope-benedict-xvis.html#storylink=cpy

Pay It Fwd - Grief, Love, Hope & Lectio Divinia

This week I wanted to highlight Sue Elvis's writing from a place of healing, love, and hope in her own heart directed to help others experiencing infant loss.  Here is her guest post on the Community of Catholic Bloggers.  There is a badge to the left you can also click to go directly to her blog and to access the book she wrote.

Secondly, I wanted to highlight the practice of Lectio Divinia, from its Benedictine orignis and its variation according to the Carmelite method.

In September 2005, Pope Benedict XVI stated:

"I would like in particular to recall and recommend the ancient tradition of Lectio divina: the diligent reading of Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer brings about that intimate dialogue in which the person reading hears God who is speaking, and in praying, responds to him with trusting openness of heart (cf. Dei Verbum, n. 25). If it is effectively promoted, this practice will bring to the Church - I am convinced of it - a new spiritual springtime."

The Benedictine Method is described in this well-written wikipedia article "Lectio_Divina", "It is a way of praying with Scripture that calls one to:

1. Study
2. Ponder
3. Listen 
4. Pray and even sing and rejoice from God's Word, within the soul"

Another variation (from same wikipedia article) is:

1. Lectio:  This first moment consists in reading the scriptural passage slowly, attentively several times. Many write down words in the scripture that stick out to them or grasp their attention during this moment.
2. Meditatio:  The Christian, gravitating around the passage or one of its words, takes it and ruminates on it, thinking in God’s presence about the text. He or she benefits from the Holy Spirit’s ministry of illumination, i.e. the work of the Holy Spirit that imparts spiritual understanding of the sacred text.
3. Oratio:  This is prayer understood both as dialogue with God, that is, as loving conversation with the One who has invited us into His embrace; and as consecration, prayer as the priestly offering to God of parts of ourselves that we have not previously believed God wants. In this consecration-prayer we allow the word that we have taken in and on which we are pondering to touch and change our deepest selves. ...God invites us in lectio divina to hold up our most difficult and pain-filled experiences to Him, and to gently recite over them the healing word or phrase He has given us in our lectio and meditatio. In this oratio, this consecration-prayer, we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.
4. Contemplatio:  This moment is characterized by a simple, loving focus on God. In other words, it is a beautiful, wordless contemplation of God, a joyful rest in His presence.

I was planning on just paying it forward to Sue's post, but when I was clicking around to try to get to Holly's site the Wikipedia article displays.  I saved it off in the folder with some of my blogging links.  i wasn't sure if the Holy Spirit was telling me to lay off the computer as I've overdone it lately doing car research, or if I was supposed to include it here for others.  I figured maybe it was both, you know because the Holy Spirit, as in all things, takes multi-tasking to a whole new omnipotent, omniscient level. :)
I was sure it was for me when I saw one of the reference links was entitled, "Accepting the Embrace of God", which I have been challenged by lately.  I was thinking of bringing this up to one of our priests last weekend but the timing was off.

The Carmelite Method, which is taught very well with great Gospel meditation is included in The Better Part by Fr. John Bartunek 

1. Concentrate on God's presence and ask for the grace you most need
2. Consider the text slowly, calmly, looking for the Holy Spirit's highlights--something that strikes you, or gives you pause, or makes you ask a question
3. Converse two way prayer dialogue where you might pray using Praise for God's Goodness, Adoration, Sorrow for sins, selfishness, Thanksgiving for his many gifts, or Asking for good things from Father in heaven
4. Commit renewing commitment to Christ, make new or strengthen resolutions in God's service, thank God and wrap up meditation with prayer

As I am meditating my way through The Better Part I have been using that method most often, but I am liking the Benedictine twists:  praising with song, and Contemplation - simple loving focus on God and joyful rest in his presence.  Depending on the amount of solitude, and whether or not my meditation time is open-ended, I sometimes get through 1-3 of the Carmelite method but then encounter peaceful, loving presence and often rest (sleep) in God's presence, never making it to Commit.  When I use regular morning time, and time-constrained meditation period, I usually follow the 1-4 closely.

How about you?

Veni Creator Spiritus

While I love the scriptures chosen for Pentecost Sunday, an excerpt from The Divine Consolation of Blessed Angela Foligno was especially helpful for understanding personal relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit, Stained Glass Image

The Holy Spirit appeared to her and said, "I have not willed to send thee another messenger.  I am the Holy Spirit, who am come unto thee to bring thee such consolation as thou hast never before tasted . . . I will bear thee company and will speak to thee all the way . . . My daughter who are sweet unto me, my daughter who art my temple:  My beloved daughter, do thou love Me, for I do greatly love thee and much more than thou lovest me . . . . My beloved and my bride, love thou Me!  All thy life, thy eating and drinking and sleeping and all that thou dost is pleasing unto Me, if only thou lovest Me."

In a later appearance the Holy Spirit said to her, "Infinite is the love which I bear thee, but I do not reveal it unto thee -- yea, I do even conceal it . . . . for I desire that in this world thou shouldest hunger and long after Me and shouldest ever be eager to find Me. . . . So great is the love I bear thee that I no more remember thy sins, albeit Mine eyes do see them, for in thee have I much treasure."

Blessed Angela was overwhelmed by the consolations when she perceived so strongly her sinfulness.  She asked the Holy Spirit for a sign, for a ring.

The Holy Spirit told her, "Therefore will I give thee another sign, better than the one thou seekest, and which will be forever with thee, and in thy soul thou shalt always feel it.  The sign shall be this:  Thou shalt be fervent in love, and the love and the enlightened knowledge of God shall be ever with thee and in thee.  This shall be a certain sign unto thee that I am He, because none save I can do this."

Beautiful, right?

Some scripture references for the Holy Spirit:

Joel 2:

28	"And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.
29	And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

Numbers 11:

27	And a young man ran and told Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”
28	So Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, one of his choice men, answered and said, “Moses my lord, forbid them!”
29	Then Moses said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!”

Ezekiel 36:

26	“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27	“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
28	“Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.

John 20: (institution of Sacrament of Confession)

21	So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
22	And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
23	If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.

John 7:

37	On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
38	He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
39	But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 14:

15	If you love Me, keep My commandments.
16	And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-
17	the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

25	These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.
26	But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
27	Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Acts 2:

1	When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2	And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3	Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
4	And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5	And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
6	And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.

Psalm 51:⁹ Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
¹¹ Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
¹³ Then I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners will return to thee.

Pope Benedict XVI on June 8, 2011 greeted young people in Vatican City telling them the Holy Spirit will make them "fearless witnesses of Christ".

He told them and tells us, "I exhort you, dear young people, to frequently invoke the Holy Spirit who makes you fearless witnesses of Christ."

Prayer to the Holy Spirit:

Holy Spirit,

Open our minds to know Jesus.

Open our hearts to receive His Love.

Holy Spirit,

Send your cleansing wind.

Blow away our doubts and fears.

Give us the wisdom to know

Your will and the courage to follow it

Give us the mind of Jesus.

Holy Spirit,

Ignite your holy fire in our souls.

Burn away anger and resentment

Warm us with love for You and for

one another.

Make us all one as you, the Father

and the Son, are one.

Holy Spirit,

Send us Your light.

Drive out confusion and despair.

Teach us to know Your truth.

Teach us to understand one another.

Holy Spirit,

lead us on the path

of justice and peace.

Holy Spirit,

send us forth to witness to the

Gospel by word and example.

May all who have been redeemed

by the blood of Christ, come to

know You, the one true God,

and Jesus Christ, whom

You have sent.

Amen!