NunEssential

Part II of an excerpt from Fr. Ogie's day of Recollection talk: " Life and love co-exist, these are two inseparable realities. Out of His love comes our life, our God lives and loves. Love is giving and receiving. There is often a lack of definition of love- people confuse love with attraction, possession or using. But love is giving and receiving. Jesus' life-giving act is an act of perfect love. Jesus reunites us with God through His love and through God's love we receive life and become reunited with God once again. To be united we must give. The opposite of love is selfishness, where we don't give but keep on asking. How do we have life to its fullness? By living and loving. We can keep on "doing" because we love. Love must be our motivation to keep on living and living is our motivation to love. It is here that we find happiness, in spite of pain and struggles we still find fulfillment. This is what God wants by His grace, that we become fully alive....

Here's an interesting take on the life of Pope Benedict XVI, some beautiful footage, not so sold on the commentary....

I came across this little reflection that was given to us in Rome by Fr. Rogel Rosalinas, SOLT (who is now the General Superior for the Priests in our community). This was taken from a day of reflection that Father led about 7 years ago. He says, "There is dulling routine going in today's society, even in religious life. Jesus says, 'I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.' Things becoming boring when they are not rooted in Christ, who is Life. Because of this boredom, people are being led by evil just to do something. People are searching for the meaning of life. They are searching and saying "what is the meaning of my life?" To enjoy life to the fullest, it must be rooted in Christ. Our God is a God of life, He sent Jesus to be a source of new life. Many times we become imprisoned and blinded by the pain and suffering in our present lives, we often get so disturbed that we lose hope and stop growing and we feel that there will be no ...

It's always rather sobering and makes one reflect on their own life when the Holy Father speaks of something being at an "emergency level". I think it would be difficult for people in the world today to say, if they really reflected upon it, that life is the same as it always has been. Yes, humans throughout the centuries have always had the same basic struggles and so therefore many of the same problems that we face today in 2008. However, it seems to me, that people seem to be sensing that a decisive time is upon us. Somehow it seems like the things that are happening are very serious in the world and in no other time has Our Blessed Mother appeared so often, as she appearing in various parts of the world, even to this day. Her message is one of conversion, prayer, going to Confession, receiving the Eucharist worthily and offering sacrifices and penances for others still mired in the darkness. Hmm....not something that will be on CNN anytime soon. As Lent approaches, th...

Hmm.... seems like the folks over at La Sapienza University in Rome might want to re-examine the meaning of word sapienza... We would gladly accept a visit from the beloved Holy Father here in Seattle! :) in the meantime, they will be in my prayers.... Full text here

Oiy! For those of you waiting for some video of the Profession of Vows in Seattle, I am having a wee bit o' trouble since the video of the homily of the Archbishop is too big a file for youtube and google. So I will keep you posted on its' debut soon! ;) Sr. Miriam

The SOLT Sisters wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and hope-filled and holy New Year. May Jesus and Mary bless you and give you every good thing. Read Pope Benedict's new encyclical on Hope here