Dear Reader,
I feel like I'm not too far behind in my blogging but the busy summer of 2012 deserves its own entry. My son Bert is working on his Eagle project and I'm praying that he will be done by his 18th birthday in January 2013.
Oldest son Tom is off from his school job and has acquired a regular 2-day internship with one of our New York Assemblyman from Long Island. He's hoping one day that this internship will translate into a political support job.
Please pray for my husband Frank as he is being very much overworked and underpaid in a unjust manner. He's faithful in every sense of the word and he's relying on the Lord to get him into a better position.
Me?? Well, I continue to be amazed how much I don't know about the faith and in particular Franciscan spirituality. Since my last blog, I have gone to serve in a local soup kitchen, help the Boy Scouts, read lots of Franciscan material, asked for a relic of Father Solanus Casey, observed the many feast days on the Franciscan calendar, and I can really go on.
Formator Mark (of much renown) has taught so much. I learned that the human natural tendency of fight or flight can be changed to the more perfect attitude of the Cross. I won't fight, not really in my nature. In fact, I get very nervous when I need to be combative. However, I am much more open to running away, which is not a good choice either. Evil wins in both cases but especially when good people run away just to try to be peaceful. However, the Cross makes perfect sense here. I won't fight off my attackers but did not run away from doing what is right. It truly strikes a perfect balance.
Another lesson was about the Liturgy of the Hours. I started reading this blog: Canticles & Coffee by Daria Sockey and she opened my mind further to the beauty of the Divine Office. Based on her recommendation, I ordered the Officesof Franciscan Saints and Blesseds for use with the Christian Prayer Book.
Finally, one of the last lessons I had with Mark was about the structure of the Franciscan Orders. I don't think I have to go to crazy about the difference between Capuchins and Conventuals but some of my favorite saints are Capuchins. I am starting to put prayer cards near my night stand and so I have Holy Father Francis (aka Grandfather), Saint Padre Pio (feels like my father) and Venerable Solanus Casey (definitely like a uncle.) I am sorry if I seems like I'm being disrespectful but I truly see them in such a loving way.
Anyway, way too much written but I really didn't know I had that much to share. So until next time, Pax et Bonum!
Sylvia, ofs (sometime soon I hope)
