Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration - St. Jospeh Adoration Monastery- Portsmouth Ohio Cloistered, Contemplative, Franciscan Nuns

We would like to share with you some articles that we have written for our diocesan paper, The Catholic NewsHerald. Many people have asked us since our move to Charlotte if we offer spiritual direction. While this is not part of our charism, we hope to address many different areas of the spiritual life through these articles.May these little offerings from the cloister help you to come to an ever closer union with Our Lord through a life of holiness!

Thanksgiving
Sister Marie Therese, PCPA

                             Though Thanksgiving is a secular holiday, and does not appear on the Church's calendar, it holds much meaning for the life of a Christian. Just as Christmas is not about presents, Thanksgiving is about more than turkey and pumpkin pie. It is a time to count our blessings and hopefully, to turn with gratitude to the God who has so lavished His gifts upon us. However, too often we forget to be thankful. We turn to God and to prayer when we are lacking something, when we want something, when we are desperate. Sadly, we often forget Him when our needs are not so pressing and we are content.
              The Foundress of our Order of Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, Mother Marie Ste. Claire Bouillevaux, heard a sermon one day in 19th century France, on this very topic, which captured her heart. The Priest, Fr. Bonaventure, who was helping her to found our Order, had been sick for several days. Feverish after a sleepless night, he was not able to give the sermon he had planned. Instead, he preached on a dear and familiar topic to him-the simple phrase "Deo Gratias" or "Thanks be to God."
              Recounting the Gospel story of the ten lepers whom Our Lord healed, he emphasized that only one of the lepers returned to give thanks for the gift of a new-found life after the living death of leprosy had been wiped away. Our Lord did not ignore this fact. The wistfulness in His voice can almost be heard in the words, "Where are the other nine? Were not ten healed?" The Priest developed this thought-urging the congregation to give thanks with and through Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. In fact, the very word "Eucharist" means thanksgiving.
              Mother Marie Ste. Claire, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, dedicated our Order to perpetual adoration. Hearing the passionate words of Fr. Bonaventure, she felt deeply that nothing wounds the Heart of Jesus more than ingratitude.
              Through this pivotal moment, it came about that the adoration of the PCPAs would have a particular end-thanksgiving. Our prayers would be forever offered in a spirit of thanksgiving, not only for our own blessings, but on behalf of all those who never think to thank God. Our vocation was to be a "standing in the gap" as it were, filling the void left by ingratitude.
              Thanksgiving is one of the highest forms of prayer, and every Christian is called to it. "Counting your blessings" is not just a sentimental idea, it is a way of life enjoined on us by the Scriptures. "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thess. 5:18)
              A good way to incorporate this call in our life is to spend a few moments each day reflecting on the blessings that day held for us. This can easily be added to the traditional evening examination of conscience as a means to deepen our thanks.
              As far as counting goes, when we really begin to think about it, we will quickly realize that our blessings are truly without number.
              There are the fundamental blessings of creation, redemption, and sanctification through the great gifts of the Church and her Sacraments showered on us by an infinitely loving God. There are also so many little joys in life-a beautiful day, a happy surprise, the companionship of a friend. Some things are not thought of with gratitude till they are gone. How often do we thank God for our five senses?
              A life of thankfulness only multiplies our benefits. Adopting an attitude of gratitude makes us joyful-turning our focus from the negative to the positive. It also fosters humility as we realize that everything is an undeserved gift.
              Let us make the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday more than a good meal. Let us make it a true time of thankful praise and the springboard for a life of gratitude. Deo Gratias!

Hidden Sacrifice
Sister Marie Therese, PCPA

                             2011 marks a year of great celebration for the Franciscan order. It is the eight hundreth anniversary of the radical decision of a young woman, on Palm Sunday 1211, to do the unheard of. This nobleman's daughter left behind wealth and worldly prospects to follow a wandering 'holy beggar' with a burning vision of the renewal of the Church through lives patterned, most literally, on the Gospel. The message of St. Francis of Assisi and his little band of Friars had captured the heart of the Lady Clare di Faverone.
              If Clare wanted to be a nun, there were plenty of well-established and revered Monasteries where she could have lived out her days in prayer. But, instead, she escaped from her home in the dead of night and went to meet St. Francis and his brothers in the woods for a clandestine ceremony making her break with the world and embracing the Gospel life. Having defied all the accepted views of religious life for women of her time, one would think that Clare was of a mind to live the life of the Friars as well. These first Franciscans truly lived as did Jesus and His Apostles, "without even a place to lay their heads", traveling through the hills of Umbria proclaiming the Gospel and begging for their daily bread.
              Clare's sense of her identity and purpose was, from the beginning, firm and sure, and vastly different. She perceived her role in the Franciscan family to be complementary to that of St. Francis, not the same. The cloistered contemplative life she immediately adopted was intended to water the seeds planted by the Friars' ministry throughout the world by the nuns' hidden lives of prayer and sacrifice. Though the Poor Clares would not go out personally to spread the Gospel, they were to be on the "front lines", keeping vigil before Our Lord to beg for the spiritual fuel needed to sustain the Friars in their life of self-less sacrifice among the people of God.
              Clare understood the support and encouragement needed by Francis and his brothers in order to keep the fire of their life of service to God and His Church burning brightly. St. Francis himself struggled with conflicting desires for a hidden life of contemplation and that of missionary activity among the people. During the uncertain days following the death of St. Francis, it was to Clare and the Poor Ladies that the Friars instinctively turned for guidance. Divided and confused over interpretations of the Rule and Francis' ideals, Clare was an unwavering pillar because of her deep union with Our Lord and her solid grasp of the essential elements of Francis' Rule and charism. A parallel can be found to the days after the Ascension, when the infant Church surely turned to Our Blessed Mother who knew Her Son and His teaching as no one else did.
              Clare never wavered in her certainty of the mission God had entrusted to her. It was, and is, most simply stated as the call to spiritual motherhood.
              As daughters of our Holy Mother Clare, the Poor Clares continue her charism in the world today-- supporting our Friars, and all Priests, indeed the whole Church, through spiritual motherhood. But, it is a vocation not limited to Nuns!
              Our priests, "other Christs" in the world today, are desperately in need of the support that can only come from lives of a deep commitment to prayer and sacrifice on their behalf. The unseen and unsung heroes are those who unite their ordinary lives, whether in the midst of the world or hidden in the cloister, to the life and mission of Jesus Christ, Who is still at work today through and in each of His priests. Without having to accomplish any spectacular tasks, spiritual mothers can imitate Moses, who in the book of Exodus, is portrayed with his arms lifted high, interceding before God for the armies of Israel at battle. The Church is at battle today with the forces of darkness, as she will be til the end of time, and her soldiers must rely on and be nourished by the fruits of prayer and sacrifice of all the faithful. Even the most insignificant life (according to the eyes of the world) can have the force of nuclear power when united in this way to the mystery of redemption. Our priests are essential for the life of the Church and the sacramental life of the Faithful, and spiritual motherhood is essential for the life of priests.
              Clare knew this, and felt strongly enough to stake her whole life on its importance. For her, it was no waste to spend her days within the same four walls of an enclosed Monastery. For her, it was a privilege to offer a hidden, yet potent, sacrifice on behalf of the holy men whose fervor and zeal for the Gospel had so inflamed her own heart with love for God.
              In this Anniversary year of St. Clare's vocation, may we come to a deeper awareness of the tremendous need for spiritual motherhood in our world today. Let us rediscover this vocation which so transformed the life and captured the heart of the great St. Clare.

The Power of Silence
Sister Mary Raphael, PCPA

                             As the oldest of ten children, I have clocked in many hours of babysitting. I grew comfortable manning the ship, while relying on tried and true cookie recipes, fingerpaints, and three-hour long movies. From changing diapers to running to basketball practice, I felt confident that I had everything under control - until a sudden deafening silence alerted me that, in the twinkling of an eye and behind my back, the little guys had disappeared. In chagrin and haste, I searched for those small rascals because I knew that such lack of noise meant activity was brewing elsewhere.
              In a similar way, silence in the interior life is not simply a void or mere absence of noise, but the fertile ground for action - in this case, it is the prerequisite for the positive action of God in the life of the soul. The truth of this reality is revealed within nature itself. A constant reminder of God's hidden action, nature's example inspires us to open our hearts to silent activity within prayer. In prayer we come to know Christ, who chose the way of silence Himself as the conduit for His greatest works. Modern society bombards us with noise, and thus distracts us from recognizing those graces of Jesus; but by fostering a deep silence through practical means, we will cultivate the seedbed of our soul for the fruitful action of the Father in our lives.
              First of all, consider natural phenomena that takes place in hidden silence. The sun rises noiselessly every morning, creating a stunning vista. Without the slightest sound, wildflowers sprout up and grace the sides of the highway. In nine months of absolute silence, a human life develops within his mother's womb. The miracle of life in nature is shrouded in silence.
              From these examples of nature, we recognize God's invitation to draw close to Him in prayer with His own silence. He revealed Himself to Elijah, not in the thunder nor the earthquake, but in the small still voice. Regarding the Trinity, St. John of the Cross points out, "One Word spoke the Father, which Word was His Son, and this Word He speaks ever in eternal silence, and in silence must it be heard by the soul." God sent His Son on that "Silent Night," while most of the world remained oblivious to the miracle taking place. Jesus spent thirty years of His life in hiddeness, giving us an example of how to truly live the interior life. When He completed the greatest act of love, on the Cross, He gave us His Last Testament in merely seven sentences. The Resurrection itself occurred in silence in the early morning. Through His own example, God wants us to grasp the importance of silence and to pattern our interior life in such an atmosphere.
              While God invites us to this challenge, it goes without saying that our society makes it extremely difficult to foster an atmosphere of interior silence. Exteriorly we are bombarded by cell phones, ipods, portable computers, televisions (in homes, cars, airplanes, restaurants, and doctor offices). We constantly overload our minds with information, while making ourselves available at every moment to everyone - except for that still small voice of our Lover.
              God will not compete with the clamor of the world but waits for us to make Him the treasure of our hearts; therefore, it is up to us to make the necessary efforts and movements to nurture silence in our lives. Here in the monastery, we have set times for silence, because we know it is absolutely vital to our spiritual life. Religious, however, are not the only ones called to deep interior lives. While the laity in the world are not meant to live out the same lifestyle of monks or nuns, they are called to reach into the depths of divine love and to scale the heights of holiness. Without some degree of silence in their daily lives, this is simply impossible.
              Therefore, incorporating small habits of silence is vital for everyone. Take at least fifteen minutes a day to step back from noise and activity and retreat to a quiet place to listen to God. Try to leave the computer off on Sundays. Occasionally choose to refrain from making some comment or phone call and instead raise your heart quietly towards God in an act of love.
              At first silence may be intimidating, but repetition is the key. We must regularly practice exterior silence in order to cultivate interior silence, where God will speak to us in the depths of our hearts. Practicing silence is like learning a new language - the language of God, and the most beautiful conversations take place in the silent soul.

Soul Adorned With Virtue
Sister Mary Raphael, PCPA

               Beauty appeals to the deepest part of man and exalts him to higher realms than those which are simply natural and tangible. Anyone who has seen an exquisite piece of artwork, gazed at a breathtaking sunset, or listened to a magnificent symphonic concert has experienced the enticement of beauty that draws one out of self towards the transcendent. Far more glorious and captivating, though, than any beautiful painting is the human soul in the state of grace and adorned with virtues. Such a soul captivates the heart of God, understands the redemptive value of suffering, lives in deep joyful confidence, and affects people and situations around her.
              In Sacred Scripture's book of Judith, we find the incredible story of a woman whose beauty and wisdom confounded her enemies and saved God's people from a deadly plight. An intriguing account of heroism, it narrates the defeat of the Assyrians through the valor and ingenuity of this woman. Delving deeper into the story's spiritual meaning, we find that the heroine Judith embodies the virtuous soul and shows us the way to adorn our interior.
              First of all, take note of the key disposition which Judith possessed - purity of intention. Uzziah, the religious leader, said to her, "From the beginning of your life all the people have recognized your understanding, for your heart's disposition is right" (8:29). Jesus taught, "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God." Judith was capable of an acute sense of discernment because of purity of intention - that is, she sought the kingdom of God above all else.
              Those who are pure of heart also have a keen awareness of God's hand in the midst of trials. Their spiritual vision pierces through the veil of pain and suffering to recognize Providence at work. They know that suffering produces endurance and endurance character. Judith exhorted her people, "In spite of everything let us give thanks to the Lord our God, who is putting us to the test as he did with Abraham, and how he tested Isaac, and what happened to Jacob. . . the Lord scourges those who draw near to him, in order to admonish them" (8:25-27).
              Such forbearance in suffering gradually chisels away at the heart's tough spots and makes it pliable. It is in the crucible of the Cross that one truly discovers who she is as a creature of God. She recognizes her finiteness just as Judith did, but such self-knowledge does not lead her into despair. Rather, she humbly, but confidently, finds her strength in God. Judith addressed her prayer, "For thy power depends not upon numbers, nor thy might upon men of strength; for thou art God of the lowly, helper of the oppressed, upholder of the weak, protector of the forlorn, savior of those without hope" (9:11).
              Suffering apart from God brings hopelessness and misery; but humble submission to suffering in loving abandonment to God's plan transforms the soul and fills her with unspeakable joy. The closer a soul is to God, the more joyful and the more humble she will become. These gems of truth are also hidden within Judith, for on preparation for her mission, the virtuous woman packed a bottle of wine and a flask of oil - symbols of joy and humility.(That he may give wine to gladden man's heart. Psalm 104:15. Teresa of Avila wrote, "Humility is the ointment for our wounds; if we have it. . . God will come and heal us.")
              Interestingly, Judith's virtues can be grouped into two types - those which she made the effort to embrace, and those which God bestowed upon her as a share of His own goodness. Notice how she anointed herself with ointment and dressed in her finest apparel. This points to the endeavors each individual must make to acquire virtuous habits.
              The Vulgate adds, "The Lord gave her more beauty: because all this dressing-up did not proceed from sensuality, but from virtue: and therefore the Lord increased her beauty, so that she appeared to all men's eyes incomparably lovely" (10:4). The mystical masters, like John of the Cross, teach that in the spiritual life, there will be activity on our part, as well as passive nights. He described these passive states as those in which "God Himself is preparing and disposing the soul for divine union."Such nights add supernatural beauty to the soul.
              Finally, Judith's virtue affected the people and situations around her. Her enemies "marveled at her beauty" (10:23), and the Israelites rejoiced at the victory over the Assyrians. When we encounter holy and virtuous people, we desire to remain in their presence, and we often find that they have influence over those around them.
              For those seeking to live a deep interior life, may Judith be an inspiring example of purity of heart, trust in Divine Providence, forbearance in suffering, joy, and cooperation with grace.

I Found Him Whom my soul loveth
Mother Dolores Marie, PCPA

               Most people in the world today can hardly comprehend a vocation to monastic life, except to think it is intriguing, but definitely archaic.
              Our modern world of fast-advancing technology - the world of the Internet and e-mail, the iPod and blogging - still can't keep pace with the Hound of Heaven, who pursues souls rather than technology. There is no hiding from the One who "searches minds and hearts" and who says to the soul, "You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you."
              Our "culture of death," as Blessed John Paul II so accurately dubbed it, has no use for the "culture of life" God offers to every soul. We have all been wounded by the lies of the world with its lure of sin, but we who embrace the fullness of the truth in the Catholic faith have great hope. We can find strength and healing in the sacraments to live out our baptismal promise with greater zeal and love. Moreover, some are called to live out their baptismal promise to a radical degree: to these are offered the grace to embrace the evangelical counsels, or vows, of poverty, chastity and obedience.
              These vows are extracted from the Gospels and patterned on Jesus' life. By examining the aspects of Jesus' life as revealed in the Gospels, one will discover the various charisms of the religious orders that exist today. Each order highlights a different aspect of the life of our Savior. Jesus sanctified every moment of life from conception to death when He chose to come among us as man. He taught us the lesson that every moment, every work, is sacred if done for love of God.
              We see Him preaching, healing, casting out demons. We see Him among the people, lifting their thoughts higher than the harvest of crops or disputes with a neighbor. We see Him patient with the Apostles, forgiving the sinners, challenging the Pharisees. And again and again, we see Him going off to a quiet place to pray to the Father. He would leave the company of men and seek the company of the Father, in the garden, in the wilderness, on the outskirts of a town. "Pray always." "Be perfect as my heavenly Father is perfect." How is this possible? "With God, all things are possible," Jesus tells us.
              It is this last aspect of the life of our Lord that the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration reflect. It is our duty and privilege to spend our lives in Adoration of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, asking Him to intercede with our heavenly Father for the needs of the world. In our particular life of contemplative prayer, we echo the voice of the Bride in the Song of Songs who says, "I have found Him whom my soul loveth, I have held him and will not let him go" (Song of Songs 3:4).
              As women living the vow of chastity, we are still called to motherhood, but as mothers of souls. With each reception of Holy Communion we enter more deeply into union with Our Lord through His sacred Passion. By uniting our love and suffering to His, we bear fruit for our spiritual sons and daughters. They find nourishment for their souls to the degree that we are faithful and generous in living out our calling and to the degree we are united with our Divine Bridegroom.
              By means of a contemplative life within the monastery's boundaries, we are protected from many of the distractions of the world so we may enter more deeply into prayer. Though cloistered, our prayers know no boundaries.
              Our constitution lays out what is expected of us: "The Sisters have the responsibility of continually sustaining with prayer and sacrifice the Church and the whole world, especially the Holy Father, all clergy and religious, civil servants, the missions and works of the Church, parents, relatives, benefactors, all the faithful departed, and the daily intentions recommended to them."
How do we accomplish this? Do we never leave the chapel? Actually, we make everything we do a prayer. This is the key to an authentic contemplative: to never leave the chapel in spirit, but to bring Jesus into all of our actions.
We do spend much of our day before our Eucharistic King, but we also perform the normal things that everyone else does. We try our best to do our work with Jesus and for love of Him. Then everything becomes a prayer, and our hearts never leave Him.
As we go about our day, we are keenly aware of our own "spiritual benefactors" who by their own prayers and sacrifices enable us to remain faithful to our calling. We give thanks to God for you at our daily hours of adoration, and we pray that our life before Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament bears fruit in your lives also, so that one day we may all find "Him Whom my soul loveth."

Gifts For The Call
Sister Marie Therese, PCPA

               Perhaps you have heard the phrase: "Men talk about things, women talk about people." Women nag their husbands about showing affection and men accuse women of being too sensitive or flighty.
              Men and women share much in common in their respective human natures, but they are not the same. We are created very differently. This contrast is not just on a superficial level, but is part of our very souls. These differences are not just oddities, but gifts for the call we have been given.
              Edith Stein, in her book entitled "Woman," breaks down the differences between men and women to a root element. Men are naturally more focused on doing, women on being. Men operate primarily with the intellect, women with the emotions.
              What does this mean in practical terms? It means that men's desires are fulfilled through achieving goals, accomplishing a work of some kind. Have you ever wondered why the majority of geniuses in any given field are men? It's not because women are stupid-it's because men have the drive to concentrate and sharpen their skills to the degree necessary to be specialists in their field of interest.
              Women are more concerned with the importance of being whole as a person, not just through exterior accomplishments, but through being emotionally fulfilled and developing relationships with other people.
              The struggle in our relationships with each other can spring from the fact that we approach life from two different directions. Our way of expressing love is also affected by this. Men express their love primarily by actions, women by words.
              An important thing to remember, though, is that masculinity and femininity are not that cut and dried. God works outside the box. A person can possess characteristics that are more common to the opposite sex and not be any less a man or woman because of it.
              Think of a man who is a great poet. He is obviously more sensitive and in touch with his emotions than the classic male example. But though he may be as comfortable with his emotions as a woman is, he will still express them in a masculine way. This is a key difference.
              A life of holiness actually calls us to round out these characteristics within ourselves. St. Teresa of Avila wrote that she wished for "manly nuns"-meaning women full of courage and undaunted zeal for the salvation of souls.
              The love that pulls a young man's heart to devote his life to the care of souls as a priest involves a degree of compassion that may be described as "motherly." Jesus Himself compared His love for Jerusalem to that of "a hen gathering her chicks under her wings" (Lk 13:34).
              The ideal is not one or the other root elements-either "doing" or "being;" God is both.
              Who could be more active than God Who has brought the whole world into being, Whose activity is seen on every page of Sacred Scripture, Whose grace is ceaselessly active in our hearts?
              But He chose to reveal Himself based on Who He Is in Himself, not what He does. He proclaimed to Moses in the burning bush "I AM Who AM"(Ex 3:14). This is being in its utter simplicity.
              Each gender holds the key to counteract the pitfalls of the other. Where women would be too quick to act on feelings, men are there to remind them to think things through. Perhaps this is one of the reasons Our Lord entrusted the hierarchy of the Church to men, who have a gift to be able to discern in a more detached way than is natural for a woman.
              When men may be too calculating or reasonable in dealing with a situation, or too focused on abstract goals, women are there to remind them of the need to be sensitive to the gift of each person. Think of how Our Lord has given us as a gentle reminder Our Lady as Mother of the Church, that we may learn this at her feet.
              So, we see that God has designed men and women differently and that we operate in a way based on these differences. One is not better than the other. Both are deeper than humorous peculiarities and both are reflected in God Himself. These elements point to a gift that is given us as part of our call as man or woman and a gift that is meant to be shared.

Lenten Gifts
Sister Mary Raphael, PCPA

                             St. John of the Cross eloquently wrote in his Spiritual Canticle: "Anyone truly in love will let all other things go in order to come closer to the loved one . . . with no desire to gain anything for herself. The one who walks in the love of God seeks neither gain nor reward, but seeks only to lose with the will all things and self for God; and this loss the lover judges to be a gain."
              Making our Lenten journey, we have entered into a season of intense prayer, disciplined penance, and merciful almsgiving. The Church presents these three specific practices as effective instruments for our purification and ultimately to lead us to union with God in the Divine Romance.
              It is vitally important that we understand the purpose of Lent in order to receive the full effects of these practices. The resolutions and commitments we make are means to a greater end.
              I am not going to give up sweets or television or coffee (or whatever else it might be) just for the sake of going without them and of creating a void. The whole purpose behind this self-sacrifice and surrender is to fill the new space in my heart with something else. In our case as Catholic Christians, we are seeking to fill that void with Someone else - Christ.
              In the book of Hosea, God spoke, "I will allure her, and bring her into the desert, and speak tenderly to her." (Hosea 2:14). Lent is the time to enter a spiritual desert and allow God to write His love story in our souls.
              Once I heard a priest tell of a little girl who owned a cheap pearl bracelet from the dime store. She had purchased it with her own money and cherished it with all her heart. She wore it throughout the day and even at night.
              One evening the little girl's father came to read their habitual bedtime story and kiss his daughter goodnight. This time, though, he surprised her with a question.
              "Sweetheart, will you give me your pearl bracelet?"
              The child did not take him seriously and laughed.
              "Daddy, of course, not! You wouldn't really ask for that! You know how much it means to me."
              "Okay; Daddy loves you. Goodnight."
              The next evening after the story, the father again challenged his daughter.
              "Will you give me your pearl bracelet?"
              The little girl started to show distress.
              "Daddy, please, no. . . but you can have my pony, or my new doll - the one that really drinks from a bottle."
              The father smiled kindly, "That's okay, darling. Daddy loves you."
              A few nights passed, and neither father nor daughter mentioned the pearl bracelet. After about a week, though, the father walked into his daughter's room one evening and was surprised at what he saw.
              "Honey, what's the matter?"
              The spectacle before him wounded his heart. There was his daughter sitting on her bed with her head bowed, and a big fat diamond tear cascading down her cheek. She looked up, bravely trying to smile as she extended her little clasped hand toward him.
              "Daddy, here you go. You may have this. I love you."
              With tears in his own eyes, blurring his vision, the father dimly recognized the cheap pearl bracelet. Slowly he took the cherished item and slipped it in his pocket. He left the room silently, and returned a few minutes later with a burgundy, velvet case.
              Handing it to his little girl, he explained, "I couldn't give this to you until you gave up your fake pearls, but I desired to wait until you were ready. Always remember, I love you."
              The little girl opened the box and was stunned to find a string of genuine pearls.
              Sometimes we cling so fiercely to what we hold dear to our hearts. We beg God not to take this person or that particular thing away from us. It is difficult for us to let go of certain habits or ideas. However, we need to trust that if we relinquish these things for love of God, He can give us what He ardently desires to give us - Himself, the Pearl of Great Price.
              Therefore, as we pray, let us find God in the desert, apart from our daily distractions. As we experience hunger through fasting, let us devoutly receive Jesus, the Bread of Life in Holy Communion. As we give alms, let us find Christ in our needy neighbors. Then let us fall in love with God, Who first fell in love with us.

Weapons of Warfare-Our Secret Weapon
Part 5 in a Series of 5
Mother Dolores Marie, PCPA

              In the past four weeks, we have discussed the strategies that can be utilized in our daily lives in order to respond to our call to holiness. We have learned how to gauge the battle, what weapons are available, and the means that can be used to avoid ambush.
              Our Lord is now enlisting.
              He is looking for a few good men and women. He is calling together His hand-picked troops. The battle lines have been drawn and we must now choose sides. In order to have the clarity of mind to make the right choice and the ability to remain strong in that choice, we need the strength of God. There is one principal source of that strength, one supplier: Jesus Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the altar.
              Before Jesus approached the hill of Calvary to offer His supreme sacrifice for the life of all mankind, He unveiled this secret weapon in the intimate company of a few good men. Those chosen few were to later convey this gift of His Body and Blood to the rest of the world; yet, it still remains shrouded in mystery.
              Why then is it secret? Because few have unpacked the reality of this mystery and come to the deep realization that hidden in every humble tabernacle throughout the entire world, God is truly present. It was love that compelled Our Blessed Lord to remain with us to such an extreme degree, but in many places, in many hearts, this gift of His love is taken for granted. Again: God is present in every single tabernacle where a validly consecrated Host is reserved. If God is there, how often is He sought out?
              In our tabernacles dwells the very same Jesus who made the Holy Land holy; the same God who created the universe out of nothing. Here we find Jesus who healed and taught and forgave and whose delight was mingling with sinners in order to draw them to Himself.
              This is Jesus whose body withstood the demonic fury of those who scourged Him and wrenched His body to fit on the Cross. Further, this is Jesus, resurrected from the dead and now in glory. Is He any less powerful now than when He walked the dusty roads of Galilee?
              With great longing, He waits for us in the solitude of the tabernacle.
              And yet, it is not for His own consolation that Jesus remains hidden in the Sacred Host, but rather in order to pour out His consolation and strength on us. Truly, a clandestine nuclear weapon, emitting far-reaching radiation. Rather than causing death and destruction, this radiation heals and strengthens, for His love is transformative.
              "Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you." 1 Kings 19:7
              In the Lord of the Rings, "lembas" bread was compact, yet potent food, specially made to give extraordinary strength for the journey. The recipe for this waybread was a closely guarded secret, handed down to a carefully chosen few. Partaking of this special food, the heroes were able to accomplish the mission for which they were sent.
              Our sojourn here on earth requires a unique kind of stamina if we are to stay the course and reach our eternal goal. We have a gauntlet to run, but we need not fear, because we have been given the Bread of Angels, of which Our Lord says: "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh."
              In Jesus, we receive sustenance sufficient to make us live forever! His love for us is so great that He will not leave us on our sojourn alone, but will accompany us every step of the way. As we push on toward our heavenly home, He remains with us, and He will fight our battles with us and for us.
              "Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to heaven. There are others: innocence, but that is for little children; penance, but we are afraid of it; generous endurance for the trials of life, but when they come we weep and ask to be spared. The surest, easiest, shortest way is the Eucharist." Pope Pius X
              As we navigate through the various pathways of our life here on earth, our hearts should be filled with gratitude to God for the many means He has given us to help us reach our destination. We have no excuse for losing our way, for the teachings of the Church provide the most accurate GPS we could ask for. In the bounty of our Church we find every help we need to make our way securely through this life. Most especially, we find this in intimate communion with Our Lord. Each time we receive Him in the Most Blessed Sacrament, He strengthens us for the journey, until at last we will see Him Face to face.

Weapons of Warfare-The Arsenal
Part 4 in a Series of 5
Mother Dolores Marie, PCPA

              Who could imagine that the divinely instituted Church, a beacon of hope and peace to the world, would harbor within it's spiritual walls a vast and well-stocked arsenal? Not only do we possess an arsenal, but it has been stocked and replenished throughout the centuries. In this special realm, arms and munitions are built, stored, and kept ready for use at a moment's notice.
              This armory is the Church's store-room of sacramentals, where every weapon we need to deepen our devotion can be found. As our interior life grows, we don layers of protection, which create a shield around us so that there is a greater barrier between us and the enemy of our souls.
              Most of us are well aware of the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil. If we live a somewhat recollected life, we can usually manage to identify the enemy approaching on the horizon. However, we may be less aware of the struggles that emerge from within and we may be unsure of how to deal with them.
              If we recall the lament of St. Paul when he cried out: "I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate," we realize that choosing the good is not always an easy route to take. There is a battle in our will that can only be won by forming a habit of true virtue. Since this is accomplished only by means of engaging in conflict, we need reinforcements nearby.
              There are many options to choose from in our stockpile, but for now, let us give our attention to a few select items recommended by the Saints.
              St. Teresa of Avila was a firm believer in the efficacy of holy water. She was given extraordinary gifts of prayer and the devil was not too pleased. However, her devout use of holy water never failed to send the enemy on retreat. When we use holy water, we are invoking God's blessing upon ourselves and our homes, and it is a most effective means of help in time of danger or temptation.
              With his militant spirituality, Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe, OFM, founded the Militia Immaculata to spread the consecration to Our Lady. He recognized how close we can come to Jesus if we belong totally to His Mother. He dubbed the miraculous medal "the silver bullet": damage to the kingdom of Satan upon impact. This was a man who had a tender love for the Immaculata, but had no illusions about the strenuous effort it takes to do battle against evil. He knew that through love and devotion to his heavenly Mother, ground could be gained for the heavenly Kingdom, and nations could be conquered, one soul at a time.
              Through the tradition of the Carmelite Order, we have been given the scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which carries with it a powerful promise: "Those who die wearing this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire." In wearing the brown scapular, we are entrusting ourselves to our heavenly Mother and placing ourselves under the mantle of her protection. It is like a holy flak-jacket, deflecting the enemy fire of evil influences around us. When we wear the scapular, we promise to live our lives in conformity with the teachings of the Church and we seek Mary's help to be faithful to that desire.
              Among the most dependable weapons for hand-to-hand combat is the holy rosary. This chain of power binds us closely to the Mother of God as we stay by her side pondering the life of her Son. As we meditate on the mysteries of the rosary, we gain a clearer vantage point. We begin to see the contrast between the life we are living and the life we should be living and Mary helps us to close in that gap by transforming us into the likeness to her Son.
              If the Saints found in these ways of devotion the path to heaven, we would do well to follow. They have fought the battles that still lie ahead of us, they have mapped out the safest routes, and with their assistance, we hope to safely reach our heavenly destination.

Weapons of Warfare-The Battle Plan
Part 3 in a Series of 5
Mother Dolores Marie, PCPA

              In the Gospel of St. Luke Our Lord addresses the multitude and gives them this tidbit to chew on:
              "Or what King, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?"
              Now, the Lord also tells us that we must be "as clever as serpents and as innocent as doves."
              Each day we go forth to battle against the kingdom of the world. Are we well-prepared to set forth? What is our battle plan to meet the day's difficulties? Did we take counsel, as our Lord advises? Let us see how Our Lord's words of wisdom enter in to the scheme of our daily modus operandi.
              Auto-Pilot. Each morning, God willing, we wake up.
              Let's stop there for a minute: What mode do we automatically glide into? Is it grumbling over another early morning and dread of the work before us? Is it an ache and pain check? Is it mindless fog? We must try to remember at this first moment of a new day, that we are a rational creatures and children of God, not unmanned drones. Yes, God is present even at this waking moment of our day, and He is eager to receive our first thoughts.
              Just as in the Old Testament, the Lord looked for the first fruits of the harvest and the firstlings of the flock, He is anxious that we would acknowledge Him at the start of our day, and that we would look to Him to fortify us for the scuffles ahead.
              The very fact that we open our eyes to glimpse a fresh day full of possibilities to grow in grace is a pure gift from God, and for this, we must be sure to thank Him. A fitting way to honor God at the start of the day is with a Morning Offering. If we don't already have one in the gearbag, there are plenty available online to choose from. (We have one available in the "Spiritual Weaponry" column to the right) This is the first stage of "taking counsel" to prepare for the war ahead. It is a perfect replacement for our "automated mode", yet it needs to be from the heart.
              The first stage of our strategy is now in place.
              The next line of attack is to know our enemy. We need to look ahead at the day and see if there are any warning flags; areas of danger for which we will need backup. These are danger points to our souls and we need special guidance to avoid them. It is imperative to ask for the grace now . We know our weaknesses (this is half of the battle!) and so if we have learned by our past falls and sins, we should know well enough where the swamps and quicksand are to be found. If we are "as clever as serpents" we can map around them with God's help.
              To round out our 24-hour strategy, each night as we close the events of the day, a quick examination of conscience to review our battle and evaluate how it went, will help us to set up our plan to win the next day. If we take a momentary look from an eternal perspective, we can give thanks to God for the victories of the day, humbly ask pardon for the failings, and lay our heads down to sleep in peace.
              "Cast yourself into the arms of God and be very sure that if he wants anything of you, He will fit you for the work and give you strength." St. Philip Neri

Weapons of Warfare-Full Body Armor
Part 2 in a Series of 5
Mother Dolores Marie, PCPA

              Whether you realize it or not, if you are trying to live your life as a faithful Catholic, you are on the front lines of the battle. If you make the effort to embrace the fullness of the Christian faith, to let the teachings of the Church permeate each area of your day-to-day life, you are, in a sense, painting a bull's eye on yourself. But rest assured, you are in good company! We are called The Church Militant for a reason.
               So what are the weapons we utilize to win the battle over sin and temptation? What tools are given to us to not only preserve a life of virtue, but to grow in union with God? How do we map out our life here on earth so that one day we may enjoy eternity with God and with those blessed souls who have "fought the good fight" before us?
               Our holy Mother, the Church, has put together a survival kit that has all the essential elements in order to sustain life--a life of grace. We have the means at hand that have been tested through the ages and have caused ordinary men, women, and children to be numbered among the saints. Why then would we not choose the same path?
               Our first weapon against the enemy of our souls is to remain in the state of grace, or if we have fallen, to quickly regain the ground we have lost. When we choose to cut ourselves off from our heavenly Father, we distance ourselves from His loving protection and we risk being cut off from Him for all eternity. Yet, His love for us is so great that He longs for our return and He readily gives His pardon when we humbly approach Him in the sacrament of Penance.
               One time when the plague was raging through Italy, Saint John Bosco and his boys went into the city to assist those who were sick and dying. He assured his boys that if they remained in the state of grace while doing these works of mercy that they would be preserved from death. They heeded his advice and his promise was fulfilled--not a single boy was lost. They were protected by the armor of grace.
               Can you imagine what the world would be like if each soul were in the state of grace? Or even if this were true of just one city? In effect this would mean that each soul would desire only what God desires; each soul would will and do only what God wills. And since we know that God wills only our good and our happiness, peace and harmony would reign, along with a notable lack of strife.
               So, the first and most obvious of all of our weapons is to approach the throne of God's mercy on a regular basis. By a humble and sincere confession of our sins, we are literally clothed in God's protective armor and strengthened with His grace. When we determine to sin no more, but to make every effort to conform our lives to the life of Jesus, we begin a whole new day in the chapter of our lives. This gives us the strength and courage we need to be able to face life's daily challenges; it arms us for combat. God is eager to have each soul enrolled in His Service, and He is always ready to arm us with all we need to keep us close to Him.
               "We become like a soldier who rids himself of excess baggage in order to have greater freedom of movement in battle." Francis Fernandez~In Conversation With God

Weapons of Warfare-Fight To Win
Part 1 in a Series of 5
Mother Dolores Marie, PCPA

              It may seem a bit incongruous that a Poor Clare Nun, a follower of Saint Francis of Assisi, who is the icon of peace, should undertake to write something about warfare. Perhaps at first glance this appears true, but when we look at the lives of the saints, we realize that in one way or another, they were all well-trained in the intricacies of war. Of course we are referring to spiritual warfare, but I have come to realize that there are many analogous elements.
               Saint Francis is oftentimes commemorated on benign birdbaths, but how many remember that he bore in his body the wounds of Christ? They weren't mere decorations. Or if you insist on the term, then they were decorations of valor; the Purple Heart of the blessed. But they came at a price and only after he manfully overcame himself, battled with his passions, and realized his love for Christ was his most ardent love.
               The saints figured it all out.
               They didn't waste their precious time on earth with trivialities. They gauged the war accurately, mapped out the route, and undertook prudent preparations. They chose their weapons and set out well-armed and well-prepared to win the prize: life everlasting. Why should we assume that they were any different than any of us? They struggled with the same temptations, had the same defects of personality, the same heartaches, and the same tendencies to sin.
               What made them different or capable of accomplishing what we merely daydream about doing? They set their will on the goal, and they let nothing distract them from it. We tend to idealize the saints, to sanitize their lives and to think that somehow it was easier for them, but it wasn't. The only thing that was easier is that it was them, not us. Yet we are all called to a life of holiness.
               This series on spiritual warfare is dedicated to all the wonderful people we have met since our arrival in Charlotte almost a year ago. We have had the privilege of meeting people throughout the diocese, and in our conversations with them, we have been greatly edified. We have found hearts on fire with love for the Lord and for His Church and a sincere desire to grow in holiness and in union with our Lord through a life of deep prayer.
               This article, then, is the fruit of pondering the questions put to us by these good people. Every soul has a natural attraction to what is good and what is true and what is holy, and finding that path in the world can be confusing. Trying to balance the responsibilities of everyday life while keeping an eye on the eternal can be daunting: but it doesn't have to be. We have the full "arsenal" of the Church at our disposal. We have a rich inheritance handed on to us that supplies for every need and circumstance.
               Hopefully in the articles to come, you will be inspired to form your own personal battle plan and fulfill your part in advancing the Kingdom of God.
               "Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called…" 1 Timothy 6:12

The Call to be Human
Sr. Marie Therese, PCPA

              At the moment of our conception, we are given a specific call from God. The word vocation makes one instantly think of priesthood or religious life, or a particular ministry of some sort. But our most basic vocation is written right into our DNA - the call to be human as either a man or a woman.
               Our culture likes to bombard us with what it says the essence of true masculinity or femininity consists of. It would like us to believe that our gender only defines us sexually or that gender is purely up to your own preference.
               Our culture also focuses on the equality of the sexes, an important notion, but one that tends to downplay the vast differences between the two. Equal, yes, but not equivalent.
               Until recently, I did not realize that God's call to be male or female was so fundamentally at the core of every part of life, not just the biological. The book "Woman" by Edith Stein really opened my eyes.
               Edith Stein was a Jewish philosopher who converted to the Catholic faith and then became a Carmelite nun, known as Sr. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She was eventually captured and killed in the concentration camp of Auschwitz during World War II.
               After her conversion to the Catholic Church, she devoted much of her time to writing and giving lectures on the separate vocations of man and woman according to nature and grace and on many aspects concerning womanhood. Her thoughts have been gathered into the one volume work, "Woman," but her background of philosophy and phenomenology can make it difficult to read. However, I think her message perfectly complements the currently popular "Theology of the Body" of Pope John Paul II and answers a pressing question for today's world: "What does it mean to be a man or a woman?"
               Edith begins her teachings as the Bible begins-with Genesis: "God created man in His Image-male and female He created them."(Gen. 1:27) This passage shows that our first and deepest call from God is to reflect His Image in one of these two ways of being human. Each part of creation shows forth some part of God's nature, of His glory. The ocean calls to mind His great majesty; a rose, His beauty. It makes sense that this would be true in the highest form of visible creation as well - the human being. As male and female, different aspects of God's nature are brought to the forefront to glorify in a particular way His own Being.
               As human beings, all of us have been given a three-fold mission. We have been called to know, love, and serve God in this life and we are promised the reward in return of being happy with Him forever in the next. On the natural plane, the book of Genesis records that God commands, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over it." He is speaking here to both Adam and Eve. The call is the same for every human being-but the response is not. We have been given the same gifts to fulfill our mission, but the gifts have not been given in the same way or in the same amount.
               If God desired it, He could have packed every thing into one kind of human being, but the image would still have been incomplete. Why? Because God is a communion of Persons. God is Love-and there must be at least two persons for love to exist. It is reciprocal and cannot exist in isolation. And so we are two, male and female-complementary and called to communion in our Creator.
               It is these two ways of being human taken together that completes the likeness to our Maker. It takes the strengths and weaknesses of both to recreate without distortion the Divine Image.
               A true knowledge and deeper understanding of our unique vocation either as man or woman will open our minds and hearts to fully embrace the call of God and respond to it, using the gifts He has given us.

The Desire to Be Known
Sr. Mary Raphael, PCPA

              "The emotion of friendship is among the most mighty and the most mysterious of human instincts," wrote Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson. The need for companionship is inherent in each of us, and the book of Sirach tells us that a friend is a treasure. Benson takes this a step further in saying that "there is but one supreme friendship to which all human friendships point; one ideal friend in whom we find, perfect and complete, that for which we look in type and shadow in the faces of our human lovers."
               By our nature we need companionship and society (CCC #1879). We want to be with those who have the same ideals and corresponding values. Deeper still, what we really desire is to be known and understood.
               We try to hide our weaknesses and struggles, but don't we really wish that someone would know and love us in spite of them, or dare I say, even because of them?
               I recall a trial in my life that caused me great heartache. Feeling sure that no one would understand, I tried to keep my pain hidden. Then one day in a conversation someone said to me, "I know what you are going through; I experienced something similar years ago; you'll be alright."
               I was stunned and thought to myself, "I am safe? I am understood?" That small shared experience of suffering worked a miracle of grace.
               On the reverse side, that same week two other people approached me and confided to me their difficult circumstances. At that point I could say to them, "I understand your pain."
               If people can have relationships built upon common experiences of suffering, what about our relationship with Christ? Because He is the transcendent God, can we have that common experience? Does He really know?
               In the Gospel of John, Chapter 4 Jesus is sitting at a well when a Samaritan woman arrives to draw water. The Evangelist notes that she came at the sixth hour, that is, noon. It seems that most women would have gathered together before the heat of midday, probably enjoying the social aspect of exchanging news with one another. Did shame or a sense of rejection keep the Samaritan woman at a distance?
               Jesus addresses her, "Give me a drink." He begins a dialogue, an invitation to friendship, because He wants to give her the living water.
               This woman, however, is completely on her guard. Married five times already, she has obviously been pretty wounded. Additionally, she knows that Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.
               Jesus tells her about the living water, but she challenges back, "You have nothing to draw with; you've asked me to give you a drink, and yet you offer me living water?"
               Not giving up, He entices her with the promise of never thirsting again, and she slowly is captivated. "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."
               He proceeds to dig into her personal life. "Go, call your husband, and come here." By the term "husband" we can think of the need for companionship. The words "come here" appeal to the deepest desires of the heart to be welcomed and loved.
               At this point, she lets down her guard and admits, "I have no husband." Not only is she acknowledging her sinful lifestyle, but perhaps even her loneliness.
               When Jesus reveals her situation, she experiences the freedom and love of someone uncovering her past and not rejecting her. She is known.
               Then marvel of marvels, Jesus reveals Himself to her as the Messiah! This woman, open to being known, receives the grace to know Him. She finally found everything she had been looking for in this ideal Friend.
               As the Incarnate Word of God, this Friend took on our humanity and experienced all that we do except for sin.
               Does He know what it is like to be rejected? He was despised and rejected by men. (Isaiah 53) Does He know the broken heart of a mother whose children have abandoned the Faith? How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! (Matthew 23:37) Does He know the pain of anxiety and fear? He began to be greatly distressed and troubled (Mark 14:33).
               Dare I say He loves us because of our weaknesses and struggles? He Who came to seek out sinners and Who fell three times on the Via Dolorosa, wants us to be bold in believing so.
               Christ knows the depths of our hearts and every fiber of pain and joy that runs through them. To Him we can safely turn and plead, "Search me, O God and know me," because He truly loves us.

Extraordinary Time
Sr. Mary Raphael, PCPA

              As elegant Christmas clothes return to the closet, everyday shirts, pants, and skirts take their place in our wardrobes. Decorations come down to create a simpler atmosphere in our homes. The parties and festivities cease, and people return to work, school, and the daily grind. The Church herself enters into the first weeks of Ordinary time - a time, however, that really is not so ordinary.
               The Christmas season draws to a close with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. In the liturgy we celebrate Christ's Baptism as the mystery and source of our own Baptism. When Jesus allowed Himself to be submerged into the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist, He sanctified the sacramental waters so that they would wash away our sins and restore our inheritance as children of God.
               Scripture relates that after Christ's Baptism, He left the hidden life of Nazareth to fulfill His public ministry. "He went about doing good works and healing all who were in the grip of the devil, and God was with him" (Acts 10:38).
               With the Feast of the Baptism of Christ, we gratefully reflect on the gift of our own Baptism and what it means to live out our vocation as children of God. It is a daily call to holiness of life and the pursuit of a real and deep relationship with Jesus, a time to embrace the Messiah who was born for us and to get to know Him and His teachings better.
               Immediately on embarking upon His public ministry, Jesus sought out His apostles and invited them to follow Him (Matthew 5: 18-22). In these weeks of Ordinary Time He now comes to us with that same invitation. For some it may involve the discovery this year of their state in life vocation - whether to marriage, the priesthood, the Religious Life, or consecrated single life. For all of us, it will entail the summons to reach into the deep and grow in our spiritual life (Luke 5:4).
               St. Matthew relates that Jesus "went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people" (Matt. 4:23). Then He went up the mountain and taught the people how live the life of grace through the Beatitudes. These guidelines give us the strategy for living out Ordinary Time in an extraordinary way.
               Ordinary time is far from mundane and commonplace. Rather it is the opportunity to live out all the mysteries of Christ's life. Far from boring, it is a real challenge to embrace Christ's teachings and to imitate Him. Having recently come down from the excitement and thrill of the holy season of Christmas, we know that we have the grace to take the message of Bethlehem and allow it to change our lives and the lives of others.
               In the liturgy the priest wears the dark green vestments, traditionally symbolic of new life and growth. Let us spend these weeks witnessing to the power of grace and new life that came to us during the Christmas mysteries and festivities.
               It is in the daily ordinary events of life that we live out the extraordinary life of grace. The Holy Spirit drives us to a specific mission and calling, to be His disciples and witnesses in the home, in the workplace, and in all of society.
               G. K. Chesterton artistically wrote about the "thrill of monotony." "[Children] often say, 'Do it again'; and the grown up person does it again til he is nearly dead. For grown up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps, God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, 'Do it again' to the sun; and every evening, 'Do it again' to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes each daisy separately, but never got tired of making them."
               Think about the monotony of one of your typical days. Every morning you might go the office to answer phone calls, take care of mail, make appointments, and try to clear the desk off - yet again. You may prepare daily meals, do household chores, run errands, spend time in prayer, and drop into bed at night with a sigh, "Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit . . ." hoping for the grace to start over again tomorrow. It is routine, very simple, and not all that exciting. Do you realize that in this you can become a saint?
               In this time that is called Ordinary, if we listen to God's Word and seek Him and His love in these little moments, our lives will become truly extraordinary.

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