Tag Archives: surrender
The Rhineland Mystics: Weekly Summary
The Rhineland Mystics Saturday, August 8, 2020 Summary: Sunday, August 2—Friday, August 7, 2020 Hildegard of Bingen was far ahead of her place and time, a Renaissance woman before the Renaissance, who led a monastery north of the Alps. She combined art, music, poetry, ecology, medicine, community, healing, and early feminism. (Sunday) In Hildegard’s holistic… Continue Reading The Rhineland Mystics: Weekly Summary
A Simple Truth
Simplicity A Simple Truth Friday, July 3, 2020 During World War II, Jesuit priest Walter Ciszek (1904–1984) was accused of being a “Vatican spy.” After spending five years in a Moscow prison, he was sentenced to fifteen years of hard labor in Siberian prison camps. He is an example of someone whose life has been… Continue Reading A Simple Truth
Purity of Heart, Singleness of Focus
Simplicity Purity of Heart, Singleness of Focus Sunday, June 28, 2020 My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work. —John 4:34 I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own… Continue Reading Purity of Heart, Singleness of Focus
The Truth Will Set You Free
Inner and Outer Freedom The Truth Will Set You Free Sunday, June 14, 2020 Authentic spirituality is always on some level or in some way about letting go. In a consumer society, however, we have little training in how to let go of anything. Rather, more is usually considered better. Jesus said, “the truth will… Continue Reading The Truth Will Set You Free
Dark Liminality
Liminal Space Dark Liminality Tuesday, April 28, 2020 When I am in that darkness, I do not remember anything about anything human. —Angela of Foligno (1248–1309) After working as a physician and bioethicist for decades, Living School alumna and chair of the CAC Board LaVera Crawley became a hospital chaplain and spiritual companion for patients… Continue Reading Dark Liminality
The Presence of Spirit
Liminal Space The Presence of Spirit Monday, April 27, 2020 Many things can bring us to the “threshold” of our ordinary ways of thinking and behaving, but even good rituals are merely “stand-ins” until Reality itself, often in the form of great love or great suffering, steps in and changes us forever. My friend Paula… Continue Reading The Presence of Spirit
John of the Cross: Poet, Pastor, Mystic
Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross John of the Cross: Poet, Pastor, Mystic Friday, April 24, 2020 Father Iain Matthew is a contemporary Carmelite priest from England and author of The Impact of God: Soundings from St John of The Cross. My copy is all marked up, so brilliant are his insights on… Continue Reading John of the Cross: Poet, Pastor, Mystic
Courage in Times of Trouble
Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross Courage in Times of Trouble Monday, April 20, 2020 Tessa Bielecki is a Christian hermit in the tradition of the Desert Mothers and Fathers. Co-founder of the Spiritual Life Institute, she was a Carmelite monk and Mother Abbess for almost 40 years, establishing experimental monastic communities of men… Continue Reading Courage in Times of Trouble
Lesson Four: Passing Over to Life
Reality Initiating Us: Part Two Lesson Four: Passing Over to Life Thursday, April 9, 2020 Holy Thursday It is true that you are not in control, for “can any of you, for all your worrying, add a single moment to your span of life?” (Luke 12:25-26). If we cannot control life and death, why do… Continue Reading Lesson Four: Passing Over to Life
Lesson Four: You Are Not In Control
Reality Initiating Us: Part One Lesson Four: You Are Not In Control Thursday, April 2, 2020 At some moment I did answer Yes to Someone—or Something—and from that hour I was certain that existence is meaningful and that, therefore, my life in self-surrender had a goal. —Dag Hammarskjöld To be in control of one’s destiny,… Continue Reading Lesson Four: You Are Not In Control
