1st response to 4 of 4

Every Carmelite, in living their vocation encounters tension between what is and what might be. …as secular Carmelites are you able to live with that tension?
Can the fact of your living with it transfigure the world? How?

Group #3 responded:

Remarks: Consecrated life – John Paul II
Tension: What is it?
Liz- liturgy coordinator; constantly ascertain how God is leading to bring people into allegiance to Jesus. 11 masses – why there – wake up people – something more than what they have.
Fact: Living as a member of a religious order in a very secular world. How deals with ads on TV
Ana: secular – not perfect world – good Catholic but does not realize value of spiritual world. Example: group – forward to discuss? Daily mass – Eucharistic minister- sick
Lector – determine if I am to do more – Live with ourselves in peace.

Overwhelming – what can I do? Like Amish – separate self from world – Jesus said to go into the world. Work with person one at a time. Example speaks to others.
Living
Holy ones – giving communion
– people talk badly or criticize – doing too much to be holy
Respect our Lord at consecration – don’t be taking photographs
Able to live with it? Yes and no! How to handle it?
Ed – transfigure world? Yes it does – one person at a time. St Therese in the monastery – smile; nothing bothering her. Why is she always happy? Joy in you – why?
Work in country club as bus boy – worked with pierced tongue – co-worker – a Jewish man. If you were son of God, wouldn’t you sit at the right hand of the Father –
Chronicle – co-worker Jacobson – talked and told him son of Jacob, Grandfather never took him to temple. Race is blessed and chosen people – real understanding.
Saying: where evil abounds, grace abounds even greater-
Transforming with joy – three things that evil/ death – kill, destroy, steal
Don’t let him steal our joy!
Prayer – Name of Jesus
Nancy – a lot of tension – work in elementary with children who have a lot of problems, exhausted.
Don’t feel have a charism – don’t know where I am going. Pray Jesus will be in me. His eyes, mouth, ears… be a good example – people are not pleasant – it is a constant struggle.
Reading – ecstatic – Charity covers all sin – now I will be able to cove sin with charitable works.
Family, children and grandchildren ask God for his grace.
Only healing thing is love – it is the only thing that lasts. Things done with love will go on forever. God’s love will change the world.
Is love a pure love? Ulterior motives? Ask God’s help. Morning offering – all given to God.
Liz – transfigure the world? How? Consumer oriented. If we stop buying, world will come to a standstill.
Poverty, Chastity, Obedience:
Rose you can handle it – gone one week did not show up. God sent him to me to pray for that person – and sends others – now best of friends.
Nancy – more tension forces me into greater prayer. Get down on your knees.
No quick fix – [St Therese] cloistered nuns know everything going on in the world.
Re-prioritize
Simplify
We do not always see success.
Deal with family and people we work with.
Turn off the TV – watch EWTN (some areas do not carry it)
Media – no moral values
Stop shopping
Liz – we need to pray and pray more – what type of prayer? Intercessory prayer – lowest form – nothing accidental – God knows everything – priest scandal – something good will come out of it.
Oh God, my friend is really ill, he is in a lot of pain, I just wanted you to know.
Sometimes the answer is no
We can’t tell God what to do. We want to be united with Him.
Husband diagnosed 2 years ago with cancer – getting anxious.
Let me get on with my life – care giver is my life. Sit with him, hold hands, what I need to do today.
Elephant – rat get out of the river – gets out. Ok – why? I wanted to see if you were wearing my swimming trunks – God bigger than any idea we have of him.
Starving in Africa
Rose – Thailand – only 1 meal
Section I- question
Secular Order is growing faster than the rest of the order – not enough Friars as spiritual assistants.
Solution: start a credential program for seculars to prepare and certify them as Spiritual Assistants.