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How do we pray today? What do we pray about?
We pray in and through the desires of our hearts and the work of our hands.
We pray in the words of our lips and the gestures of our bodies.
We pray by contemplating God's revelation in Scripture and in the experiences of each day.
We pray alone, in small groups, in large gatherings of worship.
We pray where we live and where we work, at congregational gatherings and with God's people whom we serve.
Listen to the wisdom of Sisters of Charity and our colleagues as they reflect on the many ways that the courage of Mary and the surprising Spirit of God fill them with new life and zeal for the mission of Charity.
The Spirit poured out on Pentecost inspired Jesus’ followers to speak in many languages. Here are some ways to say “Charity” in different tongues:
Charity….Loq’onel (Quiché, Guatemala)….Kawanggaw (Tagalog, Philippines)….
Caridad (Spanish)….Charité (French)….Carità (Italian)….Habb (Arabic)….Upendo (Swahili)
From a prayer prepared by
Sr. Maria Iglesias, SC, Vocation Director
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John tells us in his Gospel, chapter 12, verse 24: “The truth of the matter is, unless the grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.”
This parable is but one of many reminding us that Christ is always leading us to new life – always. And so the losses we experience are in reality, transforming and life giving. We will only come to that realization, however, in prayer- in being present with the Risen Christ, with Christ who sowed seeds with great abandon. Then and only then will we understand the meaning of the apparent losses in our life.
Sr. Dorothy Metz, SC, President
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Photo Credit:
Sr. Jean Flannelly, SC |
The more that Christ’s divinity became real to the disciples, the more marvelous must have seemed to them the great mystery of the Incarnation – and the more strength and joy must they have found in her [Mary] who stood among them as the living link of God and [humankind]….Who is to say it was not her eyes that challenged them, her smile that encouraged them, or her words which impelled them to pull back the latch and move out into the sunshine of the Pentecost morning?....Surely in some way she communicated how much the Spirit was to be trusted
Sr. Patricia Noone, SC,
from her 1977 book Mary for Today
When we are graced with the gift of counsel, the Holy Spirit speaks directly to our hearts and instantly enlightens us….Our human reason is enlightened with the capacity to discern the way of divine providence….Imagine such peace! Gone is the “second guessing,” obsessing and endless ruminating over our decisions and dilemmas. Gone are the stress, anxiety and endless worry that rob us of peace and bog the channels where charity could flow!
Claudia Cavanagh Garrity, Seton Associate,
Sisters of Charity, Convent Station, NJ
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