Remember...You Are Dust

"Remember, man, you are dust and unto dust you shall return."

This is the traditional blessing as the priest distributes ashes to each Catholic on Ash Wednesday. In recent years, the Church has given the choice of another blessing to replace this one. Many use the newer blessing because it is more gender sensitive and, some feel, more uplifting.

This blessing speaks of the most basic of relationships that we, as humans, exist only because of Earth and will continue to exist only to the extent that Earth continues to live. We come from Earth, are a part of Earth, and eventually will return to Earth. Lent is a time to reflect on our relationship with Earth--the home we inhabit. The second creation story in Genesis tells us that God established this relationship between Earth and humans from the very beginning.

Reading: Gn. 2: 4b-7 "In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up--for the Lord God has not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground--then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being."

This story recalls the special triune relationship between God, Earth, and humans. God formed us each from Earth and breathed divine spirit into us--making us both Earth-beings and God-beings. There is an unbreakable connection among God, Earth, and humans. We carry both God and Earth within every strand of our being. We are dependent not only on God, but also on Earth. In a society that values self-sufficiency, it is easy to believe that we are strong if we do not depend on anyone or anything, but striving to be independent is going against our very nature. We have been dependent on God and Earth from the very beginning. To the extent that we humbly recognize this dependence and live in respectful and loving harmony with both parts of our essences, we become more fully human and will encounter holiness. So, spend some time this Lent not only becoming close to God, but also closer to Earth.

Reflection: What is my relationship with Earth at this moment? What would a right relationship with Earth look like for me? What are one or two simple actions I can take during this Lent to remind me that my health is dependent on Earth's health?

Prayer: Lord God, as Lent begins, I am reminded that I am dust to to dust I shall return. You are the One who created humans as both God-beings and Earth-beings, thus placing me in an unbreakable relationship with You and with Earth. During this Lent, help me to choose actions that will enhance this precious triune relationship. Amen.

Written by Sister Kathleen Shannon, D.C.

Do you realize I have the power?

by Sister Roberta Treppa, D.C.

“Do you not realize that I have the power to release you and I have the power to crucify you?”

By the time Pilate said this, he had already given in three times to the crowd who kept handing Jesus over to him.  

Three times, the people pushed Pilate to crucify Jesus. 

Three times, Pilate went back to speak with Jesus. 

Three times, Pilate returned to the crowd to say he found no guilt in Jesus. 

But each time, Pilate gave in to the crowd. 

He yielded to the power of the crowd, and used his power to crucify Jesus. 

Jesus' power was love. How do we use our power?

“Do you not realize that I have the power to release you and I have the power to crucify you?”

Jesus said to him, “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above.”

We have power like Pilate.

We each have the power to release, and the power to crucify. 

We can release, through forgiveness, love, comfort...

Or we can crucify, through hate, abuse, neglect...

All this power is given to us from above…it’s called “free will.” 

Jesus died to release us from the bonds of sin.

And all too often, we use our power poorly…

And Jesus, the one we crucified, still has–and USES–the power to release us from the power of sin.

What are THESE Teens Doing for Lent?

So, what are you doing for Lent? Some fasting, prayer and almsgiving?

Graphic from beholdthelambministry.com

Lately, my heart has been heavy thinking about the many people in our world, our country, my state, who experience the Way of the Cross in their every day lives. Before and after the Super Bowl there was a lot of attention given to the issue of sex trafficking. Fortunately, this led to some arrests and the break up of a traffic ring.

What a resurrection time for those who were imprisoned and are finally set free!

So, what about all rest of the teens and women enslaved to the sex business? Who will help rescue them?  This local news video clip gets to something even more basic. We are challenged in our attitudes toward the sex workers. Society is SO judgmental and SO lacking in compassion for these teens and women. I have never met a child who wants to grow up and be a sex worker/slave. Each of these children and women have a personal story--a scary and heart-breaking story that led to their enslavement. Yet society and our legal system are often harsh on them and do not look below the surface of their circumstances. Imagine having the threat of violence and even death as your daily shadow!

So maybe this Lent we can invite others to examine their attitudes about females as sex objects to be used for selfish gratification-pornography, rape, sex trafficking...

What efforts are underway to protect women and children from the abuse and to bring justice to the perpetrators? Look how the military is finding the sexual abuse of women often not taken seriously and the perpetrators are not being held accountable. I am grateful this has come forward as such a scandal and that there is a collective desire to have the military change.

I think of all these women who have no one to turn to in their ongoing suffering. How can we stand with them? How can we bring awareness to the plight of teens and women sold for sex? I have heard quoted many times the statistic that 1 in 3 females have been sexually abused. If this is the case, or even close to it, than those attitudes of females as sexual objects are very close to home.

This Lent, let us fast from being judgmental, pray for those enslaved in sex trafficking and seek freedom and justice for all women and children who are being used as sexual objects.

Post contributed by Sister Denise LaRock, D.C.

Play "Who Said It?" with Us!

See if you can guess "Who Said It?" each Wednesday during Lent! We'll post a quick clip featuring a quip from St. Vincent de Paul or Pope Francis. Without Google-ing or looking it up, take a shot at who you think was the original author of the quote. As Pope Francis brings out Vincentian qualities in his messages, it may be more difficult than you think to figure out who said what!

The quote will be posted on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google+ Wednesdays during Lent. Add a comment to share your guess. The answer will be revealed Thursday afternoon.

Play along for fun here:

• Facebook: Daughters of Charity Vocations U.S.
• Instagram: daughtersofcharityus
• Twitter: @DofCharity
• Google+: daughtersofcharityus

The Least of These in Lent

Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving the three pillars of Lent. 

Ministry in the Cook Islands

During this pre-election time I think it would be great if we could fast from politics;-)  Don't get me wrong, the election is important, but is seems to me that with all this bipartisan bickering that the (re)elections become the focal point and not the good of the people.

This past Monday the gospel was :
Matthew 25:34-45
Jesus said to his disciples: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him.  And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.' Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.'

These are the directions from Jesus to receive eternal life.  How are we doing?  How are we welcoming the strangers/foreigners among us?  How are we caring for the sick with no medical help? What about the imprisoned? 

I heard just today that 50% of those imprisoned in MD will return to prison.  The study done concluded that the people don't have help transitioning back to regular life and are often without resources such as housing and employment and end up back in trouble.  There was a group in MD lobbying for assistance for those leaving prison.  Instead of "ex-cons" they called them "returning citizens." I was impressed with how the one label expresses long-lasting judgement and the other of respect and a new beginning.

How will your prayer, fasting and almsgiving reflect the type Jesus challenged us to?  Let me close with a reminder from Isaiah 58:

Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking off every yoke?  Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own flesh?  Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Willing to Take a Bullet?

40 Days for Life is taking place all over the country during this season of Lent.  Monday I was praying the rosary outside a clinic.  I was the only pray-er there unlike other times that I have participated.  Many cars passed while I walked up and down a section of sidewalk near our sign.  A car passed by and the male driver was, I would guess, in his late 20's.  As he drove passed he formed his hand in the shape of a gun like how kids play cops and robbers.  Then he pulled his imaginary trigger while pointing at me.  I was surprised by this gesture, but not at all fearful.

However, as I continued to pray I reflected on this.  Even though this guy was really just gesturing to express his opinion, what would my reaction be if it was for real?  Christ willingly gave His life for my sake through His passion and death.  It made me stop and think how brave I would be in the face of giving my life.  What do I care about that strongly?  What would you give your life for?



Is it Lent on the inside?

"I gave myself to God to accept the designs of His Providence if He willed me to continue, for the remainder of Lent, in a state of interior abandonment and even affliction so as to honor the sufferings of Jesus Christ which the Church places before our eyes."

St. Louise de Marillac, Foundress of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, SW p. 701

We often as children about what they are "doing" for Lent or what they are giving up etc. Hopefully, as we have aged our understanding of the purpose of Lent and our "doing" or "not doing" during this season has also matured.

It is easy to lose focus of the why for our various sacrifices and practices. Why do we partake in our Lenten sacrifices and mortifications. Why do we give alms (money for those in need) and why do we go to Stations of the Cross, Taize prayer or the similar?

Are we changing interiorly? Are we growing in relationship with Christ? Or as St. Louise, in her early years, are we trying to earn our way to heaven by our actions. Sure Christ calls us to follow His ways and example in our way of living, but He has already won our salvation.

All my devotions, prayers, sacrifices, acts of charity and justice are to unite my life more closely to that of Christ. The fruit of a good Lent is that within me, deep inside, I have become more and more connected to Christ, more and more Christ-like in my love and actions.

So, why did you make the choices you did for Lent? Is the primary focus growing closer to Christ or is it more about losing weight or some other way of being more healthy? Those sure are nice by-products of some of our choices for Lent!

I pray that as we travel through these 40 days, we may grow in holiness as St. Louise did over the years. May our interior spiritual lives give us the strength and courage we need during those stormy and uncertain times we are sure to encounter.

Here is a link to a Lenten calendar--check it out!

http://www.bustedhalo.com/features/fast-pray-give