Catholic Thought discussion

Greetings everyone! I'm in the middle of a rather hectic week of managing a store by myself, getting inspected, interviewing for jobs, and training. Hence, the pause in postings.

I haven't completely finished reading through our first week of Spiritual Exercises but I have read most of it. I know sometimes the Catholic faith, no....not sometimes, often, gets criticized for the way in which it handles the concept of sin. I was thinking as I read this, how misunderstood these passages probably must be to so many. Our culture today doesn't ever embrace this much consideration of one's personal failings, much less itemize and tally such issues. You can almost hear the thud of the book on the floor around the world.

Yet, for those who approach this sincerely, with the true intention of growing closer to God, striving to more fully understand God's will for their life, this does make sense.

For me, as I read these passages it seemed to me that undertaking the first examination would run along the lines of where have I failed to consider the needs and frustrations of those around me (as an example of sin). I am currently taking over a complete mess of an operation and it's easy to feel frustrated personally at the loss of private life, loss of time spent in my own home, etc. and I know I need to constantly put the needs of my customers and this community in the forefront. I am, but it's easy to give in to your own tiredness, etc. We live in a society consumed with ME, ME, ME and what I want, what I need, what I deserve and blame and judgement. There are so many different kinds of sins. So many different ways in which we fail God and one another.

I will write more on this soon. I finally get a break tomorrow and some time to get my head above the water. Curious to hear your thoughts and experiences.

I will leave you with two passages to consider. Psalms 139 and 8.

Leslie wrote: "Greetings everyone! I'm in the middle of a rather hectic week of managing a store by myself, getting inspected, interviewing for jobs, and training. Hence, the pause in postings.

I haven't comple..."

This exercise took me back to Thomas Merton’s “No Man is an Island”. I read in Chapter 6 “Asceticism and Sacrifice” that growing in our spiritual life will rid us of our irrational fears and desires and of the agitation that pervades our bodies and souls. A peaceful soul is pleasing to God.

We will not force our body into immobility so that it does not disturb the soul. Modern environment may make it difficult to find peace and quiet in our daily lives but we will find it by detaching ourselves from people and places, pleasures and possessions. Attachment to them brings fears and desires, uncertainty in loving, and fear of losing once obtained. Our direction is to gain a supernatural perspective to see all things in the light of faith.

I think the first week of the exercises is the most important and a difficult one. It involves taking a hard look at oneself and expressing sorrow for all sins committed in one's entire life. In the first exercise of the week, St. Ignatius mentions The Three Powers of the Soul: Memory, Intellect, and Will. By coincidence, last week I was watching Mother Angelica Live Classics and she likened Memory to Hope and Knowing, Intellect to Faith and Vision, and lastly, Will to Love and to possess God. She said that "When you see God, you know God, and then your soul will be flooded with understanding." These powers of the soul are what we will be using throughout the exercises. We are exercising these powers.

In the fifth exercise of this first week, St. Ignatius asks us to meditate upon Hell using all of our senses: taste, touch, hearing, smell, and sight. Meditating on Hell is not something that I like to do. It is scary and disturbing. It also reminds me of those people who would spend more time talking about Satan and Hell than they do Jesus or Heaven. I am more inclined to spend time thinking about the Good News than dwelling upon the bad. But I see how in these exercises it is necessary to meditate upon sins and hell in order to move forward.

Thank you both for your comments. They were terrific! I had a very hectic week between DEA and Board of Pharmacy Inspections and a Hurricane and job interview! Wheew!

So, not much time for me to do this first week in true fashion, which is really annoying.

I absolutely loved Mother Angelica's comments. That feels so very true. And, Susan Margaret, you are absolutely right. It's not fun. It's not pretty. It's painful, but time spent being honest with ourselves in those uncomfortable places is truly rewarding.

It's funny. It's like I want to say I haven't had time to do this exercise, but when I think about it, all week I've been doing this exercise! I have an uncomfortable situation at hand and I'm in the middle of when has someone harmed you too much for forgiveness and compassion? Over and over I've wanted to walk away, but I can't. I can in a healthy, self-preserving way, but not for the big haul. (It's not a domestic violence situation or anything like that. Please don't worry about me!).

But, I HAVE been running over and over in my mind all of these thoughts....memory, hope, knowing, intellect, faith, vision, will, love and God.

I had two hours of sleep last night so I will not ramble further. Once I get some free time to seriously reflect again, I will write more.

I am reading this slowly and, hopefully, prayerfully, but I am not actually making the exercises. The religious education ministry is kicking off its first week this week and life is hectic for me with parent meetings, volunteer training, student programming and more.

At this point I am halfway through the text. I got about this far on a first attempt at the "Exercises" a year ago when I put it aside. This time around a learned much more from the helpful comments of all in the reading group here. The two podcasts from Father Broom that Susan Margaret referenced were very helpful and valuable listening through a second time. I was holding out on a careful second reading of Thomas Merton’s “No Man is an Island” and felt it appropriate material to get back into at this time. The text is almost like a meditation on finding yourself spiritually. Some passages are problematic to know exactly what Merton meant but I am making the best of it and am continuing the “tour de force”.

Galicius wrote: "At this point I am halfway through the text. I got about this far on a first attempt at the "Exercises" a year ago when I put it aside. This time around a learned much more from the helpful comment..."

Galacius, I am glad that you are continuing on in reading The Spiritual Exercises! I will hunt around and see if I can find some more of Father Broom's lectures on the exercises. He has many things sprinkled around on the internet on different sites.

Irene and Leslie, it looks like September is a very busy month for the both of you! Keep plugging away!

Susan Margaret wrote: "Galicius wrote: "At this point I am halfway through the text. I got about this far on a first attempt at the "Exercises" a year ago when I put it aside. This time around a learned much more from th..."

I appreciate that Susan Margaret. I am looking also. He does have much material. It would be nice if more is posted specifically on what we are doing.

Galicius wrote: "Susan Margaret wrote: "Galicius wrote: "At this point I am halfway through the text. I got about this far on a first attempt at the "Exercises" a year ago when I put it aside. This time around a le..."

I did not find anymore lectures of Fr. Ed Broom's that would be helpful to us at this point. However, I did find a very interesting lecture series given by Fr. Howard Gray, SJ at the Holy Trinity Parish in Gerogetown, Washington, D.C. The title of the series is "Dynamics of The Spiritual Exercises" and it can be found on YouTube. There are ten lectures and each is approximately an hour and twenty minutes long. I have listened to the first two lectures and I think it does an excellent job of explaining the exercises. I think these lectures would be very beneficial to listen to as a supplement to our reading. Below is the link to the series:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=...

Susan Margaret wrote: "Galicius wrote: "Susan Margaret wrote: "Galicius wrote: "At this point I am halfway through the text. I got about this far on a first attempt at the "Exercises" a year ago when I put it aside. This..."

Thank you much Susan Margaret. This may be just what we were looking for in a way of guidance through these exercises. I am listening.

Galicius, Are you finding Fr. Gray's lecture series to be helpful? Is anyone else listening to the lecture? I have finished the 6th lecture and I have found them all very interesting.

I have read through the first week of the Exercises, but there is so much there to think and contemplate on! I am used to 15-20 minutes of meditation/reflection but an hour is a real challenge for me.

I feel like I may spend some extra days getting comfortable with a format for me, rereading, and more reflection on these first week exercises, as a way to feel better grounded before moving to the second week...

I am having some trouble around the words 'hate' and 'hatred' in reference to facing honestly up to my sins and where I fall short in my spiritual life. We have been so inundated with hateful sppeech, pictures and news this year, the mere word brings a kind of pain to my heart and makes it more difficult for me, even though I believe it is important to do so. In hand with this goes the relection on Hell, not something I spend much, or any time on. I prefer more the messages of love, healing and relationship with God...

These exercises are pushing me in new ways and I am trying/will be open to it!

Off to listen to the lecture(s)...

Susan Margaret wrote: "Galicius, Are you finding Fr. Gray's lecture series to be helpful? Is anyone else listening to the lecture? I have finished the 6th lecture and I have found them all very interesting."

This is a profound and deep exploration of St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises. The level is somewhat elevated as it is directed to spiritual directors but I have gained much from just a careful listening of the first two sessions so far. This does not add up to an actual program because as Fr. Gray states several times a one-on-one interaction is ideally necessary for the program. It is a great help though with following St. Ignatius’ notes and I am going on with the lectures no matter how long it will take.

I have been reading a week at a time since we started, so I am on Week three. I never realized how repetitive the exercises are. I am not sure I could repeat the same meditation 4 times a day.