. Contemplative Haven: April 2006

Saturday, April 29, 2006

God is Watching Us, Online

Catholic Guy left a lovely comment on my post "Life in a Header" the other day, providing us with a link for online Eucharistic Adoration: www.savior.org He posted his thoughts on the subject as well at A Catholic Guy .

I wanted to take a bit of time to view the site and pray about it, because I remembered having misgivings about this in the past.

Having done that now, I believe it is truly a wonderful thing. If I, mobile and living in a community with easy access to many churches still find it difficult to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, how much more so for shut-ins, for people who live in remote areas and for those living in countries where Catholicism is suppressed or prohibited? After having the site open for a while as I worked, and after reading the testimonials, I was convinced.

As soon as my anxieties about it had been relieved, another thought came to mind. Perpetual Adoration, one click away from perpetual pornography or online gambling, destroyers of so many peoples' lives. How wonderful that anyone struggling with something which is being fed over the Internet can sit down in front of the computer and, with His grace and a movement of the will, choose Adoration over addiction.

We know that the Internet can be a powerful tool for both good and evil. This Almighty God of ours, with online Adoration, places Himself visibly in our technology. The Master is in the field, telling His slaves not to pull up the weeds lest the wheat be uprooted as well (Matthew 13: 24-30). They shall grow together until the Harvest.

posted by Gabrielle at 12:54 AM |

Friday, April 28, 2006

Another Bowl? Another Bowl?

My sweet, hulking 14-year-old son and I were in the kitchen this morning discussing why there was suddenly no food in the house. I had to sit him down and tell him the truth, just in case our circumstances get worse. "Son", I said, as gently as possible, "it is because your mother's a blogger."

posted by Gabrielle at 8:37 AM |

Thursday, April 27, 2006

What We Are. What We Desire to Be.

I do not have any precise plans for this blog; nothing delineated, nothing fixed. My hope is that we will explore subjects together, as they arise, and that I will be in tune with the Holy Spirit.

There will be a tension between this blog and my life. As Thomas Merton says, in Contemplation in a World of Action, "The true contemplative should not necessarily have much to say about his contemplative life. The business of articulating it can be a charism or it can be a delusion. But the fact remains that there is something to the articulation of this deep experience. One should be able to teach it to others, to make others understand what it is, and help them to attain it."

I do not know if the Lord has given me the charism in question, and so I will be relying heavily on the works of the great contemplative writers in many of my posts.

I am on this journey with you, in all my sin and weakness. So, who am I to speak of these things, when I have so many failings in real life? Something Henri Nouwen said often comes to mind. In his book, Reaching Out. The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life, Nouwen writes: "The act on the stage of our life will probably always look better than what goes on behind the curtains, but as long as we are willing to face the contrast and struggle to minimize it the tension can keep us humble by allowing us to offer our service to others, without being whole ourselves."

Facing the contrast, and struggling to minimize it. With His grace.

posted by Gabrielle at 1:03 PM |

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Divine Mercy Gratitude

For many years, I wished that someone had told Mary to get up off her derrière and give Martha a hand. We all know the anxiety of preparing the house and meals for special guests. I felt sorry for the ninety-nine sheep when their shepherd left. Were they safe? Were they fearful? I sided with the young man who had worked so hard for his father, only to see his dead-beat brother, the Prodigal Son, get all the glory. I resented the fact that workers could show up late to the fields and receive the same wages as those who had been toiling since sunrise. For many years, I never recognized, or understood, mercy.

Mercy, that He allows me moments within busy days to contemplate His love. Mercy, that He came after me so many times when my head was stuck in a fence. Mercy, that He forgives me and takes me back after each transgression. Mercy, that no matter how late we come to Him, we will receive the same reward of entering into His love as others who have known Him all their lives.

The abyss of Divine Mercy. No time there; no boundaries. Let us tumble in, "though our sins may be as scarlet".

posted by Gabrielle at 12:41 AM |

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Life in a Header

Once embarked on the contemplative journey, we find that it pervades every aspect of our lives. Everything becomes a source of reflection or meditation, and can be used by the Lord to eventually lead us into contemplation. Building the header for this blog is a case in point.

I wanted images that would portray what I consider to be essential, both as starting points for meditation and, of course, as sacred experiences in our lives; and so, I chose the Sacred Heart and the Cross, the Eucharist, the Rosary and the Holy Trinity.

I had also wanted an image of the Blessed Sacrament, but was not able to find one that seemed to suit, or to fit exactly right. The more I tried, the more frustrated I became, until finally I decided to just stop trying, telling myself that I could always go back to it at a later date. Then there was a gentle whisper in my soul, reminding me that the same thing has been going on in my real life. My "inability" to spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament has been an ongoing heartache for me. Family responsibilities and the work-a-day world leave little free time; I just cannot seem to "fit it in". When I am able to go, it's generally just for a few minutes at a time, and this too I allow to discourage me.

So something has to be done; no more excuses, no more self-imposed heartache. He may not allow me hours at a time, but what He gives me I will accept, with gratitude, and I will make a greater effort to place it as a priority in my weekly schedule.

It may seem odd that if we are experiencing contemplative prayer and practising the presence of God we should feel so strongly about sitting in front of the Blessed Sacrament; people may say, well, isn't it all one and the same? This is a difficult question. I know God lives in me; I know I never have to be separated from Him, but this, I believe, is primarily spiritual. When I sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament, I do feel a physical presence as well, so much so that when I have to leave, the walking away from Him is a near impossibility. I do not know if others experience it this way; I have never asked anyone. How can I walk away? How can I leave Him there?

During this week leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday, my thoughts are often with Saint Faustina. She knew of this painful parting as well, as we can see in her Diary, but her response was one of total self-giving:

"Oh, who will comprehend Your love and Your unfathomable mercy toward us!
O Prisoner of Love, I lock up my poor heart in this tabernacle, that it may adore
You without cease night and day. I know of no obstacle in this adoration, and even
though I be physically distant, my heart is always with You. Nothing can put a stop
to my love for You. No obstacles exist for me."

Oh, that we could arrive at the point of "knowing no obstacles", real or imagined.

posted by Gabrielle at 9:54 PM |

Prolife Search Engine

Just in case there are those who haven't heard (I say this hesitantly, since I am generally always the last to know), there is a Prolife Search Engine, powered by Google, which is donating all of its advertising income to Prolife causes. As of today, just under $11,000 has been donated. It would be great if we could spread the word, and use it as our default Search Engine. Let's not forget to tell the young people in our lives, since they ALWAYS SEEM TO BE ON THE INTERNET... (but I'm not naming names).

posted by Gabrielle at 12:58 AM |

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

A Novice's Intro

Welcome! Welcome to Contemplative Haven, a Catholic blog dedicated to presenting, discussing, nurturing and encouraging all things contemplative - the contemplative response, the contemplative life (particularly for lay people), contemplative prayer and contemplation itself.

My hope is that we will find a haven for our souls here; a brief respite in our day or during a period in our lives when we find ourselves not only "in the world", but far too much "of it". Contemplation is not an "escape from", but a "taking refuge in". I hope this blog will be just such a sanctuary, a quiet place into which we may enter to regain our joy and strengthen our faith when we are world-weary, unable to quite understand how Jesus could say, "My yoke is easy, and My burden is light".

Yes, and also a place where we will not be ashamed or frightened to admit that we desire to grow in virtue and in holiness; that we are aiming, with His grace, at nothing less than the Transforming Union.

Contemplation. Resting in God, and returning to the world a little more balanced, a little more energetic, with greater generosity of spirit and more capable of love, because we have been in union, if ever so briefly, with Him.

posted by Gabrielle at 6:04 PM |

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Test

This is a test.

posted by Gabrielle at 1:00 PM |