Each Monday, a small group of ladies participate in the meme Sleeping with Bread, started by Mary-Lue and based off the book and on the Friday before that, I post something I call Flashback Friday as part of that. The meme is based on the Examen as practiced by St. Ignatius of Loyola with two questions as seen below.
For what am I most grateful?
This week I am most grateful for:
1. the nine monks from Mt. Savior Monastery near Elmira, N.Y. where I became an oblate last weekend, mentioned here. Their names are Fr. James, the prior; brothers Stephen, William, Gabriel, Pierre, John, Bruno, Thomas. Br. A directory, which includes their full names, can be found here. Two of the nine are away from the monastery right now. Br. Thomas is in seminary at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. Fr. Martin, former prior, is recuperating in his retirement somewhere in the Midwest, according to one of the brothers there. According to its monastery website (yes, it has a website), the monastery:
is a community of monks striving to live a simple, genuine and full monastic life according to the Scriptures and the Rule of St.Benedict. As member of an autonomous monastery within the American Cassinese Congregation, we seek to remain faithful to our authentic tradition continually revitalized by the Holy Spirit. We are committed to honor and glorify God through the harmonious balance of prayer, study work and hospitality. Through moderation, in the use of material goods, we acknowledge our continual dependence on God and promote the chaste beauty of essentials in all forms of expression and communication. We recognize our affinity with all who follow the monastic way of life, especially those who are part of the Benedictine tradition. Called together by God to a community of fraternal love, we believe our life itself to be apostolic and in the context of the church and the world community, we seek to serve all God’s people. United in faith, we celebrate God’s kingdom through prayer, life in common and work.
2. air conditioning, especially after visiting Mt. Saviour last weekend with the retreat house where I was staying and chapter room where a concert was held last Sunday afternoon (pictured here) having no air conditioning. Which also in a roundabout way is why I am thankful for the monks, who can put up with the heat, all for the glory of God. God bless you, brothers. Truly.
Least grateful?
This week I am least grateful for:
1. Rain: I know, I know. I shouldn’t complain. I could be living in a desert, but lately, it just seems it won’t stop raining. Not only does it not help in mowing the lawn, but also more importantly to me it gives me allergy headaches that just knock me out for a good part of the day. I don’t feel like doing anything and just feel blah all day.
2. Lack of motivation: I started out this week with high hopes, only to lose momentum by the end of the week. As I mentioned in last week’s Flashback Friday, I need to take this cycle in which I get caught week after week (not only with revising my blogs, but trying to revise my life again and again and not seeming to make much headway).
This post also can be found at my spiritual blog, Journeying with the Saints. If you only are interested in spiritual-related posts, you can subscribe only to that blog, if you so choose.
I am regularly thankful for air conditioning and no rain. I can completely relate to your lack of motivation and energy resulting in a lack of progress. Sigh.