Comments for This Ignatian Life http://ignatianlife.org Ignatian Spirituality in real time Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:50:50 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on On the Death of My Niece by Ruthann Genoni http://ignatianlife.org/on-the-death-of-my-niece/#comment-2067 Ruthann Genoni Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:50:50 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=1998#comment-2067 I don't believe I have ever read anything more beautiful and true on the subject. I shared your inspired words with my three sons and will share your words with others. Love and compassion truly replaces fear and God does give us the grace we ask for. Your precious parents continue to be a source of comfort, compassion and love to our family and so many others. God bless you and all your family and I am truly sorry for your loss. Love, Ruthann I don’t believe I have ever read anything more beautiful and true on the subject. I shared your inspired words with my three sons and will share your words with others. Love and compassion truly replaces fear and God does give us the grace we ask for. Your precious parents continue to be a source of comfort, compassion and love to our family and so many others. God bless you and all your family and I am truly sorry for your loss. Love, Ruthann

]]> Comment on God walks among the pots and pans by Michelle Francl-Donnay http://ignatianlife.org/god-walks-among-the-pots-and-pans/#comment-2066 Michelle Francl-Donnay Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:45:45 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=2022#comment-2066 Thanks for all the welcoming and grace-filled words! Thanks for all the welcoming and grace-filled words!

]]> Comment on On the Death of My Niece by JoAnna O'Keefe http://ignatianlife.org/on-the-death-of-my-niece/#comment-2065 JoAnna O'Keefe Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:03:28 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=1998#comment-2065 Dear John, After reading your blog, in tears, all I could think was: "Perfect love casts out all fear." God bless you. mom Dear John,

After reading your blog, in tears, all I could think was: “Perfect love casts out all fear.”

God bless you.
mom

]]> Comment on On the Death of My Niece by John O'Keefe http://ignatianlife.org/on-the-death-of-my-niece/#comment-2063 John O'Keefe Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:56:19 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=1998#comment-2063 Robin, thanks for sharing this. I'm sorry for your loss. I'm going to share it with my sister. Robin, thanks for sharing this. I’m sorry for your loss. I’m going to share it with my sister.

]]> Comment on God walks among the pots and pans by Paul Brian Campbell, S.J. http://ignatianlife.org/god-walks-among-the-pots-and-pans/#comment-2062 Paul Brian Campbell, S.J. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:42:55 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=2022#comment-2062 Michelle, Just lovely. But, then, I knew it would be. How wonderful to find that space in the laundry room where you could pray and to be able to "return" there as you painted your bathroom. A blessing. Paul Michelle,

Just lovely. But, then, I knew it would be.

How wonderful to find that space in the laundry room where you could pray and to be able to “return” there as you painted your bathroom.

A blessing.

Paul

]]> Comment on On the Death of My Niece by Robin http://ignatianlife.org/on-the-death-of-my-niece/#comment-2061 Robin Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:48 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=1998#comment-2061 After our 24yo son died, my brother (who like you, spent days with us) called me every day for at least a year, and still calls frequently. Your post reminds me that his walk with us must have called him to put aside his own fears. You will be a great blessing to your sister and her family. I don't know, 3.5 years later, whether the suffering becomes less acute, but it does shift its weight, and it seems to be a lifelong challenge, this figuring out of how to balance and carry it. After our 24yo son died, my brother (who like you, spent days with us) called me every day for at least a year, and still calls frequently. Your post reminds me that his walk with us must have called him to put aside his own fears. You will be a great blessing to your sister and her family. I don’t know, 3.5 years later, whether the suffering becomes less acute, but it does shift its weight, and it seems to be a lifelong challenge, this figuring out of how to balance and carry it.

]]> Comment on God walks among the pots and pans by Robin http://ignatianlife.org/god-walks-among-the-pots-and-pans/#comment-2060 Robin Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:53:18 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=2022#comment-2060 Such a beautiful post, Michelle. And how lovely to see your writing in this space! Such a beautiful post, Michelle. And how lovely to see your writing in this space!

]]> Comment on God walks among the pots and pans by Lisa Kelly http://ignatianlife.org/god-walks-among-the-pots-and-pans/#comment-2059 Lisa Kelly Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:56:27 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=2022#comment-2059 What a beautifully descriptive piece to introduce yourself to our little world! Thank you! Welcome to Ignatian Life! What a beautifully descriptive piece to introduce yourself to our little world! Thank you! Welcome to Ignatian Life!

]]> Comment on God walks among the pots and pans by Fran Rossi Szpylczyn http://ignatianlife.org/god-walks-among-the-pots-and-pans/#comment-2058 Fran Rossi Szpylczyn Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:22:36 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=2022#comment-2058 Oh Michelle... simply beautifully put. God among the pots, pans and laundry room. Yet I go running elsewhere to seek God in more exotic places, and find that it is God that I am fleeing in the end. Oh Michelle… simply beautifully put. God among the pots, pans and laundry room. Yet I go running elsewhere to seek God in more exotic places, and find that it is God that I am fleeing in the end.

]]> Comment on Connecting to the Source by Paul http://ignatianlife.org/connecting-to-the-source/#comment-2055 Paul Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:28:44 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=1981#comment-2055 This is a really helpful and thoughtful post. Get over, get outside, give it space and give it wings. Who can know where it will go? Thanks Lisa! This is a really helpful and thoughtful post. Get over, get outside, give it space and give it wings. Who can know where it will go? Thanks Lisa!

]]> Comment on Connecting to the Source by Matt, About Your Job: It’s Not About You « Silent Entry http://ignatianlife.org/connecting-to-the-source/#comment-2054 Matt, About Your Job: It’s Not About You « Silent Entry Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:14:19 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=1981#comment-2054 [...] a head start on his course in life if he does what Lisa Kelly advises in her Ignatian blog post, Connecting to the Source, dotMagis.com.  In examining his alternative in life, Matt might simply want to take some steps to [...] [...] a head start on his course in life if he does what Lisa Kelly advises in her Ignatian blog post, Connecting to the Source, dotMagis.com.  In examining his alternative in life, Matt might simply want to take some steps to [...]

]]> Comment on Connecting to the Source by arthur sollee http://ignatianlife.org/connecting-to-the-source/#comment-2053 arthur sollee Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:57:07 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=1981#comment-2053 Thanks for the beautiful article. My experience of the love of Christ over 30 years ago has grown deeper and deeper. The inner meaning of the scriptures have an ongoing penetration. My understanding is inversely proportional to my growth in humility. To go into the cave of the heart (to know oneself) is one of the truths that father ignatius has taught us. Thanks for the beautiful article. My experience of the love of Christ over 30 years ago has grown deeper and deeper. The inner meaning of the scriptures have an ongoing penetration. My understanding is inversely proportional to my growth in humility.
To go into the cave of the heart (to know oneself) is one of the truths that father ignatius has taught us.

]]> Comment on Committed to the One by Maria http://ignatianlife.org/committed-to-the-one/#comment-2051 Maria Sun, 15 Jan 2012 11:23:03 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=887#comment-2051 Lissa, you said: " Within the context of a marriage, within the intimacy of love shared by a husband and wife, within the vow to live with the other until death, is the understanding that you know there is nothing greater in life “to seek” than this relationship". This in itself is getting away from the detachment that is asked of the Christian. Even within the context of marriage, "this relationship" is not the be all and end all. Rather, how "this relationship" glorifies God, and how "this relationship" conforms to God's will, is what is to be sought. It is very easy for family and marriage to become the God of our lives. I think this is why Christ made that much questioned "those who do not hate one's father or mother" speech. God must always come first. Seek first the kingdom of God and everything else will be added. What St Ignatius means about seeking neither wealth nor poverty, health or sickness is the formula for total peace because one's gaze is fixed on Christ. If we sought neither, then if health comes we are joyful and if sickness comes we remain at peace because the main focus of our life is Christ. Lissa, you said: ” Within the context of a marriage, within the intimacy of love shared by a husband and wife, within the vow to live with the other until death, is the understanding that you know there is nothing greater in life “to seek” than this relationship”.

This in itself is getting away from the detachment that is asked of the Christian.

Even within the context of marriage, “this relationship” is not the be all and end all. Rather, how “this relationship” glorifies God, and how “this relationship” conforms to God’s will, is what is to be sought.

It is very easy for family and marriage to become the God of our lives. I think this is why Christ made that much questioned “those who do not hate one’s father or mother” speech.

God must always come first. Seek first the kingdom of God and everything else will be added.

What St Ignatius means about seeking neither wealth nor poverty, health or sickness is the formula for total peace because one’s gaze is fixed on Christ. If we sought neither, then if health comes we are joyful and if sickness comes we remain at peace because the main focus of our life is Christ.

]]> Comment on Compassion for the Earth by John O'Keefe http://ignatianlife.org/compassion-for-the-earth/#comment-2045 John O'Keefe Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:25:18 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=1935#comment-2045 Mari, Thanks for you thoughtful question. My concern if multilayered. First, it is highly problematic that large energy companies - gas, oil, coal - are complicit in fostering the belief that climate change is not happening. They are doing so because there is so much money to be made drilling for fossil fuels. I know their argument is that the world needs energy, but if the price is the erosion of the earth's capacity to support life, the price is too high. The greed of these companies is delaying the development of alternative energy. Second, the hydraulic fracking methods used to drill for natural gas is potentially extremely toxic. We are rushing ahead with this technique without due caution. The tar sands oil in Alberta is the dirties energy in the world. It is absolutely destructive to land producing the oil, it is dangerous to ship, and it will contribute mightily to atmospheric carbon increases. Millions of Americans don't want the pipeline, but Oil companies have disproportionate influence in the NE state legislature and in the U.S. Congress. (For example, the house just voted (12/14) to fast track the pipeline.) Also, the First Nations in Canada just blocked an east west tar sands pipeline, so there is resistance in Canada as well. The Jesuits just released a document on ecology. I recommend it. It will give you a better sense of what is happening in the Catholic/Jesuit world with respect to environment: http://www.sjweb.info/documents/sjs/pjnew/PJ106ENG.pdf Mari, Thanks for you thoughtful question. My concern if multilayered.

First, it is highly problematic that large energy companies – gas, oil, coal – are complicit in fostering the belief that climate change is not happening. They are doing so because there is so much money to be made drilling for fossil fuels. I know their argument is that the world needs energy, but if the price is the erosion of the earth’s capacity to support life, the price is too high. The greed of these companies is delaying the development of alternative energy.

Second, the hydraulic fracking methods used to drill for natural gas is potentially extremely toxic. We are rushing ahead with this technique without due caution.

The tar sands oil in Alberta is the dirties energy in the world. It is absolutely destructive to land producing the oil, it is dangerous to ship, and it will contribute mightily to atmospheric carbon increases. Millions of Americans don’t want the pipeline, but Oil companies have disproportionate influence in the NE state legislature and in the U.S. Congress. (For example, the house just voted (12/14) to fast track the pipeline.) Also, the First Nations in Canada just blocked an east west tar sands pipeline, so there is resistance in Canada as well.

The Jesuits just released a document on ecology. I recommend it. It will give you a better sense of what is happening in the Catholic/Jesuit world with respect to environment: http://www.sjweb.info/documents/sjs/pjnew/PJ106ENG.pdf

]]> Comment on Compassion for the Earth by Lisa http://ignatianlife.org/compassion-for-the-earth/#comment-2044 Lisa Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:44:21 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=1935#comment-2044 We have been conditioned by culture (or the Spirit not of God hard at work) to think that love is cheesy, sentimental, for the fool-hardy and the dreamer and yet fear is to be heeded at all costs. Only when one opens one-self to the experience of love, to seeing creation (from the oil fields to the rain forests, to the deserts to each person) as a creation of God do you realize that it truly is much much bigger and more powerful than fear of anything. Your "trite" revelation at the end is really the ultimate Truth. We have been conditioned by culture (or the Spirit not of God hard at work) to think that love is cheesy, sentimental, for the fool-hardy and the dreamer and yet fear is to be heeded at all costs. Only when one opens one-self to the experience of love, to seeing creation (from the oil fields to the rain forests, to the deserts to each person) as a creation of God do you realize that it truly is much much bigger and more powerful than fear of anything. Your “trite” revelation at the end is really the ultimate Truth.

]]> Comment on Compassion for the Earth by Mari http://ignatianlife.org/compassion-for-the-earth/#comment-2043 Mari Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:26:08 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=1935#comment-2043 I know this was not the point of your entry and you admitted that this thought only comes in your darker moments...but could you expand a little bit upon "gas drillers and oil mongers currently raping North Dakota and Alberta will actually succeed in dragging humanity into a dystopian future of relentless misery."? I live in the tension that comes with having been Jesuit educated and having compassion for the earth AND working for an oil and gas company. I know this was not the point of your entry and you admitted that this thought only comes in your darker moments…but could you expand a little bit upon “gas drillers and oil mongers currently raping North Dakota and Alberta will actually succeed in dragging humanity into a dystopian future of relentless misery.”?

I live in the tension that comes with having been Jesuit educated and having compassion for the earth AND working for an oil and gas company.

]]> Comment on Compassion for the Earth by Michelle http://ignatianlife.org/compassion-for-the-earth/#comment-2041 Michelle Wed, 07 Dec 2011 04:08:09 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=1935#comment-2041 Thanks for this perspective! If we are made in God's image, the loving Creator of the universe, this ought to be the way we approach all of life, including our use of the created world. All too often fear paralyzes, while light helps us move forward.... Thanks for this perspective! If we are made in God’s image, the loving Creator of the universe, this ought to be the way we approach all of life, including our use of the created world. All too often fear paralyzes, while light helps us move forward….

]]> Comment on Painful Consolation by Augustine http://ignatianlife.org/painful-consolation/#comment-2018 Augustine Wed, 02 Nov 2011 22:11:09 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=1815#comment-2018 Lisa, this is quite inspiring and helpful. It's really true that most people can't accept the fact that 'painful things' could come from God. Painful choices as we might call them, but God knows that they are the best for us on the long run. Lisa, this is quite inspiring and helpful. It’s really true that most people can’t accept the fact that ‘painful things’ could come from God. Painful choices as we might call them, but God knows that they are the best for us on the long run.

]]> Comment on What Do You Stand For? by Elizabeth Martorell http://ignatianlife.org/what-do-you-stand-for/#comment-2017 Elizabeth Martorell Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:28:57 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/?p=1873#comment-2017 Thank you, Lisa, both for participating and for sharing your fears. They echo mine so often. Thank you, Lisa, both for participating and for sharing your fears. They echo mine so often.

]]> Comment on Twelve Days by Paul http://ignatianlife.org/twelve-days/#comment-2013 Paul Sun, 16 Oct 2011 19:37:48 +0000 http://ignatianlife.org/twelve-days/#comment-2013 Thanks Bernie and Lisa! Thanks Bernie and Lisa!

]]>