Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

T hank you Allison Gingras and Elizabeth Riordan for inviting Catholic bloggers to re-post their favorite articles on "Worth Revisiting” Wednesdays.   Go there now (and every Wednesday) and gouge yourself on a feast of spiritual treasures. Be sure to visit Allison at  Reconciled To You and Elizabeth at Theology Is A Verb during the rest of the week.  You will find much spiritual nourishment and encouragement there. I am sharing the following post: Monday Musings – Mary My Mother – Be at My Side  (Originally published January 4, 2016) (Photo©Michael Seagriff) [The great value of retreats is that the guidance and insight gained during those intense times of prayer and silence never stop giving. Every time I re-read my notes from past retreats I gain additional direction and encouragement. Let me share an example of what I mean.] On the second day of my retreat, I found myself distracted particularly at Communion. This upset me and...

(Photo©Michael Seagriff) [The great value of retreats is that the guidance and insight gained during those intense times of prayer and silence never stop giving. Every time I re-read my notes from past retreats I gain additional direction and encouragement. Let me share an example of what I mean.] On the second day of my retreat, I found myself distracted particularly at Communion. This upset me and I asked God to show me why I felt distant from Him. I asked for the gift of intimacy and stayed after Mass to further give Him thanks for the great gift I had just received and to explore these feelings more thoroughly. It was my intent to ponder the reflection set forth for the second day in A Novena of Holy Communions , written by Father Lawrence G. Lovasik, S.V.D.   But the chapel lights were quickly turned off making it impossible to see the words in my little booklet. I was immediately struck with this thought: “Now you have to use your own words and not th...