An Easter story from a friend – no such thing as a bad egg?

Dear CSD Friends,

Father John received this note from a friend and thought you might enjoy it…

Dan

Dear Friends and Family,

I had a beautiful little miracle happen that I want to share with you.  I resolved last week to make a special effort to offer little sacrifices throughout the day to show my love for Christ, rather than grumbling about them (my usual first instinct).

Well, my first test came when I went to make breakfast for my family this past Saturday, and I saw that we only had one egg left.  For some reason I was really craving a fried egg sandwich, which I had made for my husband the night before-with avocado and cheese and real mayonnaise.  So I talked my daughter into oatmeal (really…she likes it) and then held my breath when I asked my husband if he wanted breakfast.  To my delight, he said no!  So I got out all of the ingredients for my heavenly egg sandwich when my husband saw this and said, “Oh!  Are you making my favorite breakfast?  I guess I’ll have to reconsider.”  But…we only have one egg!  Yes, I said this out loud, so of course he insisted that I eat it.

Remembering my resolution for the week, I ultimately gave him-and Jesus-the egg sandwich. It actually felt pretty good!  Imagine my surprise Monday morning when I opened up my favorite book of gospel meditations by Fr. John Bartunek (The Better Part), and he introduces the day’s gospel reading with a quote from St. Albert the Great:

“An egg given during life for love of God is more profitable for eternity than a cathedral full of gold given after death.”

Who knew?!  May you have a blessed Easter Triduum, and don’t forget to share those Easter eggs!

New Homilies from Father John

You can find them HERE!

What are Ignatian spiritual exercises?

Interview With Official From Ignatian Exercises Federation

By Antonio Gaspari (Zenit.org)

Every year, a countless number of Catholics escape from their typical activities and take days to retreat into prayer following the system of the Ignatian spiritual exercises.

The Pope himself is one of these Catholics; Benedict XVI’s annual spiritual exercises with the Roman Curia begin Feb. 21.

Just prior to the Holy Father’s retreat, the Italian Federation of Spiritual Exercises will hold their annual assembly. The president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, will be one of the participants in the three-day meeting to discuss the relationship between spiritual exercises and the people of the Church.

In order to understand better the history, timeliness and modern practice of spiritual exercises, ZENIT spoke with Passionist Father Stanislao Renzi, national secretary of the federation.

Many young people don’t even know what the spiritual exercises are or why they are done. Can you explain them briefly?

Father Renzi: It’s true that many young people no longer even know what the spiritual exercises are or why they are practiced: Today youth live in a world that loves noise, not silence and recollection, and many want to be free of laws and discipline. It is difficult to speak to them of the “search for the will of God in deciding their own life.”

However, there are many [young adults] — between 20 and 30 years old — who do the spiritual exercises by assiduously attending courses in retreat houses, at times on weekends. The representatives [of these retreats] offer the young people the possibility to pray and to reflect individually or in community, so that they discern their choices in life and make their own spiritual journey in the Church. The courses are open to all young people who wish to make their own lives mature according to God’s plan.

It should also be remembered that, according to St. Ignatius, the spiritual exercises are not a time of study or of simple recollection and prayer. They are a search: “As walking and running are physical exercises, so any form of preparing and disposing the soul to get rid of all disordered affections and, after being rid of them, to seek the will of God in deciding on one’s own life, for the salvation of one’s soul, is called spiritual exercises.” (Es. Sp. Ann.1).

Can you tell us the history of the spiritual exercises? When did they begin? What does the Bible say in this respect? Who are the saints who practiced the spiritual exercises?

Father Renzi: Spiritual exercises were already done by the Desert Fathers, but those we call the classic exercises go back to St. Ignatius of Loyola, who began to write them in a book in 1522 and perfected them in 1548. The book begins the exercises by posing first fundamental questions: For what has God created us?

The object of the exercises, in St. Ignatius’ thought, is to order one’s life according to God’s plan, as man was created to serve God and only through this can he attain salvation.

He recommended that the exercises be done in a place other than one’s usual environment. There were in fact “houses of exercises,” where silence and stillness helped the exercises to be made.

St. Ignatius took from the Bible the ideas for the gradual composition of the book of spiritual exercises, in which are reflected his feelings when finding the secret to discern the will of God. Hence the Bible is a fundamental text for all types of spiritual exercises.

It would take a long time to find all the passages of the Bible that [could be referred] to the exercises. I find one concretely in Psalm 118:47-64. The Psalmist tells the Lord he has scrutinized his ways and will direct his steps to the Commandments; he says he is prepared to keep the secrets of the Lord. Finally he asks the Lord to show him his will, given that the earth is full of the Lord’s love. Analogous is the itinerary of the one doing the exercises, who revises his own life to direct it in the sense of the will of God.

Other references might be the Virgin Mary, who meditated in her heart everything that happened around her. Mary, in fact, listened to and meditated the Scriptures, linking them to Jesus’ words and to the events she went discovering in her history in relation with her Son. Another is Jesus’ invitation to the disciples to withdraw in solitude to rest, which is spiritually salutary. Finally, the reference to the Scriptures in the conversation with the disciples of Emmaus, so that they understand what happened in his Death and Resurrection. St. Ignatius’ exercises go over the whole life of Jesus as it is narrated in the Gospels.

In addition to St. Ignatius, many saints practiced the spiritual exercises as a renewal of Christian life. I will mention only a few: St. Dominic, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Paul of the Cross, St. Alphonsus Mary Liguori. All were tireless in preaching and in the confessional as ministers of God’s mercy, helping men to find themselves, to struggle against sin and to advance on the way of the spiritual life.

In a world such as today’s which is so secularized, what reasons do you give to promote and practice spiritual exercises?

Father Renzi: [Citing Benedict XVI,] secularization, which often becomes secularism, abandoning the positive meaning of the secular, harshly tests the Christian life of the faithful and pastors. … Today it is a providential challenge to which convincing answers must be given to man’s questions and hopes.

Spiritual exercises, insofar as [they are a time of] listening to the Word of God dwelled upon for a long time, allow one to discern the will of God and, conforming oneself to it, to overcome the mentality in which God is absent and, at the same time, to apply oneself to living in communion with God and with neighbor.

For this reason the Federation of Spiritual Exercises promotes the exercises and urges those in charge to plan exercises every year for each category of persons: priests, religious, laity, young people, the elderly, with a view to the renewal of Christian life, to give an answer to the serious challenges posed by secularized society and religious indifference.

“Don’t ever forget that the exercises are an insistent petition, which the Church addresses not only to its sacred ministers, to men and women religious, to all consecrated persons, but also to those who wish to enter into themselves, to dedicate time to God with their soul open to the hope of finding him on their way, to love him and follow him more” (John Paul II, Audience to FIES on the 25th anniversary of its foundation).

In regard to the present importance of the exercises, Paul VI expressed it thus: “The practice of the exercises constitutes an invigorating and restorative pause for the spirit, in the midst of the dissipations of chaotic modern life, but also a school that even today is irreplaceable to introduce souls to greater intimacy with God, to the love of virtue and to the science of life, as gift of God and as response to his call.”

In 1967 the bishops of Triveneto, Italy, wrote a letter on the “Validity of the Spiritual Exercises,” and they recommended “perseverance in this apostolate, which day by day shows itself to be more important.”

Without excluding the determination to experience ways that are adapted to our times, we insist “on the classic structure of the Ignatian Exercises, so valid and providential in their climate of reflection and profound silence” (Pietro Schiavone, S.J., “Il Progetto del Padre,” pp. 12-13).

Mysticism – spiritual direction – frustrations – modern perceptions – what do I do?

Q: Dear Father John, At some point would you address the issues facing modern mystics? For example, most spiritual directors do not seem to have experience with mysticism. Even some priests I have encountered believe that God no longer acts in this way with his people, but it has been my personal experience that he does. It is very difficult finding others with similar experiences. Fortunately, I have found an elderly priest who can find occasional time to help me, and I have received advice from a priest who has written extensively on the topic. I think that means I have perhaps been blessed more than other mystics. However, the priests to whom I can go for confession are not mystics; in some cases, they have not even accepted mysticism and I am left with making partial confessions, carefully avoiding anything that seems out of the ordinary and too supernatural. It is all quite disappointing and frustrating. Any advice?

A: I sense frustration in your question. Watch out! Frustration doesn’t come from the Holy Spirit. Frustration is a function of expectations. When we expect reality to be different than it is, we become frustrated. As soon as we become aware of that frustration, we have to make an act of humility and turn our natural (and sometimes reasonable) complaints into fruitful actions and faith-drenched crosses. In the face of frustration, we have to ask ourselves: Can I do anything (within reason) to change the situation? If so, make a decent effort to do it. If not, however, we have to let go, not allowing it to drain emotional and spiritual energy. One of the devil’s favorite tactics is to keep us focused on things we can’t change, so as to keep us from changing what we can.

That’s a general warning. As regards the specific issue, finding spiritual directors who can give helpful guidance to mystics, it is hard for me to say much more. But I’ll try.

Clarifying Our Terms

The reason it’s hard to address is simple. The words mystic, mystical, and mysticism are not precise. Different people mean different things by them. I am not exactly sure what you mean when you refer to “modern mystics.” I am not sure what you mean when you say that some people think God no longer acts “in this way” with his people. In all fairness, then, I should tell you what I mean by the term. I will use it as a synonym for the more technical, theological term “infused contemplation.” Infused contemplation is a kind of prayer in which the soul no longer does anything and God reaches down and does everything, elevating the person to an ineffable experience of the divine presence. As St. Teresa described it, prayer is when we water the garden of our souls; infused contemplation is when God sends a thunder shower to water it for us.

This can occur in a quiet way, in which the only one aware of it is the one who is praying. Or it can occur in an ecstatic way, in which everyone is aware of it through related phenomena like levitating or the experience of auras.

I don’t use the term as a synonym for miracles. Miraculous experiences of God’s presence can happen without infused contemplation – for example, the experience of visionaries or of people receiving interior locutions. I realize that not everyone will agree with my use of terms. I also realize that by defining them in this way, I may be attempting to answer a question you didn’t ask! But at least you know what I’m talking about.

Removing Misunderstandings

Certainly God continues to work in this way. Every priest has to study this phenomenon in his preparation for ordination during his course on spiritual theology. If any clergy have told you otherwise, perhaps they misunderstood your question, or maybe there was some miscommunication. At least, I hope so.

The experience you describe of difficulty in finding an apt spiritual guide in this situation is not unique to our epoch. If you are not yet familiar with the lives of mystics from past periods, I would recommend that you read the lives of St. Theresa of Avila (1500s), St. Margaret Mary Alocoque (1600s), and even St. Faustina Kowalska (1920s). If I am not mistaken, each one of them experienced deep and prolonged suffering because of the difficulty they had in finding sure guidance. I would even venture to say that finding dependable spiritual guidance is part of the cross for souls who are given this charism. That doesn’t mean anyone is at fault for it. Judging by precedent, we can say that God usually uses this struggle to help purify the soul. So then the question becomes, what is the most fruitful way to carry on that struggle?

Jesus promised that “the one who searches always finds” (Mt 7:8). I would advise you and those like you to pray and search for a spiritual director gifted with enough wisdom to guide you competently. In the meantime, don’t feel as if you have to discuss all of your spiritual experiences in confession. If you don’t have confidence that the confessor will respect you, simply mention your sins and failings without going into anything else, and gladly receive God’s grace through that sacrament. And remember, a good spiritual director doesn’t necessarily have to have experienced mysticism himself in order to guide you effectively. He or she simply has to be someone who is coherent in their vocation and knows the Lord deeply and personally.

Tempting Mystics

But now I want to mention the most important thing. The devil is not absent from the lives of people who are gifted with this kind of experience. In fact, he may be more active. He will tempt you towards arrogance, thinking that because you have been given this gift you are superior to others, both laity and clergy. He will tempt you towards self-sufficiency, thinking that because it’s hard to find a spiritual director you can just figure everything out on your own. He will tempt you towards a subtle spiritual gluttony, thinking that because you have experienced infused contemplation at times, you should always be experiencing it, and therefore prompting you to try and manufacture it every time you pray. He will tempt you towards a subtle impurity of intention, making you pray and do spiritual things in order to experience the delightful mystical gifts, instead of simply seeking to glorify God. The devil may even try to trick you by concocting counterfeit mystical experiences, as he did with St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Unfailing Defense

The sure defense against these and other wily attacks is to take Jesus’ motto as your own: Thy will be done. The test of holiness is not the presence, frequency, or intensity of mystical experience. Rather, it is union of wills. Ask yourself each day, preferably in an evening examination of conscience: How faithfully am I avoiding sin and the occasions of sin? How faithfully am I fulfilling the responsibilities of my state in life? How can I do so more faithfully? How faithfully am I carrying out my Lord’s commandment of charity (“Love one another as I have loved you” – Jn 15:12) in thought, word, and deed, towards relatives, friends, acquaintances, and strangers? How can I do so more faithfully? How energetically am I striving to build up the Church and the world around me? Pay special attention to your words, using them always for good and avoiding all useless criticism. Make sure that your prayer life is always feeding your Christlike living.

This is the difference between Christianity and so many Gnostic pseudo-religions. The latter put mystical experience at the pinnacle of religion; Christ put grace-empowered, self-forgetful love there. If you strive to do the same, you will find meaning even in the midst of the challenges and suffering that mystical experience brings into your life. And you will grow in holiness and give God’s grace more and more room to work in you and through you.

I will leave the last word to St. Teresa of Avila: “Don’t seek feelings of consolations in prayer. Seek the Lord, seek to conform your will to his! If the Lord chooses to give delights and consolations, be grateful, but let them accomplish the purpose for which they were given: to encourage us to persevere in daily taking up our cross and following him.”

As I finish writing this answer, I am sending up a prayer for your continued growth in holiness. God bless you!

Yours in Christ, Fr. John Bartunek, LC

My 11 year old’s challenges with Lent… and what about Sunday?

Q: Dear Father John, My question is on behalf of my 11-year-old son, Matthew. Matthew decided to give up sweets for Lent. he did this completely on his own and just announced it on Ash Wednesday. (I am giving up my favorite indulgence, chocolate). At two weeks into Lent my poor little Matthew is in misery about wishing to have a dessert. I have coached him from different angles — “Look what a strong person you are becoming” or “Why don’t you choose a different sacrifice? You know you can change your sacrifice…” or “When you really want that sweet and you feel angry or desperate, think of Christ’s suffering for each one of us and relate his feelings to your own.” Do you have any advice for us? Matthew says that he’s doomed either way: if he continues to sacrifice desserts he will be miserable and if he changes his sacrifice he will be disappointed and ashamed that he could not keep up his sacrifice.

By the way, another thing we a re doing for Lent is to read daily Mass readings first thing every morning before doing anything else. Matthew is really enjoying this! We are also planning to visit a nursing home and share our musical talents there.

Also, I have heard many people talk about Sundays being a feast day and that you may celebrate by indulging in whatever your Lenten sacrifice is. What are your thoughts on that?

A: It gave me a thrill to read your question. You and Matthew and your family are carrying the torch of our faith high and making it shine bright. How pleased our Lord must be with your efforts to live this season with fervor and meaning! You are living proof of what Pope Benedict XVI said in his inaugural homily: “The Church is young!”

Sundays Are Different

OK, down to business. Sundays in Lent are still Sundays, and every Sunday is a Solemnity, the most illustrious liturgical feast the Church can have. Sundays are Victory Days, the day of Christ’s victory (Resurrection) over death, sin, and evil. As his brothers and sisters, we are called to share in the victory and to celebrate it. That’s why Sundays need to be different in our lives (and a lot of benefits come with it when we actually make them different). So, yes, during Lent, it is a long-standing and meaningful practice to exempt ourselves from our Lenten sacrifices on Sundays. But that doesn’t mean we should over-indulge! We should enjoy the simple pleasures of life (like sweets) as an act of homage to God, an act of faith in his goodness and promise of salvation. Give yourself a whiff of heaven! Exempting Sundays from our sacrifices (for the right reason) actually helps keep our motivations healthy and supernatural during the rest of the week.

Getting Practical

Your way of reminding Matthew of the reason behind his sacrifice is right on target. You and he (and all of us) must keep fresh the reason why we choose to give something up for Lent: because it will help remind us that earth is not heaven, and that we tend to be self-centered and self-indulgent (that’s why we whine when we don’t get our sweets). And it is precisely that tendency that hinders us from following Christ more closely and learning to love like him.

When a football player starts his pre-season practices, it’s really tough. He has to get up early, push his body hard, endure pain, sweat, and a rigorous schedule. Why would he do all of that? Because he wants to be the best football player he can be. And the fat and laziness that he has acquired during the off-season has to be purified for that to happen. It’s painful, but it has a purpose.

Our Lenten sacrifices are painful (that’s why they are called sacrifices), but they have a purpose: to get rid of the spiritual fat and laziness that inhibits us from loving as purely and energetically as Christ. St Paul put it well: “I do all this for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25). And also: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” So, keep reminding Matthew of that!

Three other practical things may help him. If you and/or your husband will take on his sacrifice too, abstaining from dessert along with him, it will help him. It will also help him if he learns about the sacrifices of the saints. Do you ever read excerpts from the lives of the saints? If he likes the daily Mass readings, he may like these too. They remind us that we are part of a bigger story. And seeing how much our older brothers and sisters in the Church suffered out of love for Christ stirs and strengthens our hearts. Unfortunately, not all the versions of the lives of the saints are helpful in this regard. I recommend that you look at the “Emails from Uncle Eddy” at Catholic.net. I wrote them for college students, but I think Matthew may like them. Finally, try to teach Matthew what it means to offer up his sufferings and sacrifices. You can read more about that at this post.

And tell him that I will pray for him tonight during my adoration, and that in order to support him in his efforts to follow Christ more closely, I am going to add his sacrifice to my sacrifices for the rest of Lent: no more sweet desserts for this priest (till Sunday, that is)!

Yours in Christ, Fr. John Bartunek, LC