September 8th: Mary’s Birthday
September 8th is the feast of “The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.” In other words, it’s Mary’s birthday. This day, commemorated by the Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Churches, dates back to the 5th and 6th Centuries. Of course, we don’t know the actual date of Mary’s birthday. It could be September 16th (my birthday!) or even your birthday! It’s interesting to note, however, that September 8th is exactly 9 months after December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception–which marks Mary’s conception. Similarly, Christmas is exactly 9 months after the Feast of the Annunciation on March 25. Those dates make “sense”–at least biologically speaking.
But how are we to celebrate this feast? Some people (especially with small children) bake or buy a cake and sing happy birthday to Mary. Others make it a point to say a decade of the rosary or an entire rosary on this day. Still others attend Mass or take a few minutes to reflect on a scripture passage that shines a light on Mary: the Annunciation, the birth of Jesus, the finding in the temple, the wedding feast of Cana, or the crucifixion.
One of my favorite passages that refers to Mary occurred during Jesus’ public ministry (Lk. 11:27-28). One day, as Jesus was speaking to the crowds, a woman, being deeply moved by his words, cried out, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!” She was really saying something like, “How blessed, good, and lucky is your mother to have a son like you!” But Jesus says to the woman, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!” Jesus is not putting down his mother. He is raising her up! He was saying, Mary was blessed not simply because she bore Jesus physically into the world. But rather, she is blessed because of how she lived her entire life. She was a woman of great faith and trust in God. How else could she have said her “yes” to God’s incredible request of her? Mary listened to and spoke with God especially in her daily prayer. She pondered God’s word and applied it to the circumstances of her own life. Fr. Ronald Rolneiser says, Mary gave Jesus birth in the faith, the faith she lived “in the here of her everyday life!”
I have always loved what the British writer Caryll Houselander says in her book, The Mary Book. She writes:
“We shall not be asked to do more than the Mother of God;
we shall not be asked to become extraordinary or set apart…
What we shall be asked to give is our fesh and blood, our daily life–
our thoughts, our service to one another,
our affections and loves, our words, our intellect,
our waking, working, and sleeping,
our ordinary human joys and sorrows–to God.
To surrender all we are, as we are, to the Spirit of Love
in order that our lives may bear Christ into the world–
that is what we shall be asked.”
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us…
For reflection:
How did you first learn about Mary? Who told you about her?
Do you have a favorite image or picture of Mary? Would you like to tell us about it?
What do you admire or love about Mary?
If you have one question you could ask Mary, what would you ask her?
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PS: You are invited to our 64th annual Notre Dame Chicken B-B-Q & Boutique on Sunday, September 27. Where: on the campus of Notre Dame Cathedral Latin High School (NDCL), 13000 Auburn Road, Chardon, OH… When: noon til 5:00 PM… Dine in or take-out… handicapped accessible… boutique shopping, children’s activities, Country Kitchen, pies, ice cream, fellowship and fun! I will be in the “Book Nook” (in the cafeteria from noon until 3:00) with my books–all discounted and signed. Stop by and say hi. I’d love to meet you!
The Marian song I chose for today is “Breath of Heaven” sung here by Amy Grant. For me, it gives us a glimpse into what Mary’s prayer could have been like, especially in the first months of her pregnancy. She earnestly begs God, “Be with me!… Breath of Heaven, hold me together… lighten my darkness… Help me.” I think these words are akin to our own prayer at times when we face an unknown and daunting future… The images of Christmas in the video remind us that our Christmas celebration begins with a young woman who had the faith and courage to say “yes” to God’ s remarkable invitation to bear Jesus into our world.
PS: See Joyce’s comment below (it’s the third reader’s comment): Here is another video that shows a woman reciting the words of this song while signing the entire song. You might fnd it enriching!
I welcome your comments below!
Need a Smile?
Today’s reflection is for anyone who needs a smile right now–or a little laugh. Here are some amusing items I’ve come across within the past few months. I, for one, believe that laughter is one of God’s greatest gifts to us. Laughter is not only good for our cardiovascular system, it is good for helping us sustain a positive attitude toward life–even when we may be swimming in negativity. And laughter has another important effect: it unites us with other people. As pianist and comedian Victor Borge said, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” I hope you will find something here to smile or laugh about!
“At the start of her kindergarten class, the teacher told her students, “We’ll be inside for recess today, because it was raining on my way to work.” One student raised his hand and asked, “Where do you work?”
Why do seagulls fly over the sea? Because if they flew over the bay, they would be called baygulls!
A city in the state of Washington bought new snowplows and the locals were given the honor of naming the fleet. Three submissions were: Control + Salt + Delete… Scoop Dogg… Betty Whiteout.
Man #1: When I was young I dreamed that by the time I was 35 I’d have a stable full of horses, a big car, and a vacation home in Aspen.
Man #2: Have your dreams been fulfilled?
Man #1: Only one. I turned 35.
Isn’t it strange that “take out” can mean food… dating…. or murder?
My idea of a Super Bowl is a toilet that cleans itself.
Items from the real world:
Actual headlines: “Red Tape Holds Up New Bridge”… “Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim”… “Air Head Fired”…”Hospitals Are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors”… “Man Struck By Lightning Faces Battery Charges.”
Quiz Show Host: In 1863, which American President gave the Gettysburg Address?
Contestant: I don’t know. I wasn’t born yet.
Defense Attorney: Did your investigation determine why the victim was there?
Officer: No.
Defense Attorney: Why didn’t you ask him?
Officer: He was dead.
TV newsreporter: Police are still looking for the suspect–a woman described as 35 feet tall.
What do you call having your grandmother on speed-dial? Instagram.
Said by a psychologist: We’re not addressing the elephant under the carpet.
Sign outside a church: BE GONE SATIN YOU HAVE NO POWER HERE
Two actual reviews of the Grand Canyon:
“No plants, no life. It’s like a picture of death.”
“It’s too big… Also my wife decided to divorce me while we were there.”
Have you ever thought or said these things?
“I do many things well… none of which generate income.”
“It’s finally the weekend, so I’ll either stay home and wish I’d gone out, or I’ll go out and wish I’d stayed home.”
“Pretending to be a functioning adult is exhausting.”
“I didn’t mean to push all your buttons. I was just looking for ‘mute.'”
“I hate it when I plan my day and no one follows it.”
“I wish I could drop my body off at the gym and pick it back up when it’s ready.” (I wish I could drop my teeth off at the dentist’s too!)
That reminds me of what Woody Allen said, “I’m not afraid of dying. I just don’t want to be there.”
“Sometimes I meet people and feel sorry for their dog.”
Which leads us to dogs and cats…
Fun dog T-shirts:
Life happens. Dogs help.
I left my dog to be here… this better be good.
Be kind. Do good. Pet dogs.
You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it.
Fun cat T-shirts:
Life is better with coffee, cats, and books.
That’s what I do. I pet cats. I read books. I know things.
Mug shot of a cat holding this sign:
Yes, I did it.
No, I’m not sorry.
Yes, I will do it again.
One cat won’t fix all your problems. But three might.
For reflection:
I’d be interested in knowing: did any of these put a smile on your face?
Do you have anything to add that might help the rest of us smile?
Our hope and our laughter are ultimately grounded in our belief that God is with us always–through all the ups and downs in life. Here’s a consoling song that reminds us of God’s continual presence. Written by Fr. Arnel Aquino, SJ, and performed by Fr. Silvino Borress, SJ, and friends, the song is called “I Am Ever With You.” May you hear God saying these words to you today…
I hope you’ll leave a comment below! I love hearing from you!
Stories for Children and Children at Heart
As many of you know, I love children’s stories. When I finished my term in community leadership, I signed up for two classes as a “reward” for my service. The first was a course at our local seminary entitled “The Psalms and Wisdom Literature in the Bible.” The teacher, Fr. Larry Tosco, was superb! The second was a course in children’s literature taught by one of our sisters, Regina Alfonso. Sr. Regina was well-qualified to tutor me in children’s literature. Not only had she taught elementary school for many years, she had also taught children’s literature at Notre Dame College. Each week for one semester she and I met in a small room in NDC’s library with a stack of children’s books to read aloud, talk about, and thoroughly enjoy. It was a foretaste of heaven!
My love for children’s literature led me to some wonderful websites that feature stories often read by famous people, and sometimes by ordinary people including children. The videos use the illustrations from the books, but often the pictures come “alive.” For me, the stories, the art work, and the lively reading provide an enriching and fun experience.
Today I’m sharing two stories with you. Both are found on Storyline Online, one of my favorite websites now. The first story, The Three Questions, is based on a story by the great Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy. The story is written and illustrated by Jon. J. Muth. It features a little boy, Nickolai, who has three very big questions. He seeks the answers to his questions from his friends and a wise old turtle. The story is read in dramatic fashion by Meryl Streep. The second book is entitled The Kiss that Missed written and illustrated by David Melling. Read strikingly by Karan Brar, well-known child actor (who is now 27), this story features a king in a hurry, his little son, and his loyal knight. It’s a fun story–with a serious message!
The Three Questions: (11:25 mins.)
The Kiss that Missed:
The Kiss that Missed read by Karan Brar: (4:39 mins.)
Reflection questions for The Three Questions:
Nickolai’s three questions are these: When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do?
How does Nickolai answer these three questions by the actions he took in the story?
What do you think of Leo the turtle’s summary of the three answers at the end of the story?
Is there anything you especially liked about this story? the characters… the drawings… the reader… the sounds… any specific words?
Reflection questions for The Kiss that Missed:
Why did the little prince miss his father’s royal kiss?
What effect did that royal kiss have on the wild animals in the forest and on the huge dragon?
The King apologizes to his son for always being in a hurry. How does he show his apology is sincere?
What did you find humorous in the story?
I’m eager to know what you thought of these stories. I hope some of you will comment below. Thank you!
In Praise of Curiosity
We’ve all heard the proverb: “Curiosity killed the cat.” Yet I remember what my mother always added: “But satisfaction brought it back to life again!” So, which is it? Is curiosity something dangerous and should be avoided? Or is it something life-giving and should be encouraged and even nourished? What does the Bible say? The Bible presents both views of curiosity. In Genesis 3, for example, Adam and Eve’s curiosity with that talking snake and forbidden fruit led to their sin and expulsion from the Garden of Eden. On the other hand, Moses’ curiosity with the burning bush, led to his life-altering encounter with the Living God.
What about Jesus? What do his life and teachings say about curiosity? To begin with, Jesus appears to have been a very curious person. When he was only twelve, he went to the huge city of Jerusalem with his parents to celebrate the Passover. But after the festivities, he missed the bus back to Nazareth. How did that happen? Wasn’t it because his profound curiosity led him back to the Temple to engage in theological conversations with the elders there?
Jesus’ parables reveal the fruits of his insatiable curiosity. They are filled with his knowledge of plants, animals, weather patterns, house construction, yoke-making, shepherds, farming, bread baking, wine-making. Because he was keenly fascinated with people, he became very knowledgable about human relationships. He appreciated the devotion parents had for their children as well as the devotion of a Roman soldier for his ill servant. Jesus knew the comfort of human friendship as well as the pain of betrayal. He saw first hand the devastating effects of illness, the lasting effects of cruelty, as well as the healing power of tenderness and forgiveness.
Perhaps my favorite gospel story that features curiosity is Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus, the tax collector. Zacchaeus was so curious about who Jesus was, that he made a spectacle of himself by climbing up a tree just to get a glimpse of him. Catching sight of this grown man up in that tree, must have piqued Jesus’ curiosity. So he stops, addresses him by name (Zacchaeus’s bad reputation was widely known!), and tells him to come down. Then Jesus invites himself to Zacchaeus’ home for dinner! Over a meal of perhaps tilapia, wheat flatbread, and fine wine, these two men end up engaging in a life-giving conversation–all because both of them had a lively curiosity!
Ian Leslie has written a book on curiosity entitled Curious: The Desire to Know and Why Your Future Depends on It. He warns that “Curiosity is vulnerable to benign neglect”–especially as we age. Sometimes we’re just too busy or too tired to be curious. He cautions, “If you allow yourself to become incurious, your life will be drained of color, interest, and pleasure.” I suspect most of you reading this reflection have a pretty healthy curiosity. Why else would you be reading it?
Let me close this reflection with a few quotes from others who have sung the praises of curiosity. Albert Einstein said, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” Eleanor Roosevelt wrote, “I think at a child’s birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow her child with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity.” And William Arthur Ward wrote, “Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.”
But I like best what Fr. Ronald Rolheiser said in his book, The Holy Longing. He calls curiosity “a sacred gift.” It is part of the “insatiable desire” that God put inside of the human soul. This desire is “the fire inside of us that points to Divinity.”
For reflection:
On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 meaning “not curious at all” and 10 meaning “very curious,” where do you fall? Are you content with your level of curiosity?
Has your curiosity ever gotten you in trouble? Has it ever led to a significant life-giving change for you?
When you were a child, who nourished your curiosity? How did they do it?
What are some ways we can nourish the curiosity of others–our children, grandchildren, friends, family members? Do you have any ways you keep your own curiosity alive?
PS: Thank you for your prayers for the retreat I facilitated last week for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Buffalo, NY, their Associates, and members from three other religious congregations who live with the SSJ’s. They are the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, the Franciscan Sisters originally of Williamsville, NY, and the Sisters of Social Service. It was a blessing for me to be in their midst! A special thank you to Sister Liz who kindly helped me throughout the week–and to Meghan who patiently helped me to show my videos!
Rolheiser writes that God has put into our human souls the “desire to understand the profound and loving mystery of God.” This song for me has always captured some of that profound and loving mystery of God. It’s Barbara Farrell’s beautiful “O God, Beyond All Names.” Some of the words that stand out for me are these: “You have made us in your image… all around us we have known you… you are laboring within us… we are bringing you to birth…”
I encourage you to share a thought or two with us below. I assure you we all enjoy hearing from our readers!
What is Meant by Spirituality?
The full title of my blog is “Sunflower Seeds: Celebrating Everyday Spirituality.” Today I’d like to explore that word spirituality. In my book, Traits of a Healthy Spirituality, I say this about my use of that word. Spirituality is our essential outlook on life, the way we perceive reality. Spirituality also includes our responses to that reality, that is, our actions and behaviors that flow from that perception. For example, if I believe God is a real person who is involved in my life and in the world, then one response of mine would be prayer. If I view others as sons and daughters of God, then my actions would include my love and concern for them.
But there are other ways of viewing and describing the word spirituality. Here are 15 more statements that I invite you to ponder. I suggest you read them prayerfully, noticing some of the similarities and differences.
1) The spiritual life is merely ordinary life lived with God as its center. Jean Maalouf
2) There’s a part of every living thing that wants to become itself: the tadpole into the frog, the chrysalis into the butterfly, a damaged human being into a whole one. That is spirituality. Ellen Bass
3) Spirituality is the style of a person’s response to Christ before the challenge of everyday life, in a historical and cultural environment. Katherine Marie Dyckman and L. Patrick Carroll
4) A Christian spirituality poses the question: Whose am I? Michael Downey
5) Spirituality is how I cope with life. Gerard Broccolo
6) For a spiritual life is simply a life in which all that we do comes from the center, where we are anchored in God: a life soaked through and through by a sense of God’s reality and claim, and self-given to the great movement of God’s will. Evelyn Underhill
7) Spirituality is meeting God in all that is life. Pat Livingston
8) Spirituality means waking up. Most people, even though they don’t know it, are asleep. They never understand the loveliness and beauty of this thing that we call human existence. Anthony DeMello, SJ
9) Christian spiritualiy is our conscious attending to God’s loving outreach and presence in our life. Thomas Groome
10) The spiritual life is a life-long wrestling match with God. Joan Chittister, OSB
11) Most of the peoplle who have what I want–which is to say, purpose, heart, balance, gratitude, joy–are people with a deep sense of spirituality…. They follow a brighter light than the glimmer of their own candle. They are part of something beautiful. Anne Lamott
12) We seek help for what we cannot face alone; in seeking help, we accept and admit our own powerlessness. And in that acceptance and admission, in the acknowledgement that we are not in control, spirituality is born. Ernest Kurtz
13) Too often spirituality is profoundly misunderstood, becoming just another commodity, a source of pleasure or power…a kind of Cosmic Linus Blanket. Veronica Brady
14) Spirituality is what we do with the fire inside of us. Ronald Rolheiser
15) The essence of Christian spirituality is this: be Jesus for others; and find Jesus in others. Sister Melannie Svoboda, SND
For reflection:
Are there any quotations above that you especially liked. Why?
Did any of the pictures catch your attention?
Is there a difference between spirituality and religion? If so, what do you think the difference is?
How would YOU answer the question: What is meant by spirituality or by Christian spirituality?
P.S. This week I’m facilitating a retreat for the Sisters of St. Joseph and their associates in Clarence, PA. I ask you for the support of your prayers for all of us! Thank you!
Ernest Kurtz says (in #13) that “when we seek help for what we cannot face alone… spirituality is born.” This song, “Lord, I Need You” by Matt Maher expresses beautifully our need for God, for Jesus. Over the years, I have prayed this song many, many times…
I look forward to reading you comments below–about the reflection, the questions, the photos, or the video!
