Winter 2007 The Sisters share their thoughts on God and Prayer

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1 Winter 2007 The Sisters share their thoughts on God and Prayer c alled by

The answer came for me years ago when I was plagued by depression, anxiety and confusion.

2 Why is not Listening? Yesterday, a troubled young woman asked: Why did God let this happen? I pray, but He doesn t answer. People of all ages ask this question, and it is a common one, wondering why, if God is good, and if He answers prayer, why is their prayer not being granted? The answer came for me years ago when I was plagued by depression, anxiety and confusion. I prayed constantly and desperately, every prayer I knew how to pray and to every saint who might be interested in helping. All I wanted was to be able to live an ordinary day in an ordinary fashion, at peace, rather then being consumed with anxieties and stresses. How could God refuse a request so obviously good? This disturbing condition continued on for four years or more, and even after it had pretty much passed I was left with the lingering question as to why God had not helped me when I needed it most. My answer came several years after all this. One morning I was at the lectern at Mass in our chapel, reading first the Old Testament reading and then leading the Responsorial Psalm. In that Psalm, which was Psalm 38 were the words: When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me. My first mental response was my usual argumentative Well, you didn t hear and answer me! Then my attention was drawn to the following words: You built up strength Tas & Shelley getting a treat. Taz was only visiting - but open to treats any time! within me. Wasn t that what had been happening? Was my going through all that, a design by God to make me grow and become strong? How true it is that we cannot fathom God s plan in our regard. The very crisis or problem we are experiencing may be the process needed to bring about Sr. Rita Louise McLean, Abbess As our special Christmas gift to you for your loving friendship and support, we have arranged for fifty two Holy Masses to be offered for you and for all of your families and all the needs of your heart.

Finding Jesus in Others Something that I have struggled with for a long time and couldn t seem to make any progress in, was the ability to see Jesus better in other people and especially in my

3 Finding Jesus in Others Something that I have struggled with for a long time and couldn t seem to make any progress in, was the ability to see Jesus better in other people and especially in my sisters. I finally had just accepted the fact that I probably didn t have that kind of faith or holiness on whatever it took to be sensitive to the presence of Jesus in others. I decided I would just have to blindly believe that Jesus was inside that person somehow. Still, there was something inside me that wasn t satisfied with that conclusion. I kept subconsciously trying to find a better solution. Recently I finished Mother Teresa s book, Come Be My Light. Mother stated that though she did not feel the presence of Jesus in herself as she did so many good works, she saw the results of His presence in the distressing disguise of the poor, around her their smile, their gratefulness, their humility. As I read that I could suddenly see that Jesus has disguised himself in my sisters and in other people around me. All around me I can see people doing acts of charity, sacrificing themselves and being available to me and to so many others. These marvelous acts of goodness and love do not come from them alone but also from Jesus, who works through them. I then thought of Sr. Eileen Lillis, one of our deceased sisters. She always rejoiced when we accomplished something that was challenging and was constantly building us up and praising God for the good that she saw in each one of us. Now I realize that she also saw Jesus in us. Sr. Colleen Byrne Called by Joy Published 3 times a year by the Franciscan Monastery of Saint Clare in Spokane, Washington. Winter Issue 2007 Editor: Sr. Patricia Proctor, osc Photos by Sisters of the community - Cover: Sister Marcia Kay LaCour with Jeremiah Monastery of St. Clare Phone (509) Web Page: srpat@calledbyjoy.com Spokane, Washington The Poor Clare Sisters are a cloistered contemplative community co-founded by St. Clare and St. Francis of Assisi in They number over 20,000 throughout the world. The Poor Clares have been in Spokane, Washington since July 1914.

As Catholics, we often hear about keeping the spirit of the season by focusing on spiritual renewal and preparation rather than falling prey to all of the commercial trappings of the season that we

As laudable as this approach is, I d like to offer a few reflections that might shed a slightly different light on how we view all of these external distractions from the true meaning of our

4 Christ V the Light is Coming! Advent has arrived and with it the beginning of a new liturgical year that fittingly celebrates the coming of Jesus into our human world as an infant as one of us at Christmas. As Catholics, we often hear about keeping the spirit of the season by focusing on spiritual renewal and preparation rather than falling prey to all of the commercial trappings of the season that we are continually bombarded with from Halloween through December 25th. As laudable as this approach is, I d like to offer a few reflections that might shed a slightly different light on how we view all of these external distractions from the true meaning of our Christmas celebration. I ve heard many times from American friends who ve been out of the country at this time of year (especially when they have been in Asian or Middle Eastern countries, but even in some European nations) how strange it felt for them to have Christmas be just another day of the normal weekday calendar no holiday lights or decorations of any kind, no carols or music reflective of the season surrounding them wherever they went, no anticipation or excitement building up to the climax of that special day, no shared feelings of warmth and good-will towards others that seem to abound during this season, no special gathering of families and friends, etc.

Most of them have expressed how incredibly grateful they were to return home to a predominantly Christian nation where Christmas, even as commercially exploitive as it has become, is a nationally

5 Most of them have expressed how incredibly grateful they were to return home to a predominantly Christian nation where Christmas, even as commercially exploitive as it has become, is a nationally recognized legal holiday and where the weeks leading up to it are filled with anticipation and a flurry of activities in preparation for its celebration. With their new found awareness, most of them also make a point of not taking that gift for granted ever again. Advent is a time of preparation. prepare the way of the Lord. we as human beings need external signs and symbols, actual physical expressions (involving all of our five God-given senses) of the intangible things we hold in our hearts. (This is why St. Francis set up the first living crêche in Greccio one Christmas Eve!) All of these holiday activities leading up to Christmas are exactly that. they are visible physical expressions of the reality of the spiritual preparations in our hearts, especially if we make the effort to be conscious of that fact as we go about our cleaning, baking, decorating, humming, shopping, wrapping, etc. Every little light shining around a house or on a tree proclaims the coming of The Light into our fallen and dark world! In the four weeks of Advent leading up to the Christmas season (this time of preparation) if we keep that awareness, none of these things is a distraction or obstacle to a deeply spiritual and renewing celebration of our Savior s birth, but rather an expression of its depth and joy! Sr. Marcia Kay La Cour January 9, I remember it as if it happened yesterday. I went outside with Sister Colleen to take our dog out into the garden for her usual duty. For some reason I was in a hurry to get back inside and I went running up the cement steps to the door. As I reached for the handle, I slipped and fell, hitting my head hard against the corner of the brick wall. I must have blacked out for a few seconds, what I remember was feeling myself beginning to move up and slowly into space. It seemed as if there was a luminous darkness all around me but I felt totally at peace and not afraid. Then Sister, coming up behind me, asked if I was all right? Her voice seemed to bring me back. I replied, No, I am not alright. It was just a few seconds that all this took place, but in that space I felt God s love and closeness. It was so real and tender, like a Father s love for one of his children that had just gotten hurt... My black and blue and green face has faded and healed, but I can still feel today that closeness of God, especially when I seem to be in special need of his merciful love. Sr. Jane Wade

Christmas Zito Last year we were introduced to a new Christmas tradition.

around the outside. In the middle of the dirt was placed a big red candle.

carefully watered every day to keep the soil moist.

Since wheat is the symbol of the Eucharist this special Christmas wreath is often placed near a nativity set or creche on

6 Christmas Zito Last year we were introduced to a new Christmas tradition. Two of our Croatian friends brought us a simple round container of dirt with a red, white and blue ribbon carefully attached around the outside. In the middle of the dirt was placed a big red candle. The tradition in Croatia is that on the Feast of Saint Lucy, December 13th, wheat berries (Zito) are planted in the dirt and carefully watered every day to keep the soil moist. By Christmas Day the wheat has grown tall enough to make a beautiful Christmas Wreath! Since wheat is the symbol of the Eucharist this special Christmas wreath is often placed near a nativity set or creche on Christmas Day. It was very fun to watch how fast the small seeds sprouted and grew. If you want to make your own Christmas Zito you can get the wheat berries from almost any health food store. We were told its traditional to have the ribbon be red, white and blue (perhaps because those are the colors of our Lady?) with the red candle in the middle.

With God I can do all Things Special Thanks to Ed Sinclair at Kaufer s Christian Gifts for their support of Sacred Heart Radio!

With prayer I am not limited by a bank account, who I know, how talented I am or any of the other boundaries the world can set up as roadblocks.

Often times the barriers I most need to break through are my own inner misgivings or lack of confidence in doing something.

7 With God I can do all Things Special Thanks to Ed Sinclair at Kaufer s Christian Gifts for their support of Sacred Heart Radio! What I like about the concept of prayer is that it makes available to me anything and everything. With prayer I am not limited by a bank account, who I know, how talented I am or any of the other boundaries the world can set up as roadblocks. I love the quote With my God I can break through any barrier, with my God I can scale any wall. Often times the barriers I most need to break through are my own inner misgivings or lack of confidence in doing something. Knowing that I can use prayer as my invincible back up for anything I might face I gain the courage to constantly move forward. To try new things, meet new people, take on new projects. Another quote that is also empowering for me is, Go forward with the strength provided by God. This is a huge one. If I think I have to have it all together before I attempt something of course I will never do it. But since God has told me to go forward just with what I have even if it is very small and insignificant I can trust that God can do big things with it. The glory is with God not with my own strength. Now I have started on a new book. It is called, 101 Inspirational Stories of the Power of Prayer. Obviously it is about the most perfect fit for any book I have yet done but I feel totally and wholly inadequate to the task under my own capabilities. If I wanted to stop and look at all the What if s? in accomplishing this book you can bet I would not even get started. But I don t start there. I start by asking God in prayer if this is a good idea. Is this my idea or yours God? Will you be there for me in taking on this project or not? Once I feel assured that God is totally behind me, then the push, the inspiration, comes to go forward as boldly and as strongly as I can. Sister Patricia Proctor

Our Bishop William Skylstad is on every week with Deacon Eric Meisford, and Sister Patricia hosts a weekly program called, Faith, Hope and Action.

8 A Time with the Bishop Sacred Heart Radio is entering its third year of 24 hour broadcasting in the Inland Northwest. Truly Amazing. Bit by bit we are spreading a bit of local programing over the airwaves. Presently we have two home based programs. Our Bishop William Skylstad is on every week with Deacon Eric Meisford, and Sister Patricia hosts a weekly program called, Faith, Hope and Action. If you have not tuned in yet to AM 970 we hope you will find time some time to check us out in the coming year. Visit our web site to download our 24 hour broadcasting program. Celebrate the Holy Eucharist with Us. Christmas Eve Mass - 10:30 Christmas Day 8:30 a.m. Every Day at 8:30 a.m.

Monastery of St. Clare

Monastery of St. Clare Fall 2012 May you totally love Christ who gave Himself totally for your love. -St. Clare Clare s Transitus: Her Homecoming at Last Our Lady and the Saints accompany Clare to meet