It will soon be 2012

I haven't written in this space for quite a long time.  "I'm busy" is too easy of an excuse, but that's been the case. We've been preparing for months to move Seabury Western Theological Seminary from its long time home in Evanston IL to 8765 W Higgins Rd. in Chicago.  Our new "home" is in the headquarters building of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  Thus far, they have been great neighbors.  Prior to the move, they were willing to help with whatever extra space we needed for board meetings or classes.  Now that we are officially "in" the building, we've found that they are always wiling to help.  There is still work to be done in the chapel and classroom, but we're working there (other than now while we're on Christmas break).  Vocational interest is good in BSG, and we've got a couple of prospects in the vocations pipeline.  I always emphasize taking one's time while seeking a vocation, especially in a religious community.  A Facebook post today by my BSG bro Karekin in San Francisco is timely:   

Be patient. Be patient. Don't be in such a hurry. When you are impatient it only makes you worry. Remember. Remember, that God is patient too. Think of all the times that God has had to wait for you.

It's still Christmas.  New Year's Eve is this Saturday.  So Merry Christmas to all ! 

 

Of Work

This is what we believe about work in BSG: 

Of work as an apostolate

Work, being our share in creation and partnership with God in that creation, can be sanctified. All labor is equal in glory, honor and importance and the work of a brother should bear these qualities. Keeping in mind that all talents are gifts of the Holy Spirit, the work of all brothers must be to the greater glory of God. Work is an oblation to God, as is service to our fellow man. We must therefore give the best that we can offer.

I had not had a terribly good day at work Tuesday.  I turned back to Psalm 116, which we had done at Morning Prayer on Monday.  I specifically went to verses 12 and 16, which repeat with this:  I will fulfill my vows to the Lord* in the presence of all his people.  That pretty much sums it up.  As it reads above, "Work is an oblation to God." 

It's always good to keep things in perspective. 

A call to Religious Life and Medicine

Today is the feast day of Ciaran of Clonmacnoise.  Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise was one of the early Irish monastic saints and Irish bishop. He is sometimes called Ciarán the Younger to distinguish him from Saint Ciaran of Saighir.  He was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland.  I know this because of my BSG Brother, Ciaran Anthony DellaFera of Cambridge, Mass.  Ciaran is a medical student at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.  He went into medicine after a successful career as an engineer at IBM. 

While giving thanks for Ciaran of Clonmacnoise today, I also give thanks for my Br. Ciaran Anthony. I sent him a story about a doctor in Chicago who also happens to be a Franciscan Friar.  Br. Daniel Sulmasy is Clinton-Kilbride Professor of Medicine and Medical Ethics at the University of Chicago Divinity School. You can read about him at this URL http://www.hnp.org/who/journey_view.cfm?id=64

We have several brothers in the community who are Registered Nurses, nursing assistants, a Doctor of Pharmacy, but Ciaran Anthony will be our first M.D.  

A call as a medical professional and a call as a brother.Thanks be to God for all of them, especially Ciaran Anthony on this his "name" day.

Thankfulness

From the Irish Jesuits website, Sacred Space..."Thankfulness is a wonderful gift. It arises in people’s hearts when they can look back and see how their lives have been enriched, by parents, or children, a spouse or faithful friend, or other good people. Thankfulness may be delayed, indeed, and can only come after much darkness and struggle, when sunbeams and rays of light have shone through - when, despite what has been painful and difficult, I can now see those sunbeams, in the eyes of kind friends who have stood by me, or in the little everyday things which are good and uplifting. As a result, often my prayer can be simply a mood and feeling of gratitude and praise. I simply want to be in that thankful space. ‘I thank you, Lord, with all my heart’, the psalmist says, ‘you have heard the words of my mouth … I thank you for your faithfulness and love / which excel all we ever knew of you. / On the day I called, you answered; / you increased the strength of my soul’ (Psalm 138). How good these words are! And even if my mood is not thankful just now, perhaps in repeating these lines, or those in the rest of Psalm 138, the gift of thankfulness will rise in my heart."
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About an hour ago, I prayed the Office of Noonday.  Although it's "Noonday" in the BCP, I prefer to call it "Midday Prayer," since it doesn't always happen at noon.  I highly commend this prayer office for busy people, so that they can take a break in their busy work schedules, and offer thanks to God. A person can easily go to our website at www.gregorians.org, go to the dropdown box and find "The Rule," and then "the Daily Office" around noon and find Noon Prayer. Towards the end, there is time to offer free intercessions. Not a day goes by that I don't use this time to offer thanks. I always include thanks for my community of brothers, frequently by name.

To showcase that we are in fact a community of brothers, regardless of whether we are lay or ordained, is a photo from our recent Convocation.  Brothers James Patrick and Blane Frederik are shown at their First Profession of Vows.  You will note they have the same exact cross and habit.  James Patrick happens to be a lay brother, and Blane Frederik a priest brother. But in the end - brothers just as we all are.

Of Vows / Florence Nightingale

From Psalm 61:  8   So will I always sing the praise of your Name, * and day by day I will fulfill my vows.

How nice that on the 11th day of each month at Evening Prayer, Gregorian Friars are able to pray this verse of Psalm 61. What a nice reminder. My Brother Karekin in San Francisco wrote about vows and I posted his comments earlier this month.  It's a serious undertaking for Religious, regardless of whether one is in a traditional community or a contemporary community.  As explained earlier today, the Canons differentiate the modes.

Tomorrow's calendar commemorates Florence Nightingale, nurse and social reformer. Several of my BSG brothers are in healthcare, serving either as Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses or Certified Nursing Assistants. One of my brothers is a Doctor of Pharmacy and one of my brothers is in medical school. As we remember Florence Nightingale tomorrow, I'll certainly be remembering all health care professionals, but especially my confreres, who have a tough job and treat it as they should - as a Vocation.  Here's an icon written by Br Tobias Haller (NY) of Florence Nightingale.