Reflective Moments Moments Reflective August 2008
The purpose of Reflective Moments is to offer you a way to incorporate the spirit of Saint Angela Merici into your own lives. We hope that it enriches you spiritually.
Pilgrimage By Sister Marietta Wethington, OSU The art of the pilgrim is to travel light, needing only what can be carried. The secret that makes this easy is that the real essentials can be carried in the heart, which has infinite capacity. The paradox is that the more richly laden is the heart with worthwhile treasures, the more lighthearted is the pilgrim. -Source Unknown
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ecently I’ve reflected a lot on pilgrimage, the spirituality of pilgrimage, Angela Merici as pilgrim, and myself as a pilgrim. Perhaps that is because I recently had the privilege of making a pilgrimage to Italy and visiting the lands of Angela. Our first stop was at Lake Garda, a place very familiar to Angela, where she must have spent many quiet moments reflecting on the greatness of God and of God’s love. We moved from there to a simple stone house, Angela’s family home, Le Grezze. As we entered this tiny house I became aware of the simplicity of the place. I was deeply moved to see the mat where she slept and the log she used for a pillow, the simple table with one straight chair. Angela’s life seemed to be stripped of everything but the essentials. The focal point of the room was the crucifix where Angela knelt many times to pray. As my eyes were drawn to the crucifix my thoughts were drawn to the words of Angela, “Let your first refuge always be at the feet of Jesus.” The next day our pilgrimage took us to the former Church of Saint Afra, now known as the sanctuary of Saint Angela. It is in this sanctuary that we saw the incorrupt body of Angela lying above the altar in a glass casket. I can’t even recall my first reaction. I do know I was moved to tears and still have no words to describe the experience – just a deep feeling of love, peace, and gratitude. While we were there it was hard to move away from her presence. I kept being drawn back to kneel in silence and awe. Angela’s vocation was essentially that of a pilgrim. Orphaned at an early age, she never really had a home of Continued on back
Continued from front her own after that. She lived in lots of different places with lots of different people. Perhaps her lack of physical rootedness helped her to become deeply rooted inwardly. Angela’s pilgrimages took her to many places but always brought her back to her true home, the heart of God. Her vision and her way of life have inspired many in their own pilgrimage. Her openness, her hospitality, her graciousness, her prayerfulness, and her genuine concern for others are just some of the qualities that have encouraged women and men throughout the ages. We Ursuline Associates and Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph continue to hold her vision close to our hearts and seek ways to keep her mission, the mission of Jesus, alive in our day. We believe that, true to her word, she remains with us on our pilgrimage, more present to us than when she was on this earth.
For Your Reflection
Saint Angela Merici lived over 400 years ago but she promised to be with us always. Today, Saint Angela lives on in the lives of each Ursuline Associate and Sister. Go with her to the feet of Jesus and reflect on all you have read: Angela’s vocation was essentially that of a pilgrim. What part does pilgrimage play in my spirituality? Angela’s true home was the heart of God. Where do I feel most at home? Angela’s life seemed to be stripped of everything but the essentials. Of what do I need to be stripped to make room for the essentials? Angela directed us to take our first refuge at the feet of Jesus. Where do I go when I find myself in need or when I have a reason to rejoice?
An Intentional Minute... Celebrate… Our founder, Saint Angela Merici – for her charism and guidance Our Ursuline Sisters and partners – for following Angela’s example Our Associate Advisory Board – for their leadership and vision Our associate call – for the opportunity to address the needs of the world The Ursuline core values of prayer, service, empowerment, justice, and contempletative presence in the spirit of Angela Our 25 years of Associate partnership with the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph.
Join us as we pray for one another!
Send your prayer requests for friends and loved ones to the E-mail Prayer Network. Write the Ursuline Partnerships office, 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356 Call 270-229-2006 • E-mail associates@maplemount.org