Here is the GS news about the summer vacation in Plymouth New Hampshire:
GS NEWS, July 19, 2013
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
The Journeying
Here is the text GS is working on this summer:
"In Cammino" (The Journeying), by Fr. Luigi Giussani
THE JOURNEYING (in English)
"In Cammino" (The Journeying), by Fr. Luigi Giussani
THE JOURNEYING (in English)
Friday, July 5, 2013
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? [GS summer vacation 2013]
I wanted to write a brief reflection on my personal experience of the GS sumer vacation this year in response to Fr. Jose's provocation:
Can you identify one FACT that happened, or something that you observed, during the vacation? He pointed out, "if something happened at the vacation that was freeing and filled you will gladness, you need to grasp the reason why this happened. What made these days different than other days? What allowed me to be more present?"
1. LOOKING OUTSIDE OF MYSELF, LOOKING AT OTHERS
Wonder became real during those rare but beautiful moments when I saw something that was happening around me-- whether I was sitting in the presence of the the other adults, or watching all the kids flow into the room where we met, or hiking in silent attention, or watching the kids play the games with such enthusiasm and passion. All of these things I began to learn happened regardless of my opinion, attitude, attention, or presence. Friendships formed, people saw things that struck them and provoked them to ask questions, clouds painted the tops of the mountains in front of us. These things happened. If I saw them, the most authentically real position I could take was one of gratitude that I was in a position to witness such beautiful moments. And so, even though all of this happened outside of my making, I was there. I am thus acutely aware of the fact that I personally was given so infinitely much in those days.
I came especially alive when I saw how the kids I brought from DC changed in front of all the beautiful things they heard and saw. During those days, I found that if my gaze was raised to these kids I brought, no matter how deeply entangled in my thoughts I was, I was pulled outside of my plans, and I was in a better position to recognize the Event of Christ changing people before my eyes. The quote, "He is if He changes" really struck home when my eyes were open to seeing the change He brought about within me and within those around me. One morning, I walked around the breakfast tables and I noticed that not a single one was designated with only Washington, D.C. GS kids. Their freedom and courage to interact with other kids told me that Christ's desire for our unity is continually renewing and calling us to forget our own plans, and be open to His. Why did my kids become free? Who was making something happen? Was it just a series of fortunate circumstances, or was there something deeply human, truly supernatural, at work among us? It was quite a precious thing to witness.
2. GIVING EVERYTHING, CREATING NOTHING
Another dynamic I noticed at the vacation was my position in front of everything. I love GS so much; I love so deeply the promise that GS proposes for our lives, that I sincerely wanted to do everything I was asked to do, and do it well. I found myself following Tom Tobin around while he was running the games to run and grab hockey sticks, play four legged soccer if a team needed it, set up the sheet game, find scavenger hunt clues, keep score, clean up equipment, keep time, organize who played who, etc. I was available to aide him. My availability emerged naturally out of desire to become one with what was happening before our eyes! My natural tendency is to ask for recognition for helping with these things, and yet I really found myself wanting nothing in return. I wanted simply to be present to see what was happening, and to involved myself as physically as possible, in as real a way as possible, by volunteering in the ways I am describing.
I was glad when I saw how I and the other adults were unified toward making the event of the vacation beautiful. I noticed how everything was taken care of-- from reserving the athletic facilities, to arranging bus transportation, to buying and assembling lunches, to the presentations and talks-- everything was given for me, for the kids but also for me, to witness the kind of life that is generated by our personally choosing to attach ourselves to Christ. I saw the other adults moving, really stepping forward and physically moving, to make these concrete gestures happen. To observe the sacrifice required in all of us was to be a witness to the Acts of the Apostles. For what other reason is it worth giving one's life if not out of love and passion for Christ among us?
3. IT IS CHRIST
Who is Christ? Why do we keep claiming that Christ is the one worth living for, that Christ generates the event in front of us and leaves us desirous to live, to work, to enjoy one another, to be happy? I have absolutely 0% desire to hang out with 15 and 6 year old if it's not because my lfie is changed, and I am woken up, and experience a deep joy every time I am with them. It is this encounter with the kids, with the other adutls, and with all of the unexpected yet much welcome, truly beautiful, exceptional encounters during the vacation and during my time with GS in general that I know it is Him.
All the evidence that I have gathered from my life with GS, and in particular now with the events that transpired at this vacation, suggest an identical experience to that of the apostles. The Lord asked Peter and the apostles, "Who do you say that I Am?" Similarly, I always find myself in a position of awe asking, "Who are these people, who are so alive, so joyful, so eager to really live?" The answer is certainly not a common interest; nothing apparently seen on the exterior can account for that which unites such a diverse population of adults and kids. Also, Fr. Rich Veras pointed out the part in the Acts of the Apostles when Jesus appears to Paul and says, "Saul, Saul, why are you persectuing Me?" He uses the first person, "Me," when he is actually referring to Peter, Stephen, and the other apostles and disciples whom Paul had been persecuting. Fr. Rich reminded me that Christ dwells in us; where we go, Christ is present. He is the one who constitutes our "I." When I say "I," I am not longer referring to myself and my petty likes and dislikes. I am referring to the Lord of the universe who loves me so intimately and infinitely that my life only makes sense if my life is His.
Therefore to recall to Whom I belong, I need GS. The presence of my friends in the movement, one example of which is GS, always reawakens and surprises me. Nothing expected happens with these friends. It is this newness and authentically true viewpoint in front of all of life that keeps reminding me of Christ's preeminence in front of everything.
Who are these people who bring a new way of looking at life, reality, friendships, sports, how to celebrate the Fourth of July, how to spend six days together in the mountains? Who are these people if not a community of persons desirous to live life in a new way, within a deep and rich friendship that undergirds and generates this newness, which I always find so creative and mysterious in the way its dynamic take shape in myself? Who are these people? They are friends, but even greater, they are true witnesses. Like Jack Kerouac muses in his On the Road, “the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.” They are the ones who I want to share life with, because they have certainty that the newness and joy and promise for fulfillment discovered in our friendships actually is a person, not just a new idea or a cool experience. This newness and joy is a Person whose name is Jesus Christ.
Juliet, Friday 7/5/2013
1. LOOKING OUTSIDE OF MYSELF, LOOKING AT OTHERS
Wonder became real during those rare but beautiful moments when I saw something that was happening around me-- whether I was sitting in the presence of the the other adults, or watching all the kids flow into the room where we met, or hiking in silent attention, or watching the kids play the games with such enthusiasm and passion. All of these things I began to learn happened regardless of my opinion, attitude, attention, or presence. Friendships formed, people saw things that struck them and provoked them to ask questions, clouds painted the tops of the mountains in front of us. These things happened. If I saw them, the most authentically real position I could take was one of gratitude that I was in a position to witness such beautiful moments. And so, even though all of this happened outside of my making, I was there. I am thus acutely aware of the fact that I personally was given so infinitely much in those days.
I came especially alive when I saw how the kids I brought from DC changed in front of all the beautiful things they heard and saw. During those days, I found that if my gaze was raised to these kids I brought, no matter how deeply entangled in my thoughts I was, I was pulled outside of my plans, and I was in a better position to recognize the Event of Christ changing people before my eyes. The quote, "He is if He changes" really struck home when my eyes were open to seeing the change He brought about within me and within those around me. One morning, I walked around the breakfast tables and I noticed that not a single one was designated with only Washington, D.C. GS kids. Their freedom and courage to interact with other kids told me that Christ's desire for our unity is continually renewing and calling us to forget our own plans, and be open to His. Why did my kids become free? Who was making something happen? Was it just a series of fortunate circumstances, or was there something deeply human, truly supernatural, at work among us? It was quite a precious thing to witness.
2. GIVING EVERYTHING, CREATING NOTHING
Another dynamic I noticed at the vacation was my position in front of everything. I love GS so much; I love so deeply the promise that GS proposes for our lives, that I sincerely wanted to do everything I was asked to do, and do it well. I found myself following Tom Tobin around while he was running the games to run and grab hockey sticks, play four legged soccer if a team needed it, set up the sheet game, find scavenger hunt clues, keep score, clean up equipment, keep time, organize who played who, etc. I was available to aide him. My availability emerged naturally out of desire to become one with what was happening before our eyes! My natural tendency is to ask for recognition for helping with these things, and yet I really found myself wanting nothing in return. I wanted simply to be present to see what was happening, and to involved myself as physically as possible, in as real a way as possible, by volunteering in the ways I am describing.
I was glad when I saw how I and the other adults were unified toward making the event of the vacation beautiful. I noticed how everything was taken care of-- from reserving the athletic facilities, to arranging bus transportation, to buying and assembling lunches, to the presentations and talks-- everything was given for me, for the kids but also for me, to witness the kind of life that is generated by our personally choosing to attach ourselves to Christ. I saw the other adults moving, really stepping forward and physically moving, to make these concrete gestures happen. To observe the sacrifice required in all of us was to be a witness to the Acts of the Apostles. For what other reason is it worth giving one's life if not out of love and passion for Christ among us?
3. IT IS CHRIST
Who is Christ? Why do we keep claiming that Christ is the one worth living for, that Christ generates the event in front of us and leaves us desirous to live, to work, to enjoy one another, to be happy? I have absolutely 0% desire to hang out with 15 and 6 year old if it's not because my lfie is changed, and I am woken up, and experience a deep joy every time I am with them. It is this encounter with the kids, with the other adutls, and with all of the unexpected yet much welcome, truly beautiful, exceptional encounters during the vacation and during my time with GS in general that I know it is Him.
All the evidence that I have gathered from my life with GS, and in particular now with the events that transpired at this vacation, suggest an identical experience to that of the apostles. The Lord asked Peter and the apostles, "Who do you say that I Am?" Similarly, I always find myself in a position of awe asking, "Who are these people, who are so alive, so joyful, so eager to really live?" The answer is certainly not a common interest; nothing apparently seen on the exterior can account for that which unites such a diverse population of adults and kids. Also, Fr. Rich Veras pointed out the part in the Acts of the Apostles when Jesus appears to Paul and says, "Saul, Saul, why are you persectuing Me?" He uses the first person, "Me," when he is actually referring to Peter, Stephen, and the other apostles and disciples whom Paul had been persecuting. Fr. Rich reminded me that Christ dwells in us; where we go, Christ is present. He is the one who constitutes our "I." When I say "I," I am not longer referring to myself and my petty likes and dislikes. I am referring to the Lord of the universe who loves me so intimately and infinitely that my life only makes sense if my life is His.
Therefore to recall to Whom I belong, I need GS. The presence of my friends in the movement, one example of which is GS, always reawakens and surprises me. Nothing expected happens with these friends. It is this newness and authentically true viewpoint in front of all of life that keeps reminding me of Christ's preeminence in front of everything.
Who are these people who bring a new way of looking at life, reality, friendships, sports, how to celebrate the Fourth of July, how to spend six days together in the mountains? Who are these people if not a community of persons desirous to live life in a new way, within a deep and rich friendship that undergirds and generates this newness, which I always find so creative and mysterious in the way its dynamic take shape in myself? Who are these people? They are friends, but even greater, they are true witnesses. Like Jack Kerouac muses in his On the Road, “the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.” They are the ones who I want to share life with, because they have certainty that the newness and joy and promise for fulfillment discovered in our friendships actually is a person, not just a new idea or a cool experience. This newness and joy is a Person whose name is Jesus Christ.
Juliet, Friday 7/5/2013
 |
| June 29, 2013: The GS kids organize a spontaneous singing session during the vacation. |
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Fr. Rich Veras: Homilies
Friends:
I wanted to share with you the three homilies given by Fr. Rich Veras during our GS summer vacation in New Hampshire (6/25-7/1/2013). Fr. Rich's homilies are really beautiful to me for two reasons.
One is because Fr. Rich communicates with such a fervent passion that it really attracts me to what his gaze is fixed upon. To be in the midst of a man so in love with Christ is deeply moving for me.
The second reason is because what Fr. Rich constantly communicates in his homilies speaks directly to me about Christ's infinite, merciful love for us. This love is further confirmed by Fr. Rich's own life and the way he interacts people and things. Clearly Christ's example is so all-encompassing for him that it generates his own way of living and loving others. Fr. Rich speaks of a love in Christ that has become his own.
Thus with a heart full of gratitude for Fr. Rich, I share these homilies with you.
Thursday, June 27, 2013: Matthew 7:21-29
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,*but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”
When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
Saturday, June 29, 2013: Matthew 16:13-19
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Monday, July 1, 2013: Matthew 8:18-22
When Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side. A scribe approached and said to him, “Teacher,* I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man* has nowhere to rest his head.” Another of [his] disciples said to him, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But Jesus answered him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”
Sunday, June 2, 2013
the Corpus Christi butterfly
11:30 am, Sunday June 2, 2013
As I was running in my neighborhood, I passed a beautiful yellow butterfly that was flapping around on the street, apparently with some difficulty. After I passed, I halted and turned around. A car had to kind of veer out of my way-- the driver was probably wondering what crazy thing I was doing.
I bent down, as my instinct was to move the struggling butterfly to the grass. Why is it flapping around so? Two possibilities crossed my mind -- 1) one of its wings has been injured, or the poor guy was born deformed. 2) it had some rare disease that it could spread to me!
Despite my obvious hesitation resulting from the second possibility, I picked the butterfly up by his wing and placed him in the nearby grass. I'm sure he will still easily fall prey to its predators, but nonetheless it won't get flattened by a car there on the grass.
Further, I understood a real dialogue with the One who created me. Just as he has mercy on me, and loves me despite my own brokenness, frailty, and mistakes, He takes me and puts me into safety. He physically grabs me (sometimes, through people!), or presents something real in my life (students, friends, family, butterflies) to witness to me that he is the lord and my difficulties (those conditions we are born with, or those circumstances that surround us over time) was given to me to remind me of Him. Especially in light of recent mistakes last week, I understand, if in a small way, that I am more than ever wanted, taken hold of, possessed by him, our Good Shepherd, who doesn't leave behind even the weak and troubled. He exalts those ones! He plucks us gently from the road and places us with care onto the grass (being God, he also could have healed the butterfly, but I am human :D).
It's not an insignificant fact that this little incident happened around 11:30 am EST, during the universal hour of Eucharistic adoration. Christ is telling me, "Okay, if you don't come to meet me, I'll come to you."
That's how the body of Christ works in my life-- and that's Christianity.
As I was running in my neighborhood, I passed a beautiful yellow butterfly that was flapping around on the street, apparently with some difficulty. After I passed, I halted and turned around. A car had to kind of veer out of my way-- the driver was probably wondering what crazy thing I was doing.
I bent down, as my instinct was to move the struggling butterfly to the grass. Why is it flapping around so? Two possibilities crossed my mind -- 1) one of its wings has been injured, or the poor guy was born deformed. 2) it had some rare disease that it could spread to me!
Despite my obvious hesitation resulting from the second possibility, I picked the butterfly up by his wing and placed him in the nearby grass. I'm sure he will still easily fall prey to its predators, but nonetheless it won't get flattened by a car there on the grass.
This entire scenario raised a beautiful image for me that took hold in my heart as I ran home, so much so that it brought a tear to my eye. On the feast of Corpus Cristi, we are reminded of the body of Christ. What is the body of Christ? Jesus's body is everything, including anything that I interact with, Jesus's body is the things I see, the things I hear, and is my heart alive in front of everything. The butterfly's frail, broken, gasping, tender body is a sign, even if the very smallest, of the body of Christ on Earth. And only because my eyes were open to see Him did I perceive this little flapping thing as such.
Further, I understood a real dialogue with the One who created me. Just as he has mercy on me, and loves me despite my own brokenness, frailty, and mistakes, He takes me and puts me into safety. He physically grabs me (sometimes, through people!), or presents something real in my life (students, friends, family, butterflies) to witness to me that he is the lord and my difficulties (those conditions we are born with, or those circumstances that surround us over time) was given to me to remind me of Him. Especially in light of recent mistakes last week, I understand, if in a small way, that I am more than ever wanted, taken hold of, possessed by him, our Good Shepherd, who doesn't leave behind even the weak and troubled. He exalts those ones! He plucks us gently from the road and places us with care onto the grass (being God, he also could have healed the butterfly, but I am human :D).
It's not an insignificant fact that this little incident happened around 11:30 am EST, during the universal hour of Eucharistic adoration. Christ is telling me, "Okay, if you don't come to meet me, I'll come to you."
That's how the body of Christ works in my life-- and that's Christianity.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Why do contraceptives make no sense?
Friday, April 5, 2013
Here is a comment I posted at regulations.gov aimed at addressing the Affordable Care Act, and specifically, the HHS mandate:
I am a woman.
I am a proud American.
My body is a sacred gift, and I did not make it myself. I wake up every morning amazed by the mere fact of my existence.
Since my body is given to me by someone other than me, and because it is made so well, so beautifully, so carefully, I cannot but see it was made by someone who loves me.
If someone loves me so much that I exist, what would be most reasonable way for me to treat my body? What would be the most reasonable way for all women and men to look at our bodies? Our bodies are sacred, holy vessels that have been made for a specific purpose.
Taking birth control and abortifacient drugs for the intention of preventing pregnancy is an action that says, "I create my body. I am not open to that mysterious one who breathes life into me, because I am not interested in conceiving a child, though I am interested in having sex when I desire it." We did not create our bodies. We are not the ones who create children, but we participate in their creation through the sexual act. To prevent pregancy, one must prevent the sexual act. Any other means of preventing pregnancy while still engaging in sex is purely nonsense; it would be like sitting down to eat a dinner with one's family, and then forcing oneself to throw up after eating. Using birth control to prevent pregnancy is like climbing a mountain and standing in sight of a breathtaking view of the range, but shielding one's eyes while on the summit. It simply does't make sense. I reassert: to avoid pregnancy, we must educate people to the meaning of the sexual act, not only emotionally for the couple, but also as an act that participates in the creation of an individual, new human being.
To force organizations to provide abortifacient drugs and contraceptives is to force them to sit at the dinner table and to say, "go on, throw up! This food won't satisfy," or at the mountain's summit, "don't look, the mountain is not so beautiful. Close your eyes!"
Here is a comment I posted at regulations.gov aimed at addressing the Affordable Care Act, and specifically, the HHS mandate:
I am a woman.
I am a proud American.
My body is a sacred gift, and I did not make it myself. I wake up every morning amazed by the mere fact of my existence.
Since my body is given to me by someone other than me, and because it is made so well, so beautifully, so carefully, I cannot but see it was made by someone who loves me.
If someone loves me so much that I exist, what would be most reasonable way for me to treat my body? What would be the most reasonable way for all women and men to look at our bodies? Our bodies are sacred, holy vessels that have been made for a specific purpose.
Taking birth control and abortifacient drugs for the intention of preventing pregnancy is an action that says, "I create my body. I am not open to that mysterious one who breathes life into me, because I am not interested in conceiving a child, though I am interested in having sex when I desire it." We did not create our bodies. We are not the ones who create children, but we participate in their creation through the sexual act. To prevent pregancy, one must prevent the sexual act. Any other means of preventing pregnancy while still engaging in sex is purely nonsense; it would be like sitting down to eat a dinner with one's family, and then forcing oneself to throw up after eating. Using birth control to prevent pregnancy is like climbing a mountain and standing in sight of a breathtaking view of the range, but shielding one's eyes while on the summit. It simply does't make sense. I reassert: to avoid pregnancy, we must educate people to the meaning of the sexual act, not only emotionally for the couple, but also as an act that participates in the creation of an individual, new human being.
To force organizations to provide abortifacient drugs and contraceptives is to force them to sit at the dinner table and to say, "go on, throw up! This food won't satisfy," or at the mountain's summit, "don't look, the mountain is not so beautiful. Close your eyes!"
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Are you a saint?
Thursday, March 7, 2013
My dearest most previous Lord:
Today I realized I cannot conceive of my life without You in it, lord Jesus. I was just thinking about the things I do, the way I spend my time, what I think about. Often my time is spent thinking of you or asking you that your presence invade my life, flood the chambers of my heart with your presence. I realize that faces look differently: the faces of my students, family, strangers, everyone, look differently, when, and ONLY when, I am thinking of you!
I am not making this up! I know I am not making this up because I sin when I forget! I sin when I look at my sisters only for what they can obtain for me; I sin when I look at others and see their faults! I know it's true because **I have lived your life, and I have seen that this life is so much more beautiful!** The way is by looking at things and thinking about things with your gaze of virginity, with your unpossessive, all-possessing love!
Jesus, everything is more beautiful when you are present. I was so moved today when one of my students asked me today, "miss Joly, are you a saint?" Who asks this? Who put the idea in her head? What about me made it evident, made it necessary to ask? Was it my words, or my way, my actions, the way I look at my kids? How do they know I love them—because I say it or because they can see it?? Dear lord, please make it be the latter! My words are fragile, often sinful, and they wear out. But relationships that are exceptional are eternal. You asked Peter, "Simon, do you love me?" It's definitely not a discourse. It is being with, being with you through BEING with my students, or with babe, or Janine, or daddy, or Dino, or Ana—“yes, Lord. You know everything. You know that I love you."
Jesus, you yourself gave us the golden rule. If you are truly present and dwelling in me now and always, help me to treat others as I want to treat YOU! If I could love this way, if it were your will, I would love others for love of you, instead of me, because of your life within me. Help me to love others for love of you, if it be your will!!!
Come lord Jesus! <3
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