1 0 The Catholic News & Herald
February 4, 2005
Culture Watch
A roundup of Scripture, readings, films and more
New book celebrates vocations, lives of Poor Clare CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE VICTORIA, Texas — In honor of the 750th anniversary of the life and charism of St. Clare of Assisi, the Mother Bentivoglio Federation of Poor Clare monasteries has released a book titled “Wrapped in Joy: Franciscan Poor Clare Sisters Share Special Stories.” Compiled by Sister Katherine of the Monastery of St. Clare in Victoria, “Wrapped in Joy” is a celebration of the lives and vocations of Poor Clare Sisters throughout the world. Sister Katherine said she wanted to share the stories of the sisters so that others would be inspired to follow the way of St. Francis and St. Clare in their everyday lives, “walking in the footprints of Jesus.” Nearly 100 sisters share inspiring stories of their lives and vocations in by
St. Clare of Assisi “Wrapped in Joy.” The stories reflect lives that are diverse in age, experience, personality and background. And yet, as Father Murray Bodo, a Franciscan priest and scholar, says in a welcome note in the book, “It is God’s providence that has brought them together in monasteries across America and throughout the world.” In her introduction, Sister Frances Teresa writes: “At its very best, Poor Clare life is a generous sharing in the total
self-giving of the Trinity.” Sister Frances Teresa is the author of numerous books on Franciscan spirituality. The stories found in “Wrapped in Joy” reveal much about the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare. The book also features special sections detailing the evangelical life of St. Clare and includes excerpts from her letters. “From the very beginning, Franciscan spirituality has much to do with stories: the stories of Francis and Clare, the stories they told and wrote down of God’s marvelous providence and surprising intervention in their lives,” writes Father Bodo. “The Franciscan story from Francis and Clare until now in the 21st century is filled with stories like those found on the pages of ‘Wrapped in Joy,’ lovingly gathered: stories of women who have responded to God’s call and entered the monastery of St. Clare of Assisi, the first woman Franciscan,” he says. “What is the core story that all their stories partake of? It is the story of Christ, surely, but more specifically it is the story of a way of extending Christ’s story, which St. Clare lived and handed down to her sisters,” the priest adds.
WORD TO LIFE
Sunday Scripture Readings: Feb. 13, 2005
Feb. 13, First Sunday of Lent Cycle A Readings: 1) Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 Psalm: 51:3-6, 12-13, 17 2) Romans 5:12-19 3) Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11
Forgiveness comes through obedience of Jesus by JEFF HENSLEY catholic news service
There’s a funny paradox that happens when folks make really bad mistakes, especially ones they know they knew better than to make. Often they then come to believe that God can’t possibly forgive them. They knew better. They sinned. Now they deserve whatever God has in store for them as punishment. We’ve all seen people in despair because of their actions. The Scriptures have it true to life in Psalm 51 when the psalmist says, “Against you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, [so] that you [God] may be justified in your sentence, vindicated when you condemn.” The psalmist goes on to define what the wrongdoer really wants in his broken, repentant state: “A clean heart create for
me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your holy spirit take not from me.” In this week’s reading from Romans, the Apostle Paul outlines the way this justification before God, this clearing of the slate of offenses, has taken place through the obedience of Jesus. Referring back to the story of the fall in Genesis, Paul speaks of how Jesus’ following all of the Father’s instructions leads us there: “To sum up, then: Just as a single offense brought condemnation to all men, a single righteous act brought all men acquittal and life. Just as through one man’s disobedience all became sinners, through one man’s obedience all shall become just.” We’ve all seen friends and loved ones desperate for God’s forgiveness, unable to forgive themselves, putting up barriers to forgiveness. Yet this is what Jesus came into the world for. He didn’t come into the world to save perfect people who always did the right thing. He came to save sinners, people who do the wrong things. And he delights in extending that forgiveness. You and I so often want to measure out forgiveness to others with thimbles. Jesus wants us to trade our thimbles for buckets or, if we have real courage, to imitate his own generosity and measure out our forgiving love in ocean-sized quantities, washing away all traces of the
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE Scripture for the week of February 6-12 Sunday (Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time), Isaiah 58:7-10, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Matthew 5:13-16; Monday, Genesis 1:1-19, Mark 6:53-56; Tuesday, Genesis 1:20-2:4, Mark 7:1-13; Wednesday (Ash Wednesday), Joel 2:12-18, 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18; Thursday (Thursday after Ash Wednesday), Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Luke 9:22-25; Friday (Our Lady of Lourdes), Isaiah 58:1-9, Matthew 9:14-15; Saturday (Saturday after Ash Wednesday), Isaiah 58:9-14, Luke 5:27-32. Scripture for the week of February 13-19 Sunday (First Sunday in Lent), Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7, Roman 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11; Monday (Sts. Cyril and Methodius), Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18, Matthew 25:31-46; Tuesday (Lenten Weekday), Isaiah 55:10-11, Matthew 6:7-15; Wednesday (Lenten Weekday), Jonah 3:1-10, Luke 11:29-32; Thursday (Seven Founders of the Servite Order), Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25 or 4:17 (Ester’s prayer), Matthew 7:7-12; Friday (Lenten Weekday), Ezekiel 18:21-28, Matthew 5:20-26; Saturday (Lenten Weekday), Deuteronomy 26:16-19, Matthew 5:43-48.