LMC Vow Renewal

Now is the 22nd time I have renewed my vows of chastity, poverty, obedience, and whole-hearted and free service to the poorest of the poor within the MC charism, first as a Carrier of God's Love and later as a Lay Missionary of Charity (LMC). I renewed by vows at St. Joseph's Church in Yakima, WA and they were witnessed by the celebrant and by my Spiritual Director Sr. Alice St. Hilaire who is one of the best spiritual directors in Washington state. They were also witnessed by my link who is me.

This is also the first time for my use of the new vow formula:

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. For the honour and glory of God and moved by an ardent desire to quench the infinite thirst of Jesus on the Cross and in the Eucharist for love and for souls, I, (NN.) vow for one year (conjugal) chastity, poverty, obedience and whole-hearted and free service to the poorest of the poor according to the Statutes of the Lay Missionaries of Charity. I give myself with my whole heart to God's service so that by the grace of the Holy Spirit and with the help of Mary, Mother of God, cause of our joy and Queen of the world, I may be led to the perfect love of God, of my neighbour and in a special way to the members of my own family; thus to make the Church more fully present in the world of today."

The new portion of the vows is found in the phrase "quench the infinite thirst of Jesus on the Cross and in the Eucharist for love and for souls". Over the years the MCs have more and more emphasized the Eucharist in their prayer life. A few years before her death Blessed Teresa of Kolkata asked the contemplative sisters to include more adoration time. Also one of the expressions she has used was something like this: You can see how much Jesus loved us by his death on the Cross and you can see how much he still loves us by giving us the Eucharist.

These new words give us a new challenge to be more active in our adoration of Jesus in the Eucharist and also in spreading Eucharistic Adoration.

This past weekend I met Robin who is a new "Come and See" who lives near Seattle. I now know that I do not want to live near Seattle ... the traffic was horrendous. Anyway the session was a meet and greet. Robin is a charming lady. Because of the distance involved some of the meetings will have to be phone meetings ... especially during winter when Snoqualmie Pass can be chosed for avalanche clearing.

After the meeting I went to Petticoat Junction which is a place for Dance Attire. While there I picked up several videos on line dancing and square dancing. I was looking for someway to continue exercising during the summer.



From there I went on highways 522 and 2 to Leavenworth. The view was absolutely great. Some of the mountains look almost like shear rock. I saw several large falls off in the distance. And there were some small falls next to the side of the road. Also for a good portion of the way there was a river on the right hand side of the road.
I will add pictures to this blog after I transfer from my camera to my computer. While I was in Leavenworth I caught pictures of flowers, etc. - More will be added later. I decided to go to "South" which has Latino food. I ordered "Platanos con Crema" ... which is fried plaintain with sour cream ... very good.

I went on down toward Yakima stopping at one point to call up my friend Sue. Please pray for her as she is in frail health but I think has a good attitude going.

Anyway coming into Yakima around 10 PM once again the view was fantastic ... much to pray for. Also the light had not yet disappeared totally from the sky.

Sunday I went to the Spanish Mass. Padre Rafael is really good!

Today Padre Rafael had the 7 AM Mass and the Bishop read the Gospel.

Last Several Weeks

On Saturday May 23 Maggie, Virginia, and I took a trip by way of Chinook Pass. We began the trip around 11 and stopped for lunch at Whistlin' Jacks. Maggie and I both had Alaskan Whitefish which I liked. I am not much of a fish person but it was good.

The day could not have been prettier and Mt. Ranier was in all of its glory. We stopped several times for pictures. On the other side of the pass one of the first things we encountered was a town along a river that looked like it was set up for fishing and boating. The road was shaded by beautiful trees. A little later we went through Enumclaw. What impressed me there was the flowers were outstanding and there were lot's of Rhododendrons in various hues. We headed over to Tacoma where we visited a Catholic bookstore and a two story Borders Bookstore. I am a book-a-holic ... I think I need a 12 step program for that. I picked up several CDs, June and July Magnificats, and at Borders several books, one on desert hikes in Washington and one on Roadside geology of Washington. As you know if you have read any of my earlier blogs, I truly love what God has created. Later we had a rather uninspired supper at a DQ. Then we headed back to Yakima by way of 18 (I think) up to I-90 then toward Ellensburg where we caught I-82 down to Yakima. One of the sights I really love is that of the Yakima Valley as we come down to it. It was night and the lights are really lovely. And you think of all the people there that you are praying for.

The next morning was "Ascension Thursday Sunday". Drives me a little nutty. I went to the 11AM Mass ... great music ... then took a drive down to Goldendale. I truly love the terrain on the trip.

Then came Memorial Day. I went to the Memorial Day Mass over at the Catholic Cemetary and helped Maggie clean up the Memorial Marker for she and Leo.
Tuesday it was back to work. In the afternoon I had chills and fever. I left work sometime around 3. I had to cancel my spiritual direction for that evening.
I stayed home for 2 days and went back to work on Friday. It was a blessing because a friend who helps me out sometimes came over and put together 4 bookshelves for my home office area.

Saturday after watching Jan's dog Joshua compete at a dog show I called up St. John's Monastery and my 300 knot prayer rope was finished. So another trip down toward Goldendale. I stopped at the Monastery and got the prayer rope, a second 100 knot one, and several books. I felt I did not have enough gasoline to make it back to Yakima so I went on down to Goldendale. I tanked up and then took an excursion. I went by way of the Bickleton Hwy across to I-82. At one point you go down into what I believe is a canyon at the bottom of which is Rock Creek and there is a dirt road kind of paralleling the creek. Sometime I want to explore there but not until I have the right kind of vehicle. Most of the trip was on a plateau with lot's of agriculture going on.

Sunday I was back to being sick with a lot of trouble breathing. Monday and Tuesday more of the same. On Tuesday evening I did meet with Sr. Alice for spiritual direction and formally closed out my participation in the SEEL Retreat. Now I am back to work and have had several really productive days.

Chapter two

THE VOWS

"...I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, fruit that will last; and then the Father will give you anything you ask in my name. What I command you is to love one another."
(John 15: 16-17)

Dearest Jesus, I desire to be a good fruit on your vine, to be firmly fastened to the vine.

"The Lay Missionaries as worshippers leading holy lives in every place, consecrating the world itself to God"

Dearest Jesus we are here for you and your people. May we spread continuously throughout the world. May we be holy as you are holy. May we be "only all for Jesus through Mary".

8 - Upon completion of two full years of formation, the LMC, if considered ready, can make the first yearly profession of the vows of (conjugal) chastity, poverty, obedience, and whole-hearted and free service to the poorest of the poor according to the Rule and Statutes of the LMC.

Notice that this states that the vows are made according to the Rule and Statutes of the LMC. This means that we have to know the Statutes so that we understand that which we are doing.

- The vows are renewed annually with the expiration of the preceding profession. For special reasons, it is possible to anticipate renewal of vows but not by more than one month.*

During my time as an LMC I have seen this done several times. It usually was done when the LMC was planning to be out of the area at the time of the renewal of vows. I have also seen it happen that an LMC was allowed to renew vows late when they were (through no fault of their own) unable to attend the meeting when the vows were to be renewed. For example being ill themselves or a family member being sick at a distance and they were needed to take care of the person in question.

- The vows of an unmarried person automatically expire if and when that person marries. He/she is allowed to renew his/her own vows only if the spouse desires to eventually enter into the Movement, or, at least give the other spouse the necessary consent.

This makes sense. After all the commitment in marriage is to one another. We do not want the commitment to LMC to be a divisive influence. Mother Teresa likes to use the marriage image of "cleaving" in describing how her sisters are to be in their relationship to Christ. It makes sense that there be nothing to interfere with the cleaving of spouses. This is all a foreshadowing of the marriage of the Lamb.

9 - The formula used for profession is the following:
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. For the honour and glory of God and moved by an ardent desire to quench the infinite thirst of Jesus on the Cross for love of souls, I, (NN.) vow for one year (conjugal) chastity, poverty, obedience and whole-hearted and free service to the poorest of the poor according to the Statutes of the Lay Missionaries of Charity. I give myself with my whole heart to God's service so that by the grace of the Holy Spirit and with the help of Mary, Mother of God, cause of our joy and Queen of the world, I may be led to the perfect love of God, and of my neighbour, and in a special way to the members of my own family; thus to make the Church more fully present in the world of today." Chapel of the Holy Family, Rome, this 28th day of October, nineteen ninety-five.

Thoughts on the vow formula:

-In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Every thing we do is done in the name of the Most Holy Trinity. Our thoughts and actions should flow from the Trinity.

For the honour and glory of God and moved by an ardent desire to quench the infinite thirst of Jesus on the Cross for love of souls

Here is where the spirituality of the MC and LMC comes in. Jesus says "I thirst." Mother and the members of the MC Family want to respond with all our being "I quench." Jesus longs for our love and the love of all humanity.

I, (NN.) vow for one year (conjugal) chastity, poverty, obedience and whole-hearted and free service to the poorest of the poor according to the Statutes of the Lay Missionaries of Charity.

The vows are important and I'll remark more on them later. Here the thing I want to emphasize that the vows are according to the Statutes. If you do not know the Statutes you can not make the vows knowing what is expected. One of the minor problems we have had over the last few years is that the changes to the Statutes haven't been posted to the internet where they can be easily found. It is almost as if you hear the changes by word of mouth.

-I give myself with my whole heart to God's service so that by the grace of the Holy Spirit and with the help of Mary, Mother of God, cause of our joy and Queen of the world, I may be led to the perfect love of God, and of my neighbour, and in a special way to the members of my own family; thus to make the Church more fully present in the world of today.

One of the things Jesus said to Blessed Teresa was "How can they love me if they do not know me?" By giving of our whole heart to God and his people we can reflect the love that God has for his people. I remember someone once saying that you are sometimes the only Bible that some people see.

Be happy. The LMC formula is almost word for word the same as that of the other branches of the MC family.

10 - In addition, the LMCs together renew their vows for purposes of devotion on the Feast of the Holy Family, which they celebrate the last Sunday before the Feast of Christ the King.

This is always a bit confusing to LMCs. The Feast of the Holy Family is celebrated in the US and possibly in many other countries on the Sunday after Christmas or on another day in the Christmas Octave. I know that for some of us this meant that we renewed our vows on the Feast of the Holy Family. I am hoping that after the recent gathering this will no longer be confusing.

The formula is the following:
"For the honour and glory of God and moved by an ardent desire to quench the infinite thirst of Jesus on the Cross for love of souls, I renew my vows of (conjugal) chastity, poverty, obedience, and whole-hearted and free service to the poorest of the poor according to the Statutes of the lay Missionaries of Charity. I give myself...etc."

Recent note
*Every renewal calls for a return to the original fervour, charism and spirit. It demands a reflective, prayerful rereading of the Statutes. This is simply because one does not make the vows according to the Bible nor according to any kind of rules however beautiful and wonderful they may be.
Every Lay Missionary of Charity makes or renews his or her vows according to the Statutes and tries to stick to it in all its details as far as it is possible. It is not a formula to be read and repeated annually, but a life to be lived each day with its demands and burdens. It is not one more among the many commitments but it is "The Commitment", because it is an unconditional response to a divine call to be "the salt of the earth and the light of the world". True, free in accepting the call but becomes obligatory when accepted, to fulfil the demands of the call. Membership in the Movement is not meant to divide or separate married couples from each other or take them away from the heart of the family or from the world; no, it is meant to complement, support and fortify the bonds of the sacrament of marriage and family life.

The following then are some of the points to help to clarify regarding the renewal of vows or newly making them:
a) those who intend to make or renew their vows may write a formal letter to their respective Spiritual Directors two months before the date of expiry;
b) the letter must include the date of expiry and the date in which he or she or the group is going to renew the vows or make them;
c) in case the date fixed for the renewal of vows in groups creates a problem for someone, it is possible to anticipate the renewal, but not by more than a month. In case of serious illness one may renew or make his or her vows on the sick-bed, but always with the permission of the Spiritual Director;
d) those who do not renew their vows by or before the date of expiry are considered to have practically left the Movement, and this is so especially where there existed no communication or dialogue with the Spiritual Director or the persons in charge of the groups;
e) places where there are no LMC groups nor Spiritual Directors one may try to be in touch with the nearby group and Spiritual Director. If that, too, is not possible, he may refer the matter to Rome in advance to be able to receive the reply before the expiry date;
f) to be able to make or renew the vows at least two third of presence in the group meetings, prayer etc. is required;
g) continued or interrupted absence from the group meetings more than one third excludes one from making or renewing vows;
h) places where there are no groups, the LMC can keep in touch with the nearby group and Spiritual Director, and even that is not possible, they may contact Rome;
i) those whose vows are expired and would like to return to the Movement have to do the year of formation all over again, which of course bring much grace and strength not only to them, but also to the entire Movement.

As I have mentioned before the only problem I have is the difficulty of maintaining contact at a distance and when one is at a distance at the time of renewal especially unexpectedly to take care of a member of the family. This has happened on a frequent basis. Personally this has happened with me during the terminal illnesses of both my mother and my sister. In each case I was given the opportunity to telecommute for my job.

In general I find that the Statutes do not deal as well with our elderly house-bound members. The Statutes could easily make them feel that they are not valued. Again I am hoping that this time things are done that make them feel that they are still a part of the Movement.

Let us implore the Holy Family to be our continual source of inspiration and guidance and may help us to persevere in our commitment as LMCs even unto death.

AMEN

Greenway and Leavenworth

This past Saturday was busy. I went to Mass, worked briefly on laundry, started playing some tapes on spirituality by Sr. Tessa Bielecki. I found one of my old tapeplayers and used it when I took Sr. Jan's dog Buddy for a walk. He is such a sweet dog. People asked if they can pet him and I said only if you allow him to lick you. Jan says he should be named Whiskey because "He can't hold his licker."

Virginia called me and we made a trip up to Leavenworth, WA. The ride was really neat. For a while you are going through high desert hills with sagebrush and some wildflowers. Around Ellensburg you begin to see some farms. One of the crops you see stored under quonset style roofs is hay. Then you head up north toward the Stewart? range. You begin to see forest lands and snow parks and Blewett Pass. Then down the other side. It is not far to Leavenworth which is an Alpine themed town. It is a tourist village where the artists hang out. We looked for a clock for Virginia and I looked for inexpensive paintings or prints. We had a wonderful German dinner. Looking from one end of the town you can see the "weeping" trees and above them you can see snow on the mountains. Then we headed back home.

During the journey back and forth we listened to Sr. Tessa's tapes. One of them was on spousal prayer.

Then I spent the whole night working on organizing my audio tape collection. I put aside four boxes of various conferences. Then I organized my spiritual tapes and audio books. There are quite a few.

Sunday I picked up Virginia for Mass and I watched "Eight Below" partially. I slept through part of it. I went to bed to take a nap and woke up at about 1:30 AM and went back to sleep waking up at about 7:30 AM.

In His Heart,

Val

Wednesday Sister Jan called to ask me to come put together a table to put her tabernacle on. So I went over prepared to have to use tools to put it together. What we found on opening the box was that it was well constructed and came already assembled and very well packaged for the shipping. Dharmacrafts did an excellent job. And to top it off it was a perfect match to the tabernacle - exact same shade of wood. Sometimes I think that you are led to see the perfect thing. This means she also has a place to store extra candles, etc.

There are lots of interesting things on the dharmacrafts.com website. You might want to check it out. I especially am looking for some type of a timer and some sort of seat. At my age I find that my ankles are too inflexible for the type of prayer bench I used to use. No matter what if I get down on the floor I do not get up gracefully. I feel like an elephant getting up.

This weekend will be the SEEL retreat weekend. So I will be going over to the Providence Sisters' house where we will meet for prayer, a meal, and also a Mass.

Gifts from the Father

This past weekend I found myself all of a sudden with some spare time. I decided that it was time to go down to the Greek Orthodox Monastery to visit their gift shop. Somehow I had lost my 50 knot prayer rope and wanted to replace it. On the way there I had a few things I had to do. First, fill my gas tank. Second, get a long overdue oil change. Third, stop for lunch. This I did at a little cafe where 97 branches off toward the west in its trip toward Goldendale. Lunch was very good and I appreciated the mixed vegetables that went along with a very good steak.

The next part of the journey goes across part of the valley on the Yakima Reservation, then up into the hills. The hills were carpeted with some black eyed susans and also some blue and purple flowers. I would like to have stopped to capture close-up shots of the flowers. God, you are so wonderful and your creation is awesome in reflecting your Beauty. So part of the way you have a stream with some trees on the left side of the road. Later you get a mixture of hardwoods and evergreens as you approach Satus Pass. Wonderful!!

After going over the Pass I started looking for the Monastery on the left side of the road. While I was there I found a 100 knot prayer rope and also purchased a small pair of icons for my office, one of Christ the Teacher and the other OL of Vladimir. I have them on my desk with a representation of Rublev's Trinity above them. I also got an icon of St. Anthony of Egypt at the same time. That one will go in the prayer room along with Mother Teresa and St. Andrew. While I was there I also picked up another hint on making the prayer ropes from the sisters.

The trip back was also a joy. I got to see everything in reverse. It was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Sunday evening I wore myself out with a round dancing class and then on Monday evening Sr. Jan and I spent quite a few hours talking about our Journey to Catholicism and to our Vocations including some of the books we have read that were meaningful for us. It was a time of shared joy.

In the Heart of my Spouse,

Val

"Love makes the lover like unto the Beloved."