Words Twice a Week 9.14
This from Henri
Nouwen as school starts up, online, in person, or some mixture -
One of the saddest aspects of the lives of many students is that they always feel pressured. . . . The word school, which comes from schola (meaning “free time”), reminds us that schools were originally meant to interrupt a busy existence and create some space to contemplate the mysteries of life. Today they have become the arena for a hectic race to accomplish as much as possible, and to acquire in a short period the necessary things to survive the great battle of human life. Books written to be savored slowly are read hastily to fulfill a requirement, paintings made to be seen with a contemplative eye are taken in as part of a necessary art appreciation course, and music composed to be enjoyed at leisure is listened to in order to identify a period or style. Thus, colleges and universities meant to be places for quiet learning have become places of fierce competition, in which the rewards go to those who produce the most and the best.
Good insight for the rest of life as well. Read [or scroll] to the bottom for a nice word from Joan Chittister to start the week with.
One of the saddest aspects of the lives of many students is that they always feel pressured. . . . The word school, which comes from schola (meaning “free time”), reminds us that schools were originally meant to interrupt a busy existence and create some space to contemplate the mysteries of life. Today they have become the arena for a hectic race to accomplish as much as possible, and to acquire in a short period the necessary things to survive the great battle of human life. Books written to be savored slowly are read hastily to fulfill a requirement, paintings made to be seen with a contemplative eye are taken in as part of a necessary art appreciation course, and music composed to be enjoyed at leisure is listened to in order to identify a period or style. Thus, colleges and universities meant to be places for quiet learning have become places of fierce competition, in which the rewards go to those who produce the most and the best.
Good insight for the rest of life as well. Read [or scroll] to the bottom for a nice word from Joan Chittister to start the week with.
From the Church
calendar -
Sept 14 Holy Cross Day – in 335, Constantine dedicated a church built over the purported tomb of Jesus, anticipating the triumph of the cross over death. In 614 Jerusalem was sacked and the cross was stolen. Emperor Heraclius invaded Persia, recovered the cross, and barefoot, dressed in sackcloth, carried it up the mount of Calvary and restored it on this date to the Church of the Sepulcher.
Sept 15 Our Lady of Sorrows – for those of us who didn’t grow up Catholic, the seven sorrows of Mary are the prophecy of Simeon, the flight into Egypt, loss of Jesus in the temple, meeting Jesus on the way to Calvary, standing at the foot of the cross, helping remove Jesus from the cross, and burying him.
A prayer-
Dear God,
watch over and bless all mothers, wherever, whenever.
Comfort them and give them strength
especially in their worries and sorrows over their children.
These days we pray in particular for Mothers of Color;
help us understand, empathize, and find ways to encourage and support them.
Guide us as we address the systemic racism of our day.
Give all mothers seven joys as well, and maybe even 70x7,
in their children and throughout their lives.
For Mary’s sake, and for the sake of her Son.
Sept 14 Holy Cross Day – in 335, Constantine dedicated a church built over the purported tomb of Jesus, anticipating the triumph of the cross over death. In 614 Jerusalem was sacked and the cross was stolen. Emperor Heraclius invaded Persia, recovered the cross, and barefoot, dressed in sackcloth, carried it up the mount of Calvary and restored it on this date to the Church of the Sepulcher.
Sept 15 Our Lady of Sorrows – for those of us who didn’t grow up Catholic, the seven sorrows of Mary are the prophecy of Simeon, the flight into Egypt, loss of Jesus in the temple, meeting Jesus on the way to Calvary, standing at the foot of the cross, helping remove Jesus from the cross, and burying him.
A prayer-
Dear God,
watch over and bless all mothers, wherever, whenever.
Comfort them and give them strength
especially in their worries and sorrows over their children.
These days we pray in particular for Mothers of Color;
help us understand, empathize, and find ways to encourage and support them.
Guide us as we address the systemic racism of our day.
Give all mothers seven joys as well, and maybe even 70x7,
in their children and throughout their lives.
For Mary’s sake, and for the sake of her Son.
Sept 17
Hildegard of Bingen A Benedictine abbess. A Christian mystic,
philosopher, visionary, and polymath, she corresponded with popes.
Bishops, emperors, and theologians. She wrote poetry, composed
music, dictated numerous books. She is one of the best-known
composers of sacred monophony, as well as the most-recorded in modern
history. She is considered by many in Europe to be the founder of
scientific natural history in Germany. In 2012 the pope named her a
Doctor of the Church, the fourth woman among 36 saints given that
title. The art work The
Dinner Party includes a place setting for her. Really – she is
worth looking up and reading about!
From the calendar
of the world -
Sept 14 – Dante died in 1321. Ok – have you read The Divine Comedy? Here’s a digital course. I’ll read a chapter a day if you will. Let me know!
Sept 15
- penicillin discovered in 1928. As we wait for a vaccine, we can sense what a difference that made!
- birthday of Agatha Christie. Watch a Miss Marple or a Hercule Poirot!
Sept 17
- US Constitution signed. W Paul Jones wonders if the original idea of individualism tempered by religion is giving way to secular competitive selfishness that could be our undoing. A good day to read over the constitution, perhaps?
- and here’s an ironic and somewhat cruel twist of fate – it’s also the date of the Battle of Antietam, perhaps the bloodiest day of the Civil War
Sept 19 – [2010] the Deepwater Horizon was finally sealed in the Gulf of Mexico after blowing out on April 20
Sept 20
- Jean Sibelius died [1957] – take a few moments to listen to Finlandia, or sing This Is My Song.
- George R R Martin was born. And The Game began – will it ever end? Have you read it? Did you watch it? I read one book, and all the characters I liked were killed off.
Sept 14 – Dante died in 1321. Ok – have you read The Divine Comedy? Here’s a digital course. I’ll read a chapter a day if you will. Let me know!
Sept 15
- penicillin discovered in 1928. As we wait for a vaccine, we can sense what a difference that made!
- birthday of Agatha Christie. Watch a Miss Marple or a Hercule Poirot!
Sept 17
- US Constitution signed. W Paul Jones wonders if the original idea of individualism tempered by religion is giving way to secular competitive selfishness that could be our undoing. A good day to read over the constitution, perhaps?
- and here’s an ironic and somewhat cruel twist of fate – it’s also the date of the Battle of Antietam, perhaps the bloodiest day of the Civil War
Sept 19 – [2010] the Deepwater Horizon was finally sealed in the Gulf of Mexico after blowing out on April 20
Sept 20
- Jean Sibelius died [1957] – take a few moments to listen to Finlandia, or sing This Is My Song.
- George R R Martin was born. And The Game began – will it ever end? Have you read it? Did you watch it? I read one book, and all the characters I liked were killed off.
As promised, a
thought from Joan Chittister to start the week with -
Try saying this silently to everyone and everything you see for thirty days: “I wish you happiness now and whatever will bring happiness to you in the future.” If we said it to the sky, we would have to stop polluting; if we said it when we see ponds and lakes and streams, we would have to stop using them as garbage dumps and sewers; if we said it to small children, we would have to stop abusing them;…if we said it to people, we would have to stop stoking the fires of enmity around us. Beauty and human warmth would take root in us like a clear, hot June day. We would change.
Try saying this silently to everyone and everything you see for thirty days: “I wish you happiness now and whatever will bring happiness to you in the future.” If we said it to the sky, we would have to stop polluting; if we said it when we see ponds and lakes and streams, we would have to stop using them as garbage dumps and sewers; if we said it to small children, we would have to stop abusing them;…if we said it to people, we would have to stop stoking the fires of enmity around us. Beauty and human warmth would take root in us like a clear, hot June day. We would change.
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