“COR ORANS” (“Praying Heart”): instructions for the Contemplative Life of Women

Vatican updates norms for female religious: We feel privileged - May 15, 2018

____________

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2018-05/cor-orans-contemplative-life-women-instructions.html

A document containing instructions for the Contemplative Life of Women was presented on Tuesday in the Vatican.

By Linda Bordoni
"Cor Orans" (“Praying Heart”) is the title of a document that provides instructions on how to apply Pope Francis’ 2016 Apostolic Constitution – “Vultum Dei Quaerere” (“Seek the Face of God”) addressed to Catholic women religious in contemplative communities.
In it, the Pope calls for  changes to be implemented in 12 diverse areas from prayer life to work habits.
“Cor Orans” was presented during a press conference in the Holy See Press Office led by Archbishop José Rodriguez Carballo, Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and by the undersecretary of the same Congregation, Father Sebastiano Paciolla.
Noting that in the world today there are almost 38,000 cloistered nuns, and for this reason the contents of the new document are interesting not only for the Church and for the nuns themselves but also for society at large, Archbishop Rodriguez Caballo explained that the document aims to “clarify the provisions of the law, developing and determining the procedures for its execution”.
The document provides precise guidelines regarding all the practical, administrative, legal and spiritual aspects pertaining to the founding and running of Monasteries for contemplative nuns.
These include detailed specifications regarding the autonomy of monasteries, the foundation and the erection of the monasteries themselves, their transferal and eventual suppression,  the need for ecclesial vigilance over the monasteries, relations with the bishop of the diocese in question,  rules and regulations regarding “the separation of the nuns from the outside world,” means of communication, the various forms of cloister including “papal enclosure”  and formation.
The official English translation of the document is available here.

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccscrlife/documents/rc_con_ccscrlife_doc_20180401_cor-orans_en.html










.

MALATTIE SPIRITUALI - SPIRITUAL ILLNESSES --- Opening of the Ecclesial Convention of the Diocese of Rome, with Pope Francis 14 May 2018

MALATTIE SPIRITUALI

·      L’economia dell'esclusione

·      L’accidia egoista

·      L individualismo comodo

·      La guerra fra noi

·      Il pessimismo sterile

·      La mondanità spirituale

Opening of the Ecclesial Convention of the Diocese of Rome, an annual Diocesan Pastoral Conference, from the Papal Arch basilica of St. John Lateran, Rome, Italy.

________________________________________

2018_02_11-Foglio-parrocchiale.pdf

http://www.gesubuonpastore.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018_02_11-Foglio-parrocchiale.pdf


&&&&&&&&&&&&

 

also ...

 

10 Spiritually Transmitted Diseases

By Mariana Caplan, Ph.D.

 

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/mariana-caplan-phd/spiritual-living-10-spiri_b_609248.html

 

 

It is a jungle out there, and it is no less true about spiritual life than any other aspect of life. Do we really think that just because someone has been meditating for five years, or doing 10 years of yoga practice, that they will be any less neurotic than the next person? At best, perhaps they will be a little bit more aware of it. A little bit.

It is for this reason that I spent the last 15 years of my life researching and writing books on cultivating discernment on the spiritual path in all the gritty areas—power, sex, enlightenment, gurus, scandals, psychology, neurosis — as well as earnest, but just plain confused and unconscious, motivations on the path. My partner (author and teacher Marc Gafni) and I are developing a new series of books, courses and practices to bring further clarification to these issues.

Several years ago, I spent a summer living and working in South Africa. Upon my arrival I was instantly confronted by the visceral reality that I was in the country with the highest murder rate in the world, where rape was common and more than half the population was HIV-positive — men and women, gays and straights alike.

As I have come to know hundreds of spiritual teachers and thousands of spiritual practitioners through my work and travels, I have been struck by the way in which our spiritual views, perspectives and experiences become similarly “infected” by “conceptual contaminants” — comprising a confused and immature relationship to complex spiritual principles can seem as invisible and insidious as a sexually transmitted disease.

The following 10 categorizations are not intended to be definitive but are offered as a tool for becoming aware of some of the most common spiritually transmitted diseases.

 

1. Fast-Food Spirituality: Mix spirituality with a culture that celebrates speed, multitasking and instant gratification and the result is likely to be fast-food spirituality. Fast-food spirituality is a product of the common and understandable fantasy that relief from the suffering of our human condition can be quick and easy. One thing is clear, however: spiritual transformation cannot be had in a quick fix.

2. Faux Spirituality: Faux spirituality is the tendency to talk, dress and act as we imagine a spiritual person would. It is a kind of imitation spirituality that mimics spiritual realization in the way that leopard-skin fabric imitates the genuine skin of a leopard.

3. Confused Motivations: Although our desire to grow is genuine and pure, it often gets mixed with lesser motivations, including the wish to be loved, the desire to belong, the need to fill our internal emptiness, the belief that the spiritual path will remove our suffering and spiritual ambition, the wish to be special, to be better than, to be “the one.”

4. Identifying with Spiritual Experiences: In this disease, the ego identifies with our spiritual experience and takes it as its own, and we begin to believe that we are embodying insights that have arisen within us at certain times. In most cases, it does not last indefinitely, although it tends to endure for longer periods of time in those who believe themselves to be enlightened and/or who function as spiritual teachers.

5. The Spiritualized Ego: This disease occurs when the very structure of the egoic personality becomes deeply embedded with spiritual concepts and ideas. The result is an egoic structure that is “bullet-proof.” When the ego becomes spiritualized, we are invulnerable to help, new input, or constructive feedback. We become impenetrable human beings and are stunted in our spiritual growth, all in the name of spirituality.

6. Mass Production of Spiritual Teachers: There are a number of current trendy spiritual traditions that produce people who believe themselves to be at a level of spiritual enlightenment, or mastery, that is far beyond their actual level. This disease functions like a spiritual conveyor belt: put on this glow, get that insight, and — bam! — you’re enlightened and ready to enlighten others in similar fashion. The problem is not that such teachers instruct but that they represent themselves as having achieved spiritual mastery.

7. Spiritual Pride: Spiritual pride arises when the practitioner, through years of labored effort, has actually attained a certain level of wisdom and uses that attainment to justify shutting down to further experience. A feeling of “spiritual superiority” is another symptom of this spiritually transmitted disease. It manifests as a subtle feeling that “I am better, more wise and above others because I am spiritual.”

8. Group Mind: Also described as groupthink, cultic mentality or ashram disease, group mind is an insidious virus that contains many elements of traditional co-dependence. A spiritual group makes subtle and unconscious agreements regarding the correct ways to think, talk, dress, and act. Individuals and groups infected with “group mind” reject individuals, attitudes, and circumstances that do not conform to the often unwritten rules of the group.

9. The Chosen-People Complex: The chosen people complex is not limited to Jews. It is the belief that “Our group is more spiritually evolved, powerful, enlightened and, simply put, better than any other group.” There is an important distinction between the recognition that one has found the right path, teacher or community for themselves, and having found The One.

10. The Deadly Virus: “I Have Arrived”: This disease is so potent that it has the capacity to be terminal and deadly to our spiritual evolution. This is the belief that “I have arrived” at the final goal of the spiritual path. Our spiritual progress ends at the point where this belief becomes crystallized in our psyche, for the moment we begin to believe that we have reached the end of the path, further growth ceases.

“The essence of love is perception,” according to the teachings of Marc Gafni, “Therefore the essence of self love is self perception. You can only fall in love with someone you can see clearly—including yourself. To love is to have eyes to see. It is only when you see yourself clearly that you can begin to love yourself.”

It is in the spirit of Marc’s teaching that I believe that a critical part of learning discernment on the spiritual path is discovering the pervasive illnesses of ego and self-deception that are in all of us. That is when we need a sense of humour and the support of real spiritual friends. As we face our obstacles to spiritual growth, there are times when it is easy to fall into a sense of despair and self-diminishment and lose our confidence on the path. We must keep the faith, in ourselves and in others, in order to really make a difference in this world.

Adapted from Eyes Wide Open: Cultivating Discernment on the Spiritual Path (Sounds True)

 

 

 

.

 

MAY 3 - SAINTS PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES --- Pope at Mass: ‘Transmitting the faith is a birth process’

03 May 2018

Pope at Mass: ‘Transmitting the faith is a birth process’

 

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2018-05/pope-francis-homily-transmitting-faith-holy-spirit-attraction.html

On the Feast of Saints Philip and James, Pope Francis focuses his homily at Casa Santa Marta’s chapel on the characteristics needed to accompany the transmission of the faith.

 

 

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

 

Using the first reading from 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Pope Francis spoke about the transmission of the faith during his homily on Thursday at Casa Santa Marta.

 

What transmission of the faith is not

 

Transmitting the faith is not to be confused with proselytism, Pope Francis said. The Church is not about looking for cheering fans; neither is it simply reciting the Creed, which is an expression of the faith. Neither is it merely the passing on of information as if it were as easy as: “Here, take this book, study it and then I will baptize you”, Pope Francis said.

 

Faith is not given, it is birthed

 

Rather, transmitting the faith is “rooting the heart in faith in Jesus Christ”, the Pope said. This is the Church’s challenge: “to be a fruitful mother, giving birth to children in the faith.” Grandparents, and parents are especially apt to transmit the faith because they “perfume it with love”, the Pope continued. And he added that care-givers, even if they are foreigners, can also effectively transmit the faith to those whom they care for.

 

 

Testimony provokes attraction and curiosity

 

Quoting Benedict XVI, Pope Francis reminds us that the faith is transmitted when people are attracted by our testimony. At times, that testimony ends in martyrdom. “Testimony provokes curiosity,” he said. It is when others see a consistency in someone’s life that they are led to ask: “Why does so-and-so live like that? Why would a person spend their life in service to others?” “The Holy Spirit uses that curiosity and he goes to work within” the person, Pope Francis said.

 

The Pope concluded saying, “Transmitting the faith makes us just, it justifies us. The faith justifies us and by transmitting it we give true justice to others”.

 

--------------------

 

The Gospel on May 3
- Feast of St Philip & St James, Apostles - Jn 14:6-14 - San Filep u San Gakbu, Festa

--- To have seen me is to have seen the father ---

Evanġelju
Min ra lili ra lill-Missier ukoll.
Ġw 14: 6-14

 

Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Ġwann

 

F’dak iż-żmien: Ġesù qal lil Tumas: [Ġw:14:6]: "Jiena hu t-Triq, il-Verità u l-Ħajja. Ħadd ma jmur għand il-Missier jekk mhux permezz tiegħi. [Ġw:14:7] Kieku għaraftu lili, kontu tagħrfu wkoll lil Missieri. Minn issa 'l quddiem tagħrfuh, anzi diġà rajtuh."

 

[Ġw:14:8] Qallu Filippu: "Mulej, urina l-Missier, u jkun biżżejjed għalina." Ġw:14:9] Ġesù wieġeb: "Ili daqshekk magħkom, Filippu, u għadek ma għaraftnix? Min ra lili ra lill-Missier. Kif tgħidli, 'Urina l-Missier'? [Ġw:14:10] Ma temminx li jiena fil-Missier u l-Missier fija? Il-kliem li ngħidilkom jien, ma ngħidux minn moħħi iżda l-Missier li jgħammar fija qiegħed jagħmel l-opri tiegħu. [Ġw:14:11] Emmnuni! Jiena fil-Missier u l-Missier huwa fija. Jekk m'hux għal ħaġ'oħra, emmnuni minħabba dawn l-opri stess. [Ġw:14:12] Tassew tassew ngħidilkom, min jemmen fija hu wkoll għad jagħmel l-opri li qiegħed nagħmel jien, u akbar minnhom għad jagħmel, għax jiena sejjer għand il-Missier. [Ġw:14:13] U jekk titolbu xi ħaġa f'ismi jiena nagħmilha, biex il-Missier ikun igglorifikat permezz ta' Ibnu. [Ġw:14:14] Iva, jekk titolbuni xi ħaġa f'ismi, jiena nagħmilha.

 

Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu.

 

 

 

 

 

.

May 8, 2018 - Pope at Mass: Don't dialogue with the devil, the great liar

 

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2018-05/pope-francis-santa-marta-devil.html

At Mass at Casa Santa Marta, Tuesday morning, Pope Francis talked about how to deal with the devil who though defeated and dying is still dangerous.

By Robin Gomes

Never approach the devil nor talk to him: he is "defeated" but dangerous because he seduces and, like a chained angry dog, bites if you go to pat him.  Pope Francis offered this advice in his homily at Mass, Tuesday morning, in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican.  

Commenting on John’s Gospel where Jesus says “the ruler of this world has been condemned," the Pope spoke about the seduction of the devil and how to deal with him.

The Pope said that even though the devil is defeated and dying he has a great power and capacity to seduce.  He promises many things, bringing us beautifully packed  gifts, without revealing their contents. 

Dying but dangerous

The Pope compared the devil to a dying crocodile, who hunters advise not to approach because it can still strike you dead with its tail.  Hence the devil is very dangerous, his proposals are all lies and we foolishly believe him. 

The Pope described the devil as the father of lies, saying he speaks well, he can sing in order to deceive and he is loser who moves about like a winner.  His light dazzles like the fireworks but does not last. Instead the light of the Lord is "gentle and permanent".

Never dialogue with the devil

The devil, the Pope said, knows how to seduce us in our vanity and curiosity and we buy everything, falling into temptation.  Knowing that a thought, a desire or move is dangerous and we still go there, it is like approaching the devil who is like a chained angry dog that can still bite.  

Unlike Eve who thought herself  a “great theologian” and fell, the Pope said we must never dialogue with the devil because he wins, he is more intelligent than us. On the contrary, Jesus in the desert responds to the devil with the Word of God, hunts down demons, sometimes asking his name but doesn't dialogue.

Pray, watch, fast

Recalling the advice of Jesus to watch, do penance and fast, Pope Francis said we too must do so but never enter into dialogue with the devil. And in moments of temptation we must approach the mother, like frightened children do.  According to the Russian mystics, in times of spiritual upheavals, take refuge under the mantle of the great Mother of God, the Pope said. 

 

 ------------------------

 

THE GOSPEL

Jn 16:5-11 -- Unless I go, the Advocate will not come to you - Jekk ma mmurx, id-Difensur ma jiġix għandkom.

TUESDAY GOSPEL OF WEEK 6 OF EASTERTIDE

Evanġelju
Jekk ma mmurx, id-Difensur ma jiġix għandkom.
Ġw 16, 5-11

 

Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Ġwann

 

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: [Ġw:16:5] Issa sejjer għand dak li bagħatni, u ħadd minnkom ma jistaqsini, 'Fejn sejjer?' [Ġw:16:6] Imma għax għedtilkom dan, qalbkom imtliet bin-niket. [Ġw:16:7] Madankollu, ngħidilkom is-sewwa, jaqblilkom li jiena mmur; għaliex, jekk ma mmurx, id-Difensur ma jiġix għandkom; imma jekk immur, nibgħathulkom. [Ġw:16:8] U meta huwa jiġi, juri lid-dinja li għandha żball dwar id-dnub, il-ġustizzja u l-ġudizzju; [Ġw:16:9] id-dnub, filli huma ma jemmnux fija; [Ġw:16:10] il-ġustizzja, filli jien sejjer għand il-Missier, u intom m'intomx se tarawni iżjed; [Ġw:16:11] il-ġudizzju, filli l-Prinċep ta' din id-dinja huwa ġa kkundannat.

Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu

.

 

 

 

 

.