7/4/98
MAY THE GRACE AND PEACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH US FOREVER!
JULY 4, 1998
DEAR JIM,
YOU EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN OBTAINING COPIES OF THE TALKS GIVEN AT THE EXPERIENTIAL RETREAT. ENCLOSED ARE THE INTRODUCTION, PRUDENCE, TEMPERANCE, FAITH AND THE CLOSING (SUMMARY)
I WASN'T SURE IF YOU INTEND TO PUBLISH THIS AS A PREPARED RETREAT OR JUST SPIRITUAL ESSAYS. FOR THIS REASON I AM SENDING TWO VERSIONS OF THE INTRODUCTION. THE FIRST ONE IS AS IT WAS PRESENTED AS THE OPENING TO AN EXPERIENTIAL RETREAT. THE OTHER IS JUST A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO A STUDY OF THE POWER OF THE VIRTUES.
THE OTHERS THAT ARE MISSING ARE FORTITUDE, (GIVEN BY PAULA AND CECILE), JUSTICE (GIVEN BY CHARLIE BECKER, HOPE (GIVEN BY JOHN O'BRIEN) AND LOVE (GIVEN BY EILEEN O'BRIEN).
IN THE TRINITY,
VIRGINIA LACINA
INTRODUCTION FOR EXPERENTIAL RETREAT
GIVEN BY CHRIST THE KING MCA - JUNE 5-20 1998
LET ME BEGIN WITH THE "PRAYER FOR PERSONAL HOLINESS."
DURING OUR RETREAT LAST YEAR MILLIE LEREUX AND I WERE RECEIVING THE SAME MESSAGE AND WE DIDN'T KNOW IT. SHE CAME TO ME AND SAID: "DO YOU FEEL THAT WE ARE BEING CALLED TO GIVE THE NEXT "EXPERIENTIAL RETREAT." I WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT I HEARD THE SAME CALL.
AS WE SEARCHED FOR A TOPIC, WE READ ABOUT A SET OF TAPES ON THE SEVEN VIRTUES BY FR. BENEDICT GROESCHEL, A MEMBER OF THE FRANCISCAN FRIARS OF THE RENEWAL. THEY WERE BASED ON A SERIES HE HAD DONE ON MOTHER ANGELICA'S TV PROGRAM, THE ETERNAL WORD TELEVISION NETWORK CALLED "GET A LIFE-IN CHRIST. VIRTUES: POWERS FROM GOD. WE SENT FOR THEM AND WERE VERY IMPRESSED.
IT ALSO SEEMED SO APPROPRIATE TO USE THIS TOPIC BECAUSE IN THE GUIDELINES SET FORTH BY OUR HOLY FATHER, FOR THE THREE YEARS PRECEDING THE CELEBRATION OF THE THIRD MILLENNIUM, THE YEAR 1998 HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO THAT THAN TO HELP ONE ANOTHER RECOGNIZE THE SUPERNATURAL VIRTUES BESTOWED ON US-INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY.
WE CHOSE AS OUR THEME A SCRIPTURE READING FROM ISAAC 61 AND ALSO FOUND IN LUKE 4:18-19:
"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME THEREFORE HE HAS ANOINTED ME. HE WAS SENT ME TO BRING GOOD TIDINGS TO THE POOR, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO CAPTIVES, RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND AND RELEASE TO PRISONERS. TO ANNOUNCE A YEAR OF FAVOR FROM THE LORD."
THIS WAS JESUS' MISSION AND NOW IT IS OURS. JOHN 14:12. "I SOLEMNLY ASSURE YOU, THE MAN WHO HAS FAITH IN ME WILL DO THE WORKS I DO, AND GREATER FAR THAN THESE."
OVER THE SUMMER WE DESIGNED A PLAN AND A FORMAT FOR USING THE SEVEN VIRTUES AS OUR TOPIC. WE HAVE TWO SPIRITUAL GUIDES, SIXTEEN ASSOCIATES AND THREE CANDIDATES. WE DIVIDED THEM UP INTO GROUPS AND EACH ONE WAS ASSIGNED SEVERAL VIRTUES AND THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PREPARING THE CONFERENCES FOR THE WEEKEND. EACH TEAM MET SEPARATELY BETWEEN MEETINGS,, AND THEN AT OUR APOSTOLIC MEETING WE DISCUSSED THE PLANS THAT HAD BEEN MADE. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THERE WAS GREAT CONTAGIOUS ENTHUSIASM. IN JANUARY CHARLIE BECKER LED US IN A DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE WEEKEND.
IN DOING SOME RESEARCH, I CAME ACROSS THIS QUOTE FROM ST. AUGUSTINE RELATING TO THE VIRTUES THAT ARE A CHANNEL FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT:
"I FEEL, "WITH ALL THE FORCE OF MY SOUL THAT I AM FREE TO WILL OR NOT TO WILL, TO ACT OR NOT TO ACT. I ALSO FEEL KEENLY MY WEAKNESS TO WARD THE GOOD. SINCE THE CORRUPTION OF MY
NATURE BINDS OR WEIGHS DOWN MY WINGS, I BLESS THE DIVINE HAND THAT FREES THEM AND GIVES THE LIGHTNESS TO RAISE ME UP TO THE REGIONS OF VIRTUE. AND AS THE A CT OF GOOD AL WA YS CARRIES WITH IT THE IDEA OF A VICTORIOUS STRUGGLE AGAINST EVIL ON THE PAR T OF MAN, OUR MERITS ARE THE RESULT OF OUR INTERIOR STRENGTH AND OF OUR LIBERTY.
IT IS NOT TRUE THAT GRACE MA Y BE REFUSED TO MAN. CHRISTIANITY TEACHES THAT GRACE HAS BEEN GRANTED TO PAGANS. IF CHRISTIAN SOCIETY, MORE THAN ANY OTHER, HAS GIVEN THE WORLD EXAMPLES OF HIGH VIRTUE, IT IS BECAUSE, UNDER THE CROSS, GOD HAS VISITED MAN MORE INTIMATELY A ND GRANTED HIM GIFTS MORE MAGNIFICENT
A REFLECTION ON PAUL'S FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS, CHAPTER I AND 2 (GOD'S WORD TODAY), TELLS US THAT WE ARE "IN CHRIST JESUS". BECOMING IN CHRIST 9 WE NOW SHARE IN HIS OWN RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. WE DID NOT EARN OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE BECAUSE WE WERE SMART OR POWERFUL OR RICH. THE FATHER GAVE IT TO US FREELY THROUGH WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE. OUR LIFE IN CHRIST IS SUPERNATURAL, IN THE SENSE THAT IS BEYOND WHAT IS NATURAL TO HUMAN BEINGS. WE COULD NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT THROUGH REASON OR IMAGINATION. BECAUSE GOD'S DECISION TO SHARE HIS OWN LIFE WITH US WAS A MYSTERY, A PART OF HIS SECRET PLAN. (2:27).. NO ONE DREAMED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF LIFE IN CHRIST UNTIL THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALED GOD'S MYSTERY. (2:10)
PAUL SPEAKS OF THE CRUCIFIXION (2:1-5), NOT AS A PAST EVENT, BUT AS A PRESENT REALITY, THE SOURCE OF FAITH AND POWER FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING (1:23-D24. ORDINARILY HUMAN BEINGS CANNOT EXPERIENCE PAST EVENTS IN THE PRESENT. BUT THE LORD HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO EXPERIENCE CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION HERE AND NOW. THE SACRAMENTS, ESPECIALLY BAPTISM AND EUCHARIST, ARE THE CENTRAL WAY THAT WE ENTER INTO THESE REALITIES AFTER THEY ENTER INTO US. LIFE IN CHRIST ENLARGES OUR HUMAN POWERS.
REMEMBER THE DAYS WHEN THE GOOD GUYS ALWAYS WON & THE BAD GUYS LOST? NORMAN ROCKWELL DESIGNED PICTURES OF VIRTUOUS PEOPLE AND THE PUBLIC LOVED THEM. MY FAVORITE IS THE SMALL BOY EATING IN A SANDWICH SHOP WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER AND THEY BOTH HAVE THEIR HEADS BOWED IN PRAYER. TODAY WE ARE SURROUNDED BY EVIL. WE HAVE TURNED FROM VIRTUE TO INDIFFERENCE, AND NOW EVEN FURTHER TO VICE.
A RECENT ARTICLE IN OUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER READ THIS WAY:
"STRUGGLE OVER ABORTION RIGHTS RESURFACES IN TALLAHASSEE: MONDAY'S COMMITTEE VOTES ON THE ABORTION PROPOSALS DEMONSTRATE AN APPARENT ATTITUDE OF MANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION TO AVOID VENTURING DEEPLY INTO THE REALM OF PERSONAL LIBERTY. IN SIMPLE TERMS, THEY ARE SAYING THE POLITICIANS WOULD RATHER SIT ON THE FENCE TO GAIN MORE VOTES THAN TO TAKE A STAND IN DEFENDING THE MORAL RIGHT OF THE BABY TO BE BORN. JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE ABSENCE OF JUSTICE AND RESPECT FOR LIFE IN OUR COUNTRY TODAY.
IN 319 AD CONSTANTINE DECLARED CHRISTIANITY THE OFFICIAL RELIGION OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. BUT IN SPITE OF THIS, MANY CONTINUED IN THEIR PAGAN, DECADENT WAYS. ST. AUGUSTINE WROTE "THE CITY OF GOD" TO TRY TO CHANGE THEM FROM THEIR IMMORAL LIFESTYLE. THEY WERE WARNED BY THEIR OWN PHILOSOPHERS THAT THEY WOULD COLLAPSE. THEY DID NOT LISTEN. IN 410 AD, AFTER FOUR CENTURIES OF EVIL LIVING, THE ENTIRE ROMAN EMPIRE WAS DESTROYED BY GENERAL ALORICK IN THREE DAYS! (SOME BLAMED THE CHRISTIANS BECAUSE THEY TAUGHT MEEKNESS, HUMILITY AND FORGIVENESS. THESE WEREN'T CONSIDERED VIRTUES, THEY WERE LOOKED AT AS WEAKNESS.)
TODAY WE ARE IN DANGER OF BEING DESTROYED FOR THE SAME REASON. THOUSANDS ARE KILLED ON TV IN MOVIES EVERY WEEK. BECAUSE THEY SEE SO MUCH VIOLENCE AND BECOME HARDENED BY IT, WE SEE CHILDREN KILLING CHILDREN ON THE NEWS. IN AMERICA AND OTHER COUNTRIES, VIRTUE IS A LOST CONCEPT.
WILLIAM BENNETT, FORMER SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, REALIZED A NEED TO RETURN TO MORAL VALUES SO HE WROTE A "BOOK OF VIRTUES", PUBLISHED BY SIMON AND SCHUSTER IN 1994. IT IS A COLLECTION OF MORAL STORIES, GOOD INDIVIDUAL TRAITS OF CHARACTER. WE HAVE THIS BOOK ON TAPE AND LISTEN TO IT IN THE CAR. AS WE LISTEN AND COMPARE WHAT WAS MORALLY RIGHT IN THE PAST AND WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE TODAY, WE REALIZE THAT SOCIETY NOW DECIDES WHAT IS RIGHT BY WHAT EVERYONE DOES!
THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT WAYS OF LOOKING AT VIRTUES, NATURAL AND SUPERNATURAL. LET'S LOOK AT THE VIRTUE OF GENEROSITY, FOR EXAMPLE. WHEN A NATURAL DISASTER OCCURS, GOOD PEOPLE EVERYWHERE RALLY TOGETHER TO HELP THOSE EFFECTED. BUT SUPERNATURAL GENEROSITY CALLS FOR US TO BE GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU. MOST PEOPLE EVEN FIND IT DIFFICULT AT TIMES TO LOVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY, HOW CAN WE LOVE OUR ENEMIES? VIRTUE MEANS "TO ASSIST . THEY ARE POWERS WITHIN THAT LEAD US TO DO GOOD CONSISTENTLY IN THE FACE OF STRONG OPPOSITION. OUR LIVES SHOULD REFLECT WHETHER WE ARE A PART OF THE KINGDOM OF THIS WORLD OR WORKING FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD
I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU TWO STORIES RELATING TO THE VIRTUE OF COURAGE THAT ILLUSTRATE THE NATURAL AND SUPERNATURAL AND ALSO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WORKING FOR THIS WORLD OR BUILDING UP THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IN THE YEAR 1900, ERNEST SHACKLETON, A BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPLORER, PUT AN AD IN THE NEWSPAPER THAT READ: "MEN WANTED FOR HAZARDOUS JOURNEY, BITTER COLD, LONG MONTHS OF TOTAL DARKNESS, CONSTANT DANGER, SMALL WAGES, SAFE RETURN DOUBTFUL. HONOR AND RECOGNITION IN CASE OF SUCCESS. " HE HAD MANY, MANY RESPONSES TO HIS REQUEST. IN SPITE OF THE NEGATIVES, MANY MEN WANTED THE ADVENTURE AND ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF WORLD RENOWN. THIS ILLUSTRATES THE NATURAL VIRTUE OF COURAGE.
A GENERATION AFTER KING HENRY VIII BEHEADED ST. THOMAS MORE, THE LAWS OF ENGLAND CONDEMNED MEN TO DEATH SIMPLY FOR BEING PRIESTS. MANY BRAVE MEN RISKED THEIR LIVES TO BRING THE SACRAMENTS TO CATHOLICS IN ENGLAND. AS THE GOVERNMENT STEPPED UP ITS PERSECUTION OF CATHOLICS, EDMUND CAMPION FORFEITED HIS CAREER AS AN OXFORD SCHOLAR, TO BECOME A JESUIT PRIEST. HE TRAVELED IN DISGUISE TO SECRETLY CARRY THE OUTLAWED SACRAMENT TO THE FAITHFUL, UNTIL AN INFORMANT BETRAYED HIM.
WITH MANY OTHER PRISONERS OF RELIGION, HE WAS KEPT IN THE TOWER OF LONDON WHERE THEY WROTE SUCH MESSAGES ON THE STONE WALL: 'HAVE MERCY ON ME, 0 LORD,' AND 'I HOPE IN MY GOD.' HE BECAME BLIND FROM THE DARKNESS OF THE PIT, AND SUFFERED GREAT ANGUISH AS HE WAS PLACED ON THE RACK. EVERYTHING WAS PULLED OUT OF ITS SOCKETS AND HE WAS STRETCHED TO FOUR INCHES TALLER THAN HIS NORMAL HEIGHT.
HE WAS TRIED IN A KANGAROO COURT WHERE HE DEFENDED HIS FAITH TO THE BITTER END AND HIS HEROIC LIFE ENDED IN A DRAMATIC HOLY DEATH. "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN TO LAY DOWN MS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS." HIS LIFE IS A REMINDER OF THE HOLY HEROISM TO WHICH ALL OF US ARE CALLED, PRIESTS AND LAITY ALIKE. IN 1970 EDMUND CAMPION WAS CANONIZED A SAINT OF THE CHURCH. HIS ACTIONS ARE TRULY THE EXAMPLE OF THE SUPERNATURAL VIRTUE OF COURAGE.
THE PSALMS AND THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT IN MATTHEW 5 and 6, ARE THE CHRISTIAN BOOK OF VIRTUES THAT ENCOURAGE US TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL, TO GO BEYOND THE NATURAL VIRTUES. LET'S TAKE PSALM I AS A PRIME EXAMPLE:
'HAPPY THE MAN WHO FOLLOWS NOT THE COUNSEL OF THE WICKET, NOR WALKS IN THE WA Y OF SINNERS, NOR WALKS IN THE WAY OF SINNERS, NOR SITS IN THE COMPANY OF THE INSOLENT, BUT DELIGHTS IN THE LA W OF THE LORD AND MEDITATES ON HIS LA W DA Y AND NIGHT. HE IS LIKE A TREE PLANTED NEAR RUNNING WATER, THAT YIELDS ITS FRUIT IN DUE SEASON, AND WHOSE LEAVES NEVER FADE. (WHATEVER HE DOES PROSPERS.) NOT SO THE WICKED, NOT SO! THEY ARE LIKE CHAFF WHICH THE WIND DRIVES AWAY. THEREFORE IN JUDGEMENT THE "WCKED SHALL NOT STAND, NOR SHALL SINNERS, IN THE ASSEMBL Y OF THE JUST, BUT THE WA Y OF THE WICKED VANISHES.'
ALSO IN MATTHEW 5:13 "YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH", AND IN 14, "YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD" WE FIND THAT DESPITE REPROACH AND PERSECUTION, THE DISCIPLES MADE THE HUMAN COMMUNITY VALUABLE IN GOD'S EYES AND ENLIGHTENED THE WORLD WITH THE LIGHT OF GOD'S PROPHETIC WORD, WHICH THEY PREACHED BY WORD AND EXAMPLE. WE ARE CALLED TO DO NO LESS AND PROBABLY EVEN MORE. WHILE IT'S TRUE THAT THE VIRTUES ARE GIVEN TO US BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WE HAVE TO BE OPEN TO RECEIVING THEM, RECOGNIZE THEM WITHIN OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER,
AN EXPERIENTIAL RETREAT IS DESIGNED NOT JUST FOR THE RETREATANT TO LISTEN TO A TALK AND ABSORB IT INTELLECTUALLY. HE/SHE EXPERIENCES IT PERSONALLY AND EMOTIONALLY THROUGH THEIR SENSES. WE HAVE DESIGNED SYMBOLS FOR EACH OF THE VIRTUES WHICH WILL BE GIVEN TO EACH OF YOU AFTER EVERY CONFERENCE. KEEP THEM IN YOUR FOLDERS AND REFLECT ON THE VIRTUES THEY REPRESENT.
THE FORMAT FOR THE WEEKEND CONFERENCES WILL BE THIS: AT EACH CONFERENCE THERE WILL BE TWO PRESENTATIONS. TONIGHT IS THE INTRODUCTION AND THE FIRST VIRTUE. TOMORROW THERE WILL BE TWO VIRTUES COVERED IN EACH CONFERENCE.
AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH CONFERENCE, WE WILL SAY THE THEME SCRIPTURE READING TOGETHER. (FOUND ON A SHEET IN YOUR FOLDER- "THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS UPON ME---") AFTER THE TWO PRESENTATIONS, MY HUSBAND, DICK LACINA, WILL OPEN UP TO YOU SCRIPTURE READINGS THAT RELATE TO THOSE VIRTUES. AFTER A BRIEF DISCUSSION AS TO HOW THEY APPLY, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO PROCEED TO A PARTICULAR LOCATION WHERE YOU WILL FORM SMALL GROUPS AND STAY WITHIN THAT SAME GROUP EACH TIME WE INSTRUCT YOU TO JOIN THEM. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED AND YOU WILL BE GIVEN ADEQUATE TIME TO GET INTO THE SUBJECT.
EACH GROUP WILL APPOINT A RECORDER WHO WILL TAKE NOTES AND THEN SHARE YOUR INSIGHTS WITH THE LARGER GROUP WHEN WE RECONVENE. TAKE TURNS BEING THE RECORDER. BECAUSE THESE SMALL GROUPS WILL BE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING, WE WILL USE A HAND BELL TO CALL YOU BACK TO THE LARGER GROUP.
WE HAVE NOTICED IN THE PAST WHEN REFLECTION IS DONE ON THE GIFTS OR FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, OR ON THE BEATITUDES, OR ANY AREA WHERE WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO GROW IN SELF-KNOWLEDGE, WE USUALLY LOOK FOR THE GIFTS WE ARE LACKING AND TEND TO PRAY FOR AN INCREASE OF THAT GIFT. THIS RETREAT WE WANT TO PUT THE EMPHASIS ON THE SPECIAL GIFTS WE ALREADY HAVE -ON OUR STRENGTHS NOT ON OUR WEAKNESSES,
AS YOU GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE SMALL GROUPS, WE ASK EACH OF YOU TO QUIETLY OBSERVE THESE QUALITIES IN EACH OTHER. REFLECT ON THE GIFTS AND FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND ALSO ON THE VIRTUES. WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A LIST OF ALL THESE QUALITIES IF YOU NEED THEM. MAKE NOTES IF THAT WILL HELP. PENCILS AND PAPER ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOU.
ON SUNDAY MORNING YOU WILL BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO AFFIRM ONE ANOTHER AS CHILDREN OF GOD AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. OF COURSE, THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL BE RIGHT THERE WITH YOU TO LEAD YOU ALONG THE WAY.
AT THE END OF THE CONFERENCE PRECEDING EACH MEAL, WE WILL SING GRACE BEFORE MEALS TOGETHER IN THE LIBRARY. WORDS WILL BE PROVIDED AND WE WILL SING TO THE TUNE OF "EDELWEISS.".
THE VIRTUES WE WILL INCLUDE ARE THE FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES OF PRUDENCE, JUSTICE, TEMPERANCE, AND FORTITUDE PLUS THE THREE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES OF FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY.