Spiritual

Indigenous Peoples’ Day

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I wanted to begin by acknowledging that I write this (and most of my writing) from the traditional, unceded land of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, primarily the Kanien’keha:ka or Mohawk people.

I have always been a student of history with a deep interest in New York and Native Iroquois since childhood and have a deeper appreciation and understanding through my research for my book about St. Kateri. It is with that basis and love that I share some resources, for reading, for music, for traveling for some of the indigenous spaces in upstate New York and southern Canada.

Haudenosaunee Flag.
(c)2025

Picture heavy below the cut.

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Retreat Reflection

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At the beginning of the month, I went on a retreat. At the time, I didn’t know that I’d be having surgery a little more than a week later, and I was in blissful ignorance that my tendon was simply pulled and needed some extra care and a walking boot. I was wrong. That will be a post for tomorrow. Today is to walk through the weekend that was a journey of self-discovery through the concept of Original Goodness.

It was wonderful.

I discovered a morning prayer that I’ve tried to pray and contemplate on most mornings. I have also gone to sleep using breath work: breathe in “acceptance;” breathe out “surrender.” It has a calming effect on my bedtime ritual.

The journaling exercises were really thought provoking and I did some artwork as well.

I enjoyed the company, and it made me look forward to my next retreat in a few weeks with my writing group.

I created a map that began with “rest” and continued through other thoughts like “be,” “create,” and “let it go” among other gems tossed out to think about.

That weekend has stayed with me, and will continue to stay with me as I go back and re-read what I journaled and the notes I took, and perhaps lead me in a new direction or even in the same direction with possibly new focus, determination, and motivation.

Take this weekend and use the time for your own journey of self-discovery. Take the notes, smell the flowers, write the words, sketch the doodles.

Be at peace.

Friday Food – Saturdays are for Ice Cream Sundaes

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Last weekend I went on retreat. The spiritual companionship of a weekend retreat is soothing. It is inspiring, it is motivating, and in this case it’s non-routine routine is comforting.

Lunch is usually soup and salad bar with ices or ice cream sandwiches for dessert.

Saturday’s dinner is something wonderful (last week was onion chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and garlic knots) and dessert is ice cream sundaes.

Always.

Vanilla ice cream. Chocolate or caramel sauce. Whipped cream. Sprinkles – rainbow or chocolate. And cherries. (Last week there was also strawberries.)

I want all the cherries, and the woman who scoops the ice cream knows this about me, so I get “all” the cherries. (Not really, obviously, but more than one or two.)

I save them for last, and then I savor them.

I savor the cherries.

And then, Saturday night concludes, often with mass, sometimes with quiet fellowship. And then, we get ready to rejoin our regular lives.

(c)2025

August Inspired

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(c)2025

As I was walking into my house a couple of days ago, my eye caught this feather sticking out of the grass. I can’t imagine what kind of bird it came from; I’ve never seen those colors around here before, but I really thought it was beautiful.

I stopped to take a picture.

I’ve always been told not to pick up feathers because they’re often dirty – the feathers are shed when the bird defecates, so I left it there, figuring that maybe another bird will collect it to feather their nest.

When I went out the next morning, it was still there.

I decided that I should take it after all. I picked it up with a napkin, and when I got to work washed it off, and let it dry on my desk.

I’m going to add it to my new journal as part of my new project of “gathering the fragments” that came up during my recent retreat.

It is my first fragment.

Be inspired.

St. Ignatius Feast Day

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St. Ignatius was well born and privileged. He was a soldier and loved the women. How does that kind of a person become a saint? Well, you’d be surprised to read about the backgrounds and beginnings of most saints.

During his military career, he was wounded in Pamplona when a cannonball ricocheted and broke his leg. He returned to the family castle in Loyola where he underwent several surgeries, setting and rebreaking of his leg, and all of this without anesthetic. While he recovered, he would walk with a limp for the rest of his life.

During his recuperation, Inigo as he was called then had visions and felt the call to the priesthood after his sister gave him books on the lives of Christ and the saints when the chivalric romances he requested could not be found.

When he was able, he went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. He returned to Europe and eventually wnt to France and attended university.

He and six of his companions there swore vows to their lifelong work. He, along with Peter Faber and Franicis Xavier went on to found the Society of Jesus or The Jesuits as they are also known. In 1540, they were approved by Pope Paul III. Pope Francis is a Jesuit, the first Jesuit to be elected Pope.

Ignatius was the first Superior General of the Order and was called the Father General.

One of their practices is called The Daily Examen, which I like to pray in the evening. It is a quiet way to go over your day, see where G-d and Jesus were part of your day, and how you can make tomorrow better. (These are my interpretations of the examen.)

They also practice a contemplation known as the Lectio Divina or sacred reading, in which you put yourself in the Scripture stories, and pray on what you see there. There are five steps to this contemplation technique: prepare, read, meditate, pray, contemplate.

This article from the Jesuits’ website is a nice introduction: Everyday Ignatian: Patience and Lectio Divina.

Celebrating Mary Magdalene

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Today is the Feast Day of Mary Magdalene.

I am not going to talk about her “reputation” which is based in sexism and misogyny, but I’d like to remind people that she is now called the Apostle to the Apostles. She was the first to announce the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and she deserves to be called out for her willingness to tell the Good News to the men (and others) in hiding. (Parenthetically, I am not suggesting that there was no danger to his male disciples; of course, there was, but dismissing her for so long has really bothered me (and many others).)

This was one of my very first Tiny Saints. It was important for me to have that visual and tactile representation of St. Mary Magdalene.

I treasure her independence, her leadership, her bravery. I appreciate how she stepped out of her comfort zone, and can still, after all these years influence us in all the good ways that she was influencing Jesus and all the people surrounding Him.

Think of the ways and the people who have influenced you in the Gospel, the Good News, and how you can use Mary Magdalene’s example of independence, leadership, and bravery. What other ways can you meditate on these values and bring ourselves forward in our best and brave way?

Mary Magdalene, Pray for Us.

Inspired, and More

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The last few weeks have been nothing short of active, and I hope I’ve gotten through it with less scathing than would be normal for this kind of busyness. This post will be part mental health check-in, part inspired, part goal-setting.

Mental Health Check-in for Week 3 of July

I went back to my original post to see what the goals were that I thought I needed to focus on, and this was less than helpful. Goals and goalposts are constantly being adjusted. Looking at the biggest priorities, it’s still been iffy. Although to be fair to myself, I’ve been busy and not wasting time and opportunities, so while it’s been slow-going, it has still been going.

This is very much a positive.

Where are we this week?

  1. I was working on my presentation until about 7pm the night before. I realized there comes a point when it just needs to be done. I laid everything out on index cards, and did my thing. It was fantastic. I think everyone liked it and learned something new about St. Kateri Tekakwitha. I was able to constructively see things that I would change. I did a little improvisation and even though I finished later than planned, I was able to end on a decent note, and skipped a few slides at the end, and no one was the wiser. All in all, a good experience. I’m willing to do another powerpoint, although I’m hoping someone else presents it.
  2. Work. July 8th, I began working full-time. I haven’t worked full-time (outside the house) since my now-twenty-eight year old was two. It is a big adjustment for everyone, but my family is being supportive and picking up some tasks, and my co-workers and colleagues are amazing.
  3. Cursillo needs attention.
  4. I mentioned that I was going to avoid snoozing my alarms. I’ve still snoozed, but not as much and it’s made me more aware of what I need to do in the mornings to get out the door more efficiently.
  5. I’m disappointed in how our government is being run. I’m disgusted and repulsed by the Republican party, their hypocrisy, and their hatred. I don’t know how we come back from this precipice or how we survive.

Mental health check-in = EH.

And now for some inspiration!

I’m looking forward to taking my presentation and using it to push my book in the right direction. Below the cut are some of my inspiring and inspired photos from St. Kateri Tekakwitha’s feast day weekend.

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St. Julian of Norwich

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Today is the Feast Day of Julian of Norwich. I first became familiar with her when my new-to-me parish priest quoted her, and I found that it was eerily similar to my own mantra, “It’ll be okay.”

All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing be well.

She was an anchoress and mystic, locked in a cell for prayer and contemplation. Her writings are the earliest surviving works in English and attributed to a woman.

Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication

Two years before I learned of her, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of her in his General Audience in Paul VI Hall on the 1st of December, 2010. It can be read here.

You can also visit her shrine in Norwich, England.

In Our Time – Julian of Norwich from the BBC:

May I?

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As I mengtioned on Thursday, May is Mental Health Awareness Month. There’s also May Day, and May the Fourth, and Cinco de Mayo. Plus college graduations, Memorial Day, and the “official” start of summer.

Today is three spcial days that should be acknowleged and observed, each with their own reverences.

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