Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Dear Seeker, Well, some would say these are “the worst of times” for nuns and the U.S. Catholic Church. It could be at the same time the “best of times.” If you are reading these blogs to find out what women religious are like, I would share with you these qualities of women religious that were observed by Barbara Marx Hubbard, a Jewish scholar who spoke to our leaders recently. As you scan the list you might say that many people have one or more of these qualities and you don’t have to be a Sister to have it. Sure, but Grace is in the Group. All of us together, the living Body of Christ, have these qualities together. We are a great company of woman. Not a bunch of women BUT a person with a voice and a commitment to the gospel. gospel living; mystical presencing; faithfulness and responsiveness to unmet needs; solidarity with Earth; building of community; risk-taking for the sake of mission; social entrepreneurship; practice o...

Today my prayer took me to Psalm 139, where I am reminded that God knows me better than I know myself.  Yes, God knows the very depths of my being.  The Spirit of God is not passive, waiting in the background, but is very active, and is ready to help each of us to know God, and also ourselves.  We can gather all the human knowledge we want on our own, but to know God, to know our true inner selves, we have to be open to the Spirit.  We cannot do it on our own.  Before God, we are always humble.  So we ask the Spirit for help—the Spirit, always eager to help us. Then what?  Again, we need the Spirit’s help to know how to best use this knowledge and the gifts we have been given.  We are called to be active and eager, too, in our response.  The Spirit can’t use our gifts unless we cooperate.  We have to say yes.  Sometimes it can be tempting to see how our gifts enhance our own reputation or our standing with othe...