Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano's Blog

What would Jesus buy?

Please forgive me. It is Advent and here in the USA we are bombarded by temptations to buy, buy more, buy even more, buy even yet still more. I get antsy. There are so many hungry, naked, sick, uncared for people in this world and we Americans are so heavily encouraged to ignore them and prove to our wives that we love her by giving her diamonds and prove our love to our children by purchasing every new toy, that I just get queasy. Was reading chap 56 of the Rule of St. Benedict (… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on December 9, 2009 at 10:00am — No Comments

Sayings of the Desert Christians: Abba Isidore 1

from:http://orthodoxwiki.org/Sayings_of_the_Desert_Fathers#Abba_Isidore

(Abba Isidore) said, 'When I was younger and remained in my cell I set no limit to prayer; the night was for me as much the time of prayer as the day.'

Some thoughts:

This is interesting. When he was younger, Isidore says. He would pray at night and during the day. Did he advocate this? Or is he saying that now that he is older he can't pray like that? Or does he think that in his youth he… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on September 9, 2009 at 10:21am — No Comments

Rule of St. Benedict Reading for Sept 9, 2009 Ch 2

January 9, May 10, September 9

Chapter 2: What Kind of Person the Abbess Ought to Be

An Abbess who is worthy to be over a monastery

should always remember what she is called,

and live up to the name of Superior.

For she is believed to hold the place of Christ in the monastery,

being called by a name of His,

which is taken from the words of the Apostle:

"You have received a Spirit of adoption ...,

by virtue of which we cry, 'Abba -- Father'" (Rom.… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on September 9, 2009 at 9:56am — No Comments

Sayings of the Desert Christians: Abba Isaiah 3

from:http://orthodoxwiki.org/Sayings_of_the_Desert_Fathers#Abba_Isaiah

(Abba Isaiah) also said 'When God wishes to take pity on a soul and it rebels, not bearing anything and doing its own will, he then allows it to suffer that which it does not want, in order that it may seek him again.'

Some thoughts:

God allows us to suffer, which is something we don't want. It's quite true we dislike suffering. OTOH, there are logical consequences to our choices. Some things… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on September 6, 2009 at 9:18am — No Comments

Rule of St. Benedict Reading for Sept 6, 2009 Prologue

January 6, May 7, September 6

Prologue

So we have asked the Lord

who is to dwell in His tent,

and we have heard His commands

to anyone who would dwell there;

it remains for us to fulfill those duties.

Therefore we must prepare our hearts and our bodies

to do battle under the holy obedience of His commands;

and let us ask God

that He be pleased to give us the help of His grace

for anything which our nature finds hardly… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on September 6, 2009 at 8:58am — No Comments

Rule of St. Benedict Reading for Sept 5, 2009 Prologue

January 5, May 6, September 5

Prologue

Hence the Lord says in the Gospel,

"Whoever listens to these words of Mine and acts upon them,

I will liken to a wise person

who built a house on rock.

The floods came,

the winds blew and beat against that house,

and it did not fall,

because it had been founded on rock" (Matt. 7:24-25).

Having given us these assurances,

the Lord is waiting every day

for us to respond by our deeds to His holy… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on September 5, 2009 at 9:36am — No Comments

Sayings of the Desert Christians: Abba Isaiah 1

from:http://orthodoxwiki.org/Sayings_of_the_Desert_Fathers#Abba_Isaiah

(Abba Isaiah) said to those who were making a good beginning by putting themselves under the direction of the holy Fathers, 'As with purple dye, the first colouring is never lost.' And, 'Just as young shoots are easily trained back and bent, so it is with beginners who live in submission.'

Some thoughts:

The reference to the purple dye would have had a lot more meaning to Abba Isaiah's… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on September 4, 2009 at 8:02am — No Comments

Rule of St. Benedict Reading for Sept 3, 2009 Prologue

January 3, May 4, September 3

Prologue

And the Lord, seeking his laborer

in the multitude to whom He thus cries out,

says again,

"Who is the one who will have life,

and desires to see good days" (Ps. 33[34]:13)?

And if, hearing Him, you answer,

"I am the one,"

God says to you,

"If you will have true and everlasting life,

keep your tongue from evil

and your lips that they speak no guile.

Turn away from evil and do… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on September 4, 2009 at 6:43am — No Comments

Sayings of the Desert Christians: Abba Hilarion

from:http://orthodoxwiki.org/Sayings_of_the_Desert_Fathers#Abba_Hilarion

From Palistine, Abba Hilarion went to the mountain to Abba Anthony. Abba Anthony said to him, 'You are a welcome torch which awakens the day.' Abba Hilarion said, 'Peace to you, pillar of light, giving light to the world.'

Some thoughts:

I know we recently read this one when we were working through the collection of Sayings by topic. Must confess, I don't remember what that topic… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on September 2, 2009 at 7:17am — No Comments

Rule of St. Benedict Reading for Sept 2, 2009 Prologue

January 2, May 3, September 2

Prologue

Let us arise, then, at last,

for the Scripture stirs us up, saying,

"Now is the hour for us to rise from sleep" (Rom. 13:11).

Let us open our eyes to the deifying light,

let us hear with attentive ears

the warning which the divine voice cries daily to us,

"Today if you hear His voice,

harden not your hearts" (Ps. 94[95]:8).

And again,

"Whoever has ears to hear,

hear what the Spirit… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on September 2, 2009 at 7:03am — No Comments

Cincinnati nun given ultimatum over ordination views

Sr Gloriamarie adds: Should you wish to contact the Sisters of Charity in Cincinnati and offer your support, you may do so here:

donata.glassmeyer@srcharitycinti.org

Cincinnati nun given ultimatum over ordination views

http://ncronline.org/news/cincinnati-nun-given-ultimatum-over-ordination-views

Cincinnati

After serving as a voice for justice for 40 years in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and beyond, Sister of Charity Louise Akers has been told… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on September 1, 2009 at 10:06am — No Comments

Sayings of the Desert Christians: Abba Helladius

from:http://orthodoxwiki.org/Sayings_of_the_Desert_Fathers#Abba_Helladius

It was said of Abba Helladius that he spent twenty years in the Cells, without ever raising his eyes to see the roof of the church.

Some thoughts:

What are we to make of this Saying? To be honest, it kinda creeps me out. LOL The Cells were discovered in 1964 and there has been excavations of churches with inscriptions and decorations. Of course, I dunno if the inscriptions and decorations… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on September 1, 2009 at 8:37am — No Comments

Rule of St. Benedict Reading for Sept 1, 2009 Prologue

January 1, May 2, September 1

Prologue

I S T E N carefully, my child,

to your master's precepts,

and incline the ear of your heart (Prov. 4:20).

Receive willingly and carry out effectively

your loving father's advice,

that by the labor of obedience

you may return to Him

from whom you had departed by the sloth of disobedience.

To you, therefore, my words are now addressed,

whoever you may be,

who are renouncing your own… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on September 1, 2009 at 8:20am — No Comments

Sayings of the Desert Christians: Abba Gerontius of Petra

from:http://orthodoxwiki.org/Sayings_of_the_Desert_Fathers

Abba Gerontius of Petra said that many, tempted by the pleasures of the body, commit fornication, not in their body but in their spirit, and while preserving their bodily virginity, commit prostitution in their soul. 'Thus it is good, my well-beloved, to do that which is written and for each one to guard his own heart with all possible care.' (Prov. 4.23)

Some thoughts:

It doesn't seem right to me to… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on August 31, 2009 at 9:03am — No Comments

Rule of St. Benedict Reading for August 31, 2009

May 1, August 31, December 31

Chapter 73: On the Fact That the Full Observance of Justice Is Not Established in This Rule

Now we have written this Rule

in order that by its observance in monasteries

we may show that we have attained some degree of virtue

and the rudiments of the religious life.

But for those who would hasten to the perfection of that life

there are the teaching of the holy Fathers,

the observance of which leads to the height… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on August 31, 2009 at 8:41am — No Comments

Sayings of the Desert Christians: Abba Evagrius

from http://orthodoxwiki.org/Sayings_of_the_Desert_Fathers

Abba Evagrius said, "Take away temptations and no one will be saved."

It strikes me as strange that in the alphabetical collection, only 1 Saying by Abba Evagrius is preserved. OTOH, he wrote and his work was preserved. http://orthodoxwiki.org/Evagrius_Ponticus

How often have I heard people long to "get away from it all" and everything would be right with them. I've daydreamed about it often enough… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on August 30, 2009 at 9:05am — No Comments

Rule of St. Benedict Reading for August 30, 2009

April 30, August 30, December 30

Chapter 72: On the Good Zeal Which They Ought to Have

Just as there is an evil zeal of bitterness

which separates from God and leads to hell,

so there is a good zeal

which separates from vices and leads to God

and to life everlasting.

This zeal, therefore, the sisters should practice

with the most fervent love.

Thus they should anticipate one another in honor (Rom. 12:10);

most patiently endure one… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on August 30, 2009 at 8:24am — No Comments

Rule of St. Benedict Reading for August 29, 2009

April 29, August 29, December 29

Chapter 71: That the Brethren Be Obedient to One Another

Not only is the boon of obedience

to be shown by all to the Abbot,

but the brethren are also to obey one another,

knowing that by this road of obedience they are going to God.

Giving priority, therefore, to the commands of the Abbot

and of the Superior appointed by him

(to which we allow no private orders to be preferred),

for the rest

let all… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on August 29, 2009 at 9:53am — No Comments

Sayings of the Desert Christians: Abba Epiphanius 2

from: http://orthodoxwiki.org/Sayings_of_the_Desert_Fathers#Abba_Epiphanius

"O monk, take thou the greatest possible care that thou sin not, lest thou disgrace God Who dwelleth in thee, and thou drive Him out of thy soul. "

Some thoughts:

Here's something I've thought for a long time. Ideally, we Christians are in a relationship of love with God. When we examine relationships based on love it is very clear that some stuff diminishes or even destroys the love… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on August 29, 2009 at 9:51am — No Comments

Sayings of the Desert Christians: Abba Epiphanius 1

(Abba Epiphanius) added, 'A man who receives something from another because of his poverty or his need has therein his reward, and because he is ashamed, when he repays it he does so in secret. But it is the opposite for the Lord God; he receives in secret, but he repays in the presence of the angels, the archangels and the righteous.'

Some thoughts

I am really not at all sure what to make of this Saying. "Reward?" It is not the giver who is rewarded, but the receiver. Is… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on August 28, 2009 at 7:40am — No Comments

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