Let Us Cultivate Hope and the Desert Will Bloom

 Let us sow goodness and holiness, and we will see barren fields bloom. 

-Bishop William Giaquinta

O Come Key of David

O KEY OF DAVID, and Scepter of the House of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens: Come, and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Theology of Risk: Rainbow of Hope

There is a reality that goes beyond us: the tomorrow that we must build, a tomorrow that logically involves risks, but for us it is not so important to finish the work as to work for the Lord.

We must build the future, as much as is possible one understands, as instruments, as useless servants, keeping always this will of building together with a sense of optimism. It serves nothing to depress ourselves. Let us try to have a supernatural outlook: where we finish, God begins. We have trust in Him. Let us not forget that in our equations we cannot take everything into account, because there is an unknown, and this unknown is the infinite omnipotence of God. We must know how to look toward the future, not only our personal one but also that of the Institute, rooting ourselves in the Lord. We must have a healthy sense of optimism that will give us the courage to face the difficulties. We are here to pray the Holy Spirit to infuse this courage into us, not, obviously to be imprudent, but to know how to look to the future with generosity and to know how to risk.

We must know how to accept so much that is imperfect, negative, finite, limited that there is in the work of the last five years. We are not here to judge or to judge ourselves, but to love each other, to look ourselves in the eye, to understand in what way, counting above all on the love of God the Father, of Jesus Christ, of Our Lady, we can together face this new moment, this new development of the Institute.

Here we have the theology of risk become a rainbow of hope, full of light. I am certain that this will be our Chapter. (Bishop Giaquinta, Theology of Risk)

Wellspring of Joy!

It is also through joy that we will be able to fulfill our apostolic oblation and be self-offering - a permanent, as well as a daily offering, as the essence of our consecration. An offering that permeates our intelligence, as well as our heart, that inspires all our steps and gestures. An offering that lasts through time, and that expands itself so that others, too, may receive the gifts of grace, and arrive at the wellsprings of water where they can draw water in abundance....

This will give us greater hope and joy, and will enable us to give hope and courage to everyone. We will become the sowers of hope that the Lord wants us to be not only for the Institute, but also for the entire world. “Let us open wide our hearts…That is to say, let us expand our love, so that many more people, and the whole world, may enter in and be welcomed by our embrace of love. To see and to love, to love and to see! To have a practical, broad, and sincere vision of love toward all brothers and sisters, and to receive them with understanding, tolerance and collaboration” (W. Giaquinta, Homily May 1, 1989).

(Giuliana, June 25, 2003)

The Rainbow of the Covenant

In the morning we must raise our thoughts and words to the Lord. At the rising of the sun, the Lord must be our thirst and our desire: “O God, you are my God; for you I long. For you my soul is thirsting, and my body pines for you like a dry, weary land without water…” (Ps 63:2). Only in this way we can avoid making the numerous activities of our day a burden for our heart, or allow them to separate us from what is good. Only in this way we can allow the confused dreams of the dark night of our soul be dispelled by the light of a new day. Only in this way we can silence the confused range of our thoughts and useless words, and make room for the Risen Christ.

It is also in the light of the new day that we wish to prepare for the Celebration of the Covenant – the rainbow of thousand colors that unites heaven and earth. I am speaking of the Celebration in which we renew our yes to the oblation – offered for every man and woman, so that all may be led to the infinite love of the Lord. Let us pray for a renewed commitment to Fraternity – offered for the building of a civilization of love. Let us ask for a Cenacle that lives in communion and is at the service of the Church and of the world.
(Caterina Fava, March 2008)

The Great Romance

To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances;

to seek Him, the greatest adventure;
to find Him, the greatest human achievement"
~ St. Augustine

Living Water

As the deer longs for streams of water,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My being thirsts for God, the living God.
When can I go and see the face of God?
Why are you downcast, my soul;
why do you groan within me?

Wait for God, whom I shall praise again,
my savior and my God.
(Psalm 42:1-3,6)

Lilies of the Field

Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be of anxious mind. For all the nations of the world seek these things; and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things shall be yours as well (Luke 12:27-31).