The Process of Focusing

by Father William Meninger

Focusing is the process that enables us to hear what the body is telling us, through feelings, about our wounds and what to do about them. It can be used for other things involving body knowledege, such as dreams  or spiritual insights in prayer or Scripture reading, but, for our purposes here, we will limit it to the healing of wounds.

Here is a simple explanation of the focusing process. You can actually experience it as you go through the instructions:

1. Sit quietly for a moment; take several deep, slow breaths. Offer this prayer, or a similar one in your own words:   Dear Lord, thank you for gracing me to spend these few moments with your presence. I would like to respond to the innate ability you give me to listen to my body's knowledge. I want to recognize that pain is my body's way of calling my attention to my hurts and that it is also a means to lead me into the healing process. You have never promised me as a Christian, that I would be free from pain (crosses). But you have promised to be with me in my trials and sufferings and to bring me through them in new and grace-filled life. Amen
2. Now feel your body. Perhaps you might give your attention to your solar plexus (guts!), the location of many vague, uncomfortable feelings. Indeed, some people are constantly affected by unfocused, abiding discomfort here. They have never known what these feelings mean or how to deal with them. Go through your whole body - are there any puzzling pains, aches, feelings, anywhere that you cannot account for? Simply let them arise. Don't do anything for a while but just feel! Give your body there or four minutes to speak to you through some feeling or other. Body knowledge takes longer than intellectual knowledge. Don't be concerned with the first thing that comes to mind but wait for something to come to your body feelings. It may be connected to what is in the mind or it may not. Just allow the feeling to be there. Do not do anything else. The feeling may be a physical (e.g., muscle) pain, it may be excitement, fear, heaviness, or depression. What ever it is, it is the body speaking. Don't run from it. This is what we do too often. Drugs, alcohol, medicine, sex and work are the ways we use to get away from body knowledge. Today, you are not going to run. You are going to listen - even through it hurts. If it is very painful just reach out in your heart to God who is present to you and who will accompany you in your search for healing. Allow yourself to weep if this is called for. Weeping is also body language. Realize that whatever you feel is a call for healing. It is not a enemy but a friend or a teacher. Just accept it and be with it for a little while.

excerpt from "The Process of Forgiviness"

Accidental

Taking Up Our Cross

by St. Catherine of Siena

In the center of the garden is planted the tree of the most holy cross, the resting place of the spotless Lamb. He bathes and waters this glorious gardens, irrigating it with his blood; and he himself bears the mature fruit of true solid virtues. If you want patience , he is the bedrock of meekness, since not a murmur of complaint was heard from the Lamb. He is the bedrock of deep humility, since God stooped down to humanity, and the Word stooped to the shameful death of the cross. If you want charity, he is the charity, and even more, for it was the power of love and charity that kept him nailed fast to the cross. The cross and nails could never have held the God-Man, had not the power of charity held him. I'm not surprised that those who make of themselves a garden through self-knowledge are strong in the face of the whole world, for they are conformed and made one with supreme strength. They truly begin in this life to have foretaste of eternal life. They control the world by making light of it . The devils are afraid to get near a soul on fire.

So up!... I don't want you sleeping any more in irresponsibility... No, with a boundless blazing love get up and take a bath in Christ's blood, hide in the wounds of Christ crucified. I'll say no more. I'm sure that if you live in the cell I've been talking about you will discover none other than Christ crucified... Keep living in God's holy and tender love. 

source: Magnifcat, July 2010

Forgiveness and Love

by Frances Hogan

When we witness a public example of forgiveness in the face of an evil deed we are deeply touched by such nobility of heart. Such was the case when a brave father went public in his forgiveness of those who killed his daughter at Enniskillen. So, too, when the Pope visited his would-be murderer in prison to extend to him his personal forgiveness. These acts show us why God asks us to forgive, for even onlookers are ennobled by the deed, to say nothing of the participators, for how can we scream for revenge when the injured party lovingly forgives? Doesn't the sight somehow show us what it is to be truly human, and a child of God? Forgiveness is a case of overcoming evil with good, a demonstration that where sin abounds grace abounds even more (Rom 5:20). Observing such acts of heroism liberates us from the sickening feeling that the world is run by evildoers, and that we are helpless in the face of such malice.

Forgiveness is the divine institution for dealing with injustice. It breaks the cycle of evil, of tit-for-tat revenge which services only to increase the problem.  It not only breaks the cycle of evil but also power of evil, neutralizing its effects. It is the equivalent of taking the sword out of the enemies' hands and breaking it, leaving them defenseless. Forgiveness is the liberating defense of the child of God. It is also one of the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and those who use it know the joy of God's presence in their lives, and also of  God's protection against all enemies both material and spiritual, for time and eternity.

source: Magnificat, June 2010, pg. 180

Inspired by Desert Fathers

Fr. William Meninger Interview

Ascension

by Fr. William Meninger

In the Christian dispensation a great emphasis is placed on the idea of memorial or reminder. The very fact that we are gathered here this morning is because the Eucharist is a memorial or a reminder. We are here to observe the request of Jesus when he said at the last supper, "do this in memory of me". In addition to this, today we are celebrating the ascension of our Lord. The final message of Jesus which he gave at that time was a promise that he would send the Holy Spirit as a reminder of all the things that he taught. This was his last message to us who live in the latter days, that is, the period between his ascension into heaven and his coming again in glory. It is evident to us and for ours that the Holy Spirit is sent as a reminder of everything Jesus told us. Such a reminder is truly necessary because the message of Jesus was given in a period of history 2000 years ago and we are living today in quite a different period. There are new issues that must be interpreted according to the teachings of Jesus. There are new generations, new historical events, new issues, new cultures, new inventions, new movements of the nation's, new geological developments, new discoveries, new frontiers. For us to live as Christians in these new situations requires, indeed, the gracious inspiration, guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

Today, I would like to guide you into a prayer/meditation in the spirit of a reminder.

Remind me, Lord, I keep forgetting
that you are powerful enough
to handle all of my problems, no matter,
how large, how small, how complex or how simple.
Remind me, Lord, I keep forgetting,
that you are stronger in every way
then my strongest afflictions.
Remind me, Lord, I keep forgetting,
that you are mightier than any evil that can afflict me.
Remind me, Lord, I keep forgetting,
is that you are my protection.
Remind me, Lord, I keep forgetting,
that I don't have to be afraid of anyone or anything.
Remind me, Lord, I keep forgetting,
that you are capable of helping me with anything
that I feel overwhelmed by,
that I feel helpless about,
and I feel anxious about, or defeated by.
Remind me, Lord, I keep forgetting,
that you are my helper.
Remind me, Lord, I keep forgetting,
that I don't have to be afraid of anything.
Remind me, Lord, I keep forgetting,
that your love is greater
than any love I've ever known.
Greater than my mother's love, my father's love.
Greater than my sister’s love, my brother's love.
Greater than my best friend’s love, my spouse’s love.
Remind me, Lord, I keep forgetting,
that you loved me before
I was a twinkle in my parent's eyes.
Remind me, Lord, I keep forgetting,
that no matter what I have done,
you still love me.
You may not be pleased with my actions or choices,
but nonetheless you still love me.
Remind me, Lord, I keep forgetting,
that I don't have to deserve your love
because you love me anyway.
Remind me, Lord, I keep forgetting,
that I don't have to earn your love.
Remind me, Lord, I keep forgetting,
that your love has always been and will always be with me,
whether I recognize it or not.
Remind me, Lord, I keep forgetting,
that your love is unconditional.
Remind me, Lord, I keep forgetting,
that I can rely on your love.

May you be happy,
may you be free.
May you be loving,
May you be loved.

Father William

source: Contemplative Prayer for Everyone