The Interior Life
— Posted by Annie (October 14, 2006 at 9:31 am)
I’m looking forward to the Generations for Life Pro-Life Conference next Saturday with speakers Vicki Thorn, John Jansen, and Eric Scheidler. I’m particular excited about presenting my talk on the interior life – a topic I find most fascinating. Before I came back to my faith, I was intrigued by Buddhist meditation. To be quite honest, I didn’t know that meditation existed within my own Catholic faith. Since discovering it, I try to meditate daily.
But what does the interior life have to do with being a pro-life teen? Well, I don’t want to give my whole talk away, but here’s a little taste. The United States has one of the highest teen suicide rates in the world, even though we are one of the wealthiest nations in the world. Why are so many kids unhappy? Obviously they don’t value their own lives. In part this is because society, which supports the elimination of its most innocent, does not value all human life.
But we can’t wait for the laws to change. Teens need to know that they have self worth, regardless of what the world around them says. Fortunately, this self worth need not come from the outside (though that helps), but can be found in the deepest recess of their very being.
Time away from “the world” is essential in order to realize that Someone has the hairs on their heads numbered (Lk 12:7). By recognizing their intrinsic value, they will come to value all human life and thus having a positive effect on those around them and society at large.
I hope you can join us next Saturday for an awesome conference. I believe all the talks are going to be very interesting. See you then!
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mary kay says:
How funny is this? This is from Lauren’s blog at Loyola website…you all remember Lauren?
“I wish that the problem was just isolated to me. And I wish even more that online gambling institutions could exist in the U.S. and never create a problem. I would have no problem with drugs being legal either if they didn’t destroy lives. The truth of the matter is, they do. And yes I believe that we do have to make online gambling illegal for these points.”
Did I just hear Lauren say that we need to make gambling and drugs illegal because they “destroy lives”? Hmmmm…sound anything like abortion to you? That girl is certifiable…
Too bad she was banned from this site…she was quite entertaining….
MK
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 5:58 am
Rosie says:
MK,
Some people have a hard time seeing the whole picture unless it affects them personally. I do think she might turn it around someday though. I don’t know if entertaining is the word I would use. Hope all is well. How’s school going, you’re a teacher right? If I remember correctly you teach pre-school.
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 10:35 am
mary kay says:
Hey Rosie,
When I say entertaining, I mean in the way you sit back and shake your head at how completely irrational her thought was, and yet she was unshakable in her beliefs. She herself was actually a very sad (even pathetic) example of how human beings can be so duped by satan. But her methods and transparent arguments and faulty thinking were what I found entertaining. The way you find watching a 1 year old try to walk entertaining. Obviously if the one year old falls and gets seriously hurt it ceases to be funny, but while she is struggling to “do it on her own”, you can’t help but grin at her antics…you know?
I took off a year of teaching. My father is ill, my mother can no longer drive and I watch the grandbaby. Plus we just moved. I needed to take care of things on the home front. This is the first time in 24 years that when I drop the kids off at school, I am alone. I thought it might get old or boring, but the Man Upstairs, has a list 20 miles long of things He wants me to do…
How’s the prenancy going? I know you’ve told me before but I forgot, when are we due? I prayed for you today in our Adoration Chapel, then came home and lo and behold, you had written to me…wierd, huh?
take care,
God bless,
MK
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 11:21 am
lauren says:
you’re a class act mary kay, a real class act.
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
lauren says:
“certifiable” “entertaining” “pathetic” “sad” “irrational” “duped” “transparent” “faulty” “struggling” “grin at her antics”
“God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 1:25 pm
mary kay says:
Lauren,
you’re home…oh how I’ve missed you…
I thought you said you weren’t coming back because it was too traumatic (or was that dramatic?)…
whatever, welcome back…
bring it on…
I love you girl…
MK
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 6:03 pm
lauren says:
Traumatic. I have post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety attacks, and depression. I’m currently taking Klonopin and effexor. I think part has to do with the site, another huge part was my little addiction and how much that hurts and still hurts (thanks for bringing it up btw), and just other general life issues. My feelings are much more numb towards things with the medication. I worry a lot about a lot of things. I worry about pretty much everything under the sun. I am in short, not doing very well.
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 6:20 pm
Rosie says:
MK,
Guess she wasn’t banned, whatever. She isn’t unshakable in her beliefs though, she was always contradicting herself. Anyway, sorry about your dad, it’s good that you could take a year off to help out, your parents obviously did something right, most people would just stick them in a home or something.
This pregnancy is a little stressful, we had a scare about 2 weeks ago. My midwife uses the doppler to hear the heartbeat and she couldn’t find it at 14 weeks. I was a mess because she found it at 10 weeks. My poor husband was a mess because the 2 times he has ever been able to come with me she hasn’t been able to find the heartbeat. We then went to get an ultrasound and before he even told us there was a heartbeat we could see the little one moving around. I couldn’t stop looking at the picture for an hour, those 3D ultrasounds are amazing! I have felt the little one moving around for a few weeks now and it’s not like a butterfly in my stomach it’s actually like a little punch or kick, i’m very proud. After 22 weeks I think i’ll be alright. It is so true about showing earlier the second time around, I popped around 8 weeks! I should go I need the rest, my friend neglected to warn me her kids had colds when I went to visit and I woke up with a sore throat and my very own cold,I think I might try meditating. Oh, i’m due March 31st.
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 6:27 pm
lauren says:
I was banned and I’m sure Eric or John or Annie will affirm that. I couldn’t write on the site. I wonder why they unbanned me. I wonder if it because there was little comments on the posts. I thought the idea of banning me was a bit ridiculous anyways. Because banning me is dealing with the idea that I am unreachable. I don’t think that’s the purpose of this site or evangelism for that matter.
As far as contradicting myself goes, if I did, I never did it willfully. And no I am not unshakable. I’m completely shakable. People who are unshakable scare the bajesus out of me. Feel free to try to reach out to me.
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 6:33 pm
mary kay says:
Lauren,
once again, you amaze me. Now I am humbled. I knew you were in there somewhere…If you ever want to go for coffee someday, let me know. My bark is way worse than my bite.
Seriously, I think it’s great that you came back. You know (I hope) that most of my jibes are tongue in cheek. I mean what I say on the abortion issue, but sometimes teasing you is tooooo tempting. I never, never, never mean to actually hurt you, and if I do cross the line, let me know.
And for the record, I agree that gambling should be regulated. At the very least people under 25 shouldn’t be allowed near it. As far as that battle goes, I’m behind you all the way. Don’t know what the solution is, but am proud of you for taking up the fight.
I just read an article somewhere yesterday about it. (You weren’t in it) but you have obviously got them talking…good for you!
MK
You also enlightened me to Darfur. Didn’t you put a link on here awhile back? Where your head is on straight it’s on very straight…
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 7:12 pm
Rosie says:
Lauren,
In my early twenty’s I started having anxiety attacks and I dealt with them on my own for 4 years until I finally threw up my hands and said HELP! I went on “celexa” for 6 weeks and it went away, but you are right it does make you numb and I thought that was very scary because I could see why people would get addicted and it’s a little scary when you go off the medication because you can feel again, I have heard that it is a little easier to deal with if you have a counselor to talk to while you are going through it, or anyone for that matter. I have always felt that going back to church helped me,, because so many changes for the best happened at the same time. Maybe it’s just time for some good changes in your life. I actually had to get rid of a few “friends” who just weren’t good for me and I realized that I had to be more assertive with people. Those are a few things that helped me, maybe they can help you, who knows.
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 7:16 pm
mary kay says:
Rosie,
Do you think Lauren will ever see the connection between what she is doing and why she is feeling anxiety?
Lauren,
Honey, all sarcasm aside, what can we do to help? We’ll go easy on you for awhile. Don’t run away…we can be gentle when we need to. But look at your life, look at your choices, and then listen to what we’ve been saying all along. Isn’t it possible, just possible, that some of your life choices are leading to the anxiety? This is what we keep harping on. Certain behaviors hurt you. Other behaviors lift you up. We can’t take away the pain or anxiety, but we can share with you what we know. And we know that abortion hurts women. Even if the connection isn’t made. We know that sex outside of marriage hurts women. We don’t like to see women hurting. We don’t like to see you hurting.
Let us help, even if only by praying for you. Okay?
MK
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 7:30 pm
mary kay says:
“I worry a lot about a lot of things. I worry about pretty much everything under the sun.”
what do you worry about? big world things or things in your life. Because sometimes we find it easier to focus on BIG WORLD ISSUES so that we don’t have to look at ourselves. You know?
I know I’ve said this before, but my son has bi-polar. It is soooo unbelieveably hard watching him struggle. The pain is almost unbearable sometimes. For him. For me. but struggle he does and I am so amazed that no matter how many times he falls, no matter how hard he falls and no matter how far he falls, he continues to struggle. And stand up again. and try again. He is one of my heroes. When I grow up I want to be just like him. Well, not just like him. He dresses kind of funny and his feet smell…but you get the picture.
MK”
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 7:36 pm
mary kay says:
Rosie,
let’s pray this one together for our Lauren…
Remember oh most gracious virgin Mary,
that never was it known, that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee oh virgin of virgins, my mother. To thee I come, before thee I stand. Sinful. and sorrowful.
Oh mother, of the word incarnated, despise not my petition, but in your mercy, hear and answer me,
amen.
Dear Lord,
This one is for Lauren. Our little girl is hurting and scared. Take care of her. Protect her. And please, please, please…lead her to the truth so that she can be at peace…she too is one of Your own. She too is your “beloved daughter”.
amen
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 7:41 pm
Rosie says:
MK,
“Do you think Lauren will ever see the connection between what she is doing and why she is feeling anxiety?”
Of course, it always “clicks” at some point, it did for me. Once you make changes in your life and you realize you are happier you know you have done the right thing. (usually anyway).
I dated a guy in high school who has bi-polar and it was so hard to watch him struggle all the time. The last time I saw him it seemed that he finally leveled out a bit. Getting the right dosage is a bit of a roller coaster.
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 7:51 pm
mary kay says:
Rosie,
Yeah. My Tommy, still has moments where I think “this could be it! He’s goin’ off the deep end again!” But so far he hasn’t. And it brought us so much closer together. He is the one with the baby. He is an amazing father. When he walks in the room, as far as Charlotte is concerned, the rest of us just become invisible. Yesterday I heard him in the other room doing his “Luuukkkeee, I am your father…” routine and she was was roaring laughing. So the bad is offset by the good.
But yeah. It’s a roller coaster….
MK
(Weren’t you going to bed missie? Puttin’ those feet up, soothin’ that sore throat…go on. Get movin’….march. Up to bed. Right now. Good night and god bless…
MK
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 8:08 pm
lauren says:
I guess you can attribute my stress to a long line of things. Rosie, the numbness is the weirdest isn’t it? I have a hard time formulating complete thoughts and when I’m talking I forget what exactly it is I’m talking about. I’m going to a therapist currently I’ve been going to since I was about 12-13ish. I trust her. That’s the most important part.
I’m addicted to gambling because I use it as an escape from other parts of my life that bother me. Most female gamblers are the same way. I’ve been clean for a long time, but the temptation still exists. When I first started writing on this site awhile ago, I think it was one of those frustrators.
What do I worry about? Everything. My boyfriend, my sister, my relationship, what people think of me, what I think of me, global warming, my rights, my lack of rights, my lack of understanding, my anger.
I was physically and mentally abused as a child and saw my mother get hurt as well. I fight because it’s the only way I know how to cope with things that bother me. I get into rages like my dad sometimes and it scares me. Not violent, just heart-pumping angry rages. I’m not saying that the rages aren’t justified, or that I’m in the wrong when I get them, I just tend to react stronger than most. I do at the heart of all this believe I have the right to choose what happens when I get pregnant. I dont believe that a decision I make will necessarily be right or moral. It really bothers me when I hear people say that women who have abortions and believe in their choice have no regret. Of course they have regret. Of course they have sorrow. But why can’t we help these women? Why can’t we heal them?
Every morning I wake up, I go through the motions and I don’t stand in the shower, I sit in the shower and wonder, when is my heart going to stop aching? When will the hurt stop? When is someone going to take care of me? When will people stop using me or my message a political tool and just let me have my truth? Maybe I don’t listen enough. What if I am wrong about everything? I try to swallow religion because I think it will make me feel better and it just makes me feel worse.
I keep making bad choices. Choices to not do things more than to do things. And I keep justifying it in my head. Rosie, I’m waiting for the click. Not really in terms of pro-choice/pro-life issues, I’m just waiting to feel resolute in my beliefs and I don’t. I dont know if I want to be. Do things start to make more or less sense as you get older?
Just please forgive me for being so venomous. I’m trying. God am I trying. I just want to stop feeling this way.
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 8:19 pm
mary kay says:
Baby,
I really mean it…if you want to meet for coffee, I’m here. My treat.
I tried to kill myself when I was 18. I was so afraid of everything. I was addicted to drugs. They were the only thing that let me chill. But it was a false peace. you know? I was thirty three when the click happened. Up until then I could have been your clone (minus the pro-life issue…I have always been pro-life.)
I think part of it is there is so much being thrown at us. Everyone screaming they have it right. Do this, take this, be this…
But at one point (and believe me, it was the lowest I had ever sunk) a very wise person spoke to me. I listened (although I rebelled on the outside).
I actually had my conversion on a toilet. How’s that for humiliating? I was at a Marian Conference with my mother and 2 of my sons. I went into the bathroom and was lighting a bowl. (not a toilet bowl if you get my drift). I had been exploring the Catholic faith at that point but hadn’t made a committment. Just before I lit the bowl I had the powerful understanding that I was standing at a crossroads. Light the bowl and I would struggle forever. Throw the bowl away and the gift of freedom would be given to me. I was being offered the most incredible gift. I had smoked pot everyday of my life for seventeen years. I had licked cocaine off of the back of toilets (Hmmm….I guess it was fitting that that is where God spoke to me…) I threw that bowl away. I made that choice. And never had the urge (NEVER EVEN HAD THE URGE) to use drugs again. That was 15 years ago.
So, yes sweetie, part of it is that your young. Part of it is that when you make up your mind you’re going to dig into it. You won’t committ lightly. Like me, you’re tenacious. You know that choosing the right things means giving up a lot of stuff. And that’s like giving up your night night blanket. But like I said. We’re here for you…Just ask. Okay?
MK
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 8:31 pm
Rosie says:
MK,
I slept all afternoon now I can’t sleep UGH! It sounds like your son has a sense of humor that helps him get by, that’s good!
Lauren,
Yes the numbness is strange, and I would wonder if I was coming across as cold to others, i’m stoic as it is.
With addictions I think it is always tempting to go back, sometimes I still really want a cigarette, not for the physically addictive reasons but for the mental comfort it would provide like a security blanket, the repetitive motion of hand to mouth, hand to mouth. Ah…J/K!
I can’t help but think our childhoods were similar. Our fathers sound very similar, maybe it’s a cop thing, but I get the heart pumping rages when I think about something someone said as long ago as a year ago, i’ve learned to redirect my thoughts to good things.
I don’t know if things make more sense as you get older, i’m still getting older and I learn something new everyday, don’t worry you’ll get the click. I think maybe you have a case of paralysis by analysis, maybe you think too much. Go to a comedy club, let loose, try to see humor in everything, you take things way too seriously it sounds. Nobody is in control of anything the sooner people accept it the better, the way we deal with things that happen is what counts.
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 8:55 pm
mary kay says:
Paralysis by analysis? I love it. I’ll have to throw that at Tommy the next time he starts getting weird.
He came to me this morning to tell me that his head is all messed up because he heard a radio show about the “Judas Gospel”. We talked and talked. He kept saying “how do you know what God wants from you?”
I told him, what I tell Lauren now. In the beginning you are fed on milk. You are not ready for meat. You can’t get answers to really deep questions until you’re prepared for them.
For now, all He asks is obedience. No questions. Just blind obedience. Go to confession. Go to mass. Pray in front of the Eucharist. In time you will be protected by grace and strengthed by His body and blood. Then slowly, very slowly, He will allow you to ask questions.
Augustine said something like: Faith is believing what you cannot see so that through faith you can see what you believe.
Obedience. Baby steps. Milk.
MK
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 9:03 pm
Rosie says:
Another thing that helped me through my anxiety was having a routine. for some reason that was very comforting.
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 9:09 pm
mary kay says:
Okay Lauren,
It’s seems you signed off 2 1/2 minutes before my last post. I was following you and went two sites ahead of the MS. blog to tell you I’d meet you back here but apparently you quit at MS…one more and you would have seen it. Something or someone obviously didn’t want you to continue this conversation. (Could it be Satan?) and I am exhausted. Gotta get up at 5:15. So, I’m goin’ to the bathroom (no bowl) and then I’ll check one last time to see if you got here. If not, you’ll be the last prayer I’ll say tonight. Know that you are not alone and that we (God and rosie and I) are with you in spirit, if not body.
God Bless you Baby,
Love,
MK
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 9:12 pm
mary kay says:
Rosie,
I’m so sorry you can’t sleep. Try a rosary. It always works for me which is why I never say my rosary at night. I can’t stay awake. The rythymn justs soothes me and before you know it…zzzzzz…
Talk more tomorrow. Let’s hold Lauren in our hearts tonight. Tomorrow we might be at each others throats again, but for tonight…she is our sister.
MK
Comment posted October 15th, 2006 at 9:15 pm
Pansy Moss` says:
Too bad she was banned from this site…she was quite entertaining….
I’m sorry Mary Kay, but what does this have to do with Annie’s post? I am not trying to be condescending, but the blog was so nice and peaceful without the insults…I thought you said she was banned…
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 7:14 am
Sunnyday says:
Now it’s going to be stressful again. If there have been fewer comments, that doesn’t mean no one is dropping by or reading the blog entries. But when commenters who insult and cuss pass by, it is not constructive at all. Banning certain commenters is, for me, an act of justice when everything is weighed beforehand.
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 7:59 am
Sunnyday says:
Btw, Annie, I wish you the best in your coming talk on the interior life. God knows a lot of young people (actually, everyone regardless of age) need guidance when it comes to cultivating an interior life. And I agree that the bottom line is realizing one’s self-worth as a child of God.
Great photo there, too =)
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 8:03 am
lauren says:
“Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 9:05 am
lauren says:
Hey Annie, do you have any links on Catholic meditation. I’m totally into that kind of stuff. Do you ever take yoga? I took bikram yoga maybe a few weeks ago. They put you in a 90 degree room and you sweat it out while being a human pretzel. It’s bizarre to be frank, but surprisingly relaxing. Anyways, I’d love some of those links of you have them.
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 9:25 am
mary kay says:
Guys,
Everyone deserves a second chance. Lauren is right in a way. She asked us to pardon her past behavior and so far she has been a delight to talk to. I give her credit for seeking help when she needed it and for being able to ask us to bear with her…
Lauren says:
“Just please forgive me for being so venomous. I’m trying. God am I trying. I just want to stop feeling this way. ”
As far as contradicting myself goes, if I did, I never did it willfully. And no I am not unshakable. I’m completely shakable. People who are unshakable scare the bajesus out of me. Feel free to try to reach out to me. ”
I had been communicating with her on her Loyola blog and am glad she felt called back to us.
I know where she is coming from and if I could have a change of heart, so can she.
Besides, this blog was about the interior life…and it seems like Lauren is working on hers. I’m sorry if it upsets you that she is back…maybe we can fix that.
Lauren,
would you like to e-mail privately? keep to task on this blog, but discuss other stuff off site? That might be a good compromise…
MK
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 9:42 am
mary kay says:
Annie,
Truly sorry if I hi-jacked your topic. I really feel that Lauren is reaching out and this is a safe place for her. If I’m wrong, let me know and I’ll back off…
Either way, again, I’m sorry. Guess I just get carried away sometimes.
MK
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 9:50 am
Pansy Moss` says:
Great photo there, too =)
I know! I want to hug that baby so badly. I was wondering if that is Annie’s baby?
And I agree that the bottom line is realizing one’s self-worth as a child of God.
I don’t think our culture allows for quiet, especially among adolescents. They are bombarded by TV, movies, loud music, materialism more than any other age group. They never have a chance to stop and think what is right or wrong, what is Truth or what is a lie, or how they should really feel about things as opposed to regurgitating the messages they are bombarded with.
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 9:54 am
Pansy Moss` says:
Now it’s going to be stressful again. If there have been fewer comments, that doesn’t mean no one is dropping by or reading the blog entries. But when commenters who insult and cuss pass by, it is not constructive at all. Banning certain commenters is, for me, an act of justice when everything is weighed beforehand.
Well put. I agree.
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 9:57 am
mary kay says:
Exactly. We know longer expect them to be held accountable for themselves either. So many times they are given everything thing that they want and then boom…they go off to college without any of the life skills that they need. Like self-control, self-worth and delayed gratification. We need to start building their characters instead of their playrooms.
I just heard on the radio that they actually have nets across the balconies in Japan because so many young people try to jump off of them.
MK
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 10:00 am
lauren says:
you can email me if you want… lpatriz@luc.edu
That’s true about the nets in Japan. Crazy.
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 10:12 am
Rosie says:
testing…
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 10:41 am
Rosie says:
guess I can’t post a link… oh well
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 10:44 am
Eric says:
Lauren writes: “I was banned and I’m sure Eric or John or Annie will affirm that. I couldn’t write on the site. I wonder why they unbanned me.”
No, Lauren, you were never banned from commenting on this site, except when everyone was “banned” when we shut down comments for a few short weeks several months ago.
I don’t know why you might have been unable to post comments here, but it had nothing to do with any action taken on our part.
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 12:10 pm
Annie says:
Perhaps we should all just be silent for a moment. Practice a bit of meditation . . .
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
Annie says:
Sunnyday said:
“Btw, Annie, I wish you the best in your coming talk on the interior life.”
Thank, Sunnyday!
Lauren said:
“Hey Annie, do you have any links on Catholic meditation. I’m totally into that kind of stuff. Do you ever take yoga?”
Here’s a link:
http://www.centeringprayer.com/frntpage.htm
Yes, I’ve done yoga before. I’ve taken a few classes. Actually, yoga is a great tool for dealing with anxiety because it’s hard to concentrate on your worries when you’re trying to breath and do funky poses that always seems so hard to hold.
I think daily mediation (the site above recommends 2 twenty minute sessions a day) is essential for those who are extraverted, tend to worry, have trouble slowing down, or struggle with their temper. Daily exercise and eating well is crucial as well.
Let me know what you think of the link and if you want any tips. I think you’d really like meditation.
Panseymoss said:
“I was wondering if that is Annie’s baby?”
No, but he (or she) is super cute.
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 12:33 pm
Pansy Moss says:
Oh Annie,
Centering prayer…the concept makes me very uncomfortable. I guess because the only people I know who espouse centering prayer here in Albany are sisters who hate anything traditionally Catholic such as the Rosary. So I guess in and of itself, it may not be bad. I am just wary. On the other hand, allowing yourself to be still and quiet just to feel God’s presence for a couple of minutes does not souind so bad either.
Here is an article written by Father Hardon on yoga. Again, I am a bit wary, but I have incorporated some yoga positions in my work-out, but have never done full-blown yoga. Pilates can offer similar health benefits without the spirituality. Some say as you do not espouse the philosphy, then the motions are OK. Fr. Hardon maintains that the motions are the philosphy. I guess intent has a lot to with it (same with centering prayer).
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 12:55 pm
lauren says:
Eric, apologies if I misrepresented what you did.
I tried from multiple computers from this ISP for about a week after you opened comments back up and I couldn’t post.. Weird. Oh well.
As for yoga, I don’t really take the spirituality aspect too seriously. I go mostly because it’s relaxing and like Annie stated it is a huge distraction and makes me not worry so much. It gives me a lot of peace.
I’m going to read that link as soon as I get back from buying my mom’s bday present. I’m looking forward to it. Have a good afternoon ya’ll.
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 1:53 pm
Pansy Moss` says:
As for yoga, I don’t really take the spirituality aspect too seriously. I go mostly because it’s relaxing and like Annie stated it is a huge distraction and makes me not worry so much. It gives me a lot of peace.
I also read somewhere else that the type of yoga the everyday person takes is not “true” yoga, and chances are it is void of anything too harmful.
When I was a personal trainer, I started reading up on different Church perspectives on it because I never got a definitive answer if it good or bad.
The little bit I was introduced to, I liked from a physical stand point. Mostly just a general attitude to proceed with caution. But the really new agey stuff didn’t appeal to me. If I were not Catholic, it still would not have. It’s not me.
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 4:21 pm
mary kay says:
Pansy,
I agree. Yoga scares me. It comes from the Hindu religion. It just creeps me out, though I am only speaking for myself. I’m not sure it’s actually “wrong”. Just not my cup of tea.
Lauren:
If I might suggest: The greatest meditation that can be done is the meditation before the Blessed Sacrament. You might want to find a church that offers perpetual adoration (Jesus exposed in the Eucharist 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) and go there. Sitting in front of Our Lord and pouring your heart out to Him, then listening quietly while He speaks to you…well, it just doesn’t get any better than that! It can be awkward at first…but in time it will bring you the most amazing peace. I swear that daily mass and the adoration chapel are what saved my Tommy.
That and depakote. But really, while the drugs were kickin’ in he would go and sit in the chapel for an hour or two. It helped alot.
He still goes. Though not as often.
The Divine Mercy Chaplet or the Rosary are two other great ways to meditate. Light a candle, pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit, and watch things happen.
MK
Comment posted October 16th, 2006 at 6:13 pm
Pansy Moss` says:
Mary Kay,
Up here it is very difficult to find a Church with Perpetual Adoration. I think there is 1 in the whole diocese. When I lived in NJ, my parish was right behind my home. I would go at 3 AM once a week (people were scheduled so the Blessed Sacrament was never left alone). Very often I would say my Chaplet of Divine Mercy because of the 3 time slot, and then just sit quietly for the rest of my hour. I tend to like doing things in the middle of the night when there are few people around and you can take advantage of the quiet.
Comment posted October 17th, 2006 at 1:58 am
mary kay says:
Pansy,
We have a perpetual chapel in our parish. I take the hour of Sunday morning, 9:00 – 10:00. I know what you mean about the middle of the night. It’s incredible. Every little thing that comes up I go running to Him in the chapel. Sometimes it’s just for five minutes, but like with any good friend, it just feels good to pop in and say hello sometimes. We just moved, and my husband and I agreed to buy a house in the same parish just so we wouldn’t have to give up the chapel.
Where are you now? Maybe there is a way to find a chapel online? Or can you approach you pastor and ask him about starting one? Ours is only a year old. The priest who started it specifically asked to be assigned to a parish that was open to having one. If you tell me the name of your parish, I’ll talk to Jesus about it next time I see him. Stranger things have happened, no?
MK
Comment posted October 17th, 2006 at 5:51 am
Pansy Moss says:
Where are you now?
Diocese of Albany.
Better people have tried to fight these battles and have lost.
Comment posted October 17th, 2006 at 7:00 am
Sunnyday says:
Is a Perpetual Adoration chapel not usually part of a parish’s “features” in the US? In the Philippines (or at least in Manila), majority of parish churches have them. Only the smallest churches don’t have one and that’s mainly due to lack of funds.
I, too, find serenity in the chapel because it’s so quiet and one can easily get “reconnected” during an especially hectic day at the peak of frazzled nerves. Jesus’ real presence truly does wonders.
Comment posted October 17th, 2006 at 7:13 am
mary kay says:
Pansy,
Fair enough…so let’s not try to fight it. Let’s let Him do it. I’ll ask him today. We are having a Holy Hour for Life this afternoon…
Sunnyday,
It’s pretty rare that we have Perpetual Adoration. Chicago is a huge diocese and we only have a handful. But these are new times and a lot of the “70′s” priests are getting older. I really believe that the “new” priests are a different breed. Most catholics in the US probably don’t even know what perpetual adoration is…or any adoration for that matter.
But every time one opens, you get thousands of people praying which in turn inspires more chapels. I don’t think it will be too long before they are much more common…prayer, prayer and more prayer. as always.
MK
Comment posted October 17th, 2006 at 8:05 am