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From the 2009 album Balm in Gilead, a title heavily implying healing at work, a once Grammy Award New Artist, Rickie Lee Jones collaborates this month with the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity to offer His Jeweled Floor. Enjoy the gorgeous ambience of this inspirational song calling to mind John’s Gospel “in my Father’s house there are many dwelling places” (Jn 14:2). Rickie, artist, songwriter and producer plays all the instruments except bass and accordian with an inner fire that is burning brightly with the light of faith. She is a musical genius fearlessly comfortable sharing intensely personal songs. (Photo: Fred Graber, Fred Graber Photography, Madison, WI) Click here for further Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity comments.

About Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee Jones is the second of three daughters and one son who are of Welsh and Irish ancestry. She was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents, Richard Loris Jones and Bettye Jane Jones, both had peripatetic childhoods: her father lived from hand to mouth in a number of transient hotels, and rode the rails, wandering the country. Her mother was an orphan. She has described her family as “lower-middle-class-hillbilly-hipster.

 Rickie Lee says:

I believe that heaven, as Christ said, is inside of us. Words are imprecise; any sentence can mean many things, and I suppose that is the nature of our existence here; we cannot seem to get a true meaning from anything. It could be this or that. That is as the Buddhists discovered, the illusionary aspect of life in this dimension.

The Hindus express God correctly too, suggesting that it is a multi-faceted expression of heads that have different personalities and jobs. That helps bring order to the whole supreme being thing. I rather think all these ideas are interpretations of limited language, for there are no words to describe what God is, God exists outside this realm.

But for the part that is aware of God, inside of us, and only inside of us, God can be said to be us, because we are aware of God, and we are the only beings at the train station taking down his telegraph message. So we interpret signals, then we speak the dots into a language, and we deliver the message. But all of this is only symbolic of the true nature of God. Once we understand that faith means we cannot interpret the message, ever, in its true language, that we trust that we have at least heard the telegraph machine, and that everyone all over the world is trying to deliver messages, and that this in itself is a great thing, then we can feel that we are a part of God manifesting here. But to say we have the answer and only we know, this is not faith. To say we have heard the music of the wires, and although you have not heard it, I cannot make you hear it, but I know that it is, and hope that I bring you solace and joy, this is a message of compassion that we can deliver to others.

I think all the rules set up by the humans about how to run a church is just that, and the church has its place. But the greatest thing is the quiet moment inside each of us, when we are soothed by God’s loving hand, missing our dead parents, hurt by our friends, betrayed by our actions or emotions. Psychiatrists say we have created our own parent to sooth us. And why not? That is the interpretation of miraculous events, a language that cannot interpret God cannot find a way to include God in its interpretation. But we know that this is God’s work, the creation of evolution, the timeless space, the gift of concept of Genesis, what an incredible book, in which someone tries to explain to us that creation took place, first of all, and second, that how amazing it is that first there was nothing, and then here was something. That says it all.

For me, the more I learn, the more evidence of God, of the incredible intricacy is more proof of a point of origin. To me, God is not an human personality playing hide n seek with mankind. Why did you let these bad things happen? God creates a framework, and is the framework, and experiences the framework, just as we do, are.

He (God) creates every action has an equal and opposite reaction, but then he creates a bit of chaos or it would all be a clock, and nothing would ever change. We can lean in any direction to discover the workings of things, but we cannot ever understand.

To read Rickie Lee’s complete comments click here. 

Lyrics: His Jeweled Floor

And when you arrive
­shining and new
Forgotten by the fear and pain
you put your body through

On His Jeweled Floor
We are every one
Laying in His starry arms,
On His Jeweled Floor we are standing now
See me as I am…You’ll come in the afternoon
of a hard travelin’ day
Blown by a stormy sky
that finally passes away

On His Jeweled Floor
We will meet again
He holds us all in His starry arms
On His Jeweled Floor I am standing now
Can you see me as I am?

There are no demons, only angels
Life will surely fade
Spend it loving tenderly
Or Shiva at your grave,
Sit shiva at your grave,

On His Jeweled Floor
we will all be there
He holds us all in His starry arms
On His Jeweled Floor no one ever falls
Can you see me as I am,
as we dance a thousand suns?

Websites:http://www.greatbigisland.com/rickie_sales.htm        http://www.rickieleejones.com/

Sister Marie Kolbe recently took a road trip with others affectionately called ‘Green Bay’ers (all having a connection to the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, WI) to St. Bonaventure’s home.  Here are some of Sister’s comments:

As we approached what was left of “Cività“, I had the sense of silent, deserted majesty.  Silent Deserted because hardly anyone is left in this old walled city; majesty because both the structures and the spirit of those who have remained communicate beauty and persevering strength.  What is left of the comune is enchanting . . . and that is the best word for it . . . enchanting.  The unusual scenery, the unique quality of light, and the silence lent a mystical aura to the old comune. 

The curves, arches and light in the streets invited one to imagine how those streets must have originally extended . . . Also, light was, perhaps, the most fundamental category for Bonaventure’s theology.  My unexpected experience of the light’s quality in “Cività“, along with the expansive view, gave me a key to appreciating the luminous, expansive theology of this Doctor of the Church. For more photos click here.

Among the Green Bay pilgrims included Msgr. John Dewane, Bill Brunner and Brian Romportl. Eucharist at Bagnoregio proper to the Church of St. Bonaventure was a proper closing for the day. Can you name any saintly men or women of action and contemplation? 

Given the Vatican has its own opinion of the greatest top ten rock albums of all times, it should be no surprise to Catholics or anyone else that some concerts truly are more than entertainment. One example is Rickie Lee Jones’ appearance at the Barrymore in Madison, WI  on February 23, 2010. Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity, Sister Mary Ann Spanjers, OSF and Postulants Kara Martin and Marie Wilhelm found it was a spiritual experience fitting the Lenten Season’s mystery of life and death especially as reflected in John’s Gospel Final Discourse where Jesus promises that there are multiple dwelling places in His Father’s house. 

Sister Mary Ann: ‘His Jeweled Floor,’ in particular, is so right for this time of Lent. We deepen our relationship with Jesus, living this mystery of life, suffering, death and resurrection when we learn to embrace the life we have with Him; experiencing and desiring to live on a level of interaction and feeling with ourselves and others. ‘His Jeweled Floor’ is about this journey.

Kara: It is wonderfully hopeful reflection on the loss of a loved one and how we will be reunited with them “on His jeweled floor” in heaven. It is perfect for this time of Lent when we are reflecting on the death and resurrection of the Lord that enable us to also enter heaven.

Marie: The song “His Jeweled Floor” reminds me not to worry when my loved ones die. They will be in a better place and some day I will be there to join them on God’s jeweled floor! This concert was amazing. Rickie Lee has a great talent for music and I was very impressed with all her songs and the variety of ways she uses musical instruments.

Concert Photo: Fred Graber, Fred Graber Photography, Madison, WI)

Name a concert whose memory burns in your heart and soul.

Heather (also founder/executive director of Arfully Forgotten which raises awareness and funds for Rwandan orphans, Afghan women and children, and the Orthopedic Workshop Physiotherapy Center in Maimana, Afghanistan), announced Franciscans International’s calendar of upcoming workshops and activities.

In response to the requests of the Franciscan brothers and sisters throughout the world, Franciscan International’s accomplishes its work through:

1. Facilitating discussion between Franciscans and States on issues of peace, creation, and human rights
2. Animating and informing Franciscans and our grassroots partners on issues of importance through seminars and publications
3. Researching and closely following development, human rights, and peacemaking issues at the United Nations in both New York and Geneva, Switzerland

The U.S. is up for a review in the area of human rights to the U.N. Do you have any concerns for the vulnerable in our country?

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Unlike the classic definition of Grand Tour (essentially an academic’s pilgrimage to Rome by upper-class young Europeans searching for art, culture, fashion and increased language skills), a  present day Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Grand Tour is all about respecting and building relationships.

Franciscan Postulants, Kara Martin and Marie Wilhelm along with Vocation Directors, Sister Mary Ann Spanjers, OSF and Sister Julie Ann Sheahan, OSF, embarked on a road trip February 26-March 1, 2010 to Grand Rapids, MI. They responded to an invitation from Kara’s Alma Mater, Aquinas College, desiring to build a personal bridge across Lake Michigan between the Franciscan Sisters and the college. The  itinerary included time spent at this hospitable Dominican place of higher learning and so much more.

Here’s a brief accounting of the experience:

• Eucharistic Liturgies at Kara’s home parish of St. Thomas the Apostle with the added delight of a community-building Asian cuisine dinner in the parish hall on Saturday evening
• Treasured time with Kara’s family
• Sunday morning Eucharistic liturgy with the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids’ Chief Shepherd, Bishop Walter Hurley
• Formal and informal Aquinas College Campus Ministry activities on Sunday night and Monday morning
• Praise and Worship music, candlelight Eucharistic Procession and Adoration with Arise Young Adults
• Presentations in some religion classes at Catholic Central High School

Spiritually-uplifted after the time spent with the wonderful people of Grand Rapids, the Franciscan pilgrims  traveled home confident that the personal bridge between Manitowoc and this awesome Michigan city is well under construction.

Any thoughts?

Welcome to Franciscanized World’s first Lenten On-Line Retreat. We, Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, invite you not only to be inspired by the seasonal Sunday Scriptural readings, the sharings of Sister Anne Marie Lom, OSF and Father Paul Gallagher, OFM, but to be visually introduced to dedicated people of St. Raphael, Oshkosh, St. Mary, Omro and St. Mary, Winneconnie Catholic Communities of Faith.

Of course, ‘Now is the Time’ welcomes comments to ensure this retreat is relevant and lived.  

Please find the First Sunday of Lent ’s Scripture reading, commentary, questions for reflection and comments at this link.

Now is the time…begin here.

How often is a community service award actually presented to another community? Here’s one example.  West Point, NE Chamber of Commerce’s 2010 Community Service Recognition was awarded to the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity.

Although the current Franciscans serving at Franciscan Care Services, Guardian Angels Catholic School and Central Catholic High School were enthusiastically present for a dinner on February 21, 2010, the award actually included all the many members of the religious community who had been sent to serve in West Point during significant years of the town’s proud history.

Sister Louise Hembrecht, OSF, Community Director, was happy to be on hand to receive the engraved plaque having once taught at Catholic Central High School. Sister Adrianna Schouten, OSF, council member, and Sister Laura Wolf, OSF, President of  Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Healthcare Ministry, Inc., were also present for this nightly celebration saluting the selfless generosity of many of the Franciscan Sisters in education and health care.

The award is given to someone ‘who goes about quietly doing good’ in the community of West Point. Needless to say, the Franciscan Sisters were surprised and touched that others would consider them worthy of this honor.

Being retro is really a lifetime movement when it comes to family. Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity are not alone in needing quality time of just hanging out with parents, grandparents, sibblings, and other relatives. So just how often can a young woman expect to see family in the process of becoming a Sister?

Here are some short, simple responses. Feel free to ask for further clarification.

During the first year of becoming a Sister (called postulancy), you can expect to ‘hang out at home’ with family at Christmas time and for a couple of weeks in May. Your family may choose one day each semester which is most convenient for them to visit you at the Motherhouse. When families come from a distance, they are welcome to use our guest houses that are on our Motherhouse property for overnight accommodations.

The novitiate (a time of learning to be a woman religious with an intense study of the vowed life) extends over a period of two years beginning for us on the feast of St. Anthony of Padua, June 13. As a novice you may visit your family home once a year. You also invite family to see you at the Motherhouse twice during the year. The Community’s Novice Directress assists in setting these dates.

As a professed Franciscan Sister, we may enjoy a two-week annual visit with our family and relatives. The times may be broken up to allow several visits each year or attendance at some special family event, providing the traveling distance is reasonable.

Any further question or comment?

While Catholic health care organizations comprise the largest provider of not-for-profit health care in America today, they have all been built upon one foundational purpose: to fulfill the Gospel mandate to proclaim the good news and “cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers: (Mt 10:8)

Religious orders throughout their histories have sought ways of bringing Jesus’ mission of love and healing to communities in need. This is what compelled 12 Ursuline sisters to travel from France to New Orleans in 1727 to provide health and social services to the underserved immigrant poor in that city and the following year to open Charity Hospital, the first Catholic hospital in what was to become the United States.

Today Catholic health care, in the form of hospitals and nursing homes is present in all 50 states. According to the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA), there are more than 600 Catholic hospitals in the U.S.  which employ more than 500,000 full-time and more than 200, 000 part-time workers. Every day, roughly one in six patients in the United States-more than 5.5 million every year-receives care in a Catholic hospital.

The vast majority of Catholic health care organizations in the U.S. were founded and continue to be sponsored by congregations of women religious. And like the Ursulines before them, the many congregations of Sisters began their health care ministries for one basic reason: people, usually in poor immigrant communities, were suffering, and their needs were not being met. Today, we all remain committed to continuing the Catholic Church’s healing ministry for virtually that same reason…”

Does this answer the question for you? Any comments?

Welcome to Franciscanized World’s first Lenten On-Line Retreat. We, Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, invite you not only to be inspired by the seasonal Sunday Scriptural readings, the sharings of Sister Anne Marie Lom, OSF and Father Paul Gallagher, OFM, but to be visually introduced to dedicated people of St. Raphael, Oshkosh, St. Mary, Omro and St. Mary, Winneconnie Catholic Communities of Faith.

Of course, ‘Now is the Time’ welcomes comments to ensure this retreat is relevant and lived.  Please find the Second Sunday of Lent’s Gospel and commentary in the comment section. Sister Anne Marie introduces the new week of reflection material.

First Sunday of Lent: February 21, 2010 (Luke 4:1-13)

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert, for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.”‘ Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me. ” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.”‘ Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from her, for it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and : ‘With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.”‘ Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God to the test.”‘ When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

Background

Luke ends his description of the Baptism of Jesus with a voice of God proclaiming: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22) People of Jesus’ culture would assume that such statement would have been heard throughout the spirit world. They believed that numerous evil spirits roamed about creating as much havoc as possible on human beings. The first verses of the Book of Job, a dialogue between Satan and God, illustrates the thinking of the ancient peoples regarding the role of evil spirits in their world.

 “One day, when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “Whence do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming the earth and patrolling it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?” But Satan answered the Lord and said, “Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing? Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land. But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face.” (Job 1:6-11)

These ancient people would expect that the evil spirits would respond to God’s statement of confidence and delight in Jesus, as a challenge, to see if it’s true. Secondly, if the evil spirits convince Jesus to do something that would cause him to forfeit his favor with God, the spirits would be victorious. 

Because people believed that numerous evil spirits roamed the earth looking for people to torment, temptations are understood to be an expected part of normal life. Each of the temptations can be seen as an attempt, on Satan’s part, to use a form of power, personal, social and religious, in a way that would align him with certain groups of people. Rejecting the use of power aligns Jesus with other groups of people. Luke is setting the stage for the rest of Jesus’ ministry through the choices Jesus makes. Luke also has made some changes in his presentation of Jesus being tempted. Both Matthew and Mark end their presentation with the angels coming and waiting on Jesus. Instead, Luke ends his description suggesting the tempter will leave for now but will look for another opportunity to return. That opportunity will come at the crucifixion. Also within Luke’s description of the temptations, the final one is directly tied to Jerusalem. Luke is laying the groundwork for the reader to notice the events that will take place at the close of his gospel.  

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1.       With what temptations are you faced at this time in your life?

 Gospel Reflection Questions
Written by Paul Gallagher, OFM
Edited by Sister Anne Marie Lom, OSF
Gospel Reflections are distributed free of charge to your email address if you so choose.
To receive them, contact annemarie.lom@gmail.com
If copied, please include this information.