WOMEN AND MYSTICISM
Mary anoints Jesus’ feet at Bethany (John 12:1–8). The scene is part of a series which represents passages of women with a prominent role in the Scripture. The decorations are placed around the sides of the Tabernacle in the Chapel of Meditation at the University of Mystics in Avila, Spain. Mary listens to and manifests her love for Jesus. Contemplation becomes the mesh in which her Spirit-led actions find their meaning and support.
VOCATION PAGE
Vocation and mysticism
BY Fr Raul Tabaranza
AS VOCATION promoter I am getting to know better about the aspirants’ life, prayer habits and involvement in the Church. During a recent Prayer Hike, in “The Wild”, Johannesburg, the participants were reluctant to have Mass in the forest, next to a dried pond. “Mass should only be in the church, father, on the altar!”, they said. However, as they accepted to have Mass there, we sat on the ground and celebrated it in communion with nature. They were greatly amazed by the experience and they also shared deeply about the contemplative walk, previously done, and about the Mass itself. At the Summer Vocation workshop, during the adoration to the Blessed Sacrament, we sat down on the floor, surrounded by candles and incense, and spent an hour of guided meditation and silence. Again, our young aspirants were amazed by it—as if that was a new experience to them.
As we discuss in this issue about women and mysticism, we can apply it to Vocation or to Youth and Mysticism. We need to instill into our young people the discipline of contemplative prayer so that they may learn to listen to God´s voice and to find wisdom for whatever they are facing in their lives. In order to become good leaders and missionaries, some mystical paradigm shift is required, being trained in a dialogue of heart with God, and to discover how to help other young people to be closer to God.
We organise activities of sharing and deepening of faith for our aspirants, but also worship, giving them a space to grow, serve and affirm each other. It is necessary to develop young mystics, individuals with an experience of oneness or union with the divine; creating a habit of care, support and respect and developing their own vocation.
Workshops can be a good avenue for contemplative prayer. Anyone can be a mystic. We may not reach a deep absorption with the divine, but we can always deepen our connection with God through talks, silence and nature, letting go of our own self, towards a closer union with Him. What we need is just to embrace the mystery of God.
| Dates To Remember |
|
August 9 – SA National Women’s Day 9 – International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 12 – International Youth Day 19 – World Humanitarian Day 20 – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 21 – International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism 22 – International Day in Honour of the Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief 23 – International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition 31 – International Day for People of African Descent September 1 – Beginning of the Season of Creation 5 – International Day of Charity 7 – International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies 7 – International Literacy Day 12 – International Day for South-South Cooperation 15 – International Day of Democracy 18 – International Equal Pay Day 21 – International Day of Peace 23 – International Day of Sign Languages 24 – SA Heritage Day 26 – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons 27 – World Tourism Day 28 – World Tourism Day 29 – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste |
My brother suggested I might like this website. He was once totally right. This submit truly made my day. You can not consider simply how so much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!