A New and Right Spirit by Regina Madonna Oliver from A Promise of Presence by Bridget Mary Meehan and Regina Madonna Oliver

I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses. ... A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you.

Ezekiel36:25-27 (NRSV)

Unsplash: Joel Valve

In the corner of Broad and Erie Avenues in north Philadelphia, I stood waiting for a trolley that would turn down North Sixth Street and deliver me to the front door of St. Veronica Convent at Sixth and Tioga. Without warning, the sky darkened and let loose a downpour of cold rain. Within minutes, I was a sodden mass of blue serge-this still being the days of long, trailing habits. My shoes squished with each step. For some unaccountable reason, however, I laughed! I found myself actually enjoying the ridiculous­ ness of the situation and laughing with complete abandon. Once seated on the trolley in my waterlogged condition, I reflected on my response. Why had I laughed? Why did I seem to enjoy my soaked-down-to-the-skin  state? This was not the way I would have responded a month before, or even a week before, if caught in a thunderstorm. What had happened that could account for my bizarre behavior?

The previous Thursday I had been prayed over for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The resulting transformation within me was subtle, so subtle that I hadn't recognized it at first. Only incidents like this proved to me that something had definitely happened.  I had changed! I was not responding to frustration in my usual character. This was definitely a different me, a better me, who could stand in the pouring rain and laugh.

For years I had been at odds within myself, suffering from an inner tug-of-war that happened to many sisters in the wake of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, particularly when we perceived no reform taking place in our religious communities.  At first, I didn't know why I vacillated from a spiritual high one moment to anger and disillusionment the next. The misery was frequent, but I had chosen to accept the misery while continuing to pray, "God, change me! Change me the way you did St. Teresa of Avila. When she could no longer tolerate her lukewarmness, she fell on her face before you and refused to get up unless you would change her. I believe you will change me! At the right moment you will hear my cry and do for me what I cannot do for myself. You will change me so I will no longer react to things the way I do now. You will give me a new way of seeing, and I will know that you have changed me! I will be able to point to the day and the hour of my deliverance."

Standing there in the teeming rain at Broad and Erie, I knew that prayer had been answered. With a fresh sense of serenity, I realized that I was no longer responding in a flight-or-fight pattern to every story that circulated about unhappy sisters in miserable circumstances in Victorian-style convents. I was beginning to see my concerns as problems to be dealt with rather than personal threats.

Primarily, I could see God in charge of a whole process of renewal and change in the church and in religious life that was bound to take time for its total accomplishment. I began to enjoy an inner peace-a peace that others noticed and commented on. Just as I had prophesied, I could point in wonder and thanksgiving to the day and the hour when God answered my cry from the darkness. I can still cite the moment: a Thursday night in July,

1971.

DAY 1

Read the promise at the beginning of this reflection, and talk to God about your need for transformation and longing for God to do in you what you cannot accomplish on your own. Do not let God off the hook in your prayer. Keep telling God about your tremendous need.

DAY 2

Stand with God and objectively look at yourself and your need for change. Begin to see the deep-seated  cause of your current  misery.

If you cannot do this, ask the Holy One to let you see what the source of your problem is.

DAY 3

Make this your prayer today:

Create in me a clean heart, 0 God,

and put a new and right spirit within me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. ...

0 God of my salvation  and healing...

my tongue will sing aloud of your liberation.

Psalm 51:10-12, 14 (NRSV)

DAY 4

Make this your prayer today:

0 God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you;

my flesh faints for you,

as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Psalm 63:1 (NRSV)

DAY 5

As your prayer today, use this passage from Isaiah to capture the feeling of seeking and finding God:

You shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace;

the mountains  and the hills before you shall burst into song,

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:12

DAY 6

Reflect today on the words from Jesus' Last Supper found in John

14:25-26 and 16:13. Spend time with God reflecting on all that the

Holy Spirit will teach you and how the Holy Spirit will guide you.

DAY 7

Commit this mantra to memory and repeat it throughout the day:

My soul hungers for your peace, my God. May I be conscious of your nearness today. 

RMO

Seven Ways to Count Your Blessings by Bridget Mary Meehan from A Promise of Presence by Bridget Mary Meehan and Regina Madonna Oliver

Unsplash: Carolyn V. 

Praised be the Creator of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has bestowed on us in Christ every spiritual blessing in the heavens!

Ephesians 1:3 (INT)

Meister Eckhart said: "If the only prayer you say your entire life is 'thank you,' that would suffice." I find my life full of

spiritual blessings for which I am grateful. In fact, when I have difficulty falling asleep at night, I simply count my blessings. It seems to work every time; before I know it, I am drifting peacefully into slumber land.

For example, I love to walk in the spring and fall. As I step out into the warm sunshine and cool breeze, I take a deep breath and give thanks for the beauty of nature all around me.

My eight-year-old niece, Katie, and my six-year-old nephew, Danny, often invite me to play with them when they visit our home. Joining them in games like hide-and-seek, kick ball, or Simon Says · draws out the "inner child" in me, and I am grateful for the oppor­tunity to live exuberantly in the present moment.

In my gratitude, I am sometimes reminded of the small child who complained of sleeping alone in the dark. Her mother tried to reassure her that there was no reason to be afraid because God was with her. "But Mommy," the child protested, "I need God with real skin on." I am blessed with spiritual companions in my life who are like Christ "with real skin on." I have several close friends and belong to three small communities of faith in which mutual respect and deep caring are almost as palpable as the air we breathe. Like Paul in the letter to the Ephesians, I praise God who in Christ has blessed me abundantly.

Do you know that you already have every spiritual blessing you need to live a confident and joyful life? All you have to do is look at your life, and you will discover more reasons then you can imagine to be grateful. You are blessed abundantly.  You are loved

totally as you are right now by Christ- with your unique gifts, your obvious flaws, your wonderful possibilities, and your hidden weaknesses. Perhaps the most wonderful blessing is that God loves you more than you can know or love yourself. Praise God that you are you. Relax and rejoice. Remember that every day can be like Thanksgiving Day, a day to count your blessings and give thanks

for amazing grace active in you life.

DAY  1

Look at a favorite family picture. Reflect on the faces of your loved ones, and give thanks for each relative. Remember a quality each person has/had, a deed, or a memory that you cherish. Conduct a spiritual conversation with them, expressing your gratitude. If possible, send each of them a message of appreciation today.

DAY 2

Before going to sleep tonight, count your blessings. Close your eyes and let your blessings flow gently into your consciousness  like soft, woolly lambs jumping over a fence into a beautiful flower-strewn meadow on a warm spring day.

DAY 3

Write a blessing prayer. Use the following as a prayer starter:

For hands  that have loved, especially: (name occasions your hands have been blessings to others or others' hands have been blessings to you.)

For ears that have heard your cry, especially: (name occasions you have listened to others or others have listened to you.)

For eyes that have seen roses and ladybugs and (name blessings

your eyes have seen or blessings your "seeing" has been for others).

For a heart that loves family, friends and community, especially

(name people you love and/or people who love you).

DAY 4

Pray these affirmations that remind you that you are a blessing, a unique gift of Divine Presence in the world.

I am a radiant reflection of Christ's love. I am in love with God's people.

I am compassionate, loving and kind. I am growing in love.

I am confident in Christ's strength within me. I am one with the universe.

I am a beautiful and gifted person. I am a miracle.

DAYS

Decide on some practical act of service you can do today to help others experience God's blessings in their lives. For example, consider calling a lonely or grieving person to offer comfort, tutoring a child, donating food or clothing to a shelter, visiting a nursing home, or volunteering at a hospital, school or prison.

DAY 6

Recall different times in your life when you felt blessed or called by God to be a blessing to another or others. As you remember  each situation, recall how you felt and acted. You may want to write down a word or phrase, ponder a picture of the occasion, or draw a symbol of the event. Make a thanksgiving collage, write your prayer of thanks, or offer thanks in whatever way appeals to you.

DAY 7

Pray this psalm of thanksgiving or create your own:

You've given me my heart's desire

and did not deny me the wish of my lips. You greeted me with lavish blessings,

and placed on my head a crown of pure gold. I asked you for life;

you gave me length of days forever and ever. Great is my glory in your victory;

you bestowed majesty and splendor upon me. Psalm 21:2-6 (IP)

BMM

Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests: Mission, Beliefs, Values- Founding Vision- by Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP

https://youtu.be/foQtPeDjPpE

Hi! I’m Bridget Mary Meehan, one of the founding members of ARCWP.

On this our 10th Anniversary, I would like to share with you  an overview of our founding vision, mission, beliefs and values. The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests (ARCWP) is an international community within the International Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement.   

The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests is committed to a renewed model of ordained ministry in an inclusive community of equals in the Roman Catholic Church.

As a community of equal disciples, our calling is first and foremost to follow Jesus the Christ, our model of liberation, and to grow in unity with all in the heart of God. Aware of our deep connectedness to one another, and to the community of creation, our mission is to live Gospel justice and inclusiveness by ordaining women and men as equals and partners in the Roman Catholic Church.

Even though the women priest initiative is marginalized by the condemnation of the Church hierarchy, we choose to live our call to ordination in public ministry on the inside edge of our Roman Catholic Church. We offer a renewed model of priestly ministry rooted in the solid foundation of the prophets and mystics who have gone before us.  Grounded in the faith of mystics and prophets, we follow the example of Jesus who called both women and men to ministry around an open table where everyone is welcome at the extravagant feast of divine love. 

In our values, ARCWP makes a direct connection between the institutional church's ban on women's ordination and poverty, violence, abuse and injustice toward women in society. The hierarchy's oppression of women violates the human rights and God given call of women to live as spiritual equals in every area of life. Until the institutional Roman Catholic Church changes its teachings, women will continue to be treated as second class citizens in the world. The full equality of women must encompass equal rights and equal rites!  Human Rights are Equal Rights! ARCWP is  a holy shakeup transforming the Church, one inclusive community , one inclusive ministry at a time living Gospel equality now!!

ARCWP, like our sisters and brothers in  other branches of the Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement, affirms our spiritual authority and prophetic call to ordain women in apostolic succession for public ministry in a renewed priestly ministry. We create welcoming communities and prophetic ministries  in which the community of the baptized are spiritual equals empowered to celebrate sacraments. Our international movement has ordained members in thirteen countries and on five continents. Both ARCWP and RCWP-USA communicate and share resources on a regular basis. We have a common listserv and share on national retreats, and monthly prayer meetings.

Like two religious orders, ARCWP and RCWP have different approaches to governance and different programs of preparation. 

ARCWP makes decisions by a consensus process that involves all members in a circular process of prayerful discernment and decision-making. ARCWP does not require a degree in theology to begin the path to ordination. We honor the life experiences and ministerial service of candidates as valid theological and spiritual resources and create a custom designed program for candidates who come to ARCWP without contemporary theological preparation. 

ARCWP provides competency courses through the People’s Catholic Seminary that align with the ARCWP ordination units. The competency courses not only provide access to contemporary theologies and spirituality, they also provide a supportive learning community for ARCWP members. 

Our members live their vocations within different communities who have different theologies, cultures and comfort levels within the institutional Church. The vision that women priests’ communities share is one of hospitality and mutual partnership in living the Gospel in the 21^st century. The priest or deacon do not minister alone, but, work within the vision and mission, culture and beliefs of their faith communities. The role of the ordained is to act as a facilitator of diverse ministries that aim to promote full participation of the gathered assembly in meaningful sacramental liturgical celebrations, pastoral care, ongoing education, spiritual development and social justice work.

It is important to point out that neither RCWP or ARCWP have any official authority over our diverse women-priest led communities.  Each community is independent.  The ordained do not function in a “Father knows best” mentality about the liturgy, sacraments and ministry.  Every inclusive community develops, evolves, and makes their own decisions on all pastoral issues. There are no diocesan structures.  

For more information about ARCWP, visit our website at www.arcwp.org.