The need for silence
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends in Christ,
“Souls of prayer are souls of great silence. This silence takes a lot of sacrifice, but if we really want to pray, we must be ready to take that step now. Without this first step toward silence, we will not be able to reach our goal, which is union with God.” St. Mother Teresa
The hardest aspect of my first years in the seminary was the radical silence. My “jam box” was no longer blasting, the television was not blaring, the hallways were quiet and we had long hours of study and prayer. In the beginning, this was very difficult, because I had to confront myself and look into myself…but with time, I learned to relish these moments and actively try to create these spaces in my day. There truly is no other way to union with Christ other than this purgative path of internal and external silence.
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
Deference and chilvalry
Attachments?
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends, in Christ,
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“God doesn’t ask that we succeed in everything, but that we are faithful. However beautiful our work may be, let us not become attached to it. Always remain prepared to give it up, without losing your peace.” Blessed Mother Teresa Everyone has attachments, and some eventually have to given up. Sending your kids off to college or losing a loved one, letting someone else take your position in a charitable work, retiring from a career or being moved to a new job or city…this is often all part of God’s plan and we need to focus more on fidelity to whatever new state of life that God may be asking of us. God bless, Fr. Michael Sliney, LC |
The peace of Christ
The Beatitudes
Being present for others
Holy Spirit driven
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends, in Christ,
“…and regarding yourself completely as an instrument, so that you treat your most frequently demanded talents not as something that you use, but as God working through you.” St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
Before hearing Confessions or beginning a spiritual direction, I pray to the Holy Spirit. He is the protagonist and his gifts and perspective go well beyond my limited human capacity and expertise. Lean into him!
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
You get back what you put in
Christian Hope
TKC!
“To Christians, the future does have a name, and its name is Hope. Feeling hopeful does not mean to be optimistically naïve and ignore the tragedy humanity is facing. Hope is the virtue of a heart that doesn’t lock itself into darkness, that doesn’t dwell on the past, does not simply get by in the present, but is able to see a tomorrow.” Pope Francis
No matter how dark and nasty the storm clouds are in your life, try to see the sun breaking through, offering hope for a better day ahead!
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC