| Author | |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: April 18 2008 at 9:35am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Helen, the Mary Vitamin today was so good. I found especially interesting the quote from St. Therese about not crying. I have often felt that there was something "wrong" that I was not more emotional while penitential in coming before God, but its kind of nice to realize that it isn't necessary for true penitence.
I suppose that wasn't the ultimate point of her statement, but to realize there is nothing "wrong" in going before God bravely and honestly and that you don't have to cry to show you are truly mournful for your behavior. I mean, I don't expect my kids to cry everytime, but somehow I sometimes feel inadequate for not crying more.
Anyway, just wanted to share.
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Helen
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 03 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2826
|
| Posted: April 18 2008 at 10:51am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks Lindsay
Our Lady supplies 
I'm glad you came here to talk about the meditation. I was hoping to talk to someone about it myself! You're right that you don't need to feel anything during prayer. It's our actions that count not so much what we are feeling.
On the other hand, I believe there is such a term as
"the gift of tears." It is said that St. Peter wept bitterly for his denial of Christ, so much so that his tears created rivulets in his face.
I liked St. Therese' quote. I really liked the strenght in it.
Sometimes, things are just they way they are and that's it. No use in crying over it. It is time to get on with it and live.
__________________
Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Cay Gibson
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 16 2005
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5193
|
| Posted: April 18 2008 at 11:32am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Helen wrote:
I'm glad you came here to talk about the meditation. |
|
|
Helen, Can you share the meditation here so everyone can read it? Thanks!
Helen wrote:
| On the other hand, I believe there is such a term as "the gift of tears." |
|
|
There is. I read in a book on the Cure of Ars that he had the "gift of tears". Believe it or not, one time I wanted to post here a thread about "the gift of tears" and never got around to starting it. Perhaps we can discuss it now.
__________________
Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
chicken lady
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 27 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2315
|
| Posted: April 18 2008 at 11:37am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Yahoo must be acting up, my Mary Vitamin did not come through!! I NEED my vitamins!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: April 18 2008 at 12:49pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mary Vitamin for April 18th
Topic: St. Therese’s Marian devotion teaches the value of sacrifice
Quote:
St. Therese of Lisieux
“O my good Blessed Virgin, grant that your little Therese may stop tormenting herself.”
The Prayers of Saint Therese of Lisieux, translated by Aletheia Kane, OCD. (ICS Publications)
Meditation:
St. Therese wrote these words as a young eleven year old in 1884. This the first written prayer of St. Therese to the Virgin Mary. (In Prayers of Saint Therese, one can see a copy of her handwritten words.) What could have tormented this young and extremely virtuous young girl?
St. Therese was sent into a dismal period of self doubt after the miracle of Our Lady’s smile, ever wondering if the vision had been real and consequently, she wondered if she had lied about the whole incident.
St. Therese was finally relieved of this torment in 1887 at the Church of Our Lady of Victories in Paris . Therese recalled “the Blessed Virgin made me feel it was really she who had smiled on me.”
How this story makes us commiserate with the saintly young Therese. Is this valley of tears easy for anyone? Even for this young saint!
One has to wonder as well, was it only St. Therese who benefited from her prayerful trust in the Blessed Virgin? Aren’t those of posterity who truly gain?
Her years of trustful surrender to the torments show us the veracity of the vision and the graces she won by her suffering.
Resolution:
Today, when I turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary and entrust myself and my difficulties to her, I will have confidence that I am not the only one benefiting from my trials.
I will offer my Friday sacrifice and say the words Our Lady taught at Fatima :
For the Love of God,
for the conversion of sinners,
and sins against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Marian Vow:
St. Therese counseled a young novice to accept trials and suffering bravely by not indulging in tear-filled exchanges with God.
Can those consecrated to the Immaculate imitate St. Therese’s high standards?
“Tears for God! That must not be. Far less to Him than to creatures ought you to show a mournful face. … Our Divine Master comes to us in search of rest—to forget the unceasing complaints of His friends in the world, who, instead of appreciating the value of the Cross, receive it far more often with groans and tears. Would you be as the mediocre souls?”
Bishop A.A. Noser, S.V.D.,D.D., Joy In Suffering, According to St. Therese of the Child Jesus
A Novena (Tan Books:2006), 8.
I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Thanks be to God for graces received.
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: April 18 2008 at 12:51pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
To clarify, I don't think there is anything wrong with tears, and I would be interested in hearing more about the gift of tears.
I have just wondered at times if I was sorry enough if I didn't cry, but really, I'm just not a big crier. Even when I have that feeling of wanting to cry, the tears don't always come. It was good to hear a saint say they weren't necessary or always desirable.
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Helen
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 03 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2826
|
| Posted: April 18 2008 at 3:23pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Cay Gibson wrote:
Helen wrote:
| On the other hand, I believe there is such a term as "the gift of tears." |
|
|
There is. I read in a book on the Cure of Ars that he had the "gift of tears". Believe it or not, one time I wanted to post here a thread about "the gift of tears" and never got around to starting it. Perhaps we can discuss it now. |
|
|
The question of tears is a good discussion.
I think we should be natural with God in prayer. Some temperaments will be more inclined to tears (melancholy or phlegmatic) while other temperamnets (sanguine or choleric) may not be.
There are also many different reasons for people to cry:
sorry and regret, just plain sadness or even self pity.
(There are probably a lot more reasons to cry as well.  )
I think the "gift of tears" is a gift when the tears shed are cathartic and the tears are an expression of "perfect contrition" (we are sorry that we offended God and not only sorry because of the punishment due to sin). It's a wonderful grace to have your emotions and will so united. It *feels* right.
But, things don't have to *feel* right to *be* right.
I think you expressed yourself very well Lindsay. You sound like you have a temperament which is not inclined to tears. What do you think?
__________________
Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: April 18 2008 at 3:39pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Well, I am a Sanguine-Choleric, so according to your statement, I suppose doubly not, lol!
I think that perhaps a sanguine or choleric is more inclined to feel "anger" rather than simply "sadness." At least that is how it seems for me. I get very frustrated or angry at myself over my imperfections and faults. Though, looking at the last line of the quote, that may qualify as "groaning" if not crying!
I do cry more while pregnant. I know that when hormonal, I have cried over very silly things that really didn't mean much at all to me mentally--so, I suppose in that sense, we shouldn't always look at tears in the way Therese described either. They aren't always representative of a lack of bravery.
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
aussieannie
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 21 2006
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7251
|
| Posted: April 18 2008 at 4:36pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
This is a very interesting discussion. Tears are a 'gift' from God, like all things. We can abuse or cherish that gift. I have one daughter who never gets angry but her 'weapon' is tears, tears of defiance and I suppose there can be tears of self-pity and of selfishly focusing within, that is where we can abuse them.
But there are beautiful tears, tears when your heart is moved by very beautiful things, usually things that cannot be touched or seen, but FELT. My father was like that,(my aunties say his father was like that too) he cried over things that moved the heart and I am my father's daughter in every way. But we are both sanguine/choleric. How interesting Lindsay, you too! I have this beautiful image in my mind that the people God has inclinded in that way, would cry at first sight of the beatific vision (and maybe keep crying  )
Then of course, as Helen mentioned, the beautiful tears of St Peter's repentance and I have on a couple of occasions in my life heard of men I know, weep for their past sins, and I recognise that something very beautiful is happening to them, may those tears 'water' the seed of their repentance to reap a powerful and steadfast conversion.
I love my tears, I know that my heart is still softened towards my God and not hard. (Not that you need tears to prove you are not hard-hearted, but it is my observation within myself for me.)
__________________
Under Her Starry Mantle
Spiritual Motherhood for Priests
Blessed with 3 boys & 3 girls!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Helen
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 03 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2826
|
| Posted: April 18 2008 at 5:47pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Lindsay
I hope you don't mind, I changed the subject line of this thread in case anyone is looking to discuss "the gift of tears."
Just holler if it should be stated a differently!
__________________
Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Carole N.
Forum All-Star
Joined: Oct 28 2006
Location: Wales
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4484
|
| Posted: April 19 2008 at 3:55am | IP Logged
|
|
|
aussieannie wrote:
But there are beautiful tears, tears when your heart is moved by very beautiful things, usually things that cannot be touched or seen, but FELT. |
|
|
This happens to me at times. I always *feel* that I have had a beautiful experience when God moves me to tears in his wonderous ways. If this happens during mass, I feel doubly blessed.
But I do sometimes have tears of sadness at my own deficiencies and how I have failed as a wife or mother. I am not certain how you would classify these tears. I would hope that they are tears of true sorrow.
__________________
 Carole ... in Wales
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stacykay
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 08 2006
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1858
|
| Posted: April 19 2008 at 7:50am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I admit, I am a crier.  And tears have been on my mind a lot these past few weeks. A mom in my hs group lost her 18yo daughter, two moms each lost a parent, another mom lost a niece who was born with anencephaly, another boy from my son's high school died, another is in critical condition... It has gotten so that everytime one of my friends and I get together, all we do is cry and pray. I know this is an unusual number of sorrowful events, but I get teary-eyed at Mass, listening to a song, hearing someone else's sad story, etc. I am very surprised when I don't cry, and then I feel guilty.
For instance, when my mom was dying. There were many times I did cry, but others I didn't (especially when my sisters were a weepy mess, which usually made me one, too.) I did feel guilty that I didn't cry at those moments.
And my tears aren't always sorrowful. When my friend's 18yo daughter died, many of the tears were for the beauty of her and her family's faith and her family's forgiveness and love. For the beauty of the words spoken by such holy priests and gratitude to God for sending them to us.
Thank you for sharing this from St. Therese. I had never read it before. And for the reminder about the "gift of tears."
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stefoodie
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Ohio
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8457
|
| Posted: April 19 2008 at 10:08am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Another choleric-sanguine here who's also a major crier. It gets to be embarrassing at times.
We were at a Matt Maher concert the other night and I thought I wouldn't stop crying when they brought the Holy Eucharist in for adoration.
Thanks for this thread, Helen and everyone! Much food for thought.
__________________
stef
mom to five
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Helen
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 03 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2826
|
| Posted: April 19 2008 at 3:49pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
stacykay wrote:
| I know this is an unusual number of sorrowful events, but I get teary-eyed at Mass, listening to a song, hearing someone else's sad story, etc. I am very surprised when I don't cry, and then I feel guilty. |
|
|
Stacy, wow!
What a lot of sorrow. How difficult to endure.
It's interesting that this quote affects so many. I was attracted to it because I thought I should stop crying. (How long does this hormonal roller coaster last after pregnancy?)
I gotta run!
__________________
Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Hidden Treasure
Topic: Tears for God & Mary Vitamin
