Singing is Twice Praying

Sister Joann Gehling, beloved friend (and one of the Prairiewoods foundresses), once told me joyously that “singing is twice praying.” I love this notion and have thought about it many times since Joann shared this with me, a phrase she learned from another FSPA sister who was her choir director. So many beautiful prayers and…

Tending the Fire

“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” —Genesis 1:3   “The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides, and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, we shall have discovered…

Good Friday: Are we there?

Today amid religious traditions, such as Yom Kippur, a Jewish day of serious reflection, and Ramadan, the Muslim 40 days of fasting, abstinence and prayer, Christians mark the silence and stillness of Good Friday, the holy day between Passover and Easter marked by many as the most somber, reflective day in the Christian year. We…

Embodying the Spirit of Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday, is one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar. Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum, which means “command.” It refers to Jesus’ new commandment given on this day to love one another as he has loved us, not superficially, but selflessly. On Holy Thursday—the day before the crucifixion…

Earthening & the Grandeur of God

Earthening & the Grandeur of God Ashes and palm-branches Bookends of Lent Earthening, homing, lengthening, soul-ing Pruning what’s lifeless and spent “Remember Ha-damah (Adam), that you are dust, And unto dust you shall return…” Springtime resurgence Pandemic begone! Deepening, flowing, strengthening, groaning When will we welcome the dawn? “Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is the One who…

In Love and Loss

Today, as we mourn the loss of so many lives, John O’Donohue’s reflection “For the Dying” might assist us as we courageously hold one another in love and loss. And we also offer this beautiful, recorded blessing “Deep Peace” by Bill Douglas as a source of consolation, inspiration, focus, compassion and love.   For the Dying by…

Embodied Prayer

I was moved by Sister Ann Jackson’s blog last week entitled “Coming Home.” What especially spoke to me was the stanza from the poem she shared by Jane Hooper as cited in Cynthia Bourgeault’s book The Wisdom Way of Knowing (p. 38–40). Please come home. Please come home INTO YOUR OWN BODY. Your own vessel, your…