Secular Franciscan Order, USA

2006

CROSSING THE DESERT

In my dining room stands a chest of drawers which was acquired by my great great grandmother about one hundred and fifty years ago. It is around four and a half feet tall, and five feet wide, and, since it's made of solid cherry, it is very heavy. I have always admired it, both for its beauty, and for the family history that goes with it. Lately, I have begun to value it as a reminder.

My great great grandmother bought the chest from a woman who was going westward on a wagon train. I sometimes think about that unknown woman who first owned it. She must have stored linens and clothes in it, as I do today. I imagine she was very proud of it, and put it in a prominent place in her home. Like me, she must have admired the fine craftsmanship, and stroked the smooth wood. She, too, must have been very fond of it. But, regardless of its usefulness and beauty, and despite the memories it held, she had to leave the chest behind in Massachusetts, so she could go in search of a new home. Something so large and heavy could not have been carried west in a covered wagon; not only was it unnecessary, but it would have made the journey impossible. So that woman, being wise and practical, sold it and left it behind.

We are all on a journey, of course, going from God into the world, and then back to God. As we wander through the circular path of the liturgical calendar, most of us find we have accumulated a lot of things.

Now it is time to cross again the Great Lenten Desert.

It's a beautiful place for solitude and reflection, but, like all deserts, it can be dangerous if we come unprepared. If we want to complete our trek successfully, we must be like that unknown woman who once owned my chest of drawers. We will have to be very careful about what we bring, and what we leave behind.

The first things we need to leave behind are material possessions: all the "stuff" that we Americans buy, collect, hoard and store. I spent last summer cleaning out my mother-in-law's house. Then my family moved, and I have been spending the fall moving and organizing our things. I never realized how much we had accumulated. I never realized how much we had that we didn't really need. Lent is a very good time to take a close look at everything we own. How many -tools, clothes, shoes, toys, CD's and DVD's, sets of dishes-do we really need? How much do we even use?
How much time and space is wasted on our mountains of material junk? And just think how much money was wasted in acquiring it! Giving too much emphasis to "stuff" makes it harder to be close to God, and to each other. So let's go through our things during Lent, and choose only the things we really need and want. Give the rest away, and leave it all behind.

In the next pile of things to go through are our activities. It's good to be busy. It's not good to be caught up in a tornado of activity that leaves no time for reflection. Remember, in the Bible God was not heard in the mighty wind, but in a whisper. We need to have quiet, alone times, so we can hear God speaking to us. To complete our Lenten journey, we have to examine our pile of activities. There are some that are harmful or destructive. Those we should put in boxes right away and nail them up. Others are not bad, just distracting. We can pack them up, and perhaps take them out once in a while, when we've crossed the desert. We should bring only those things which are necessary, which bring us closer to God, which help other people, or benefit family and friends. There’s no room in our wagons for anything else.

The last category is the hardest to sort, because it involves our own selves. We all have bad habits and prejudices, and faults like anger, envy, pride, hatred, etc. If we take them with us, we will get lost trying to get across the Lenten Desert. We all need to look at ourselves through God's eyes, so we can get rid of these things that hinder our journey.
During our travels, they made be found hiding in our luggage. If so, just pick them up and throw them by the wayside. We certainly don't need them messing up our travel plans. We also need to get rid of our false assumptions. Some of us who once were young and blond are now old and grey. We need to let go of our younger image, and enjoy being mature and wise. There are some whose lives were spent caring for others.
Now we need help, and may be reluctant to accept being less "strong." We need to let this go too, and realize that a cheerful receiver is as valuable as a cheerful giver.

At the beginning of our Lenten journey, we have chests and bureaus filled with unneeded material goods, boxes crammed with discarded activities, an armoire stuffed with bad habits and outgrown expectations. Now we are free to complete the long trek across the Great Desert of Lent. And remember, when we have finally ended our journey, we can rest for a while in the spring sunshine of the Easter Garden.

L. Dorothea MacNeil, SFO
National Family Commission Member

May 2003

Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis,

Were you a member of Our Lady's Sodality? I remember wearing the Miraculous Medal on a long blue ribbon. The slogan of the Sodality was "to Jesus through Mary." At every age we are still her children and her Divine Son cannot refuse her petitions for us. On March 1, 2003, I was privileged to attend a Seminar in Orange County, California, with the featured presenter, Rev. John Corapi, SOLT, a nationally known speaker. He delighted and informed the large audience! The one point I share with you was that he spoke of the "Emergency Novena". He said Mother Theresa used the "Emergency Novena". It is the Memorare prayer said nine times in succession.

The Memorare was written by St. Bernard de Clairveau. He was born in France in 1090, and died in 1153. History records him as Abbot, Statesman, Doctor of the Church and Saint. His devotion to the Blessed Mother sustained him during his busy and holy life. St. Bernard's Feast day is August 20.

Do you have an urgent request? Mother Theresa's formula of the emergency novena is the Memorare said nine times consecutively.

God Bless you and may Our Lady's guidance be your support.

Kathleen Burke SFO

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,

that never was it known that anyone who fled to

your protection, implored your help, and sought

your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired

with this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of

Virgins, my Mother! To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.