Nature’s Artistry

“How beautiful the leaves grow old.

How beautiful their light and colour are in their last days.”

John Burroughs

I must confess, I miss the seasonal, northern beauty I witnessed firsthand during my twenty-two years of ministry in northern Canada. Although, I readily admit that Ontario’s autumns are spectacular, the fall of 2024, seems to be outdoing itself.

Everywhere I look, I see trees dressed in eye-catching finery. Nature, using her expansive colour palette, has gifted our orbs with a manifold array of varicoloured leaves.

As my eyes delight in this stunning  view, I am cognizant of its fragility. I am well aware that impending frost, forthcoming breezes, and chilly rains will all too soon strip the trees of their festive garments once again.

However, my northern experience, makes me confident that if we look closely, we will begin noticing Mother Nature weaving her winter wonders. Let us keep our eyes open to seeing each season’s beauty.

-Nancy Wales, csj

Images: UNSPLASH Claude Laprise | Emmanuel Phaeton

Celebrating the Anniversary of Jean-Pierre Médaille’s Birth

Today the global Joseph family pauses to celebrate with gratitude the life and legacy of our founder and spiritual father, Father Jean-Pierre Médaille. Birthdays are gift times to highlight and honour the nobility and grandeur of one human life.

“Have only one desire throughout your life:
to be, and to become,
what God wants you to be
in nature, in grace, and in glory,
for time and eternity.”

— Maxim of Love 10:6 | Jean-Pierre Medaille, SJ

IN NATURE:  Jean-Pierre was born on October 6, 1610, the eldest son of Jean and Phélippe Médaille in Carcassonne, France. While we have no photographs or biography of this time, we can presume from parish records, that his home life was very stable, economically secure, and spiritually alive. He and his two brothers, Jean-Paul and Jean attended the local Jesuit College which combined classical learning with cultural and religious experience. This strong and balanced Jesuit educational milieu marked Jean-Pierre’s childhood and early adolescence providing a discipline that grounded him for significant spiritual and social influence in the world. 

IN GRACE: Jean-Pierre Médaille was born with a destiny and unique purpose that he grew into and embraced wholeheartedly. Not yet 16 years of age, he entered the Jesuit novitiate in Toulouse, France. All throughout his formative years and up to his ordination of priesthood in 1637 (age 27), Jean-Pierre was described by his superiors as “having extraordinary talent”; “excellent, remarkable, penetrating, even sublime intelligence.” He was considered “wise, above average in everything, superior in philosophy and especially in theology.” Most of his four decades of apostolic ministry were spent travelling from diocese to diocese around south-western France preaching Parish Missions and promoting a spirituality that inspired the laity and engaged them on a path of holiness so much so that his obituary (Dec. 30, 1669) reported that “so great his reputation for holiness that here and there he was called the saint, the apostle.”

Under the inspiration of grace, with receptivity and astute psychology, he wrote the timeless wisdom of 128 Maxims of Perfection, 12 intimate Contemplations on the Life of Christ, and a profound Chapter on Transforming Union.  As a gifted spiritual director to some widows and young women in Le Puy, he nurtured their desire to dedicate their lives in consecration to God and service to the dear neighbour – witnessing the birthing of the Sisters of St. Joseph in October 1650. Then ten years later comes another moment of graced inspiration - a Divine revelation he wrote down - The Eucharistic Letter. Coming into rebirth these two past decades, its message speaks prophetically to those women and men today who are seeking small faith-share communities to embrace Gospel living in simplicity and joy.

IN GLORY:  During his lifetime he manifested in numerous personal relationships a pattern of self-emptying detachment and ever-deepening contemplation. The mantra, “Empty me. Fill me with your Great Love,” helped tame his egoic reactions. His receptivity to the flow of this transforming action of grace moved him so much that in his final contemplation on the mysteries of Christ’s life he concludes with: “This is the only desire of my soul. This is the most cherished expectation of my poor heart…” Having come to this heightened consciousness of the simplicity and unity of ALL at the centre, Jean-Pierre is already living in eternity. The One Thing necessary is Love. Jean-Pierre, the mystic, had found his heaven here on earth!  

WHAT IS YOUR GIFT TO FATHER MÉDAILLE ON THIS HIS BIRTHDAY?

“It is time to bring the ‘gifts of our lives” in celebration of our spiritual father and in thanksgiving for the spirituality he imparted to us.

What gift do you bring?
(e.g. I live by this maxim;
I aspire to grow in this virtue;
I love the ‘little way’….) ”

— Quote Source

If we were having a spiritual birthday gathering for our founder and spiritual father, what gift would each of us consider bringing? What would be our heart-sharing? What is the lasting memory of Father Médaille that lives on in you? The gift of our lives in the family of Joseph is what gives glory to God.

This year, I give thanks for the manner in which Father Médaille’s spirituality regards the dignity and destiny of every human person. He respects that there is “a particular way God calls each person.” He invites us to discern and discover that way. What serves me well these days, is his loving invitation and focused intention: “Rosemary, do what is yours to do.”

Happy Birthday Jean-Pierre, in the communion of saints!  

-Sister Rosemary O’Toole, CSJ

---

Historical quotes taken from Words For Life, A Spirituality Study Inspired by Jesuit Priest, Jean-Pierre Medaille, S.J., His Writings and Experiences, Book One.

Vespers for the Birth Anniversary of Father Medaille posted on The Upper Room Home of Prayer website

World Teachers’ Day - October 5

World Teachers' Day is an international day held annually on 5 October to celebrate the work of teachers. It was established in 1994. To  celebrate World Teachers' Day, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Education International (EI) mount a campaign each year to help give the world better understanding of teachers and the role they play in the development of students and society.  ~ Wikipedia                              

I googled, “The changing role of teachers” wishing to contribute a blog post for World Teachers’ Day. The search engine introduced me to Dr. Jayendrakumar. N. Amin and his informative paper entitled, “Redefining the Role of Teachers in the Digital Era.”

““Teaching is not just a job. It is a human service, and it must be thought of as a mission.”
”

— Dr. Ralph Tyler

In summary, his scholarly article points out that the 21st century educator’s role has shifted from being an “instructor”, who dispenses, in my words, prescribed packages of information, to assuming the multifaceted role of becoming, in his words, “the constructor, facilitator, coach, and creator of learning environments”.

The paper underscores that this transformation of the teacher’s roles from knowledge transmitter to facilitator and coordinator is both complex and challenging in our present changing world. World Teachers’ Day offers us an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions our teachers make to the betterment of society.

Today’s teachers,  amid the daily barrage of misinformation, help develop the knowledge but more importantly the judgement and understanding young people need to be wise and contributing citizens.

““Some people change the world.
And some people change the people who change the world,
and that’s you.” ”

— Kij Johnson

As a former educator, I urge all of us today, to pause, be thankful, and appreciate that the daily task of the classroom teacher is complex and challenging but paramount   to the development of learners and society. 

Let all of us today offer a virtual, resounding  shout out to  all teachers, thanking them for the multiple, often underappreciated roles they fulfill day in and day out.

-Sister Nancy Wales, csj

Good Neighbours Day

Who is my neighbour?  That is a question straight from the bible and in today’s confused society can have many interpretations.  Is the neighbour someone like me? Is my response coloured by moral judgement, feelings of pity, fear or indifference or by love, the right thing to do?

What is stirring in your heart as you look at the innumerable social needs demanding attention. Yes, the needs can be overwhelming and can shut you down but they can also stir you to action.  The choice is personal.

Image: Jon Tyson @jontyson/ Unsplash

I chose to get involved and started to volunteer one morning a week at St. Joe’s Café, our hospitality centre here in downtown London, where the guests who come each morning for breakfast became familiar and I could put names to faces.

Some of the guests come sick and struggling with addictions or homelessness, poverty, or loneliness, and some come for the social contact and the delicious food. The staff and volunteers welcome each person with dignity, kindness and words of understanding and support. As I sat thinking about my experience at the café, I received a call from a friend, a new Canadian, who was asking for advice on how to help two undocumented coworkers who were let go from their workplace. They contacted her in great need. She said to me,

I love Canada, and I want to pay forward the help I was given when I was lost and needed hope to face the future. 

The answer to ‘who is my neighbour’ is revealed each time I step out of my comfort zone to extend kindness, a listening ear, or comfort to a brother or sister in need.

-Sister Ann Marshall, csj

It's Gonna Be Great

I mentioned to a friend at breakfast the other morning that I was on the lookout for another company tagline to lay the framework for a new blog.  She quickly suggested using, “It’s Gonna Be Great.” adding the comment, “I don’t think it’s a tagline.” I reached into the basket of my walker for my iPhone and googled, “It’s Gonna Be Great!” I soon discovered "It's Gonna Be Great" is a fast-paced song by Bud Luckey and Jim Cummings, sung by Tigger and Eeyore in the Disney film, Winnie the Pooh.

Tigger: It's gonna be great, it's gonna be great, it's gonna be great! Eeyore: Well, I'm not sure.
Tigger: Oh, stop that gloomy rumination, All you need is a little bit of Tiggerization.
Eeyore: Wait!
Tigger: Why wait? Don't you see it's gonna be great? It's gonna be great, it's gonna be great, it's gonna be great!

Later in the day, I recalled that the prophet Jeremiah, in the biblical Book of Lamentations, offered spiritual seekers similar encouragement and motivation to rise and positively step into each new day.

The Lord's unfailing love and mercy still continue.

Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise.

With my spirits lightened, reassured, and comforted by song lyrics and scriptural wisdom, I ended the day ready for the coming of tomorrow.

Indeed, amid world events and tensions we frequently find ourselves in need of the antidote for gloomy rumination and more than a little bit of Tiggerization and scriptural comfort.

Let us remain hopeful as we do our part to contribute in making it’s gonna to be great a reality.

-Sister Nancy Wales

image: Lucian @luciandachman | Unsplash