Graced & Gifted

Today I had the chance to attend a Catholic Women’s Day at St. John the Baptist Church in Savage.  My friends, Sarah and Michelle accompanied me; we really enjoyed the day.  I can’t say I had an “ah-ha!” moment, but did came away with a lot to process.  I have been given 3 opportunities to think about and discuss “grace” this week – two on this past Wednesday and then throughout the day today.  I’m assuming at this point that God has something He wants to tell/show/teach me involving this subject…

There are several points from today’s talks that I’ll be working through over the next few days & weeks:

From Liz Kelly’s talk:

• When Jesus entered human history, He extended a dignity to women that had never existed before.
• Jesus is an intimate friend to us.
• Loneliness reminds us that our hearts have not become so bitter that they cannot break.

From Ann Osendorf’s talk:
Prayer based on Spiritual Exercises by St. Ignatius:

• G – Gratitude & Praise: praising God opens our heart for Him.  It enables us to appreciate His gifts for us.  Gifts are sometimes in the gift of what we have not received.
• R – Request for Light & Strength: part of God’s grace is asking for the willingness to do what is difficult.
• A – Attention & Awareness: grace builds on nature.  We need to recognize the areas in our life that need fixing so that God can give us more grace.
• C – Charting the Course to Holiness (Contrition & Confession): God’s divine grace is all about love.  We’re either moving toward God or away from Him.  We need to ask Him to not let go of us.
• E – Entrustment: surrendering the piece of our heart that needs healing.

From Christina Smith’s talk:

• For what do you hunger?
• “Nowhere does the Gospel say: ‘Go away,’ but always ‘come to me.’ ” – Mother Teresa
• “God is with us.  This is our joy.” – Mother Teresa

From Kimberly Hahn’s keynote talk:

• We all have a place of service.
• Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to do it.  – Proverbs 3:27