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Sister Ignatia: Catholicism deeply within AA

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Della Gavin was born in Ireland. When she was seven, her family came to America and settled in northern Ohio. She became a musician and supported her family by teaching piano lessons. After entering the convent in 1914, she continued to teach music and became a music director for her community.

Due to overwork and stress, Sister Ignatia suffered a nervous breakdown and ulcers in the late 1920s. During her treatment, her doctor realized that it was not enough to treat the ulcers. The underlying causes of the breakdown would have to be addressed. Sister Ignatia would have to be willing to examine her life and habits and to make the changes necessary for a permanent recovery.

Part of her treatment required that she stop her professional involvement with music. In her new assignment as hospital administrator of St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, she met Dr. Robert S., one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous. Together they developed the first hospital treatment program for alcoholics. It was based solidly on the principles of A.A.: total abstinence from alcohol and drugs, dependence on God, commitment to the Twelve Steps and willingness to help other suffering alcoholics.

At a time when alcoholism was regarded as a moral weakness rather than a disease, Sister Ignatia treated her patients with compassion and common sense. Perhaps because of her own descent to the depths of despair, she used her faith and the resources at her disposal to bring hope to others. With “tough love” she made them confront the realities of their addiction. She put them in touch with God and told them to “bend their knees instead of their elbows.” Helping others was a major part of recovery as people who had been sober only a few days were put to work welcoming the jittery newcomers.

This petite and humble Sister personally helped thousands of alcoholics, including priests and religious. She also counseled countless family members, encouraging them to “pull the curtain on the past” and give their recovering alcoholic another chance.

When a newly sober person was being discharged, Sister Ignatia would give him a Sacred Heart badge, and ask him to promise to return it to her before reaching for the first drink. Acceptance of the badge was a symbol of trust and commitment between the patient and Sister Ignatia, and it helped many to avoid impulsive relapses. A.A. still gives medallions to commemorate sobriety or as tangible encouragement to try the A.A. way of life.

Sister Ignatia: Catholic Pioneer of ‘Tough Love’ By Mary D. HERALD Columnist

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Man Tower witnesses the baptism of St Francis before setting out for the old man of the mountain

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There was another also witnessing. Alberto saw Pietro making his way to the stables as he exited in the morning. Rarely sleeping, up before others, falling asleep after others, Man Tower dominated through perception and awareness. Something about the merchant bothered him greatly. The man schemed. He intended espionage through his squire. Never would Man Tower have kissed his very footprint, giving thanks to God for the existence of anything close to resembling the merchant represented. Certain men reviled him. Convinced he possessed no choice in the matter, he deployed to counter attacks, preparing for the demise of those who acutely agitated. When the merchant emerged from the stables with Ricco, he followed. Trusting his squire, he had to know what the wily shop owner was up to, such a man did nothing without motive for profit.

It was not long before Pietro was escorting Ricco into the cathedral of St Rufino. Man Tower stood outside unobservantly observing, before following into the interior. In the stealth manner he was able to attain despite his size, Alberto snuck into the cathedral, witnessing the baptism himself. It was innocent enough. He perceived the intent of the textile merchant. The shop owner was attempting to gain his favor through Ricco. Alberto trusted Ricco, fearing nothing the crafty shop owner, usual with unclean spirits, could conceive.

About to stealthy depart, the crying of the baptized baby drew Alberto’s attention. The thought struck he never witnessed a baptism before. He observed the baby as he was handed to his godparents. An iridescent aura radiated. The strangeness of ordinary things that occurred upon the unordinary battlefield struck the moment. Details became acutely apparent, time transparent to unfathomable profoundness, meanings manifested that could not be obviously stated, nor appropriately comprehended. The baby’s eyes turned toward him, closing the distance between them, a vertiginous moment soothing. Alberto found it difficult to stand, to hold his place upon his feet. Strange, foreign interior words came forth evil spirit come out of her.

Alberto, always preparing for an attack, constantly entertaining conflict, felt the need to raise defenses. Something unseen confronted. What was happening during the baptizing of the merchant’s son? Everything; perception, reality, thought, physicality, all seemed to be an illusion pointing to something greater, to almighty God, yet there was no comfort, only collusion. Unknowable knowledge became apparent. God knew this baby, through the works of all things. The palpable indefinite conviction announced eternal salvation, something set apart becoming a part. The intuition blanketed his mind, covering mental sores and wounds of the mind, smothering. Acquiescing, he settled into admiration of the beautiful baby who would become the man of God, like a grandparent admiring their first grandchild; the acceptance of aging through the exquisiteness of infancy, polar opposites uniting in authentic conception; the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the needing—to be set free and to be with Christ. He prayed for his mother, wishing she could see this baby. People, that are in the world, gathering around the baby, blocked Alberto’s vision, eliminating the moment of sublime revelation.

Making the sign of the cross with holy water, reminding him of a washing, somewhat slightly dazed, Alberto exited the cathedral. The face of the baby, its aura, etched in his mind; the eyes and perpetual smile lasting. In the clefts of the rock, in the hollow of the wall, his eyes unfocused, wandered past.

Emptied of himself, walking through Assisi, Man Tower, reposing back into demented knightly persona, sought Lord Montaninus, his former comrade in arms, hand in hand, with Barbarossa. Montaninus made arraignments to meet at a tavern near Minerva’s Temple. Alberto was to eat at the tavern. The cost would be of no concern. What was of the Lord? Following the meal, he would be led to the back of the establishment where Montaninus would be waiting. They would then venture to a castle hidden amongst the wilderness of Mount Subasio, a castle hosting an aged nobleman whispered to be insane, as well as a mystic, the word of God upon his lips, a man of worldly and spiritual extraordinariness.

An unseen female voice spoke from a table in close proximity. “That old man gives me the creeps. I don’t care what you say I am convinced he is a pervert.”

“It does not matter what he is. What has been wrong with you? For weeks now you have proven impossible, snapping at everything. The old noble provides means we could never attain. Trusting to the mercy of the almighty. You are so quick to grow angry in time of need. I worry about you. Look deeper. The old one truly asks very little of us. We know worse debauchery for less pay—only the younger ones are handsomer and hearty, yet that does not seem to bother you as much as the old one who never asks for deplorable things. Though he began to speak, you should not despise him.”

“Maybe he gives wealth, providing jewelry and gold as easy as others give promises, however we pay through the debasing we endure acquiescing to his, to his…I am not even sure what it is the old man burdens us with. Unspoken demands—that is what he procures. I cannot figure the old one out.”

“You feel him to be a burden. Those who were touched in their hearts, amazed with his deeds, tell of his goodness.”

“Yes. He is insane. How often he resorts to a juvenile nature. I cannot stand looking at his decrepit face. Determination, I cannot maintain. Sometimes, the way he speaks to us, as if we were children just learning to walk, makes me desire to scratch his eyes out. His patronizing is so demeaning. And you fall into the childish talk he so enjoys, speaking to one another as if you were children. I have to force my mind into other places, fearing his insanity will infiltrate my mind. Tainted are his ways. He must know I hate him.”

“Why would you hate him? Over the saints household, he perseveres. I feel sorry for him for being so gullible, a son…an only child to its mother. A story here, emotion espoused, a tear, and the old fool is opening his coffers. It is too easy sleeping in the lap. I even find it fun, like playing a part in the theater. There is no reason to hate him. Seriously sweetie, you just have not been yourself for some time now. The new planting of a fresh attitude you must embrace.”

“I guess…I do not know…it is too easy. I feel my soul is at stake in unknown ways. For this very reason alone, everything is wrong. One day, he will discharge his guards upon us. His chosen vineyard protected. Then we will know death and maybe he will have arraigned everything so our souls are sucked down into the depths of hell. They will say about us their efforts came to naught. We will lose our heads and suffer eternally. It is so creepy to be blindfolded en route to provide for their needs. Still, I hate it even more when he visits the city, sent down to the earth.”

“You worry too much. Please him. Open his heart to the experience of a daughter, be joined to the soul. That is all he wants from us, the pleasure to love a child, his own child. Rejoice greatly, falling at his feet. His sons are dead, the father of the poor. He has no one, for empty glory. He provides so well. A gift horse must not be examined too closely. A curse, he is not. To masquerade as a daughter is not such a horrid thing. The father of the poor, let him be. Christ made himself poor for us in this world. Let us not suffer a similar fate. We have done far worse than the old man. Heartbreaking stories, lies of sorrow, dreams unrequited, tears of tribulations; that is all we must provide in order for the sweet old one to open his treasure chest. He loves to preach the word of the Lord. Allow him his liberties.”

“I catch him, the appointed minister of a faith I hold not deeply in my heart, looking at me as no proper father observes a daughter. Do not make him out to be so innocent. Every time we call, his leering grows. I expect soon, I will have to sleep with him.”

“Again, the nasty attitude, I have slept with him. It is only sleep he demands and touched with sorrow in his heart, he dreams.”

“He does not touch you? I should have known. The old fool is impotent.”

“I do not care, or know. He holds me, meek and humble. That I do know. Lead this little one from the midst of these goats. He means no harm.”

“He must reek of old age. God, the wretchedness his breath must contain. I get sick just thinking about him. Men are wretched beast. He must snore and grind his teeth, sounding like the devil himself in sleep.”

“I must admit he does stink, yet he slumbers silently. He gives thanks to God.”

“I despise that old fool. I give thanks to God every time we depart from his abode. I love playing him for the fool he is. He makes bold in his claim to be the man of God, yet I offer no solace for his intent.”

“Oh stop. You are wicked Beatrice my child. I know, I was touched in his heart. He gave thanks to God, the last time you allowed him to kiss you goodbye.”

The two young ladies burst into laughter. Seated behind the women, a partition between them, Alberto, continually on guard, listened to the conversation. He assumed the two were prostitutes. The crowd in the tavern was thin. It was early. The majority of Assisi slept late, recovering from the excess of the festival. He nibbled upon bread, slowly sipping his wine, allowing his meal of lamp stew to settle as he waited. There was no sign of Montaninus. The tavern worker, a man previously speaking of Ricco’s deed of killing the bull with some morning drinkers, approached.

Whispering, he spoke, barely missing a step as he passed. “My lord you are requested in the back.”

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A squire witnessing the baptizing of St Francis

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Attempting a pompous portrayal of being in the power of the spirit, Pietro guided Ricco, the squire of Man Tower, to the cathedral of Saint Rufino. The destination surprised him, a place of worship possessing memories of enigmatic childish grandeur. In all of his years living in Assisi as a street orphan, he never entered the cathedral. His social status prevented such bravado. He dared not to be so bold. To enter would be a direct insult. Standing upon the steps, wonder enveloped.

Talk of the streets informed him the bell tower remained from the original church. Under construction for fifty years, the present church emerged as a magnificent structure. Romanesque at its base, the upper portion presented the most modern of architecture. Trinity in nature, the circular windows amazed Ricco. He could not determine if the windows made him imagine more: great eyes or wondrous flowers. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, he studied, contemplated, the façade of the church often as a waif. The immensity of the structure infused smallness, the individuality of being overshadowed, poverty revealing dwarfing inadequacies, while underneath a longing prevailing, a heartbeat amidst admiring. He could never determine a lasting impression, whether the structure was a work of God or solely the efforts of men.

Pillars of an impressively imposing embossed arch separated the three windows, as well as the separate doors situated amongst the Roman grid pattern of stonework below. The central grand window spawned curiosity as the three figures standing upon strange animals perched upon Roman arches, supporting the mystical rose-window, remained mysterious, mythical in nature, ancient legends bellowing. Ricco imagined them to be angels, however the lack of wings and something sinister defining created suspicion. Possibly, for unknown reasons, they were ancient Roman demons—in allegiance with the monstrous animal forms decorating the exterior north and south walls? Nothing definite, lacking knowledge, mysteries dominating, Ricco recalled spending lengthy moment studying the Cathedral. Often he slept near, hidden in alcoves, feeling protected by the close proximity of holiness.

Above the north and south doors, water drinking leopards and peacocks multiplied ambiguities. Lions, guarding the entrance—one devouring a man, the other a ram, intimidated. Under close scrutiny, sweating under a scorching sun as a boy, he studied the four mounted figures cornering the dominant window. It seemed important to figure out what the figures represented. He determined there was a wolf and lamb underneath, while above a crow and a man stood, holding a book open. He followed respected superstition by avoiding talk of the cryptic figures decorating the cathedral, fearing their power if he was to give them life through spoken words. He knew there were men of great learning, yet never would he be one. Ricco’s instinctual fear of the cathedral coincided with his apprehension regarding God. Like snow covered mountain tops, terror ruled his imagination. The vast dimension of the building surpassed everything he knew as a child; the wealth and means necessary to build such a colossus structure inconceivable. The cathedral only deepened the mystery of life. His feeling of smallness, inconsequentiality, expanded.

Pietro led Ricco inside, sensing the youth’s nervousness, realizing how lost the youth was inside the finely decorated cathedral. He guided Ricco after crossing himself with holy water. The ambience of splendor blinded the squire of Man Tower. He could not establish details. Amidst the sacred artistic sophistication, he felt the diminutive nature of his birth. The existence of the cathedral finery exposed him for what he was. He did not belong in the cathedral. It was for men of better birth. The thought of running away, escaping back to the streets, regressing to the familiar, raced through his mind.

“Relax my young friend. I have brought you to the baptism of my son Giovanni. I want you to see how righteous people of God live. We are the people destined to rule Assisi. It is God’s will. Untruths cannot enter here for this is the home of the Eucharist. Demons hold no sway here. If a possessed woman were to enter, you would hear the words: I command you to come out of her. Find yourself a place in the back and witness, make sure you can see clearly. I want you to observe, to witness, to feel in your heart, and then report to your knight everything you see. Your knight is a stubborn man. I think you are more congenial, better able to compassionately perceive truth. Maybe Man Tower has seen too much war—his heart becoming too hardened. He knows not the way of softness and families. You, in the role of a son, can help replace his heart with a natural heart, a soft heart dedicated to assisting the commune in its virtuous endeavors. Both of you are welcome to fight for goodness.”

Pietro parted from Ricco, joining the others, showing attention to his baby son. Pietro immediately took control of matters. Uncomfortable, Ricco made his way amongst the gathered, making his way to the back, closest to the door. Still, he would not lift his eyes to closely examine the cathedral. He did not notice the tall figure of his master lurking within the shadows. Man Tower prowled, following the intrigue involving his squire. Unaware, Ricco focused his eyes downward.

“Go out from him, thou unclean spirit, and make way for the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. By my hand Francesco is baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This sign do thou, accursed devil, never dare to violate.”

The priest having pronounced the words, submerged Pietro’s son in the baptismal font. The carved stone font majestically presented Satan supporting. The basin holding the baptismal water seemingly crashing from above, crushing Satan beneath it. Fiercely, Satan struggled to throw off the devastating weight, the mammoth burden. Proudly, exuding joy for all to see, Pietro stood next to his wife, a beautiful French woman. Another couple, godparents, received the baby from the priest.

Ricco found himself staring at the baby, tunnel vision occurring as he could see nothing but the peaceful face, suckling in its sleep upon nothing. A smile blossomed. His apprehension disappeared, his countenance dissolving. The infant opened his eyes as the priest held him up naked before all the witnessing, a nontraditional act of no explanation. Captivated, the smile would not leave Ricco’s face. He wanted to make his way to the infant, to hold him, to possess the child in his arms and see that face up close. The baby, crying as he was placed in his mother’s arms, looked about. His face turned toward Ricco. A beam of light shot through a window, shining downward, striking the child, reflecting off his body, it went out, into those witnessing. Ricco knew not where the light came from. None of the others noticed. The light stabbed Ricco in the eye, forcing him to erupt with laughter. Others looked at him, marveling the young man would be so moved by a baptism, the opening of the gates of heaven to a newborn. Ricco got up immediately, making for the exit. An indelible mark made upon his memory. The baptized infant cried out after him.

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Ceaseless Abandonment

Spiritual obscurity can be of many kinds.  We are endeavoring to see things clearly when the light fails us, either in what regards our own interior life or the conduct of our neighbor.  With God’s permission we find ourselves surrounded with darkness.  Whatever be its nature or the degree of its density, it can never rob us of the lights of reason and faith….. –Abbot Vital Lehodey

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Selfish ungrateful singularity of being

More words of guidance from Myron. In the presence of Our Lord, reposed, may his soul continue to serve others–his life continuing to serve as inspiration. Myron’s thoughts: Intimate obedience and service to God’s will provides protection, the mantle of God sheltering our lives, graces through Mary, for ourselves and those we love, showered upon us. If we forsake divine fellowship, trusting in ourselves and/or unGodly guidance it is not that God curses us.  No.  God loves unconditionally. In fact, what occurs is a self-cursing. Obstinately, we shrug off the mantle of God’s protection, disregarding, ignoring and neglecting the fact Christ died upon the cross for us. We strike out boldly, yet ignorantly and blindly on our own. Ungrateful servants, we act as if we owe nothing to God. Even a dog will lick the hand of its master. All bets are off regarding outcomes. Our lives become self-raised flags declaring independence, isolated from righteousness, blowing in the wind of cruel fate.  Satan was one who dreamed he could stand alone.  In truth, abiding in fierce self-determination and relativism, we damage not only ourselves, but all those unfortunate enough to enter into intimacy. Shakespeare says it well, yet he leaves out the eternal misery of recognizing life as merely a trifling to be played at through ingratitude, vanity, and selfishness.  Life is short, eternity is long.

All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms.
Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

There is more.

As it was it the beginning, it is now, and will be forever.

Give it away.  It was yours only to know, love, and adore God.  That is a loving privilege, not a chore or demand.

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