« Sister Sharon Holland, IHM — you rock! | Home | Novitiate – Overview »
Teresa of Avila and Jesuit Astronauts
By Sister Julie | October 19, 2007
Well I’ve been on the road traveling yet again. I had the pleasure of presenting at the Archdiocese of New York’s Teacher Institute. I went as a representative of Loyola Press, my place of ministry. My topic was “Navigating the Wilderness of Prayer: Insights from Saint Teresa of Avila.” It was especially fitting since we just celebrated the Feast of Saint Teresa (does that explain why I’ve been blogging so much about Teresa?!). I hadn’t read Teresa in a while so it was like coming home when I picked up The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila again. The Life is Teresa’s account of her experiences of God and includes a teaching on prayer as well as the foundation of a Carmelite monastery. Reading Teresa of Avila is like being with one of my nuns and just chatting about life, God, and prayer. I think I’m going to read her other stuff again (Interior Castle and Way of Perfection). I also just ordered her Letters which I’ve not yet read. Looking forward to it.Right now I’m sitting in the airport writing this in Word because I can’t for the life of my stay connected to the wireless connection. So this’ll be uploaded when I get back. Due to the lovely tornado conditions in the Midwest, I’m stuck here for a little while. For fun I’m reading The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell (1996). The San Francisco Chronicle says about this book:
“Powerful … Father Emilio Sandoz [is] the only survivor of a Jesuit mission to the planet Rakhat, ‘a soul … looking for God.’ We first meet him in Italy … sullen and bitter … But he was not always this way, as we learn through flashbacks that tell the story of the ill-fated trip … The Sparrow tackles a difficult subject with grace and intelligence.”
Should be interesting. Odd, yet interesting. I need something right now that is truly “out of this world”. Have you read the book? Don’t give anything away!What are you reading now?
Topics: media, random writing, saints and holy people, teresa of avila |
October 19th, 2007 at 10:03 am
As usual, I am reading 4-5 things at once. They are as follows: Light in the Darkness, the story of the friendship between St Francis and St Clare, The Heart of A Saint: 10 Ways to Grow Closer to God, The Real Mary, how evangelicals can took at Mary in a more open way, and to top it all off, You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide, the autobiography of Dog The Bounty Hunter! If nothing else, by reading material is eclectic
October 19th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Well, I am down with a cold and can’t think really clearly,.. I always turn to Laura Ingalls Wilder when I need to occupy my head (boredom is just one of the wonderful side-effects of colds), Her spirit and her family’s steady optimism gives me heart. I know that it is Juvenile and fictionalized for parts of it, but she is still one of my mentors and a hero of mine.
Other than that I am reading the sides of medicine boxes…
October 19th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Lumen Gentium
October 19th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Tom, I had to look up the last book you mentioned! I don’t have cable so I miss out on some good stuff. I just found it on Netflix so I’ll check out season one. I love reading ecclectically — and I like authors like Joyce Carol Oates who can write compellingly across genres.
Elizabeth, when I feel that way I turn to Madeleine L’Engle, one of my all time favorite fiction authors. I read all of her young adult books and regularly re-read A Wrinkle in Time.
Love Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church. What are some of the highlights for you? I recently re-read Nostra Aetate, the Declaration of the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions.
October 19th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
I’m not a sci-fi fan, but I really liked “The Sparrow.” There are great points to begin discussions about ethics, missionary activity, multiculturalism, and peace. “Children of God,” the sequel, was quite disappointing.
Right now I’m reading “Mountains Beyond Mountains” and “Jesus Today: A Spirituality of Radical Freedom.”
October 19th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Just finished On the Street Where You Live by Mary Higgins Clark, and started reading G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown Mysteries. It’s a good way to spend a lunch hour. At home I am nearly finished with Hail, Holy Queen by Scott Hahn. Since I really like reading mysteries I have found there are many ways to approach a “mystery”. Will need to get The Sparrow. Thanks!
October 20th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Sr. Julie,
As a convert from Protestantism I find it simply refreshing overall. The fact that they have actually thought about who and what they are, their mission, goal, purpose, means, and end, and the impact they are to have on the world. It is like a breath of oxygen, a blaze of sunshine, a cool breeze…
But in particular I like the section in which the relationship between bishop and priest and their respective roles are articulated and expanded. The description pretty much brought tears to my eyes as I was reading. (I can’t recall the section #).
It sets a high bar…
October 20th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
ch.3
October 21st, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Sr. Julie:
This is off topic but I don’t have your e-mail address anymore and didn’t know where to post it.
Firstly, I’d like to congratulate your sisters on winning the environmental award from the EPA for the design of your motherhouse. Hopefully others will follow suit.
Secondly, I wrote a message on your “Ask Sister” section, about a week ago. I asked a few questions. I wasn’t sure whether you didn’t see it or if you just didn’t know how to respond. Hopefully you’ll have some insight for me. If not, that’s fine too.
Peace,
deerose
October 21st, 2007 at 10:57 pm
Oooooh. Did you mention science fiction and Jesuits?
I think I need to read that…
Me: I’m reading the Dark Materials trilogy. I heard Bill Donohue ranting about it, so I decided to check it out. So far I think its ideas on gender and gender role are more problematic than religion. (Then again it’s so alternate universe, I don’t see how it could plausibly be confused for our Church. I mean, John Calvin as pope? Come on…)
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:59 am
Just Curious … I just finished the book and saw that there was a sequel. Disappointing, you say? Should I even consider it? The Sparrow was pretty thrilling I must say, a definite page turner for me. I’d almost rather end on that note than continue the story if it is not as good. We’ll see …
Cathy, yes, there are many ways to approach a mystery. I had never quite thought of what it would be like to have read mystery novels and then to approach the mysteries of the Rosary. Fascinating!
Deerose … I’ll be in touch. Email should be on my About Me page. I’ll double check.
Jen … I never heard ofthe Dark Materials trilogy. It does sound rather intriguing — is John Calvin really pope??
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:02 pm
As I said, I’m not much of a sci-fi fan, so maybe someone who is could pipe in about the whether or not they liked the sequel. I’d skip it and read Life of Pi or The Secret Life of Bees instead.
Thanks for your entry on Novitiate. It is nice to hear from someone who has gone through those parts of discernment recently.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:58 pm
He’s mentioned to have been Pope, which puts it not even in the realm of plausible alternate universe, and squarely into fantasy.
Right now i’m only on the 5th chapter of the first book, and I’m a bit more bothered by the gender roles in it, although I’ve been told to keep reading because the author definitely doesn’t agree with his characters’ ideas. 
I’d like to get the first book done by the time the movie (Golden Compass) comes out, so I don’t spoil anything.
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:19 am
The Sparrow was most definitely an exploration in gender roles, though that wasn’t the main theme of the book. I kind of liked how the author brought it to the fore a few times but mainly through more subtle, pervasive ways such as trhough the presence of strong characters — female and male.
October 23rd, 2007 at 11:36 am
Okay, I definitely need to get that book…