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Thoughts from the Seton Cove
Who Are You?
Patricia Speier - 04/01/2013
"There is a truth that lies within us that will be with us forever" (John 2:2). Recently I was asked to teach a class on one of the seven deadly sins—gluttony. The idea of gluttony as a sin seems almost quaint to us today. It brings to mind the engravings of the 18th century artist Hogarth or the fanciful depiction of Jaba the Hut in Star Wars. We live in a culture that suffers from obesity but we don’t consider ourselves gluttons. It is really not fashionable to be overweight so we manage to drag ourselves to the gym or down to the hike and bike trail. Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and others are thriving enterprises. So while you and I may be a few pounds overweight, we don’t see ourselves as gluttons—the idea is absurd. Or is it? More...
Patricia Speier - 04/01/2013
"There is a truth that lies within us that will be with us forever" (John 2:2). Recently I was asked to teach a class on one of the seven deadly sins—gluttony. The idea of gluttony as a sin seems almost quaint to us today. It brings to mind the engravings of the 18th century artist Hogarth or the fanciful depiction of Jaba the Hut in Star Wars. We live in a culture that suffers from obesity but we don’t consider ourselves gluttons. It is really not fashionable to be overweight so we manage to drag ourselves to the gym or down to the hike and bike trail. Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and others are thriving enterprises. So while you and I may be a few pounds overweight, we don’t see ourselves as gluttons—the idea is absurd. Or is it? More...
Waiting...
Patricia Speier - 01/01/2013
"as if this quiet day with its tentative light weren’t enough, as if joy weren’t strewn all around" -- Holly Hughes. I’m waiting for the cold front to come in. It is Sunday night and the weather has been unseasonably warm for the whole week. The weather people keep saying that on Monday the temperature will dip into the twenties. In fact it is supposed to happen tonight--they said around 7:00pm but now it is 10:00pm and still hot and humid. It is winter and I expect it to be cold or at least not in the 80’s. So I am waiting. I’m impatient. I somehow believe that once the temperature dips into the forties I will be happy. The weather will be as it is supposed to be in the darker, shorter days of mid- winter. All will be right with the world. So I’m waiting. And the longer I wait the less I am present to what is happening now. More...
Patricia Speier - 01/01/2013
"as if this quiet day with its tentative light weren’t enough, as if joy weren’t strewn all around" -- Holly Hughes. I’m waiting for the cold front to come in. It is Sunday night and the weather has been unseasonably warm for the whole week. The weather people keep saying that on Monday the temperature will dip into the twenties. In fact it is supposed to happen tonight--they said around 7:00pm but now it is 10:00pm and still hot and humid. It is winter and I expect it to be cold or at least not in the 80’s. So I am waiting. I’m impatient. I somehow believe that once the temperature dips into the forties I will be happy. The weather will be as it is supposed to be in the darker, shorter days of mid- winter. All will be right with the world. So I’m waiting. And the longer I wait the less I am present to what is happening now. More...
Love Is the Only Rule
Patricia Speier - 10/01/2012
The desert will lead you to your heart where I will speak. -Hosea 2:14 Last week I spent five days in the Sonoran desert at the Redemptorist Center for Renewal in Tucson, Arizona where I have been privileged to be the co-facilitator for Ascension Health’s program on management formation, Managing Effectively; Growing Spiritually. I have spent quite a bit of time here or in their companion facility, The Desert House of Prayer over the last four years either on personal retreat, leading Cove retreats, or teaching in the leadership formation program. More...
Patricia Speier - 10/01/2012
The desert will lead you to your heart where I will speak. -Hosea 2:14 Last week I spent five days in the Sonoran desert at the Redemptorist Center for Renewal in Tucson, Arizona where I have been privileged to be the co-facilitator for Ascension Health’s program on management formation, Managing Effectively; Growing Spiritually. I have spent quite a bit of time here or in their companion facility, The Desert House of Prayer over the last four years either on personal retreat, leading Cove retreats, or teaching in the leadership formation program. More...
Pilgrim Blog
Patricia Speier - 07/01/2012
I recently had the privilege of going on the Seton Heritage Pilgrimage to France to walk in the footsteps of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, the founders of the Daughters of Charity. The dedication of these early pioneers and the countless women who came after, give me strength and solace in knowing that Seton Cove is part of this continuing tradition of reaching out to the poor and vulnerable. At the Cove we are especially interested in nurturing the spirit as well as the mind and body of all those who are seeking spiritual depth and renewal. I have provided a few of my “pilgrim blog” entries for reflection. More...
Patricia Speier - 07/01/2012
I recently had the privilege of going on the Seton Heritage Pilgrimage to France to walk in the footsteps of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, the founders of the Daughters of Charity. The dedication of these early pioneers and the countless women who came after, give me strength and solace in knowing that Seton Cove is part of this continuing tradition of reaching out to the poor and vulnerable. At the Cove we are especially interested in nurturing the spirit as well as the mind and body of all those who are seeking spiritual depth and renewal. I have provided a few of my “pilgrim blog” entries for reflection. More...
Just Breathe
Patricia Speier - 04/01/2012
During this time of Lent, with Easter almost upon us, I remember the promise made to us by the risen Christ, "And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." This is the promise we all long to hear and we have only to remember that it is a promise we can count on. We are often moving too fast to be aware of the one who accompanies us always. More...
Patricia Speier - 04/01/2012
During this time of Lent, with Easter almost upon us, I remember the promise made to us by the risen Christ, "And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." This is the promise we all long to hear and we have only to remember that it is a promise we can count on. We are often moving too fast to be aware of the one who accompanies us always. More...