Participants from 9 different countries shared their reflections on the Readings.
1. “Love relentlessly” is challenging. Meeting with a Member of Opus Dei… reminded that Sainthood was devalued by the canonising of Opus Dei founder Escrivas. All our names should be included in the litany of saints.2. The litany of Saints was by Mary Lou Kownacki (who was a good friend of Joan Chittister). Miriam Therese Winter is one of her favourites. Enjoyed studying in Berkley, California with Sandra Schneider. USA were so far ahead of us then. Now it is sad. So many millions put a man into the White House, who seems to be destroying the US. You will come through it and come to a better place. You are sitting on the shoulders of wonderful women.
3. Good that our litany included non-Christians like Rumi and different religions. There are so many good people among the non-baptised – they are good human beings. People who are not Christians live lives of real Christians. Happy to see them included in the litany of Saints.
4. Thinking about how I can be a Saint: Like a window where God shines through. I work with marginalised people – who lead messy lives. Meet again – change – love. God does work through all of us to become a window. You have to be loved first to love. It’s not only Christian – must love first to change. WAC for 30 years has been relentlessly knocking on the door of the Vatican. Now being part of it for the first time.
5. The combination of “Love” with “Relentlessness”. Those two words don’t often go together. An Irish bishop returning from the Synod reported that “prayer was relentless”. Poem “The hound of heaven”. Gods love is relentless – pursues us – pierces all our defences.. To be a saint is to open our hearts to God. Clenching of fist and closing of heart. Contraction call – heart of flesh – beating heart of Christ – relentless love pulsing through the universe and all of creation. Relentless spirit of love. Thank you for choosing this poem.
6. Also heard the bishop experience relentless prayer at Synod. So much love. Soline has love for the church.
7. Other people. See all people in a new relationship to God. The Relationship of God is love. Love first. Love all people. Make conditions on earth so all can live well there.
8. Attended two workshops in Rome. One on polarisation – no one in the middle is not good. Second on women. Polish woman did not want altar girls because they make the altar boys withdraw and then we will have no priests.