FIAT Blog

November 2011 Blog Message for FIAT by Mary Zimmerman   

Dear STM Catholic Parent,

November is upon us with the feasts of All Saints, All Souls and the beginning of our new church year and Advent.  Mane Event happens this Saturday, November 12 and the Advent by Candlelight is Tuesday, November 15th.  So many events, plus the rush of Thanksgiving coming and Christmas shopping already starting--I just wish life would slow down!

Taking time out for God each day does create a time to pause and reflect.  With the flurry of all the activity around us, we may ask, "Lord, what do you want of my day today?  How can I please you?"  For working parents, this may mean doing your work with an attitude of gratitude (God, I am thankful that I have a job.  Please help me to be a patient employee or an understanding manager.) For those of us volunteering, we may  look at our day and see what needs our attention the most.  Slowing our thoughts and taking time for God allows us to seek God's help, instead of trying to do everything ourselves.  Pausing to reflect on our day, gives us a way to be grateful and evalutate how we can make our day more loving.

The Advent by Candlelight Evening is another way to place a "pause" in our schedule.  The focus of this evening it to stop, pray and reflect as a community about how we center Christ in our Advent and Christmas traditions.  Is Christmas all about decorating, buying gifts, baking cookies?  Or is it about preparing our heart for receiving Jesus?  How can we do this?  What will make Advent and Christmas more fruitful for my family--praying, taking time to do acts of kindness, spending more quality time together?  These are questions we can take think about to turn our hearts towards Jesus who is love. 

I found this quote from St. Ignatius in his Spiritual Exercises that sums up how we can focus on love and gratitude as we approach the busyness of November and Advent:

"Love consists in sharing what one has and what one is with those one loves.  I ask the Father to give me an intimate knowledge of the many gifts I have received, that filled with gratitude for all, I may in all things love and serve the Divine Majesty."

May your November be filled with time to reflect, with gratitude and love.

In Him,

Mary Zimmerman