A very leisure-ly time!

I realize my last post was on August 4! Following our annual retreat the Sisters had their annual vacation together. Our time was more than a vacation. Our time together was guided by Jesus invitation: "Come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest," says the Lord." (Matthew 11:28)

Several years ago we looked at the Church's teaching on leisure so that we would know how to be during our times of rest. "Leisure... implies an attitude of total receptivity toward, and willing immersion in, reality; an openness of the soul through which alone may come about those great and blessed insights that no amount of 'mental labor' can ever achieve." (Joseph Pieper)

In our culture, sometimes on vacation we are busy about many things, tryng to cram into a short period of time all those activities we never get time for during the year. As a result, at the end of the vacation we are often exhausted! That's not the way it is with leisure. In leisure one takes time to be present to those we love, to God's gift of creation, to recreation that is thoroughly re-creating! Our leisure included time for resting, swimming, playing games (like Canasta), cooking on the grille, fishing and laughing a lot! We prayed together, went to Holy Mass together, and watched the summer Olympics!

The life of a Religious Sister is never dull. We do very normal things together! But now we are headed back to our various apostolates refreshed and renewed. God is very good to us. I pray that your summer has been filled with experiences of leisure. If not, there is still time!