ST. RITA RETREAT CENTER NEWSLETTER, NOVEMBER 2023
"So Great A Cloud of Witnesses" Hebrews 12:1
"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well." Julian of Norwich, 1343-1416
"Every creature is a glittering, glistening mirror of Divinity." Hildegard of Bingen, 1098-1179
"We shall awaken from our dullness and rise vigorously toward justice. If we fall in love with creation deeper and deeper, we will respond to its endangerment with passion." Hildegard of Bingen
"In a random encounter with a statue of Jesus being scourged, [Teresa of Avila] looked into his eyes and felt him looking back at her. He looked at her with unconditional love and pain and acceptance and forgiveness and tenderness. She fell to to the floor and wept for the first time in 20 years and said, 'Please, Beloved, promise me that I will never not love you as I love you now.'" Scholar & Writer, Mirabai Starr
"For I saw no wrath except on man's side, and [God] forgives that in us, for wrath is nothing but a perversity and an opposition to peace and to love." Julian of Norwich
Dear Friends,
Greetings from St. Rita Retreat Center on this typical, changeable, autumn day. This is the time of year when we are reminded that the cycle of life is one of death and rebirth, loss and new hope. It is also the month in our liturgical cycle when we remember in a special way those who have been canonized by the Church as saints and the many, many more, including our own beloved, who have gone before us in faith, "the great cloud of witnesses."
At a women's retreat a few weeks ago, we celebrated a special group of those saints and holy people who are known as "mystics." Though mystics and mysticism are likely not subjects often discussed in the local parish, the Church recognizes the powerful gifts they offer to us in their wisdom, spirituality, and theology and in the example of their lives.
As we face a world that is increasingly devastated by war, political discord, disease, and irreversible damage to the earth, the words of these women and men, many who lived centuries ago, echo with both understanding and hope for our current circumstances. Though they were often persecuted in in their time, as were Hildegard, Francis, and Teresa, they are now shing stars in our darkness.
Julian of Norwich, who lived at a time when the pandemic of the bubonic plague ravaged Europe three times and who could have been burned for her writings, is now quoted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. From the visions she was shown by Jesus, she reassures us that "All shall be well . . . ." Hildegard, who, like Teresa, has been named a Doctor of the Church, begged us to care for all of creation over a thousand years before Pope Franics wrote his encyclical imploring us to do the same.
While offering the many gifts of their own mystical spiritual life, the mystics also call each of us to our own profound experiences in an ever growing love relationship with our tender and compassionate God. Like Hildegard in her love for creation, they call us to be people who look about us with awe and wonder, even in a world that seems so dark and broken.
In an interview with journalist Bill Moyer, Huston Smith, the author of the seminal work, "World Religions," was asked to define a mystic. Smith responded, "Mystics are people who are spiritually impatient, who want God right now." Who among us does not want to be able to say like Teresa of Avila, "Please, Beloved, promise me that I will never not love you as I love you now?" And who does not want to be able to believe that "all shall be well?"
There is so much to know about the lives of the mystics ad so many ways to be blessed by their gifts. The few quotes shared above are like a drop of water in a great ocean of spiritual wealth. As we move through autumn and into the quieter, more reflective times of winter, perhaps we might take the time to explore the words of one of them and find the hope and wisdom they offer.
AND AS WE MOVE INTO WINTER . . .
We are very grateful for all that summer and early fall held for our ministry at St. Rita's. The completion of some important maintenance projects helped to prepare the Center for a full schedule of retreats in the past few months.
Our wonderful (and small) crew of volunteers completed repairing all of the balconies on the upper level rooms of the Guest House. A great deal of work was done to groom and improve the walking trails and keep the long field grass mowed to help with fire safety. At the same time, all of the chores necessary to keep things in working order were tended to by the same dedicated group.
All of this was greatly appreciated by over 150 retreatants who gathered in the past seven weeks with more retreats yet to come before the Christmas holidays. After their absence during the pandemic, a number of groups who have been a part of our ministry for up to 25 years or more were very happy to be back. We even had a new group of 30 women who drove all of the way from Redding, California for a weekend and already want to return.
The calendar for the first six months of 2024 is filling up fast. If your group or organization is interested in scheduling a time at St. Rita's during those months, please contact us soon.
CAN YOU HELP TO MAKE THINGS EVEN BETTER?
Having a full schedule throughout the fall and into the spring has certainly helped us to begin to recover from the financial losses of the pandemic years. However, there are so many ways in which we would like to upgrade our facilities. All of the guest rooms could use new paint, carpeting, and beds. The driveway is in need of repair. The list goes on.
Now, with the help of an anonymous supporter, your donations can mean even more. We have received an offer of a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $4000, from this person. That means that your gifts could turn $4000 into $8000!
We know that this is the time of year when many organizations ask for your support knowing that people like to increase their tax deductions before the end of the year. There are many worthy causes. We ask that you prayerfully consider a donation of any amount to St. Rita Retreat Center. If you are so lead, please take this opportunity to double the impact of your gift. Checks may be mailed to St. Rita Retreat Center, Post Office Box 310, Gold Hill Oregon, 97525. Please indicate "matching gift" on your check.
AND ANOTHER KIND OF GIFT . . .
Did you know that in 2025 (beginning in Advent of 2024) we will be blessed to celebrate another Jubilee Year? As the culmination of the multi-year synodal process, Pope Francis will be opening the Jubilee Door of St. Peter's for the year with the theme of "Pilgrims of Hope." Considering all that is going on in the world, there probably could be no better theme.
In preparation for the year and throughout that time, we would like to offer special activities and celebrations. Pope Francis has asked that we re-visit the documents of Vatican II as part of our preparation. If you would like to participate in such a study group or help in planning other activities, please contact Jeanne Ellen (contact information below).
AS PILGRIMS OF HOPE . . .
We can certainly take courage from the words of Jesus revealed to Julian of Norwich that "All shall be well." Though I have previously used the music video by Michael John Poirier linked below, I felt it was especially appropriate now. Though it is not visually colorful, I think it makes a wonderful vehicle for quiet meditation. Please give yourself the time to enjoy it and be encouraged.