Mary van Balen

Eighteen of us had a wonderful day last Saturday exploring the practice of journaling as a way of prayer. As one participant commented, the "gift of time" is something needed in a lifestyle that has us rushing from place to place without really stopping to notice the people and things that fill our lives. The jeweler's loupes were a hit. Who knew how beautifully structured and detailed a dragonfly's body was? Or the geometric patterns of a hemlock cone?

Being present to the moment is essential in all prayer, and together we enjoyed the opportunity to use journaling as a way to foster that. Laughter, conversation, sharing, good food, and lovely surroundings filled the hours. I hope to share the experience again in the coming year! Read More 

Today is the International Day of Peace, originally declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981 to be celebrated each year on the third Tuesday of September by a cessation of acts of war and access for humanitarian aid access in areas affected by war. In 2002 the date was fixed on September 21, and in subsequent years, a call to non-violence was included in the twenty-four hour observance.

People worldwide observe a minute of silence at noon, and various ways of honoring the day have emerged around the globe.

Today is also the feast of St. Matthew, evangelist, whose gospel includes the Beatitudes and the parable of the final judgement when all are judged on their love and charity to others. The reading from Ephesians 4 for today's Mass as well as the gospel reading (Mt 9,9-13), stress love, mercy, and peace. Paul writes< "...I...urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the hone hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all..."

As I spent time in quiet prayer this morning the words "one God of all, who is over all and through all, and in all" lodged in my heart. Before we can bring peace, we must, as Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh writes, be peace.  Read More 

In today's gospel reading, it was the little things the woman noticed when Jesus entered Simon's house: No one brought water to wash Jesus' dusty feet; no one greeted him with a kiss; no one wiped his face and refreshed it with oil. Changed by his words of God's loving forgiveness, she had come to seek him out. Perhaps to give thanks for lifting a burden from her heart and replacing it with hope.

The lack of honor shown to this man moved her to tears, and she washed his feet with them, drying with her hair. She broke her alabaster jar of perfume and anointed his feet, covering them with kisses as she did.

Simon was shocked and offended. Jesus felt the warmth of her love and said so: She had been forgiven much and she loved much. He had no such words for his host, who, if he were open to the moment, was abashed.

A lifetime of paying attention to the "little things" make a saint.  Read More 

"Well, Hello!" Rita's voice came over my cell. I couldn't believe we had connected, expecting instead to leave a message.

"Happy Birthday!" I said.

"You're on top of things," she replied, no doubt surprised by the early hour of the call. Our forty-four years of friendship had made it clear that I was NOT a morning person. Still, rising early for the chance of spending a few minutes in conversation with my friend was an easy choice.

Rita and I met as freshman at the College of Saint Francis, in Joliet, IL. In fact, since her aunt was the dean of women at that time, Rit had the opportunity to look through letters written by applicants to choose her roommate. We still can't figure out why she chose me. I had written nothing. Nothing about myself. I imagine I just filled in what was required and sent the application on its way.

Looking back, Rita would say it was God. And I would agree. Not only has our friendship spanned over four decades, but through introductions to people who were part of my life, Rita found her life's work in serving the poor and mentally challenged in Appalachia. And me? I found a blessing.

We shared train rides to and from Chicago on the passenger line that provided her grandfather with his job as porter. Her father had a restaurant near the station. We took our guitars and had sing a longs in the dining car. We headed small protests to make changes in the all girls college dress code, generally caused a bit of uproar, and made two other friendships that have also endured.

Rita is not a great communicator, at least to those who are not part of her day, but despite few letters or calls, we connect immediately when we do talk. Today my intent was to celebrate the blessing she has been on the earth for sixty plus years. I did. She also supported me as I continue to deal with the emotional aftermath of divorce and the realities of trying to make ends meet.

In the end we marveled together over a small nature preserve near Peebles, OH, Davis Memorial Park, and a tiny creature that lives in the ice cold water of the cave there.  Read More 

No, not a "lousy T-shirt." While admitting to a bit of beach envy, I was happy to receive the bounty of my brother-in-law's garden and produce from their refrigerator which would not last the week. Michael's homegrown eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes inspired me to create my own ratatouille this morning. I threw in some zucchini, onion, garlic, and fresh basil and thyme snipped in the rain from my potted herb garden.

 Read More 

News coverage of the riots and deaths stemming from rage at the short movie, "Innocence of Muslims" reminded me of a Catholic News Agency article by Michele Bauman I read in my local diocesan paper a couple of weeks ago. It's title, "Study Reveals Increasing Hostility in US Toward Religion" caught my attention. "I'm not surprised," I thought, and placed it on my desk, intending to comment in this blog. There the article remained until this morning's news moved me to write the post.

First, a little background on the groups that put out the study cited in the CNA article. One, the Liberty Institute headed by Kelly Shackelford, is a conservative Christian advocacy group that focuses much of its attention on pro bono legal cases involving people or churches who believe their first amendment rights are being violated on the grounds of their Christian faith. A prominent case, dubbeded the "Candy Cane Case," defends the right of a young student to bring candy canes with a religious story attached to the class Christmas party.

The second organization is Family Research Council, headed by Tony Perkins. This group was designated a "hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2010 for its dissemination of "false and denigrating propaganda about LGBT people." The Human Rights Campaign's president, Chad Griffin writes in the Washington Post's Opinion page that "The real issue is the Family Research Council's well documented and continuous pattern of hateful rhetoric." Hardly credentials for writing about hostility against a group of people. Read More 

(Originally published in the Catholic Times, September 9, 2012 © 2012 Mary van Balen)

I write these words of the night of the Blue Moon. The last one we will see for a few years, it is most commonly defined as the second full moon in a month. (This is not the only definition, but perhaps the simplest.) This is also the day Neil Armstrong, first human being to set foot on the moon, was buried in Cincinnati. This conjunction of events seems fitting, and when I looked up at the moon peeking through clouds, I thought of the long years of research, planning, building, and training that preceded the first “leap for mankind.” Without such sacrifice, such disciplined use of time and energy, the momentous step would not have been taken.

Thursday’s readings for the Liturgy of the Hours address the importance of using time well and avoiding self-indulgence. Saint Paul, in Galatians 5, says we are “called to liberty,” and then warned his readers to be careful since “liberty will provide and opening for self-indulgence.” The Spirit calls us to be busy about “works of love,” but we do not always rise to the occasion. At least I don’t.

I had some time off work and following a few days of concentrated effort, I confess to accomplishing little today. I did use food I had on hand to make tomato sauce and bake the eggplant that was on the verge of spoiling. I cleaned the kitchen. I did a little writing, but not as much as I had hoped. I had good intentions, but according to Paul, since the temptation to self- indulgence is at odds with the Spirit, “you do not always carry out your good intentions.” That’s me. Read More 

As much as I would prefer to leave Sister Simone Campbell's joyful presence standing at the top of my blog posts for a few days, this story demands comment. On Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, Bishop Robert Finn of the diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph, was found guilty of a misdemeanor count of failing to reportsuspected child abuse. Unlike most recent cases (see my blogpost on Msgr. Lynn's trial or the NYT's article on his conviction.) this offense occurred in 2011, ten years after the American Catholic Bishops made reporting such abuse part of their recommended policies. (I say "recommended" because in the end, the bishops answer only to the authority of the Pope.)

While this event marks the first time a bishop has been found guilty and sentenced in a civil court, something that gives me hope for future moves to accountability, the slight sentence of probation is a disappointment. Not that I take pleasure in seeing someone sent to prison, but the damage done to at least one boy and likely other children at the hands of a priest protected by his superior, is not reflected in the punishment given to Bishop Finn. It reflects a lack of understanding, putting the case in the best possible light, of children and the lifelong effects of such abuse. Bishop Finn should resign, and if he doesn't, he should be removed.  Read More 

On Wednesday, the Nuns on the Bus arrived at the Democratic National Convention and one of them, Sister Simone Campbell, stood on the podium to remind those with ears to hear that the Romney/Ryan budget "failed a moral test," echoing the statement of the United States bishops.

Sister Simone, executive director of NETWORK, and a group of sisters traveled through nine states, spreading their message of concern about the budget adopted by the Republican party, a budget that would cause great harm to those most vulnerable in our country by cutting funding to programs that provide help to those who need it.

In light of the difficulties between the US Catholic Bishops and the members of the Leadership Council of Women Religious, some might have been surprised to hear Sister Campbell align herself with the bishops at the beginning of her remarks. However, on the issue of the Romney/Ryan budget, they agree. As Sister Campbell explained, despite Congressman Ryan's claim that "his budget reflects the principles of our shared Catholic faith," it would hurt those who live in poverty.

She shared poignant stories of individuals she met while on the bus tour: two young boys trying to care for a sick mother, a woman who died of cancer when loss of her job meant loss of health care, a man who depends on food stamps to help feed his family since his employer reduced his hours.

"I am my sister's keeper. I am my brother's keeper," she said.

"Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me." Those are Jesus' words. Read More