The Gift of Fasting

“The Scripture is full of places that prove fasting to be not the invention of man but the institution of God, and to have many more profits than one.”

— St. Thomas More

“We must fast with our whole heart, that is to say, willingly, wholeheartedly, universally and entirely.”

— St. Francis de Sales

Greetings to dearest Sisters in Christ as Lent arrives to stir our hearts to radical newness. This is no time for the faint of heart!  Let us embrace the course!

Women are specialists at both gift-giving and gift-wrapping.  We are masters at selecting the right gift at the right time and the right details for every perfectly placed ribbon and scrunch of tissue paper.  The wrapping itself can prove quite an adventure for the recipient to work through. Who hasn’t given a gift to another and happily prodded, “Oh, there’s something else in the box!”

We likely learn from Our Lord Himself whose gifts to us are bottomless treasure troves. He is always encouraging us to keeping looking.  There is ever more.  Seven Sisters are beneficiaries of the divine gift of the desire to pray.  Alongside come the gifts to initiate the prayer, discern its ways, quell distractions and at times welcome sweet silence.  In the multi-faceted gift of prayer perhaps for some there is an undiscovered aspect at the “bottom of the box” – the gift of fasting.  This Lenten season is an ideal time to unfold the gift.  Grace upon grace will help embrace it.  Fasting is not merely will power.  Grace is necessary.  It is worth the asking, for fasting enlivens prayer and prayer invigorates fasting.  Team work at its best!

From her beginning, Mother Church has encouraged self-denial, oft times taking the form of fasting. It serves us well to accept the encouragement as more gift than gruel.  As Catholics, we partake in an intentional Eucharistic fast not just as a point of obedience but in it recognizing the Church is emphasizing that our Eucharistic experience is set to be enhanced by it. Would it be that this daily or weekly practice launch us into greater lengths and depths of the practice of fasting!  Tempering or even mortifying (putting to death) our passions for a time brings gifts to the soul.  Listen to St Basil the Great: “Fasting gives birth to prophets and strengthens the powerful; fasting makes lawgivers wise. Fasting is a good safeguard for the soul, a steadfast companion for the body, a weapon for the valiant, and a gymnasium for athletes. Fasting repels temptations, anoints unto piety; it is the comrade of watchfulness and the artificer of chastity. In war it fights bravely, in peace it teaches stillness.”

This intentional bodily fasting is enhanced with a dovetail into an intentional spiritual fasting from sin. St Basil helps here too: “Let us fast an acceptable and very pleasing fast to the Lord.  True fast is the estrangement from evil, temperance of tongue, abstinence from anger, separation from desires, slander, falsehood and perjury.  Privation of these is true fasting.” 

Our Apostolate Chaplain, Fr Joseph Johnson, concurs.  At the November 2019 St Paul- Minneapolis Seven Sisters annual time of Reflection and Renewal, he encouraged us to consider adding fasting to our prayer efforts.  “The benefits will be beyond what you today imagine.  Your prayer will be clearer.” This invitation is extended to all Seven Sisters.  Standing at the threshold of this richly grace-laden Lenten season is the perfect occasion.  May we unite our hearts to the mystery of Jesus in the desert and learn and live the liberty and clarity and strength brought about through fasting.  Our prayers for our priests and bishops will profit!  Made clear like a mountain stream!

On March 26 (Thurs), feast of one of our patrons, St Margaret Clitherow, an invitation is extended to all Seven Sisters to anticipate and plan a Day of Fasting for strengthening and sanctity of all priests.  St Margaret Clitherow will help us!  She is a stellar model of the Eucharistic life and staunch defender and supporter of the priesthood. And she loves Seven Sisters! Plan now how you will participate - and mark your calendars!

The gift of fasting is so fitting to our Apostolate, hidden from the eye of most.  In quietness and trust is our strength… (Isaiah 30:15).  We appear to do nothing at all, yet much is accomplished.  Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI reminds, “The ultimate goal of fasting is to help each one of us to make a complete gift of self to God.”  And so you do and so you do…  St Jane Frances de Chantal speaks right to our hearts, as well: “God hides the prize of eternal glory in our mortifications and in the victory of ourselves, which we always strive for with great gentleness.”  Afterall, dear Sisters in Christ, we are specialists at gift-giving and especially love the hidden gifts!

 United in prayer and mission...that our prayers may find the heart of every bishop and priest...

 ... eternal gratitude continues as you each remember to offer a wee Hail Mary for me every day....  “One Ave Maria makes hell tremble” (St John Vianney). Pray that I will not 'spoil the beautiful work that God has entrusted...'  (St Teresa of Calcutta)

... your kind emails and notes and phone calls and generous support always arrive to my heart door at the right moment! Your financial sacrifices are for 100% furtherance of Apostolate.  THANK YOU!  The letters of testimony are so beautiful and edifying! What glory is given to God through your writing! Eternal gratitude is mine for YOU! Be assured of my continued daily prayers for you at the altar.

Janette
+JMJ+    
sevensistersapostolate@gmail.com

SEVEN SISTERS – in and out and about:

Heartfelt welcome: New groups registered in February to cover more priests in daily prayer:  Additional groups in Spain,  Dominican Republic (NEW country!), Uruguay (NEW country!) and these USA states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington. The Pope now has SEVEN active groups! Thank you! FOUR USA states do not YET have the benefit of a Seven Sisters group:  Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wyoming.

LAMP-BEARERS: In January, Lamp-Bearers, so-named for their action of continually ‘filling of their lamps with the oil of prayer’, was launched to pray for the Apostolate at large.  Each intercessor prays a minimum of once per week, but many are offering prayers every day.  Intentions are gleaned from topics and calendar points in the monthly Communique and also sent to members on the second or third Sunday of the month.  Additional intercessors welcomed.  Those desiring to learn more, send an email of interest/inquiry through the Website.  Grateful to those that generously responded – so many, so quickly!  Already so many clear answers! Let us expect continued blessings!

RECENT … and AHEAD on the calendar (see Website for details):

> Gratitude to the “snow birds” who are spreading the good news of the Apostolate in their travels

> Gratitude to Pat H sharing Seven Sisters experience on the Lisa Flood radio Show (Louisiana) 01/20

> Gratitude to Anna K sharing Seven Sisters experience as guest of Fr Nick Nelson on Real Presence Live Radio (02/12/20, 9:30 am).  Anna is Fr Nelson’s Seven Sister Anchoress!

> Gratitude to The Catholic Current with host Fr Robert McTeigue The Stations of the Cross Catholic Radio Network on 14 Feb (5-6 pm EST) program featuring Seven Sisters Apostolate/Janette

> Gratitude to Debbie L for participating in upcoming Information Nite at The Rock AM 1260 Radio Station (Ohio) – 19 March.

> 20 Mar (Fri) – Cursillo Women’s Weekend, Trinity HS, Dickinson, ND.  (Janette will speak 2 pm)

> 26 Mar (Feast of St Margaret Clitherow) Janette will offer a HOLY HOUR for all Seven Sisters

 >30 April-2 May – Retreat/workshop for Seven Sisters Coordinators in various diocese – Benedictine College/St Scholastic Convent (Atchison, KS)

>SAVE the DATE! - 30 May (Sat) - Second annual Seven Sisters Winona-Rochester Diocese (MN) time of Reflection and Renewal. Location: Owatonna. All welcome! Details forthcoming. See Web.

NOTES to Anchoresses:   Please inform of all NEW groups and Anchoress/priest/other changes (including updates in your contact info) thru Web site.

Reminder (see Guidelines): A group commences with seven, but the door is not closed to other intercessors called to offer additional hours.  These groups are not exclusive. Please welcome all those interested in supporting a priest in prayer. The Lord sometimes calls more than seven!

Some of you have a genuine gift to encourage participation of others in the Apostolate and help start many groups – do not squelch the zeal!  However, we encourage a woman to be an Anchoress for only one group. This way the joy of leadership is extended and it is a more manageable role for each Anchoress. The focus and energies remain in the best place: the prayer efforts!

MATTERS of the HEART:

Ø  “This Apostolate has been a blessing for me.  I was not blessed to see a vocation in my own family.  Instead I have seen some of my children stop practicing the Catholic Faith.  I believe God has asked me to pray for priests to amend for the errors I made with my own family. My husband and I didn’t practice the Faith early in our marriage, but returned with help of a wonderful priest. This priest was an inspiration and guiding light during that time.  He has since passed. I often think of him and ask him to pray for my children. … I pray that each priest will be another Fr Richard, a St Jerome, a St Anthony, a voice in the wilderness that calls the lost home.  And if even in a small way I can help save souls by praying for holy priests, I shall feel blessed.” - Kathleen W (Nebraska)

Ø  “Here is the message that appeared in our parish bulletin from our pastor” – Laura A (Minnesota) (length of note abridged for this Communique) … “I appreciate how the Holy Spirit community has been enriched by our Catholic schools. Recently I was appointment as Co-Chair of the Catholic Schools trustees. …I would ask your continued prayers. I hope you know how important your prayers are to me. There are seven women from Holy Spirit who are a part of the Seven Sister ministry. Each day one prays a holy hour for me. I know for certain it has opened my heart to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I no longer work from a place of fear; but instead I am able to know that Jesus is gazing upon His beloved son. This gives me faith, strength and courage to proclaim the Good News. For me, this faith, strength and courage gifted to me by Jesus and the Holy Spirit has changed everything.”

Ø  “The first seven women I asked to join agreed.  It was almost too easy, so I know God wants this to happen. … We are thrilled to join your Apostolate and watch God fan the flame!” – Debbie S (Indiana)

Ø  “As part of the Apostolate I have received many graces and blessings from the prayers offered for our Bishop.  I am more attuned and attentive to our Lord’s words speaking to me in multiple ways - inside and outside of prayer times.  It keeps me more focused and ever grateful.” – Catherine (Florida).

SEVEN SISTERS Guideline BOOKLETS: Available as free download from Web site.  Hard copies passed on for printing cost of $2 each + P/H. Order thru Web email with amount desired/address

SEVEN SISTERS Tri-fold BROCHURE:   Effectively used in parish pamphlet stands (ask pastor’s approval prior), Adoration Chapels, Retreat Centers, Bags/Packets for Women’s Conferences/Retreats, Women’s clubs, Serra clubs – or simply handing out!  Available on Web as free download.  Recommend 80# silk for best printing results.  May also order through Web site.  Indicate address/quantity.  25 for $10 + P/H.  Invoice accompanies order.      

 

REMEMBRANCE of those SEVEN SISTERS who have PASSED: We want to remember those Seven Sisters in name and in prayer, who have gone before us to their eternal rest. Visit the Web site. Click on ABOUT folder and scroll to bottom, choose: IN REMEMBRANCE.  Follow prompts… OR you may submit info via the Website email. Please check site monthly for additions!

 PRIEST who has PASSED to ETERNAL REST: If the priest for whom you pray has entered eternal life, the group may be led to continue to pray for a length of time for the soul of that priest. Perhaps a novena of Holy Hours or the offering of holy Mass(es) for the priest.  You will know.  Some groups have/are offering Holy Hours for an entire year for their beloved deceased priest.  Groups may be started following the death of a priest that did not have a group prior.  This is commendable and welcomed.  Please register these special groups through the Web site.

SPANISH translation of Communique:  This is generously done every month by Zahyra B, Anchoress for a Seven Sisters group in Venezuela.  They are then posted (and archived) on the Website.  If it is easier to receive through an email account, please let me know. Expect 2-3 days for translation. Commitment Prayer/Booklet in Spanish (on the Web for free download).