I had the privilege of directing a retreat to the executive council of the Religious Sisters of Mercy in Alma, Mich., April 26 through May 2.
The Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan is a Religious Institute of Pontifical Right dedicated to the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy. It was established in 1973 and recognizes Venerable Catherine McAuley as its original foundress. The motherhouse is located in Alma, Mich.
Their charism and apostolate is to make present the mercy of God the Father to the poor, sick and ignorant, as the sisters use their talents of having been called to a degree of higher education. For example, I visited their medical clinic in Alma. Their administrator, internists, psychiatrist, psychologist and physical therapist are all Religious Sisters of Mercy. They will not and do not turn anyone away for medical or psychological care. The most important person in their clinic is the Divine person of Jesus Christ present in their beautiful chapel, adjacent to the waiting room. For those interested in finding out more you are invited to visit their website, www.rsmofalma.org.
The topic of our retreat was ‘Ascending Mount Carmel’ with St. John of the Cross and developing contemplative prayer. It was a weeklong journey and discussion of how one can become detached from the things of the world while at the same time becoming attached to God. St. John and his friend, St. Teresa of Avila, point out in their writings that all of us are called to spiritual union with God in this life, but few do so because of their attachments to the things of this world. In short, we are to travel the narrow road by ridding ourselves of our appetites of the things of the world - both sensual and spiritual - by going through the dark night of the senses and spirit.
It’s important to point out that when one becomes detached from the things of the world it does not mean that one does not enjoy them, but that they do not desire them. That said, I am confident that our many generous donors who help us spiritually with their prayers and penances, materially with items not needed around their homes and farms and financially with cash donations according to their means, do so because they have already advanced far down this narrow road of detachment of the things of this world by becoming attached to God. For this I thank you.
I also would like to thank Mother Mary McGreevy for her invitation to Alma, Michigan and all of the other religious I met in Alma for their love and hospitality. I went up to Alma to direct a retreat and ended up experiencing one!
