let some things go. I stayed awake all
night writing a paper that was due
the next day. Instead of gathering
with the friars for morning prayer
and Eucharist, I stayed in my room
madly pounding out an assignment before the deadline.
Then I had to explain myself
to the student master, not because
he’s an authoritarian control freak,
but because I had failed in my prior
commitment to pray with the friars.
I could have tried to let it slip. In
a chapel of 40 men wearing the
same white habit, there’s a good
chance he wouldn’t have noticed
my absence. “Besides,” my little
voice said, “I am a grown man who
can make prudent judgments about
how I spend ‘my’ time.” This was
definitely not a community way of
thinking. So, I told him. And, he
said, “Well, I hope you did a good
job on the paper. Go to class and
then get some rest. We’ll see you at
evening prayer.”
Trusting the community and
holding yourself personally account-
able for the quality of common life
The gift you give
is yourself. Give
generously. Give
often. If you start
holding back, especially
in the little things,
you’ll never feel the
real freedom of what
common life is all about.
“
Learn more about #227 at VocationNetwork.org
CONTACT
Sister Coralie Muzzy, CSJP
Vocation Director
cmuzzy@csjp-olp.org
www.csjp.org
“We are beginning
a new order. We
want brave, noble,
large-minded and
courageous souls.”
;
Mother Clare, Founder
peace
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace
Learn more about #008 at VocationNetwork.org
