On not complaining

We were discussing Chapter 11 of Teresa’s Way of Perfection in an OCDS meeting last night.  The more I become immersed in this work, the more I fall under the spell of our foundress’s charm.  She writes with such a combination of wisdom, spiritual intuition, and humour.  The subject of the chapter is illness as experienced by Sisters in community.  She gently encourages them in one very simple resolution – not to complain.  With a delightful turn of phrase, she observes that a serious illness will complain of itself – I love that idea!  Someone shared a story about St Bernadette in her later years as a member of a community.  Apparently she never complained - but when they saw her limping, the other Sisters realised there was something seriously wrong.  ‘A serious illness will complain of itself’.  Of course this is not universally true because some illnesses begin as minor but then in due course flare into something serious.  We shared our thoughts about the prevalence of complaining and the harm it can do – and the ways we can deal with others who are always complaining.  Not easy. 

Intercessions:

Louise Aldred OCDS RIP – a long-time member of the Nottingham Secular community

Brian Davis – cancer

Marie, Bernard (and wife Angela) - cancer

Siena, Elara – sick children

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

David - housebound

Sophia – blind infant

Rebekah – in hospital