Spiritual Hors d'oeuvres

Ronald W. Ransom C.M.

Description

In this book you will find a tantalizing assortment of subjects for reflection and prayer.

How’s your spiritual appetite? In “Spiritual Hors d’ouevres” author Rev. Ronald Ramson, offers a “few trays” to “whet your spiritual appetite.” With snippets of Ramson’s life mixed in, it offers interesting, provocative, informative “starters” for further reflection.



Spiritual Hors d’oeuvres covers a wide variety of subjects for your prayer and reflection. Bon Appetite!

Sujets

• Spiritual Growth
• Philosophie et théologie
• Prayer
• Religion
• Meditations

Informations

• Publié par: Archway Publishing
• Date de parution: 13 juillet 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781665745413
• Langue: English

Extrait

SPIRITUAL HORS D’OEUVRES
...whet your spirituality...
 
 
 
RONALD W. RAMSON, C.M.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Copyright © 2023 Ronald W. Ramson, C.M.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.
 
 
Archway Publishing
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.archwaypublishing.com
844-669-3957
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
ISBN: 978-1-6657-4540-6 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6657-4541-3 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2023910975
 
 
Archway Publishing rev. date: 7/11/2023
PREFACE
Remember almost half a century ago when now Saint Pope John XXIII opened the second Vatican Council?
He challenged the Church to “Read the signs of the times” so we could respond to the spiritual longings of the people today.
One such “sign of the time” for authors who dare attempt a book to help folks grow in their faith and holiness is the preference for crisp, punchy tips on sanctity.
Father Ronald Ramson, a seasoned (he tells me that’s just euphemism for “old”) priest of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians), has read the signs very well. He detects a longing for spirituality, and a desire for daily, short doses of vitamins for the soul.
That he has succeeded in giving us such a boost of a book is no surprise at all to me. I’ve known him as a friend and mentor for over four decades. I’ve watched him in action as a pastor, a missionary in Kenya, a seminary rector, spiritual director, confessor, preacher, author, and retreat director.
When people praise him – as they often do, to his blushing chagrin – they will unfailingly comment, “he’s so practical.”
So was St. Vincent DePaul; so was Blessed Frederic Ozanam, about whom Father Ramson has written; so was Jesus. The Lord preferred direct, simple, colorful, earthy lessons.
No wonder I found this valuable work so “gospel-like.” If you’re looking of a cerebral, complicated, erudite theological tome, don’t order or buy this book.
If you want some homey, touching, wise daily counsel on how to deepen your faith and enhance your friendship with Jesus, this is your lucky day.
Because that’s really what it all comes down to, isn’t it? As Pope Benedict XVI exhorted, “I call you to holiness of life, which means friendship with Jesus. I can assure you Father Ron Ramson’s closest friend is Jesus. I bet you after reading this book, you’ll be closer to the Lord as well.
Faithfully in Christ,
ϯ Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York
NOTE
I wrote this manuscript in Dallas, Texas while I was a spiritual director at Holy Trinity Seminary and revised it in Perryville, Missouri. The material was written ante and post coronavirus pandemic.
One of the things that a good number of us learned during the world-wide viral crisis is the need for personal reflection and prayer. The lock-down provided us with huge chucks of time, time for prolonged periods of pondering on the true priorities of life. Hopefully, for many, the need for reflection and prayer has been developed into a spiritual habit, a new personal treasure.
The following reflections are intended as spiritual hors d’oeuvres to be consumed before your coffee/tea, breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts, which we are about to receive, from your bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
You will discover a good amount of me -- autobiographical material -- in the subjects. I sincerely hope that this is helpful and will perhaps recall good memories for you. Enjoy the spiritual hors d’oeuvres!
SUGGESTION
May I suggest a method for you? Pick a subject that fits your fancy.
Ponder the subject, pray over it. Make practical resolutions for your life.
Check off a subject each time. Perhaps you will want to review or re-ponder a subject that has spoken to your heart. You will find here over 200 possibilities.
Practice a corporal and spiritual act of charity toward others but don’t forget yourself.
INTRODUCTION
I was going to entitle this book Hors d’oeuvres for Christians but I was afraid that people would mistake it for a cookbook! Then I thought of Starters for Reflection with the subtitle: Spiritual Hors d’oeuvres , all with the hope that it might convey what I had in mind. I settled for the latter as the main title because it states my intentions more accurately with the aid of the subtitle.
It is not unusual in a restaurant to see a menu with “Starters” at the top of the first page, or to have a server ask you, “Would you like a starter?” I have heard that question many times in Kenya. In many places of our world, a starter is referred to as a first course of a meal: an appetizer, tapas, meze, antipasto, or hors d’oeuvre. The first and second plates come after, crowned by a luscious dessert.
When I was a kid growing up, I do not remember us having starters or hors d’oeuvres, except for one item. When I saw that particular platter, I knew that, not only was the meal that day going to be special, but the celebration too was intended to be a cut above.
We had an oval-shaped platter (I think it was made from aluminum, not silver). My grandmother, Maude, or my mom, Lucille, would place red raspberry preserves in the center of the tray, probably Smucker’s. Then they would ring the jam with Philadelphia Cream Cheese and then the outer ring was Ritz Crackers. I liked the taste of the combined three and still do. That was the only “starter” I remember growing up on North Avenue or West Schubert, in Chicago.
All spiritual hors d’oeuvres in this book are intended to “whet your appetite” -- to kick-start your personal prayer or reflection or, perhaps, a small group’s reflection and sharing.
Usually, restaurants will restrict their hors d’oeuvres to a few selections. I offer you more than a few. You have your choice. Some will be familiar and well-known; others will be new and call for your leap of faith.
When I had lunch with my sisters, Jeanne and Alice, often they would order several starters, divide and share, while my sister Rosemary and I would go for a sandwich we particularly enjoyed. Of course, wine was the adult beverage of choice. Perhaps, like my sisters, you might like several hors d’oeuvres and enjoy them for your reflection. Mix, divide, and share.
CONTENTS
A World Lives in Me
The Sabbath
Holy Indifference
Humility
Beatitudes
Father Nicholas Kaloki, C.M.
Departed
Faith
Tick-Tuck
God and I Talk
From a Distance
Civility
Virtue Stands in the Middle
Heart
Hope
Attack the Issue, Not the Person
Scripture Roulette
Magi
Poustinia
Yeast
Believe or Believe in?
Clarity or Trust?
I Thirst
Two Heroes
Baseball: A Game of Failure
Wrestling with God
Does Social Justice = Socialism?
It is Time to Soar
Christmas Begins
Chalk on the Door
The Chilean Miners
Lent and Ramadan
The Driving Force
To be Called is to be Sent
My Life, My Message
Joy
Jesus
Seekers
Do not Judge a Book by Its Cover
The Rosary
King Jesus, Miguel, and Ceferino
Jesus and Mary
Mother Mary
What Trumps Science?
Queen Mother
He Met Jesus in Prison
Celibacy
The Hitman’s Advice
Guardian Angels
Show Your Power!
Chutzpah
Nothing Left for Yourself
Fidelity
What has Love Got to Do with It?
Thanksgiving Day
Be Ready to Receive
Lust or Love?
Where am I Going?
Therese Found Her Niche
The Non-Miracle Saints
Suffering
Okay, I Give Up: What is it?
Spirituality
More Spirituality/Holiness
The Poor: Always and Forever?
Divine Providence
The Morning Offering
Vernacular Spirituality
Egos
Sin
Advent
The Devil
Re-new
Prayer for Peace
The Missioner’s Prayer
Marriage
More on Marriage
Still More Marriage
Compassion – Nuances
More Thoughts on Divine Providence
Zeal or Do You Call It Passion?
Temptation
Cinderella
How Many Persons Are in Us?
Life 1, Death 0
Death and Dying
Kibeho, Rwanda
Miracles
The Medal of the Immaculate Conception
Context
Who/What Fascinates Us?
An Example: How One Saint Prayed
Kingdom
Lent is School Time
How to Give: The Example of the Widow
The Cross
Charity and Justice
Prudence
Fortitude
Temperance
Labor Day
Come, Holy Spirit
Suffering Revisited
Lessons from the Chilean Miners
Who Do You Say That I Am?
A Sentence That Makes Me Pause
Hope # 2
World AIDS Day
The Eucharist
Prayer
Colors