15th-16th August 2008 - Our quarterly recollection started with a short reflection on the night before followed by a silent adoration of the Eucharist. After that, all retired for the night in solitude.
In the morning we ha
d two talks: one on St. Arnold and another on St. Joseph (Freinademetz).
Talk 1 - St. Arnold was considered a very ordinary person. Many thought him to be “incapable of founding a society.” Others even said that he was a “wrong person at the wrong place at the wrong time.” But contrary to what people thought, he was the founder the Society of the Divine Word for religious priests and brothers; co-founder of the Sisters of the Holy Spirit (the active and the contemplative). Paramount to him was his complete trust in God and his will, not what people thought or said of him.
Talk 2 - St. Joseph, on the contrary, soon had the reputation of a saint with a smile on his face. At first, Joseph didn’t like the Chinese people, but then eventually learned to like them. At the end, he ate their food, spoke their language, dressed like them, and wanted to be a Chinese even in heaven.
Michael spiced his presentation with his personal experiences, e.g. when he had to face his own weakness and limitation, like Arnold and Joseph.
We ended at 4pm on Saturday with the celebration of the Eucharist presided over by Mike Knight himself. Thus we ended our recollection happily combined with the Centennial celebration Arnold and Joseph death anniversaries! ~
In the morning we ha
d two talks: one on St. Arnold and another on St. Joseph (Freinademetz).Talk 1 - St. Arnold was considered a very ordinary person. Many thought him to be “incapable of founding a society.” Others even said that he was a “wrong person at the wrong place at the wrong time.” But contrary to what people thought, he was the founder the Society of the Divine Word for religious priests and brothers; co-founder of the Sisters of the Holy Spirit (the active and the contemplative). Paramount to him was his complete trust in God and his will, not what people thought or said of him.
Talk 2 - St. Joseph, on the contrary, soon had the reputation of a saint with a smile on his face. At first, Joseph didn’t like the Chinese people, but then eventually learned to like them. At the end, he ate their food, spoke their language, dressed like them, and wanted to be a Chinese even in heaven.
Michael spiced his presentation with his personal experiences, e.g. when he had to face his own weakness and limitation, like Arnold and Joseph.
We ended at 4pm on Saturday with the celebration of the Eucharist presided over by Mike Knight himself. Thus we ended our recollection happily combined with the Centennial celebration Arnold and Joseph death anniversaries! ~
