Habits of a Marianist Heart

Marianist PULSE's Spectacle of Saints guest blogger this week is PULSE staffer, Jodi. 

Jodi has been involved with the Marianist family since 2008, her entry point being the Marianist LIFE Central program. She has been the administrative assistant for PULSE since October 2017. Jodi and her husband of 30 years, Dave, are also part of a Marianist couples group called FLAME (Friends Learning About the Marianist Experience.)

As I reflect on my experience with the Marianist Family, I can honestly say it's been "all good." My early involvement was with Marianist LIFE, first as a parish youth minister and moderator, then as part of the LIFE Coordinating Team. I fondly recall my first year of LIFE, having been the recipient of what I considered amazing hospitality and welcoming—I was an immediate "fan." 

When some friends who are now Marianist Lay Affiliates invited us to join a couples group to focus on marriage and family about 12 years ago, my husband and I said "Yes" and have been grateful for our FLAME community ever since.

Recently, we were blessed as part of FLAME to participate in a mini-retreat led by Father Jim Schimelpfening, SM who shared with us the Marianist Virtues. Because of time constraints, we weren't able to cover it all or with a lot of depth, but what I learned that day made me want to learn much more. 

During our mini-retreat, we concentrated mostly on the Five Silences; the silences of words, of signs, of mind, of passions, and of imagination. Father Chaminade believed that these virtues, which he referred to as the Habits of the Marianist Heart, could make saints. Father Jim said that practicing these habits will help us to express the best of who we are as human beings; who we are as sons and daughters of God in whose image and likeness we were created.

Like any habits, these take time to develop. Silence doesn't come naturally to many of us, yet we learn so much more by listening and taking the time to listen not only to but for what the other is saying. In these days of instant information and sound-bite news, we tend to respond quickly and form our response before the other person is finished speaking. Careful listening allows us to be more open-minded, not jumping to immediate conclusions, and making virtuous action more possible for us. Our FLAME group is excited about delving more deeply into these five virtues in future meetings.

Marianist FLAME in the Alumni Hall Chapel

PULSE volunteers, as part of their ongoing formation in the Marianist Charism, also reflect on the Five Silences during their year or more of service to the Dayton community. My hope for all who read this is that, if you are not familiar with the Marianist virtues or the Five Silences, that it may spark your interest as well. These virtues and habits help us become holy; calling us to be saints in our world today and to enliven Chaminade's Spectacle of Saints together. More information can be found at the North American Center for Marianist Studies.

Please pray for Marianist PULSE as we promise our prayers for all of you!

Peace,
Jodi