A four-week 'pathway to God'

By Tony Staley

	Lenten Reading

Green Bay Auxiliary Bishop Robert F. Morneau ranks as one of our diocese's greatest treasures.

Readers of "The Compass" benefit weekly from his spiritual wisdom and insights in his long-running column on the Sunday readings.

Members of Resurrection Parish in Allouez, where he is in his fourth year as pastor, are privileged to hear him preach at weekend and daily liturgies.

Those unable to participate in Bishop Morneau's summer retreat at Holy Name Retreat House on Chambers Island can now accompany him on a four-week spiritual journey that fits into their schedule through his new book, "Pathways to God" (New City Press, New York. 72 pages, $8.95).

The book is part of the "7 x 4" series of daily, four-week meditations from New City Press, the publishing arm of the Focolare Movement, a church-approved association of Catholic faithful founded in 1943 at Trent, Italy, by Chiara Lubich.

"Pathways to God" focuses on the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. Because the book is not tied to a specific date, day of the week or time of the year - though it would make an excellent Lenten companion - it can be started at any time.

In it, Bishop Morneau examines faith the first week, hope the second, love of God the third and love of neighbor the fourth.

Each day, opens with a spiritual meditation from Bishop Morneau, followed by a related hymn (first day), poem or passage from a theologian, novelist, essayist or philosopher, a question for personal reflection and a closing prayer.

Here are some examples of his reflections and quoted writers:

Week One, Day Five - "Flannery O'Connor (1925-1964) was a woman of hope and faith. She understood well the trials that post-modern people deal with: radical doubt, skepticism, despair. All of her writings and correspondence in some way dealt with faith. ..."

Then, he quotes O'Connor: "It is much harder to believe than not to believe. If you feel you can't believe, you must at least do this: keep an open mind. Keep it open toward faith, keep wanting it, keep asking for it, and leave the rest to God."

Week Two, Day Two - "Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was not known for his religiosity. However, he was moved deeply after hearing about a devotion called the 'Angelus,' a three-minute prayer that recalled the Annunciation story of Gabriel appearing to Mary...."

Then, he quotes Poe's poem, "Hymn":

"At morn - at noon - at twilight dim / - Maria thou hast heard my hymn! / ... Now, when storms of Fate o'ercast / Darkly my Present and my Past, / Let my Future radiant shine / With sweet hopes of thee and thine."

Week Three, Day Three - "Only two things are required of us in the end: to listen and to love, that is, to hear and respond, and we do that by being obedient and self-giving. By so doing, we live with and in the Spirit of the living God...."

He then quotes "To Live with the Spirit" by Jessica Powers: "To live with the Spirit of God is to be a listener. / It is to keep the vigil of mystery, / earthless and still. / One learns to catch the stirring of the Spirit, / strange as the wind's will...."

By tackling such large subjects as faith, hope and charity - many books have been written about each - in small pieces from various perspectives, Bishop Morneau helps and invites us to grow in both our understanding and application of these virtues. That is certainly a worthwhile undertaking, especially with such a reliable guide and companion.

(Staley is a retired editor of The Compass and is a member of Resurrection Parish in Allouez, where he cherishes frequent exposure to the wisdom of Bishop Morneau.)