2002 Gathering
John Michael Talbot - October, 2002

Brothers and Sisters,

Peace and Good in Christ!

Viola and I are on the road on our first east coast leg of our fall tour. We are in Indianapolis, IN, my home town for the later part of my adolescence. It is always good to return home.

We have just completed an extremely busy few weeks at the Hermitage, but the work was easily surpassed by the spiritual fruit born from the community's "yes" to the call of God, and His amazing grace in Christ and the Church.

The activity began with our annual Visitation from the Church through our Bishop's delegate. During this time the Visitor interviews with leaders and members at the monastery in confidence, and then gives a formal general report to the Diocese and the community regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the community at this time. This year we received a wonderful and most helpful and encouraging report.

During the Visitation, Sr. Raphael Otis made her Permanent Profession as a celibate Sister. It was a most moving ceremony, especially in light of her faithful participation in the life of the community throughout her Domestic membership, and her Candidacy, Postulancy, Novitiate, and Temporary Profession in the monastic expression. Now she is fully wedded to the Christ who called her to be His in this special and beautiful way. Welcome home Sr. Raphael!

Immediately after the Visitation came the Annual Gathering. The theme this year was based on His Holiness, John Paul II's message of January 2002, No Peace Without Justice, No Justice Without Forgiveness. Basically it means that we must create the environment for peace before it can be meaningful. We Brothers and Sisters of Charity do this through living our vows of Poverty instead of consumerism, Chastity instead of sexual promiscuity, and Obedience instead of individualism.

But even justice has limits without forgiveness. The problem is that we all have our own definitions of justice, and they are often in conflict with other's. This definition often remains just justification based on our clinging to our old self and ego. This means that we easily get angry, which in turn clouds our discernment of God's justice and will. The most insidious thing is that we often do this in the name of the very God and religion that should move us out of this self indulgence!

We cannot get free of this false justice unless we learn the way of forgiveness of those who do not live up to our false concepts of justice, others as well as ourselves. This forgiveness is simply not possible without letting go of our old self and ego.

The way out of this trap is a complete letting go of self and ego, the old person, through the dying and rising of Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life. Once the old person is let go of then a new person in the resurrection of Christ can come forth, even as Lazarus came forth from the tomb of his former life. Once the old self is released then there is no more ego to get angry when we do not get our own way. Peace returns to the heart. The will of God can more easily be discerned, and the true justice of God can be more fully established. Thus, there really is no peace without justice, but no justice without forgiveness. This is a message that neither the Church nor the Brothers and Sisters of Charity will tire of preaching, even though it is sometimes aggressively resisted by those who still cling to their old ego and false self.

As normal, there were Novice receptions, Temporary, and Permanent Professions during the Annual Gathering. It is always such a joy to recieve these sacred commitments in this holy place given to us by God.

During the Gathering we also experienced the blessing of the newly renovated Portiuncula Chapel. This was a most anointed experience for all of us. The workers and the members of the community rejoiced as a beautiful letter from Bishop Peter Sartain of Little Rock was read. The Crucifix made by the Domestic community for my 25th Anniversary and Blessed Sacrament were reverently installed. Fr. Martin OFM, along with Fr. John Mittlestadt OFM/BSCD, Fr. Bob Dombrowski BSCD, and Fr Dan Mannhardt BSCD, prayed the formal blessing. After the blessing many lined up meekly and processed into the little stone chapel with the Eucharistic Presence, and the cave at the back of the chapel housing the special Crucifix. Many of us just stood and quietly wept holy tears as the Spirit descended upon us all. Many "old timers" commented that it was like a gentle version of the famously Pentecostal "Alverna Outpouring" of our earlier years of the Reform. It was a spiritually enchanted night that will be long remembered in our community's history.

If all of this was not enough, many of us stayed an extra day for the truly extraordinary wedding of two of our most faithful Domestic members, AnnMarie Scott BSCD and Carmen Zulo BSCD. She is from Seattle, and he is from New Jersey, and they met through the community in Arkansas! AnnMarie has overseen Our Father's House of Prayer for children, and Carmen is well known as a music leader in the East. Both are leaders in the community. It was a special joy to witness their vows in the Charity Chapel.

On Tuesday morning the tour bus rolled into the monastic valley. We lumbered up the hill into the Midwestern and east coast cities of America during these most troubled times. But we do so encouraged by the wonderful grace of God in our little community of Brothers and Sisters of Charity. Please pray that the Tour helps to bring the peace we experienced through a proper understanding of justice and forgiveness in these times so troubled by conflict, anger, fear, revenge, and the threat of war. Only the power of the meek and humble Jesus can truly be our Prince of Peace in these times.

May God bless you with His peace, joy, and charity in Christ and the Church.

In Jesus,
John Michael Talbot
Founder and General Minister,