A New Vision

We are slowly settling in here in Gorham, Maine. My space, one large room, is divided by curtains into public and private space. The private space serves as bedroom and office. The public space is for meetings, generally apportioned as chapel, yoga, and dance/music. This weekend, The Very Rev. Jason Sanderson, Bishop of the Diocese of New England in the Liberal Catholic Church International (LCCI), a group with whom I have been worshiping on zoom since May, came and did a table Mass here to inaugurate my chapel, which I have named the Mission of Our Lady, Solace of Migrants. Others who intended to attend were unable to be here, but my granddaughter and I took full advantage. The next monthly occurrence may be better attended. Following the Mass, we shared a meal and talked for several hours. The LCCI has some congregational and online presence, but the focus currently is on taking it to the streets in the form of the Matthew 25:34 Movement, a non-sectarian effort to be present to the "least" of our siblings, providing direct support for the unhoused, LGBTQIA+, and other marginalized individuals and communities. Our work flows from our faith, but we welcome any and all to join us, as members of any faith or none. Our evangelism is strictly in the form of being the message. Our initial thoughts are to distribute bags of essential items, and to offer live, uplifting but not churchy, music as we are doing so. There are many ways to help out. Reach out if you feel called to join the Matthew 25:34 Movement.

My simultaneous practice of Catholicism and the Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother has begun to bear tremendous fruit in the form of interesting cross-fertilization of communities. As a member of LCCI, I am leading our online Prime services once a month, including a homily based on the weekly readings and my understanding of Christian/Vedic connections. As a member of the Integral Yoga community, studying Sanskrit, Veda, and the works of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, I am active as co-editor of a quarterly online publication of La Grace Sri Aurobindo Integral Life Center called Aspire, for which I also contribute articles relating the relationship of Christianity and Integral Yoga to the given topic. I was recently asked to be a panelist speaker for a webinar series on The Luminous Path of Sacrifice. My topic is "Sacrifice as Self-giving in the Christian and Vedic Traditions."

So a pattern is emerging. Mary's Ward has gone through many iterations as I have grasped at a true mission for decades. This practice of Catholicism in light of the astounding synthesis of all yoga systems by Sri Aurobindo, his unlocking the secret of the Veda as not the ritualistic darkness of barbaric people, but as the expression of the lived experience of the Rishi's, who experienced God, as did the Catholic mystics, but who were able to imbue their words with that experience in the form of mantras, this new seeing of Christianity through the Vedic lens of individual and collective spiritual evolution, this is a new direction for Mary's Ward.

To those uncomfortable stepping outside the traditional Roman Catholic paradigm, I say you are welcome, too. Please bring your beautiful faith and your concerns. The truth is the truth, and so long as we are bearing the fruits of the Spirit: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity, then we can dialogue. To those from Sanatana Dharma, Buddhist or other background, I say, you , too, are welcome. Please come see Christianity practiced from a less Colonial, more familial perspective. There is strong evidence that Christianity and Sanatana Dharma are children of the same Vedic parent. During his visit this weekend Archbishop Jason pointed me to the shared etymology of Christ and Krishna. I did the research and sure enough, the Greek christos, from whence is borrowed the term Christ, meaning anointed one, to translate the Hebrew Messiah, means both Christ and Krishna. Food for thought.

My plan at present, is to develop Mary's Hill in Lowell, and Mary's House and Mary's Wood in Springfield as places for the study and practice of Christianity in the light of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother's Integral Yoga. The term AuroHOMES, introduced elsewhere on this website, is an acronym for the areas to be developed: Auro (in light of Sri Aurobindo) Hospitality (for seekers, travelers, guests, community members, the unhoused) Our Lady (the Blessed Virgin Mary and Mirra Alfassa, whom Sri Aurobindo termed The Mother. You will discover on your own what connection, if any, exists for you between the two), Mysticism (Catholicism), Education (in many forms about any and all of the above), Spirituality (Integral Yoga and the Veda).

Let's keep focused on the fruit.

As I am still dealing with the material fallout of downsizing and the deaths of two parents, there are income-generating activities underway in the assignment of a superfluity of material objects to their proper places in the universe! I will be doing the same in Springfield and Lowell. When I am able to go north, I will start sorting what needs to stay and what needs to go. Then renovation and construction can begin. I can share details of renovation/construction plans with any who are interested. Feel free to contact me with questions.

So many ways to be involved if the Spirit moves you.

God bless and Mary keep you! Peace!