http://www.saintgall.org/parishioner_reflections en-gb copyright 2026 - St. Gall Catholic Community jkderrig@gmail.com Mon, 30 Dec 2024 09:00:01 -0600http://www.saintgall.org/for_all_the_annas_of_st_gall_catholic_community Posted by Chuck ScherlToday’s Gospel (12/30/2024) introduces us to Anna, the prophetess, who “never left the temple but worshiped day and night with fasting and prayer. Coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.”Anna’s devotion is a beautiful testament to perseverance in faith and the power of prayer. She is often overshadowed in the longer accounts of the Presentation, but today...READ MORE by clicking on the title above. Sat, 28 Dec 2024 07:00:01 -0600http://www.saintgall.org/holy_innocents_reading_and_reflection Posted by Chuck ScherlFrom The office of Readings, today, Saturday, December 28, 2024From a sermon by Saint Quodvultdeus, bishop(Sermo 2 de Symbolo: PL 40, 655)They cannot speak, yet they bear witness to ChristA tiny child is born, who is a great king. Wise men are led to him from afar. They come to adore one who lies in a manger and yet reigns in heaven and on earth. When they tell of one who is born a king, Herod is disturbed. To save his kingdom he resolves to kill him, though if he would hav...READ MORE by clicking on the title above. Fri, 20 Dec 2024 08:00:01 -0600http://www.saintgall.org/that_brief_moment Posted by Chuck ScherlSt. Bernard of Clairvaux paints a vivid picture of the Incarnation, inviting us to imagine the profound yearning in heaven and on earth as all of creation awaited Mary's response. In that moment between the angel Gabriel’s announcement and Mary’s Fiat, the souls of Adam, Eve, Abraham, Jacob, and the prophets, and all who were awaiting the resurection entreated her:Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in haste to the angel, or rather through the angel to the Lord....READ MORE by clicking on the title above. Mon, 16 Dec 2024 08:00:01 -0600http://www.saintgall.org/embracing_the_trinity_and_gentle_love Posted by Chuck ScherlI was moved by the relationship and depth of several passages as we recited the Liturgy of the Hours at 5 AM this morning. The first two passages are from the Office of Readings for Monday in the Third Week of Advent. Isaiah 30:20-21 speak of God’s guidance: “The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst. No longer will your Teacher hide Himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher, while from behind, a voice shall so...READ MORE by clicking on the title above. Sun, 15 Dec 2024 08:00:01 -0600http://www.saintgall.org/reflection_on_isaiah_45113_and_the_rule_of_benedict Posted by Chuck ScherlIn today’s (12/15/2024) reading from the Office of Readings, we hear Isaiah 45:1-13, which begins: “Thus says the Lord to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and strip kings of their robes, to open doors before him—and the gates shall not be closed.” This is a remarkable passage because it calls Cyrus, a Persian king and not an Israelite, God’s “anointed.” Through Cyrus, God freed His p...READ MORE by clicking on the title above. Sat, 14 Dec 2024 08:00:01 -0600http://www.saintgall.org/still_full_of_sap_still_green Posted by Chuck ScherlNo dog park today, way too blustery and windy for me and for my pups. While Buster kept my lap warm while we prayed “lauds” On this blustering morning. I ran across one of my favorite verses in all the psalms:The just will flourish like the palm tree and grow like a Lebanon cedar. Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God, still bearing fruit when they are old, still full of sap, still green. (Psalm 92:12-14)God has stayed wit...READ MORE by clicking on the title above. Thu, 12 Dec 2024 08:00:01 -0600http://www.saintgall.org/joythe_annunciation_to_mary Posted by Chuck ScherlJesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narrativesby Pope Benedict XVIPages:25-28 Ch II: The Annunciation to MaryPope Benedict XVI says that the angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary,“Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you,”is the real beginning of the New Testament. This message is special because it doesn’t just announce something for Mary but for everyone in the world. The word “Rejoice”, (chaírein Greek) is an invitation for joy—...READ MORE by clicking on the title above. Wed, 11 Dec 2024 08:00:01 -0600http://www.saintgall.org/yoke_of_faith_and_trust Posted by Chuck ScherlMy Morning Walk and the Yoke of Faith and TrustThis morning, as I walked with my dogs, I think I finally figured out what’s been going wrong for me. For so long, I’ve struggled with the idea of Jesus’ yoke being “easy” and His burden “light.” It never quite seemed that way to me; it felt heavy. This, I think, is the weight of full of self-imposed responsibility, and mixed motivations. But today, I think I’ve got it figured out...READ MORE by clicking on the title above. Sun, 08 Dec 2024 08:00:01 -0600http://www.saintgall.org/reflection__psalm_104 Posted by Chuck ScherlRecited today in the Office of Readings, Psalm 104 stood out to me in its beauty and depth, The pairing of the last sentence of the Psalm section with the doxology Is a statement of nature’s praise of its Creator.You make springs gush forth in the valleys:*they flow in between the hills.They give drink to all the beasts of the field;*the wild asses quench their thirst.On their banks dwell the birds of heaven;*from the branches they sing their song.Glory to the Father,...READ MORE by clicking on the title above. Fri, 06 Dec 2024 08:00:01 -0600http://www.saintgall.org/st_anselm__from_the_office_of_readings_december_6_2024 Posted by Chuck ScherlFrom the Proslogion by Saint Anselm, bishop(Cap.1: Opera Omnia, Edit. Schmitt, Secovii, 1938, 1, 97-100)Desire for the vision of GodInsignificant man, escape from your everyday business for a short while, hide for a moment from your restless thoughts. Break off from your cares and troubles and be less concerned about your tasks and labors. Make a little time for God and rest a while in him.Enter into your mind’s inner chamber. Shut out everything but God and whatever ...READ MORE by clicking on the title above. Wed, 04 Dec 2024 10:00:01 -0600http://www.saintgall.org/dog_park_reflections__the_annunciation_of_the_birth_of_john_continued_from_previous_post Posted byChuck ScherlParishioner Chuck Scherl is head of the New Beginnings Grief Support Ministry and leader of the Liturgy of the Hours Prayer Group. Chuck takes his two dogs walking most mornings at a local dog park.This reflection is from Pope Benedict XVI's three volumes of Jesus of Nazareth.Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narrativesby Pope Benedict XVIPages:18-25 Ch II: The Annunciation of the Birth of John (Continued from previous post)My attention is drawn to Zechariah, the priest of ...READ MORE by clicking on the title above. Tue, 03 Dec 2024 08:00:01 -0600http://www.saintgall.org/dog_park_reflections__the_annunciation_of_the_birth_of_john_the_baptist_and_the_annunciation_of_the_birth_of_jesus Posted byChuck ScherlParishioner Chuck Scherl is head of the New Beginnings Grief Support Ministry and leader of the Liturgy of the Hours Prayer Group. Chuck takes his two dogs walking most mornings at a local dog park.This reflection is from Pope Benedict XVI's three volumes of Jesus of Nazareth.Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narrativesby Pope Benedict XVIPages 14–18: Chapter IIThe Annunciation of the Birth of John the Baptist and the Annunciation ofthe Birth of JesusDate: 12-2-2024Th...READ MORE by clicking on the title above. Sat, 23 Nov 2024 10:00:01 -0600http://www.saintgall.org/dog_park_reflections__jesus_of_nazareth_the_infancy_narratives Posted by Chuck ScherlParishioner Chuck Scherl is head of the New Beginnings Grief Support Ministry and leader of the Liturgy of the Hours Prayer Group. Chuck takes his two dogs walking most mornings at a local dog park.This reflection is from Pope Benedict XVI's three volumes of Jesus of Nazareth.Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narrativesby Pope Benedict XVIChapter I:Page 1-13: “Where are you from?” (John 19-9)Key PointsBenedict explores the reality of Jesus coming to earth throu...READ MORE by clicking on the title above. Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:00:01 -0600http://www.saintgall.org/dog_park_reflection__a_reflection_from_the_office_of_readings_from_a_quote_from_a_discourse_by_st_andrew_of_crete Posted by Chuck ScherlParishioner Chuck Scherl is head of the New Beginnings Grief Support Ministry and leader of the Liturgy of the Hours Prayer Group. Chuck takes his two dogs walking most mornings at a local dog park.A reflection from the Office of Readings today, featuring a quote from a discourse by St. Andrew of Crete:Let us spread the thoughts and desires of our hearts under his feet like garments, so that, entering with the whole of his being, he may draw the whole of our being into hims...READ MORE by clicking on the title above. Wed, 24 Jul 2024 07:00:01 -0500http://www.saintgall.org/reflections_from_liturgy_of_the_hours_morning_prayer Posted by John DerrigDuring our Morning Prayer*, we ran across this gem from The Imitation of Christ:The kingdom of God is the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit. If you prepare within your heart a fitting dwelling place, Christ will come to you and console you.His gloryand beauty arewithin you,and he delights in dwelling there. The Lord frequently visits the heart of man. There he shares with man pleasant conversations; welcome consolation, abundant peace and a wonderful intimacy.We invite you to...READ MORE by clicking on the title above. Tue, 09 Jul 2024 08:00:01 -0500http://www.saintgall.org/the_people_of_god Posted by John DerrigI regard the Sixteendocuments of the Second Vatican Council as a treasure of the Catholicchurch. In the first chapter or two of each document, the council fathers provide a summary statement of what will be contained in the document.The following summary from Lumen Gentium has always been moving for me:At all times and in every nation, anyone who fears God and does what is right has been acceptable to him (see Acts 10:35). He has, however, willed to make women and men holy a...READ MORE by clicking on the title above. Sat, 13 Aug 2022 15:00:01 -0500http://www.saintgall.org/to_open_ones_mind_and_heart_to_god Posted by Therese Coen, Coordinator of the Centering Prayer GroupMy spiritual journey started a few years after I moved to San Francisco. I was a cradle Catholic but I had compartmentalized my Catholic faith to Sundays, brief prayers and an odd retreat here and there, plus volunteering but nothing life changing. I didn’t know how to integrate my faith into my busy day. I was overstretched with my career, social life and outdoor activities. I was comfortable with a culture that wanted relig...READ MORE by clicking on the title above.