Welcome to my spiritual growth web. I recently retired from active ministry and decided to give web evangelization a try.Ronda Chervin has given me permission to use her e-books for my programs.  Our first one is CALLED BY NAME and will help us develop our personal spirituality program.  At the end of each chapter there will be some reflection questions. This is an essential part of the process. The reflection questions will take place of the discussion that would have taken place in a group setting, so please do it.

Fr. Ernie

CALLED BY NAME

Following a Personal Spirituality

by

Ronda Chervin

copyright© 2006 Ronda Chervin

This little book may be Xeroxed by anyone at will.

For more copies go to www:rondachervin.com

Dear Fr. Braida,

I am delighted you want to use my e-books. You have my permission to use them any way you want to. Anyone who is working on it can write to me if they have questions.

My prayers for all readers, Ronda

Table of Contents

WHY? ....................................................................................5

GOD’S WAY..........................................................................7

NO WAY ..............................................................................11

MY WAY..............................................................................19

THEIR WAY .......................................................................27

YOUR WAY.........................................................................35

OUR WAY ...........................................................................37

HOME FREE! .....................................................................41

WHY?

“I have called you by name, you are mine, when you pass through the waters I will be with you.” (Isaiah 43:1-2)

Father S., you have a big job,” I announced portentously to my spiritual director many years ago. “I just read a biography of Catherine of Siena. You have to make me into her.” He laughed. “God already has St. Catherine, He wants St. Ronda.”

I became a Catholic from an atheistic though Jewish background when I was twenty-one. I was surrounded by ardent Benedictine Oblates, disciples of the famous philosopher Dietrich Von Hildebrand. They were all lay people following a Benedictine spirituality in association with a monastery. I imagined that all strong Catholics find a home in one of the many spiritual traditions of the Church. After I got used to being simply a Catholic, I was sure I would find one of those ways to be right for me.

Fifty years later, having tried many different spiritualities, I believe that there are other ardent Catholics like me who just don’t fit into one of those well-trodden paths such as Benedictine, Franciscan, Dominican, Carmelite, Jesuit, Devotional, Covenant Community Charismatic, Opus Dei, or any others.

I don’t want to define myself as an eccentric loner. I want to follow a personal spirituality that includes all that I love in the traditional ways – that is somehow my way but also part of our way.

Spirituality can be defined as the way to God. Some seekers think of God as an impersonal divine energy.

We Christians know that spirituality is not a method but a person. Jesus proclaimed, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” We believe that God personally created each one of us to be part of humanity, but also unique selves. We join with other believers to follow God’s way, but simultaneously make our own individual journey. We hope that, in spite of all our many faults and sins, we will let God demonstrate His creative and redemptive power as He forms us. We want to become persons with nothing but love in our hearts.

The goal of spirituality: God’s Way, My Way, Their Way, Your Way, Our Way, is union with God in all His beauty, goodness, truth and love in heaven.

In the chapter No Way, I will describe times of feeling stuck in a morass of conflicts, wanting to give up on spirituality. I will show how I believe Jesus pulled me through. You will be asked to trace the workings of the Holy Spirit when you have felt stuck.

In the chapter My Way, I will outline the main themes of the spirituality that has kept me going all these many decades.

In the chapter Their Way, you will read about spiritual paths quite different than mine.

In the chapter Your Way, you will be provided with guidelines for crystallizing the individual way God has worked in your life.

In the chapter Our Way, I will show how following ones personal spirituality makes one close to other pilgrims.

Home Free will provide hope that even before eternal life we may come into a conviction that we are on the path God wants for us. As we explore these ways, I pray:

“God, our Father, Creator and Redeemer,

reveal to each of us a personal spirituality that we may follow,

no matter what the cost, to arrive at Your home.”

For personal reflection and group sharing:

Why have you decided to explore more about personal spirituality at this time?