HEALING POWER OF DIALOGUEw/ Sis. Mary Jean Saile

The meaning of dialogueDialogue means listening and speaking indepth from the core of our being. It implies

mutual give and take, mutual exchange and sharing of ideas, beliefs, meaning appreciation,

resources and experiences. THE DIIFFERENT KINDS OF DIALOGUE

We must dialogue with OURSELVES as we listen to the that speaks from with in.

When we do, we learn more about our feelings,Conviction, needs and desires, intentions, and

voices

• How we are being affected by our past

circumstances.

We need to have dialogue with OTHERS to

bring the truth, to enrich ourselves with the knowledge and belief of others. We listen

Not only to their voices but to their

HEART

We also listen and read the ,the environment through

the sign of times, the happening and events in our social, political, economic and cultural environment where we are constantly

Invited to respond as a loving children of GODDialogue with any group {family or community}is saying what you really think when you feel it should be expressed, rather than keeping

your ideas, opinions, and feelings to your self.this does not mean honestly just for honesty’ssake, but contributing what you feel will assist

The group in what you feel will assist the

SIGN OF THE TIMES

group in what ever task it is attempting to accomplish or will help the group to a more cohesive,and effective group.

Too often we do not feel free to express our true thoughts, for fear of punishment, rejection

Or ridicule, or we keep our feeling hidden for other reason. We don’t like what the group is doing could be done more effective but we are reluctant to share these feelings with the group.

If given and received in the proper manner and at the appropriate

time, however dialogue can clear the air between people and provide a more solid and honest foundation upon which

to build.It provides the feedback a person

needs to find out how his attitudes andbehavior are affecting others and the

basis for experimenting with other behaviors

That might be more effective or acceptable. If given in a supportive manner , to help rather than to hurt, to provide information that maybe helpful in analyzing or understanding a problem it can reduce fear, suspicion, and distrust, and provide a sound basis for the development of healthy productive and creative working or per- sonal relationships.

If all members of the group feel the responsibilty to contribute to the group and willingly and openly share their feelings, ideas and opinions , the total resources of the group are being used to

complete the group’s task and to solve any problems that might arise. If even

one member does not feel free to participate with the group in this way, the

group is not as effective as it could be.

HEALING OF MEMORIES FOR ONESELF• Sometimes we are experiencing a lack of freedom in ourselves ,inability to

cope with something, an inability to forgive, a fear , a problem with uncontrollable anger, or something that. No matter how we pray or what we do, nothings seems to help. The first step once again is discernment. We need to discover the root cause of the problem. Very often it helps to talk it over with a spiritual director.

• Sometimes our weakness or unfreedom is a result of an inconsistent or inadequate prayer life. Some-times it is a result of an unwillingness to face the truth, or to let go of something we want, or a lack of discipline in our lives. Sometimes it is because we have not forgiven another. In instance like these, what we need for healing is repentance not prayer. If we take time to discern and if we make use of spiritual direction, this sort of thing will come to light.

•

• Sometimes though the problem or problems are rooted in the deep past, even in the time we were being in our mothers womb or in the process of birth. No matter how happy our childhood, it was not perfect ; so we carry in ourselves the wounds of bad experiences some of which we have not thought in years …

• • There is a way of praying for the healing of past experiences. It is

sometimes called “Healng of Memories”, sometimes “Psychological Healing”.

• I t rest on the fact that Jesus is the Lord of all • time past, present, and future, that he can even change the past.

• A year or so ago, one of the women in our community said to me in passing that I had a lot of bitterness in me. I was budy at the time and busy afterwrads with a lot of things, so I did not do anything about it. From time to time her remarks occurred to me, tone of voice, certain harassment would color my relation with others. I would ask forgiveness when I could and move on. A few months ago I had occasion… to use my prayer time to be healed of the effects of the bad experience in the past.

• I began setting in God’s presence, and after reminding myself of His perfect love and of His desire to heal me, I asked Him to bring to my mind the memories of the experience which were at the root of this buried bitterness. The first memory to came back almost at once. I saw myself on the stairway of my high school the first day of my freshmen year. I was a fat little twelve-year-old between two much larger boy’s. It was scene that I hadn’t thought about in 25 years. I saw their faces clear and I even remember their names. A priest walked by and said, “Hello”. I had served Mass for Him many times. The other boy did not knoe the priest and began to ridicule me for trying to say hello was so misunderstood.

• A that point in my recollection I forgave each of them. Then, in my imagination I walked back into that scene with Jesus by my side. I could each of the boys becoming elf-conscious and confused as they saw Jesus. I could see Jesus forgiving them and urging them to be more loving and understanding. Then He turned to the little boy (me) and He let me know that what I had done was all right, that the other boys were wrong in what they did and they were sorry. I really felt His love. I could see the little boy begin to smile, and then we walked out of the recollection. In the course of a week’s prayer I had about fifty experiences like that, and I find that much of the bitterness and harshness has disappeared from my behavior. Praise God !

THE ELEMENTS OF SUCH PRAYER ARE SIMPLE:

1. Begin by resting in the presence of God.2. Recall His love and power.3. Ask Him to bring to your mind the memories of the bad experiences of the past

which affect you now.4. Be quite and let them come to mind.5. Walk back into those recollections with Jesus and imaginatively reconstruct what

would happen.6. Thank Jesus for His Healing love. Sometimes this must be done more than once. You know when you are healed when

the child or person in the memory is smiling and happy because of the presence and love of Jesus.