Incarnational Spirituality & Community

Community has been on my mind for quite a while. First when I was creating a  monastery for a new spiritual order a few years ago. Since leaving the monastic path, I've been delving into two specific models as they are aligned with my life's work - Catholic Worker Houses of Hospitality (co-founded by Dorothy Day) and L'Arche (founded by Jean Vanier). Interestingly enough the universe has orchestrated an opportunity for me to live in a Catholic Worker House of Hospitality (Dorothy Day Place) - I'll be moving in a month.

 
I am drawn to this model of living from a spiritual standpoint as I am called to live my life alongside those I am 'serving'. I have recently learned of this term - 'incarnational spirituality'* (actually introduced to me by Chad through the book - Streams of Living Water by Richard Foster) - meaning to me divine love made visible in our everyday lives - we embody this and live this in our day to day lives. Three of my role models are Dorothy Day, Mother Antonia (the Prison Angel) and Catherine de hueck Doherty. Each woman was drawn by her faith to live in voluntary poverty amongst those she was called to serve.

I am also seeing the idea of living in intentional community from an economic standpoint. With the current situation of rising costs, etc., I believe that we are all going to need to start looking at the way we live our lives more creatively and interdependently. Community, in my view, is going to be a key focus for these and upcoming times and this may be the blessing.

Here are some resources if you'd like to explore these ideas:

• Intentional Communities -Intentional Community is an inclusive term for ecovillages, cohousing, residential land trusts, communes, student co-ops, urban housing cooperatives, alternative communities, and other projects where people strive together with a common vision. This web site serves the growing communities' movement, providing resources for finding a community home and creating more community in your life.
• L'Arche - The Wisdom of Tenderness with Jean Vanier on Speaking of Faith.The Canadian philosopher and Catholic social innovator, Jean Vanier, founded a community centered around people with mental disabilities, L'Arche, that has now become a global movement. - I'd also recommend his book Community & Growth!
  
• Catholic Worker Movement, Dorothy Day, and Houses of Hospitality.- I'd also recommend the book Dorothy Day: Selected Writings (this is what I read every night before going into the shelter). You might also enjoy the video Entertaining Angels (available through netflix) and a new video Don't Call me A Saint.
  
• Catherine de hueck Doherty -Catherine Doherty was a social activist and foundress of the Madonna House Apostolate. A pioneer of social justice and a renowned national speaker, Catherine was also a prolific writer of hundreds of articles, best-selling author of dozens of books, and a dedicated wife and mother. Her cause for canonization as a saint is under consideration by the Catholic Church. - I'd also recommend the book Fragments of My Life!
  
• Mother Antonia - Sacrifice is the Language of Love, article in What is Enlightenment.Over thirty years ago, Mary Clarke left her life as a wealthy divorced mother of seven in Beverly Hills to live and work in one of Mexico's most notorious prisons, the La Mesa State Penitentiary in Tijuana. Through her work, she became Mother Antonia. - I'd also recommend the book The Prison Angel.
  

Do you know of other resources?

Also, if this really resonates with you, I'd love to keep in touch as part of my dream is to create worker houses and other interfaith friendly houses of hospitality - perhaps within the catholic worker framework.


* “Incarnational Spirituality makes visible the realm of the invisible spirit. If you are incarnational in your spirituality, you show forth God's presence in your actions–not just talking about loving others, but doing loving acts, acts of love that bring new life, acts of love that are felt, acts of love that make visible the invisible healing power of Christ.” - Rev. Mary B. Blessing, St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church.