The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
Watch for Matthew Fox's video
meditation -- now appearing every Monday! |
Sister
Dorothy Stang’s Story, continued 02/13/2024 |
Sister Dorothy’s story continues to spread. A recent article named “The Amazing Grace of Sr. Dorothy
Stang,”* tells us that she “chose to live in extreme poverty in order to help others living in poverty.” |
Those who knew Sister Dorothy said that she had a passion for people of all cultures, for social justice, peacemaking, fairness, and respect for the environment. She possessed few material things: a mix-match of colorful clothing, spartan furnishings and her Bible, which she carried everywhere and sometimes called it her ‘weapon.’ |
“The Student, the Nun, and the Amazon,” part 2 of a 4-part documentary: student Sam Clements rides with Sister Dorothy Stang to witness the land and people she served. stringfilms |
Sr. Dot was carrying that Bible the day she was walking alone in the rain through the jungle, when her killers emerged to block her way. She took it out and started reading the Beatitudes to them and was gunned down by six bullets fired at point-blank range. Sr. Dot first
arrived in Brazil in 1966 with five other Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur whose historical charism and primary commitment was to work with the poor. |
“The Student, the Nun, and the Amazon,” part 3: Sam Clements witnesses Sister Dorothy’s work with the peasants. stringfilms | The oppression of the farmers stood out to them. When the
government allowed landless people to become farming homesteaders and move to the state of Para, Sr. Dot “packed up and joined the farmers.” When many police and politicians were paid off by the loan sharks to scare away the homesteaders, “the families |
moved even deeper into the forest, and Sr. Dot moved with them.” However, it was becoming clear that the government wanted to develop 10.5 million acres in states like Para for mining, refining and agribusiness. On her murder, the world press spread the story and President Lula proclaimed
that the 22,000 acres of land would be reserved for sustainable development, which was a cause Sr. Dot championed. |
Sr. Barbara English, a companion working with Sr. Dot, summarizes the situation this way: They were David facing Goliath, and Goliath came in the form of multinationals, big business, ranching and lumber companies….[who] began to devour the Amazon
forest. |
“The Student, the Nun, and the Amazon," part 4: Sam Clements covers Sister Dorothy’s martyrdom and its impact. stringfilms |
At the time she was killed, Sister Dot was resisting illegal logging and the land sharks profiting on it. It appears the murder was financed by a local rancher and local loggers who paid the killers $19,300. |
* Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, “The Amazing Grace of Sister Dorothy Stang.”
See Matthew
Fox, Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth.
And Fox, Confessions: The Making of a Post-denominational Priest.
And Matthew Fox: Essential Writings in Creation Spirituality.
Banner
Image: Batik tapestry honoring Sister Dorothy Stang, created by her brother Thomas Stang and gifted to Matthew Fox. Published with permission. |
|
Queries for Contemplation What lessons do you take from Sister Dot’s story? What lessons do you feel our culture ought to take? |
Responses are welcomed. To add
your comment, or read other comments and enter into dialog, please click HERE to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth
Fox’s spirituality weds the healing and liberation found in North American Creation Spirituality and in South American Liberation Theology. Creation
Spirituality challenges readers of every religious and political persuasion to unite in a new vision through which we learn to honor the earth and the people who inhabit it as the gift of a good and just Creator.
“A watershed theological work that offers a common ground for religious seekers and activists of all stripes.” — Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice. |
|
Confessions: The Making of a Post-Denominational Priest (Revised/Updated Edition)
Matthew Fox’s stirring
autobiography, Confessions, reveals his personal, intellectual, and spiritual journey from altar boy, to Dominican priest, to his eventual break with the Vatican. Five new chapters in this revised and updated edition bring added perspective in light of the author’s continued journey, and his reflections on the current changes taking place in church, society and the environment.
“The unfolding story of
this irrepressible spiritual revolutionary enlivens the mind and emboldens the heart — must reading for anyone interested in courage, creativity, and the future of religion.”
—Joanna Macy, author of World as Lover, World as Self |
|
Matthew Fox: Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality
Selected with an Introduction by Charles Burack
To encapsulate the life and work
of Matthew Fox would be a daunting task for any save his colleague Dr. Charles Burack, who had the full cooperation of his subject. Fox has devoted 50 years to developing and teaching the tradition of Creation Spirituality and in doing so has reinvented forms of education and worship. His more than 40 books, translated into 78 languages, are inclusive of today’s science and world spiritual traditions and have awakened millions to the much neglected earth-based mystical tradition of the West. Essential Writings begins by exploring the influences on Fox’s life and spirituality, then presents selections from all Fox’s major works in 10 sections.
“The critical insights, the creative connections, the centrality of Matthew Fox’s writings and teaching are second to none for the radical renewal of Christianity.” ~~ Richard Rohr, OFM. |
|
In the Beginning There Was Joy: A Cosmic Celebration for Kids of All Ages
The first book in the Father Fox’s Fantastical Fables series tells the story of the big bang and how
humans fit into the awesome, fantastical, cosmic picture! With artwork curated from illustrators around the world, this book expresses the joy and wonder of all peoples and cultures, planting seeds of respect, cooperation and hope to work together for the healing of our planet. "This delicious book for children of all ages
celebrates joy as the essential truth of reality." - Andrew Harvey, Author of The Hope and Radical Regeneration "I absolutely LOVED reading this beautiful, creative, stirring story—a
charming, whimsical, powerful, parable." - Robert Holden, Author of Happiness NOW! and Higher Purpose Receive a 20% discount when you buy this and one other book from Matthew Fox’s store! Use Promo Code 20% at checkout. |
|
UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar
HERE |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book “The Lotus & The Rose” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat. Thursday, February 15, 4:00-6:00 pm PT. Register HERE. |
|
Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Matthew Fox speaks on "What the Mystics Tell Us About Dying" at the 2024 Symposium on Death and Bereavement Studies. To listen, click the video thumbnail at right. |
|
Inspired by this post? Share your insights on Universeodon, Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #RevDrMatthewFox and tag Matt with @RevDrMatthewFox FOLLOW MATTHEW FOX: |
|
|
|
