Courtesy Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Viriditas2: Soul Greening
By Sister Malia Dominica Wong, OP
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Keeping my soul green often means keeping my soul and body healthy. On the one hand, I find nourishment in prayer and daily reflection on the Scriptures. Especially, when one has a good Catholic study Bible or commentary, one can really dig into and pay more attention to the scriptures.
On the other hand, I really love swimming. This is something I can do here at the beach, which I am not able to do at home.
When I was a young man, a spiritual director said: “Exercise is just as important as prayer.” I love being immersed in creation, in a natural body of water under the sun. Sometimes, I take a brisk walk while praying the rosary. Exercise is a whole-body experience that makes you feel more alert and improves the mood. Being with others is also great.
Keeping in touch with friends is also important. Having someone who has known you for a long while is a real gift because you have history to draw upon. I have a few good friends I can talk about anything with.
One of the things we do in the Marianist community is to start our morning prayer with the singing of a hymn. I’m not a music collector, but I do have some favorite seasonal hymns of the church year that I like to sing.
Singing gives life and joy and is a way to keep your soul alive. Some people might join a choir as a way that they express that.
There are many different moods in music. There is a reason why we have minor tones in Advent or Lent. Advent is the season of longing for Christ’s return. Lent is more of a penitential season, but it also has the mood of the Psalms. There are also joyful seasons like Christmas and Easter. I do sing certain Advent or Christmas songs all year long to myself.
For example, in the hymn “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” there is a verse we don’t always get to:
“Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Ris’n with healing in his wings.”
I find it rich and nourishing to reflect on such lines, that even at the celebration of the birth of Christ, we are already anticipating his resurrection. We see that mystery unfolding. It is such a poetic line that’s the fullness of the incarnation that includes the Passion, death and Resurrection.
Last year, Anna Moreland, Ph.D., of Villanova University was invited to share with the Chaminade Scholars. She gave a wonderful talk on the importance of leisure and play. She asked the students, “How do you renew yourselves?” She continued to say, “It’s best if it involves the body and even better if it is outdoors.”
Beyond work or academics, we need to learn to play, relax, renew and enjoy ourselves as it adds to the whole person.
Father Chris Wittman is a Marianist priest 30 years ordained and in his 37th year of religious profession. He is originally from Dayton, Ohio, and is the eldest of six siblings. Currently, he is the director of campus ministry at Chaminade University.
