Spirituality Conference sheds light on power of love
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Lois Rogers | Correspondent
As one of the keynotes speakers at the Upper Room Spiritual Center’s annual Spirituality Conference Nov. 10 who spoke on the healing power of love, Jesuit Father Matthew Linn recalled his own experience of how that emotion helped him cope when he was a passenger in a plane that seemed about to crash.
To help calm the feelings of fear that were quickly setting in, Father Linn summoned up memories of the first time he held his sleeping baby nephew in his arms. As he replicated that moment, actually rocking back in forth in the plane seat, the memory of holding the baby, he said, became so radiant with love that it enabled him to get through the harrowing incident without fear of death.
The story was one of many offered by Father Linn, his brother Dennis and Dennis’ wife, Sheila Fabricant Linn, throughout the day as examples of how memories of love and forgiveness can help people through the worst of times by quieting fears and healing raw emotions and old wounds.
They were highlights of the Spirituality Conference held in Dentici Hall of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, that drew more than 100 participants from around the Trenton Diocese and beyond.
The presentation was designed by the trio of noted authors and presenters who integrate spirituality with psychology, medicine and science. The stories anchored the “processes” created by the Linns and enabled participants to reflect a wide range of ranging from savoring memories of love to healing relationships. Forgiveness in ways that are loving of self and others and emotional and spiritual healing were a major part of the program as well.
Gifts of Love
Throughout the day, the Linns – authors of 22 books that have sold more than a million copies – shared many insights on the power of love to heal.
As an example of how love and understanding can facilitate forgiveness, Sheila Linn shared how she, her husband and brother-in-law traveled to Guatemala when the country was emerging from social unrest. During their work, she said it became clear that all sides had similar stories to tell of pain and suffering. After much dialogue, the Linns were able to assist many Guatemalans to forgive others and ask for forgiveness for themselves, she said.
“When people are cruel,” Sheila Linn said, “they have forgotten themselves.”
Love is the natural human emotion, she said, and the moments of love that emerged as the people interacted with each other helped them reclaim that.
Focus on Forgiveness
Over the years, the Linns have worked as hospital chaplains and therapists and currently focus on leading retreats and spiritual companioning. They have taught courses on their processes in healing in more than 60 countries and in many universities and hospitals including a course for doctors accredited by the American Medical Association.
Dennis Linn said the trio modeled their approach after the teachings of Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, the Swiss-American psychiatrist in her 1969 book, “On Death and Dying.” She identified five stages that people go through in that process: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
The Linns said they believe those five stages are the same as stages of forgiveness. Over time, the Linns began to adapt them in ways that could help people “move through the stages of forgiveness.”
Their processes during the afternoon sessions centered on emotional and spiritual healing through forgiveness and prayers for physical healing. There was a strong focus on how forgiveness can bring about positive changes in well-being.
Their approach was well known to many participants who were acquainted with their books including: “Don’t Forgive Too Soon: Extending the Two Hands that Heal;” “The Gifts of Near Death Experiences: You Don’t Have to Die to Experience Your True Home” and “Healing of Memories.”
Deacon Richard Roenbeck, St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro, said he appreciated the Linns’ skill at “helping people to let go and let God, by offering tools to help people help themselves” ease out of confounding emotions such as anger and depression.
“They showed us how to access healing power and brought a fair degree of science to it that was interesting,” said Deacon Roenbeck, adding that he “loves it” when faith can be applied to science” to explain the inexplicable.
Mercy Sister Maureen Conroy, a co-director of the Upper Room along with Mercy Sister Maureen Christensen and Sister of St. Joseph Trudy Ahern, said the deacon’s reaction echoed those of participants she heard from throughout the day.
“They called the day a wonderful blend of input, sharing and giving,” Sister Maureen said. “It gave people time to apply the processes to their own situations. People know they need healing and they appreciate the Linns. People are open to their work and wanted to be here and grow.”
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By Lois Rogers | Correspondent
As one of the keynotes speakers at the Upper Room Spiritual Center’s annual Spirituality Conference Nov. 10 who spoke on the healing power of love, Jesuit Father Matthew Linn recalled his own experience of how that emotion helped him cope when he was a passenger in a plane that seemed about to crash.
To help calm the feelings of fear that were quickly setting in, Father Linn summoned up memories of the first time he held his sleeping baby nephew in his arms. As he replicated that moment, actually rocking back in forth in the plane seat, the memory of holding the baby, he said, became so radiant with love that it enabled him to get through the harrowing incident without fear of death.
The story was one of many offered by Father Linn, his brother Dennis and Dennis’ wife, Sheila Fabricant Linn, throughout the day as examples of how memories of love and forgiveness can help people through the worst of times by quieting fears and healing raw emotions and old wounds.
They were highlights of the Spirituality Conference held in Dentici Hall of St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold, that drew more than 100 participants from around the Trenton Diocese and beyond.
The presentation was designed by the trio of noted authors and presenters who integrate spirituality with psychology, medicine and science. The stories anchored the “processes” created by the Linns and enabled participants to reflect a wide range of ranging from savoring memories of love to healing relationships. Forgiveness in ways that are loving of self and others and emotional and spiritual healing were a major part of the program as well.
Gifts of Love
Throughout the day, the Linns – authors of 22 books that have sold more than a million copies – shared many insights on the power of love to heal.
As an example of how love and understanding can facilitate forgiveness, Sheila Linn shared how she, her husband and brother-in-law traveled to Guatemala when the country was emerging from social unrest. During their work, she said it became clear that all sides had similar stories to tell of pain and suffering. After much dialogue, the Linns were able to assist many Guatemalans to forgive others and ask for forgiveness for themselves, she said.
“When people are cruel,” Sheila Linn said, “they have forgotten themselves.”
Love is the natural human emotion, she said, and the moments of love that emerged as the people interacted with each other helped them reclaim that.
Focus on Forgiveness
Over the years, the Linns have worked as hospital chaplains and therapists and currently focus on leading retreats and spiritual companioning. They have taught courses on their processes in healing in more than 60 countries and in many universities and hospitals including a course for doctors accredited by the American Medical Association.
Dennis Linn said the trio modeled their approach after the teachings of Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, the Swiss-American psychiatrist in her 1969 book, “On Death and Dying.” She identified five stages that people go through in that process: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
The Linns said they believe those five stages are the same as stages of forgiveness. Over time, the Linns began to adapt them in ways that could help people “move through the stages of forgiveness.”
Their processes during the afternoon sessions centered on emotional and spiritual healing through forgiveness and prayers for physical healing. There was a strong focus on how forgiveness can bring about positive changes in well-being.
Their approach was well known to many participants who were acquainted with their books including: “Don’t Forgive Too Soon: Extending the Two Hands that Heal;” “The Gifts of Near Death Experiences: You Don’t Have to Die to Experience Your True Home” and “Healing of Memories.”
Deacon Richard Roenbeck, St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro, said he appreciated the Linns’ skill at “helping people to let go and let God, by offering tools to help people help themselves” ease out of confounding emotions such as anger and depression.
“They showed us how to access healing power and brought a fair degree of science to it that was interesting,” said Deacon Roenbeck, adding that he “loves it” when faith can be applied to science” to explain the inexplicable.
Mercy Sister Maureen Conroy, a co-director of the Upper Room along with Mercy Sister Maureen Christensen and Sister of St. Joseph Trudy Ahern, said the deacon’s reaction echoed those of participants she heard from throughout the day.
“They called the day a wonderful blend of input, sharing and giving,” Sister Maureen said. “It gave people time to apply the processes to their own situations. People know they need healing and they appreciate the Linns. People are open to their work and wanted to be here and grow.”
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