Quick Bytes #36: In God We Trust

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"Our national motto is 'In God we Trust,' reminding us that 
faith in our Creator is the most important American value of all."
                                              - Marco Rubio at the RNC

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Impossible to Overstate the Love God has for Us

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." Jesus in Matthew 6:3

Scott Hahn in the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible commentary writes, "Those who recognize their need for God and his grace . . . find their security in the Lord and rely on his mercy rather than their merits."

I don't think this is merely a promise for the end of time, after the last judgement or after our own personal judgement and meeting with Jesus after our death, I think we find the Kingdom of God within ourselves when we realize our powerlessness, our inadequacy, our ineffectiveness, our inability to bear fruit despite what others might say about our natural gifts and talents, unless we are rooted in the confidence, trust, and awareness of the magnitude of God's love for us.

The Holy Spirit has been teaching me this for the past several weeks.  What patience the Counselor has with me!  One of our priest's in the homily on August 12, 2012 on Matthew 18:23-35 explained how ridiculous the servant was to the master saying that he would pay back everything.  The NIV says the debt was ten thousand bags of gold.  The NRSV says ten thousand talents, and in the Oremus online reader there is a mouseover footnote that reads, "A talent was worth more than fifteen years’ wages of a labourer."  Our priest explained that there was no way that the servant could repay his master.  It was ridiculous for him to make this promise as he fell prostrate before him begging for patience.  He could never repay the debt. 

The priest also explained that many times in Scripture the word debt is used in place of the word sin.  And this is why in one version of the Our Father  we pray or sing, "forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors."  Still the real debt is the inability we have to repay the great love God has for us.  This is our poverty, our wretchedness, our nothingness that we read about in the writings of our beloved saints.

The priest explained that the worst thing to happen in this world is not losing your job.  It is not getting diagnosed with cancer (and he knows what that is like).  It is sin.  And what is sin?  Sin comes from the prideful, self-absorption that moves us from the natural gratefulness and returning love for love that should be so natural to us if we consider the tender love and mercy God has for us.  Sin is choosing and seeking our own will and desires apart from God.  It is losing the humility and trust that should come so natural to the state of being the mere children we are, and instead following the example of our first parents, Adam and Eve, that lost that humility and trust when tempted to vanity and pride with Satan's promise, "to be like God." (Genesis 3:5)  That was the lie the serpent told, that we mere children could be like God, deciding good and evil based on what suits us.

I read once, in one woman's infertility blog, that it is an often repeated, but fallacious saying that God only gives us what we can handle.  (It is a variation on the actual scripture verse that we will not be tempted beyond what we can bear and without a means of escaping the temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:13) Instead he gives us more than we can handle because this drives us to Him.  God does this with me in my worklife, in my marriage, with my children, with the mental health of my parents.  No doubt he does this with you too.

Without this overburdening, how rarely do I come out of my habitual self-absorption, and mental preoccupiedness (is that a word?), and come to him as David, his anointed prophet and King did so readily?  Instead, sadly, how often do I rely on my own thinking, or even consultation with those around me rather than simply acknowledging my own poverty and need for Him.  King Saul was also anointed and blessed by God, but instead of asking God when he should attack he consulted soothsayers angering God.

I've learned a few things this morning that you are probably aware of, but might appreciate the reminders:

1. We are all poor in spirit, the question is whether we realize it or not
2. Jesus is drawn to the weakest and poorest, to those who realize they are weak and poor, and to those who don't realize the truth that they are weak and poor (that covers most all of us, doesn't it?)
3. I need to contemplate regularly what God has done for us
4. I need to remember Jesus is everywhere present and longs for me to make the effort of will to come to him directly, relying on Him with all the trust he always expects from me
5. Jesus wants me to realize that just as he is filled with compassion and love for me, he expects me to follow in his footsteps, certain of the power of his love, opening my eyes and heart to the people around me---seeing their needs and reaching out to them as he has reached out to me.  He tells me, "Let your heart overflow to those who come near you."

Here's a scripture to help you through the rest of this post.  When I need several weeks to learn something the Holy Spirit is teaching me, the result is not a quick read!

"Better gain wisdom than gold,

choose understanding in preference to silver.

Pride goes before destruction,

a haughty spirit before a fall.

Those who listen to instruction find happiness;

whoever trusts Yahweh is blessed." Proverbs 16:16,18,20

From He and I:

Gabrielle:  I should so much like to do something for You!  Even in giving all of myself, I give you nothing.  What can I do?"

Jesus:  Come to me.  Rely on me with all the trust I always expect from you.  Come to me directly; I'm waiting for you.

Since I am yours, you are rich.  You are only poor when you count on yourselves and expect to act in your own unaided strength.  How destitute you are then!

But if you lay hold of My merits with humility and hope, what a priceless fortune is yours?

Who is anything beside the infinitely great God?  And you, particularly chosen to be showered with blessings, you are nothing but wretchedness.  I feed this wretchedness every morning with my Eucharist because I want to keep you in My friendship, for I am drawn to the weakest and the poorest.  Give me everything that you blame in yourself, since I am the One who transforms even the ugliest, the lowest into the gold of My Glory.  How?  By love. (from May 9, 1946 and April 26, 1946)

From The Better Part:

"The secret to perseverance in friendship with Christ is to draw our satisfaction not primarily from what we do, but from what God has done for us, and that requires the daily mental discipline of directing our thoughts again and again to God's goodness, cultivating an attitude of gratitude." (#186, meditation on Luke 10:13-24)

Again from He and I:

Jesus:  Follow me everywhere . . . . Let your heart overflow to those who come near you . . . . My poor little girl, enriched by my riches alone, may you be careful not to think that you are worth anything by yourself.  May you be conscious of your power through my power.

Tell Me that you are beginning to be more certain of the power of My love, although you know you are unworthy.

Tell Me this to comfort Me for the ones who do not believe. . . . Let us make an alliance between your poverty and my riches.  Never fail to lean on Me.

Have no confidence in yourself for even a moment.  Where would it lead you?

You don't think often enough that I am everywhere, that nothing exists where I am not present.  Think of this.  It will help you reach me.  One thing only I ask of you:  oneness with Me.  We are united in the morning in my Eucharist, let us not be separated by your indifference; it leads to constant mind-wandering.  When people are in love they never stop thinking of the beloved, do they?  Then what should I conclude if you don't think of Me?

Say to Me, "Have pity on me.  I am nothing but a poor sinner."  Believe it and I'll be moved to pity.  

Consider your nothingness.  If you could see it, you would be terrified if you didn't know My tender mercy.  Try to grasp the poverty of your soul, its destitution.  The you in you is nothing.  The vision of yourself as you are would be terrible for you if you couldn't count on my merits.  Make this your consolation in the meditation on my passion.  Look upon Me and discover My obedient death, accepted with the sweetness of My entire Being. (April 26, 1946; Holy Thursday - April, 1946, March 22, 1945)

8 He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. 9 For which cause, God also hath exalted him and hath given him a name which is above all names: 10 That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: 11 And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father. 12 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, (as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but much more now in my absence) with fear and trembling work out your salvation.13 For it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to accomplish, according to his good will. 14And do ye all things without murmurings and hesitations: 15 That you may be blameless and sincere children of God, without reproof, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation: among whom you shine as lights in the world. (Philippians 2:8-15)

And still more from He and I:

Jesus:  Will you ever comprehend My sensitivity and how your every tender and compassionate thought thrills My heart?  But even if you don't understand very well, even if your love never gets beyond the stage of trial, I always take into consideration the earnest effort of your will, and this is My delight . . . .

My poor little girl, I love the nothing that you are so much that if you give me permission, I take up all the room in you.

Lose yourself in Me.  Surrender yourself.  Fade out of your own thoughts.  Enter into my eternal being and move and have your being in me. (April 10, 1947)

Finally in the midst of the homily on August 12, and the readings and learnings that concluded this morning, I received some helpful spiritual insights from our friend Patricia, between her comments on my comments on her blog and an email she sent me.  I don't think she'll mind me sharing these since much of the reason she blogs is to share these same insights with whomever might find them.

"Some people pass their whole lives without realizing how great God's love for them is.  How blessed are we, Colleen, to know and to believe in His Love for us!  I heard a priest mention in his homily once that 'a Saint is not so much one who loves God, as one who is absolutely convinced that God loves him.'  To feel safe and confident in God's Love, to know that He longs for us, will never reject us, sets us free to just run to Him and hold on, and be hugged and want to love Him back with all our might."

He (the lawyer) answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.’ And he (Jesus) said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’  Luke 10:27-28

To sum up:  I can only love the Lord my God with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my strength, and with all my mind, and my neighbor as myself if I regularly contemplate the great Love that God has for me, and if I remain in that Love, follow his commands -- to see and love others as he has loved me and as he exemplified during his time on earth.  The more my job or anything else augments my vanity and pride, the more I have to run back to him, declaring my poverty of spirit, and my absolute need for him.

Again as Patricia wrote in a comment:  "We should gaze on Jesus lovingly in the midst of whatever else we are doing, as St. Teresa of Avila (and Brother Lawrence too) wrote, 'finding God among the pots and pans.'  As I am so small and helpless, I beg for his power to fill me with that grace of recollection, of turning to Him with a gaze or sigh, as we do with those we so love."

Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ, King of Endless Glory!

Quick Bytes #35: Where Shall We Go?

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"As a result of this,
many of his disciples returned to their former way of life
and no longer accompanied him.
Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life."
                            - Jn 6:66-68

Not accompanying Jesus.  It sounds so ridiculous.   
Walking away from Him to go back to a life filled with garbage.  

Those silly disciples.  

Surely we don't do that today ... right?
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True Charity

In the last months of her life St. Therese of the Child Jesus wrote, "Now I know that true charity consists in bearing all my neighbor's defects, in not being surprised at mistakes, but in being edified at the smallest virtues" (St. 10).

How often do we focus on the imperfections in others and then "pick a little, talk a little" (from The Music Man) about them to others or criticize people to their faces?  Wouldn't it be better to develop the habit of looking for something to praise and imitate in them?  It's just a change in orientation but it can transform the sourness of life into sweetness and make us more humble and pleasing to God, don't you think?

Quick Bytes #34: Flying

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Seen on a church sign ...

IF GOD IS YOUR CO-PILOT
      SWAP SEATS
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Catholic Lingo Bingo

In exchange for my review, I was given the fun opportunity to review the game called Catholic Lingo Bingo created by Monica from Arma Dei Shoppe and Equipping Catholic Families.

Monica created this game in English and then Xhonane from Familia Catolica worked with Monica to create a Spanish version of this wonderful and educational game.  The purpose of this game is to learn the various sacramentals, vessels and vestments that are used in the Catholic Church. Some of these items you see at every mass and others on occasion so it was very interesting to me, that I didn't know the names of some of the vessels! Such as the aspersory and aspergillum.  I recognized the picture immediately but had never heard it's name before so even I learned something new!  Thank you Monica!!

Catholic Lingo Bingo can be used at home with your family or in the classroom.  Once you purchase it from the Arma Dei Shoppe for $12 plus shipping if mailed or for $9.99 to have it sent to you electronically through cyberspace to be received instantly.  I followed Monica's instructions and printed them out on white card stock paper for durability and then worked on coloring them.  

15 Bingo Cards need to be colored and then the master call cards so it is time intensive for coloring.  

If you have a classroom full of students or a few children then the work of coloring is broken up into manageable parts.  I chose not to color the calling cards because as I was coloring the bingo cards, I did not replicate my color choices for each matching picture.  Meaning every time I came across the picture of the Monstrance, I colored it at whim.  When we played the game with some friends, and most were unfamiliar with these words, I showed them the picture and went around checking their cards to help them. Another mom was with us and helped out too.  We did play by filling up the whole card and that each child's card was filled so we could learn all the words. I could see though that after playing this game a couple of times, the kids will recall the words quickly.

To recap, this fun and educational game can be played with up to 15 children. There are 9 pictures on each bingo card that are large enough for little children to understand.  It's for all ages and can be purchased in English or Spanish.  As another use, you can also take a few of these bingo cards and cut the pictures out and use it for a matching game.  

Monica does a fabulous job at creating fun games and crafts that teach our children and adults, about our Catholic Faith!  It's her passion, it's her ministry and we are all blessed by it!

Blessings,

Noreen

Quick Bytes #33: Forgive

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"and forgive us our tresspasses, 
as we forgive those that tresspass
against us."

I say these words every day, but the
truth is, I sure hope God doesn't use my
forgiveness of others as a model for
how to forgive me!

God Bless.
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Homily from Father Francis Maple

WHEN THE TASK SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE John 6:1-15 

In a T.V. commercial, an announcer asked a woman, "What is the worst four-letter word your child uses. That, of course, brings all kinds of obscenities to mind, but then the woman surprises us with her answer.   She asserts that the worst four-letter word her child can use is "can't". Then she cites some, "I can't read.  I can't spell.  I can't do maths."   

"Can't" is one of the worst four-letter words a person can use. The child who says, "I can't do maths" really can't do maths and he will not be able to do maths so long as that word dominates his thinking.  To convince oneself that something is impossible has the practical effect of rendering it impossible. That is true, not only for children but also for you and me. Before we can accomplish any task, we must at least have some hope that it can be done. 

That truth is played out in today's Gospel reading. Jesus and His disciples were in a rural place with more than five thousand people.  After a while, food became an issue. People began to get hungry. Jesus felt obliged to feed them. He was, after all, the reason they were there. So He took upon Himself the role of host. It was His job to provide the meal and He tried to share that responsibility with His disciples. He asked Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these to eat?" Philip was no help at all. In so many words he said, “It's impossible. We might as well give up before we ever start." Andrew did a little better. Somehow he had found a boy with a small lunch. He told Jesus of his find and then said, "But what good is that little among so many?" 

Both of these disciples started with a presumption of despair. They stood before a task that needed to be done and concluded that it was impossible. It was useless even to try because they could not do it.  All of us are faced with tasks like that - things that must be done but seem impossible. It may be something as personal as losing weight or overcoming a bad habit. We have tried before and are convinced that we can't do it. Or it may be something social, like ending war or eliminating racism. These evils have always been there and we have little hope of doing anything about them. What are we to do when a task seems impossible? 

One thing we might do is realistically face the fact that some things are impossible. For example, we cannot feed a crowd of five thousand with one small lunch, but Jesus can. Our reading leaves room to suppose that He did. But we can't, and no amount of faith will change that reality. The New Testament credits Jesus with doing many things that we can't do. He opened blind eyes. We can't do that. He straightened twisted limbs. We can't do that. He unstopped deaf ears. We can't do that. The word "impossible" is part of our vocabulary for good reason.  There are some things we cannot do, no matter how hard we try or how much faith we have. 

If it is painful to admit that about ourselves, remember that the same thing was true of Jesus. He wasn’t able to do all that He wanted to do.  Some things were impossible, even for Him. He could not get along with everybody. Jesus had some enemies who hounded Him to the day of His death. Try as He might, He could not win their friendship. They were determined not to get along with Him. There was nothing He could do about it. He tried to win the trust and loyalty of Judas, but His best efforts were to no avail. Even Jesus had to deal with failure. Some things seem impossible for the simple reason that they are impossible. 

We need to be careful, however, in the application of that idea. Properly used, it is wisdom. Wrongfully used, it can become a lame excuse for laziness. Some things only seem impossible. In reality, they are only waiting to be done. I can remember when space travel was thought to be impossible, but a young Russian cosmonaut named Uri Gagarin proved that idea false. Space travel was just waiting for a pioneer who had the daring to try what others called impossible. In a sense, Jesus was that kind of pioneer. When the task seemed impossible, He dared to try what others said couldnever be done. His only resource, so far as we know, was five barley loaves and a couple of dried fish. Obviously, it was not nearly enough, but it was all He had, so He started with that and it turned out that everyone had enough to eat with twelve baskets left over. The Gospel writer does not explain how that happened. Most people assume that Jesus miraculously multiplied the loaves and fish. That may be what happened. The reading does not say that, but it does leave open the possibility. The main point is that a task that seemed impossible got done. It was not impossible after all. 

Could that be true of the challenges we face today? Is peace possible?  Can wars cease? We are told it is impossible. Wise voices say that wars are inevitable. They have always been and will always be, but one pioneer, with five barley loaves and a couple of dried fish, might prove that idea to be false. Can the races learn to live together in harmony?  Of course not, say the cynical doubters. There is a natural antipathy between the races and there always will be, but one little boy, with five barley cakes and a couple of fish, might prove that ancient bit of wisdom to be false. 

Some tasks seem impossible because they are. If you are waiting for me to develop into a world-class opera star, forget it. It's impossible, but some tasks seem impossible because no one has had the faith and courage to give it a chance. There are a lot of things in this world that ought to be done, and for a person of faith, to say that a thing ought to be is to say that it can be. Will you be one of those who have the faith and courage to give it a try?

Quick Bytes #32: Life or Death Poll

If you could go back in time would you rather witness our Lord's birth or death?

Our Lives Are About Relationships

And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother." Matthew 12:49-50

Shortly after I had become a lector at my local parish I volunteered to read on the Monday evening masses during  Lent. I thought that I would add this little offering to my list of “things I would do for God” during these 40 days. Little did I know that in reality, He was going to do something  great for for me.

 When that first Monday rolled around, I found myself a bit nervous, and I was watching the priest carefully after the opening prayers and such, so that I would walk up to the pulpit at the right time  when he took his seat.

As I stood up, I noticed a tall elderly woman, about eighty years old, in the first row.  She had the thickest head of blond curls I had ever seen, and she was motioning me with her arm, as if to say, “come on and hurry up”!
Apparently, she thought I needed some direction.

During the reading, I couldn’t help but notice that she was watching me intently. And when I walked back to my seat she smiled at me and nodded her head, as if in approval.

When the mass ended and those present started to leave, she walked up to me and introduced herself. Her name, she told me, was Dorothy; her friends called her Dottie. She too, was a lector at the parish and had been a former school teacher there as well, for twelve years.

Proudly she told me that she went back to finish her college degree at the age of 55, after her husband had left her. I must have given her a look of surprise when she said this to me because she quickly added, “those were the best years of my life”…

We became instant friends. She told me she loved her grandchildren, bingo, romance novels, and the TV show “The Bachelor”…. She was truly a character!

It was about 4 or 5 months later that we finally got the opportunity to lector together at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning mass.

It would be the only time we ever read together.

Not long after that, on a Saturday, I got a call from one of the parishioners. Dottie had been playing bingo at a near by church the night before and had suffered a stroke .An ambulance had been called immediately and she was rushed to the hospital.

I grabbed my purse and jumped into my car, and drove down to the hospital as quickly as I could.

When I arrived, she was lying in bed with IV tubes in her arms and was hooked up to heart monitor hooked.  Her daughter was there too; the poor girl  looked completely frazzled.

The stroke had affected Dottie’s speech. Communication was very difficult. She desperately wanted to say something to me, but she couldn't. I told that everything was fine, that she didn’t need to speak. We could just enjoy our time there together.

With that, she seemed to relax and we spent the remainder of the time quietly being together. For me it was a gifted moment.

As the time came for me to leave, I kissed her on the forehead and said goodbye. "Get some rest" I said. " I'll be  be back in a couple of days."

Her eyes followed me to the door and she smiled at me. It was the most beautiful smile I had ever been given.

A couple days later, unexpected complications set in. After receiving the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, Dottie passed away in the hospital. Her daughter and grandchildren were by her side….God had motioned for her to come up and join Him in heaven....There is no doubt that she is up there praying for all the people that had become her brothers, sister, mother.Yes,indeed,  she is praying for everyone that had become her family.

Our lives are about relationships. And, every day presents us with an opportunity to act with love and compassion to our brothers and sister.

God brings people in and out of our lives at different times and for different reasons. Every human person has something to share with us. Every person is gift.

And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”Matthew 12: 49-50

Quick Bytes #31: Beautiful Day

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Thank you, Lord for this beautiful day.

Help me to do something good for you.

To make you proud.

To show you I love you.

To justify you giving it to me.
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Rash Judgment

Other bloggers often inspire me to write related posts at my blog, full of thoughts I've been chewing on for some time but haven't gotten around to sending into the ether. This week I was pondering a post by Msgr. Charles Pope, examining the whys and wherefores behind a particularly obnoxious behavior just about everybody, including me, falls into. Thanks to Victor's prompting I will again shamelessly link to a spin-off post at my blog - Rash Judgment.

Thank you, Victor.  And to Mary, the prayer by Eusebius, May I Be No One's Enemy that you brought us in your recent post here is perfect for us rash judgers.

May I Be No One's Enemy....

The prayer featured this month in Living With Christ is attributed to Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 263-339).  It certainly sounds very much as though it could have been written today.

"May I be no one's enemy, and may I be the friend of that which is eternal and abides.

May I love, seek, and attain only that which is good.

May I wish for all people's happiness and envy none.

May I never rejoice in the ill-fortune of one who has wronged me.

May I win no victory that harms either me or my opponent.

May I, to the extent of my power, give all needful help to my friends and to all who are in want.

May I be able, by gentle and healing words, to soften the pain of those in grief.

May I respect myself, May I always tame that which rages within me.

May I never discuss who is wicked and what wicked things they have done, but know good people and follow their footsteps."

I think that there are so many lines of this prayer that touch me and call me to consider my actions.  The one that speaks to me the loudest is--"know good people and follow in their footsteps."  For me that is the key, to follow the footsteps of those good people who have walked before me.

Called By God

O Holy Spirit, Soul of my soul I adore you.

Enlighten, guide, strengthen and console me.

Tell me what I ought to do,

 then command me to do it.

I promise to be submissive in all that You ask of me,

And to accept all that You permit to happen to me; only show me what is Your will. 

Amen.

If you have ever been an expectant parent, you have, no doubt, spent countless hours thumbing through baby name books, searching for the perfect name for your child. This name will say something unique about your child. For example, my son Michael is named after his father. His father was named after his Italian grandmother, Michelina, meaning “who is like God”, as with Michael the Archangel, warrior of Heaven, defender and protector. I think this name suits both my men.

In the Jewish culture, a person’s name is chosen to represent the essence and character of the person.1 When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary (or “Miriam,” as she was called in Hebrew), he called her “full of grace”. The state of her soul was pure. She was preserved from the stain of original sin. She was full of love, and humble obedience to God, caring for all that was entrusted to her.

“I am the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to your word” Lk 1:38

Her “yes” proclaimed in humble submission to the will of the Father, allowed redemptive grace to enter the world and alter the destiny of mankind.2

  

Just as Mary was called by God to carry Christ in her womb, so are you and I called to carry Him “in the womb of our heart” and to bear Him to others given our particular state in life. For me, I believe that I am called to bear Him to my husband, my children and grandchildren. I am to bear Him to my neighbors at home and at work through means of kindness, silent prayer for their families and hospitality. Maybe you are thinking of your own call right now.

Everyday, you and I have a choice to say “yes” to God’s call for us, just like Mary did. Every single day is a new beginning; we can make a difference. And, if we do say “yes”, we can be assured that we will be empower with His Holy Spirit, making us channels of grace for the life of God to enter the world.3

1,2,3  Full of Grace, Women and the Abundant Life, Johnnete S. Benkovic
Daily Grace 

Encompassed by His Love

Sometimes in life we have to go through really hard times.  Sometimes it's consequences for sins committed (which can take years to play out) and sometimes it's for no apparent reason.  Often we may be tempted to whine and complain about it.  Other times we seem to be able to suck it up and bear it.  So what is God doing to us, visiting calamities on us and surrounding us with misery to the point we want to find a hole, crawl in, and pull the entrance in after us? 

In today's meditation by Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene, O.C.D. in Divine Intimacy he writes:

 In all the circumstances of our life, even the saddest and mot painful, we are always encompassed by His love.  God's love can will nothing but good; even when He leads us by the harsh, rough road of suffering, He is infallibly willing our good.

God "makes us die and makes us live.... He scourges us and He saves us" (cf. 1 Sm. 2:6; Tb. 13:2), always because of His love.  Thus it is not rare that He strikes hardest those whom He loves most, for as the Holy Spirit says, "...acceptable men [are tried] in the furnace of humiliation" (Sir. 2:5).

St. Teresa of Jesus says: This suffering "is what the Father gave to Him whom He loved most of all [Jesus].... These, then are His gifts in the world.  He gives them in proportion to the love He bears us.  He gives more to those He loves most and less to those He loves least" (Way 32).

 In one of her books St. Teresa recounted a particularly grueling journey on which many things went wrong, the weather was terrible, etc.  She said something like, "Lord, if this is the way You treat Your friends, no wonder you have so few of them."

I liked this quote because it showed her humanness and sense of humor in the midst of adversity. Most of all, hard times are an invitation to trust in God and submit to His will, to take the cotton out of our ears and listen to Him.  He is in charge and He is polishing us up for heaven, even if we can't see the reasons why we are suffering.

Quick Opinion Poll

Ok ... a quick opinion poll now.

How many people make the sign of the Cross before meals?

How about when you're in public, like in a restaurant?

How many people make the sign of the Cross when passing a church?

How many women wear a veil when in church?

Now read this wonderful post from Sue.

When I was a little girl my dad told me and my brothers and sisters that he abhorred nothing more than lying.  Of course this statement came about because we had tried to lie about something unsuccessfully.  That lesson has stuck with me all my life.

Yesterday I wrote a post about God's simplicity and how duplicity is at odds with God.  Mary333 suggested I also put it here.  Rather than double post, which Google frowns upon, let me ask you to read more here about Divine Simplicity and Truth..

God bless all.

Prayer, Instant, Just Add a Touch of Holy Spirit

Recently, I heard a woman sigh that she really needed some short prayers.  The 5 or 3 minute variety in many of the books that are popular today were just too long for her.  She lost her attention before she got to the end. I assumed she knew of some traditional prayers that would be short.  It doesn't take long to pray a Hail, Mary or an Our Father.

I felt at first slightly judgemental and dismissive of this woman, I am sorry to say.  It seemed to me that her priorities were all wrong if she didn't want to place God first in her life because she wanted short prayers.  I felt that we had nothing in common.  But, the still small voice in my head said, "At least she wants to pray...."

I told her I would help her out. I am engaged in writing a prayer book, just for her, of some very short little prayers.  When the thought came to me to make the offer to do this, I realized that I was just the one to do it.  Although I wish I could say that I spent hours every day deep in uninterrupted prayer, really most often I have a hundred small conversations with Jesus throughout the day.  Most days I try for more than that, a rosary here, daily Mass there, but, in truth, a great deal of my prayer life besides reading Scripture and daily commentaries is little short prayers of praise and joy, intercessions for people, and pleas for help and rejoicing when help comes.

I rejoice that the Holy Spirit picked me to write a little book of short prayers for this woman.  I will not judge her and instead I will call her a friend of mine, because she wants to pray to God just as I do.  In that expression of a desire to pray is a longing for God.  After she gets the ball rolling on her prayer life, who knows where it will take her?

***But if she goes on to become a great saint in the Church someday, I hope I get a tiny footnote on her page***
by Mary at Hope Echoes

The Extraordinary Ordinary Things of Life

Today we welcome back Sue Elvis as our guest writer. Please visit her HERE.

 

I am at Thomas’ wake. I have his memory box on my knee and I take out a few photos and pass them to a friend.

“He was a chubby baby!” she exclaims.

I reply, “He wasn’t really. Those photos were taken at the funeral home. He looked different at the hospital.”

I think about this. I remember how much I longed to see Thomas once more at the funeral home before his burial. He was in his coffin at the far end of the room and I hurried towards him. And then suddenly I stopped. He didn’t look like my baby. In some way he’d changed since I’d left him at the hospital. He didn’t look as I remembered. Tears rolled down my face and I wondered, “Did they get the babies muddled up? Is this really Thomas?”

My friend’s voice interrupts my thoughts. She is asking me another question and I open my mouth to reply. My lips move but the words won’t form. I try again, and again I fail to say anything. I have lost control of my speech.

My friend notices my difficulties and hurriedly says, ‘You don’t have to say anything. It’s OK.”

But it’s not OK at all. I want to tell her about my son but I can’t. I don’t want her to move off and leave me alone. But she thinks she is upsetting me. She pats me on the shoulder and hurries away. And I am helpless.

Yes, I remember the day I lost control of my speech. But it wasn’t just the ability to form words that I’d lost. I’d lost control of my whole life.

Life can go on the same, day in and day out. It is known and comfortable and we feel secure. We think we are in control. Yes, we have problems to deal with but we cope. And then one day we wake up and life has changed forever and we know there is absolutely nothing we can do about it.

I am very aware of how life can change so quickly. I travel through my comfortable days where I am seemingly in control and I wonder how long it will last. What plans has God got for me? Will He allow my world to be turned upside down again? Will I once again sink into that pit of suffering?

I remember going to town a few days after Thomas died. As I walked through the shopping centre, I noticed two happy young women. As I passed them, I wondered how they could continue to laugh and chat together about nothing of real importance. Didn’t the air around them turn cold as I walked by? Couldn’t they see I was no ordinary woman but one gripped by the arms of grief? I wondered why their lives were so normal and happy. How could they enjoy the trivial things of life?

The trivial things of life? It is strange how unimportant some things seem when we are grieving. What if my world fell apart today? Would I continue my normal routine? Would I be interested in the little things of life? No, I don’t think I would.

I think of the possibility of more suffering and my heart skips a beat. A feeling of dread and fear overcomes me that threatens to spoil the present moment. And then I tell myself not to be silly. I say: Trust. Live life to the full and don’t look ahead.  Be thankful for the joys of today. Don’t let thoughts of possible pain-to-come spoil the present. The future is God’s concern, not mine. My job is to concentrate on the little things of life.

So I get involved in the little things of life. I think about what I am going to wear for the day. I stand under the shower and enjoy the tingling of the hot water upon my skin. I spend time with God: I pray and read. I hang washing on the line and feel the warmth of the sun. Later I challenge my body to a long run. Afterwards I sit at the lunch table and devour my sandwich as I answer the girls’ eager question: “How far did you run today, Mum?” We work; we share books; we chat; we laugh; we write; we discuss what we shall cook for dinner. Then Andy arrives home. We hug. I pour a glass of wine and we exchange news. Eventually our ordinary day comes to an end.

My children arrive one by one to say goodnight. I think about how much I love my family. I love them so much it hurts and the present moment threatens to be spoilt by the question, “What if…?” But I don’t let it. I really have no cause to worry.

I think about Thomas’ death when I lost control over every aspect of my life, even my speech.  I was sure my life was over. But here I am full of joy, surrounded by love and loving… I still have no control over my life. I don’t even want control any more. Yes, I am aware that God could allow any sort of sorrow and suffering to touch me. But I also know He will always be there to bring me through it. For hasn’t He already done that before?

So I live in the present moment and I enjoy the ordinary things of life which I suddenly realise aren’t so ordinary after all. Ordinary becomes powerfully extraordinary when combined with love.

So as each child comes to say goodnight, I enfold her within my arms and I hug… I hug tightly, my eyes closed, my heart overflowing with love. This is today. This is what is important. This is an extraordinary ordinary moment.

Quick Bytes #30: Best Equation Ever

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1 Cross + 3 Nails = 4 Given
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Sts. Peter And Paul:Light In Christ's Mystical Body

                                           

As St Paul is the patron saint of this blog, I thought it only fitting to post something about him today. His feast is always celebrated with St Peter. So here is a brief reflection from my archives with a link for further reading about these to great apostolic saints.

Peter and Paul were men whose paths actually crossed while on this earth. Peter was one of Jesus' Apostles and chosen by Him as the first pope. Paul never knew Christ while Our Lord walked the earth, but his powerful conversion had the effect as if he had.
I often wonder about these two great saints, who while in their earthly lives became very faith~filled men, were not always saints. Judging from what we know about their personalities, both were extremely strong willed. I wonder what it would have been like to have them both in the same room at the same time. I somehow imagine some holy sparks flying from time to time. Definitely not always as "chummy" as this El Greco painting portrays them.
Both loved Jesus deeply and believed in Him with everything that they were. God in His infinite wisdom raised up these two pillars of our Church at the same time.
Pope St Leo the Great compares Peter and Paul to: "two eyes that bring light to the body whose head is Christ."
On this Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul, let us ask them to continue to intercede for Christ's Mystical Body, His Church, and may they intercede for each of us and inspire us with their fire and conviction in Spirit.

You can read the rest of Pope St Leo the Great's sermon, as well as the writings of other Doctors of the Church on these two powerful saints here.

Saints Peter and Paul, pray for us!

Quick Bytes #29: Wonderfully

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Today's Psalm is: I praise you Lord because I am wonderfully made!

It is not: I question you Lord because I am overweight, not as good looking as I want, short, not a Nobel Prize winner, bald, poor, angry, sad, etc., etc., etc.

God Bless.
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Fortnight For Freedom

source

Our U.S. Catholic Bishops are calling all Catholics and others of faith, to participate in Fortnight of Freedom starting tomorrow on June 21st until July 4th.  They are calling it "a great hymn of prayer for our country."  During these two weeks, we also celebrate the feast days of brave martyrs who remained faithful to Jesus during persecution and they are:  St. John Fisher, St. Thomas More, St. John the Baptist, St. Peter, St. Paul and the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome.  We are now facing religious persecution if this HHS Mandate will not be overturned.  All Catholics are asked to focus on prayer, study, catechesis and public action during these two weeks.

For more information please go to the USCCB website to learn how you can make a difference in restoring religious freedom to our nation.  American Life League is supporting this effort and you can go to their website for additional information as well.

Mary Immaculate, pray for us!
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!
St. John Fisher, pray for us!
St. Thomas More, pray for us!
St. John the Baptist, pray for us!
St. Peter and St. Paul, pray for us!
First Martyrs of the Church, pray for us!

Blessings,
Noreen

Quick Bytes #28: Not Tried

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Christianity has not been tried and found wanting;
It has been found difficult and not tried.
                     - G.K. Chesterton

Prayers for those that have not yet tried
Christianity in its fullness.
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Vultus Christi: Thou hast set Thy Heart on us

Thou hast set Thy Heart on us

From Father Mark Kirby at Vultus Christi:

"This he learned not by searching far and wide,
but by abiding there with Mary near the cross,
there to gaze on the 'one whom they have pierced' (Jn 19:37).
This he learned, John the eagle,
gazing unblinking into the Sun
that rose each day before his eyes
in the Breaking of the Bread.
"This is My Body which is given for you.
Do this for a commemoration of Me.
In like manner the chalice also,
after He had supped, saying:
'This is the Chalice, the new testament in my blood,
which shall be shed for you'" (Lk 22:19-20).

Teach us, John of the seeing heart,
how to gaze with unveiled faces
on the Face here veiled,
that we may discern in the Bread broken and given
the Eucharistic Heart, the water and the blood (cf. Jn 19:34)."

Read the rest here.  Thank you Father Mark.

Teach us, St. John, to abide with Mary near the cross, today in honor of her Immaculate Heart, and all days in His Eucharistic Heart.  In the Most Holy Name of Jesus, Amen.