December 3rd Fast

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JMJ

"Patience is a precept for salvation given us by our Lord our teacher: 'Whoever endures to the end will be saved. And again: If you persevere in my word, you will truly be my disciples; you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'

Dear brethren, we must endure and persevere if we are to attain the truth and freedom we have been allowed to hope for; faith and hope are the very meaning of our being Christians, but if faith and hope are to bear their fruit, patience is necessary." (St. Cyprian)

In his multi-volume work, The Liturgical Year, Dom Prosper Gueranger, reminds the faithful that the four weeks of Advent symbolize the four thousand years the Israelites waited for God's Anointed. The Benedictine abbot in particular exhorts Christian souls to unite in prayer with the saints of the Old Law in this holy time:

"Let therefore our desires and our confidence have their free utterance in the ardent supplications of the ancient prophets, which the Church puts on our lips during these days of expectation; let us give our closest attention to the sentiments which they express."

There are various periods in our life in which a conclusive end date allows one to ready himself for the task or the occasion presented to him.  Discipline and attention are more easily imposed in these phases because of the definitive nature of the time. It is those fulfillments that are open-ended which demand great patience, and trust in God's providence.  

Like the ancient Hebrews who frequently rebelled as they waited long for the promised Messiah, one may tire in his entreaties, interpreting silence as abandonment so that even the devout soul may begin to falter as he seeks an answer to his vital need.  He cannot see a way for his torment to end, and so forces a solution that is not necessarily sinful, but that is not in keeping with God's will.  

Rather than view this time as a burden of ambiguity, one is invited to understand it as an extension of God's mercy for it allows him to make ready his heart for the task God has prepared.  St. Joseph was unaware of his vocation to be the spouse of the Mother of God until it was revealed to him by the angel; yet his heart was steadfast, his spirit fortified by the years of prayer and discipline he surely practiced as a devout son of Abraham. Simeon and Anna were blessed to recognize the Messiah because of their patient perseverance in prayer as they endured each day in expectation of His coming unlike the impatient Pharisees, who forcefully sought to impose their false Messianic conception, thereby fulfilling Isaiah's tragic prophecy:

"You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing..." (Mt. 13: 14-15)

Advent offers an opportunity to practice patience and trust in Divine Providence, being mindful of God's fulfillment of past promises and having confidence in the fulfillment of future ones.  This holy season is a reminder that time is graciously given not as a burden, but as a mercy; that one's will must not be imposed out of frustration and fatigue, but that God's will must be accepted and searched out in patience and humility.

November 5th Fast

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JMJ

"I admit that we are all weak, but if we want help, the Lord God has given us the means to find it easily. One priest may wish to lead a good, holy life, as he knows he should. He may wish to be chaste and to reflect heavenly virtues in the way he lives. Yet he does not resolve to use suitable means, such as penance, prayer, the avoidance of evil discussions and harmful and dangerous friendships. Another priest complains that as soon as he comes into church to pray the office or to celebrate Mass, a thousand thoughts fill his mind and distract him from God. But what was he doing in the sacristy before he came out for the office or for Mass? How did he prepare? What means did he use to collect his thoughts and to remain recollected?"

St. Charles Borromeo

When an illness arrives unannounced, a person is quick to seek a remedy for his suffering.  Out of a desire to avoid the doctor, he may mask the malignancy by an anesthetic, hoping to ignore the problem and forego the necessary steps to address it. Yet as reality dawns upon him that this is not a temporary dilemma, he is driven by the yearning to be whole once more, and his pain propels him to engage an experienced physician.  A competent authority then discourages any analgesic so that the source is more easily found.  Upon discovery, a physician plots his course, tasking his charge to follow a specific regimen, not simply to minimize the pathogens, but to eliminate them altogether.

Just like in matters of body, in matters of the spirit, when one recognizes a loathsome weed that has polluted the garden of his soul, he might first assuage his self-inflicted wound with numbing distractions.  He recognizes his habitual vice, but slothfully remains complacent rather than honestly assessing the situation. Examining his conscience, one humbly acknowledges the need for conversion but recoils at the necessary self-denial and detachment required to eradicate the disease that plagues him.  Finally, the desire to overcome wins his heart and he implores his Savior for the grace to triumph.  Yet no victory is won without a plan in place to combat the enemy at hand.   

When St. Joan of Arc encountered the army of the French under the command of La Hire, she first cleared the camp of all the distractions that benumbed the men into inertia and diverted them from their purpose. Next, she ordered all to go to confession, and attend Mass.  Finally, she set a strategy in place in order to break the siege of Orleans. 

The moment of temptation is too great to conquer when no prior preparation has been made. Like the saintly maid, one must tackle sinful habits with readiness and resolve; prayer and self-denial.  

October 1st Fast

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JMJ

"And if the good God wants you weak and helpless like a child...do you believe that you will have less merit? ...Agree to stumble at every step therefore, even to fall, to carry your cross weakly, to love your helplessness. Your soul will draw more profit from it than if, carried by grace, you would accomplish with enthusiasm heroic actions that would fill your soul with personal satisfaction and pride."

St. Thérèse of Lisieux

How ironic that in a society where sin is celebrated, flaws are disdained. Failings are never admitted, the public persona of perfection maintained at all costs.  Pride in one's accomplishments is preserved and promoted through both digital and traditional means. Misdeeds are forever shoved in the closet, or excused by blaming uncontrollable circumstances. One may scoff at public figures who eschew humble confessions, but how often does he reflect on the defensive tactics used to hide personal vulnerabilities?

Why does man cringe from humiliation? Perhaps it is because he has deceived himself (consciously or not) into believing that he is incapable of failure or embarrassment. The word "humility" has the same root as the word for earth and ground:"humus".  Humiliations should remind man of his origin for he "is dust and unto dust [he] shall return".  One's defeats should not surprise him, but rather affirm for him that he is mortal and not divine.  Humiliations can either keep one grounded in the truth of his weakness and his need for God's grace; or moments of embarrassment can turn one to anger and resentment, believing others are responsible for the revelation of his shortcomings.

If one struggles to hide his feelings, clinging to an image he has desperately striven to preserve, the results will only be frustration and anxiety. Yet, man does himself a great disservice if he does not reflect on the possibility that God has allowed these mortifying moments of failure to surface in order to invite one to greater trust in Himself.  The more one accepts and confesses to humiliations, the stronger his dependence on God will be, for through his acknowledged weakness, he eagerly admits his need for His Redeemer, and rests in the security and consolation of God's tender love for him. Just like any parent who treasures his child's reliance and trust, Our Father cherishes His child all the more as he relinquishes his stubborn hold on imagined independence, and clings to His Merciful Heart with devotion and gratitude.

September 3rd Fast

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JMJ

"One time I was traveling and far from home and lonely, and I awoke in the night almost on the verge of weeping with a sense of futility, of being unloved and unwanted. And suddenly the thought came to me of my importance as a daughter of God, a daughter of a king, and I felt a sureness of God's love and at the same time a conviction that one of the greatest injustices. . . which one can do to God, is to distrust His love, not realize His love. God so loved me that He gave His only begotten Son.  If a mother will forget her children never will I forget you. Such tenderness. And with such complete, ingratitude we forget the Father and His love!"

Dorothy Day

The consequences of original sin are witnessed and felt daily by the inheritors of that punishment.  One of the most grievous afflictions that burden the descendants of Adam and Eve is the tainted understanding of love. From the moment that Adam betrayed Eve in his neglect to guard the garden and Eve selfishly sought to persuade Adam to join in her sin, the hearts of mankind were stripped of the knowledge  of unconditional love, as evidenced by how the first couple cowered in terror as they heard God calling for them.  Man regains some of his lost innocence when he is baptized but still must endure a world overshadowed by concupiscence.  A natural trust that exists from childhood will one day be sadly shattered when he realizes that others do not love him as they ought.

A selfish passion that parades as love divides man and wife, parent and child, friend from friend. But it also muddles one's knowledge of what sincere love is.  Cynicism can easily set in, and rash judgment often accompanies it.  This is a temptation that takes much courage to reject, but it is a battle that is necessary for the good of his soul.  For if he settles for the world's false version of love, he not only excuses himself from the challenge of living a life of total gift of self, but he also may deny himself the happiness of knowing that there is One who truly loves him and can satisfy him.  The cynic easily forgets the Father's love, and so misses his opportunity to rest in that love, to feel certain in the knowledge and certainty of it, to be hopeful of everlasting happiness abiding in it.  The love of the Father is ennobling and tender, sweet and secure.   As Padre Pio said:

"How is it possible that the fountain of living water which issues from the divine heart should be far from a soul that rushes to it like a thirsty deer? I therefore urge you in the charity of Christ to make sure you calm your anxiety by drinking at the fountain of divine love, which you must do in faith and trust, by humility and submission to God's will."

 

 

August 6th Fast

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JMJ

"We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.  May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Romans 15:1-6 

Living in harmony with others is one of the greatest challenges to patience that men endure. Abiding in peace takes self-control, humility and charity, among other virtues. Strength is demanded to rein in impulsive reactions to daily vexations that threaten to disturb a tranquil communal atmosphere.  But self-control also must be employed to stifle the instinct to grumble about suffered grievances (actual or perceived) to sympathetic ears that commiserate in solicitude.

Yet discipline alone does not suffice to stem the tide of resentment.  In order to persevere, a firm resolve must be succored with humility and charity. When one believes he has reached the heights of maturity in the spiritual life, he can be tempted to regard the peccadillos or irksome idiosyncrasies of others with disdain, assuming he is the only one who must bear annoyances. How easily he forgets the definitive reciprocity that a relationship contains, and so fails to reflect that his companion may be equally enduring difficulties arising from his own faults. As it says in the Imitation of Christ:

"Try to bear patiently with the defects and infirmities of others, whatsoever they may be, because you also have many a fault which others must endure."

Above all, charity is vital in cultivating peace in the home.  In a culture that is handicapped by its addiction to dopamine so that its thirst for pleasure is never fully quenched, one may believe that if his will does not coincide with his sentiments, he is portraying a false image.  When one's feelings are incongruent with his actions, he thinks himself hypocritical. On the contrary, the fact that he can overcome the antipathy he feels and act with charity demonstrates his great love for God. A well known story from the autobiography of St. Therese illustrates this point well, and offers hope to those who struggle in this regard.

“Formerly one of our nuns managed to irritate me whatever she did or said. The devil was mixed up in it, for it was certainly he who made me see so many disagreeable traits in her.

As I did not want to give way to my natural dislike for her, I told myself that charity should not only be a matter of feeling but should show itself in deeds. So I set myself to do for this sister just what I should have done for someone I loved most dearly.

Every time I met her, I prayed for her and offered God all her virtues and her merits. I was sure this would greatly delight Jesus, for every artist likes to have his works praised and the divine Artist of souls is pleased when we do not halt outside the exterior of the sanctuary where He has chosen to dwell but go inside and admire its beauty.

I did not remain content with praying a lot for this nun who caused me so much disturbance. I tried to do as many things for her as I could, and whenever I was tempted to speak unpleasantly to her, I made myself give her a pleasant smile and tried to change the subject.

When I was violently tempted by the devil and if I could slip away without her seeing my inner struggle, I would flee like a soldier deserting the battlefield. And after all this she asked me one day with a beaming face: “Sister Therese, will you please tell me what attracts you so much to me? You give me such a charming smile whenever we meet.” Ah! it was Jesus hidden in the depth of her soul who attracted me, Jesus who makes the bitterest things sweet!"

 

July 2nd Fast

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JMJ

"Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to his disciples,'Sit here, while I go yonder and pray.' And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them,'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here and watch with me.' And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will but as thou wilt.' And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter,'So, could you not watch with me one hour?' (Mt 26:36-40)

An account is related about St. Jerome, in which he had a vision of Christ asking the erudite scholar who he was.  When Jerome replied that he was a Christian, the Lord tersely responded that Jerome was not a  Christian, but rather a Ciceronian. Sobered by this denunciation, Jerome wholeheartedly poured himself into knowing, loving and serving his Master above all else.

Reflecting on this story should give one pause to ponder what the Lord's answer might be to him. One's love should define his life: informing his decisions and dictating how his time is spent. When a person first discovers his true love , he reorders his entire life so that he can maximize his time with his beloved.  He devours every moment, delighting in all the knowledge he can gain about his love. He thinks nought of wasting time on frivolous pursuits and spurns anything that will separate him from his dear one. Occupations that were once deemed indispensable may not be cast aside but are now viewed with indifference and detachment.

Upon possession of the beloved a person feels jubilant and secure but contentment can lead to complacency; the brilliance of the beloved is not lost, rather the desire of the lover is slowly tempered.  However, this realization is not immediately apparent because the lover has not overtly betrayed his cherished one.  His attachments do not appear to separate him, yet his mere occupation with inane activities serve to question the strength of his devotion.  Though he may wistfully yearn for blissful rest with the other, in reality he refuses to relinquish employments or ingrained habits that deny him the opportunity to be fully present to his heart's desire.   Wonder and awe are replaced by familiarity and tepidity. Moments are wasted rather than seized so that a person may echo one of the characters in C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters: "I now see that I spent most of my life in doing neither what I ought or what I liked."

Love should not be a relationship that is maintained like a machine, having occasional inspections to ensure reliability. Instead, it should resemble a garden that must be cultivated, but weeded, sown but also pruned.  And yet, like a garden that has been forgotten, love can still be renewed by the conscious and determined discipline of daily labors that will unearth the hidden beauties that lie beneath its neglect.  The beloved waits to be adorned again with attention and veneration.  The faithful friend waits for his kindred spirit; the adoring child waits for his tender parents; the steadfast spouse waits for his life's companion; the Beloved waits in the Sacrament of Divine Love.

June 4th Fast

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JMJ

    "Life is marked by suffering. The poor suffer, the great suffer. Everything that is painful to the flesh, displeasing to the senses is a cross. Embrace all these little opportunities of suffering and you will be bearing the cross of Christ; relieve the afflicted and he will accept it as given to himself.

    I did most earnestly pray in my Mass and at Holy Communion to implore grace to imitate our Lord and to return him love for love. I tried to offer him what Saint Margaret Mary desired—not to be left without suffering. I absolutely have not reached her desire. Naturally, I hate suffering. I did try, however. . ." 

St. Katherine Drexel 

An unfortunate but common misperception exists in regards to the saints; that is, that they eagerly sought out affliction.  Certainly, there were those particular souls who asked to share in the Passion of Christ, or voluntarily chose to perform heavy penances for the sins of mankind. However, for the vast majority, the cross was a sobering and difficult trial.  To mythologize the saints in such a way as to believe that they were inured to suffering, greatly belittles their heroic efforts but also conveniently relieves man of the challenge to do likewise. 

It is a great temptation- in times of travail- to resent the cross that so obstinately remains despite the plethora of remedies both physical and spiritual that are applied. Self-pity is a far more attractive option than perseverance and resignation. God desires His children to seek His help for healing and relief; it is natural for one to exhaust all reasonable possibilities when a painful situation arises. Yet, after it becomes apparent that a burden will not be alleviated, one must implore for the grace to endure it as best he can.

In a letter to her sister-in-law, St. Zelie Martin aptly illustrated this paradox:

"I had said to God, 'You know well that I don't have time to be sick.' . . Then God said to me, 'Since you don't have time to be sick, perhaps you have time to suffer a lot of pain?'  And I haven't been spared, I assure you!'

You see, in this world, that's what it's like. We have to carry our cross one way or another. We say to God, 'I don't want that one.' Often our prayer is answered, but often to our misfortune. It's better to patiently accept what happens to us. There's always joy alongside the pain."

To assent to God's will with a meek and humble heart takes more strength of will than to spurn it with a defiant and haughty spirit. The saints struggled, but endured through their heroic patience and constant prayer.  Their prayer echoed Our Savior's during His Agony:

“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Mt 26: 39)

 

  

May 7th Fast

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JMJ

"Let nothing disturb you,  Let nothing frighten you, All things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Whoever has God lacks nothing;God alone suffices. " 

St. Teresa of Avila 

The culture of consumerism so pollutes the atmosphere that man finds himself perpetually dissatisfied; he hungers for more, only to find his desire never fulfilled, his thirst never slaked. Like Tantalus in the Greek myth, he always grasps but never gains.  

The faithful follower of Christ may think he is immune to this habitual inclination since he knows like St. Augustine  that "our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee, O Lord."  And yet, his restive soul is still not at peace because he stubbornly clings to childish wants and demands rather than yielding his will in childlike trust and acceptance.   For a child is satisfied with little, content to simply have his basic needs met by one who tenderly loves him.  A little one does not dwell on adversity nor is hindered by humiliations, but rests peacefully in the security of a devoted family. Time holds no meaning for him and so he joyfully delights in every moment, revealing by his innocent laugh how he grateful he is to be alive.  When one becomes like a child again, he is not only satisfied by the essentials, but learns to cast off the spirit of gluttony by embracing the spirit of gratitude.

 The beautiful month of May always invites the Christian to reflect on the many virtues of Our dear Mother Mary.  The Divine Plan was not detailed in advance, but rather unfolded before her eyes. Yet, through every hardship, one can imagine that she would console St. Joseph and herself by saying, "At least we have Him with us." Does every disciple think the same when tribulation- be it large or small- comes?  Is one content with the necessities, grateful for the small comforts given by the Father of Mercies? Or is he always frustrated by sufferings, impeded by inconveniences, perturbed because circumstances cannot be just so? 

Undaunted by the sorrows she endured, Mary possessed a grateful disposition and a childlike trust  in God's providence. Though she experienced excruciating pain, her heart was filled with profound peace, as it clung to Him who satisfied all her needs.

"Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.  

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,  and he delivered them from their distress, 

He led them by a straight way, till they reached a city to dwell in. 

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to the sons of men! 

For He satisfies him who is thirsty, and the hungry He fills with good things." 

(Ps. 108: 4-9)

April 2nd, Good Friday Fast

 +JMJ

"Bernard of Clairvaux coined the marvelous expression: Impassibilis est Deus, sed non incompassibilis—God cannot suffer, but he can suffer with. Man is worth so much to God that he himself became man in order to suffer with man in an utterly real way—in flesh and blood—as is revealed to us in the account of Jesus's Passion. Hence in all human suffering we are joined by one who experiences and carries that suffering with us; hence con-solatio is present in all suffering, the consolation of God's compassionate love—and so the star of hope rises. . the capacity to suffer for the sake of the truth is the measure of humanity. Yet this capacity to suffer depends on the type and extent of the hope that we bear within us and build upon. The saints were able to make the great journey of human existence in the way that Christ had done before them, because they were brimming with great hope."

(Spe Salvi, Pope Benedict XVI) 

    One of the preeminent virtues that can be found in the lives of the saints is not only the ability to suffer patiently, but to do so while selflessly caring for the needs of others.  St. Maximilian Kolbe- a man already weakened by a long battle with tuberculosis- was forcibly huddled with nine other men in a starvation bunker in Auschwitz, where he encouraged his fellow sufferers with hymns and hopeful exhortations, ministering to the last until he was left to die alone.  St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, who endured many severe trials- dire poverty following the loss of her beloved husband, abandonment by friends and family after her conversion- selflessly mothered her fledgling community, even while inwardly grieving the loss of her two daughters, whom she buried while struggling to secure a firm foundation for her Sisters of Charity.  And St. Zelie Martin- sufferer of frequent migraines and later breast cancer- so refused to allow her physical ailments and personal losses (that of 4 small children) to prevent her from using up all her strength in service to her family and Our Lord that she was finally forced to relinquish her cherished practice of attending daily Mass because her fading strength would not allow her to open the door of the church.

    This desire to set aside one's own sorrows in order to empty oneself out for another finds its source of strength and hope in the Cross of Christ.  In his encyclical on hope, Spe Salvi, Pope Benedict XVI says:

"Truth and justice must stand above my comfort and physical well-being, or else my life itself becomes a lie.  In the end, even the 'yes' to love is a source of suffering, because love always requires expropriations of my 'I', in which I allow myself to be pruned and wounded. Love simply cannot exist without this painful renunciation of myself, for otherwise it becomes pure selfishness and thereby ceases to be love."

    As the first and best disciple of her Son, Our Lady exemplifies this total gift of self, even as the sword of sorrow plunged deep into her soul.  How great must have been her need to be consoled, in the midst of her agony, as she watched her beloved Son, her tender boy, being defiled, humiliated, and mercilessly torn apart? But as her Son consoled his followers despite his excruciating pain, so too she would accept her vocation to comfort and console her newly adopted children- given to her by Christ on the Cross- despite the agonizing pain that pierced her heart.  How bravely she once again gave her fiat to Her Son when she heard those words,"Woman behold your son." How courageously she persevered in her motherly role, even as she felt the second painful separation from her Son as he later ascended into heaven.  

If the will to win can drive the athlete to ignore all pain in the pursuit of earthly glory, surely the will to love can motivate the faithful Christian to overcome all physical and emotional pain in the pursuit of heavenly glory? For it is a decision of the will, not a passing fancy of the heart, to set aside the personal sorrows that dwell deep therein, in order to encourage and comfort those without.  Yet though this generous soul may forego the need for human consolation in the pursuit of truly loving another, he must remember that God will never abandon him, and will be comfort him in the hidden solitude of his soul:

"The Latin word con-solatio, “consolation”, expresses this beautifully. It suggests being with the other in his solitude, so that it ceases to be solitude. . . Hence in all human suffering we are joined by one who experiences and carries that suffering with us; hence con-solatio is present in all suffering, the consolation of God's compassionate love—and so the star of hope rises."

 

March 5th Fast

 +JMJ

"Let us allow ourselves to be filled with St. Joseph's silence! In a world that is often too noisy, that encourages neither recollection nor listening to God's voice, we are in such need of it."

(Pope Benedict XVI)

   In the age of social media, the clamor for attention is like the deafening thunder of a towering waterfall.  The insatiable desire to indulge one's ego is displayed through the broadcasting of all personal details and opinions, illustrated in words or images. Less one thinks himself innocent of the charge of virtual grandstanding because he refrains from those platforms, and haughtily separate himself from his blabbering brethren, he should consider how often he uses subtle devices to attract notice.  God has bestowed the tremendous gifts of reason and speech upon man, but unfortunately if the former is neglected when employing the latter, man acts no better than the cackling hens who fill the barnyard with their cacophony.

"O, that a guard were set over my mouth, and a seal of prudence upon my lips that it may keep me from falling so that my tongue may not destroy me!" (Sir. 22:27)

Though the sharing of even the seemingly trivial may seem harmless, the urge to do so is a symptom of a larger disease that plagues the discontented and insecure soul.  Modern man refuses to forego any opportunity to publicize himself. No witty remark is left unsaid. Every opinion is erudite and so must be pronounced. Complaints and daily frustrations are chronicled rather than concealed.  Altruism may be done in secret but must be subtly alluded to so the doer receives his deserved acknowledgement. 

In contrast to this morass of vanity and self-pity, stands the truly humble man who sincerely desires to remain hidden. St. Joseph, the Just Man, is aptly given this title for the virtue of justice demands that one gives others what is due them, and St. Joseph foremost gave God what was due Him- his faithful service and adoration- and trusted that God in His providence would give him and the Holy Family what was necessary for them. The dear husband of Our Lady, provides the essential witness of silent and selfless servitude.  

St. Joseph was granted guardianship of the Messiah and His Mother, but not knowledge of how God's plan would unfold.  He, of all people, had reason to complain when sufferings came. Why did God not protect the Holy Infant from the harshest elements: born in abject poverty, hunted by a ravenous dictator, ostracized in a foreign land. Why did Mary, the woman he loved so tenderly, have to endure humiliations when she was the Mother of the Savior? Precedence for grumbling about God's designs certainly can be found in abundance when perusing the lives of the Patriarchs and Prophets.  And yet, St. Joseph remains ever the steadfast servant: eager to carry out God's will, despite the hardship he and his loved ones must endure.

Modern man abhors hiddenness, but St. Joseph embraces it.  The former clings to his complaints while the latter courageously eschews the temptation to self-pity. Attracting attention to indulge one's self takes little effort but the restraint which cultivates humility demands the tremendous strength of St. Joseph. Pray to St. Joseph! Desire to be like him!

“Devotion to St. Joseph is one of the choicest graces that God can give to a soul, for it is tantamount to revealing the entire treasury of our Lord’s graces. When God wishes to raise a soul to greater heights, he unites it to St. Joseph by giving it a strong love for the good saint."

    (St. Peter Julian Eymard)

February 5th Fast

 +JMJ

"Among these devout people, those who suffer afflictions are not much over-concerned about their sufferings and never lose courage." 

(St. Francis deSales, Introduction to the Devout Life, Part I, no.18)

Due to the facility and immediacy that modern advances have afforded mankind, true drudgery has all but vanished and suffering- a reality that civilization historically was forced to accept- is easily avoided.  Yet, with the ease of comfort comes the frustration of inconvenience; behind the banishment of ills, lurks a paralysis induced by the cross.  

Because past generations were inured to adversity from an early age, their shoulders were gradually strengthened to bear the burdens that inevitably appeared, but their hearts were also opened to the hope that their sacrifices could be united to the salvific act of Christ's Cross.  Certainly many were hardened by enduring misfortunes, but others were buoyed by the knowledge that their suffering was temporary and their reward eternal.

Though the advent of modern convenience and medicine brought a welcome exponential growth in the quality of life, it also brought a new ignorance to the experience of suffering.  Sorrows were now rare but so too was the capability to endure them. Therefore, when inescapable afflictions came, perseverance was found wanting in most: fear replaced fortitude and repulsion replaced resignation.  When disdain for trials has been ingrained since youth, it is very difficult, indeed, to expect anything but cowardice when confronted with the cross.

Yet fear of the cross comes from him, who despises it more than anyone. In the legend of St. Christopher, the devil trembles and recoils from the mere sight of the cross, revealing to St. Christopher its awesome power.  Though a noble soul rarely knows the reasons for a present trial, he does understand that even if the only purpose is for his sanctification, that is reason enough to endure hardship.  One may understandably beg for relief - for even the saints did that- but also prays for the grace to accept the cross he must carry.  Even in their pain, these generous souls offer to God their gratitude that He has given them to means to obtain graces, the strength to bear their burden, and the instrument to grow closer to Him, whom they desire so much.