December 2nd Fast

 +JMJ

"Look upon the hour of adoration assigned to you as an hour in paradise. Go to your adoration as one would to heaven, to the divine banquet. You will then long for that hour and hail it with joy. Take delight in fostering a longing for it in your heart. Tell yourself, "In four hours, in two hours, in one hour, our Lord will give me an audience of grace and love. He has invited me; he is waiting for me; he is longing for me." (St. Peter Julian Eymard)

In his book, Mother Teresa of Calcutta: A Personal Portrait, Fr. Leo Maasburg described the importance of prayer— specifically Adoration and Mass— for this saint of the gutters:

In 1972 when a catastrophic flood struck Bangladesh, Mother Teresa immediately sent her sisters there to help out.  The needs were enormous, and the work demanded superhuman efforts on the part of the Sisters. So they were asked if they would make an exception and not interrupt their work for prayer sessions. Mother Teresa decided against it: 'No, the Sisters will come home for Adoration and Holy Mass'...for Mother Teresa it was clear that the Sisters' strength dries up if they are not nourished daily by Mass and their Adoration of the Holy Eucharist."

During this season of Advent, the faithful Christian hears the Gospel story of the Birth of Christ; its familiarity is comforting, its sameness is soothing.  Listening to the Nativity story may bring back childhood memories, or evoke picturesque scenes.  It is easy to imagine oneself as the shepherd who would run in haste to meet his King just as he might imagine himself as one of the few standing by the cross. 

But perhaps, a more likely scenario for the modern man is the role of the innkeeper who said,"there is no room."  For why should one expect that he would make room to welcome the Savior to Bethlehem when he does not make room in his day for the same Lord? Instead of clearing the way so that he can spend time with His King, he clutters his path with excuse upon excuse.  

Many are blessed to be near churches with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, but many neglect to take advantage of this gift.  And why? Because in a culture where plans can be changed last minute, and distractions are ever at one's fingertips, committing to time in Adoration takes effort and sacrifice.  Saying yes to the invitation from Our Lord necessitates saying no to other demands upon one's time. It is the difference between just trying to simply squeeze in Our Lord somewhere, and the day revolving around the time with Him. Even if the former works, it is as if one is saying to Jesus,"I think I can find time for you on my schedule." But in the latter, he says,"Nothing is more important than you, my Jesus, and I will do everything in my power to be with you this day." 

November 4th Fast

 +JMJ

"Fear of the Lord, instead, is the gift of the Holy Spirit through whom we are reminded of how small we are before God and of his love and that our good lies in humble, respectful and trusting self-abandonment into his hands. . .When we are pervaded by fear of the Lord, then we are led to follow the Lord with humility, docility and obedience. This, however, is not an attitude of resignation, passivity or regret, but one of the wonder and joy of being a child who knows he is served and loved by the Father. Fear of the Lord, therefore, does not make of us Christians who are shy and submissive, but stirs in us courage and strength!"

(Pope Francis, General Audience, June 11, 2014)

The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. In his excellent book, The Spirit of the Liturgy, Pope Benedict XVI enlightens the reader to the intentional interconnection of the sacred liturgy and liturgical calendar with the rhythm of time itself.  Just as Easter, the celebration of Christ's resurrection, purposely coincides with Spring, and Christmas, the Birth of the Light of the World, comes mere days after the Winter Solstice—the time when light gradually returns to the day—so too the month dedicated to the dead appropriately occurs when all of nature appears to be dying.  The brightness of the leaves is faded; their crackling under tread indicates that they are not newly fallen but long since dead.

While the world does all in its power to distract man from his finiteness, creation will not be deterred from inviting man to meditate on his inevitable mortality.  In keeping with this knowledge, the Holy Spirit mercifully grants man the gift of the Fear of the Lord, which means to "entertain a profound though filial fear of God, to meditate on the great disaster of losing His love, and of being separated from Him for all eternity."1

When one cultivates this gift, he embraces the words of Our Lord to fear nothing which can harm the body but only that which can harm the soul.  One shouldn't be surprised by suffering for it serves as a reminder that he is not meant for this world.  It serves to increase one's longing for heavenly rest, and helps the bearer to remember that the cross is not to be looked upon with angst and resentment, but with acceptance and gratitude.  The certainty of death and judgment sobers the faithful Christian, and prompts him to recollect that he must one day stand side by side with the martyrs, and then what will he have to show? 

"Nothing but crosses will assure us at the Day of Judgment. When that day shall come, we shall be happy in our misfortunes, proud of our humiliations, and rich in our sacrifices." (St. John Vianney)

1. Sheehan, Archbishop Michael. Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine. London:  The Saint Austin Press. 2001.

 

October 7th Fast

 +JMJ

"We believe it to be part of the designs of Providence that, in these times of trial for the Church, the ancient devotion to the august Virgin should live and flourish amid the greatest part of the Christian world. May now the Christian nations, . . . seek the protection of Mary with an ardour growing greater day by day; let them cling more and more to the practice of the Rosary, to that devotion which our ancestors were in the habit of practicing, not only as an ever-ready remedy for their misfortunes, but as a whole badge of Christian piety. 

(Supremi Apostolatus Officio, Encyclical on Devotion to the Rosary 

Pope Leo XIII, 1883)

    When Father Patrick Peyton was miraculously cured of Tuberculosis by the Blessed Mother, he solemnly promised to repay this heavenly Queen by spreading devotion to her and her Son.  Momentarily he thought to encourage devotion to the family rosary and attendance at daily Mass. But upon further reflection, he realized that the latter was not attainable for everyone whereas the former could be. 

    By its very nature, the rosary has always been a prayer for simple souls.  Its very name—Our Lady's Psalter,—reveals this simplicity as it was proffered as an alternative breviary for the mostly illiterate populace, its fifteen decades each composed of ten Hail Marys mirroring the 150 psalms recited by educated religious.  

    Greatness lies in littleness; sanctity shines in humility. It is not the grandeur of the prayer that is important, but the majesty of the one it is addressed to. When Naaman the Syrian is told to wash seven times in the Jordan, he initially ridicules Elisha for this mundane request, questioning its efficacy in curing his leprosy. Yet his servants implore him to obey:

 "My father, if the prophet had commanded you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather, then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 

If modern man scoffs at its repetitive, elementary nature, perhaps it is because of his own disordered soul, with its insatiable desire to constantly excite passions, forever seeking distractions to quell his inner unrest. In Laetitiae Sanctae, one of eleven encyclicals written by Pope Leo XIII on the Rosary, the Holy Pontiff keenly observed the modern temptations which cause man to recoil from this prayer:

 There are three influences which appear to Us to have the chief place in effecting this downgrade movement of society. These are-first, the distaste for a simple and laborious life (Joyful Mysteries); secondly, repugnance to suffering of any kind (Sorrowful Mysteries); thirdly, the forgetfulness of the future life.(Glorious Mysteries)."

For most of Christian history, the rhythm of the liturgical year, and daily prayer existed alongside the tempo of agricultural life.  Though society as a whole will not return to its agrarian roots, the family can recover the simplicity of that life by again embracing the order and rhythm Our Lady offers through the recitation of the daily rosary.  This constant prayer is like the silent heartbeat of the home, pumping and preserving life, felt but unseen. Fidelity, like love, requires an act of the will. One must daily decide to be a faithful servant of Our Lady, not on a whim, not in a dramatic fashion, but in consistent and patient perseverance.  

September 2nd Fast

 +JMJ

"It is much easier to see the redemptive role of pain and suffering in God's plan if you are not actually undergoing pain and suffering.. . If you look upon sacrifice and suffering only through the eyes of reason alone, your tendency will be to avoid as much of it as you can, for pain itself is never pleasant. But if you can learn to see the role of pain and suffering in relation to God's redemptive plan for the universe and each individual soul, your attitude must change. You don't shun it when it comes upon you, but bear it in the measure grace is given you."

(Father Walter J. Ciszek)

 One of the greatest treasures of the Church is the inexhaustible store of wisdom—emanating from the Holy Spirit, liberally dispersed among the saints.  It is not difficult to discover insights that apply to any difficulty nor learn of a holy one whose circumstances mirror one's own.  And yet, as is stated in the Imitation of Christ, no store of knowledge is beneficial unless it is put to use:

"It is better to feel contrition for your sins than to know how to define it. What good is it to know the entire Bible by heart and to learn the sayings of the all philosophers if you live without the grace and the Love of God?"

The saints became holy because they practiced heroic virtue in the midst of trying circumstances. They were patient when most justified anger; poor when most rationalized wealth; tempered when most called for liberality; humble when most clung to their pride; merciful when most demanded severity.

Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh. The Truth Itself becomes incarnate in all his actions. If one is to imitate Him, he must remove himself from the abstract world of lovely sayings, and beautiful images, and actualize the Truth in the words he has heard and read.   Otherwise, he can expect to hear from his Master the same rebuke that was given to the disciples:"Do you not yet understand?"

August 5th Fast

 +JMJ

"The fervent and diligent man is ready for all things. It is harder to labor to withstand vices and passions than to toil at bodily labors. He that shuns not small defects, little by little, falls into greater ones. You will always be glad in the evening if you spend the day profitably."

(The Imitation of Christ)

When modern conveniences were introduced, men rightly rejoiced as much time that was previously spent in arduous labor could now be employed for self-improvement, family, and above all, rest.  Unfortunately, man is a naturally undisciplined creature and so allotting him the gift of more time did not necessarily prove more beneficial.

Often taking a cavalier attitude, man assumes that perfect health, longevity, and the constant presence of children, friends or a spouse are givens rather than gifts.  Mislead into a false security by the evil one, man foolishly squanders his limited time on pursuits that are wasteful at best and harmful at worst.  The need for the soul to be refreshed is legitimate and proper; one cannot work continuously without sufficient rest and leisure. But, when in seeking to satiate this need, man grasps at immediate gratification in the form of empty diversions, he achieves the exact opposite by exciting passions—anger, anxiety, jealousy, etc.—that worthwhile pursuits would have quelled. 

Embracing each moment does not necessitate engaging in physical activity but it does require forethought and reflection.  Because the opportunities for rest are not lengthy nor predictable, if one does not examine his use of time and prayerfully prepare for these daily retreats, he will quickly gravitate to old habits.  True leisure reinvigorates and refreshes the mind, the body and the soul while mindless activity drains and wearies the heart. At the knee of Our Mother, one learns to ponder the works of the Creator in all that is true, good and beautiful.

"O present moment, you belong to me, whole and entire. I. desire to use you as best I can. And although I am weak and small, You grant me the grace of Your omnipotence." (The Diary of St. Faustina)

 

 

 

July 1st Fast

 +JMJ

"Let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3: 15-17)

In her well known book, The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom details the cruel barbarities of a Nazi concentration camp that she and her sister, Betsy, endure. After a succession of humiliations and subjection to degrading conditions, Corrie nearly yields to despair, incredulous as to how the sisters will bear life in this hellish place. Then, Betsy gently reminds her of Paul's exhortation— "Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God." (1 Thes. 5:18) —emphasizing that one is not only to show gratitude in times of comfort and security. Corrie mostly accedes, but resolutely refuses to thank her Maker for the fleas which are their constant companions until she later discovers that due to one guard's abhorrence of the aforementioned mites, the women can freely conduct prayer meetings in the barracks: a cherished consolation in the midst of their intense tribulation.

Paul's letters consistently remind his Christian audience that they, like the Israelites, are "strangers in a strange land" and must act accordingly to differentiate from their pagan neighbors. In the midst of difficulties, the secularist clings to his victim status: his petulant attitude a derivation of the ingrained expectation that he deserves better than the obstacles that litter his path. His resentment fuels frustration, inflaming a temper that is easily touched off at the slightest provocation. Literally weighing him down, his burdens foster a sarcastic and sullen attitude that is rife with cynicism. 

Yet the faithful Christian courageously refuses to wallow in  the mire of self-pity. He humbly acknowledges his faults and often reflects on the bounteous gifts that His father bestows, despite his many failings. Buoyed by this knowledge, he is not easily piqued by inconsequential burdens, nor vexed to suffer inconvenience. This posture of gratitude secures his peace. Thankful for the slightest minutiae, his patience increases, his perseverance strengthens, his endurance lengthens, and his joy abounds.

June 3rd Fast

 +JMJ

"Once understood, it seemed so simple. I was amazed it had taken me so long in terms of time and suffering to learn this truth. Of course we believe we depend on God, that his will sustains us in every moment of our life. But we are afraid to put it to the test. There remains deep down in each of us a little nagging doubt, a little knot of fear that we refuse to face or admit even to ourselves, that say, 'Suppose it isn't so.' We are afraid to abandon ourselves totally in God's hands for fear he will not catch us if we fall. 

It is the ultimate criterion, the final test of all faith and all belief, and it is present in each of us, lurking unvoiced in a closet of our mind we are afraid to open. It is not really a question of trust in God at all, for we want very much to trust him; it is really a question of our ultimate belief in his existence and his providence, and it demands the purest act of faith."

(Father Walter J. Ciszek, S.J.)

     Modern man is conditioned to not only know his outcomes but control them as well.  Unfortunately, when the outcome can so easily be controlled there is no need for trust, even on the simplest level, and so when a situation demands even a modicum of faith, man quickly retreats, preferring comfort to courage, safety to self surrender.  

As Christ yearns to unite, the devil devises to divide.  His ultimate goal is to erode the foundation of one's relationship with God by sowing seeds of suspicion and distrust; consequently the soul exchanges his confidence and peace for fear and anxiety.  The sundry of sin that originated in Eden first came from Eve's distrust of God's providence, her fear of His will, and ultimately her doubt of His love. 

It is this doubt of God's love that has plagued man ever since.  It is this doubt that prompted Our Lord to appear to St. Margaret Mary and reveal His Sacred Heart, reminding man of His intense love for him.  It is this mistrust of God's divine providence that moved Christ to appear to Saint Faustina, imploring man to place his trust in Him. 

Satan encourages man to think of God as distant and indifferent, an omnipotent but abstract being.  But Our dear Savior is not an abstract idea but a real person, flesh and blood, full of passionate love for the flock He lays His life down for.  The statues of Christ in Church do not invite man to worship cold stone, but rather remind the soul that what he worships is a real man, who walked this earth, who is alive in the Holy Eucharist, who aches for our love.  But he does not want a love that is conditioned and calculated, for that is not love at all, only a cowardly tepidity that dismays and disgusts him.  He begs for a love that is free of anxiety but full of trust; he invites man to relinquish his fears.  He asks,"Do you have the strength to believe in my providential care? Do you truly believe that I love you?" And so, in times of doubt, say this simple prayer over and over again, Jesus I trust in you. 

May 6th Fast

 +JMJ

"My soul magnifies the Lord, 

 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 

for He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden. 

For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; 

for He who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is His name. 

And his mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.  

He has shown strength in His arm,  

He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, 

He has put down the mighty from their thrones, 

And has exalted those of low degree; 

He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich Has has sent empty away. 

He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever. 

(Lk. 1:46-55)

Among the many benefits that classic literature affords is a study of human nature which is revealed by perceptive authors who portray their characters in a fashion which transcends the era in which they live. Elinor Dashwood, one of the protagonists in Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility, is frequently plagued by a troublesome companion, Lucy Steele.  The latter young woman imposes a trust upon the elder Miss Dashwood when she purposely reveals a secret engagement to the former's love interest, Edward Ferrars.  Assuming Elinor's attachment to her fiance, Lucy consistently strives to cultivate feelings of jealousy in the other; feigning friendship while conspicuously emphasizing her superior position to Elinor.  Miss Dashwood courageously refuses to indulge Lucy; pitying Edward for his evidently immature decision as a youth, rather than questioning her own merit as a worthy companion.

In one's journey to holiness he is frequently assailed by temptations, not the least of which is jealousy. Sometimes temptations to this vice arise from the devil sowing seeds of insecurity; at other times, the soul is enticed to the inverse, as envy drives him to willfully excite jealous feelings in another person who he imagines to be his competitor. 

Trapped in a jealous mindset a soul forgets that the race he is competing in is against himself, not against others.  Unfortunately the present culture only encourages this competitive spirit as the majority engages in an endless spewing of personal information— accomplishments, experiences, relationships, opinions, etc.— that consciously or unconsciously broadcasts their superiority. This tendency is not only found in secular society but frequently occurs in the Christian community when the holy desire to reform is distorted into the perverse desire to perform.  Does one keep in mind that in his excitement to highlight his advances, he may be also accentuating his neighbor's shortcomings?

The saints recognize that the road to perfection consists in the daily acceptance of God's will. Peace is attained when one's will and spiritual practices are attuned to his vocation and ability. The truly humble soul can never be jealous because he acknowledges that there has been and will always be someone smarter, prettier, wealthier, wittier, holier, etc. Confident that God knows of his capability, the saint is secure in the knowledge that sanctity lies in the many daily fidelities he practices in his vocation.  The jealous soul is hardened against His Maker; refusing to be grateful for how he has been made and what he has been given. But a soul at peace rejoices in his littleness and truly says with the Pslamist:

"For it was You who formed my inward parts; You knit me in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." (Ps. 139: 13-14)

April 1st Fast

 +JMJ

"After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished said (to fulfill the scripture), 'I thirst,' A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said,'It is finished'; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." (Jn. 19:28-30)

 St. Teresa of Kolkata famously said,"I know that God will not give me anything I cannot handle. I just wish He would not trust me so much." How often in life does one echo these words in his heart? How often does he pray for the strength to endure seemingly endless tests of patience? How frequently does he sympathize with another famous Teresian quip (this time from the great saint of Avila):"If this is how you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few of them?"  

If one thing is certain about the Royal Road of the Cross it is that it is not a short one.  It is understood that God could have redeemed the world in any way He chose; one drop of Christ's blood would have been sufficient to pay our ransom. And yet, Our Savior chose to fill his cup of suffering up to the very brim. His mental anguish in Gethsemane was not enough; his betrayal by his one apostle and abandonment by his other apostles was not enough; his scourging and crowning with thorns was not enough. How his body, his human nature, must have ached to stay on the ground after each fall on the way to Calvary! Oh, surely He must have yearned to die in the arms of His beloved mother as she sorrowfully met Him on the Via Dolorosa.  

But it was not until His strength had been completely emptied that Christ breathed His last on Good Friday. For having poured out His sacrificial love as a ransom for sinners, He now cries out for that same love in the words,"I thirst". The love that satisfies is not one that is given in a burst of affection, or a brief moment of self-denial.  This love that the Greeks called "agape" is one that demands the total gift of self. One who strives to practice it does not say,"the burden is too heavy, the time is too long, the cross is too much." He may beg for assistance, but is prepared to persevere, plodding along steadily, rising when he falls, determined to shoulder the weight until the Lord may say to him:"It is enough."

March 4th Fast

 +JMJ

"'I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him,'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him,'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants,'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring in his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.'" (Lk. 15:21-24)

In Willa Cather's novel, Death Comes for the Archbishop, the bishop and his assistant come upon a ramshackle pueblo, during one of their missionary journeys.  The occupants of the hovel are a loathsome man and his timid, native wife, who silently communicates to the travelers that they are in danger, wordlessly imploring them to make haste in their departure.  After the clerics successfully flee to the nearest village, the woman, aptly named Magdelena, manages to escape her abusive husband, subsequently pouring forth her wretched story to the two missionaries.  

Enticed by the prospect of marrying a wealthy American, Magdelena entered into a bond with a man who she soon discovered to be a murderous and cruel knave.  She suffered in darkness until she was given hope by the solicitous gaze of the bishop; the look of love that came from Christ. This hope prompted her to flee, despite the danger if she were caught.  After her husband is apprehended and justly punished for his crimes, the bishop places Magdelena in the convent of the Sisters of Loretto, where she lives as a servant. As Cather writes,

"She was devoted to the nuns, and so happy in the service of the Church that when the Bishop visited the school he used to enter by the kitchen-garden in order to see her serene and handsome face. . . After the blight of her horrible youth was over, she seemed to bloom again in the household of God."

As Lent begins, the Church reminds her children that they are not made for this world but for the next.  Detaching from the material (even legitimate) goods of this world facilitates a greater attachment and appreciation for the goods of the next world, our everlasting home.  By foregoing this world's pleasures, one is given the opportunity to cultivate a spirit of gratitude for even the simple and mundane.  He does not look upon his work as a drudgery that must be endured, but a task that he is privileged to undertake.  Suffering and self-denial can either produce resentment and anger for the loss of goods one imagines he deserves or acceptance and gratitude for the necessities too often overlooked. Disillusioned and bruised by the lure of a comfortable life, Magdelena finds healing in the security of service to God.  No longer desiring riches that cannot satisfy, she finds contentment in the abundance of graces showered upon her as she embraces her life of humble servitude.  Like the Psalmist, she may cry out:

"Let me dwell in your tent forever! Oh, to be safe under the shelter of your wings!" (Ps. 61:4)

February 4th Fast

+

JMJ

"None of us can be the master of our own soul in a short time or hold it firmly in our grasp from our very first steps. We should be content to gain small victories over our most unruly passions from time to tome. We must bear with others, but first of all we must exercise forbearance toward ourselves and be patient with our own lack of perfection. Is it right for us to want to have interior peace without having first passed through the ordinary struggles of life?

Keep up the following practices. In the morning, prepare your soul to be at peace. Take care throughout the day to remember that resolution and to reaffirm it.  Should you become disturbed, do not lose heart and do not be pained by it, but having recognized the situation calmly humble yourself before God and attempt to restore your mind to peace.  Say to your soul,"Now friend, we have made a misstep, let us proceed more carefully." And each time you fall, do the same thing. When you are at peace, make good use of the time, making as many acts of humility as you can, however insignificant they may be. For as Our Lord says, he who is faithful in little things will have great ones entrusted to him. Above all, do not lose your courage, but be patient, watchful, and ready with a spirit of compassion. God will hold you in his hand, and if he lets you stumble, it will be only so that you realize that you would collapse entirely if he did not hold you up, and thus make you tighten your grip upon his hand."

St. Francis de Sales