September 1st Fast

 +JMJ

"We put pride into everything like salt. We like to see that our good works are known. If our virtues are seen, we are pleased; if our faults are perceived, we are sad. I remark that in a great many people; if one says anything to them, it disturbs them, it annoys them. The saints were not like that – they were vexed if their virtues were known, and pleased that their imperfections should be seen." (St. John Vianney)

St. Catherine Laboure received many mystical graces—apparitions of Our Lady, prophetic visions of France's future, locutions from the Holy Spirit— but perhaps the most extraordinary grace she received was the gift of a hidden life.  Our Compassionate Mother shielded her servant from the world's eye, allowing this Sister 0f Charity the privilege of a peaceful existence. 

Yet, Sister Catherine cooperated with this invitation by humbly and gratefully accepting anonymity. How providential that her surname originates from the Latin root "to work"—laborare— for truly she led a life filled with drudgeries of the natural sort. Yet this ordinary life rose to supernatural heights— not owing to the miraculous occurrences that accompanied her years on earth— but as a direct consequence of the selfless love she poured forth in performing her duties without the desire of praise or attention. 

The call of each vocation is the total gift of self; yet that gift must be given without pretension or complaint. Sacrifices acquire their nobility not when they are exposed but when they are concealed.  For humility, the noblest of virtues, is attained through the most ignoblest of means: humiliations. The sincerely humble is eager for service and indifferent to notice. He serves the needs of others, not the needs of his ego. Not easily offended by others' seeming ingratitude, he is satisfied in the knowledge that his beloved is content. The hidden life of self-denial and daily service is one of heroic virtue, sought by a courageous few who accept the command of greatness in a life of littleness:

 "But not so with you, rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as the one who serves. For which is the greater, one who sits at table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who sits at table? But I am among you as one who serves." (Lk. 22:26-27)

 

 

August 4th Fast

 +JMJ

“The obligation we have to love our neighbor is so important that Jesus Christ put it into a Commandment that he placed immediately after that by which he commands us to love Him with all our hearts. He tells us that all the law and the prophets are included in this commandment to love our neighbor. Yes, my dear brethren, we must regard this obligation as the most universal, the most necessary and the most essential to religion and to our salvation. In fulfilling this Commandment, we are fulfilling all the others.” (St. John Vianney)

 How easy it is to give of one's resources to a worthy cause or even to present a gift to another who bestows lavish praise for one's thoughtfulness. How much more difficult to have peace with familial or fraternal relations? A material donation may require a single sacrifice while the gift of energy, emotions, time, etc. demands continuous self-denial, that refuses to tally any mounting costs.

The devil cannot endure tranquility and communion and so he uses various means to sow tension and discord. Subtly he tempts one to focus on trivialities, amplifying the weaknesses of the other while purposely obscuring and minimizing his strengths. All the while, he assuages the ego of his listener, magnifying the injuries he has received, cunningly whispering,"See how selfish that other person is! How he clings to his will while he ignores how often you have yielded so generously!"

In the midst of this inner dialogue—as one proudly trumps his own imagined magnanimity, and laments the other's perceived petulancy— does he ever stop to consider how the Evil One relishes this triumph of his? As he allows the devil to further divide him from a loved one, does he realize how his pride and resentment have so blinded him that he can see nothing but his own narrow view of endured injustices?

There are very real and painful deep wounds that exist in personal relationships, but there are also many cuts that may appear deep but are really only superficial, though irksome. Living in communion involves great sacrifice but also creates an opportunity for immense gratitude. It requires setting aside pride in order to obtain peace but also prompts one to reflect not just on what he has given up, but what he has gained. Christ invites man to rejoice in the good of the other, while excusing his faults; to accept his weakness, and praise his strength.

"Dear Sacred Heart of Jesus, we renew our pledge of love and loyalty to you. Keep us always close to Your Loving Heart and to the Most Pure Heart of Your Mother. May we love one another more and more each day, forgiving each other's faults as you forgive us our sins. Teach us to see you in the members of our family and those we meet outside our home and to love them as you love them, especially the poor and the oppressed, that we may be instrumental in bringing about justice and peace."