November 6th Fast

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JMJ

"Everyone has troubles. The only thing to do is to resign oneself to the will of God and courageously take up one's cross daily." 

(St. Zelie Martin)

The Cross: it sets apart the faithful and steadfast Christian from the fearful and erstwhile disciple.   The latter avoids it assiduously, foregoing freedom for security, shielding himself from potential harm, even at the cost of sealing himself off from potential and abundant bliss.

Fear of suffering suffocates the soul and enfeebles the body.  Fortitude- courage in the face of hardship and oppression- heartens the weary soul and strengthens one's resolve to "take [his] share of suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." (2 Tim 2:3). The disciple who practices fortitude draws his strength from his reliance on God's inexhaustible mercy and grace; whereas his cowering counterpart exhausts his endurance from his dependence on himself.

One who clings to fear may protect himself from harmful wounds by fortifying the heart's defenses from any potential inflictions that may occur, but as it chooses security over vulnerability, the soul closes in on itself: pain cannot penetrate but now neither can love.

The valiant soul understands that though vulnerability may expose the heart to the cruel pangs of sorrow, it is only through this abject humility and openness that a limitless love can be fully received and serenely embraced.

October 2nd Fast

 +JMJ

"In the past, it was necessary to  work, to search, to make an effort in order to discover truth. Today, it is enough to go on the Internet to have access to an impressive quantity of data. We are spared the trouble of reflecting and passing a critical judgment. Modern man has lost the notion of the long term. Man behaves only as a consumer. There is an urgent need to acquire interior maturity and a greater awareness of our responsibility."

(Robert Cardinal Sarah)

Modern society provides the means to obtain vast amounts of information, simply and quickly.  And yet, it is ironic that in an age when data is readily available and absorbed, sincere knowledge and comprehension of the truth still prove elusive, if not more so than in times past. 

Prior to the technological revolution, man was forced to engage in an arduous search for truth.  Devoid of modern conveniences, his time was limited, therefore his discernment was more keen, blessedly bereft of worthless inanities which would only derail his quest.  Reflection was an integral part of his journey, a constant companion that allowed him to ruminate over the words he read, leading to the discovery of their meaning and significance.

It is in man's nature to search for truth, for he yearns for God, the source and summit of all knowledge itself.  Unfortunately, as with all pure desires, in the eagerness to attain his aim immediately and effortlessly, man reaches to pluck the lowest hanging fruit, satisfying his need but only temporarily.  He continues to search, but becomes all the more restless, as he allows no time for "reflection and passing critical judgment."

Man must fight the tendency to amass a trove of trivial information for it is just as foolish as if he would amass unnecessary material goods.  Instead, one must reject the insignificant stature of modern man: the insatiable consumer, who is greedy to possess, and pridefully flaunts his data collection before others. Rather, the dignity that is worthy of a Christian reveals one who is a grateful recipient of the truths he laboriously discovers, humble in the realization of his littleness and ignorance, in awe of the beauty and goodness that illuminates his reading upon daily reflection.

September 4th Fast

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JMJ

"In your relations with one another, clothe yourselves with humility, because God 'is stern with the arrogant but to the humble He shows kindness.' Bow humbly under God's mighty hand, so that in due time he may lift you high.  Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:5b-7)

Family life, i.e. living in community, presents tremendous opportunities to grow in virtue, but only if viewed in the knowledge that all persons and outside occurrences are placed before one for the benefit of his salvation.  In this light, inconveniences and annoyances are no longer perpetrators of volatility and frustration, but rather reminders of the necessary self-surrender to God's salvific action in one's life.  In community life, one's faults are laid bare for all to see; will he humbly accept his lowliness and failings or tersely defend himself by thoughts of the (real or supposed) ingratitude that others show him? When pride pervades actions, it begets resentment when services are not recognized and admired. Yet, when humility infuses service, it bears the fruit of sincere selflessness, sacrifice that is untainted by any desire for recompense, emotional or otherwise.  

August 7th Fast

+JMJ

"The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be serious and sober for prayers. Above all let your love for one another be intense because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining.  As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace." 

(1 Peter 4:8)

Why do men expend so much energy and frustration bemoaning circumstances outside their control yet exert so little zeal in governing the passions that lie within their reach? One complains of lawlessness that abounds but fails to acknowledge and rectify his own disregard for God's law.  How quick he is to mourn the loss of thoughtful discourse but is sadly slow to rein in his own impetuous and uncharitable words. Though he longs for the time when society promoted thriftiness and industry he apparently is indifferent to the calcified state he allows his soul to sink to when he wastes precious time on inane distractions.  Lamenting his lack of influence on the moral fabric of the culture he overlooks his significant influence on the moral beings within his own home.

A Christian is called to be a sign of contradiction; and so, he must both surrender to God's providence in the course of external events and seize responsibility for his own internal affairs.  This paradox provides peace but not without the difficulties involved in the accomplishment of both tasks.  

To refrain from useless anxiety requires physical and spiritual endurance: constant prayer and intentional acts of trust. Worry and speculation are deceptive comforts, offering a false security that tells one that he must be safe if he is engaged in these occupations; yet like the mythical Hydra whose heads multiplied with each decapitation, the worrier discovers more anxieties, and less peace, as he tries to feebly combat uncontrollable factors.  

Self-discipline demands an equal amount of exertion as it can be a fatiguing process.  Once a fault is humbly acknowledged, heightened vigilance accompanied by increased prayer and determined perseverance are necessary to overcome it. 

When once a person resolves to simultaneously abandon his life to divine providence and master his obdurate self, he finds relief in the knowledge that extraneous circumstance are in God's hands, and not his- he shuns despair and clings to trust. Simultaneously, he discovers great confidence in the knowledge that, because Christ redeemed him he is no longer a slave to his former self and can master his passionate nature.   He realizes his immense influence of those nearest him, recognizing that just as his deficiency of virtue was negatively reflected in those closest to him, so now his surplus of virtue is positively illuminated by those same persons within his sphere. 

July 3 Fast

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JMJ

"I have met many generous families that are deeply rooted in their Christian faith. . . They remind me of the Christians who, in the twilight years of the Roman Empire, kept watch over the flickering flame of civilization. I want to encourage them. I want to tell them: Your mission is not to save a dying world. No civilization has the promises of eternal life. Your mission is to live out with fidelity and without compromise the faith you received from Christ. In that way, even without realizing it, you will save the heritage of centuries of faith. Do not be afraid because of your small numbers! It is not a matter of winning elections or influencing opinions. It is a matter of living the Gospel. Not thinking of it as a utopia, but experiencing it concretely. Faith is like a fire. A person himself must be on fire in order to transmit it. Watch over this sacred fire! May it be your heat in the depths of the winter in the West. When a fire illumines the night, people gradually gather around it. That must be your hope."

(Cardinal Robert Sarah)

    As the moral foundations of society slowly erode, it is tempting to lapse into a state of hopelessness and frustration. The only logic left is the natural conclusion of nihilism that is a consequence of decades of a culture untethered to the truth.  Cardinal Sarah likens modern man to a "dead leaf detached from the tree, at the mercy of every gust of wind." In contrast, the Christian is like the stubborn oak who, nourished by the roots that it give it life, endures despite the godless gales that fiercely blow.

Throughout the history of salvation, it is the small company of faithful followers that kindles the flames of faith. As Isaiah prophesied:

"For out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant, and from Mount Zion, survivors." (2 Kings 19:31)

And just as the roots remain hidden under the soil, so too, the faithful remnant has often persisted while hidden from sight.  When Rome was overrun by excesses of every kind, domestic churches held secret worshippers; fledgling Christian communities evangelized through their silent witness, furtively spreading the Gospel.  Over a millennia later, in the Far East of the globe, another clandestine community in Japan, for fear of persecution, passed on this treasured inheritance for 250 years - generations of safeguarding the faith without ever encountering a priest.  And when Nazism suffocated the streets of Krakow, a future saint and pope fought the power of evil, not through vociferous or armed resistance, but through the secret preservation of his culture (in acted plays) and faith (in the "Living Rosary" ).

The mission of the faithful does not hinge on whatever politics dominate the landscape. The goal remains the same: to save the souls of ourselves and of our families.  Like the roots receive warmth from the earth during the winter months, the steadfast domestic church can enjoy the warmth that emanates from a life lived firmly rooted in truth, goodness and beauty.