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)