October 7th Fast

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JMJ

"The din of the factory, the pressure of office business, the exhausting routine of conducting classes become less irritating and distressing.  They have made room in their hearts for God, and with His presence come peace and quiet. Senses dead to the world's discordant din are better able to recognize the divine Voice when it whispers in their hearts. . . It is possible to achieve this recollected interior silence, wherein one hears the Word; but, we repeat, it is very difficult. The noisy nervous world ceaselessly conspires to disturb the silent cloister of the heart and drown out the whisperings of the Eternal Word." (My Beloved, Mother Catherine Thomas)

We live in a world bombarded by noise.  Yet, how much of that is voluntarily allowed?  One readily gives access to numerous forms of cacophony so frequently that he is simply inured to the perpetual din and ceases to dwell comfortably in silence.  Previously, adults strove to correct children's impatient, self-centered propensities.  Presently, though, it is many adults who have regressed to their former restless and childish selves, no longer capable of abiding a moment without their senses being entertained.  St. Edith Stein aptly described this agitated state:

 ". . .the mind is occupied with many things; so much so that one thing is always crowding on another in a constant state of movement and of tumult and uproar."

 Today, it is not merely the silence of sound that is scorned, but more often, it is the "silence of the eyes and imagination", as one Carmelite Mother Superior taught her spiritual daughters.  Oftentimes unnoticed, there can grow an insatiable desire to litter one's environment with the bluster of constant chatter or endless images or uninterrupted background noise.  Some may fear silence, and so welcome the incessant tumult to drown the clamoring of a long neglected conscience.  Others are so accustomed to the din they are unaware of its perpetual presence.  

True beauty and peace are found in the quietude of creation, and will no longer be appreciated or even noticed if one continues to perish in the tempestuous waves of noise.  It is not just nature's beauty one neglects, but more importantly, the divine beauty hidden in those souls entrusted to him.  When one retreats into the solitude of self, surrounded by the fortified walls of discordance, he is unable to thoughtfully observe others and anticipate their needs.

Though one may be very much in the world, he can still seek to perpetuate a silent milieu in his heart. In so doing, his soul will awaken to hear the promptings of the Holy Spirit and the unspoken needs of those nearest him. Let us strive to welcome silence into our lives and so seek to serve Him, who was born on a silent night, in those He gave to us.

September 2nd Fast

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JMJ

"Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired."

(St. Teresa of Calcutta)

In his letter to the Hebrews St. Paul says that:

". .  we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin."

In subjecting Himself to human nature Christ subjected Himself to human weakness, notably fatigue. Demands were constantly being put upon Our Lord by the crowds who followed Him; even when He sought to go off by Himself, the crowds persisted in seeking Him.  Yet, though the Gospels may mention that Our Lord was tired, they never state that He was weary of being bothered. His love was inexhaustible.

In daily living, one can easily become tired: physically, mentally, or emotionally.  Fatigue and exhaustion are common complaints following strenuous efforts to provide for one's family.  Or perhaps it is the frustrations of dealing with an obdurate child or a colicky newborn that allows weariness to creep in.  Or maybe it is the emotional strain of a tragic situation that drains one's energy.

One grows tired of patiently carrying his cross, and feels that he has loved his family in so many unseen ways, and unnoticed sacrifices.  It is tempting to resent any extra demands- little as they may be- placed upon him.  But here is when true heroism must shine forth.  Rather than begrudging more pleadings to be loved by those around him, he must selflessly embrace these extra opportunities, even though they may come at a great cost to his own personal comfort.

August 5th Fast

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JMJ

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up a mountain to pray.  While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.  And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.

Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.  As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  But he did not know what he was saying.  While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.  Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”

After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.  They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen. (Lk 9: 28B-36)

One's life is often filled with numerous joys: brief foretastes of the beauty of Paradise.  Like Mary Magdalene on Easter morning, one firmly clings to Our Lord in these moments of profound happiness.  It is easy to be like the three apostles on Tabor not wishing to descend from the glories that delight to the drudgeries that await below.  Yet, Christ gently reminds us that those rewards cannot be attained without the toil of self-sacrifice, and the sweat of patient endurance.  

The cross cannot be avoided but must be accepted.  To refuse it would be to reject the very faith that one professes to follow so devoutly.  It is important to be mindful that Christ saved his harshest rebuke for the leader of His apostles, not when Peter denied him but when he denied the cross:

"From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.  Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, 'God forbid, Lord!  No such then shall ever happen to you." 'He turned and said to Peter,'Get behind me Satan! You are an obstacle to me.  You are not thinking as God does but as human beings do.'  Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.'"  (Mt 16:21-25)

But Christ does not abandon one as in a desert, bereft of comforts in the midst of difficulties.  Knowing the endurance needed to persevere through trials, He readily supplies us with consolations.  These are the reserves to be drawn upon to strengthen our resolve. When the cross feels too burdensome, and the sacrifice required appears to exact too heavy a payment, one must return to his treasure of consolations to remind him of God's great love, and then allow these merciful glimpses of heavenly beauty to spur him onward.

July 1st Fast

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JMJ

"The Son of God had announced to his disciples that they would never be at peace on this earth.  The only way to win this great combat is union with God. . . The only true rock for the baptized is prayer and the encounter with Jesus Christ.  Men whose strength is in prayer are unsinkable."

(Cardinal Robert Sarah, God or Nothing)

In Rumer Godden's book, In this House of Brede, the nuns at a Benedictine monastery are unexpectedly presented with a burdensome debt load.  In a quandary as to the resolution to this financial conundrum, one of the nuns regrettably states that selling part of the monastery grounds is the only feasible solution.  The Abbess reluctantly concedes to this proposal despite the strong objections from an older sister who reminds her fellow Benedictines that they must place their trust in prayer, for are not their lives dedicated to this ever flowing fountain of grace?  She is patronized but not heeded; yet, she is vindicated in the end when it is not the practical plan that saves the monastery but a miraculous discovery that brings the nuns the necessary amount to erase their debt.

What does one do when confronted with tragic news, an undesirable situation, or even just a daily annoyance that perpetually piques his inner abode? After practical possibilities are exhausted, where does he put his energies?  Sometimes one plays the victim who is maligned by unfair circumstances, he licks his wounds by complaining or excusing irritable behavior.  Perhaps, he finds relief from his frustrations by indulging in impatient or even angry outbursts.  Or, it could be that constant chatter and thinly veiled gossip serves as his release.  Other times, he seeks solace in mindless activity, relying on technology to help desensitize his anxious heart.

One bemoans a particular evil in the world or a source of sorrow in his personal life but instead of running to his heavenly Father to plead for resolution, he allows angst to morph into purposeless anxiety that only causes more pain and brings no peace.  Yet, nothing is gained by the continual clatter of the tongue, nor the bitter thoughts that the brooder allows to marinate in his mind.  

Our fast-paced and noise-filled world does not place a high value on patience so it unsurprisingly scoffs at the importance of prayer and quietude.  Prayer and fasting appear fruitless because they do not frequently yield quick results.  They are antithetical to the immediacy of our comfort-seeking society.  However, it is precisely this contradiction that makes them the antidote to the ills we face.  One must not retreat to noise and pleasures to drown out worries that plague him; rather, he must seek refuge and solace in the solitude of prayer and the patient practice of penance.

In the play, A Man for All Seasons, Cardinal Wolsey pointedly asks Sir Thomas More what he is going to do about the fact that Henry VIII needs a son for an heir, (insinuating that More must agree that a divorce is necessary for this desired outcome).  More replies that he prays for it daily, to which Wolsey cynically responds,"Are you going to pray for a miracle?" More readily assents,"There are precedents."

"Sometimes, in front of happenings in the world, our nation or even the Church, the results of our prayer might tempt us to become discouraged. Like Sisyphus in the Greek myth: condemned to roll a large boulder uphill, only to see it roll down again as soon as he had reached the top. Pope Benedict XVI in Deus Caritas Est encourages us : 'People who pray are not wasting their time, even though the situation appears desperate and seems to call for action alone.'" (Cardinal Sarah)

Feast of the Sacred Heart Fast

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JMJ

"Petty tyrannies of egoism. While true love leads to a noble and lofty identity of interests, self-love, on the other hand, makes this conformity consist in the complete submission and subordination of one party to the particular tastes or dislikes of the other.  Yet self-love takes such little notice of this that if it wishes to make a gift or give pleasure, it will consult its own personal preferences rather than the tastes of the person to be pleased. An exchange of views which broaden the horizons of both parties gives way to arguments when the peremptory decrees of tyrannical self-love are quickly imposed. Yet, in the beginning, the scratch seems to be of no importance.  The humility of the Heart of Jesus teaches you to dominate that pride which seeks always to prevail, even in minor disagreements, whereas to give in would be considerable victory over egoism." (Pope Pius XII)

The unity of the family, founded on the stable union of the spouses is essential to its strength against the constant attacks from the Evil One who strives to destroy and divide all that God has joined together.  The devil is constantly seeking to place obstacles between spouses; to create tension and foment dissension.  

The easiest and most effective means that he uses is to quickly assuage one's ego when his pride is slightly wounded.  One thinks that the Deceiver only uses base appeals to tempt a man to sin, but many times he cleverly pads one's pride with a deluge of thoughts of his own sacrifices, denials, etc. to direct his love to self rather than to the other.  One begrudges his abundant yieldings, and, in so doing, distances himself from his loved one.  Clinging stubbornly to one's own desires placates his pride, but it only entrenches division in a relationship.

How can one fight against this attachment to self?  By first understanding that to surrender to God's will shows true courage while obstinately cleaving to self-love is really only cowardice.  True love mirrors the love of the Sacred Heart.  No matter how many times Our Lord was inconvenienced, interrupted in prayer and solitude, bombarded with requests, and later showered with insults, and tortures, He never tired of serving those He loved.  True love is inexhaustible; it does not number the sacrifices made, because every situation is approached, not with the thought of, "How can this be accomplished with the least inconvenience to myself?" but rather, "How can this be done with the greatest patience and love for the other?"  

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.