During Communion at Mass recently, I observed a small child accompanying her parents as they came forward to receive. Her mother received the Eucharist first, and as she did, the little child knelt beside her. Then as her mother walked away from the priest, the child broke free and returned to where her father was kneeling to receive the Eucharist. The little girl knelt a second time, looking up at the priest with something one might describe as awe. The scene was quite moving because it seemed that in her innocence this child may have understood that something sacred and beautiful was going on. But what struck me the most was that she knelt twice, imitating her parents both times. It drove home the point that children do watch and they do imitate their parents. It was evident that these parents are teaching her about the faith, but also that in living what they teach, the child has begun to make their faith her own. If we act according to what we teach, as these parents exemplify, our words can take root in those who seek and therefore observe. Conversely, we can attempt to teach with our words all we want, but if we do not live what we profess, our words become hollow, affecting nothing. In keeping with what Jesus taught in the Parable of the Sower, it is clear that even the good ground where the seed has fallen needs to be watered. (Matthew 13:1-9)

Jesus also said that we need to become as little children. That means that we are to act according to how He acted with the trust, openness, and simplicity of a little child. There have been many great saints who had no formal education, but lived the Gospels so obviously that many were touched by their actions and therefore, grew in their own faith or understanding of God. An excellent example is St. Bernadette. She did not attend regular schooling, and she was intellectually a slow learner, but because her (extended) family taught her the essential prayers and the basics of the faith, and humbly lived by these things, Bernadette was able to grow in her spiritual life.* It was because of her simple faith and her practice of praying the Rosary, that she was able to recognize the Virgin Mary when she appeared to her. Bernadette was so unlearned theologically, that when Mary told her that she was the Immaculate Conception, Bernadette repeated it to her parish priest, but admitted she had no idea what it meant! The ‘fertile ground’ of her faith was watered by her family; even though they were humble and desperately poor, their words and deeds were in accordance with one another, and it opened her to growth in faith, hope, and love. 

If we are to be like little children with the fertile ground of faith, we must spend time ‘observing’ Jesus by reading and reflecting upon the Gospels as well as spending adequate time with Him in private prayer. While all the Gospels are excellent sources, let us look to Matthew. In his Gospel, each of the discourses of Jesus outline Christian behaviors. In the first, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that we should be like salt and light: our behaviors are to be like light which “must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Mt 5:16) Jesus indicated how we should handle anger (offering forgiveness), live in marriage (with fidelity), speak (without oaths), give alms and pray, (simply and humbly, without bringing attention to ourselves), and how we are to fast (we do not do it to impress others.) In the second discourse He taught how disciples should act (Mt 10); in the third He offered parables about the Kingdom of God, outlining what is needed to work toward building it (Mt 13); in the fourth Jesus taught about humility and forgiveness (Mt 18); and in the final discourse He taught about being prepared for His second coming and final judgment, emphasizing the necessity of generosity and love. (Mt 25) **

The season of Lent calls us to become more attentive to growth in our relationship with God, relying on the assistance of the Holy Spirit as we seek to deepen the level of our discipleship and love. It is by immersing ourselves in sacrifice and penance that we come to clearer understanding of these things; it is during our prayer time, Lenten practices, fasting (sacrifices), and almsgiving that we can learn how to love more as Jesus loves, and by our example, invite others to meet the Lord in a deeper way, or for some, to meet Jesus for the first time. It is through sacrifice aimed at taming our sinful tendencies (with the help of the Holy Spirit), that we work at authentically living as His followers, influencing others to desire this, too. We must keep in mind that what we are seeking is interior growth; if we only look at the penances and added prayer/reflection as a 7-week exercise, (as finite and short lived, or worse, something to be ‘gotten through’), then they will do us little good. But if we look to our Lenten practices as true conversion, that is, true change in heart and mind, then we open ourselves to accepting the graces offered that enable lasting growth within our souls. Therefore, this Lent let us water the ground of our souls which contains the seed planted by the Lord and in so doing, water the ground for those who observe us so that they, too, may grow in faith, hope, and love. 

May our Lenten practices bear fruit! May we become more like little children in imitating the Lord! And may our prayer, sacrifices, and almsgiving water the ground where the seeds of our faith are growing so that by our example others may find hope in God, too! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                                    ©Michele L. Catanese


* Bernadette's aunt is the one who taught her the most about her faith, instructing her in the basics of the Catechism so that Bernadette could receive Holy Communion and Confirmation. Her parents had simple faith, however.
** Indeed, all of the discourses of Jesus found in all four Gospels can be applied in this way. I suggest that we take one discourse (at a time), spending time reflecting on and praying with the meaning of His words and how we might grow in the graces we need. Only when you feel that you have gotten all you can from it should you move on to another teaching or discourse. The same can be done by meditating on any of Jesus’ parables, one at a time. It is also important to remember to act with humility while we are praying or doing whatever penances we have chosen, (that is, do not do things for others to see necessarily); what will become visible is the fruit of these actions as we grow in compassion, generosity, and love. And finally, prayer, penances, and almsgiving will be even more meaningful if we receive the Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation as often as we can during Lent.

Images:
1. Painting; The Sower, by Vincent van Gogh
2. Photo; St. Bernadette Soubirous 
3. Painting; Jesus Teaching, by Duccio di Buoninsegna
4. My photo; Flowers blooming in Dunedin, New Zealand.
5. Charcoal drawing; Ashes.

Note: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time.

I love icons. They are works of great beauty, drawing the one gazing upon them into the mysteries they contain. Icons remind us that the holy one written into them is a reality encountered during our prayer. We have many icons in our house, a constant reminder of being surrounded by Jesus, Mary, angels, and “a great cloud of witnesses” who are looking upon us, as we look upon them. (Hebrews 12:1) There is a saying that the eyes are the window of the soul, so it is feasible to say that as we look into the eyes of the holy one written upon the icon, we are entering into deeper relationship with them. It was in praying with one of my icons that the following questions arose: What would it have been like for Mary (and Joseph) to be with, and therefore gaze upon, Jesus during their lives together? * What was it like to experience His loving gaze every day? What would it have been like to know that every time they looked into Jesus’ eyes, they were looking into the eyes of the Almighty, the Living God? And the most important question of all: Do we ever think of looking into the eyes of God or that we could experience something like what Mary and Jesus did as they looked upon one another? 

An excellent way to enter into these questions is to reflect upon Mary while meeting her in prayer. That is, ask her to tell you what her experience of living with Jesus was like. A great place to begin is with the Gospels. Though he does not use the term, Luke gives witness in his Gospel to the Immaculate Conception of Mary: at the time of the Annunciation the archangel Gabriel proclaimed in his greeting that Mary was full of grace, something which in her humility, seemed to have surprised her. The angel had also told her that this child was the Son of God. That is, Mary knew who Jesus was His entire life. We can rightly say, then, that every time she looked into her Son’s eyes, Mary knew she was looking into the eyes of God. While she did not understand everything about Him, in her humility and purity she would have recognized the Love that returned her gaze. Put spiritually, daily the purest mother gazed into pure Love’s eyes. **

The beauty of Love also emanated from Mary, the Immaculate Mother. (Luke 1: 26-38) The moment she was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit she was ‘infused’ with Love’s pure light within her womb and as she gazed outward, it must have radiated. Luke infers this through his description of the Visitation: Mary’s cousin Elizabeth recognized and responded to the light within Mary, exclaiming, “Most blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” And then, “…the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.” (Luke 1:42-44) Therefore, we can look at Mary as a prism who refracted the light of the One she carried within. 

Accordingly, it is reasonable to say that when we go to prayer, we, too, enter into this gaze. In pondering who Mary is and how she refracted the Light and Love of God as a mother, a wife, a friend, and a ‘mentor’ to the apostles during her life on earth and in her continuing role as Queen of Heaven, we can enter into it. In every reported apparition since she was assumed into Heaven, Mary is seen bathed in light or emanating the light of holiness and purity, which of course, is the light of Heaven. When artists and iconographers depict Mary and all the holy ones with a halo it is because they reflect the light of God. And therefore, as we spend time with Mary and with the Lord, as we enter into their gaze, we can begin to take that light within our hearts so we might refract the light of God as well. That is, we will grow in holiness. Love’s light cannot be contained, especially when it originates in the Light of the Eternal One in Heaven. 

As we prepare for Lent, perhaps we can consider the last question posed at the start of this reflection: do we think of entering into God’s gaze or that we can enter into the same gaze as that between Mary and Jesus? One way to do this is to put our reflection into the context of Lent by praying with the Gospel readings from daily and weekend Masses, or when praying the Rosary or Stations of the Cross, and most especially while meditating on the mysteries of Holy Week. With Mary we can look into the eyes of Jesus and invite Him to look into our eyes as He rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, at the Last Supper as He washes the feet of the apostles (and ours!), as He hears the crowd yell, “crucify Him,” as He carries the cross, and as He is dying upon it. We can observe Jesus and His mother as they gaze upon one another, and we can be as Mary and John the apostle, gazing into one another’s eyes after Jesus says, “Behold, your son” and again, “Behold, your mother.” (John 19:26-27) *** But let’s do more than simply observe: let’s enter into His eyes, the eyes that are filled with compassion, mercy, forgiveness, and healing. In a word, let us be immersed in love.  

May we begin to discern the ways we will enter into so great a mystery in accompanying Jesus and Mary this Lent! May we respond to God’s invitation to enter into His loving gaze! And may we refract the Light of Love, the gift of grace! Let us meet in the Light of Jesus and Mary! Peace!

                          ©Michele L. Catanese

* First, I am speaking spiritually here; this is not meant to forget that Jesus was fully human and fully God. Understand that in all the instances in which I say “looking into the eyes of God” it is always being implied that Jesus is fully human as well as fully God. Second, here is much that can be said of Joseph, but I am limiting my comments to Mary for this entry.
** The beginning of the life of Jesus was anything but ordinary for the Holy Parents. Magi, a star, rejoicing angels, shepherds, the prophets Simeon and Anna, running for their lives from Herod, living in exile, and angels indicating what they were to do in leaving Bethlehem and returning to Israel by settling back in Nazareth: hardly an ordinary beginning at all. But after those first few years, their lives were ordinary in every way until Jesus began His public ministry. 

Finally, a note on prayer: we don’t often pray “between the lines” of Scripture. That is, we know it is important to pray with the Scripture passages as they were written, since every word does have significance. But occasionally it is also good to prayerfully consider what it may have been like in ordinary, daily experiences beyond the Gospel scenes. That is, in allowing the Holy Spirit to lead, we can (and should) use our imagination in the context of prayerful reflection. For example, I have suggested imagining what it was like for Mary to look into the eyes of her Son: you could imagine their eyes meeting as she looks at Jesus while He makes a chair with Joseph, or as they eat a meal, or in whatever context you think would have been ordinary in their lives.

Images:
1. Icon; Christ All Merciful, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you wish to purchase a copy of this icon (or any of Fr. Bill's other icons of Jesus, Mary, or a saint), you can find it at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/christ-all-merciful-022-william-hart-mcnichols.html. You can access his personal website here: https://frbillmcnichols-sacredimages.com/
2. Fresco painting; The Annunciation by Blessed Fra Angelico. There are many paintings and artists I love, but this is my all-time, #1 favorite.
3. My photo; Moon over Lago (Lake) Maggiore, taken in Baveno, Italy. 
4. Painting; The Sower, by Vincent van Gogh. The light makes this painting come to life. Everything depicted is made more beautiful and vibrant because of his usage of light.
5. My photo; Rosary and Bible.
6. My photo; Sunset on water, taken in Ortigia, Siracusa, Sicily.

Note: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

​When I was young, I would do my weekend homework right away so it was not hanging over my head. A friend had the opposite approach, putting homework off until Sunday night because she "worked better under pressure." That approach was motivational for her, but for me it would have been nothing other than sheer stress. However, as I matured, I realized there are many situations in which our preference is often immaterial. That is, we all have to do some tasks under the pressure of time, and though we may not prefer it, we must develop the ability if we are going to meet life’s demands. In those instances, procrastination will only serve to heighten stress as long as the undone task remains. The most important area in which we must avoid procrastination is in our spiritual life. God is with us every moment and longs for us to spend quality time with Him through prayer. If we put off prayer, we will lose the desire, and eventually the ability, to notice and respond. In short, when we become spiritually ‘self-sufficient,’ our hearts will grow cold and we become far more vulnerable to temptation and far less able to cope when adversity strikes. 

For those who struggle with procrastination, (though I think everyone does to some extent), this tendency also lends itself to great vulnerability in the spiritual life, manifesting as the sin of sloth. Sloth is a type of spiritual laziness in which we put off developing a prayer life or we become lazy in keeping up the relationship with God we already have.* Satan capitalizes on this tendency, tricking us into believing that we should do ‘more important’ things first such that we don’t have time left for prayer, or encouraging distractions and attachments which increasingly come before God. The more we give in, the worse it will become until prayer is given up altogether because of the illusion that we are getting along just fine without it. When this happens, the result is that our hearts grow cold.

If you struggle with this, do not be discouraged because when we desire to change, God will always help. This Jubilee Year of Hope is a perfect time to reassess and perhaps let the fire in our hearts be stoked again. In refocusing, remember that prayer is not a chore, but rather, it is a response to a Person, that is, God. He is fully aware of our weaknesses and the difficulties in our lives. His desire is not to chastise, but to offer love, provide mercy where needed, and heal that which is broken within us. He will do more than meet us halfway: God’s love and power are without limit. Our part is to consistently take the time to sit with Him for a little while, and He will do the rest. ** I do not want to sugarcoat this, however: prayer requires work. The truth is that it is easy to become distracted, and honestly, many days it will be difficult to pray. However, God cannot help if we do not ‘show up;’ He never forces anything upon us. Therefore, it is important to prioritize the time for prayer, exercising the spiritual gifts of faith and hope we already have, so that the third and most important of these, love, can become re-ignited. 

It helps to use Scripture as a way to begin or re-ignite the practice of prayer. Some people find it helpful to imagine that Jesus is with them, but don’t forget that Jesus truly is present and is not simply in our imagination: we really are communing with the Lord who is completely attentive when we pray. And as such, we cannot rush our words or ignore His response any more than we would if any other friend was sitting before us. If prayer seems dry and difficult, then just sit together with Him, but do not give up. Distractions are a reality, but we should not use them as an excuse to completely turn our attention away from God to something else: we would never think to totally ignore a friend who had come to visit by rudely picking up an electronic device to play a game, search a topic, or get on social media, so why should we do that to Jesus? Again, if nothing seems to be 'working,' just sit with Him; that is enough. 

There is no time like the present. To fall more deeply in love with God, which is where holiness is born, we must spend time with Him in the same way other ordinary people have done throughout the ages. These people probably had to fight the temptation to procrastinate from time to time, too, but the fruit of their prayer can be seen in mystical poetry such as that of St. John of the Cross or St. Thérèse of Lisieux, treatises such as those of St. Augustine, St. Francis de Sales, or St. Pope John Paul II, and good works such as those done by St. Francis Xavier, St. Frances Cabrini, or soon-to-be canonized Pier Giorgio Frassati. And of course, there are myriads of ‘unrecognized’ people whose acts of holiness will remain hidden except perhaps to those who knew them. Holiness is simply love made visible: the way of this path is best ‘trod’ by spending time with God in prayer so that He can heal, mold, empower, and teach us to love as He does so that we, too, can make love visible in the world. 

May we ask for the graces we need to avoid procrastination and to persevere in prayer! May we resolve to work at prayer so that our time with the Lord would inspire and enable growth in holiness! And may we have our hearts enkindled with Love so that we might make God’s love visible! Let us meet in the heart of Jesus which burns with love for us! Peace!

                                  ©Michele L. Catanese


* To be clear, all of us can and do suffer from sloth to some degree or another at various times in our life of prayer. It is not something that only happens to some people. 
** One excellent way to 'find the time' to pray is to identify and then reprioritize the things we do daily that get in the way of our relationship with God; for example, instead of spending as much time on our electronic devices, we can put them down for a while so that we may meet the Lord in prayer. We can add an hour of adoration or attend an additional Mass during the week, if possible. Something that we often forget is the importance of meeting the Lord for private prayer at home by setting aside a specific time and being consistent in keeping to it as best we can. 

Note: There is a lesser-known short story written by J.R.R. Tolkien that is quite beautiful and which I recommend. (Tolkien was a devout Catholic, and his Catholicism influenced much of his writing, though he refused to let anyone characterize any of his works as allegorical.) The short story, Leaf by Niggle, was created when he was totally blocked as to how to end the Lord of the Rings. He put LOTR aside for a while, and instead penned this brilliant story about a man named Niggle who is basically good, but is so obsessed with finishing his painting of a tree, specifically one particular leaf, that he neglects many things. The result is that his priorities get 'out of whack.' He does good deeds, but only if prevailed upon. One day he grudgingly helps a neighbor, catches a terrible cold, and … the Inspector of Houses shows up, forcing Niggle to take a train and leave. He laments that he had all kinds of time to get ready, but never packed his bag for the trip, and so unprepared, he gets shipped off to “the workhouse.” I will not spoil all of it, so you have to read it in order to find out what was really taking place and how it ends, (which is quite uplifting). However, the clear message is that Niggle is an average person, neither a saint nor a horrible sinner, but what ails him is being unprepared spiritually for the final journey.  You can find the story on Amazon, if you wish to read it. (This is not an endorsement of Amazon, just a suggestion to find the story.)

Images:
1. My photo; rocky coast in the fog at Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada.
2. Painting; Portrait of Dr. Gachet by Vincent van Gogh. (Goodness, he looks bored!)
3. Drawing; St. Philip Neri, artist unknown. St. Philip's heart was almost literally on fire with love: he threw off so much heat that even in winter he did not need a coat!
4. Painting; Praying Girl, by Robert Ferruzzi, 1870. 
5. Icon; St. Mother Cabrini Missionary of the Sacred Heart by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you are interested in purchasing a copy in one of many mediums you can find this at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/st-mother-cabrini-missionary-of-the-sacred-heart-209-william-hart-mcnichols.html
6. My photo; Sunrise in my neighborhood, Fulshear, TX. 

Note: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

​While vacationing on the Big Island of Hawaii many years ago, my husband and I decided to drive to South Point so we could access an incredibly unique beach near there. GPS did not exist at that time and if not for an incredibly detailed and well-written guide book, there is no way we could have found our destination. Upon arrival, we began the hike to Papakolea Beach, one of only four green sand beaches in the world. To get there required a 2.5-mile hike into the prevailing Spring trade winds, but after a short while we realized we were underprepared and decided to abandon the attempt with a resolution to come back someday to complete the trek. Ten years later, we did just that. This time we left early in the morning, prepared adequately, and using the same guide book we found the desired beach. I would characterize Papakolea Beach as one of the most beautiful places I have ever been; it is simply stunning.* Adding to the wonder of the place was that we were alone there for about half an hour. During our brief visit, however, ​I did not feel the presence of God; rather, I can say that I experienced Him through the unique beauty of the place. Images may have faded, but the experience has stayed with me, indelibly imprinted in my mind and heart. 

Although there are many facets in this experience which could be explored,** let us focus on one rather important issue: how we respond when God seems silent. One of the most challenging aspects of prayer is that after an initial burst of fruitfulness, it often becomes dry and difficult, giving the impression that God has become distant and silent. He is actually neither; that is, when we no longer feel God’s presence He is still there and He is still speaking. God’s ‘silence’ may be a signal that He desires to teach us to listen at a much deeper level as He begins to convey His presence and His message in ways that are different from our previous experiences. This change is not meant to be upsetting or frustrating, but rather it is a sign of our growth and consequently of God’s trust in our desire to become closer to Him. Indeed, when we accept His invitation into this reciprocal trust, He will enable us to do so through the graces which originate in Him: heightened faith, hope, and love. These gifts are not static, but rather they are dynamic. In other words, when we are invited into a greater level of trust, the gifts He gives can only grow. This growth takes place because as we go deeper, our heart becomes more closely aligned to His, opening our capacity to receive God’s love. Thus, God’s call is to enter into deeper mystery, deeper faith, deeper trust as He communicates beyond our thoughts and feelings and into the depths of our hearts.  In short, He calls us into the silence where this can take place and our response needs to one of openness and humility.

It is important to note that there may be other reasons for a lack of sensing God’s presence. A possible cause is having neglected prayer, the consequence of which is becoming unattuned to how God might be present. Another cause could be distractions that arise due to attachments which have inadvertently been allowed to come before God. And finally, one might be falling prey to temptations to doubt God’s grace and love. No matter the cause, it is important to ask the Holy Spirit for help in enlivening our baptismal graces of faith, hope, and love so that we can rest in the assurance that not only is God near, but He is both listening and speaking to us. We can ask for the grace to trust that God will never abandon us, and therefore when He seems silent, there is a good, even if mysterious, reason. It is especially important to remember this when praying for a desired outcome and the prayer does not seem to be answered. God has heard, but because His wisdom is far greater than ours, beyond our ability to comprehend, we must rely upon our trust in Him. And we must apply the same trust when we see the effect of evil in society, are personally attacked because of our faith, or when disasters, natural or otherwise, befall the world. Whether we perceive it or not, God is always present and active: that is, God is in control.

My experience at the Green Sand Beach helped in recognizing that God is often found in the process and journey of prayer, but that when we enter into the silence, (perhaps His intended ‘destination’), we can find peace and even joy. As arduous as the process can be, it aids our growth in the virtues of patience, perseverance, and hope. The good news is that when God initiates through what seems like His silence, He also gives the means of accepting His invitation, that is, grace. Though we will not have a felt-sense of God’s presence nor ‘hear’ His voice every time we go to prayer, especially if we have been called to a deeper level, He is always present and active in our lives. Our response of believing and humbly accepting that He is present despite a lack of felt ‘evidence,’ along with perseverance and a continued “yes” to God, will enable a more intimate relationship as we enter into the mystery of His beauty, love, and mercy. Let us proclaim with conviction, “Jesus, I trust in you!” 

​May we humbly respond to God’s invitation to enter into deeper prayer! May we ask for the gifts of greater trust, patience, and perseverance when God seems silent! And let us never, for any reason, hesitate to run to God, our Father in Heaven! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                         ©Michele L. Catanese

* The four green sand beaches are the following: Papakolea Green Sand Beach, the Island of Hawaii; Punta Cormorant Beach, Floreana Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador; Talofofo Beach, Guam; and Hornindalsvatnet Lake, Norway. The green sand is formed by olivine crystals which are born of volcanic eruptions. For more, go to https://www.tripsavvy.com/the-best-green-sand-beaches-6835485

** Here are some lessons that are analogous to the beach experience, though there are always limitations to such comparisons. First, while prayer is something that is quite natural, we need a guide book for spiritual growth, which, of course, is the Holy Bible; the more we read and learn from it, the more insights we attain and the more we desire to learn. We also need adequate food and drink for the journey, (the Body and Blood of Christ). It is also wise to learn from 'local guides:' Scripture classes and books written for biblical study. Finally, we need to beware of 'scams and scammers:' our guide book warned of squatters who might try to trick people into paying for parking, (the land is public). This also occurs in our spiritual life because the evil one is always trying to scam us into sin and out of following the Lord. The devil is the "father of lies," therefore the greater our understanding of Scripture, and the more we familiarize ourselves with the ways of the Holy Spirit, the better our discernment becomes so that we either avoid the devil’s traps, or quickly see that while we have fallen for a deception, all is not lost since we can receive God’s grace and mercy.

Images:
​1. My photo; Papakolea Green Sand Beach, Big Island of Hawaii.
2. My photo; my husband hiking ahead of me as we were heading to the Green Sand Beach. Once the hike begins, there is no shade. (A tip: all one has to do is follow the coast and you cannot get lost!)
3. Drawing; The Prayer by Vincent van Gogh.
4. Icon; Mother of Holy Hope by Fr. William Hart McNichols. It seemed fitting to highlight Mary in this choice of image since her "yes" to God changed everything. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of this icon in one of many mediums, go to https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mother-of-holy-hope-263-william-hart-mcnichols.html
5. My photo; my footprints in the green sand, Big Island of Hawaii.
6. My photo; the beach from the cliff. (There is a passageway that leads down the cliff to the beach, but if you do not know where it is, it looks like it is impossible to get to the bottom.)
7. My husband's photo: my hand holding some green sand. Thank you for indulging me in posting more photos than I usually do, but I thought it would give more insight into the beach for those who might be interested. It is an incredible sight.

Note: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time.

We have begun a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church. It began on Christmas Eve when Pope Francis knocked on the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica and it was swung open as a symbolic gateway to encourage believers to enter into a spirit of renewal, that is, a period of opening our hearts to God anew. The symbolism is based on the words of Jesus who said He is the door, or the gate. (John 10:7) Thus ‘opening the door’ is an invitation to enter into Jesus’ heart in a deeper way by recognizing and then letting go of what impedes our growth in the spiritual life. The concept of ‘jubilee’ is first found in the Old Testament when the people would release others from debts and spend the year with renewed attention given to God. As it was originally intended, this Jubilee year is also meant as a time of focusing upon God, and as a response to His grace, reflecting His love and mercy in our actions. In a word, it is a time of conversion, which basically means a change of heart to be more aligned with that of God. Therefore, in this Jubilee Year we are called to examine our relationship with God and renew our commitment to Him through greater participation in the Sacraments, prayer, and reflection.

This process of a year of Jubilee is one which is meant to enhance growth in our spiritual lives, that is, to root out the distractions and learn to rely more on the Lord. Perhaps this is why from the beginning the Lord instituted the concept of jubilee as something to be repeated regularly. The roots of jubilee are found in the Creation account when God rested on the seventh day. (Genesis 2:1-3) This type of resting is so important to God that He placed it within the 10 Commandments. He said we must keep the sabbath holy, which means that the sabbath is to be a day of rest from other tasks so that we focus with less distraction on worship of the Lord. (Exodus 20:8-11)* Later, God instructed the people to celebrate a sabbatical year every seven years; after seven repetitions of the seven-year cycle, the 50th year was considered a jubilee year. (Leviticus 25) Without going into detail, the basic concept was about “release, restoration, and reconciliation:” release of servants, restoration of the fields, and reconciliation with those with whom we had become estranged.** The jubilee was an important lesson from God who was basically directing His people to act as He does. In other words, the very graces He offers, (to be healed, or released from our slavery to sin, to restore our relationship with Him, and the mercy He offers through forgiveness of our sins), are what He wants us to offer others as well. In short, this is what conversion is meant to be: a response of love. 

​Our participation in the year of Jubilee is rather critical for ourselves and for the world. Let’s be clear: the world has always been complicated, the tempter has always tempted, and sin has always been at odds with God’s grace. The Jubilee year, then, is an opportune time to immerse in the mercy and grace God offers so that we may have a change of heart, and therefore make a graced response. By immersing in Jubilee, our actions and behaviors will be transfigured is some way, a sign of our love and gratitude to God, and the result of God’s grace. If we do not participate in the spirit of jubilee this year, we risk missing an important opportunity for growth in holiness; that is, we risk not having our hearts transfigured to be more like His. If our hearts are not changed, the world will not change. But if we do accept the gifts of His grace by letting our hearts be more conformed to His, we will be stronger in the battle against all that works against goodness. The good news is that if we ask Him, God will give us the grace we need for our growth, and we will discover a greater sense of peace and joy as we live within the world such as it is.

Conversion is an ongoing process. How magnanimous of God to offer His grace and mercy to us! Thus, we can (and should) renew our commitment to the Sacraments as sources of His grace, develop a deeper commitment to prayer, and reorder our priorities so that God is the center of everything we do. It is a time of asking God to reveal the attachments that distract our attention away from Him so we can let them go. It is a time of falling more deeply in love with Him, of growth in humility so that our one desire is to please Him and to grow closer to Him. During this Jubilee let us also resolve to respond to the daily opportunities for service that present themselves. If we immerse ourselves within it, this Jubilee year can be a time in which the conversion of our hearts, fueled by God’s grace, will empower us to act with greater love than we ever thought possible. St. Thérèse of Lisieux once said, “To pick up a pin with love, can save a soul.”*** As she indicates, we are not called to unrealistic or impossible tasks; small steps and simple acts are all we need so long as they are done with love. Therefore, if all we can do is pick up a pin, let’s do it for the Lord, and always do it with love.

May we accept the graces God offers by participating in the Jubilee Year! May we allow the process of conversion to take place within our hearts! And may we be empowered by grace so we might be a conduit of God’s transformative love in the world! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace! 

​                           ©Michele L. Catanese

* “Remember the Sabbath day – keep it holy. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God. You shall not do any work, either you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your work animal, or the resident alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord has blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:8-11) It is interesting that the Lord elaborated on this commandment more than any of the other 9! (If you notice, there are three verses in the Creation story which show God detailing the day of rest. Therefore, it certainly is obvious that rest and worship mean a lot to God.)
** Daniel Esparza named the three aspects of jubilee in an article in Aleteia entitled A Quick Guide to Pilgrimage in a Jubilee Year. https://aleteia.org/2025/01/05/a-quick-guide-to-pilgrimage-for-the-jubilee-year?utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_campaign=EM-EN-Newsletter-Daily-&utm_content=Newsletter&utm_term=20250105
​*** Found in the Yellow Notebook, conversations St. Thérèse had as she lay dying in the last year of her life.
Images:
1. My photo; a holy door at St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, Italy.
2. Painting; Gardeuse de vaches, Eragny. (Cowherd, Eragny) by Camille Pissarro (1830-1903)
3. Icon; El Buen Pastor, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you are interested in purchasing a copy you can find it at fineartamerica.com/featured/el-buen-pastor-188-william-hart-mcnichols.html
4. My photo; the sky in New Mexico.
5. Mosaic; God the Father resting after creation. Palatine Chapel, Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

Note: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

It is interesting that after the long genealogy Matthew provided in his Gospel, followed by the somewhat detailed account of the angel appearing to Joseph in a dream, there is only one short verse about the actual birth of Jesus: “He had no relations with her until she bore a son and he named Him Jesus.” (Matthew 1:25) While Matthew did tell us this child would be Emmanuel, he gave no other details besides that Mary bore Him as a virgin; there is nothing about their journey to Bethlehem or why these Galileans would need to go there. However, Matthew did provide quite a bit of detail about what happened after Jesus’ birth, including the events involving the Magi. As is true of all the Gospel writers, what Matthew chose to recount has much deeper meaning than we see at first glance. Everything that is in the birth narrative is included for a reason, and that which is seemingly absent is also intentional. Therefore, we need to take the time to let those verses speak to us in order to let them reveal the deeper insights intended by the evangelist.

​Not only does Jesus' genealogy appear before the one verse pertaining to His birth, but it begins the entire Gospel. Rather than ignoring the genealogy as superfluous, we should regard it as more than just a list of names and seek to discover what messages it contains. Matthew wanted the faithful to understand that Joseph was of David’s line, thus fulfilling what had been promised by God. But it is also true that each and every person in this lineage had an important role, much of which is accessible through study of the Old Testament.* It is important to pray and reflect over the fact that from the beginning God had chosen this time in history, and these people, to make His entrance into the world. Perhaps this was part of what Joseph and Mary pondered as they prayed about their own roles in God’s plan. It certainly would be a cause of wonder and awe for them, and it is something that ought to evoke wonder, awe, and praise in us as we come before the Father in prayer during this season.

Matthew detailed the journey of the Magi who arrived after Jesus’ birth with gifts fit for a prophet, priest, and king, having finally discovered Him in a ‘borrowed’ stable with parents who were humble, materially poor people. As strange as this may have seemed, they trusted He was the one for whom they had searched, paying homage with joy. The story reveals that all who show up at the manger, especially the ‘unlikely ones,’ are invited to come to Jesus. In this case, none of these men were Jews; they were “from the east,” perhaps Zoroastrians.** And though they were foreigners, we can ascertain their level of belief: not only did they make this daring journey, (perhaps a time of conversion), but God knew their faith was deep enough that He could send an angel to them in the same way as to Joseph, warning them to return home by another route so as to avoid Herod. When we look beyond the surface, we do not see foreigners, pagans, or strangers, but rather, sojourners who ultimately responded to God’s call, made an arduous journey, and finally found Him in the manger.

Luke provided some different insights to ponder. Instead of the Magi, he wrote of shepherds who arrived at the stable to greet the newborn Messiah. Shepherds were considered the lowliest of Jews since they could not leave their flocks to go the Temple for prescribed worship. Living in the fields with their flocks, they probably smelled just like them, too, but in going to the stable, how they smelled was of no consequence to Mary or Joseph who joyfully welcomed them (and who were already used to the animals whose space they shared). How easy it would be to judge the shepherds unworthy of attending so holy a scene! And yet, they were the first ones to whom angels announced this blessed event and they responded unselfconsciously. Also unselfconsciously, Mary and Joseph, too poor to give birth to a baby in a ‘proper’ place, were later able to enter the Temple and present Jesus for circumcision, doing as the Law prescribed, obedient and filled with joy. Perhaps there were those there who judged them, but not Simeon or Anna, each of whom welcomed them with similar joy and praise of God.

It is good to ponder all these scenes during the Christmas season that we might allow our own hearts to be expanded. We are invited to ponder along with Matthew and Luke, Mary and Joseph. The insights contained in each event never cease to be relevant, and are especially so during the time in which we now live. Believers today are similarly judged (and are tempted to judge); and as in times of old, we are pressured into conforming to the secular culture and its values. Praying with these verses can inspire us, through the power of grace, to recognize and rise above the pressures, instead seeking Jesus in the manger with the joy and reverence of the Magi and shepherds. As prophesied, found there is “… a little Child to guide them.” The Baby born in Bethlehem is the Prince of Peace, Lord of Lords and King of Kings. (Isaiah 11:6; Isaiah 9:5; Revelation 17:14) Come let us adore!

​May we conform our hearts to that of the newborn baby Jesus that we might overcome the temptation to judge, and instead reach out to those who are outcast, to love those unlike ourselves, opening our hearts to strangers, aliens, widows, orphans, and the poor among us! And may we unselfconsciously accept the invitation of God to go to the manger and keep Him company! Let us meet with all our brothers and sisters throughout the season at the manger where Jesus lies! Peace!

                                  ©Michele L Catanese

Note: Another type of 'birth account’ is found in the Prologue of John’s Gospel. (John 1:1-18) It is deeply theological, but it is also immensely important and infinitely sublime; it is proclaimed at the “Mass During the Day” on December 25. For me, the climax is in this verse: “And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) I had to mention this since these verses are my favorite in regard to His birth since they reveal who Jesus is.
* Of course, this meant that Jesus was of the line of David as legal son of Joseph​. ~ Matthew set up the genealogy with a brilliant structure that contains great symbolism: he pointed out at the end of the list that "the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah, fourteen generations.” (Matthew 1:17) That is, this is not a complete list of the ancestors of Jesus, but rather Matthew was emphasizing God’s plan and His promises beginning with Abraham and especially that which was made to David. Jesus is the fulfillment of all God’s promises and He is the fulfillment of the Law. ~ Since genealogies are by definition and tradition lists of firstborn males, this one included some rather unexpected people, that is, women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, “the wife of Uriah” (Bathsheba), and Mary. When Joseph is named at the end of the list, he is referred to as Joseph, the husband of Mary; "Of her is born Jesus who is called the Messiah.” (Matthew 1:16) Even though this is about the male ancestry of Jesus, notice that Mary is preeminent: Joseph is described as the husband of Mary, rightfully giving her central importance, emphasizing that of her was born Jesus.
** We know little about the Magi except that there were no less than three, but probably more, that they were astrologers, they were men of faith, and they seem to have come from Persia. The dominant religion in Persia at the time was Zoroastrianism, hence there is a high probability that this was their religion.

Images:
1. My photo; icon of Joseph and Jesus on the wall of the Church of St. Joseph in Nazareth, Israel.
2. My photo; "glowing" trees. This photo was taken near Schulenberg, TX and is unaltered. It was a trick of the light that made the trees in this vineyard seem to glow.
3. The front of a Christmas card depicting the Magi and star. I had sent this card to my friends many years ago, and saved the front of one of the cards for myself. 
4. The front of a Christmas card depicting shepherds in the fields reacting with joy to the message of the angels. (As above, this was a card I once sent.)
5. My photo; a creche in a massive display inside a church in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
6. Image; The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. To purchase a copy this can be found at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-nativity-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-034-william-hart-mcnichols.html
​
Note: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

Influenced by a society that struggles with patience, and during a time of year when there are many things to do, Advent is a greater gift than we may realize. This is because during this season we are invited into something we are often loathe to do, which is to wait. Yet it is in this waiting that the heart of Advent lies, offering a graced opportunity to come away from the noise to find a place of quiet. When we enter into Advent reflection God offers grace so that we can make peace with the waiting, keeping it focused on expectancy and anticipation rather than the temptations of anxiety and emptiness. Indeed, our lives are busy with preparations of every kind, and yet, here is the invitation to enter into waiting peacefully. This is one of Advent’s gifts: the opportunity to be attentive to the Scriptures we hear proclaimed during worship, (for reflection upon them), that we might intentionally begin each day looking for ways to enter into hopeful anticipation of the coming of Jesus who comes with “healing in His wings.” (paraphrase of Malachi 4:2)*

Often, however, we miss out on another wonderful pathway simply because we do not pay attention to it: the prayers that our worship provides which are unique to the season and which offer a gateway into meditation on its mysteries. Let us begin with the Sunday Scriptures of this second half of Advent in which the aspect of waiting with hope is intensified. ** The Gospel for the third Sunday, (Gaudete Sunday), focuses on the baby who once leapt, John, now the baptizer, the Forerunner of Jesus. This Gospel event takes place long after the birth of Jesus, but it could not be more in keeping with the message of Advent: “Now the people were filled with expectation and all were asking in their heart whether John might be the Christ.” (Luke 3:10-18) At this point in the Gospel, Jesus is about to begin the mission for which He came, and John is pointing the way to Him. His example and ministry remain relevant in our lives as we are called to point the way to Christ for others, too. On the fourth Sunday the Gospel tells of Mary traveling to the hill country to visit Elizabeth. (Luke 1:39-45) *** When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, she cried aloud that the child in her womb (John) leapt for joy. Like Elizabeth, we are also invited into hearing the greeting of Mary pregnant with Jesus; it is a cause for joy to realize that what (or Who) we hope for is ‘on the way’ and is in fact imminent. Indeed, we know that our present waiting will come to an end with the Messiah’s return. Reflecting prayerfully upon this Gospel passage can be a way to open ourselves to this joy, to letting the Lord sweep out all that might have accumulated in our hearts in order to make room for Jesus to enter in.

The Advent Preface prayers offered by the priest at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist at Mass are also excellent offerings for meditation and prayer. In the first two weeks he prays: “that… we who watch for that day may inherit the great promise in which now we dare to hope.” We are reminded to be watchful, that is, attentive and spiritually prepared, for God’s promise to be fulfilled. A watchful disposition is surely daring because this kind of hope is founded on our trust in God who has never left a promise unfulfilled. Indeed, it is freeing. In the 3rd and 4th weeks there are three lines in the Preface prayer to note. The first is that “the prophets foretold Him,” a reminder which helps to keep us attentive to the message within the Old Testament readings of the liturgy. Next is this line: “… the Virgin Mother longed for Him with love beyond all telling.” Mary’s longing should be ours, too. If we spend time with her, we can accept her invitation into the love she has for her Son which is beyond any description or expression; we can enter into this incredibly intimate experience with her. And finally: “John the Baptist sang of His coming and proclaimed His presence when He came.” We so often think of John as with fiery, wild-eyed persona, in his rough clothes and with hair and beard unkempt; therefore, to think of him singing is almost jarring, and wonderfully so. This image shows the real John, he of heart burning with love, hope, and joy… yes, joy. How could John the Baptist proclaim Jesus’ presence without joy? It is simply impossible that he would know Jesus from the womb and have lost the ability to still leap at His presence.

My suggestion for the remainder of Advent is to enter into these Scripture passages and especially these lines of the Preface prayers. Try to imagine and reflect prayerfully upon Mary and Elizabeth, pregnant and waiting for the day their sons enter the world; join Mary while she is in silent prayer while experiencing love beyond all telling; imagine John leaping in his mother’s womb and then 30 years later leaping again while in song, joyful that the Holy One is about to make Himself known. That which they had hoped for was nigh, and that which we hope for is, too: the Lord is coming again. In our hope-filled waiting let us remember that we do not hope in something, but in Someone who is nothing less than the Son of God, one who comes as Malachi foretold: “…the sun of Justice will arise with healing in its wings.” 

May we take the time to prayerfully reflect upon the Scriptures and prayers of Advent liturgy! May our hearts leap with joy at His coming! And may we persevere in our efforts to make a place for Him in the manger of our heart! Peace! Marana tha! Come!

​                        ©Michele L. Catanese

* In some Bibles the Book of Malachi is divided into three chapters, and therefore, in the New American Bible Revised Edition this verse is Malachi 3:20. In the Revised Standard Bible, Catholic Version, as well as many other Bible translations, Malachi is divided into 4 chapters; in those versions this verse is Malachi 4:2.

** Here are some passages from Isaiah that are in the liturgies during Advent this year: “He shall judge between the nations …. They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation…” (Is. 2:1-4) “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid…. and a little child shall lead them…. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain.” (Is. 11:1-9)  
“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him…. let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (Is. 25:9) “You shall weep no more….” (Is. 30:18-19) “Comfort, comfort my people…. Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion herald of good tidings… Lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings!... Behold your God!” (Is. 40:1-11) And finally “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Emmanuel.” (Is. 7:14) Of course there are so many more, such as Isaiah 9 and 12. (The translation I have used is the RSV, Catholic version.)
By the end of Advent, we will have heard from Isaiah on 10 occasions through a combination of readings at daily and Sunday Masses. It is breath-taking that Isaiah was prophesying something he would never live to see, and therefore something he really could not have fully understood. – The reality of what actually happened is almost too marvelous even for those of us who have lived after Jesus came. Imagine, The Almighty choosing to become a vulnerable baby in a poor family! That is rather astonishing, if you really think about it. 

*** Gaudete means "Rejoice." I also want to give perspective to something which can go unnoticed unless one has been to the Holy Land: Mary’s trip from Nazareth to ‘the hill country,’ that is, the village of Ein Karem where Elizabeth lived, was not a short one. Ein Karem is almost all the way to Jerusalem, (and not that much further from there is Bethlehem). Thus, the pregnant Mary must have rejoiced at arriving at her destination both because she had finally arrived after an arduous journey and because she could be present with her cousin. A thought to ponder!

Images:
1. Icon; Mother of the Incarnate Word, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, this image can be found at  https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mother-of-the-incarnate-word-071-william-hart-mcnichols.html
2. My photo; rolling hills in the Holy Land.
3. Painting; St. John the Baptist, by Leonardo da Vinci. It was the smile of John the Baptist that drew me in; perhaps he had just leapt for joy?
4. My photo; sun over the water at Grand Cayman; the water photo may seem an odd one here, but it is the ‘sun of Justice’ reference that is intended.
5. Clip art; Advent Candles, Week 3, (when Gaudete rose candle is lit).

Note: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

One of the most memorable books I read as a child was a delightful story about a little train that was given a seemingly insurmountable route, having to crest a hill that seemed way beyond its ability. As the little train contemplated the hill, it began to repeat: “I think I can, I think I can.” Sure enough, as the little train strained and struggled, it conquered its fears and the hill, leading to a newfound confidence. The lesson taught by this story was impactful given the positive approach to not giving up on a difficult task.* Of course, with age and maturity it becomes obvious that things are often not that simple; reciting an encouraging ‘mantra’ is helpful, but in truth, it takes more than this to accomplish tasks, especially in regard to the spiritual life. Our Christian faith teaches that with God all things are possible, and if we do not put our trust in Him, that which we could have done together can truly be insurmountable. Therefore, in our preparation for the beginning of Advent, it is important to enter into the stories of Mary and Joseph which challenge us to go beyond the temptation to only approach situations with positive thinking. Individually and together, they made the all-important choice that took them beyond willful thinking: they relied totally on God. In their love for Him, they turned to the Lord for strength as well as for discernment, and therefore they were able to proceed in trust and with peace. 

In his Gospel, Luke made it evident that Mary trusted completely when the angel assured her, “Nothing is impossible for God.” (Luke 1:37) However, the role of Joseph in the coming of the Messiah is nothing short of breathtaking when you consider that when Mary told him she was pregnant, he had not yet had the benefit of an angel to explain things. Although the Gospels do not say it, we can be sure that as bewildered as Joseph may have been, he immediately turned to God in prayer. We can safely assume this because his holiness and closeness to God are probably why God chose him for this role in the first place. The best insight into this is found in Matthew’s Gospel in which Joseph is described as “a righteous man.” (Matthew 1:19) To be described as righteous indicates a life of holiness which was lived in total reliance on God; the righteous one possessed the graces of discernment, justice, and mercy. Also indicative of his righteousness is that his first thoughts were not of himself, but rather they were of Mary: Joseph “was unwilling to expose her to shame” and so he decided to divorce her quietly, and thus, to entrust her into God’s hands. He must have struggled mightily over this since he already loved her and knew she was pure and holy, without guile or pretense. The narrative goes on to reveal that after Joseph had prayerfully decided to divorce Mary, the same angel (presumably) that came to her visited him in a dream. The angel explained the situation, and so he obediently and confidently took her into his home, enabling the Incarnation of Jesus Emmanuel. And while Joseph was not without sin or immaculate like Mary, he shared with her the two essential traits which are the foundation of love and holiness: thinking of what is best for other rather than of themselves, and total reliance upon God. 

A suggestion as we begin Advent is to focus our reflection on Joseph and the traits he displayed.** We can let him inspire us to turn to God with trust more readily than perhaps we do now, and as our relationship deepens, we can seek to grow in grace and virtue. We can reflect upon how to become more selfless, to develop this as a habitual way of living. As with Joseph, being a righteous person means learning to mix humility with bold confidence. In other words, humility comes from our recognition that graces do not come from our own power, but rather, that everything comes from God; confidence comes from utilizing the very grace and power He gives. It is important to recognize that while positive thinking helps, if our focus is only on self, (that is, we will ourselves to do something thinking the hoped-for result is from our own power), we will not be successful in growing in holiness, and will often end up disappointed instead. 

During Advent, Joseph can enrich our journey toward the stable with Mary.*** Joseph, (like Mary), teaches us that God is always with us and there is nothing which He cannot do in order to accomplish His plan. Joseph helps us to realize that often the struggle or suffering we experience is part of our path to holiness and therefore has great value. He also encourages us to keep our eyes and ears open for the presence of God who often comes in unexpected ways. He teaches perseverance: when faced with a seemingly impossible situation or when praying for something that seems like it never seems to budge, we must continue to trust God’s wisdom concerning that which we do not understand. Finally, Joseph can be our model of selflessness, which includes humility before God who must always be first in our lives. St. Joseph the righteous one knew that only with total reliance on God would he be able to humbly live his call. Indeed, he embraced it with all his heart.

May we pray for the intercession of St. Joseph during our Advent journey! May we take the time to reflect on the ways St. Joseph lived as a righteous man and ask the Holy Spirit help our growth in virtue! And may we savor every moment of Advent so that the graces God wishes to impart may truly be received! Let us meet on the road to Bethlehem! Peace! Marana tha! Come O Lord! 

​                              © Michele L. Catanese

 * The Little Train That Could by Watty Piper, first published in 1930 and still available at some bookstores.
** The birth narratives do not contain much on St. Joseph, or even Mary for that matter. However, what is there is more than enough to pray and meditate with for a lifetime. In Matthew’s Gospel, Joseph is present in chapter 1 and 2. Chapter 1 concerns everything through the birth of Jesus, and while it is outside the scope of Advent, we can learn more about Joseph in Matthew 2:13-15 and then 2:19-22 since these give us more insight into the obedience of Joseph when the angel comes to him again via his dreams. (Also, the genealogy that appears at the beginning of chapter 1 offers often overlooked insights into Joseph; he descended from the line of David, just as God said the father of the Messiah would.) After this, Joseph is no longer mentioned. In his Gospel, Luke offers the birth narrative by highlighting Mary in chapters 1 and 2; in these chapters the name of Joseph only appears twice! 
*** A good exercise might be in reflecting upon what Joseph’s reaction may have been when Mary departed immediately after their discussion to go to the hill country (to help Elizabeth); what might he have experienced of ‘Advent waiting’ while she was gone? We can meditate and pray over what those nine months of Mary’s pregnancy were like for Joseph, and so on.

Images:
1. My photo; train in Norway.
2. My photo; statue of Mary pregnant with Jesus which I saw in a church in Puerto Rico during Advent.
3. Image; St. Joseph Mirror of Patience by Fr. William Hart McNichols. This is a good time of year to purchase Advent images and icons  for prayer and to share. You can find this one at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/st-joseph-mirror-of-patience-334-william-hart-mcnichols.html
(Remember, I do not receive anything from endorsing the work of Fr. Bill except through knowing I have "shared the wealth" of the beauty of his work!)
4. My photo; trail in Big Bend National Park; Big Bend Texas
5. Image; San Jose Flor de Jese, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. Note as above; you can find this at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/san-jose-flor-de-jese-323-william-hart-mcnichols.html
6. Clip art; Advent wreath for the first week of the season.

Note: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

​Music became my passion when I picked up my first instrument as a young girl. However, in a more hidden manner there was another great love developing, a fascination with the Bible. I attempted to read Bible commentaries to understand better what the Scriptures contained, but honestly, I did not really understand the commentaries all that much. However, my searching did foster continued reflection on Jesus and on His words. There was one particular section that drew me in, the Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5-7) I still find it to be the one of the most powerful (if not challenging) teachings in the Gospels.* The best part, however, is that the Bible had helped me to know and love God better, and I began to understand that in reading it, I was actually hearing His words, His message. Therefore, to those who say they long to hear God speak to their heart, or that they wish they could hear His voice, I say, “Pick up your Bible.” Through the Bible we always have the voice of God speaking to us. We hear His voice every time we read it or listen to it being proclaimed in our churches: indeed, that is God speaking to you. No one who has ever attended even one liturgy can claim that they have never heard God speak. He has spoken throughout history and His voice remains as strong as ever.

Just before the Gospel is proclaimed at Mass, Catholics engage in a meaningful gesture. When the deacon or priest says, “A reading from the Gospel according to…. [Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John],” we trace the sign of the cross with our thumb on our forehead, lips, and heart. Simultaneously, we silently say the prayer that accompanies that gesture: “May the Lord be in my mind, on my lips, and in my heart.” ** It is important that we do say the prayer because it is a reminder that what we are going to hear is indeed the Word of the Lord. In word and deed, it was to speak the Word of God that He came: Jesus, the Son of God, the Word incarnate, entered our world to fulfill all God promised, to express the love and mercy of the Father, and therefore, to offer the gift of salvation to all people. In doing so, He wanted to make disciples who would assist Him in this work. Therefore, if we do not listen, and if we do not open our minds and hearts to His word, then we will not be able to speak them on our lips. In this light, His words spoken through Scripture ought to move our hearts to always invite Him in, focus our thoughts upon Him, and reveal that we are His in our words and actions.

While the Gospels are the heart of our Christian faith, we should be familiar with the entire Bible. If we have some understanding of the Old Testament, we will more fully appreciate what it means when Jesus is referred to as the fulfilment of prophecy, or the significance of his ancestry, for example. We will also better understand why and how the Jewish people were oppressed by the Romans; that is, the thousands of years of history that got them to where they were at the time of Jesus. Of course, studying the Old Testament also provides great insights into who God is, how He revealed this, and how the understanding of the Jewish people developed over the centuries. Without familiarity with it, we would lose the stories of the great heroes, the poetry of the Psalms, the significance of the Law, and the Wisdom of the holy ones carefully passed down, generation to generation. The same is true for the books of the New Testament after the Gospels: these writings describe what the early Church was like, offer the foundations of our theology, false teachings to avoid, and prophecy about the return of Christ. In truth, we should keep all the Scriptures in our minds, on our hearts, and in our lips insofar as we participate in it through our reading, study, reflection, and prayer with it. 

Many people do read the Scriptures daily, and through this practice discover that the Word is ever new each time it is read and reflected upon. But what is most important is that we let it penetrate our hearts and minds. The Word dwelling in our minds will help us to discern between what is really from God and what is actually deception as we face challenges and difficulties in our daily life. The Word dwelling in our hearts will allow Him to reveal His desires for us, ways we might be healed, areas in which we need to let go of attachments, ways to put Him first in our lives more consistently, and to disclose more deeply how much He truly loves us. During these times there is much division and so many voices competing for our attention, often making it difficult to know which to listen to. But there is an answer, there is one Voice of Truth to which we can always turn and in which we can always trust: Jesus. If we learn to recognize Him, to hear His voice and respond to it, we will have peace within our hearts even when everything around us seems to be falling apart. With the Word of God in the forefront of our minds, always on our lips (and in our actions), and thus, deep within our hearts, we will be safe in the midst of storm, and we will glorify Him by our lives.

May we keep the Lord in our mind, on our lips, and in our heart! May we be drawn ever deeper into the Scriptures, the Word of God, so that we may hear His voice always! And in living the Word, may we glorify God! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                               ©Michele L. Catanese

​* For more, see my post from June 2023, The Gospel Within The Gospels. https://www.catanesesd.com/micheles-blog/the-gospel-within-the-gospels
​
** https://mycatholic.life/catholic-question-and-answer/q-signing-head-lips-heart-at-gospel/#:~:text=The%20answer%20is%20simple.,His%20sacred%20Word%20is%20proclaimed.
The Jews used to practice something along these lines by wearing tefillin or phylacteries: men would wear the Law (Torah) on their foreheads, inside leather pouches held by cords, and the phylacteries were held in similar pouches worn on their arm. This was meant to keep the Lord in their mind and close to their heart. Jewish houses had a mezuzah on the door frame (many still do this) so that as they entered or exited, they would touch it in a gesture of prayer. What is contained within all of these are verses from the Law, most important of them the Shema prayer, that greatest of all commandments that proclaims God as One and that we are to love Him with all our mind, all our heart, and all our strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4) While Christians do not wear these particular reminders, we do wear crosses and medals which are worn not only to proclaim our faith, but as reminders to ourselves of Whose we are. As in all things we should honor the wearing of them by our behaviors so that we do indeed have the Word in our mind, on our lips, and in our heart. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tefillin

Images:
1. My photo; The Bible.
2. Icon; Cristo Pantocrater by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, or in any of his other images and icons, you can find this at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/cristo-pantocrator-175-william-hart-mcnichols.html
3. Drawing; Solomon's Temple, https://bible.fandom.com/wiki/First_Temple. I chose this to give an example of something of the history of Israel that was quite important and highly described in many books of the Old Testament.
4. Painting; First Steps (After Millet), by Vincent van Gogh. Let us run to the Father!
5. My photo; On the Snake River in Clarkston, Washington.

Note: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

It is good to read the lives of the Saints, but I have to be clear that many existing hagiographies are simply not appealing, written with flowery descriptions that present the saint as perfect in every conceivable way. Other than the Blessed Virgin Mary (and Jesus), there are no perfect human beings and thus, no perfect saints. Everyone has weaknesses and is prone to sin, but what sets the saints apart is how well they have worked at combatting their weaknesses, and simultaneously, how well they have grown in virtue. When a hagiography presents a saint as perfect and almost too good to be true, they become difficult to relate to. This type of writing can lead to discouragement since sainthood is presented as almost impossible to attain, and it can influence us to believe that somehow these people were born to be holy and we were not. We cannot live up to what seems impossible. Accurate hagiography, however, does appeal to the reader since these accounts portray what is possible. We can see that the struggles with weakness of the holy are not unlike our own; similarly, we can see that their giftedness is something of which we are capable. These works provide the evidence of how a particular saint grew into their call to holiness, something definitely attainable and which therefore can ignite our response to God in pursuing our own path to holiness. We are all called to holiness, and therefore well written hagiographies can offer a pathway to that end.*

Scripture is also a good place to discover what it means to be holy. We will find that despite their great deeds, some of the ‘heroes’ were quite broken and had what we could characterize as debilitating faults. These people loved God and desired to do His will, but sometimes they really mucked things up due to their human weakness. Others were called into ministries to which they never aspired, excelling even at the cost of suffering because they came to trust in the power and promises of God through an intimate relationship with Him. All that said, the Scriptural figures who tried to serve the Lord can be revered for the good they did; their failings can teach us not to seek our own council, but to turn to God always, and their strengths can show us that obstacles can be overcome with love and total trust in God.**

We can read about any saint in the two thousand years of Christian history and see that in addition to their wisdom and perhaps even the power of their prayer, they also made mistakes, struggling with personal areas of weakness and quite visible flaws. Some had incredible conversions which taught them to overcome their greatest weaknesses with the help of grace; others seemed to be drawn to holiness from an early age, yet also had issues to overcome. They all teach us that struggles do not diminish sanctity: as they relied on God their understanding grew concerning their weaknesses, as well as in the ways God worked within their hearts. They grew so much that they continually made a response of selfless love to God, giving witness to the power of grace; their love enabled them to supersede even their greatest weakness or sinful tendency. This is a sign of hope that we, too, can grow in holiness since these stories reveal that God does not choose His special servants based on perfection, but on something He alone sees within their hearts.

As an exercise, imagine if someone were to write about you after your death. How would your spiritual biography or hagiography read? How would your hagiography read if you wrote it about yourself? And most importantly: how would your hagiography read if God were to write it? These are questions we all should reflect and pray upon; if we are honest this exercise will reveal our attachments and our weaknesses, yes, but it would also reveal how grace has already worked within us, how we utilize that grace to overcome our weaknesses, and how beautifully we have already used our gifts. Our hagiography will not be generally negative unless we focus only on weaknesses and refuse to see our own goodness. With thorough, balanced reflection under the guidance of the Holy Spirit we will see both our goodness and the areas that are in need of growth. I suspect we will be surprised by what we discover. Of course, we all have a lot of work to do, but it would be fallacious to think that we have not already shared the wealth of our gifts through service and witness to others, along with the desire to love God better, even if we find that we need to grow in some areas.

The important point is that we must always pray to discern our call to truly follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit so that we continually respond to God’s desires for us. Similarly, it is essential that we are aware of our greatest points of vulnerability to temptation so that we can build up spiritual defenses against them as well as to grow in virtue. We must never stop praying to come to know and love God better, to receive from Him all He wants to offer, and for spiritual strength and protection against all the forces that want to thwart our growth in holiness. If we work at this every day, our hagiography will end in Heaven with Jesus saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant…. Come share your master’s joy.” (Matthew 25:21)

May we be inspired by the lives of the saints! May we call upon the saints to help us grow in holiness as they did! And may we turn to the Lord for the graces we need that we may make a loving return to Him for all His goodness and mercy! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                   ©Michele L. Catanese

* The root of the word hagiography is from the Greek word hagi meaning "of a saint, saintly, holy; from Greek hagios "sacred, devoted to the gods" (of things), "holy, pure" (of persons), in Ecclesiastical Greek,’ "a saint.’” https://www.etymonline.com/word/hagiography

** For example in the Old Testament Abram (Abraham) had a tendency to interpret what God said by taking matters into his own hands, such as when God promised him an heir. (He lied about his relationship with Sarai twice, first in Genesis 12:10 ff, then in Genesis 20; and he ‘used’ Hagar for an heir in Gen.16.) David became envious of another man’s wife and then tried to cover up his deed with worse sins. His behaviors also led to disastrous problems with his sons. Through his need to attain many wives, Solomon fell into the worship of false gods which led to the demise of Israel. In the New Testament we see that the apostles had their many weaknesses. Peter not only denied Jesus, but even after he was leader of the Christian church, he struggled at times. The best example was when he acted hypocritically in siding with the Jewish converts during the Council of Jerusalem, having recently acted completely contrary to his argument with some Gentiles. (Acts 15) St. Paul had a wonderful conversion, but even after that he grappled with a fiery temper, such as when he refused Mark in accompanying him because on the previous voyage the young man had left due to homesickness. His decision and a subsequent argument led to estrangement from his friend Barnabas for many years. (Acts 15:36-41).​

Images:
1. Icon; All Saints.
2. My photo; Mensa Christi, at the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter on the shores of the Sea of Galilee in Tabgha, Israel. (Tabgha is southwest of Capernaum.)
3. Painting; St. Jerome, Penitent, by Caravaggio (1606). St. Jerome struggled with his temper all his life, even though he was a holy, prayerful man. (Remember that he translated the entire Bible from Greek into Latin; that is, he gave us the Vulgate.)
4. My photo; hagiographies on my bookshelf.
5. Icon; Christ All Merciful, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can purchase a copy of this in one of many different mediums at fineartamerica.com/featured/christ-all-merciful-022-william-hart-mcnichols.html
6. My photo; pilgrims in prayer procession at Lourdes, France.

Note: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time.