On vacation years ago I had an opportunity to spend a day in the remote Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in north central Alaska. Part of the visit included a stunning guided journey through the tundra, surrounded by the majestic Brooks Range Mountains. The vastness of the place contributed to a profound sense of my own littleness and insignificance in the grand scheme. But the reality is that it was only a feeling, and not one reserved just for being in the wilderness: all of us have an experience of feeling insignificant from time to time no matter where we are or who we are with. It is normal to feel overwhelmed by that which is larger than we are, but the truth is that none of us are insignificant in the eyes of God. Everyone, including the most forgotten or overlooked person among us, is important and precious in His eyes. Therefore, as members of the Body of Christ we are called to reflect that same attitude toward one another; by treating everyone with reverence and dignity, no matter how insignificant we think our actions may be, we are actually effecting changes in the world. It is easy to be deceived into believing we can do nothing because we are the least likely person God would ever choose to make a difference, but if we look to the people God has chosen throughout salvation history, it seems that He prefers not the seemingly obvious people, but the least likely, most flawed individuals to help Him accomplish His work. 

​The series of unlikely heroes consistently chosen by God shows that His judgment is completely different than ours. For example, in the Old Testament we can see that He chose an exile with a stutter to lead His people out of bondage (Moses), a woman military leader during an era in which only men led armies (Deborah), an unambitious, but conniving man from the smallest clan in the least significant tribe to liberate his people (Gideon), a king so arrogant that he went ‘off the rails’ (Saul), a young shepherd, the last choice of a renowned prophet, to be anointed as the replacement for King Saul (David), prophets from humble backgrounds or with ‘issues’ (Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos) and so on. Later we see that Jesus chose His followers similarly: some lowly fishermen, (Andrew and Peter, James and John), one who was prejudiced against Galileans like Jesus (Nathaniel), a Zealot (Simon), and a probable thief who swayed with the wind, ending up as a betrayer (Judas). Then there was the crooked tax collector (Matthew), the hot tempered Pharisee (Paul), and so many more. 

Of the many Saints who followed, one who might be considered a ‘least likely choice’ is Bernadette Soubirous (1844-1879). When the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to her at Lourdes, the 14 year old Bernadette was illiterate, sickly, and from a family so poor they lived in a jail that wasn’t even suitable for criminals. Yet it was her courage and determination, her deeply ingrained faith and love for God, which propelled her into becoming a great saint. She was the last person anyone would ever have chosen for so great a mission, and yet she obeyed, growing in holiness and humility as she accepted what was placed before her. Many of the Saints were aware of their unlikelihood as choices for service. It was St. Thèrése of Lisieux who wrote (in reference to herself): "He does not call those who are worthy, but those whom He pleases." All of this bears witness to the reality that God can and will choose anyone of faith to be a witness to His love and mercy. Therefore we must never count ourselves out. 

A suggestion to become more aware of God’s call is to spend time praying and reflecting upon our lives as they are now to see what opportunities are already at hand in our homes, workplaces, and communities. A concrete way we can serve God is to be more intentional about practicing the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, small actions which make a huge difference in the lives of others. Finally, we need to reflect upon our role as ‘activists.’ To be Christian means to love actively: we cannot sit idly by and wait for someone else to do what we can do ourselves. Imagine if Moses decided to ‘sit this one out,’ or if Peter decided his sins were too great to ever serve Jesus! Imagine if Bernadette had decided not to go back to the grotto and missed the messages Mary wanted her to convey! We do not have to wait for a sign or revelation before we can offer our love and mercy to the world. All we need to do is realize that every act and every word can be healing and life-giving if we live the gospel as taught by Jesus, seeing ourselves and all our sisters and brothers as important and precious to God.

Let us reflect upon the words of Gerard Manley Hopkins, SJ, who during his life was of ‘the least likely,’ his poetry acclaimed only after his death:
​
I say more: the just man justices;
Keeps grace: that keeps all his goings graces;
Acts in God's eye what in God's eye he is --
Christ — for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men's faces. *

May we believe in our hearts that we are precious and beautiful to behold in the eyes of God! May we also see others as children of God, precious and beautiful to behold! May we spend time in prayer, discerning how we are called to do small things with great love! And may our hearts be filled with courage, faith, hope, mercy, and love that we may offer these in turn to everyone we encounter! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                ©Michele L. Catanese


* As Kingfishers Catch Fire, by Gerard Manley Hopkins, SJ (1844-1889). The entire poem is found at https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44389/as-kingfishers-catch-fire

Images:
​1. My photo taken in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, just north of the Arctic Circle, Bettles, Alaska. This photo was taken out on the tundra near Anaktuvuk Pass; the mountain is part of the Brooks Range.

2. My photo of a mosaic of Moses and the Burning Bush: Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy.

3. My photo of a stained glass window in the convent of St. Gildard at Nevers, France, depicting St. Bernadette praying before Our Lady of Lourdes. Bernadette entered the Sisters of Charity in Nevers, remaining until her death at the age of 35.

4. My photo of the original painting, The Good Samaritan by Vincent van Gogh. I took this in the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX at an exhibition which included this work.

5. Icon, Fr. Gerard Manley Hopkins the Poet's Poet, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. Note the inset of the Kingfisher in the upper left corner. You can find this at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/fr-gerard-manley-hopkins-the-poets-poet-144-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. 

My father used to say that there are three ways of doing something, “your way, my way, and the right way.” I may not have appreciated this when I was young, but in adulthood I have come to see the wisdom in his words. However, now I would clarify “the right way” as that which is rooted in the Way taught by Jesus. The gospel implies that this right way involves compromise, a middle way, a way of peaceful resolution. But it also suggests that this path is more difficult to choose because it means we have to let go of what we cling to; that is, we have to choose to surrender to something beyond ourselves and our way of thinking. Jesus provided an unambiguous distinction between the path we could choose and the one we should choose: “… for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”(Matthew 7:13-14) Jesus was clearly saying that the way of the Gospel is not easy and that we have to really work at living it. He wanted us to realize that there are many dangers and pitfalls which will arise and that we will be tempted away from this path many times. But He also provided hope that if we are grounded in the gospel message and in a life of prayer, we will indeed be prepared to find the narrow road, to choose it, and to stick to it. And when we stray - (and we will) - the grace of God will aid us in finding our way back. 

​We should not be dismayed when Jesus says that few find the narrow road. If we put the world into perspective and view it through the lens of salvation history, we will see that fully committed believers, the faithful remnant of the Old Testament and the saints of the New Testament and beyond, have always been in the minority. The world, in spiritual terms, has always been a corruptible (and therefore corrupt) place, wanting to tempt us into everything from hedonism to relativism, from spiritual malaise to atheism, and from insensitivity toward the lives of others to complete self-centeredness. This is not to say there is no good in the world; indeed beauty and goodness are at the core of everything God has made, including every human person. But the kingdom of God is pure and indestructible, based on truth, mercy, love, and the selfless action of bringing these to others.

• St. Paul elaborated on the distinction between the two ways throughout his letters. He argued that we need to be prepared for spiritual warfare to prevent being tempted to enter the wider road. He wrote that we need to “… stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God that you may be able to resist....” (Ephesians 6:11-17) These words were a beacon of hope because when he lived, to remain a Christian, and thus to live the way of goodness, justice, mercy, and love, was to risk one’s life. Not to, was (and is) to risk one’s soul. 

​The biggest threat today is that of riding the wave of popular culture, buying into the values of society rather than those which are rooted in the gospel of Jesus. When we embrace materialism, the culture of self, hedonism, neglect of the poor and marginalized, lack of civility, and moral relativism, we are treading the wider road and we are in danger. When we turn a blind eye to something which we know to be wrong or unjust, we are treading the wider road. And even more insidious, and which can incapacitate us, are the temptations of worry, fear, discouragement, spiritual laziness (neglecting our relationship with God), and falling prey to deceit. 

To put on the armor of God, we need to continually grow in our life of prayer no matter how good we think we are in this area. (Remember, prayer is about relationship: falling more deeply in love with God.) A suggestion is to commit to reading the Scriptures and to praying with them, particularly the Gospels.* Perhaps while doing so we can focus on growing in one virtue or one work of mercy at a time. We should also pray for discernment, that is, the guidance of the Holy Spirit to assist with every decision we make. These are perilous times. But let’s be clear: it has always been so. Nevertheless, we can hold on to hope while arming ourselves with spiritual help; although the kingdom of this world is powerfully alluring and the enemy desperately wants to weaken our resolve to grow in holiness, we can choose the way of Jesus, trusting in His goodness, His power, His justice, His mercy, and His love. Remember, Jesus told us to go out and make disciples of nations. He would not have commanded this if it was not possible. Let us put on the armor of God, with mercy and love as our guide, bringing the Good News to all those with whom we interact. This is the right way, the gospel way, the Way of Jesus.

May we never lose hope in choosing the narrow road, the way taught by Jesus! May we bravely take up the ‘right way’ of the Gospel which is expressed in justice, mercy, love, and peace! May we always ask the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us on the journey! And may we continue to grow in our relationship with the Lord, accepting His love and offering a response of love in return! Let us continue to meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                   ©Michele L. Catanese

* Pope Francis issued a papal decree that the third Sunday in Ordinary Time, this year on January 26, is to be the day of celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God. Therefore reading, praying with, and sharing the Word of God in all we say and do should be our priority. For more, go to https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2020-01/sunday-word-of-god-fisichella-press-conference.html

Images: All of the photos are my own.

1. Photo: Walking path to the glacial lake near Mt. Cook, Mt. Cook National Park, New Zealand.

​2. Photo: Sign on the trail in park near Lake George, NY.

3.Icon: St. Paul the Apostle by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you are interested in a copy it can be found at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/st-paul-the-apostle-196-william-hart-mcnichols.html

​4. Photo: This was painted on a wall in one of the squares in Munich, Germany. It is presumably St. George slaying the dragon, a representation of God prevailing over evil.

5. Photo: Walking path near Tomintoul, in the Highlands of Scotland.

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. 

The “greatest story ever told” is at its core about love and friendship. It is about the friendship God offers to us, and it is about our response. During His ministry, Jesus, who called His followers “friends,” was quite clear that central to our faith is love of God which He connected intimately and inseparably with love of neighbor. He even characterized such love as the greatest commandment, not because we are forced to love, (which is impossible by definition), but because He wants us to enjoy the love with which He loves. The love of neighbor, friendship, is something that can even be extended to strangers, albeit differently than that which we develop with a companion over time, requiring intimacy and shared experience. True friendship is about the willingness to lay down our lives for one another not because it is required, but because we love, which is what Jesus did. All loves, whether romantic and leading to marriage, that which is shared with family, or that which is shared with acquaintances, must include friendship. Agapè love, (which includes loving those who are hardest to love without limitation), is the perfection of friendship. Even though we can only receive such a love from God – because He alone is perfect – friendship is something which we enjoy throughout our lives since we are relational beings, just as God is. Our earthly friends are indeed a blessing; but these relationships, beautiful as they are, pale in comparison to what we share with our One True Friend who never fails us: Jesus Christ the Lord.  

Throughout Scripture there are many examples of the beauty of friendship. The purest of these friendships finds the wellspring for their love and loyalty in God. One of the most beautiful examples of this in all of Scripture is that of David and Jonathan. They loved each other “as if their lives depended on it,” and of Jonathan it is said, “he loved him [David] as he loved himself.” (1 Samuel 18 -20) Another example, consisting of a family relationship rooted in friendship, was the one between Mary and Elizabeth. They were a generation apart in age, but the greeting between them and the obvious joy they expressed at their meeting (Luke 1:39-56) is a sign of the deep love which finds it source in their relationship with God. Their shared prayer expressed in Mary’s Magnificat could only come from hearts attuned to and centered upon God. And certainly as Elizabeth and her unborn son greeted Mary, they were welcoming the Son of God who Mary bore “in her womb with love beyond all telling:”* their joy at being visited by the Son of God and His mother was so great that Elizabeth sang and John leapt! 

Of course, most often those who we consider to be our friends are people to whom we are not related by blood, but who we have grown to love and, in gratitude, we value as precious gifts. No matter whom it is or how we have become friends, in all relationships we must choose to give ourselves to one another in love and service if we are to share the love of truest friendship such as the love God has for us. True friends are honest and transparent with one another, challenging the other when need be, standing by the other in time of trouble, and generally sharing in the love described so eloquently by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 13. In our own era we have the example of Fred Rogers, lovingly known as Mr. Rogers. He taught young and old through the lessons he imparted on his show, as well as through his personal example, that to be a neighbor, a true friend, is not always easy, but it is the way of Christ. The friendship taught by Fred Rogers, informed and fueled by his Christian faith, was that friendship breaks down barriers, builds up the Kingdom, and brings great healing and joy among God’s people. And, when we live this friendship, we grow in our knowledge, love, and relationship with the truest friend we will ever have: Jesus the Lord. Jesus will never betray or abandon us no matter what we do or fail to do. He will always extend His mercy, forgiving us when we ask it of Him.

We can learn from the great friendships found throughout Scripture. A suggestion is to spend some time in prayer and reflection over friendships such as that of Abraham and Lot, Moses and Aaron, Naomi and Ruth, David and Jonathan, Elijah and Elisha, Jesus and John, and the relationships of Paul with Barnabas, Priscilla, Luke, Timothy, Philemon and Onesimus.** Reading the Gospels is also important since Jesus defined friendship in word and deed throughout the course of His life and ministry, demonstrating that all neighbors are friend in some way. Jesus is the greatest friend we can ever have, sent into the world as more than just a sign of God’s friendship, but as Love Himself living in our midst. Jesus offered eternal friendship and love to us by giving everything He had so that it would become everything we have. A more valuable friendship and a more precious gift is nowhere else to be found. As it says in the Book of Sirach, “A faithful friend is beyond price.” (Sirach 67:14-17) This is especially true of our relationship with Jesus: it is indeed more precious than gold.

​May we continue to grow in true friendship with the Lord by accepting His love and then extending our friendship to His other friends, that is, all of our neighbors! May we turn to the holy ones both in the Scriptures and the saints who followed, learning how to be a true friend in love, trust, loyalty, transparency, and mercy! May we learn to love our neighbors as ourselves! And may we grow in friendship with our Friend of Friends, Jesus the Lord! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                                             ©Michele L. Catanese

* This line is from the Preface prayer (at Mass) used for late Advent. However, this is the old translation and it is worded slightly differently in the most recent translation.

** Scripture references in the order of my examples: Abraham and Lot, uncle and nephew: Genesis 13-14; 19. (I must add that the incredible discussion between Abraham and God in Genesis 18:16-33 is one of the best examples of friendship with God.) Moses and Aaron, brothers: begins in Exodus 4 and goes throughout the rest of the Exodus and parts of Deuteronomy. Naomi and Ruth, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law: the entire Book of Ruth. David and Jonathan, friends like brothers:1 Samuel 18-20. Elijah and Elisha, friends and ‘co-workers’: 1 Kings 19: 15-2 Kings 2:15. Jesus and John, friends: examples throughout the Gospel of John. The best examples are the Last Supper and when Jesus was dying on the cross. (In his gospel John is referred to as the 'one whom Jesus loved.' This designation was given by a later writer who edited this gospel. Jesus certainly loved all the apostles, but there was a special friendship here.) Paul, with friends and co-workers: with Barnabas, Acts 9:27 and following; with Priscilla, Acts 18, and some references in Paul’s letters; with Timothy, Acts 16 and the two letters Paul wrote to him; with Philemon and Onesimus, the Letter to Philemon.

1. Image, The Galilean Jesus, by Fr. William Hart McNichols: It can be found for purchase in many different mediums at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-galilean-jesus-266-william-hart-mcnichols.html

2. Inset of 14th century icon, The Visitation; the Baby Leaps: If you look closely at Elizabeth you can see the baby, John, leaping in her womb.

3. My photo, tourists in San Marco Square, Venice: I was fortunate to be in Venice before the terrible flooding.

4. My photo, mosaic in Baptistry at San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy: the ceiling in the Baptistry. 

5. My photo, Portree, Isle of Skye, Scotland: Father and son are certainly friends as well as relatives. In a city where houses are connected, so too are the people truly connected as neighbor.

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 believe it was St. Teresa of Avila who coined the phrase, “God writes straight with crooked lines.” This refers to the experience of a strange series of events for which we have no explanation, but with faith and trust in God we can see that although something unexpected took place, God was with us the entire time, even in tragedy. The Christmas season presents us with this sort of scenario. First we celebrated the birth of Jesus, a feast replete with joyful angels and awe-struck shepherds with whom we shared the wonder of it all. Then we celebrated the Feast of the Holy Family, which, in a surprising twist, involved danger; next weekend we will celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany featuring adoring Magi who also end up in danger. Even the Gospels are surprising, chronologically ‘reversed,’ with the reading for the Holy Family from Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 and that of the Epiphany from Matthew 2:1-12. However, what is really happening in the Church’s choice of the timing of these passages is in the message which reveals that God was already doing a saving work, shedding light, like that of the Star, on the true identity of this Child: Jesus is the Savior, and while strange and even tragic things may happen, all is in the control of our God, the One who writes straight with crooked lines.

The Gospel for the Feast of the Holy Family involved the Family’s need to flee from the wicked King Herod whose intention was to kill the newborn Babe. We were immediately jarred out of our reverie and the silence of adoration into a sense of urgency and danger. And with the unfathomable tragedy which occurred for those little ones in Bethlehem, we see that belief in Jesus as the Son of God means that there will be danger, and that we will need to trust in God and in the message this little Child will bear. His birth brought hope into the world, and we must not lose sight of it: Jesus does bring “healing in His wings.”* The successful flight of the Holy Family, along with the tragedy which occurred, is a precursor to the victory Jesus would have over death, a victory wrapped in great mystery. Finally, it is important that we realize we are part of His holy family. During His ministry Jesus said: “Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Mt 12:46-50) Therefore we are to take from this that we, His family, are never without His healing, power, and ultimate victory.

The Gospel for the Epiphany is similar in its message. The Magi came from afar to adore the newborn King. Herod became aware of their objective and tried to deceive them into revealing the Baby’s location; however the angel interceded and warned them not to return to Herod, but rather to depart to their country by a different route. Thus, the adoration of the Magi was overshadowed by the evil intent of Herod. And as before, God guided them to safety. While this is not what the Magi must have expected in finally arriving at the manger, it would seem that after following the star to get there, trusting the hand of God who they had now met face to face was not difficult for them. 

A lesson from these two related passages is that being a follower of Jesus means accepting mystery, not just the kind which induces awe, but also that which can be confusing or does not seem to have a visible meaning. It teaches that we are to embrace faith and hope in a much deeper way than ever before, especially as life becomes increasingly complex. Further, it means that we must let go of everything that is pre-conceived within our minds and hearts; we need to allow a stripping away of all that comes between us and God. All attachments must be loosed in order to rise up and leave what is comfortable if need be. To do so is to allow ourselves to die to that which keeps us from God and to rise up again with Him on the last day. Ultimately, it leads to freedom and joy. We are to become as the Holy Family and as the Magi: willing to leave the safety of our comfort zone and go where we are unfamiliar. It means letting God write straight with crooked lines: that we truly trust the Word of God, Jesus, to lead us to healing, wholeness, and deeper love than we can ever imagine.

Perhaps this Christmas season we can ask for the grace to let go of that which keeps us from adoring, listening, trusting, acting, and being a person of peace, mercy, and love. It means we have to trust that God will lead, becoming like the Magi, following whatever ‘star’ or angel He sends, discerning the message through our prayer and through the voices of others. It means being like the Holy Family, trusting that when we go to a ‘foreign place’ we might have to ‘return’ to a different place, but that He will lead us home to Him. It would be good to spend time during this Christmas season in reflection upon these mysteries, asking for the grace to let go, accepting that sometimes God writes straight with crooked lines. And perhaps praying with the 2nd chapter of Matthew will assist us in embracing mystery so that we can find peace in the unknown and comfort in resting in God alone.

May we continue our celebration, adoration, reflection, and prayer during this Christmas season! May we learn how to let go of all which keeps us from growing in closeness to God! May we find inspiration in the Holy Family and the Magi who discerned the message of God! And may we find healing and peace in the newborn Jesus! Let us continue to meet in the heart of Jesus! Peace!

                                                © Michele L. Catanese

* “With healing in His wings” is a line from the third verse of the Christmas carol, Hark the Herald Angels Sing. It is actually a paraphrase of Malachi 3:20. You can find the lyrics to this carol at https://www.google.com/search?q=hymn+hark+the+herald+angels+sing+lyrics&oq=Hymn%2C+Hark+the&aqs=chrome.4.69i57j0l7.6806j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

​Blessings to all in 2020!

Images:
​1. Icon, The Holy Family for the Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can find this at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-holy-family-for-the-holy-family-hospital-of-bethlehem-william-hart-mcnichols.html

2. My photo of the fresco, The Flight into Egypt, by Giotto. This was taken in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua.

3. Mosaic of the Adoration of the Magi. San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy.

4. My photo of a sunset in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. There is mystery in this photo, as symbolized by the unknown objects on the beach.

5. Painting, The Nativity and the Annunciation to the Shepherds, by Bernardino Luini, (1480/1490-1532)

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 do not play many games on my electronic devices, but when I do, it will be one of two favorites. Among these is a word game involving a series of jumbled letters which the player uses to form words from 3 to 7 letters in length. In a recent play session two 6- letter words were needed; the first one that emerged was “listen.” Interestingly, the second word formed from the same letters was “silent.” The irony presented here inspired some Advent reflection since this season is filled with mysteries that encourage listening. And in truth, there is no way to truly listen without silence. I once read that “silence is the indispensable climate for all revelation; noise renders it absolutely impossible.” Thus, silence is essential to growth in the spiritual life, to good discernment, to deepening our relationship with God, and to truly hearing what is going on within one’s own self. Silence allows us to listen deeply to what God is revealing. We are subjected to so much noise in our everyday lives that we must be totally intentional about building in the time for silence. Silence is crucial to our well-being as it creates a space for us to calm down, to find peace, healing, and love in the open and active disposition of waiting. In silence God is found. 

Advent is a time to slow down and listen, to imitate Mary who became the Mother of God. By entering into the silence she created an empty, fertile place for God to enter, and thus she was able to be filled with His Holy Spirit. Mary was in quiet awe and reverent reflection when the angel Gabriel arrived. His presence startled her, though interiorly she was more prepared than perhaps she was aware; in her immense humility and purity of heart, it probably never occurred to her that she would merit any sort of visitation from a messenger of God, especially not one with the message he bore. As part of our Advent meditation we can apply a similar practice by prayerfully opening our heart to allow God to fill it, something which means letting go of our own agendas and desires so that God can reveal His plan of peace and healing. For the space in our hearts to be fertile, we must first trust that He desires to make His home within us, and then we must invite him to do so.

While it is unlikely that an angel will appear during our prayer, listening does open us to the awareness of the hidden angels in our daily lives. Every encounter is pregnant with the possibility that an announcement of love, peace, and blessing is being made. But unless we cultivate the ears to hear, the eyes to see, and the heart to love, we will miss countless angels bearing messages from God. These angels come in various forms such as in children, the elderly, the poor, strangers, the folks in the pews around us during worship, those with us in the checkout line, and yes, even other drivers on the freeway! They will speak through words, deeds, and sometimes in the silence of simply being present. The more we participate in silent prayer, listening to what emerges from our openness to God in reflection and ‘active waiting,’ the more we will hear and see both within and outside of the time of prayer. What listening does is transform our way of being and of perceiving; it brings us to new birth. In short, it expands our hearts so that we find Jesus anew. 

Silence awakens reverence, wonder and awe. In the days of late Advent, the days we are now entering which span from December 17 to 24, there are a series of antiphons, or verses, that are used in our liturgies of both evening prayer and daily Mass that provide an excellent source for reflection and can move us to deeper reverence, wonder and awe. These are commonly referred to as the O Antiphons because each one begins with a phrase from Old Testament prophecies which reverently describe the Messiah, invoking Him to come quickly. An example is from December 17th: “O Wisdom of Our God most High…come to teach us the path of knowledge!” These antiphons can assist in our silent listening as we ponder what they reveal about Jesus. Perhaps for the duration of Advent it would be beneficial to spend time reflecting upon these antiphons found in the Gospel verse of each day’s Mass.* And if you really want to engage in the silent prayer of listening, and are so moved, write your own 'O Antiphon' and then pray with it; let your heart reveal the way you wish to glorify the Lord Jesus who is to coming to birth anew in your life.

​These days offer a unique gift wrapped in the mysteries of Advent. We have an infant Lord coming soon, God arriving in an unexpected way on a dark, silent night which will be illuminated by Love. This Child for whom we wait is Emmanuel, God-with-us, Prince of Peace, Father Forever, Wonder-Counselor, Lord of Lords. (Isaiah 9:5) He is God come down from Heaven to live and to die so that we might be healed. Let us seek Him, waiting in hope-filled expectation with Mary and Joseph, remembering that it is in the silence that we shall indeed find Him. 

May we enter into the silence, listening for the Lord to enter! May our time of silent prayer awaken reverence, wonder and awe within our hearts! May we seek the intercession of Mary and Joseph to assist us in our silent listening! And may we open our hearts wider so that we may make room for Jesus who comes in the form of the lonely, marginalized, and the materially and spiritually poor! Let us meet at the stable where we wait for the joy which is to come! Maranatha! Come O Lord! Peace!

                      ©Michele L. Catanese

*Here is an excellent short explanation as well as a list of all of the O Antiphons: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/prayers/the-o-antiphons-of-advent.cfm

​Images:
​1. Image, Study for Winter Trees of Life, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. This seemed like an excellent way to depict silence in winter. It can be found for purchase at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/study-for-winter-trees-of-life-299-william-hart-mcnichols.html

2. Icon, Mother of God Waiting in Adoration, by Fr. William Hart McNichols: It can be found at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mother-of-god-waiting-in-adoration-248-william-hart-mcnichols.html

3. My photo taken in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico: Depicts people going about their daily lives, here seen in front of a church.

4. Print of O Antiphon graphic.

5. My photo, giant snail taken at Gozalandia Falls and Hiking Trails, Puerto Rico. It does not get more silent or 'slowed down' than in the observation of a snail. 

6. Graphic, candles for third week in Advent.

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. 

The calendar has rendered the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas to be a bit shorter this year, and accordingly the liturgical season of Advent is also shorter, about three and a half weeks. But no matter its length, it is always a time which bears the challenge of learning how to wait reverently and expectantly. Advent offers a unique opportunity for us to learn anew how to wait patiently, to open our eyes, ears, and hearts more deeply, and to ponder the mysteries of this beautiful season. This year my focus is on hospitality. That is, my reflection is on the call to adopt an Advent disposition to be open, receptive, and inviting to the angels who come into our lives bearing messages of love; to strangers lowly and highborn who, even if briefly, come into our lives bearing gifts for our hearts; and to build up a welcoming abode for the Holy Family to be present as the mysteries of the season unfold. It all sounds good, but it is indeed a challenge when the secular world has been literally screaming for our attention and shows no sign of letting up as we enter this holy season intended for quiet, listening, pondering, and reflection. However, with all of this in mind, let us seek a different inclination of heart as we immerse ourselves in this beautiful, though somewhat challenging, season. Waiting can be difficult, but it does bring peace.

In Advent we prepare actively and passively. We need both, so it would be unfair to present Advent waiting as a time in which we should feel guilty if we are not gazing with rapt attention at our crèches and doing nothing more. Despite busyness, our active preparation can be prayerful, or at the very least it can be intentional. This means that as we go to the supermarket to choose the ingredients for foods which we will prepare for guests throughout Advent, and the time we spend trying to decide which gifts we will give our friends and family, can all be done while reflecting upon how these are meant to be acts of love. We can transform the more harried preparation into something reflective if we think of the recipients of our attention as the Holy Family, the angels bearing messages, or as the Magi and shepherds. If we think of those who enter our homes as guests coming from God, if we see the people as gifts in and of themselves, and if we enter into our charitable giving as an outreach to God’s poor ones, then we can transform our active preparations into peaceful, spiritual moments.

​In preparing passively, Advent waiting can be peaceful if we view it as the time to step away from the hurry-hurry, shop-till-you-drop message from the secular world. And God knows we all need the time to stop the noise and simply enjoy the quiet. In our time of reflection upon the Scripture readings of Advent, or upon the narratives in the beginning of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we should realize that in sitting with these passages nothing is expected of us at all! Rather, we can drink it all in, perhaps identifying with Mary or Joseph after each was visited by an angel, pondering whatever message comes personally. Sitting quietly and focusing on the Advent scenes will still our minds and heal our souls; it is as restful as lying on a beach watching the sea, listening to the waves gently flowing in and out. Reflecting in this way takes us out of ourselves and into another setting, something which is peaceful and healing. It assists us in dropping our tendency to obsess over what needs to be done or the challenges that we have to face, even if we are reflecting on the more difficult parts of the Advent narratives in which the holy ones faced adversity or hardship. We long for the coming of the Prince of Peace. And we need peace desperately in our world of chaos and sin: but it is always accessible as we enter into prayer.

If we spend time with the Scripture readings of each day during Advent, we will note that of the many passages from the prophet Isaiah, all suggest a future that is brighter than the one in which we now live, emphasizing hope. Several begin with phrases such as, “On that day,” “a shoot shall sprout,” “On this mountain, He will,” and “In the days to come.” And many of the Gospel readings urge readiness with words such as “Repent, prepare…” (paraphrase), “At an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come,” and so forth. The emphasis is on hopeful preparation, something we can only do if we are alert, listening, reflective, open, and hospitable.

The stance of Advent waiting, both actively and passively, is one which can produce peace because we are offering hospitality to the Holy Spirit whose grace can render our hearts pregnant with God, prepared for the Prince of Peace to enter. At the  Annunciation, the Virgin Mary teaches that watchful waiting opens the door to encounter. And like her we wait in joyful expectation for Peace to make His arrival and to be at home within us. This is the gift of Advent waiting, the gift of the peace which overcomes the tendencies of a world so contrary to it.

May we be open to the Holy Spirit that His grace might enable our hearts to welcome Peace within! May we give ourselves the gift of time for reflection upon the Scriptures, enhancing our sense of joyful expectation! May we become more hospitable to Jesus as we encounter Him in others, great and lowly, friend and stranger! And may we find the peace we seek as we await the coming of Jesus, accepting the gifts He sends in this time of waiting! Let us meet in prayer during our  Advent waiting! Maranatha! Come, O Lord! Peace!

                  ©Michele L. Catanese

Images:
1. Icon, Mother of God After Fra Angelico by Fr. William Hart McNichols: You can find this for purchase in one of many mediums, at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mother-of-god-after-fra-angelico-168-william-hart-mcnichols.html

​2. My photo, cropped, of the fresco, Mary greets Elizabeth at the Visitation by Giotto: This fresco is part of the body of works of Giotto which adorn the Scrovegni Chapel, Padua, Italy.

3. My photo taken in the highlands of Scotland, here representing a shoot coming forth from the stump of Jesse, (Isaiah 11:1-10)

4. Painting, The Annunciation by Bl. Fra Angelico. (My all time fav!)

5. Advent candles for the first week of Advent, of course.

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 at a local business in early November, the proprietor asked me if I was ready for the holidays. He was clearly referring to Christmas and not Thanksgiving, given that he gestured toward his radio which was playing Christmas music. But upon reflection, I am grateful for his question because it brought into my consciousness, albeit a bit abruptly, a reminder that approaching the holiday season means we are coming to the end of the liturgical year. The end of the liturgical cycle carries a strong message that time is a precious gift which we are to receive and to use carefully. To use our time wisely means having a balanced approach; it is not better to work than to recreate, it is not better to read a book than it is to write one, nor is it better to spend time in prayer than it is to reach out to someone in service (or vice versa); rather all of these things are good if done in a balanced way. It can pose quite a challenge, but if we are working consciously at balancing our activities, leisure, prayer, acts of service, and responsibilities, then perhaps we are making good use of the gift of time. And especially if we offer this gift to others, such as time spent with God in which we listen more than talk, or time with an elderly or homebound friend in which we help them to feel less alone simply by being there, then we have given something quite precious indeed. It is for this reason that at the end of the liturgical year the Church gives us constant reminders that time is short and our attention should be focused not only on the return of Christ the King, but on our own desire to spend eternity with Him, a reality which is priceless beyond imagining. 

The liturgical readings and prayers in November encourage us to reflect upon the end of time, whether it is the end of our time on earth or the end of time generally, that is, the Second Coming of Christ. The month began with the Solemnity of All Saints followed by All Souls’ Day. Each of these celebrations is meant for reflection upon those who have gone before us, as well as to turn our attention toward our own spiritual progress. In addition to celebrating the saints, All Saints Day is a reminder that we are all called to holiness; while not many will be canonized, we are nonetheless called to holiness – (and a real humility-builder is to realize that not only will we probably not be canonized, but after the passage of time we may not even be remembered on earth!) Thus, becoming holy is a gift we offer to God; a holy life is a life lived for others, not self. Holiness is about kenosis, that is, a continuous pouring out of self for God through acts of sacrifice, kindness, goodness, justice, mercy, and love.  

​All Souls’ Day should remind us not only of praying for our beloved dead and of utilizing their intercessory prayers, but it is a day in which we recognize our own mortality. Therefore, these two celebrations are not simply about remembering the holy ones who have gone before us, but they also provide an opportunity to consider how we have lived our lives in the past, how we are currently living, and how we want to live in the future. These solemnities are a gift insofar as they encourage us to look into the light of eternity and consider what is important and what is not, what to build upon and what to let go of (or what needs healing through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.) These days are gifts because they remind us that while time may be short, we still have the opportunity to grow. As the saying goes, there is no time like the present.

While some of the Scriptures we hear in these last weeks can seem rather dire, others are quite hopeful and even joyful. (Again, we are reminded that there is a necessary balance needed to keep us from becoming either overwhelmed or a bit too laissez-faire.) One such uplifting Scripture is Psalm 84, which appears in the Morning Prayer cycle during this time. Its opening lines are a reminder of the home which awaits us at the end of our lives: “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Hosts! My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord.” (Ps 84:2-3) This provides a wonderful entry point for reflection on Heaven, perhaps using the way taught by St. Ignatius of Loyola: we visualize the ‘place,’ in this case Heaven, using our imagination. We can consider the ways in which Heaven is lovely, who we might meet, how we might encounter God there, what we might look like, etc., noting how we feel during this experience. Something to note in verse 4 is the suggestion that although the dwelling place of God is glorious, it is simultaneously humble! It reads, “Even the sparrow finds a home.…” This implies that Heaven is where the humble and the smallest of creatures are welcomed. Finally, the Psalm reminds us that those who enter Heaven will be happy: “Happy are they who dwell in your house…. I had rather one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” (Verse 5, 11) Therefore we can reflect upon this Psalm as a way to a deeper sense of that which awaits those who persevere through even the darkest of times. 

At this time of year we hear from prophets such as Isaiah who says: “In the days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest mountain, and all nations shall stream toward it…. One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.” (Isaiah 2:2-4) The world may not be all that peaceful at present, nor for that matter, has it ever been; but Isaiah reminds us that God’s peace will reign and the faithful will all be together as one. Therefore it is important that we receive these passages as invitations to ponder, reflect, make choices, and then to make changes in our lives if necessary. This season, then, is about preparing to prepare; that is, these words remind us that we need to do as Jesus instructed, to live the gospel, and if we need to make changes or to heighten our awareness, we need to prepare for action. Thus, we prepare for Advent which in itself is a time of preparation, with our thoughts directed toward the return of Jesus.

​The readings and prayers of the end of the year are meant to help us remain balanced in our approach to time, no matter how long or short its length might be. Sometimes we need a sense of urgency in order to ‘get the picture,’ but the Scriptures presented are not necessarily meant to scare us. Rather, they act as reminders that all is passing. Jesus taught that we are not to store up material riches (on earth) which perish, but instead we should store up spiritual riches (for heaven) which come from a life spent in generosity and love. Therefore, as we end the liturgical year, and as we prepare for the new one which follows, it would be wise to accept the message as a gift to help us place our attention upon eternity, the lovely dwelling place for which we long, and the One with whom we will spend it.

May we receive the gift contained in the message of these weeks and then make a fitting return of that gift to the Lord! May we find inspiration in the lives of the Saints and holy ones! May we find consolation and hope in remembering our beloved dead, and may we ask their intercession for ourselves and for the world! May we persevere in times of struggle, trusting with faith and hope that all is in God’s hands, and that Jesus will come again! And may we find comfort and strength, wisdom and blessing in and through our reflection upon the Scriptures! Let us continue to meet in the heart of Jesus! Peace! 

                                             ©Michele L. Catanese

Images:
1. My photo: Late Autumn foliage, taken while hiking at Lake George, N.Y.

2. Icon, The Second Coming of Christ the King by Fr. William Hart McNichols: This can be found at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-second-coming-of-christ-the-king-149-william-hart-mcnichols.html

​3. Painting: Old Woman with a Rosary by Paul Cézanne

4. My photo: North Sound, (near Stingray City), Grand Cayman

5. Photo: Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati climbing a mountain, one of his favorite sporting activities

6. Painting: The Sheaf-Binder, Vincent van Gogh (1889)

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. 

In the past few years it has become popular to investigate one’s ancestry using means such as DNA testing and various internet sites which are dedicated to this pursuit. While I have not chosen to pursue DNA testing, I do know a bit about my Italian lineage, although the trail quickly runs cold concerning both my paternal and maternal ancestors. For example, my paternal grandmother died quite early in life before anyone thought to look into her forebearers. To complicate it further, I have come to realize that her maiden name was probably misspelled at Ellis Island, rendering all but impossible any efforts to find much beyond where in Sicily she was from. Of my maternal ancestors, we know that my grandfather was from a tiny town in Calabria called Acri, and that my grandmother, though born in Brooklyn, had ancestors also from that area. Therefore, the truth is that my familial ancestry is rather murky beyond my grandparents. However, while I may not have a sense of exactly who my ancestral relatives were, I do feel a connection to humble, little Acri through my discovery of a saint who was born and died in that very place. ‘Saintophile’ that I am, (a term I think I just ‘invented’), I felt compelled to investigate his life so as to have a deeper understanding of the rootedness which counts the most: our connection in the Body of Christ. In this saint I have found “a witness to loving mercy”* and an inspiring new friend who can lead us more deeply into the heart of what it means to be Christian.

With all the effort we put into seeking our ancestral roots for a sense of where we come from and ‘who our people might be,’ we can sometimes take for granted our connections spiritually, that is, to God and to the Body of Christ. But unlike the dead ends we can come to in searching out our human ancestry, spiritually we do know where we come from and we do know our roots all the way back to the source: our roots are in God and we are His sons and daughters, heirs to the Kingdom through the saving acts offered on our behalf through Jesus Christ. Additionally, we are rooted to the “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) who came before us, the martyrs and holy ones who persevered in their faith and who are now in Heaven. As members of the Body of Christ we are made one in the Sacrament of Baptism through love which unites us with the Communion of Saints; we are eternally connected to all the baptized here on earth and with those already in Heaven. Therefore, our spiritual roots are crystal clear as we turn to the Scriptures and to the lives of the many holy men and women who went before us (including our beloved family and friends). They are our spiritual ancestors, special intercessors, and inspirational figures who teach us how to persevere in the Christian life.

The saint I ‘discovered’ is St. Angelo of Acri, admittedly not a household name, but one who is surprisingly well-known and well-documented in southern Italy. In fact, his body is preserved in a church in Acri and miracles have been attributed to his intercession. St. Angelo was born in Acri, Calabria, (1669-1739, feast day October 30) as Luca Antonio Falcone. He was the son of a baker and a goatherd. Because there was no school in Acri a neighbor taught him to read and write, and he learned about his faith from the local church as well as from an uncle who was a priest. When he was 20 years old, Luca decided to enter the Capuchins (Franciscans), but he struggled greatly with the austerity of the life, leaving twice before he was able to choose to stay. It is this struggle which makes him so compelling in that his life did not consist of instant success and religious heroism, but rather he had real-life difficulties through which he was able to persevere only with great effort. It is said that even after he returned the third time, he continued to struggle with all sorts of temptations, but that what enabled his perseverance was when he realized his call required “the effort which love makes easier.” Taking the religious name Fra Angelo Benedetto at his ordination, he embarked on a ministry of preaching and working for the poor, especially to fight injustices done against them. Thus, his love for God enabled him to literally ‘hang in there’ so that he could offer God’s love and mercy through his vocation. 

St. Angelo can still speak to us today because the poor are still struggling to survive, people are still victimized through various injustices, and we are still in great need of mercy, healing, and love. Therefore, he can inspire us to continue these works without fear that our attempts might be accompanied by personal struggle. We are well aware that sometimes simply getting through the ‘stuff’ of our lives is difficult enough: daily we hit snags and roadblocks, little things crop up without any warning, and we can feel overwhelmed by it all. And then there are the bigger burdens of illness, financial challenges, difficult people to deal with, and all manner of suffering which can come to us at any time. But saints like Angelo of Acri serve as beacons of hope because they persevered with the help of God upon whom they fiercely and faithfully relied, reminders that we can do the same. St. Angelo was referred to as a ‘witness of loving mercy,’ helping people to experience the love of God through his good works. This is the call of the gospel preached by Jesus, and thus we are all called to offer love and mercy, though in a way unique to our gifts, personalities, and circumstances.

Perhaps what St. Angelo said about perseverance is something upon which we can reflect: he referred to “the effort which love makes easier.” He understood that at the heart of the message of Jesus is love, giving twofold meaning to this statement. First, God’s love for us is the source of grace, fueling our hearts and enabling all that we do. And second, our love offered to God in return makes all of our labors easier because we do what we do for the One we love. To better understand this, we can think of the martyrs, men like Saints Peter and Paul and women like Saints Perpetua and Felicity, who died cruelly, yet with the joy which had its origin in their immense love for Jesus. Love did make it easier. (Notice that St. Angelo said easier, not easy!) We can also think of the efforts of so many throughout history who fought for the good, the holy, and the just; their passion for these things and for service of God made it easier. And in our own lives there are numerous examples, such as when parents continually make sacrifices for their children, sacrifices made easier because of love. Our passion for what we do and for the people we serve drives the effort and thus it becomes easier. 

​In choosing to be disciples of Jesus, we have chosen to live as witnesses to His loving mercy. Our world needs people to witness in this way, not only to offer blessing, peace, and healing to one another, but to show people the way to the source of this love, Jesus Christ. It does not require a contrived eloquence, as St. Angelo discovered,** but rather it requires the “effort which love makes easier.” It means that we take the time for prayer in order to better know, love, and serve God; that we experience God’s love firsthand through prayer and the Sacraments; that we offer service to others by visiting the elderly, the sick, and the imprisoned, giving food, drink, and clothing to the poor, by working for justice for the oppressed and marginalized; and that we offer kindness and blessing whenever we can. It does take effort, but Love makes it so much easier. As we continue to ponder our lives as missionaries, perhaps we can carefully read a gospel, look to a particular saint, and then pray for the inspiration and grace to live as Jesus taught, keeping in mind that whatever we do, the effort is made easier through love. 

May we turn to the saints and holy ones for inspiration that we may persevere in our call as missionaries of love and mercy! May we find grace through the Holy Spirit to live out our call as disciples of Jesus! May we grow in our understanding of the importance of applying the effort which love makes easier! May the love of God give joy to our hearts, inspiring us to make a return of love by drawing others to Him though our own efforts at love and mercy! May we seek and find through prayer and study a deeper sense of connection to the Body of Christ! And may we always be at home in God, from whom we come and to whom we return at the end of our lives! Let us continue to meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

​                ©Michele L. Catanese


​Notes: 

* This is how St. Angelo of Acri was described at his canonization. You can find more at the following link. https://www.ofmcap.org/en/notizie/altre-notizie/item/1765-angelo-of-acri-witness-to-loving-mercy-finally-canonized

​** One of the stories of St. Angelo is about how his first attempt at preaching went awry: he had memorized a flowery sermon, which was the custom of the day, only to totally forget it as he entered the pulpit. It was a disaster, but he learned from it to simply be himself.... and he became an eloquent, effective, sought-after preacher as a result.

Images:
​1. My photo, Bisaquino, Sicily, Italy: Of course Acri is in Calabria, in the 'foot of the boot' of Italy, and this photo is of a town in Sicily. But Acri is a small town such as this; I have never been to Acri so this will have to do.
​
2. Painting, Cloud of Witnesses by Guisto de' Menabuoi: This seemed fitting given that I used the verse from the Letter to the Hebrews which must have been the inspiration for the painting. This painting adorns the Baptistry in Padua, Italy.

3. Painting, St. Angelo of Acri: This painting is of unknown origin, but it gives an idea of what he looked like. 

4. My photo, Boquillas del Carmen, Mexico: I chose this photo because it is clearly a very poor community and so it represents the work needed in ministry to the poor.

5. Icon, The Galilean Jesus, by Fr. William Hart McNichols: I think this icon captures the love and mercy of Jesus. It seemed fitting as a reminder of the One whose love makes all things easier. You can find it at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-galilean-jesus-266-william-hart-mcnichols.html

​6. Painting, Corporal Works of Mercy: This painting is of unknown origin, but I had come across it a few years ago on a site which was discussing the corporal works of mercy (described in Matthew 25). It seemed fitting to place a painting here which depicted the loving and merciful efforts of those who work with the sick.

7. Icon, Mary Mother of Mercy - Dedicated to Pope Francis in the Year of Mercy, by Fr. William Hart McNichols: It seemed fitting to end this entry with a lovely icon which is about the love and mercy which are the center of Mary's role as both our Mother and intercessor. She is indeed the Mother of Mercy and of Love. And of course, Jesus is the source of All Love as Son of God and Son of Mary. You can find this icon at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mary-mother-of-mercy-dedicated-to-pope-francis-in-this-year-of-mercy-289-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. 

​I have always loved the people in the city where I reside. Sure we have our problems as all cities do, but in general folks here are generous, kind, and for the most part, a blessing to one another. Whenever there is a catastrophe Houstonians open their hearts and their arms to help people in need, no matter who they might be.* But even in ordinary situations, it is my experience that conversations with ‘strangers’ are not an unusual occurrence; people are quite friendly. For example, the other day while in a checkout line, the man behind me noticed the peppers I was purchasing and engaged in a conversation about how he loved to roast peppers for his cooking. As I finished my transaction, he smiled and with genuine feeling said, “Have a blessed day!” I responded with “You too,” although what I was thinking was: “Indeed I shall; you have just blessed it.” In retrospect, I wish I had actually said that to him, although I am hopeful that he received the sincerity of my response nonetheless. But it drove home for me that what we do and say does make a difference. Not only did he brighten my day, but he truly blessed me both in the words he offered as we parted and in the friendly ‘welcome’ offered through initiating the short conversation in the first place. There are important lessons here: First, I should have said what was in my heart not only because it was the truth, but because perhaps it would have gladdened his heart more deeply, just as his words had gladdened mine. And second, it underscores the fact that with all the angst and negativity in the world, we definitely need to do much more blessing and a whole lot less cursing. This is not necessarily a reference to our choice of words, though that is also essential to kind interaction; rather, I am referring to our demeanor and the gift we should be to one another. Truly, the world needs more blessings. 

This Sunday was World Mission Sunday, something Pope Francis has spoken about in encouraging evangelization. In fact, the Pope has designated the entire month of October (2019) as Extraordinary Missionary Month. And it should not go unnoticed that the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist is also this month, (October 18), significant because St. Luke was indeed a missionary, given his travels, and that the Gospel he wrote emphasizes the importance of being welcoming to everyone, particularly the outcast, such that they come to know Jesus through offered love and generosity. Luke pointed out that Jesus taught us to be a blessing to one another and to bring blessing to the world through acts of love done without fanfare, but rather with humility and sincerity. At the heart of the message of Jesus is that we love our neighbor as ourselves and that we stretch even further by loving those who are difficult to love. This love includes welcoming the stranger, even if we are in a grocery store checkout line conversing about produce! With every encounter we are to be a blessing to one another, and not a curse. Thus, we become a type of missionary such that we intend to leave others enriched in some way, rather than leaving them worse off, empty, or feeling like they are invisible. And in turn we should receive their welcome with equal sincerity and gratitude. This sort of interaction is how we evangelize: we live the gospel, preaching with our actions, and if we have to, also with our words. **

We do not know a lot about St. Luke although there is some information which can be gleaned from the letters of St. Paul as well as what Luke revealed about himself at the beginning of his Gospel. From these we learn that Luke was a physician and that he valued writing in a historically accurate way. He was of pagan Greek origin, but he converted to Christianity after he met Paul, accompanying him on the rest of his missionary journeys. Thus, Luke was a missionary with Paul; of course he ministered to Paul as a physician, but it would be a mistake to characterize Luke as one who wrote but never spoke the message which burned within his heart, especially after spending years with such an outstanding teacher and preacher as St. Paul. In the opening of both his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles Luke addressed his writing to “Theophilus,” (lover of God). From this we can assume that Luke was writing to a community that was familiar with him, and had therefore heard him preach. And finally, while Luke never met Jesus, there is evidence that he knew Mary, ‘interviewing’ her at length. This would explain why his Gospel contains more about Mary than any other. The detail and intimacy with which he described the Annunciation and the mysteries of the birth of Jesus indicates that he had firsthand knowledge which could only have come from her. 

Of the themes of Luke’s Gospel, one which stands out is the inclusiveness of Jesus, whose love was not limited to the Jewish people who were awaiting the Messiah. It is clear from Luke that Jesus put emphasis on His love for the poor, sinners of every type, women, (especially widows), the outcast, lepers, and foreigners (Gentiles); that is, all those people marginalized by the Jewish culture. This Gospel teaches that love is about welcome and being a blessing, so that just as Jesus welcomed everyone, so too should His disciples. It is about opening one’s heart to everyone, not just those who are easy to love, but also the ones who pose the greatest challenge. Thus, all are invited, all are welcomed, and all are loved by God no matter who they are, where they come from, what their background, or what their past history may have been. It is obvious that Luke took to heart the teaching of Paul who said that there was no longer Jew or Greek, man or woman, free or slave, but all were one in Christ. (Gal 3:28) The only way for this to be lived is be intentional in what we say and do, so as to be a blessing to those we meet. 

Luke knew, and therefore emphasized, that to be a disciple of Christ we must invite the unwelcomed (Lk 5:27-32), heal the wounded (4:38-41), find the lost (15:1-32), offer peace to the disquieted (4:31-37), forgive those who have wronged us (17:3-4), and offer what we can to the poor (16:19-31). This means we must first accept these gifts of God ourselves so that we can offer them to others. Once we realize the mercy with which we have been forgiven and loved, we will find it easier to welcome others as we have been welcomed. Furthermore, nowhere in the Gospel is anyone ever expected to be perfect. As we have seen, Jesus offered great mercy to the habitual sinner. Luke makes it abundantly clear that perfection is not a criterion for entering the Kingdom of God, and thus it is not required for one to be a disciple.*** However, what is essential is how well we attempt to love our neighbor without distinction: friend, foe, and stranger alike. Clearly, the Gospel is about having an open heart, welcoming all we meet, and being a blessing rather than a curse in whatever setting we may find ourselves. 

What we learn from Luke, (and from the Church designating World Mission Day), is that we are to be missionaries of blessing here and now; we do not have to travel like Luke or Paul. In fact, before we can go to a far-off land, if that is our call, we must learn to love at home. The effect of all our loving actions, no matter where we are, is real. This means that we are to be a blessing in the little things we do on a daily basis and that if an opportunity presents itself, we should say and do what is in our heart so that we do not regret kind words unspoken or works of mercy undone. The work of blessing does not have to be something outside our ability; it is not about writing a theological masterpiece, but it is about being a missionary of love, which in itself is a theological masterpiece. It is not about spending hours on our knees, but it is about the fruitfulness of our time of prayer leading us to action. It is not about doing miraculous works, but it is about sharing with others and letting love work the ‘miracle.’ It is important to take to heart the message of Jesus that this is our call, offering blessing in place of curse, joy instead of loneliness, and kindness where there may be emptiness. Let us think of ourselves as true disciples, those who are called to act as missionaries of blessing and evangelists of love, just as St. Luke emphasized in his Gospel. This is indeed what Christ asks of those who love Him: it is how we share the Good News to the ends of the earth.

May we take up the call of Jesus as missionaries of blessing and evangelists of love! May we ask for the graces we need to live as true disciples of Jesus! May we take to heart the Gospel of Luke and the emphasis Jesus puts on welcoming all those who are marginalized or outcast! May we spend time in prayer for the needs of the world, to come to know and love Jesus better, and to better recognize the opportunities which come daily to be a missionary of blessing! And may we learn to value with gratitude the kindness, mercy, compassion, peacemaking, justice, generosity, and forgiveness which are offered to us by God so that we in turn, may offer these to others! Let us continue to meet in the heart of Jesus! Peace!

©Michele L. Catanese

Notes: This entire blog, Heart Speaks to Heart, is the result of the wisdom and encouragement offered to me by Joanne Knowles, my long time spiritual director and dear friend. She passed away this past week, so while I know she is rejoicing with God and all the holy ones, please pray for the repose of her soul and also for her family. For years Joanne encouraged me to write and she kept a copy of every single blog entry ever posted here! Fittingly, there is an early entry in which I wrote about her. It can be found in my Archives from November 2012, or you can click here: https://www.catanesesd.com/micheles-blog/the-gift-of-an-anam-cara
Rest in peace, Anam Cara!

Next post November 4

* After disasters in many places around the country and the world, not just here in Houston, Houstonians are quick to share their money, goods, and hard work to help others. It is very impressive and inspiring. During a crisis no one asks about the politics, religion, race, or creed of those who are in need: they help all equally. I must also mention that recently one of our deputies, Sandeep Dhaliwal, (a trailblazer as the first Sikh deputy to wear a turban on duty), a beloved, courageous man who cared deeply for the people of this city, was murdered during a traffic stop. The people of Houston honored him and continue to mourn his loss; another touching example of the love and care of this community.

** This is a paraphrase of a quote often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi as he missioned the friars to serve in the community. 

*** Read Luke’s writing and count how many times Jesus ate and drank with so-called sinners, put Himself into the presence of a demoniac in order to set him or her free, or healed the servant of an ‘enemy’ (such as the Roman centurion); count how many times He chose to be with those who cheated others such as Levi (Matthew) and Zacchaeus, forgave those who wronged Him, and had patience with those who simply could not understand what He was trying to say (not just the Pharisees, but often the apostles!) Thus it is obvious that He did not seek perfect people, nor did He ask anyone He associated with to be perfect. But He did offer them healing, hope, and the freedom which would start them on the path to holiness, clearly outlining what was expected of those who committed to Him. 

​Images:
1. My photo, taken in Hermann Park, Houston: It seems fitting to use one of the prettiest parks in Houston to highlight my hometown, mentioned in the opening example.

2. Painting, Sermon on the Mount, Blessed Fra Angelico: Bl. Fra Angelico is one of my favorite artists because his works convey a holiness and beauty which I believe is unrivaled. I chose this mostly because Jesus is teaching His disciples not only so they understand His message, but so that they become missionaries of love and blessing through their word and deed.

3. My photo of a fresco, The Visitation by Giotto, located in the Scrovegni Chapel, Padua, Italy: The highlight of a recent trip to northern Italy was the Scrovegni Chapel. If you have followed my blog for any length of time you will have seen that I love Giotto. For many years I had wanted to see the frescoes in person, and it was a blessing, indeed. I chose to use this image because it is of Mary who at the Visitation acted as a missionary of love and blessing to her older cousin Elizabeth. It was as if Mary was 'preaching the gospel' yet unspoken, given that she was still pregnant with Jesus.

4. Icon, St. Paul the Apostle, by Fr. William Hart McNichols: This icon depicts Paul with the gospels, that is, as a missionary who brought the Good News in his many travels, (hence he was evangelizing.) You can find it at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/st-paul-the-apostle-196-william-hart-mcnichols.html

​5. My photo, Masi Vineyards, Veneto, Italy: I chose this photo taken within an olive grove because it was a place of beauty and peace. The light streaming through the olive grove and the stump of what seemed to have been an ancient olive tree remaining among the living, vibrant trees conveyed a sense of life and hope.

6. My photo, grapes drying at the Masi Vineyard: These grapes were in the first step of the wine making process. The bounty of the harvest was what struck me. Along with the olives in the previous photo, it seemed to speak of the miracle, if you will, of taking the fruit and crushing it so that it can 'rise to new life' after a period of transformation, (metaphorically and symbolically speaking). This message is the heart of the gospel and it is through our love that we help others in this process of trusting that God is with them and that new life awaits all those who commit to Him.

7. My photo, taken in the baptistery at San Vitale Cathedral, Ravenna, Italy: This is a close-up of part of a huge mosaic. On the left side of the mosaic was this open cabinet with the four books of the Gospels displayed, which you can see if you look closely. It seemed a fitting way to end this entry.

​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. 

​Having been to Scotland, I know what a lovely country it is. So when I came across a video of an event in Scotland which involved the relics of one of my favorite saints, I had to view it. The video, filmed in Carfin Grotto, (not far from Glasgow), showed people lining the roads in heartfelt veneration as the relics of St. Thérèse of Lisieux  were carried in procession and then placed in a special vehicle in order to be brought to another part of the country. The number of people reverently lining the streets was both amazing and wonderful to behold. Seeing this inspired me to reflect upon how people respond to the sacred, especially to those who have lived holy lives: it seems that the saints fascinate us because they give us hope. Perhaps the response in Scotland was because of the goodness of St. Thérèse and her promise to “spend her heaven” interceding for those who were in need, both of which glorify God, not Thérèse. Honoring her remains is a reminder that God works through the love and service of His holy ones. But I also thought about how we should want to be remembered after our own death. To do so is not egotistical or bizarre in any way. We should all think about this because it is, in fact, our call as Christians. Each of us should desire that we would leave the world a better place, a holier place, because we have lived in it. We are meant to build up the Kingdom, and so we should desire to be remembered as those who served the Lord with humility and love. Therefore, it should be part of our reflection and prayer to ask for the graces to live in such a way that when we are gone others will be inspired by our memory and desire to live holy lives, too. And if we are truly growing in holiness, we will not desire any acclaim because we took to heart the teaching of Jesus when He said that “the first will be last and the last will be first” (Mark 10:30); thus our intention will be to glorify God so that others will be attracted to Him via our love and humble service.  

St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897, feast day October 1) was one who chose to be ‘little.’ As she matured both emotionally and spiritually she realized that her life was about living in service of Jesus. Thérèse came from an upper middle-class family, surrounded by her loving parents and siblings. But as the ‘baby,’ she had been the center of attention for many years, something she relished until she had a painful revelation, after which she cast aside her selfish behavior and focused on pouring her love outward. At only 15, she entered a Carmelite convent, a place of obscurity and poverty, and it did not take long for the other nuns to see that she was filled with great love and holiness. A few years later, when it became clear that Thérèse was terminally ill, her superior had her write her autobiography (The Story of a Soul). Thérèse did so as an act of obedience; she never dreamed it would be published, intending it for her community and nothing more. Without that book the world would never have known one of its greatest saints. Thérèse would have died in obscurity the way she chose to live. But it was her humility and the little acts of love she directed at each and every nun in her community which made her so beloved. In other words, she who was ‘first,’ coming from a comfortable background, had desired to be ‘last,’ (entering into humble service), just as Jesus taught. And in so doing, Thérèse of Lisieux caught the attention of the world as the last who became the first; she viewed herself as little and became one of the most inspiring Saints of all.*

Another who can be described similarly is St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226, feast day October 4). He, too, was born into a well-off family, though perhaps his was a bit more prominent than that of Thérèse. Also similar is that as a youth Francis was self-indulging: he was haughty and loved partying with his friends, spending money on vanities and the so-called good life. And also like Thérèse, he had a ‘moment of reckoning’ in which he made a complete break with ego and pride, embracing instead humility and poverty. His conversion was a lengthier process than that of Thérèse, but his love for Jesus grew so great that he eventually threw off all of his finery (quite literally), donned a rough garment with a rope belt around his waist, and devoted himself to Lady Poverty and service of Jesus in the poor, especially the lepers. Unlike Thérèse, however, he was a laughing-stock at first; but then Francis become one of the most respected of people, and now, one of the most beloved of Saints. ‘The first’ (the rich powerful one), became ‘the last’ (in poverty and humility), because he chose it. Thus in becoming ‘the last’, he became ‘first’ again, only this time in the estimation of the one who is most important, Jesus the Lord.

There are many similarities in the stories of these two saints, yet they could not have had personalities that were more different and could not have lived in eras more diverse. However, what they had in common is the thread that binds all the holy ones: Thérèse and Francis each had the desire to serve God, fueled by intense, intimate love for Him which enabled them to become humble and lowly. Thus, both desired poverty and to serve others via the life to which they were called. These two great saints became ‘the first,’ as acclaimed, revered, canonized Saints, when they chose to be ‘the last;’ that is, they chose others over self, little acts of love over grandiose gestures, Christ over honors. Jesus became their wealth, their goal, and their greatest love. In desiring lowliness, they chose to make the lives of others better, Thérèse in her obscure convent, and Francis either working with lepers, evangelizing, or in prayer on Mt. Subiaco. Both sought only Jesus, nothing else; thus they learned to find Him in their own little ways in the ones they served. Both were filled with love which was so evident that after their deaths each were acclaimed and canonized almost instantaneously. As the saying goes, “Cream rises to the top.” The last shall be first.

​What we learn from Sts. Francis and Thérèse is that if we desire to be holy, which we should want with all our heart, we should imitate the one thing they both did, and that is to seek to be ‘the last’, not ‘the first.’ If we seek to be ‘the last’ we need to put God before ourselves, desiring to serve Him in our families, with our friends, and especially in the poor, lonely, ill, and marginalized. And we should desire to be remembered after our death as one who lived a holy life, not for the acclaim, – (a lack of humility does not make one holy, it does the opposite) – but because it is what we are called to do, because it glorifies God, and mostly because it is our gift of love to Him. A holy life, and thus a life well lived, is our best gift of gratitude to God. Jesus taught on numerous occasions that seeking the highest position is a fleeting, hollow honor, there is nothing lasting to be gained in it. However, if we choose to be the least, serving as He served, we are His true disciples and we will attain the glory which does last: to share eternity with Him in Heaven. 

To become the last we need to be like St. Thérèse, with love as our vocation, and like St. Francis who was able to be Christ-like despite what anyone thought of him. These are not impossible dreams to pursue, but with work and discipline, with love as our motivation, we can joyfully choose to be humble, (to be as ‘the last’), so that others may be brought to God. The gospels tell us that if we love our neighbor as ourselves, if we are generous, kind, merciful, strive to serve others, and seek forgiveness when needed, we will grow in holiness. And like Thérèse and Francis we need to be women and men of prayer so that we might grow in intimacy with God and to better recognize His presence when the going gets tough as well as in times of joy. If we live humbly and with the love Jesus taught, everyone we encounter will be left just a bit better and the world a bit holier, because we have lived. Indeed, we should spend time reflecting upon how we want to be remembered after our life is over. And if we seek no honors now, and are willing to serve others even in the smallest, seemingly insignificant ways, we will have imitated Christ and we will have become holy, honored in His sight. If that is your dream and the passion of your heart, then you will be the last who God will invite to be the first.

May we seek to be humble, desiring to live the gospels as Jesus taught! May we be inspired by the saints who made humility, service of others, and love their response to God! May we ask the intercession of St. Thérèse and St. Francis so that we might live holy lives! May we devote our lives to striving for holiness according to the lifestyle to which we have been called! May we eventually leave this life having made the world just a bit better for having lived! And may we live with gratitude for all the graces and gifts given to us by God! Let us continue to meet in the heart of Jesus! Peace!

              ©Michele L. Catanese

Notes:
* When I use the terms ‘the first’ and ‘the last’ I am putting them in partial quotes (as is my style) so that we are reminded that I am using the definition of first and last as applied by Jesus in the gospels. He is not speaking as if we are in a race, nor is He implying that we denigrate ourselves. Rather, Jesus is implying 'the last' are those who do not seek honors and who seek to live with humility, serving with love. Those who seek to be ‘the first’ are the haughty: the true ‘first’ are the ones who God honors, that is, the holy ones. 

To view the video which inspired this post, mentioned in the first paragraph, click here: https://www.facebook.com/sanctafamiliamedia/videos/863612750701716/
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Images:
1. My photo, at garden at Direlton Castle, N. Berwick, Scotland: I thought that this would be an appropriate photo to begin since it was in a beautiful garden in Scotland, but also because St. Thérèse of Lisieux is often referred to as "The Little Flower" after a reference she made to herself in her autobiography in which she said that she was a little flower in the garden of the Lord.

2. My photo of a photo, taken in Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France (2013): I took this photo while in my second visit to Notre Dame Cathedral. It was part of a permanent collection of photos of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Unfortunately, I do not know if those original photos survived the recent fire at the Cathedral. 

3. Icon, St. Francis Wounded Winter Light, by Fr. William Hart McNichols: This icon shows the humility and chosen poverty of St. Francis of Assisi. He truly was a humble servant of God, the last who became the first, as described by Jesus in the gospels. You can find this icon at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/st-francis-wounded-winter-light-098-william-hart-mcnichols.html

4. Painting, St. Francis Giving His Cloak to a Beggar, Giotto: This painting depicts St. Francis as a young man. The event painted here shows him as his conversion was evolving, so to speak. It was one of his first offerings to the poor, taking place shortly before he left all of his family's wealth behind for good. 

5. My photo, a hummingbird on a feeder: I chose this photo because the hummingbird is a tiny bird, humble in size, but amazing to behold. They are almost insignificant in size, yet they are beautiful. It seemed a fitting reminder that the littlest can be great in its own way.

6. Painting, Mother and Child, by Vincent van Gogh: I chose this because it is a humble scene of the security given through the bond of love between the mother and the child, both asleep before the warmth of a fire. There is no finery here, just love.

7. My photo, trees in a park outside of Auckland, New Zealand: I chose this because the (large) tree looked rather luminous. Just as holy people have a kind of luminosity, a radiance often depicted as a halo, so this tree seemed to have a radiance of its own.

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.