There are all sorts of jokes and memes about forgetting things more easily as we grow older. I saw a comic strip the other day which depicted someone on the top of a high mountain who quipped, “I hate it when I go somewhere and can’t remember why I went there in the first place.”*   It was funny: those of us who are older will poke fun at ourselves about how we entered a room and forgot why we went there, or that we were searching for a phone that was in our pocket all along, (or worse, in our hand.) Jokes aside, I recently read an article that did not sit right with me at all. It was about measuring cognitive ability based on how older people dealt with money. The article highlighted the findings of an experiment in which they took a number of older people and created an artificial scenario that tested what they would do when they met strangers who presented a need. The subjects were 'allotted' a theoretical amount of money to keep or give. The testers connected those who gave more with having more cognitive decline than those who gave less or none at all. I guess that makes all of us (young or old) who live by the gospels, quite senile! If that is the case, count me in.

Psychology is a wonderful gift when a person desires help growing emotionally, is in need of healing, or has a particular mental health issue. But like all things, when something is taken out of context or when an issue is taken to the extreme, anything can become misleading and disturbing. Reading articles like this reinforces the wisdom of taking what we read or hear and keeping it in perspective using common sense, consistent with what Jesus taught about discerning right usage. For example, He did not say money was evil, but indicated it was what we do with it that makes it good or bad, such as when He told those who questioned Him, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, but to God what belongs to God.” (Mark 12:17) Therefore, aside from avoiding the Pharisees attempt at trying to trap Him, Jesus was actually teaching about right use of what we have. Notice the wording: Jesus used the word “repay.” The Pharisees were asking about the Law and Jesus’ reply was about love. In our gratitude we ‘repay’ (or respond to) God with loving actions directed to everyone, but especially to those in greatest need. We are to give to the poor, but using discernment, we should decide how much we can give; impoverishing ourselves when we have children to feed or have other obligations would not be what God wants. We are to nurture a generous heart, but without taking things out of context and to the extreme.** ​

The one thing Jesus does want us to be extravagant with is our love, but even then we always need to discern what the truly loving thing to do is. That is, we must discern the greater good which will bring us closer to God and also does the greatest amount of good for the one to whom we minister without jeopardizing those to whom we are obligated, including ourselves. In order to live this way we must have a healthy prayer life. To discern is to pray, and in fact, it means we must pray constantly. To get a sense of the movement of the Holy Spirit we must dialogue with Him, to ask specifically, and then to listen with our heart and soul. And the best way to do that is to have an intimate relationship with God. If we desire a discerning heart we must spend time in prayer so that we can learn the way God works within our particular relationship and in how He calls us. In prayer we learn to recognize His presence and indeed, His voice. Like the disciples in Emmaus, unless we are listening to what is happening within our hearts, we will totally miss that they are burning within us. As we learn to recognize God's presence, and as we grow in love, our generosity will expand, our mercy will multiply, (especially in forgiving others), and we will grow in holiness.

There is nothing of a cognitive decline in being generous with a poor stranger. It is what we are called to do as Christians and what we do in response to our love for God. When we offer our time, talent, and treasure, we give to Christ present in our least brothers and sisters: “What you do for them, you do for me.” (Paraphrase of Matthew 25:40) Jesus taught us to give to those in need, whether it is food and drink, clothing, offering comfort through a visit to the sick or the imprisoned, or simply spending time listening and praying with someone. If the world laughs at us for loving with an open hand, then let it. And if they want to say we are losing cognitive ability for being generous… well, let them. I would rather be deemed a little impaired for being as Christ to someone, then to be considered ‘all together’ for being selfish or neglectful. Don’t get me wrong, there are times to give and times to withhold, so let’s not think that anyone is selfish when they do not give monetarily or otherwise. But the fact remains, that if we are appropriately generous in word and deed to our brothers and sisters, we will find a clarity like nothing else. This clarity is indeed what love is.

May we utilize the gift of discernment we were given at our Confirmation! May we grow in gratitude to God and respond with generous hearts! And in this month of the Sacred Heart, may we learn how to respond in love as Jesus would have us do! Let us meet in the Sacred Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                                   ©Michele L. Catanese

*The comic mentioned is called Macanudo by Liniers. His comic strip is one of my favorites. You can find the particular strip I referred to at https://comicskingdom.com/Macanudo/2022-06-19
More about the Argentinian artist, Liniers, and his comic strip can be found at https://comicskingdom.com/Macanudo/about

** Speaking of context: Some may be thinking, “But what about the widow who gave her two cents in Luke 21:1-4? Does it not say Jesus praised her for giving her entire livelihood?” Yes, He did say this, but again we have to put it into context. Jesus was using hyperbole, a Jewish teaching method of exaggerating a point so as to make it clear. In this case, Jesus was pointing out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who were pretentious and haughty, making a show of their giving, as opposed to the widow who was giving in obscurity and humility. This teaching was about humility and not about money, as such. 
Images:
1. My photo, birthday cake.
2. Painting, Caesar's Coin by Peter Paul Rubens, (1612-14). (Public Domain)
​3. Image, The Holy Spirit The Lord the Giver of Life The Paraclete Sender of Peace by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can find this image and if you wish, purchase a copy in one of many mediums at fineartamerica.com/featured/the-holy-spirit-the-lord-the-giver-of-life-the-paraclete-sender-of-peace-093-william-hart-mcnichols.html
4. My photo of a painting of St. Benedict Joseph Labre from Santa Maria ai Monti in Rome, Italy. This painting hangs by St. Benedict Joseph's tomb in Santa Maria ai Monti. He died on the steps of this church. He was a pilgrim (beggar) who gave everything given to him to those poorer than himself. 
5. My photo of some stained glass in the Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Savannah, Georgia.

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. 

On a trip to South Carolina I had the opportunity to tour historic Charleston. Part of the tour included walking on a pathway made from 200 year old bricks, some of which had tiny handprints embedded in them. These handprints are those of the children who made them; that is, the bricks were made by children who were enslaved. While children are known to enjoy leaving their handprints in wet cement, or in this case wet clay, it is obvious that these prints were not made for playful reasons. Most of them were probably made unintentionally, but it seemed to me that some of the handprints were perhaps left as a way of letting others know that they wanted to be remembered, to have their lives be noticed and given the dignity they deserved. Whatever the reasons, the handprints are a reminder that no matter what, we are always within the sight of God. Jesus taught His followers that although we may endure hardship in this life, God is with us and we will have joy in heaven with Him. However, it remains that while in this life, we all have a basic need to be validated and to know we are important to someone. Even though we know God sees us, we still yearn to be treated with dignity, to be noticed, valued, and to not be forgotten. But no matter what happens, we can cling to what Jesus told us: every hair of our head is counted and therefore we are never forgotten by God even for a fraction of a second. He is always surrounding us with His love and mercy, especially when we feel it least and need it most.

In regard to this, Psalm 8 is fitting, especially because the writer seems to understand not only the dignity of each person, but also that every human glorifies God simply by existing. The Psalmist expounds on the beauty of the heavens, the moon and the stars, and then asks, “What are we that you should be mindful of us?” That is, God made all the beauty of the heavens and the earth, and yet deems us more important than these, perhaps as more beautiful than the rest of creation. The tiny handprints on the bricks can be a reminder that all of us are made “little less than the angels… crowned with glory and honor.” In Psalm 139 we read that God knows “when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar…. If I go to the heavens, you are there; if I sink to the nether world, you are present there. …if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall guide me and your right hand hold me fast.” (Psalm 139: 2, 8-10) God made us for more than one reason: of course, He made us simply because He loves us, but He also made us to contribute something to the rest of humanity, no matter how great or small, how seen or unseen by others. 

In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus went into great detail about how God sees and cares for us.* He said, “Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of our head have all been counted. Do not be afraid.” (Luke 12:6-7) The key is in taking to heart the last line: “Do not be afraid.” Indeed, we are always within His vision, but it takes radical trust to accept this. That Jesus repeats this assurance many times throughout His ministry and even after the Resurrection should be evidence enough that He really wants us to trust Him and therefore, to be at peace. Everything is in God’s hands and thus, His love and mercy are gifts to be savored. Once we accept in our heart that we are so loved by God, however, Jesus outlines the ways in which we are to do for others what God does for us. This means we are to be a witness to our faith unapologetically, that is, to live what we have been taught, and in all things act with love. To be a follower of Jesus means that ‘what we are given without cost we are to give as a gift.’ (Paraphrase of Matthew 10:8) Therefore, we need to look past our own selves, trusting that we are completely in God’s care, and with love, look to help others who may have great needs or perhaps who simply want to be noticed and remembered for the beauty of being our brother or sister.

The Church dedicates the entire month of June to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a celebration of His unfathomable love.** In light of this, it is good to reflect upon the love we have received and the actions of love to which we are called. Reading and praying with the Sermon on the Plain and the other Gospel discourses of Jesus, particularly in Matthew and Luke, would be helpful as a reminder of how loved we are and how we are enjoined to love others as we are loved. God’s loving handprint is on each of His children, and in a similar way we, too, are called to leave an imprint of love, no matter how small it may seem, upon everyone we encounter. And if we do so, we will see the beautiful handiwork of God ever more clearly as we build the Kingdom with Him, one loving act at a time.  

May we pray that the fire of love that burns within the Sacred Heart of Jesus would also burn in our hearts! May we live in the dignity with which we were created and acknowledge that same dignity in all our brothers and sisters! And may we be moved to put love into action through works of mercy and compassion! Let us meet in the Sacred Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                 ©Michele L. Catanese


*The discourses in Luke’s Gospel and in Matthew’s Gospel share the same basic content, particularly the Sermon on the Plain and the Sermon on the Mount, respectively. For those who wonder why Matthew set this discourse on a mountain side and Luke did not: Matthew was writing to an audience of Jewish converts who were very familiar with God’s revelations upon mountains, especially when He gave the Law to them. This was representative of God as being on high and so they had great reverence for God’s revelation in this way. For Luke’s Greek convert audience a mountain setting would have been too intimidating; they would have wanted nothing to do with it because mountain revelations meant trouble. Remember, in Greek mythology the gods lived on Mt. Olympus and they did nothing but wreak havoc on humanity to accomplish their own selfish ends. Thus, to set this important discourse on a plain was symbolic of God ‘making level the field’ so to speak, entering into our world in a non-intimidating and radical way. However, the quote used above from Luke is found in a later discourse, the content of which Matthew used in the Sermon on the Mount. Simply, the authors organized their gospels differently to reach out to their different audiences.
**June 24 is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, but it is traditional for the entire month to be dedicated to this devotion.

Images:
1. Painted image, Isaiah 44-5, Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you are interested in obtaining this image in one of a variety of formats, it can be found at ​https://fineartamerica.com/featured/isaiah-44-5-william-hart-mcnichols.html
2. Painting, inset of the Archangel Gabriel from The Annunciation, Blessed Fra Angelico.
3. My photo, taken in Hawaii. (I know it is not a sparrow, but it works.)
4. Painting, Fields, 1877 by Camille Pissarro.
5. My photo of stained glass, Sacred Heart of Jesus.
​
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 probably heard vignettes about giving a gift to a child and then discovering that they enjoy playing with the paper or the box seemingly more than the gift. On first glance this might seem humorous, or perhaps we surmise that the child has missed the point, or something along those lines. But if one really thinks about it, there is a lesson in this from which we can all learn: it is the small, simple things in life that often give the greatest pleasure. In fact, being ‘easily entertained,’ if you will, is actually Scriptural. Jesus used children as examples to emphasize the attitude we should have, saying that unless we become like little children we will not enter the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 18:3) There is much one can say about this teaching, but certainly it includes finding joy in simplicity. Being childlike allows us to find joy readily, so that we become beacons of the love and mercy of God, attracting others to the Lord by sharing our joy. Childlikeness is a type of honesty; that is, when children discover joy in simple things, there is no guile involved and consequently no need for approval. Small children have no need to ‘fit in’ or coincide with the opinions of others. Unhindered by these things, they simply enjoy much of what they encounter. While we lose this wonderful tendency as we grow older, it is not at all impossible to find it again, as evidenced in the lives of many of the saints. To have the ability to find joy in simplicity enables us to grow in the habit of having a grateful heart throughout life. And living gratefully, we learn to ‘see God’ all around us, receiving a glimpse of Heaven, a foretaste of things to come.

A favorite saint for many people, St. Thérèse of Lisieux is best known for her “Little Way.” Perhaps she was the most childlike of all the saints, truly taking to heart Jesus’ supplication that we become like little children. She referred to herself as “a little flower in His garden,” * hence she has been referred to as “The Little Flower” since her death and subsequent canonization. St. Thérèse had been the spoiled, baby of the family until she had a personal epiphany and then grew into a young woman, somehow moving from childishness to childlikeness. The transformation was built upon the purity of her love for Jesus; the source of her sanctity was accepting His love and allowing it to mold her, and her childlikeness was the expression of her response to Him. As a result she was able to find joy in the simplest way, even in the midst of the horrific suffering she endured in the last few years of her short life. She was quoted near the end of her life as saying, “During Matins I saw the stars twinkling and then I heard the Divine Office, and it pleased me.” ** Something as simple as these things gave her great joy even though she was unable to arise from her sickbed. Perhaps this was her glimpse of Heaven, a process begun long before that moment.

Just as Thérèse was not born with sanctity but grew in it as a response of love for Jesus, so too can we respond. However, it does take work, just as she discovered in her own life journey. She had to overcome great self-centeredness which may have arisen from insecurity due to the loss of her mother while she was still a small child. No matter, she did do it, not because she was gifted in some way the rest of us are not, but because she allowed herself to find signs of God’s presence all around her and therefore, within her heart, allowed grace to form and guide her. Therefore, we can work at finding joy in the presence of God and in that which is His handiwork just as Thérèse did. 

As we near the end of the Easter season we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus. Perhaps we can enter into a foretaste of heaven, considering what it is that gives us joy in order to ‘spiritually ascend’ with Jesus as we reflect upon this feast. In addition to material things or people, let us consider that which is part of our spiritual life: Have we ever thought to find joy in our relationship with our most holy mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary? Have we ever rejoiced over our guardian angel or at the thought of the presence of all the angels? Have we ever found joy in response to the Saints and holy ones who intercede at our request or who inspire us by their lives? Do we realize that we glimpse Heaven in the very Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus who becomes one with us when we receive the Eucharist? Do our friends (and/or family) give us joy, and do we realize that they are gifts of God? And finally, do we see God as did Thérèse, in the twinkling stars, a flittering butterfly, or in some other aspect of nature? Whatever it is that brings us even the smallest amount of pleasure or joy, and therefore brings us closer to God, is a gift. We do not need to enter into the depths of ecstasy in prayer in order to experience joy, but rather it is when we unclutter our hearts and respond to God’s love like a little child, that we find the greatest joy and therefore find a glimpse of Heaven.

​May we allow the grace of God to help us become as little children! Through the intercession of St. Thérèse may we find joy in the little (and the big things) in our daily lives! And may we find a glimpse of the life to come in Heaven as we unite ourselves to Jesus! Let us meet in the heart of Jesus! Peace! 

                            ©Michele L. Catanese

* St. Thérèse is often quoted as saying she wanted to be as a little flower in the garden of God, but it is actually a combination of two statements she made in reference to her desire for littleness. (From her autobiography, The Story of a Soul)
** St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Last Conversations, Yellow Notebook, July 3, No.7 (1897) Thérèse was dying at the point in which these conversations were written down by one of her sisters who sat at her bedside.

Images:
1. Photo, Little children at play.
2. Photo, St. Thérèse quote. 
3. Icon, St. Therese of Lisieux Doctor of the Church, by Fr. William Hart McNichols.  Her official name in religious life was (Sr.) Thérèse  of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. Her devotion to the child Jesus certainly was central to her spirituality, and therefore it makes sense that she would want to be as a little child, too. You can find this icon at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/st-therese-of-lisieux-doctor-of-the-church-043-william-hart-mcnichols.html
4. My photo, Oaks at the entrance to Wormsloe State Historic Site, near Savannah, Georgia. 
5. My photo, sort of: I took a photo of this photo which was part of a display at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, a few years before the tragic fire which destroyed much of the Cathedral. I was struck by this unusual photo of her:  St. Thérèse is pictured with the hosts for Eucharist. I suspect the hosts were unconsecrated at that point and that perhaps she was acting as sacristan for a community Mass. Nonetheless, I loved the connection between Thérèse and the Eucharist.

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. 

​A few years ago my husband and I were fortunate to be able to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The entire journey through Israel and Palestine was filled with blessings and many insights into the Scriptures. The last site we visited was Emmaus, a small town to which most pilgrimages do not go because now it is a place which is hostile to Christianity; therefore, it was a gift to be able to go there. We hear about this small town during the Easter season because Jesus appeared (at first not recognized) to two disciples who were discouraged and on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. As they walked, not only did the Risen Jesus explain how the prophecies were fulfilled, but He did something that changed everything for them: at dinner He blessed and broke the bread, at which point they recognized Him and He vanished. (Luke 24:13-35) They were so excited, literally on fire with the Eucharist, that they ran all the way back to Jerusalem, no small feat since these places are not really close together.* After hearing this passage again, I realized that we know next to nothing about these two disciples, except the name of one of them, Cleopas. In fact, we do not even know if the second one was a man or a woman. They were ‘little,’ unnoticed but for their encounter, never to be mentioned again. And yet, both the disciples and Emmaus have an indelible, fixed place in our awareness because of what took place there: the Risen Jesus made manifest in the bread blessed, broken, and shared. The freedom which arose within the two disciples’ was immense. They let go of their discouragement and fear, becoming immersed in the joy of encountering the Risen Christ.

If we are honest, we all like to be noticed in some way even if we are the most introverted or shy of people. Everyone wants to know that they have caught someone’s attention, to be loved, to have made a difference, or to get credit for something we may have accomplished. Unfortunately for some, this desire can become a bit too strong, resulting in either self-centeredness or the sin of pride which overpowers everything we do. That pride can lead to envy and other sinful behaviors even in the most prayerful of people because sometimes it can be so subtle that we are not aware of this motivation until we have our eyes opened to it. If another person points this out to us, it can be quite painful, but it can also be a bitter pill to swallow if we realize it during prayer; that is, if it is the Lord who reveals this to us. However, it is in that revelation that freedom begins. Remember that Jesus said the truth will set us free? Well, at first truth can make us rather uncomfortable, but if we accept the graces offered by the Lord to let go of our sinful tendency, we will come to great freedom and joy. We will discover that there is great freedom in being little, unselfconscious, and even ‘under-credited’ by the world. When that happens and we accept it with joy, we are truly free, because it is in that freedom that holiness grows, noticed, if you will, by the One whose judgment is the only one that counts: our merciful God.

In the story of the two disciples who traveled to Emmaus with Jesus there are two important aspects to consider. The first is that upon reflection, they realized their hearts were burning within them during the entire time they were walking with Jesus, even though they were quite discouraged because they had thought that perhaps He had not ‘been the one.’ This teaches us to trust what is happening within our own hearts. If we are experiencing a true movement of the Holy Spirit or the presence of Jesus with us, then we ought to meet Him in our prayer to talk about it with Him. Just as with the two disciples, He will reveal what we need. The second is that they recognized Jesus when He blessed and broke the bread; that is, when He gave them Himself in the Eucharist.**  Of course, we have access to Jesus in the Sacraments daily. Thus, every time we experience the Eucharist we are in fact having the same encounter with Jesus that they did! And I might add that when we go to Reconciliation we are also having an intimate experience of Jesus since it is then that we encounter His Divine Mercy and receive grace to free us from our sins. Therefore, we know that through pouring out our fear and brokenness to the Lord we find true freedom to grow in holiness because in this letting go, we become comfortable with ourselves as we are, no longer needing recognition from anyone but the One we love. 

Finally, the story of the two disciples teaches us that God’s mercy brings the joy which heals all pain. In other words, God’s mercy brings the strength to endure any suffering we might have, and in knowing His closeness, we find great joy. Freedom from fear, discouragement, and from the need to be noticed with the rewards that come from the world, brings joy and peace; the wonderful truth is that God offers it through His death and Resurrection. It takes trust to let go in this way, and therefore our prayer needs to always be: “Jesus, I trust in you!” 

May we embrace Divine Mercy, allowing the Lord to transform our brokenness and desire to be huge in the eyes of the world into an acceptance of being little so that He can be big! May we grow in freedom to be who God created us to be, that we might give Him great glory! And may we find the joy that heals all pain in the Heart of the Risen Lord! Alleluia! Peace!

                                                                                   ©Michele L. Catanese

* Fun facts: The town of Emmaus, by the route they would have taken, is  a little less than 7 miles (11 kilometers) from Jerusalem. That should make it a bit clearer as to just how empowered the 2 disciples were as a result of everything that had transpired. To have run all the way back after taking all day to walk it is rather amazing. The Church that is in Emmaus/El-Qubeibeh today is called the Basilica of the Manifestation of the Risen Christ to Clopas and Simon, indeed a mouthful! (Traditionally it was said that the second disciple was Simon, but nowhere is that mentioned directly in the Scriptures.)
** Jesus disappeared as soon as He blessed, broke, and shared the bread because it had become His Body, and therefore He only needed to be present in one form. He was equally present in the bread, now Eucharist, as He had been when He had been standing before them. 

Note: Many great saints made themselves little as they let go of their desire to do anything but love God and do His will. The most obvious is St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower, of whom I have written many times. I believe the desire to give everything over to the Lord in total trust so as to become little in order for Him to be more known is a hallmark of holiness. Another of my favorites, among so many, is St. Benedict Joseph Labrè whom I have written about twice. Since I will be taking a ‘blog holiday’ for a few weeks, there will be no new entry on May 16. Therefore, my recommendation is that in two weeks, you might read an Easter entry I wrote in 2016 in which St. Benedict Joseph was mentioned along with a couple of other saints, a full paragraph devoted to him. 
https://www.catanesesd.com/micheles-blog/who-will-tell-of-his-posterity
If you would like more information on St. Benedict Joseph Labrè you can click here:
https://catholicsaints.info/saints-of-the-day-benedict-joseph-labre/​
​
Images:
1. My photo, sculpture behind the altar in the Church in Emmaus, Palestine. 
2. My photo, taken in Big Bend National Park. This little flower stood out, obviously.
3. Icon, the two disciples with Jesus on the road to Emmaus and then at table.
4. Icon, Christ All Merciful by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can find this at fineartamerica.com/featured/christ-all-merciful-022-william-hart-mcnichols.html
5. Painting, Quebec Village (Saint-Hilarion) by Arthur Lismer (1926) You can find more on this painting at https://agnes.queensu.ca/explore/collections/object/quebec-village-saint-hilarion/

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. 

Now that Lent is over and the Easter season has arrived it is good to think about what we learned in the last 7 weeks. Hopefully, as we are singing our alleluias we do not forget what we gained as insight into ourselves, our relationship to others, and to God. If we do not come away with at least some small thing, then it might be helpful to look back at where we have been spiritually and where we are now. Even if we think we did not ‘do Lent’ very well or that we somehow did not live up to whatever our Lenten intentions were, there is always some little gift hidden along the way that we would lose out on if we let it go unnoticed. That we even realize we could have done better is a gift because it means that our intentions were ‘in the right place’ in regard to the process. The Divine Mercy which flows from the Heart of Jesus will most assuredly honor that. Besides, it is never too late to grow in the spiritual life. Therefore, this is not the time for regrets, but rather for joy. No matter what our Lent was like, Jesus died for us and for all of our attempts, failed or otherwise, so that we might have life to the full with Him in Heaven forever. Surely that is something for which to rejoice!

Jesus’ death and resurrection were acts of Divine Mercy, and therefore purify all of the things we could have done better and which often come back to nag us in the form of regrets. Who among us does not regret our own sinfulness or some behavior of which we are not proud? These regrets are seen vividly in the actions of the apostles, all of whom abandoned Jesus after He was arrested in the Garden. The most dramatic of these were Judas and Peter: sadly, Judas refused forgiveness and hence redemption, but Peter after much remorse, did accept it. While Judas did have deep regret, he let it overwhelm him; Peter accepted God’s mercy, letting go of regret, and becoming transformed into new life, which included a new way to serve Jesus. Therefore, the joy of Easter enables us to learn something from our regrets, and to let go of them as we accept the gift of redemption through Divine Mercy offered to us on the cross of Christ.

Recently I have reflected upon a different apostle, however: St. John, “the one whom Jesus loved.” He, too, ran from the soldiers in the Garden, leaving Jesus to arrest, cruel treatment, and death. But I wondered what it was like for him as he brought Jesus’ mother, Mary, to the cross. While we know John did this, I have never heard any commentary about what may have been going on in his mind and heart as he stood before the cross, equally as guilty as the other apostles who also left Jesus that night. My thought is that perhaps what enabled John to go to the cross with Mary was not guilt, but rather, love. He loved Mary and was honored to have Jesus put her into his care; John also loved the Lord and so he must have already begun letting go of his regrets, facing the issue head-on. That is, he must have looked into the eyes of Jesus and seen the Divine Mercy which is beyond all telling. He was washed clean in the blood and water that flowed from the side of Jesus; I imagine that on Easter morning when he ran to the tomb with Peter, John already believed it was empty, and thus the mercy of Jesus dying on the cross became powerful Easter grace, healing any trace of previous regret John (or Peter) may have had.

The other side of regret is joyful gratitude. Every moment transformed by the Paschal mysteries, that is the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, is filled with the purification of all our failures, even our worst decision and our subsequent worst sin. All of it is purified by the greatness of God’s love and by the incomprehensible mercy which flows from the Risen Jesus and therefore leads us to gratitude and the joy of new freedom. But there is something else to consider: Jesus has gratitude for us, too. That is, whenever we respond to His call to offer our weakness and sin as a gift to Him, thus enabling greater interior freedom, Jesus rejoices and is filled with gratitude for our love. Whenever we respond to His love with our love, all of Heaven rejoices. 

​Even if how we handled Lent was not to our ‘specification,’ acknowledging that is actually a gift; it is an opportunity to continue to live a gospel life the way we desire and the way God desires, but without expecting more than we are capable of doing at the moment. Perhaps we are called to set our goals anew, turning more to Jesus and His Divine Mercy, and less to our self-reliance. If so, then we have indeed ‘done Lent’ well and have offered a finer gift to God than we realized. Life is a process, but in the Risen Jesus we can always find mercy, and therefore spiritual growth and new life. One of the gifts of Jesus’ victorious Resurrection lies in the knowledge that interior freedom and holiness are never beyond our reach. Let us turn to Jesus with gratitude and joy so that our joy may in turn be His. Alleluia!

May we rejoice in the victory won for us by our Risen Lord, Jesus! May we rejoice in the boundlessness of Divine Mercy! May we accept God’s invitation to come to new life in His Risen Son! And may our joy and gratitude be offered as a gift to the Lord who also rejoices over us! Let us meet at the Empty tomb, rejoicing that He is alive! Alleluia! Peace!

                                  ©Michele L. Catanese

Images:
1. Icon, The Risen Christ by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can obtain a copy of this icon at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-risen-christ-014-william-hart-mcnichols.html
2. My photo, a rose taken in the rose gardens in Portland, Oregon. I chose this because I love the reddish color on the borders of the golden petals. It spoke to me of the Resurrection in which the blood is transformed into glory.
3. Inset of a Russian icon, Woman, Behold, Your Son. I must point out the commas in the words of Jesus which name this icon. Jesus was telling Mary to behold her 'new' son, John! Jesus entrusted John to her as her son, and Mary to John as His mother. I chose this for the expression on St. John's face.
4. My photo, bush in bloom, taken a number of years ago in the driveway of St. Joseph on the Rio Grande Catholic Church in Albuquerque, NM.
5. Illumination (inset), Madonna of Mercy with Kneeling Friars, (unseen in the inset), by Blessed Fra Angelico. Jesus brings us Divine Mercy; therefore, Mary is the Mother of Mercy. I had to include Mary here especially since she was at the cross with St. John.  For more see interestingpretties.blogspot.com/2012/10/madonna-of-mercy-with-kneeling-friars.html
6. Painting, Jesus, I Trust in You (Divine Mercy) as seen and described by St. Faustina Kowalska. The Sunday after Easter is Divine Mercy Sunday.
​
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 traits that many people share is that of desiring perfection in one way or another. Those who are artists (of whatever kind) are always in search of honing their craft in the pursuit of perfecting it. Perfection is a ‘loaded’ concept, however. It is the proverbial double-edged sword since perfection is both a virtue we strive for and a burden we can carry: it is a virtue to want to be the best we can be, but it can be a burden because it can never be attained in this lifetime, (and if not reigned in it can lead to the prison of perfectionism). In the spiritual life we know that holiness is about striving for perfection, something evident in the lives of the saints. Holiness is the goal of every Christian who sincerely wants to respond to the call from God to be the best we can be in virtue and in love. However, we are prone to sin and so it would be truly unfortunate to think we should become perfect at some point. Therefore, we need to understand what it means to strive for holiness in this life so that we reach perfection in the next. And it is good to remember that while we pursue holiness individually, it is never really about ourselves; rather, it is directed toward the community. The most important reason to desire holiness, however, is because it is essentially for God: our growing holy is an act of love we offer to Him. 

More than once I have heard a cringe-worthy ‘explanation’ of what Jesus said at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, “Be perfect as my heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) When this is explained in a way that lays an unnecessary burden upon us, my heart sinks. Jesus most certainly did not intend this statement to be guilt-producing because He knows that it is impossible for us to be perfect. We can strive towards perfection, which is another way of expressing our desire to grow in holiness, but if we believe that we are the ones who must make ourselves perfect then we will have missed His point entirely. Let me be clear: the burden is shared by Jesus; it is not all on us! Therefore, to better understand what He said we need to consider two aspects, context and meaning.

The context is a discourse given by Jesus to teach His followers the way of life desired by God. (Matt. 5-7) He taught that we are to work at becoming the light of the world; to live by the spirit of the Law, not by the letter of the Law; to be faithful in relationships, to not retaliate, and to love our enemies. He went on to elaborate how to live this way by almsgiving, praying humbly (the Lord’s Prayer), depending completely on God, and not being judgmental. At first this can seem overwhelming, but rather than laying a heavy burden on us, Jesus was outlining a way of life which enables us to strive toward holiness, something we can think of as the path toward perfection. Jesus clarified His teaching when He later said: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) Thus, Jesus indicated that to live the Christian life we bear the yoke (the burden) together with Him, and in so doing, it will become lighter and we will grow holier. We cannot to do this without Jesus. 

The second aspect is meaning, which refers mainly to the intended message within the words spoken. When Jesus said to be perfect He was actually calling us to love perfectly, agapè, which is a Greek word that means to love as God loves, especially those who are the hardest to love.* It is only with agapè that we can love an enemy, since such a one would be most difficult to love. This love is not about feelings, but rather it is about acting with mercy and forgiveness, offering kindness to our enemy, just as God does. God’s love for sinners, (all of us), never fails: that is agapè. To love this way is quite difficult, but if we willingly take on the yoke with Jesus, His grace can enable our love to grow in ways beyond our natural ability. This way of love is what identifies us as Christians. Thus, we can reflect upon the entire passage in its context and meaning:  Jesus said, “If you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:46-48) That is, love with agapè as your heavenly Father loves.

​In these last weeks of Lent, the deepest part of our journey, we can be mindful of how important it is to trust in the love of God enough to strive for the perfection to which He calls us, which is not that we be perfect, but that we are open to His will and the action of His love within us. This means we must let Him love us perfectly so that we are transformed into the way of His love and in turn, share it with our brothers and sisters. 

May we allow God’s perfect love to transform our hearts! May we desire to be yoked to Jesus so that we can bear life’s trials and joys together, loving as He does! And may this time late in Lent inspire us to strive for holiness so that we might glorify God! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

​                                                                           ©Michele L. Catanese

*Remember that in Greek there are multiple words for love. Some of the words used in Scripture are: philia, which indicates the love of friends, eros, which indicates the love between spouses, and agapè, God’s perfect love.

Images:
1. My photo of a rose, taken in some gardens in Ireland.
2. Painting, Sermon on the Mount by James Tissot. (1886-96)
3. Painting, The Wood Sawyers by  Jean-Francois Millet. (1848)
4. Icon, La Sangre de Cristo, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you are interested in a copy, you can find this at fineartamerica.com/featured/la-sangre-de-cristo-242-william-hart-mcnichols.html
5. My photo, waves on the Big Island of Hawaii. 

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 my favorite aspects of being a musician was the challenge and the thrill of blending my instrument with those of the musicians with whom I was playing. Being the soloist on occasion was wonderful, but truly it was more exciting to hear my clarinet blend with the oboe, for example, so that it sounded like one instrument, one unique sound. Similarly, there is nothing better than singing in a choir when it is able to become as one multilayered voice. This union of voices, or any other instrument, involves listening as well as some skill, but when it occurs it is a moving experience. Without this union there might be a voice that blares above the choir, or an orchestral instrument dominating the melody when actually playing harmony, or worse, a total cacophony of noise obliterating the intention of the music. This concept also holds true in our liturgical gatherings in which the amalgamation of voices in unity is equally important in singing and speaking our prayer. We do more than just prevent chaos. Rather, this harmony is an integral part of being a community united in Christ. And not only is this unity crucial during the liturgy, but it is important that we take it out the door with us. First, it strengthens the community in every way, and second, peace flourishes when we are one.* This peace arises from the shared desire to offer love and mercy to one another, and it fosters trust in God as we work together to lift up the uncertain or powerless. In short, unity offers hope.

The practice of joining voices in unified prayer goes back to the origins of all organized religious and liturgical practice. For Christians the essence of perfect unity in prayer is found in Jesus’ response to the apostles’ request to teach them to pray: the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus certainly intended this prayer to be universal and foundational. It was for individual private prayer, but as the perfect prayer it was also meant for communal gatherings. Therefore, along with the Eucharist it was at the heart of the Mass from its very beginning, joining the early Christian community into one Body. Their unity in prayer moved them to share all their material goods in common and then their love moved them outward to the poor. (See Acts 1:13-14; 2:42-47; 4:32-37) St. Paul eloquently described this unity when he explained how we are one Body with Christ as the head and we, the many parts (or members). This unity culminates in various gifts of grace in addition to the faith, hope, and love which are received by all the members at Baptism. (1 Corinthians 12&13) As the Church grew, religious communities began to flourish with the same focus on communal sharing of goods and prayer, centering on celebration of the Mass and prayer together multiple times each day, (99.9% of which was sung.) They came together in choir, facing each other in two sections, each side alternating between listening and singing (chanting) the Psalms and prayers of the Liturgy of the Hours in unison. Religious communities and lay people still pray this way, blending their voices into the cadence of the assembly. For those praying in this way, this union is a sublime spiritual experience which also serves to strengthen the bonds of the community.

Every time we attend Mass we are invited into a similar experience in prayer which encourages our attentiveness to the worshipers around us so that we do not simply think of what ‘I am saying,’ but of what ‘we are saying’ as a Body. Additionally, the unified cadence of the assembly offers an important reminder that our connection also goes beyond those who are in the church. Even the prayers of the liturgy point outward: for example, every version of the Preface prayer, (said by the priest before the Holy, Holy) ends with a declaration that we join our voices in prayer with the angels and/or saints. In other words, when we pray together, we are united with all the living faithful, all those who have gone before us, and all the choirs of angels. Power and grace abound when the entire Church prays in this unity. Our unity builds up the community, not just within the church building, but beyond the doors. Just as in the early Church, founded on the Body and Blood of Christ and built up by the apostles through the Holy Spirit, we are called to share our prayer and our material goods to work toward unity in the larger community, and hopefully in the world. Thus, praying together fosters unity and brings peace.

As we focus on prayer this Lent, we can consider the ways we are called to be unified during prayer as a gathered community; that is, we can listen and consider our responses more attentively during our prayer at Mass. Additionally, when we pray at home, we can be mindful that our private prayer also makes us one; whether meditating, or praying a Rosary, the Divine Mercy chaplet or any devotional prayer, we are joining ourselves with a vast army of pray-ers. In these times it is especially important that we pray intentionally so that the bonds of the community are strengthened, cultivating trust in God and fostering hope, which in turn builds peace among peoples. The foundation of the Church was built upon this, so that even when we are by ourselves, we are actually never alone. We are one people, one Body headed by Jesus Christ who is our hope, our strength, and our salvation. 

May we cling to the strength that arises from unity, empowered by the Holy Spirit, so that our faith may not falter, nor our hope waiver! May we pray with both the humility to blend our voices and the boldness to form a strengthened community! And may we find wisdom and peace in prayer! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

​                                                                        ©Michele L. Catanese

* Remember, unity does not mean that the members of a community are supposed to be totally alike. Rather, like an orchestra (to use the metaphor above) there needs to be different voices which blend in union. It does not mean a loss of identity of the members, but a blending that is not possible unless the many work as one. Being one was something Jesus spoke of and it was what He prayed for us at the Last Supper, for example, (John 17:20)

​Images:
1. Painting, The Orchestra at the Opera, Edgar Degas, 1870.
2. Icon, Cristo Pantocrator by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can find this icon at fineartamerica.com/featured/cristo-pantocrator-175-william-hart-mcnichols.html
3. Fresco painting, The Institution of the Eucharist by Blessed Fra Angelico.
4. My photo, Bern, Switzerland.
5. My photo, sheep peacefully gathered together; taken just outside of Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland.

There is little more humbling than the words said as ashes are applied upon our foreheads on Ash Wednesday: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” It is humbling mostly because it is a reminder that we are finite, and although created by God in a miraculous way, we will all face death at some point. These words call to mind who we are before God: He is the Creator and we are but the created. They emphasize our total reliance upon God for everything, and that as sinners we periodically need to orient our heart back to Him. Furthermore, the ashes are a symbol of sorrow because in them we recognize our sinfulness; thus, they move us to penitence by emphasizing the effort needed to cleanse what has been sullied. Lent offers the time to re-prioritize our choices so we might choose that which leads us closer to God and eliminate that which moves us away. In humility we must recognize our own unworthiness for such a gift of mercy during this prescribed time, but not without understanding that those words on Ash Wednesday offer hope, too. One of my first Scripture professors, Fr. Demetrius Dumm, O.S.B., once said that “humility means to be in touch with the Truth.” Thus, the hope-filled truth is that while we are sinners, we are loved sinners, and in His unbounded mercy God never ceases to offer opportunities for us to return to Him. 

​During Lent we are encouraged to redirect our lives through three important practices. First, prayer leads to a deeper spiritual life, aiding our growth in relationship with God and therefore in holiness. Prayer also moves us outward to others because it leads to growth in love and compassion. Second, almsgiving and doing works of mercy moves us to consider what we have and whether we have become too material, helping us examine our levels of generosity and hospitality. Finally, in doing penance we atone for any areas of sinfulness to which we are prone. We also grow in simplicity; as we practice abstinence and fasting we become more aware of our hungers and the result of them. We should ask ourselves, “For what do we long? Are the things we long for leading toward God or away from Him?” Abstinence and fasting teach greater discernment as we examine our choices and desires, but coupled with prayer they also teach us to realign our focus. For example, one Lent I decided to give up coffee and within a couple of days I thought I had made the 'worst' Lenten choice of my life. I love coffee and therefore the struggle was so difficult that quite soon I wanted to give up; however, I knew I had made a commitment. The result was that when my ‘interior whining’ finally quieted down, I realized that the point was not to focus on myself and what I was missing, but rather to focus more on God. It was not about me or what I gave up, but it was about what, or rather, Who I filled the emptiness with. It turned out to be one of the most powerful Lenten experiences ever. No matter what we have chosen to sacrifice, it should lead us into greater humility and also to gratitude for God’s mercy.

Remember that in the second creation story (Genesis 2), God made the first human creature out of the clay of the earth, that is, dust and water. This creature was called A-dam which in Hebrew literally means ‘of the earth.’ Then God lovingly breathed His own breath into A-dam and life entered this creature. Again, remember that the Hebrew word for ‘breath’ (ruah) also means ‘spirit,’ hence the spirit or soul of A-dam was filled with God’s goodness. God then provided a companion for A-dam; taking a rib and thus sharing the clay and ruah, He created He-vah, (which means ‘living’), who is now identified as a woman while A-dam is identified as a man.​* Therefore, as descendants of Adam and Eve we are all essentially from the earth insofar as we are creatures filled with the breath of God, that is, with a soul. The story provides a reminder that we are sacred, created to be in a relationship of love with God. It reveals that God intended everything to be for our happiness, even though we also see the result of our capacity for making the wrong choices, as revealed in the next chapter of Genesis. But it is important to note that Adam and Eve were centered on God at first, and then shifted their focus to self. Thus, God began the process of sending His Son for our redemption.

​“Humility means to be in touch with the Truth.” We are dust and we are in need of redemption: that is the truth. Perhaps our intention this Lent can be to pray for the humility to see ourselves in truth. But in standing in this truth, let us remember that God is rich in mercy and bountiful in love. Therefore, He sees the good and the beauty that lies beneath whatever is in need of healing. God wants us to return to Him with all our hearts because He deeply desires that we have our wounds bound up, find new life in His love, and rejoice in Heaven with Him forever. If our sin is keeping us from this realization in truth, it is our humility in doing penance, offering alms, and doing good works that will open our eyes just a bit more. Yes, our humility will move us to the Truth, who is Love.

​May we embrace the humility of our finiteness and our total reliance upon God! May we grow spiritually through our efforts at prayer, almsgiving, and abstinence! And may we be moved to hope and gratitude for the mercy and love of God! Let us meet in the heart of Jesus! Peace!

                                  ©Michele L. Catanese

* I described A-dam without using a pronoun because in the original Hebrew the ‘earth creature’ is an ‘it’ until the rib is removed and the woman created. Only when Eve is created are terms for gender used. Thus, without the female, he is not a male and vice versa; both are intended for companionship with one another in love, in an intimate relationship, just as God wants to share with them. They are equal in God’s sight, but are created with distinct roles.

Images:
1. My photo, Mt. Etna, Sicily, Italy. What looks like a cloud is really dust coming from the mountain in the strong wind present while we were up there. The rest is ash.
2. Painting, Works of Mercy, by Olivuccio di Ciccarello. This scene depicts almsgiving.
3. Mosaic, The Creation of Adam, found in the Palatine Chapel in Palermo, Sicily, Italy.
4. Icon, Our Lady of Kiev, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. When I think of humility being in touch with the truth, Our Lady comes to mind. I picked this icon to remind us to pray for the triumph of her Immaculate Heart and for reparation of sin. You can purchase a copy of this in a variety of mediums at fineartamerica.com/featured/our-lady-of-grace-vladimir-002-william-hart-mcnichols.html
5.  Ashes from Clip Art. 

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 a memory from my childhood in which something upsetting took place on a particular day, and as a result I felt the need for my mother to console me. Though I do not remember why, my mother was not available and perhaps was away from the house at that moment. What I do remember, however, is that in the midst of my distress an image (a holy card, probably) of the Blessed Virgin Mary at my bedside caught my attention and somehow all at once she seemed present to me. I vividly remember being greatly comforted, no longer feeling like I was alone. Her presence was gentle and it seemed as if she had always been there. I especially needed something gentle, and like any truly loving mother, she knew when and how to console me. That the experience seemed normal at the time is not really surprising since children possess a capacity for openness that sometimes is lost as they grow older. However, what stands out the most in this experience is that Mary seemed to have ‘come to me’ before I even asked. The result of this experience is that from a young age I learned to turn to Mary often and to understand that she is consistently with us far more than we may realize. That is, while we can (and should) turn to her for any reason, she also comes to us, just as she went to Elizabeth in love and service responding to a need she saw. And with Elizabeth, in wonder and gratitude we can say: “How does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43)

There are three aspects of Mary’s motherhood that I would like to point out. First, Jesus shared her with us, that is, He entrusted us to her for a reason. It was not only because He knew we would need her motherly care and powerful intercession, but He also wanted us to have a relationship with the person who meant most to Him during His life and on into eternity. This aspect is worthy of much meditation: Jesus wanted to share Mary with us so that she would love us as she loves Him. Second, Mary’s motherhood shared with us also reveals a great deal about her continuing role which began with her “yes” to God at the Annunciation. That “yes” was an assent to everything that was to come for all time, a willing obedience that led to her being crowned Queen of Heaven after her death.​* Third, it tells of her great humility. Consider this: Mary accepted the crown as Queen of Heaven in just the same way as she accepted the role of Mother of God, repeating her great ‘Fiat’, that is, “I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) The humility of the first yes led to her acceptance of the great honor of Queenship because it is what her Lord wanted. Thus, we should also consider that Mary accepted Queenship just as any one of us should accept a grace/gift from God: with humility and gratitude. Remember, it is not a matter of our worthiness, but a matter of God’s love and graciousness. To accept is to do His will!

Mary is powerful in Heaven as an intercessor, having the unique role of being closer to Jesus than any other created being, and (as stated above) she is also intensely interested in all her children. Throughout the years Mary has elected to give warnings or to ask prayer in concern for humanity in a public way, as it were, in what are now considered major apparitions such as the one at Lourdes. More regularly, she comes to each of us when we invoke her intercession for our own concerns or when we simply are in need of our Blessed Mother. While most likely we will not see her visibly as did Saints like Juan Diego or Bernadette Soubirous, she is no less present when we call upon her. And truly I believe that whenever we say her name, Mary, or address her by one of her titles we are consoling her sorrowful heart because we are being attentive to her concerns for the world, helping her to bear the burden in some small way. In fact, I believe that when we say her name in prayer, Mary smiles. Saying her name reverently is our gift of love to her, but in doing so we are also inviting her to do that which she most loves: taking care of the children entrusted to her by Jesus.

It would be good to meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary as we pray that beautiful prayer, imagining each scene as if we were there. Perhaps we can also read and reflect upon the Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, and Presentation of Jesus (Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-40) or any other gospel passage in which Mary appears.** Another suggestion is to do some study by choosing one of the apparitions of Mary to learn more about the particular events and her messages to the people. But no matter what we choose, let us always remember to call upon Mary not only during our need, but also to thank her for being such an attentive, humble mother. Indeed, how blessed are we that the mother of our Lord, the Queen of Heaven, should come to us! 

May we give thanks to Jesus for sharing His mother Mary with us as our mother, too! May we turn to Mary for her intercession whenever we need her help! May we become more aware and more attentive to Mary’s presence in the ordinary moments of our lives! And may we let Mary show us the way to her Son, which is the role she savors the most! Let us meet in the hearts of Mary and Jesus! Peace!

                                                                       ©Michele L. Catanese

*Mary's ‘yes’ has such theological depth that I cannot go into all of the ramifications of it in this entry. Although sanctity was already present in that she was conceived immaculately, (that is, there is nothing but grace within her), she was but a young woman, probably 13 years of age, and therefore she could not have fully understood all that such an assent would entail, especially that it meant a role for her eternally. Therefore, it is a testament to her trust in God and her profound humility which enabled her to say, “Be it done to me according to Your word.” She did not know of the great suffering to come, nor that one day she would be crowned as Queen of Heaven. All she knew was that she loved God with all of her heart and soul, and that everything He asked of her she would do willingly.
** You can find references to Mary in all four gospels, of course, though the best is Luke who is said to have interviewed her and who therefore wrote more about her than any other gospel writer. He also included her in the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles. See Luke 1&2, and also Acts 1:13-14 which implies Mary was present for all the important events in the early church, including Pentecost. There is no doubt that Luke was conveying her importance to the Church from its very beginning. John also wrote some important passages that reveal much about Mary, especially the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-12) and Mary at the foot of the cross, (John 19:25-30).

Images:
1. My photo, New Mexico. I chose this because it seems to me the terrain may have entailed something like this when Mary went to Elizabeth in the hill country.
2. Icon, Mother of God Asking for Humility, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mother-of-god-asking-for-humility-143-william-hart-mcnichols.html
3. My photo taken at the shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion, Michigan. This is the site of the only approved apparition of Mary that took place in the United States.
4. Fresco painting, inset of The Visitation, by Blessed Fra Angelico.
5.My photo, Lake Michigan.

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 suspect nearly everyone is familiar with the now iconic opening of the first Star Wars film in which a holographic figure of the Princess sends a message saying: “Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you are my only hope.” There was palpable desperation in her plea. Perhaps these days we are feeling a bit like that, only in reality our hope is placed not in the imperfect, but in the perfect, that is, in the Lord Jesus. It is for this reason that I love the motto of the Holy Cross religious congregations: “Ave Crux, Spes Unica” which translates to “Hail the Cross, Our Only Hope.” It is in the cross of Christ that victory was won, and that victory offers real hope as we try to overcome the challenges of life and live as disciples. We do not have to be a prince or princess (though we are ‘a royal priesthood’) to send such a message to God when we are suffering or feeling stressed by the burdens we carry; all we need is to trust in the promises of Christ as we send our prayer to Him. It is also important that we remember, and therefore rely upon, the “great cloud of witnesses” that have gone before us into Heaven, the saints and holy ones. (Hebrews 12:1) We have an army of saints literally at our disposal to intercede for us, helping to handle all that comes our way. But in all of that, it is the power of the Cross and the Lord who hung upon it, victorious over death, from which all hope arises.

In the Letter to the Hebrews the verses which refer to this great cloud of witnesses are filled with a powerful message of hope. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus….” (Hebrews 12:1-2) In these verses the author connects those growing in holiness as they persevere in the faith, with the Lord who is the victor. His death, then, is the connection with all those who have gone before us ‘marked with the sign of faith’ and who now can intercede on our behalf. This refers to all the faithful, not just the canonized. Therefore we can and should ask the assistance of our departed loved ones as well as those known as the officially recognized Saints in the church. 

As I reflected upon the cloud of witnesses it seems clear that it includes all holy ones, not just the ones who came after Jesus, but also those who came before such as Abraham and the patriarchs, Moses, Deborah, Esther, David, the prophets, and all those who remained committed to the covenant. Included are Elizabeth, Zechariah, John the Baptizer, Joseph,* the apostles, the known and unknown martyrs, and all the faithful who attained Heaven right up to the present day. In short, we have quite a number of friends upon whom to call in time of trouble; all these are tied together in the Cross of Christ and therefore in the sacraments that flow from Him. What binds us together in this great cloud is love.

We may wonder why the author of Hebrews referred to this ‘group’ as witnesses. The author** was alluding to the testimony they gave to the faith based on how they lived their lives in Christ. In other words, the holy ones point to the victory in Christ that comes to those who persevere in living faithfully as disciples. But what makes them so powerful is that they ‘reached the finish line,’ to continue the metaphor of the passage, not by their own power, but by relying on Jesus in whom they placed their hope. With each successive generation their number continues to grow such that we have more support than ever. It makes sense, therefore, to enlist their assistance as we bear whatever burdens we may have. In addition to the Saints, we can ask the assistance of the Holy Souls in Purgatory who can pray for us as we can pray for them; perhaps enlisting their help speeds the process of their purgation (or cleansing)! Finally, let us remember to pray to our own dear departed asking their assistance as well; these faithful are also part of the cloud. Thus, we have a powerful army of loved ones and canonized ones who can pray for us when we are distracted by daily responsibilities and cares. As we go to these holy ones, our hope enlarges and perhaps our own holiness will grow as we pray to them for comfort, perseverance, growth in patience, kindness, compassion, mercy, love, and encouragement to live as witnesses, too. 

In short, as we pray to and with the holy ones in that great cloud of witnesses, our connection to them deepens as we await the day when we will join them in Heaven where we, too, will become more powerful in intercession for those still on earth. Yes, we begin the process of joining them while in this life when we commit ourselves to Christ. We all need help to maintain our commitment, to fight against all that which attacks our faith and our morals, all that seeks to divide, scatter, weaken, and thwart the Kingdom of God. It is in and through the Cross and the love of Jesus who hung upon it that we unite ourselves with the cloud of witnesses. In this way, the Cross is our only Hope!

May we turn to the saints and the prayerful intercession they provide! May the Holy Ones unite us with our only true hope: the Cross of Jesus Christ and the victory which He already won! And may we aspire to grow in holiness so that we may become one with the cloud of witnesses! Let us meet in the Cross of Christ! Peace!

​                                           ©Michele L. Catanese

* I did not forget the Blessed Virgin Mary, Most Holy. I did not name her because she is the Queen of Heaven and as such she is the Queen of the entire cloud of witnesses. 

** The author of this letter is unknown. What is known is that while it contains much of the teaching of St. Paul, he did not write this letter, evidenced in the differences in the syntax used throughout as well as the fact that it is not even a letter, but rather more like an essay: it is totally unlike the format of his letters and bears no address. There is a theory that this letter was written by a woman, Prisca, also known as Priscilla, but it could have been Barnabas or another close associate of Paul. (Reference: page 1323-1324 in the NABRE Bible)

​Images:
1. Image, Jeanie's Father Beneath the Cross, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can find this image and a large variety of icons at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/312-jeanies-father-beneath-the-cross-william-hart-mcnichols.html
2. Fresco, The Cloud of Witnesses, by Giusto Menabuoi, (1320-1-1391) Dome Fresco, Padua Baptistry, Padua, Italy. 
 3. Painting, The Communion of Saints by Ira Thomas. “Waves of individual persons are united in an embrace for all eternity in Heaven.”
http://www.catholicworldart.com/Communion.html
​4. My photo, walking path in Estes Park, Colorado.
5. My photo, two ducks sitting on a branch.
6. My photo, mountains near Silverthorne, Colorado.

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.