This year the liturgical celebration of the Nativity of Mary falls on a Sunday, and so unfortunately it could pass by unnoticed. Nonetheless, it is important to take every opportunity to reflect upon our Blessed Mother and to learn how to grow in sanctity from her. When he was dying on the cross Jesus gave her to us as our mother (John 19:25-26), but we need to remember that this wonderful mother is also the Queen of Heaven. While much can be said, one aspect to highlight is how ‘authentic’ Mary was throughout her life. Indeed, she was conceived without sin, “full of grace,” so that she could bring Jesus into the world. However, Mary was (and remains) a real person, enduring many cares and struggles, living a long life not knowing at any time what the future would bring, relying completely on God as she pondered so much mystery. Her humility is evident, beginning with her response to the angel at the Annunciation: she humbly said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord.” Mary never wavered from her humility even as her role unfolded, embracing who she was created to be, allowing the Lord to direct her throughout her life. While Mary did not need to grow in holiness since she was already full of grace, she nonetheless demonstrates an important aspect of holiness from which we can learn: to grow in holiness we must embrace who God has created us to be, and then grow in becoming more deeply ourselves in response to His grace. 

Tradition teaches that at the culmination of her earthly service, at the moment of her death, Mary was assumed into heaven, and that after entrance into Heaven, she was crowned by God as Queen of Heaven. However, she has continued to intercede on our behalf as the loving mother that she is. No matter how honored she has been, she has always responded to God freely and authentically.* Mary’s holiness and importance to God’s salvific plan are beyond compare, and in this regard some reflections offered by St. Thérèse of Lisieux as she lay dying are quite appropriate to help us remain grounded in our understanding of Mary and of ourselves.

​St. Thérèse strongly believed it would be doing Mary (and our understanding of her) a disservice if we over-emphasized her Queenship and subsequently neglected her humility and service of God. Of Mary, Thérèse stated that “we should not say unlikely things or things we do not know anything about.” She continued: “For a sermon on Mary… to do me any good, I must see her real life, not her imagined life. I’m sure that her real life was very simple. They show her to us as unapproachable, but they should present her as imitable, bringing out her virtues, saying that she lived by faith just like ourselves, giving proofs of this from the Gospel….” She continued, “We know very well that the Blessed Virgin is Queen of heaven and earth, but she is more Mother than Queen; and we should not say … that she surpasses all the saints in glory just as the sun at this rising makes the stars disappear from sight. My God! How strange that would be! A mother who makes her children’s glory vanish!”** It is no surprise that Thérèse, the Saint who had her “Little Way” (a way of humility and love), would emphasize the humility of Mary to aid our understanding of her. And how insightful to recognize that a mother would never want to overshadow her own children! Indeed, Mary’s humility was evident from the very beginning as she fully realized who God made her to be and the nature of her call, maintaining her humility throughout the course of her life. Yes, Mary is Queen of Heaven and her role in our salvation must never be understated, but we must also remember, as does our Mother, that being Queen of Heaven is but a role, and therefore it does not change her nature, but rather it brings to our attention what is most important. Mary, humble and lowly in life, remains humble and lowly, even with a crown. This is all the more reason we can call upon her with confidence.

​I hope that we can take away from this reflection that we are made to be someone special by God. That is, we each have a unique personality and soul, accompanied by a call to holiness. To grow in holiness is to grow in authenticity, that is, to become more fully ourselves. Whatever it is we do is merely our role, a means to an end, (building the Kingdom with the desire to be with God forever); how we live it is what is most important. To be holy is a process which involves letting God reveal to us exactly who we are and who we are to Him. Additionally, we can learn from Mary, who though Queen, never directs us to herself possessively, but always humbly directs us to her Son. As we become more in touch with who we are created and called to be, we, too, will grow in humility, seeing more clearly that we must rely completely on God, the Giver of the gifts that aid us in directing others to Jesus according to our call. Each and every member in the Body of Christ is called similarly. How remarkable it is that in sharing this call we are really no different than our mother, the humble mother of Jesus Christ our Lord, who is also the Queen of Heaven. My heart tells me that she would be the first one to tell us so. 

May we grow in love for our Mother Mary! May the humble Mother and Queen of Heaven inspire us to holiness! And may we be like Mary, who though a Queen, always humbly directs people to her Son Jesus! Let us meet in the hearts of Jesus and Mary! Peace! 

                       ©Michele L. Catanese

Notes:
* Mary was conceived without original sin so that she could be a fitting vessel for the Son she would freely assent to bearing, and as such, she was full of grace, as the angel stated; therefore she was incapable of sinning throughout her earthly life. This does not mean that she did not have sufferings and struggles. On the contrary, she suffered greatly in the depths of her heart. Because of what she did in accepting the difficult role of bearing the Son of God and all that came with it, Mary also received the honor of being assumed into Heaven upon her death. In other words, at the moment of death her body and soul were reunited. Tradition also has it that when she ‘arrived’ at the throne of God, Mary was crowned as Queen of Heaven, not deified, but honored since she is “blessed among all women,” having been tasked to undo the sin of Eve and therefore serve the Lord in a singular way. I am not intending to diminish how important it is that Mary is Queen of Heaven, only to help us keep in mind that as one who lived on this earth as we do, she was fully woman and lived most fully who she was called to be. That is what I mean by 'authentic.'
** This long quote comes from a book referred to as “The Yellow Notebook.” As she lay dying in the last year of her life, too weak to write, the words St. Thérèse spoke were written down by an attending sister. I have a copy of the book which contains her Yellow Notebook (which is literally falling apart), but which is now quite difficult to find: St. Therese of Lisieux: Her Last Conversations, translated from the original manuscripts by John Clarke, O.C.D.  Finally, at the end of her remarks quoted above, St. Thérèse added something so beautiful, I must share it: “What the Blessed Virgin has more than we have is the privilege of not being able to sin, she was exempt from the stain of original sin; but on the other hand, she wasn’t as fortunate as we are, since she didn’t have a Blessed Virgin to love. And this is one more sweetness for us and one less sweetness for her!” Page 162, ibid.
Images:
1. My photo; beautiful bougainvillea in modern Nazareth, Israel.
2. My photo; statue of Mary as Queen of Heaven with the child Jesus, also crowned. This setting was in a cupola of a church in the Holy Land, Israel. (Note the large scapular in her right hand.)
3. My photo; I took this photo of an original photo of St. Thérèse of Lisieux which was displayed as part of an exhibition in Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris. I believe this original was taken on the day she pronounced her final vows in the Carmel of Lisieux. She took the name "Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face." (My photo was taken in 2013, so it was prior to the fire.)
4. Painting; Monet's Garden, by Claude Monet. I had to include flowers in a garden since St. Thérèse called herself "a little flower in the garden of the Lord;" this is why we often refer to her as "The Little Flower." It also fits with our common call as members of the Body of Christ; we are all flowers in His garden.
5. Icon; Mother of God Asking for Humility, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. Should you wish, you can purchase a copy of this icon in one of many various mediums by going to https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mother-of-god-asking-for-humility-143-william-hart-mcnichols.html
​Remember, I do not get any remuneration for endorsing Fr. Bill's work. However I do get the joy of being able to share such beautiful iconography and drawings with all of you. 

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. 

Inspired by some uplifting events, a line from a poem has been resonating in my mind lately. The first event was the National Eucharistic Congress. While I was not in attendance, the articles and videos were awe and gratitude inspiring. The second was a trip to Glacier National Park in northern Montana. The scenery was so spectacular that even seeing the rocks at the bottom of a clear-watered lake was enough to make me gasp at the beauty of it all. The verse which arose, or perhaps its source, may come as a surprise: it is the twice repeated line, “Ah, the sheer grace!” from the poem which begins the “Dark Night of the Soul” by St. John of the Cross.* We often think of grace as limited to events that take place within us, such as an inspiration to do an act of kindness or to discern a movement of our soul toward God, or perhaps as that which comes from a sacrament or in answer to a prayer. All of that is indeed grace. However, all action of God is grace, and this includes the creative act; but grace also includes our response to seeing the beauty of creation, such as a glacier-carved valley, a roaring waterfall, or a craggy mountain, (or for that matter, rocks at the bottom of a clear lake). Specifically, God’s action of grace includes the movement within our heart to ‘wonder and awe,’ (one of the graces received at Confirmation), and to the gratitude that arises from experiencing something that is greater than we are and which gives witness to God.

​St. John of the Cross began all of his books on mystical prayer with a poem composed as a response to his prayer experience, spending the rest of those books unpacking the verses. The poetry, like many great works of art (in any medium) is an attempt to express the inexpressible. Therefore, expounding on the poem was meant to teach about the different, more intense levels of prayer that are attainable especially for those who spend time developing such a relationship with God. He makes it clear, however, that our efforts only take us so far; the movement deeper is a gift from God, that is, sheer grace. The poem that begins “The Dark Night of the Soul” is quite short and describes mystical union with God. St. John elaborates on the two periods of darkness that the soul must experience on the journey deeper in order to get to that point. A note of caution, however, and one which St. John makes quite vehemently and at great length, is about trying to discern these spiritual dark nights oneself: no one can self-direct, and thus, a good (trained and experienced) spiritual director is imperative to discerning whether the directee is in fact entering into a dark night. ** No matter, all of us can appreciate and reflect upon the beautiful poem and the explanatory words of St. John of the Cross, and allow God’s grace to draw us deeper into the "sheer grace." 

All that God gives is gift, so anything that moves us to a quickening of the heart, any visceral response to beauty, is a movement of grace within our souls. This is especially so when in the presence of God’s mercy, love, and beauty. Anyone who spends time with God ‘learns’ to be awed. Thus, when we are so moved we can (and perhaps should), echo with St. John of the Cross, “Ah, the sheer grace!” For example, if we look to the Gospels we can find many instances in which the apostles were moved in such a way, (though at first with a lack of understanding.) These were events such as Jesus walking on water, feeding 5000, healing people, raising Lazarus, the Transfiguration (for Peter, James, and John), and of course, the Resurrection. They must have been incredulous with wonder, but especially after Pentecost when they were able to more fully appreciate everything that was the action of God. However, I would like to highlight one specific action of God that we often take for granted and is in fact, sheer grace: God’s forgiveness and mercy. No matter how bad our sins may be, when we ask for grace and forgiveness God offers these gladly. He wants us to know that even our greatest sin should not be a cause of lasting shame, but rather, when presented to God in Reconciliation, it is an opportunity for Him to extend His most sublime love and mercy. Those graces offered can give rise to the virtues of humility and gratitude, and indeed arouse wonder and awe within in us in a similar way as we might respond to seeing a magnificent waterfall or some splendorous work of art. His mercy is a gift even greater than any of these. Ah, the sheer grace!

As we grow in our relationship with God through prayer, whether in adoration or in our daily time spent with the Lord in our own homes, it is good to recognize that grace is all around us and indeed within us. Everything is gift of God; the more time we spend with Him, the more aware of it we become such that our hearts will be repeatedly moved to gratitude, even in the most difficult moments as we realize He is with us. This gives rise to faith, hope, and love which in turn motivates our growth in holiness. Let us look for opportunities in every moment to recognize God’s presence and say with St. John of the Cross, “Ah, the sheer grace!” 

May we desire to grow in graces, especially joy, gratitude, and wonder and awe! May we be able to recognize the movements of God that draw us to Him! And may we be filled with a growing sense of God’s presence, even in the difficult moments in which He is indeed most present! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                 ©Michele L. Catanese

* St. John of the Cross (1542-1591),was  a Carmelite reformer, master spiritual director, and mystic, who wrote a number of books, two of which are meant as parts of the same larger work: the first is The Ascent of Mt. Carmel, and the second is The Dark Night of the Soul. 
** In The Ascent there is an extended passage in which he decries bad spiritual directors who can do much harm, (that is, those who are not knowledgeable about the signs of deepening spiritual life or who are not attuned in the art of spiritual discernment), thus being unable to identify when the directee is being invited to a deeper level of prayer by God or not. Every trained spiritual director should read those chapters at least once a year and it ought to make their knees knock a bit, encouraging a renewed respect for their call and enlivening a deeper humility within them. The Dark Night identifies two distinct movements in prayer, (‘dark night’ experiences) given by the Lord, but which can be distressing if one does not understand what is taking place. Thus, the director must understand that each of the two dark nights, the “dark night of the senses” and the “dark night of the soul” respectively, are periods that do not happen ‘in a vacuum’ and only develop when one is advancing in prayer and ultimately has been moved by God to these depths.
Images:
1. My photo; rocks under the water on the trail to Avalanche Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana
2. Drawing; St. John of the Cross in the Dark Night of the Soul, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can find this (and other drawings and icons) at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/st-john-of-the-cross-in-the-dark-night-of-the-soul-290-william-hart-mcnichols.html
3. Painting; The Transfiguration by Duccio di Buoninsegna (Sienese artist late 13th and early 14th centuries)
4. My photo; moth on a rock. A beautiful creature. Ah, the sheer grace!
5. My photo; Kootenai Waterfall, Kootenai National Forest, Montana.

For those interested, here is the text of the poem, The Dark Night of the Soul. This is my favorite translation, made by Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D., one of the best translators of the works of St. John of the Cross. The poem and both books mentioned above are found in The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross.
www.cordula.ws/poems/darknight.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. 

The first few times I flew in an airplane I was not exactly the bravest of fliers, especially if any turbulence was involved. A major step in alleviating my fears took place on one flight when a pilot in transit seated next to me saw me white-knuckling. He said to focus my attention on what was in front of me and not what was out the window. Although prayer was involved during the turbulence, what he said did work. In the years since then, I have overcome flying fears by adopting the practice of praying at take-off that we might arrive safely at our destination, invoking the angels to surround the plane at all times. Happily, this prayer no longer arises from fear, but rather from faith accompanied by the understanding that we all have a guardian angel which belongs to the larger ‘company’ of angels. Our guardian angel is a spiritual being with whom we should not only be familiar, but with whom we should have a continually developing relationship. Not only that, but we should acknowledge and relate with all the angels.* As part of God’s creation, they have an important function in worship as well as to battle the forces of evil that assail the world, to guide us through life and home to Heaven. 

Ancient Jewish tradition taught that there are nine choirs of angels and that the angels were created by God in the beginning; some chose obedient service to Him and others refused to do so. (My remarks will be limited to the good ones who serve God.) There are numerous passages in the Bible in which they are mentioned, and of these, many are detailed. Of significance are the named archangels that have a major role and are described in some way: Michael, prominent in the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation; Gabriel, prominent in the gospel of Luke; and Raphael, a main figure in the book of Tobit.** There are also important references that appear in the Gospels such as when Jesus cast out demons, (fallen angels), and when He spoke of angels in some of His teaching such as when He said: “See that you despise none of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” (Matthew 18:10). It was later in Church history that St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Gregory elaborated upon these choirs and their unique functions.***

Church teaching is that each person is given a guardian angel at conception and that this angel will accompany us throughout our life. Weekly we affirm this teaching, professing our belief in them every time we say the Nicene Creed: “I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible….” It is important, then, to take the gift of the angels seriously and not neglect our guardian in any way. Remember, there is more to the gift of our guardian angel than only invoking them for protection or guidance. We must also recognize that they love us, and therefore, given their constant friendship and companionship, we need to love them in return. Perhaps we have not thought of loving angels before, so this would be a good time to consider our guardian angel and who that angel is to us. It would also be good to foster an attitude of love toward angels in general, (that is, all of them), who often interact on our behalf quite unseen; they are present and active in the world at all times. Acknowledging the presence of the angels as we approach the Lord in our personal prayer can help in fostering our relationship with them. As St. Ambrose once said, “The angels are part of God’s glory. When He enters our heart, the angels will also enter as they are always with Him.”

I suggest reflection on the role of the angels, and also that we pray specifically to our guardian angel, offering thanks for their constancy and love. It might also be helpful to consider the role of the angels in the lives of the saints, and especially in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary who also had a guardian. (Perhaps many accompanied her once she responded “yes” to the archangel Gabriel, sent as God’s messenger.) This is not a flight of fanciful imagination, but rather, we can consider all of Mary’s life with its joys and sufferings as a result of her role as the mother of Jesus. We can consider how Jesus needed the angels, too, especially after He was tempted in the desert and again during His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. Reflecting or meditating in this way can help our understanding that when we suffer, we are not alone; our angel is by our side to offer companionship, comfort, and love. 

​It is part of our faith and spirituality to be mindful that we are always accompanied by a guardian angel that carries out the will of God: our angel is there to protect us in every way, to guide, be ministers of graces sent by the Holy Spirit, and to carry our prayers to the Father. And it is good to prayerfully address them, especially with words of gratitude. To neglect them would portray a perhaps unintended disposition of ingratitude for such a wonderful gift. Therefore, let us adopt an attitude of heart which fosters growth in friendship with the angels, and especially with the one who is our special friend, our Guardian.

May we acknowledge the presence of our guardian angel with gratitude and love! May we become more aware of the ways in which the angels are active in the Church and in the world! And may we grow in reverence of all that the Lord has created, that which is seen and unseen! Let us meet at prayer in the presence of our angels! Peace!

​                                ©Michele L. Catanese

* Of course, when I say we should have a relationship with all the angels, I mean the ones who serve God, that is, the good ones. The fallen angels (demons) permanently chose to disobey; we want nothing to do with these and should avoid them at all costs.
** References of the archangels in Scripture:
-Michael – Daniel 10:13; Daniel 10:21; Daniel 12:1; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:7-8
-Gabriel – Daniel 8:16; Daniel 9:21; Luke 1:19; Luke 1:26
-Raphael: Almost the entire book of Tobit involves Raphael who does his work in disguise until he reveals himself in chapter 12:15-18
https://ucatholic.com/saints/archangels/
*** Christian teaching also attests to 9 choirs of angels. The 9 are angels, archangels, principalities, thrones, dominations, powers, virtues, cherubim, and seraphim. You can find more on the 9 choirs of angels here: https://www.catholic.org/saints/angels/angelchoir.php

Note: There will not be a post on August 12. If you want something to tide you over until my next post on August 26 you can go to my post from August 10, 2020 which is called Lessons from Mary: www.catanesesd.com/micheles-blog/lessons-from-mary

Images:
1. My photo; taken from the plane window as we were flying into Dubrovnik, Croatia.
2. Icon; Archangels. From left to right: St. Gabriel, St. Michael, St. Raphael. Their identifying symbols: Gabriel is holding a medallion of Mary and Jesus, Michael is standing on a demon he has subdued, and Raphael is standing on a fish, (a reference to his actions in the Book of Tobit).
3. My photo; the Continental Divide at Loveland Pass, Colorado.
4. Icon; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. (Notice the angels surrounding Our Lady and Jesus; He is attentive to the one to His left and Mary looks to the one on her right.) If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this beautiful icon in one of a number of mediums you can find it at fineartamerica.com/featured/our-lady-of-perpetual-help-318-william-hart-mcnichols.html
5. Painting; Flower Carrier by Diego Rivera. This is a wonderful example of the assistance given by a friend. (Or perhaps an angel in disguise?)
6. My photo; taken from the plane window as we were flying over the Alps crossing into Italy. 
​
Note: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time.

This week the National Eucharistic Congress is convening in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is, therefore, a perfect time to reflect anew upon the gift of the Body and Blood of Jesus which is made present in the Eucharist. I daresay that it is easy to take this miraculous, magnificent gift for granted since we are able to partake every day and can easily slip into a kind of routine attitude about it. True, this is in part due to our humanness, but it would be beneficial to spend time returning to what our faith teaches so that we can immerse in this mysterious gift of love. Sadly, there are many Catholics who do not understand, and as a result do not truly believe, that the Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Our response should be to pray that they would open their minds and hearts to understand, but also to evangelize and teach the truth when it becomes evident that an opportunity has arisen. Wherever we are in our spiritual lives, we have the gift of faith which operates even when we do not understand: it is with faith that we can believe and adore.​​* How bread and wine become Eucharist is an absolute mystery, and therefore it is beyond us, but we can look to the Last Supper for insight: Jesus provided His real presence from the moment He blessed, broke, and shared the bread, and it will be so until He returns at the end of time. Thus, we have access to this great gift always.

More evidence that the Eucharistic bread and wine is the true Body and Blood of Jesus is revealed in what took place on the road to Emmaus. After walking all day while their fellow traveler (Jesus) explained the Scriptures concerning the Messiah, the two disciples pressed Him to stay. It was when Jesus blessed, broke, and shared the bread, saying what He said at the Last Supper, that “their eyes were opened and they recognized Him.” However, Jesus immediately disappeared. There is a lot that can be said, but we must not fail to see that when His resurrected body disappeared, Jesus remained with them, fully, visibly present in the bread and wine. (Luke 24:13-35). The two disciples were so filled with joy that they ran all the way back to Jerusalem, even though it had taken them all day to walk to Emmaus. Once in Jerusalem, they declared what had taken place to the amazed, but ‘still-in-hiding,’ apostles. 

Unfortunately, long after the first century participation in the liturgy ‘shifted’ for reasons too long and complicated to explain here. But it came to be that for hundreds of years the laity could only watch the Eucharist being consecrated at Mass. Suffice it to say that when the Church moved into clericalism and there was little education in the faith for the laity, ordinary folks were only able to receive the Eucharist once a year at Easter. Eventually those in convents and monasteries could receive on Sundays and feast days, but not so for the rest of the laity. I am oversimplifying for the sake of brevity, but it wasn’t until the early 20th century that the Eucharist became something Catholics could receive weekly. This was due to the work of St. Pope Pius X who desired reception of Communion to be begun at ‘the age of reason,’ (7 years of age). He also promoted Catholic schools so that children would be taught the faith and therefore, greater understanding of the Eucharist would become part of the lives of Catholics. Given that it is relatively recent that what Jesus intended has been fully restored, we should not take for granted that if we so desire, we can receive this sacrament daily.**

During prayer a desire to see Jesus face to face may arise, a good and holy desire. It is helpful to utilize religious artwork and iconography to this end, but it is most likely that Jesus does not really look like any of these renditions. Jesus probably does not look like Jonathan Roumie either, great as his portrayal is.*** However, Mr. Roumie’s portrayal, as well as any other artistic depiction, can help our faith life quite powerfully; we do need them. But we must also keep in mind that we do see Jesus, that is, the real Jesus, any time we gaze upon the Eucharist. When we consume the Eucharist as Jesus said to do, communing with Him in prayer, it is more deeply intimate than seeing artistic renditions, helpful as they are. Again, the Eucharist provides a far deeper and more profound experience because Jesus really is present and what we see really is our Lord. Through His Real Presence Jesus can heal, console, inspire holiness in word and deed, and most importantly, He always immerses us in His love and mercy. 

During this Eucharistic year we can commit ourselves to renewal (or deepening) of our Eucharistic faith. At every Mass we can meditate on the words said by the priest while he consecrates the bread and wine; and again when he elevates the host and says, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Indeed, we are beholding the Lord Jesus in His glory, present there with all of us. Is there any gift greater than that? Would you want to be anywhere else but in the presence of Jesus? Certainly it is the safest, most beautiful place to be. Nothing compares and nothing can substitute for it. It is simply a foretaste of being with Jesus at the never-ending Heavenly banquet. Alleluia!

May we open our hearts anew to Jesus truly present in the Eucharist! May we offer gratitude and thanksgiving to Jesus for this great gift! And may we be bold and yet compassionate in sharing the truth of this great Sacrament with those who receive it without understanding and to those who are yet unknowing! Let us meet in the Eucharist! Peace!

​                        ©Michele L. Catanese

* Many know what the Eucharist actually is, but some may not simply because they never have been properly catechized; therefore here is a bit of a summary. The ‘how’ is beyond comprehension, but we do know the ‘when, where, what, and why’ of this sublime mystery. When: the simple elements of bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus at the consecration when the priest says the words of institution, having called upon the Father to send the Holy Spirit so the Son can be present. Where: at Mass, at which time we can receive the Eucharist bodily, but we can also worship the Lord during Eucharistic adoration when the consecrated host is made visible in the monstrance. What: the action we call transubstantiation takes place during the Eucharistic prayer at Mass. The elements of bread and wine change in substance into the real Body and Blood of Jesus which means that while it still looks, smells, feels, and tastes like bread and wine, in fact their reality has changed and they are now the Lord. Why: because the Lord loves us. He gave His life so that we might live, and His love is so great that He wants to be truly present with us until He returns at the Second Coming.

** St. Pope Pius X ‘rearranged’ the order of the reception of the sacraments of Confirmation and 1st Holy Communion: at that time Confirmation was received at the age of 7 and 1st Holy Communion took place in one's teens. He felt that Catholics should have access to the Body and Blood of Christ as soon as they could appreciate and understand the reality of the Sacrament. ~ This is also assuming one is a full member of the Catholic Church and is in the proper state to do so. (That is, has not committed mortal sin that is unconfessed.)

*** For those who do not know, Jonathan Roumie portrays Jesus in the series, The Chosen. In my opinion, his portrayal is one of the bestand is quite moving. I must also clarify that I am not suggesting that we should only imagine Jesus as a consecrated host when we are not present before the Eucharist. Seeing Him as a man in our prayer and reflection in the way which inspires us is, in fact, to be encouraged. My intended point is that He is indeed present in the Eucharist and we must never take that for granted.

Images:
1. My photo of a print (original is a painting); Chalice and Host by Jan Davidsz de Heem (1683 or 1684). This print was given to me as a gift; this is a cropped version of my photo.
2. Painting; The Pilgrims of Emmaüs on the Road (Les pèlerins d'Emmaus en chemin) by James Tissot (1886-1894)
3. My photo; the church and convent of St. Teresa of Avila, Avila Spain.
4. Image; The Galilean Jesus, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. To purchase a copy of this image (or any of Fr. Bill's icons) in a variety of mediums, you can find it at  ​https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-galilean-jesus-266-william-hart-mcnichols.html
5. My photo; taken in the highlands of Scotland. This photo reminded me of the spotless Lamb of God. Though the other sheep seems to be looking away, perhaps it is John the Baptist who is telling others, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"
​6. My photo; waterfall in Scotland. The graces of God's mercy and love in the Eucharist are overflowing. 

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.

During a trip to Sicily a few years ago we had the pleasure of touring some old churches in a small town called Ferla. The pastor of four of these churches was quite gracious in his welcome, and our time with him included a visit to a museum he had created which housed vestments, vessels, prayer books and other artifacts, several of which dated back hundreds of years. One of the artifacts was a press for making Eucharistic hosts, a device that resembled a waffle iron. Apparently these presses where heated over a fire, the Eucharistic bread mixture was poured onto it and the top plate was closed, instantly baking the dough into thin hosts which were imprinted with a crucifix. The hosts were ‘sealed’ with the sign of the One which they would actually become when a priest consecrated them at Mass. Recently I remembered this host-baking press while reading a verse from the Song of Songs in the Old Testament: “Set me as a seal on your heart.” (Song 8:6)* It seemed to me that this is something the Lord wants each of His children to hear Him say. Surely to have Jesus imprinted onto our hearts is what every Christian should desire. And that this is so, ought to fill us with gratitude and awe: the Lord of Heaven and Earth wants our hearts to be marked with His seal.

In June we reflected upon the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the month of July continues with a related theme in that this month is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus. Therefore, we can continue our reflection on His Sacred Heart as we pray about the Blood He poured out on the cross. Through this time, however, I suspect that thinking about an invitation from Him to set His seal on our heart has not been something we have considered. Jesus sealed Himself by His wounds, and through His death and resurrection offers us full and eternal life with God. Remember that when we were baptized we were sealed with chrism, an anointing which symbolizes that we are the adopted children of God; that is, through Baptism, our relationship with God changed and we became His in a deeper way. We were sealed with chrism again at our Confirmation; when the Bishop anointed us he said, “Be sealed with the Holy Spirit.”

Being sealed with the Lord on our heart requires a similar process. Our heart is like the bread dough, which means it must continually be worked and prepared. In other words, through the action of prayer and grace we must grow in our ability to discern and then respond to the call of the Lord, seeking to make His will our own. This requires time spent with Him not only in private prayer, but also in keeping our thoughts attuned to Him throughout the day. Like the bread dough, our heart will require kneading and baking; the Lord will smooth out the lumps, but it is in the fire that we are refined. However, this fire is the fire of His love and mercy in which we grow in holiness. Perhaps this is why in artistic renditions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus there are flames depicted atop His heart.** Thus, the imprint we seek on our heart is of the Cross, the flames, and the wounds through which His Precious Blood flowed, and the Blood itself, covering us with His protection as well as His mercy and love. 

Indeed we are sealed with chrism at Baptism and Confirmation, but to grow in a relationship of love with Jesus, we must respond to His desire to set His seal upon our heart. God never forces anything upon us, even His love, so to accept Jesus’ request means first and foremost that we desire to be totally His and allow Him to be at the center of our life. Bearing His seal helps with being ever mindful of His presence and love, living in this knowledge consciously and intentionally. It means that we desire to be purified by His love, aware of our need for His mercy; and it means the desire to do His will, then to actually seek it, to have the grace to actually live it, and to recognize our need for His mercy in the times we fall short. It means that we desire to be made holy because it is the only fitting way to live with His seal upon our hearts. To cultivate this disposition, to live His teaching as the kind of disciples we want to be, involves prayer and study of Scriptures; especially helpful is the Beatitudes and what flows from them in the rest of the Sermon on the Mount which contains everything we need to know about how to pray, how to forgive, and how to live the way of love through actions of humility, selflessness, service, kindness, and generosity. (Matthew 5-7) It means that we live as if the seal Jesus has set upon our hearts is visible to everyone, because in living this way, it actually is. 

Jesus wants to be the center of our lives. He desires our growth in holiness because He loves us in a way that is beyond imagining and therefore wants what is best for us. No matter how paltry we think our efforts are, no matter how small we think our gift is, our love is all we can give Him, and it is the only thing He really wants. Jesus died and rose to be totally ours; let us give Him the gift of our heart, letting Him set His seal upon it, and be totally His. 

May we let the Lord set His seal on our heart! May we grow in love for Jesus responding to Him in gratitude and praise! And may our lives be signs of the power and mercy of God! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                       ©Michele L. Catanese


​* The Song of Songs, sometimes referred to as the Song of Solomon, is not found in every version of the Bible. It belongs to a set of writings referred to as the Apocrypha. Many Christian Bibles omit these books; however they are found in Catholic versions with the additional books contained within the Wisdom Books and Historical Books, as well as a few parable-like stories that appear within the Book of Daniel in the Prophetic Books. In Protestant Bibles the books of the Apocrypha are grouped together and are placed after the end of the New Testament as a kind of addendum. The books of the Apocrypha are Tobit, Judith, Esther, Sirach, Baruch, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Ezra and parts of the Book of Daniel (the Prayer of Azariah and Song of the Three Holy Children, the Story of Bel and the Dragon, the Prayer of Manasseh). You can find an explanation at https://www.bartehrman.com/apocrypha/
** This is how St. Margaret Mary Alacoque described His heart in her visions. You can find good drawings and explanations of the Sacred Heart (and the Immaculate Heart of Mary) here: https://catholic-link.org/sacred-heart-immaculate-infographic/

Images:
1. My photo; iron press for baking Communion hosts. Ferla, Sicily, Italy. You can find a good  description of these implements here: https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/247675
2. Icon; La Sangre de Cristo by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can find it at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/la-sangre-de-cristo-242-william-hart-mcnichols.html
3. My photo; stained glass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
4. Painting; Church at Auvers-sur-Oise by Vincent van Gogh.
5. My photo; sunset over the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Vico Equense, Italy.
6. Stained glass; Amor Dei: Set Me as a Seal on Your Heart; window created by Mike Davies as part of the Danish Seamans' Memorial Window (2002) at Newcastle Cathedral of St. Nicholas, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England; photo by Lawrence, O.P. https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/page98
 
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. 

Many years ago I saw a short, animated film that at the time was somewhat popular to show during days of prayer, especially those for young adults. Released in 1977, Martin the Cobbler was a stop-action 'Claymation' production – (viewed via film projector!) – based on a short story by Leo Tolstoy called Where Love is, There God is Also. Tolstoy’s short story revolved around two New Testament teachings, one from the 1st Letter of John which states that God is Love, hence where love is, God is, and the other from Matthew 25 which contains a challenging passage in which Jesus teaches that “whatever you do for the least of your brothers and sisters, you do for me.” (paraphrase) The delightful film is true to theTolstoy original, delivering a powerful message about the way we are to love, based on the teaching of Jesus. Though written in 1885, the short story (and subsequently, the film) contains an essential message for today since contrary to the teachings of Jesus, our culture vigorously encourages self-centeredness and materialism, attitudes which lead to anxiety, despair, and emptiness, especially since those who ‘adhere to’ these things generally do not have a relationship with God. But for those who believe, choosing to live the gospel message while developing their relationship with God, the opposite is true: there is peace, joy, and fullness of heart because they choose to enter into the mercy of Jesus and therefore know Love. 

Briefly, Martin the Cobbler is about an elderly man who is enveloped by a deepening despair due to the deaths of his wife and only child many years before. One day, a ‘holy man’ left a New Testament for Martin to restore the cover, and later while reading a page he thought, “If the Lord were to come, I would welcome Him.” He fell asleep and heard the Lord’s voice: “Look out in the street tomorrow, because I am coming.” The next day Martin had three different encounters with people in the street, offering each one great kindness, but at the end of the day as he picked up the book again, he wondered why the Lord had not come. Just then, a bright light appeared and a Voice said, “Do you not know me?” Then Martin saw each of the people he had interacted with, all of whom said, “It is I.” Martin’s heart had been transformed through each encounter; having welcomed Jesus whom he now recognized, Martin was filled with joy and new life. 

This little story illuminates the attitude Jesus taught His followers to adopt and the Gospel writers knew to convey. In the Gospels there are numerous stories in which people invited Jesus into their homes offering generous hospitality, and of these, many were ‘sinners and tax collectors’ like Zacchaeus who offered as much as he could. At other times, Jesus would have to teach the true measure of hospitality, such as when he went to the home of his friends Martha and Mary. Martha thought she was hospitable, but she was so busy getting her house together that she became filled with stress and resentment toward Mary rather than welcoming Jesus with her whole heart. There were also those such as the rich Pharisee who invited Jesus to dine, but never offered Him water to wash His feet, then turned to criticize a woman who anointed His feet with oil.* In all of these encounters, Jesus taught what true hospitality is, and also what hospitality is about. 

Hospitality is the offering of an environment of welcome in which the guest is put at ease and is given full attention by the host; the welcome of hospitality offers nourishment sometimes in body, but always in spirit. Hospitality is not concerned with impressing the guest, but rather, it is a gesture from the heart that is sincere regardless of how elaborate or simple it is. Hospitality is about encounter and presence: we enjoy what we share simply because we are present to one another. It is a disposition of heart that is visible regardless of whether one has invited another into their home or whether they have met ‘on the street.’ Those with hospitable hearts recognize Christ in the other person, and revering that reality, open their heart to let Him in. To see Jesus in another person, we cannot be centered on ourselves; and yet when we offer love to another, the wonder of it is that we also we find Jesus within our own heart. This is the entire message of the Good News of Jesus: if we want to find Jesus, live in His love.

One last note: The striking thing about the character of Martin is that in reality he was always open to the Lord; he had simply lost his ‘sight’ because he was blinded by grief. In each of his encounters Martin did that which was most loving and merciful. Thus, his heart had always been good; he just needed to rediscover the love he already possessed. This Tolstoy story, based on the gospel, offers the message of hope that it is never too late to allow Jesus’ mercy and love to transform or revitalize our hearts. It also teaches us to see Jesus in everyone we meet, especially those who are poor (materially or spiritually), the marginalized, and those who we may need to forgive. Finally, it reveals that love and mercy will thaw even the most broken, wounded, and ‘lost’ hearts, especially our own.

May we look out ‘in the street’ to see how and in whom Jesus comes to us each day! May we ask the Lord to give us the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the heart to be hospitable! And may we accept the invitations the Lord provides, knowing that in our response to others we are responding to Him! Let us meet in the merciful, welcoming heart of Jesus! Peace!

                                       ©Michele L. Catanese

* While all the Gospels record instances in which Jesus taught about hospitality, it seems Luke recorded many parables and situations in which this was a main theme of the passage (and we can read just about all of the parables with an eye for welcome and hospitality.) The encounter Jesus has with the Pharisee and the sinful woman is found in Luke 7:36-50. Jesus with Martha and Mary appears in Luke 10:38-42, but it should not come as a surprise that the passage right before this is the parable of the Good Samaritan, which among other things, is about hospitality. The Samaritan has a merciful heart and makes sure the victim of crime is taken somewhere to receive the healing hospitality he needs. (Luke 10:29-37) Luke placed these two passages in that order purposefully. Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus is found in Luke 19: 1-10. I must also mention that the parable offered by Jesus, referred to as the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-37), is about more than a lack of mercy and hospitality; I point it out because Jesus described the rich man as never really seeing Lazarus at all. Hospitality and mercy are about seeing so that we can act with love.
Note: I recommend reading the short story by Leo Tolstoy called Where Love Is, There God Is Also. But for those curious about the 1977 stop action film and who want to hear LeoTolstoy's daughter Anna narrate, Martin the Cobbler is found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5XApXn_ojg  Just be aware that the film quality is grainy and the sound is unsteady, but it is still delightful.

Images:
1. My photo of stained glass; Sacred Heart of Jesus; in the cathedral, St. Josaphat, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
2. Painting; The Kargopol Yard, Russian Winter, by Alexander Alexandrovsky. "This place is a Russian town Kargopol which near to Arkhangelsk. It is located on the Onega river shore."
https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-The-Kargopol-yard-Russian-winter-landscape/770803/4394822/view
3. Icon; St. Martha of Bethany by Fr. William Hart McNichols. This icon can be found at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/st-martha-of-bethany-william-hart-mcnichols.html
4. My photo; enjoying tea, (taken in Hobbiton, in New Zealand; for those who understand Hobbits, this was actually 'Second Breakfast.').
5. My photo; small town in the Alps of Switzerland. 
6. My photo; street in the older section of Stockholm, Sweden.

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 recent Sunday liturgies we heard Scriptures that recounted how the early Church was ‘born’ and what life was like for the first Christians. The Acts of the Apostles delineated how the Apostles went out, first to Jerusalem and then beyond, preaching as Jesus had commissioned them to do. The power of the events of Pentecost was so intense and they were so filled with the Holy Spirit that their willing hearts could not but preach, do works of mercy, perform miraculous healings, and baptize new believers. Because God is love, every work of evangelization and every healing the Apostles performed was a labor of love, empowered by Love. Although they were the leaders, the other members of the community also evangelized and did many works of mercy to share the love of God that had been poured out upon them at their baptism and anointing with the Holy Spirit. Each person, deeply loved by God, was empowered with gifts which enabled an apostolic spirit; that is, the ability to live their Christian faith boldly. 

When reading the Acts (and the Letters that follow) the zeal with which the Apostles did their work is obvious. Likewise, the newly baptized worked to build the community with the same commitment and earnestness. Luke emphasized this by describing how the believers prayed for boldness: “And when they heard it – [words from Peter and John] they lifted their voices together to God and said, ‘…grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.” The power of the Holy Spirit was more than just palpable: the room shook with it. Thus, they freely shared everything they had with one another and also extended their generosity to the poor. (AA 4:23, 29-37) They did everything with boldness, confident in the power of God and filled with Love.

We can describe how the early Christians lived and ministered by saying they did so with apostolic zeal. They were baptized with the same baptism the Apostles had received and were filled with the same Holy Spirit with which the Apostles were filled; but they knew their roles were not to be apostles, but to act according to their call as disciples. Those first Christians knew their ministry was to share what the Apostles taught them, utilizing the power received from the Spirit, missioned in evangelizing and doing works of love. Keep this in mind: we were baptized with the same baptism received by the Apostles and early Christians; we were anointed with the same Holy Spirit as were they, and the gifts we were given are the same gifts they received. Therefore, we ought to call upon them and utilize them with the same apostolic zeal. In short, we have the capability to do this: same baptism, same gifts, same call, same potential for apostolic zeal.

We often forget (or perhaps were never told!) that our task is no different than that of the first disciples. We might think something has changed after so many centuries have passed, as if the power of God has diminished, or is not as active, or is only for the holy few. Not at all! As baptized believers, we are meant to build the Kingdom. That is, having the same gifts with the same power we are called to carry on the work they began, the work which was commissioned by Jesus. How we do it is determined by own individual call and situation in life, and it is something we should continually discern through prayer. One way to reflect upon our Spirit-given capabilities would be to prayerfully read the passages in the Gospels in which Jesus sent out the 12 apostles, and then later the 70 disciples, to preach and work miracles.  We can prayerfully envision ourselves alongside them, imagining what it would be like to do the same works, trusting so fully in the Holy Spirit that they did not hesitate to pray with people for healing and sharing all they knew of Jesus. We can do similarly with the passages in the Acts.* Then we can ask ourselves what holds us back from acting with the same trust and apostolic zeal, or in what ways we can better live our call with similar boldness. 

Imagine what our parishes and communities would be like if every one of the baptized truly lived with the zeal of the Spirit we have been given. Since this isn’t always the case now, we need to encourage our Christian brothers and sisters, helping them understand that having an apostolic spirit is not something that is no longer possible. Rather, we can share our apostolic zeal in acts of love (and in words) to enliven the faith of those who are struggling, just as those early believers went out to their Jewish and Gentile brethren alike. This is how the Church began and it is how we are to continue building up the Kingdom. Every gift counts and has impact: St. Paul wrote that there are many gifts in the One Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12 & 13), so no matter how small we think they may be, our various talents and abilities are meant for the good of all. It is time to renew our apostolic spirit and do the marvelous works of discipleship, sharing the power of the love and mercy of God!

May we trust more deeply in the power of grace given by the Holy Spirit which is present within us! May we claim and act with the spirit of apostolic zeal! And may we boldly live the gospel taught by Jesus! Let us meet in the Spirit of God! Peace!

                       ©Michele L. Catanese

* These are the passages to pray with: Jesus sends out the 12 Apostles: Matthew 10, essentially the entire chapter is an important discourse and contains the commission Jesus gave them; also Mark 6:7-13, and Luke 9:1-2. Jesus sends out the 70 (72 in some translations) is only found in Luke 10:1-23 while none of the other writers recorded it. The description of the early Church is found in the Acts of the Apostles 2:43-47 and 4: 32-37. Also note what is often referred to as the second Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles when Peter was in the house of Cornelius (Acts 10). This outpouring is recorded in AA 10:44-48. It has happened more than once in the history of the Church... and can again. 

Images:
1. My photo; path in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas.
2. Painting; Pentecost, by Sandro Botticelli.
3. Image; Viriditas - Holy Spirit Detail, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can find this at fineartamerica.com/featured/viriditas-holy-spirit-detail-william-hart-mcnichols.html
4. Painting; The Fire Ranger by Frank Johnston. It can be found at http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/canadian/Frank-H-Johnston.html
5. My photo; New Mexico. This little church, San Jan Baptiste, has boarded-up windows. This is a church in need of revival. Let's keep our churches filled with people, light, prayer, and the power of the Holy Spirit!
6. Painting, Chilean Pentecost. On the painting it says: "Envía tu Espirito Señor Y Renueva La Faz de la Tierra" ("Send your Spirit Lord and Renew the Face of the Earth").

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. 

Every great saint had devotion to Mary, but one of the stories which I find impressive is that of St. John Damascene, (d. 749). It is said that during the time of those who sought to destroy icons (iconoclast heresy) the iconoclast emperor betrayed him to the enemy, a caliph who subsequently cut off one of John’s hands as punishment. That night John prayed before an icon of Mary and his hand was miraculously restored. In thanksgiving he wrote an icon known as the "Three Handed Icon" because in addition to Mary’s two hands he included his own restored hand, giving her the appearance of having three hands.* Regardless of the veracity of this story, what is more important is that we recognize St. John’s devotion to Mary demonstrated by his trust in the power of her intercession during his time of suffering. And is this not what a mother does but be present to her children when they suffer, doing all she can to alleviate the pain and heal the wound? Mary’s motherly heart includes everyone; we do ourselves a disservice if we neglect to turn to her when we are in need. Therefore, it is important that we pay attention to the memorial added to the Church calendar in 2018 that honors Mary as Mother of the Church, (celebrated the Monday after Pentecost).** 

The true devotion to Mary of St. John Damascene is evidenced in his moving and insightful comment about her: “she… has captivated my spirit…day and night I see her in my imagination. It is she, the Mother of Virtue, who gives me eloquence.” The description of Mary as the Mother of Virtue is one which invites reflection. Jesus, the Son of God and son of Mary, is virtue embodied. As His mother, then, Mary can be seen in such a light as well. But we must also remember that her true Spouse is the Holy Spirit, the giver of graces. (At the Annunciation Mary was ‘overshadowed’ by the Spirit to conceive Jesus.) Consequently, all the virtues that flow from the Spirit can also be attained or enhanced through the intercession of Mary. As one immaculately conceived and always willing to follow the will of God, Mary embodied virtue as well; it is to her that St. John Damascene, a renowned speaker, lovingly attributed his gift of eloquence.

Pentecost Sunday, the memorial of Mary as Mother of the Church, and Trinity Sunday (respectively) are celebrations which provide an excellent opportunity to consider the virtues we have received and how well we utilize them. God freely bestows gifts not only because of His love, but because He wants to offer empowerment so we can accomplish the mission of the Church and be protected from the enemy and his minions. We were given the Theological Virtues of faith, hope, and love at Baptism and so it is important to be conscious of these all the time; it would be good to develop the habit of intentionally utilizing them as we go through the day. Every day we face temptations from the world, arising from the many stealthy ways in which the enemy tempts us to doubt our faith, to subtly move away from gospel values bit by bit, to accept the values and norms of anti-Christian society, and then to lose hope about it all. We are tempted to react in worldly ways that are antithetical to love, such as unforgiveness and putting ourselves and our convenience ahead of others. In all this, we can lose the voice of God because we stop listening; it is not because the Holy Spirit stops speaking. Therefore, we need to use the weapons we have been given, to ‘use every arrow in our quiver,’ in order to keep from falling into traps set to weaken and ultimately draw us into apathy and ‘lukewarmness’ and then to fall away altogether.

In addition are the Cardinal Virtues of justice (giving God and others what is rightly due them), prudence (discerning the correct action), temperance (restraint, balance, moderation), and fortitude (remaining steadfast in the Christian life).*** Also mediated by the Holy Spirit, these virtues strengthen our desire and ability to grow as holy disciples of Jesus, and all four are intimately attached to each other. Cultivating the virtue of justice assists us as we live in a culture which places ‘self’ first, often not caring about God or in direct opposition to Christian values; prudence helps in discerning what is the correct way to act; temperance helps in maintaining restraint so that we forgive when hurt and then aids in resisting vengeful responses; fortitude assists in remaining true to gospel values taught by Jesus, particularly the beatitudes. To not get caught up in sinful responses, but rather to grow in holiness and in love of our Lord, we ought to prayerfully reflect upon them, asking the Sprit to help us better utilize all the virtues. 

Mary ‘captivated the spirit’ of St. John Damascene and many other holy men and women. He obviously loved his mother Mary dearly and held her as his model to live the faith courageously and faithfully according to his call. He turned to her in prayer often, no doubt to ask her intercession so that he could stay strong in the face of his foes. Our adversaries are as numerous, many of them invisible, so it would be wise to also turn to Mary our mother to keep us united in resisting evil, in building the Kingdom, and in glorifying God. With the help of the Holy Spirit and with our caring Mother Mary, we are in good hands.

May our spirits and our hearts be captivated by Mary, our mother! May the Holy Spirit reside in our hearts, assisting with the graces and gifts we need! And may we celebrate our Triune God, the giver of all good things, with joy, glorifying Him with our life! Let us meet in the hearts of Jesus and Mary! Peace!

​                                  ©Michele L. Catanese

* Remember, all icons contain rich symbolism and are not meant to be portraits. If you look closely at the icon, titled The Three Handed Mother of God, (see Images below), you will easily see three hands: one hand holds the child Jesus, another points to Him, and another seems to beckon us to her heart. Though we may never know, one wonders which hand represents St. John Damascene’s restored hand. It makes for an interesting meditation.
** The celebration was added to the church calendar in 2018 by Pope Francis. Previous popes have written about this title of Mary as Mother of the Church, most notably Pope Leo XIII, Pope Paul VI, Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. See https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/mary-mother-of-the-church-memorial/
*** You can find more on the Cardinal Virtues here: https://www.corpuschristiphx.org/blog.php?month=201903&id=381720692&cat=&pg=1&title=The+Four+Human+%26+Cardinal+Virtues

Images:
1. Icon; The Three Handed Mother of God by Fr. William Hart McNichols. This icon can be found at fineartamerica.com/featured/the-three-handed-mother-of-god-102-william-hart-mcnichols.html
​2. Oil Painting; The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. (1889)
3. My photo; Our Lady of the Annunciation, Llubljana, Slovenia. If you look closely you can see the Annunciation in the bottom painting and atop it is Mary as Queen of Heaven. It seemed to symbolically say that Mary's virtues carried her to the heights.
4. Illumination; Prudentia, Justitia, Fortitudo, Temperantia (Prudence, Justice, Courage, Temperance), the Four Cardinal Virtues, found in a manuscript. British Museum Library. 
5. Icon; St. John Damascene. For more on this saint: ​www.catholicireland.net/saintoftheday/st-john-of-damascus-675-749-monk-and-defender-of-icons/
6. Icon; The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church; by Fr. William Hart McNichols. This icon can be found at fineartamerica.com/featured/the-blessed-virgin-mary-mother-of-the-church-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. 

A few weeks ago the gospel readings during daily Mass were from the Bread of Life discourse given by Jesus. (John 6:22-66) At the end of His teaching, many followers walked away from Jesus because His words were too difficult for them. They were thrilled when He had multiplied loaves and fishes to feed them (just prior to this discourse), but when they had to trust in who He is and what His words required of them, they could not accept it. They loved having their immediate needs met, but when He challenged them with commitment in the face of mystery, they wanted nothing to do with Him. Upon reflection, I realized that often we are keen to ask God to fill our needs, but when He asks something of us we may not respond quite so readily, and sometimes we ignore Him completely. Of course, we should ask God for help when we need Him, but we should also desire to serve Him and do His will, trusting in that which is perhaps mysterious and unknown at the time. However,  a startling question then arose: 'Would you still love God if He never gave you anything again?' While I know God would never stop giving graces, it is a question worth pondering. It is also something appropriate for the upcoming celebrations of the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost. Tremendous graces were given when the Holy Spirit descended and gave birth to the Church. Therefore, it is important to reflect upon the mystery and power of God’s gifts of love so that we appreciate them and respond with gratitude and joy.

As we approach the Feast of Pentecost we can begin by prayerfully reflecting on the promises concerning the coming of the Holy Spirit that Jesus made to the apostles at the Last Supper. He said that while He must go, He would ask the Father to “give… another Counselor to be with you forever.”(John 14:17) As He promised, Jesus returned to the apostles after His resurrection, was with them for 40 days, and then ascended into Heaven. Right before He ascended Jesus told them to stay in Jerusalem and pray “until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)  As promised, some nine days later the Holy Spirit descended upon them, bringing many spiritual gifts and much joy. Therefore, it would be good to reflect on the magnitude of the gift of the Holy Spirit who remains with us, guiding and empowering us throughout our lives. Who is the Holy Spirit? He is the third Person of the Trinity, the Spirit of Jesus, “another Counselor... the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17) He is the giver of all graces, big and small. Therefore, the gift we have received is nothing less than that of having the Spirit dwell within us (given through our Baptism and fueled by our faith).*

Asking ourselves if we would still love God even if He never gave us anything again is a good way to assess how we value that gift. Remember, in prayerful reflection we can stretch our imagination in order for our truest values and motivations to be brought to light; it also serves to root out our attachments and all that we inadvertently place ahead of God. It can be enlightening to reflect on whether we love God for who He is, (that is, because He is God) or if we place greater value on what He gives when we ask without realizing that this tendency is at play in our hearts. Thus, it is important for us to examine the depth and quality of our love for Him. While we never have to worry about God withholding graces from us, we ought to love Him for who He is, not for what He gives. And this means we need to develop (or continue to develop) a deeper relationship with Him, to spend time with Him in prayer so as to actually know Him and to know His heart; it means developing radical trust in Him and in His promises, especially when things are difficult in our lives. And in spending time getting to know Him, we will discover that His love is real and that it is beyond our imagination. His love is not based on our merits, but rather, it is freely given; He made us for His love and this love is everlasting. **

So while we cannot lose God’s love, we certainly don’t want to take it for granted, either. If we want to grow in perfection, if we truly want to become holy as a response of love to Him, it is important that we reflect upon the question of whether we would still love God if He never gave us anything again or if our love is determined by what we receive from Him. Pentecost is a time of joy in the incredible outpouring of the Holy Spirit which we continue to enjoy every moment of every day. While we often fall short in our appreciation and usage of this gift, the Good News is that God knows our weakness; it is precisely why He sent His Holy Spirit to guide us until “the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20); that is, when Jesus comes again. God loves us so much that He wants nothing more than our complete joy, a joy which is only found in Him. 

May we rejoice in the love of God, the Giver of All Good Gifts! May we grow in our understanding and appreciation of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts! And may we grow in our love for the Lord, coming to know Him and to respond more freely and with greater joy! Let us meet in the joy of the Holy Spirit! Peace!

                          ©Michele L. Catanese

*When Jesus says the world cannot receive the Spirit He is referring to all who accept values that are not those of God, especially those who reject Him and all the forces that seek to thwart God’s Kingdom. In short, everything that leads us away from God is "of the world."
**An excellent example is found in the life of St. Teresa of Avila. She enjoyed frequent times during her prayer in which she had complete union with God along with visions of Heaven. Then one day the experiences stopped and she was thrust into complete dryness in her prayer. God seemed distant and totally inaccessible. After many days and even weeks of tears and begging God to reveal what she had done that had caused Him to withdraw from her, God finally broke through. He told her that He withdrew because she was coming to love the gift more than the Giver of the gift. She was seeking the experiences more than the God who gave them to her. She repented of it and learned an incredible lesson which she passed onto others in her writings. 

Images:
1. Painting; Jesus Teaches the People By the Sea (Jésus enseigne le peuple près de la mer) by James Tissot.
2. Fresco painting; Ascension and Pentecost, by Blessed Fra Angelico.
3. My photo; waterfall in Krka National Park, Croatia.
4. My photo; river in Krka National Park, Croatia. The transparency of the water was truly incredible in this river. The rocks in the foreground of the photo are under the water.
5. 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 at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-holy-spirit-the-lord-the-giver-of-life-the-paraclete-sender-of-peace-093-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. 

One of my favorite aspects of Scripture is that no matter how many times a passage is read, each time some new insight becomes evident. Unfortunately, it is all too easy to ‘tune out’ a little when familiar stories are proclaimed during liturgy every year, missing an important opportunity in the process. During the Easter season we already know about the empty tomb, Mary Magdalene, the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and that some of the apostles were slower than others to believe. But if we listen closely, we can enter into the intimacy of each encounter in a new way. For example, we can be with the Eleven as Jesus said, “Peace be with you” and then ate with them, or we can ponder the experience of Thomas the so-called ‘doubter’​ in the wonder of touching the wounds of Jesus, now risen.​* However, in all the post resurrection passages one person is conspicuously absent: Mary, the Mother of Jesus. She wasn’t mentioned at all, but given her importance to the community, we can safely presume she was there and so perhaps that is why no mention was necessary. 

We must remember that even though Mary was the most important woman in salvation history, she is mentioned very little in the Gospels. Of those passages, Mary is only recorded as speaking on four occasions: with the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation, at the Visitation when she sang the Magnificat, with the child Jesus when He had stayed behind in Jerusalem, and at the wedding at Cana.** We learn the most about Mary from Luke’s Gospel (and the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles), followed by what John provided in his Gospel. But it is likely that the sparse amount of detail on Mary is because the Gospels were intended to reveal Jesus, how He fulfilled the promises of God, His teaching, and the events of His suffering, death, and Resurrection. Being completely devoted to humble service of God, and also intimately attuned to Jesus, Mary’s role has always been to support Jesus in His mission. Her presence throughout His life was no doubt essential to Him, something we can ponder as we consider how we are called to support His mission according to our call. 

We learn much wisdom from Mary, and should seek to imitate her virtues. While her humility and her desire to do God’s will are extremely important, one aspect that we can inadvertently overlook is found within her prayerful pondering: she teaches that listening is often more important than speaking. She was deeply attentive to God throughout her life, seeking Him in prayer especially in the midst of mystery or confusing circumstances. In considering the Annunciation we see that if we are to recognize angels in our midst or recognize the voice of God within our hearts, we have to learn to listen. In our prayer we must be humbly patient, and after greeting the Lord, become silent so that we may hear what He says to us, just as Mary did. It is important to understand that sometimes the encounter is even more intimate if we simply sit together without any words; it is enough to be in God’s presence. Therefore, because Mary was a woman who listened deeply, every recorded word she spoke has great meaning and wisdom, having arisen from a heart steeped in prayer. From her ‘yes’ to the angel through her words at Cana, all she said was filled with the wisdom that comes through prayer. 

A fruitful reflection would be to take each passage in which Mary spoke and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the wisdom that is offered. From the Annunciation we could reflect upon learning to better recognize God’s presence, asking for the grace to learn how to spiritually see and hear. We can ask to better live out God’s will, (His desire for all that is best for us), and then for the graces we need to respond freely, “Be it done to me.” The Visitation can teach us how to ‘magnify the Lord’ in word and deed, to ask for the grace to glorify God as often as possible. From the passage about finding Jesus in the Temple we can pray to more readily find God in our daily lives trusting in Him especially in times of loss, confusion, or when it feels as if He is absent. From the wedding at Cana we can ponder how to let go of whatever keeps us from responding to our call to be disciples. Finally, we can meditate upon what must have taken place for Mary on Easter morning; though unrecorded in Scripture, Mary must have been the first person to whom the Risen Jesus appeared since she is His mother. 

​The Gospel writers had no need to say any more than they did about Mary because what is recorded provides everything we need to know, and in fact, the Church has taught about her based upon their writing, enhanced by what has been handed down in Tradition. To this day Mary continues the ministry begun during her life: she is our Mother, interceding for each of her children and for the world, always pointing to her Son Jesus. What we know of Mary from the Scripture implies that even when there is no mention of her, she was probably there. When she said nothing, she was listening to every word spoken by her Son, pondering everything, glorifying God by her life, and setting an example so that we might learn to do the same. 

May we read and listen attentively to the Scriptures no matter how familiar we think they are! May we learn how to listen to and ponder that which the Lord reveals daily! And may we rejoice in the Risen Lord with our Mother Mary that we might respond as she did, growing in love and mercy! Let us meet in the Heart of the Risen Lord! Alleluia! Peace!

                                                                    ©Michele L. Catanese

Note: There will not be a post on April 29 because I am taking a 'blog holiday,' that is, a rest from writing for a couple of weeks. The next post will be on May 6. See you then!

* The passages to which I am referencing are specifically found in Luke 24:1-35 and John 20: 1-29, but you can also see Matthew 28 and Mark 16. By the way, I described Thomas as the ‘so-called doubter’ because he is often depicted as being very faith-filled throughout the Gospel of John and so I think it is unfair to label him for displaying the very thing, if we are honest, many of us would have done had we been in his situation. Besides, the other resurrection accounts say he was not the only one who struggled. I have great love for Thomas the apostle because of his transparency and for admitting his belief with the declaration, “My Lord and my God!”
** The Annunciation, Luke 1:26-38; The Visitation, Luke 1:46-56; finding Jesus in the Temple, Luke 2:41-52, the wedding at Cana, John 2:1-11.

Images:
1. My photo; Resurrection Cross with Burial Cloth. 
2. My photo; sunset in the Badlands, South Dakota.
3. Icon; Our Lady of Silence by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can find this icon at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/our-lady-of-silence-william-hart-mcnichols.html
4. My photo; Bible.
5. My photo of stained glass: Triumphant Jesus with Mary and Joseph at cathedral in Lugano, Switzerland.
6. Painting; Ave, by Henri Matisse at the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence, France.

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