One of the biggest deceptions we can entertain is the idea that the saints somehow had it easy spiritually and therefore they were able to attain holiness in a way that is nearly impossible for everyone else. If there is anything to be learned from studying the lives of the saints attentively, it is that suffering was often the path upon which they trod, and there is certainly nothing easy about that. It is not that we must suffer in order to attain holiness, but there is a spiritual deepening that takes place when one accepts that path. Jesus did say that if we wanted to be a disciple we had to be ready to take up our cross and follow Him and also that no servant is greater than the Master. He never hid the fact that it would take a lot of work, commitment, and even some suffering, if we wanted to be like Him. We also know that this is not the whole of the experience of being a disciple, although the “enemy of our human nature”* loves to make us think it is. It would be a huge mistake to give in to the temptation to focus so intently on the path of suffering that we lose sight of the joy, peace, and love that also come with discipleship and subsequent growth in holiness. Of course we know that one does not choose to suffer, but we must realize that one does choose to love. And in choosing to love, we choose everything that goes with love, including some suffering which we bear along with the joy. Reflecting upon this is important, especially as we have come to the later part of Lent in which the temptations are greatest to either become complacent in our efforts or to give up on them entirely because we haven’t been as diligent as we had hoped. Therefore, it is time to turn to the very saints we have revered to ask for the assistance needed to remember that when times are roughest, Jesus is closest.

A saint who is helpful in this area is St. Catherine of Siena. She was intimately acquainted with suffering, but bore it readily because she loved Jesus completely. St. Catherine is the patron saint of those who suffer temptations, (as well as having an array of other patronages.) While she valiantly stood her ground against temptations which came from those around her, it was the interior struggles which were the most difficult. Briefly, Catherine was born in 1347 in Siena, Italy, the 24th of 25th children. During her teens her parents repeatedly tried to arrange marriages for her and she refused all their attempts. Her father finally acquiesced to letting her live in seclusion within their home; eventually Catherine realized through her prayer and mystical experiences that she was to go outward to others in service. She joined a group of 3rd Order Dominicans in Siena, and quickly became an outspoken advocate for the poor, organized various ministries, and worked tirelessly among the sick. However, when the Great Papal Schism began, it was she who not only wrote the pope telling him – (not requesting!) – God wanted him back in Rome, but she went to Avignon personally to enact his return. She became a relentless advocate for the pope in Rome during a time of great upheaval and political unrest within the Church. A few years later, she succumbed to a mysterious illness, dying on April 29, 1380 at the age of 33.

​St. Catherine loved Jesus intensely and thus, she was able to follow His call which for her included opting not to marry, (against the initial desires of her parents), serving the destitute and ill as a laywoman, and telling popes what to do: definitely not socially acceptable for women at that time. Because of her intimacy with Jesus she was able to push against those constraints, a stance which was quite challenging. More difficult however, were the great interior sufferings and temptations with which she was assailed. Remember, the “enemy of our human nature” does not want any of us to advance in holiness and so at every opportunity he will try to thwart our progress. During once such time, Catherine was experiencing terrible ‘temptations of the flesh,’ and so she begged Jesus for help, asking: “Where were you when my heart was being tormented by so many temptations?” [His response might startle us.] Jesus replied: “I was in your heart.” Catherine said, “… With all due respect for your majesty, how can I believe that you were living in my heart, when it was full of unclean and devilish thoughts?” Jesus replied, “Those thoughts and temptations: did they gladden your heart, or sadden it? Did they bring you pleasure, or displeasure?” Catherine said, “Great pain, and great displeasure.” Jesus then helped her to see that it was He who affected her displeasure because it was "I who was hiding in the center of your heart.” ** Thus, once again we see that attentiveness to the movements within our heart is how we grow in discernment and wisdom.

The experience of St. Catherine teaches that we can trust Jesus to be in our heart no matter what is going on there. If we are struggling with a weakness or if we have faltered in our Lenten plans, He is still there, loving us rather than being judgmental. It is this love which empowers us to grow in holiness, no matter how imperceptible it may be at the time. When we feel it least is when we need to trust Him the most! Remember, the evil one wants to deceive and so, manipulate us. But if we trust Jesus, who is Truth, we have nothing to fear because He is where we need Him most, when we need Him most. He never abandons us; He is especially near when we are most greatly tempted, even if we have given in to the temptation and have fallen into a particular sinful tendency. The closer we get to God, the more the enemy will try to frustrate our efforts. Therefore we must never give in to believing that we will never advance in holiness, or that we have ‘blown it’ and so 'we must give up,' or that we are so sinful that Jesus is far from us. Nothing could be further from the truth.

St. Catherine also shows us that God can use anyone to initiate bold changes. She was nobody of importance; she did not come from money and had no pedigree, yet she was able to affect great influence during a confusing time within the Church. This was the time of the Avignon Papacy and then the Great Papal Schism in which there were as many as three men simultaneously claiming to be the legitimate pope. Catherine was able to discern the true pope and convince him to get back to Rome lest the Church come apart at the seams. Therefore, Catherine shows how our efforts can affect much more change than we might seem to think. At this time, it would be good to prayerfully discern what we might do to help the Church, the Body of Christ, as a faithful witness to our love for Jesus. We may not be called to ‘go to Rome,’ but through our example we certainly can help those who are faltering in their faith, and we can volunteer in our parishes to help make them safer, more efficient, more welcoming to all as places of love, fellowship, and assistance. If so called, we can offer our insights to our local religious governing bodies through letter writing or participation in various committees and boards. But one thing we can (and should) all do is to pray, because prayer is always the way to proceed. 

If we are to discern, we must work at being attentive to God, to the movements within our hearts, and to those with whom we interact. We must also recognize that our gifts are needed to keep the community of the faithful healthy. During Lent, an effort at increasing prayer is ever important for our spiritual growth, especially in knowing more clearly the depth of God’s love, a love which will then inspire us to move outward to share it with others. Like St. Catherine we do not need wealth or pedigree to move mountains with our faith, but we do need to recognize the temptations which attempt to divert us away from our call to discipleship. When those times happen, we can enter into our own hearts, seeking so we may find Jesus who is indeed there, assuring us of His Love. And even if we do not feel His presence, we need to trust His words to St. Catherine, meant for each and every person of faith: “Who was it… if not I who was hiding in the center of your heart?” 

​May we learn to discern the presence of Jesus so that we might live a courageous life of faith! May our Lenten journey be a time of peace as we confidently rely on Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life! May we remember and truly believe that when times are roughest, Jesus is closest! May we turn to the intercession of St. Catherine of Siena when we are assailed by temptations and interior trials! May we be assured that Jesus is always in our heart in the same way He was always in St. Catherine’s! And may we be bold in our faith, knowing that our discipleship is a gift from God, and therefore is pleasing to Jesus! Let us continue to meet Jesus within our hearts! Peace! 

                ©Michele L. Catanese

Notes: * St. Ignatius of Loyola astutely characterized the devil as “the enemy of our human nature.” I have chosen to use this ‘description’ rather than a name or title, and so it is intentional that it is not capitalized. This is also because I always capitalize pronouns for Jesus so as to make it as clear as possible when I am referring to Him. Thus, I want to make a clear contrast between the one who is God and one who is against God.

Furthermore, the experience of St. Catherine reveals the same lesson which St. Ignatius taught in The Spiritual Exercises, written almost 200 years later. In discerning what comes from God, we look to see whether something moves us toward or away from Him. In the example quoted, Catherine was filled with pain in her struggle with temptations, wondering how she could be so close to Jesus, yet simultaneously be filled with sinful thoughts and desires. It did not seem (to her) that her heart was a fitting place for Jesus to reside when it was filled with such sinfulness. Jesus, however, helped her to see that she would not have felt so badly if not for His presence. He was where she needed Him most: in the midst of her heart. Therefore, she was able to see that it was His Spirit assisting her in resisting the temptations, enabling her to have the strength to choose to move against that which was urging her to take the path away from God. 

** In the February 2019 edition of Magnificat the Meditation of the Day for the 10th was from the preaching of Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap. In it he recounted this exchange between St. Catherine of Siena and Jesus which took place during one of her mystical experiences. 

If you would like more on St. Catherine, go to my Archives to an earlier entry called She Who is Not, dated April 29, 2013. (On the right side of this blog page find Archives and scroll way down to access it.)

The next post will be on April 22.

Images:
1. This is a photo I took while at the Green Sand Beach in Hawaii, mentioned in a recent post. The day we were there was Valentine's Day; seeing that cloud on that particular day added to my joy since it reminded me of God's great love. He is always near, in the center of our heart.

2. St. Catherine of Siena-Guardian of the Papacy, by Fr. William Hart McNichols: This icon wonderfully depicts St. Catherine holding the tiara worn by popes at the time, a sign of their power, her humility, and also her boldness in working to keep the pope in Rome where he belonged. (That is what she told him, by the way: that he belonged in Rome.) You can find this icon, and you can purchase a copy in one of many diverse mediums, at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/st-catherine-of-siena-guardian-of-the-papacy-288-william-hart-mcnichols.html
​
3. Jesus Returning the Cross to St. Catherine of Siena by Crescenzio Gambarelli (1602): This painting is in the Viae Siena (the Chapel of the Vaults) in San Domenico Cathedral, Siena, Italy. I chose it because it seems to symbolize the relationship of Jesus and St. Catherine as she experienced Him mystically. You can find more about this at http://www.viaesiena.it/en/caterina/itinerario/basilica-di-san-domenico/cappella-volte

​4. I took this photo while on a sightseeing submarine off the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii in the bay at Kailua-Kona. I chose this tropical fish, a large Tang which was swimming by, because it symbolizes the point I was making: deceptively, everything looked blue through the window of the sub, but in reality there are more colors that simply were not getting through to our eyes. It is truth, but distorted. That is exactly how the 'enemy' likes to operate!

5. Vincent van Gogh, The Road Menders (1889): This is a close-up of the actual road workers and so it is only a section of the painting. I chose it because it shows men working on different parts of the same project, each doing something that may not be most essential in and of itself, but as a team their efforts are getting the road built efficiently. Their job may be considered lowly, and yet, without them there is no road, no easy travel, no movement. 

6. Behind Every Great Man by Kevin "WAK" Williams: I chose this because it depicts prayer beautifully. It shows the strength which comes through our petition to God for whatever we need. The man, presumably a husband and father, is protecting his family from the falling beam, and the wife is protecting him as he labors. Together, they labor for protection and peace; both are 'moving mountains.' For more on this beautiful and moving work, as well as some information on the artist, go to https://www.blackartdepot.com/products/behind-every-great-man-by-kevin-wak-williams

7. Divine Mercy, painted by Eugeniusz Kazimirowski, (1934): This is the original painting of Jesus as seen in the visions of St. Faustina Kowalska and commissioned by her religious order. It is often referred to by the words of the prayer Jesus taught St. Faustina: "Jesus, I Trust In You." For more, go to ​https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/the-original-image-of-divine-mercy-its-not-where-you-might-think-70393

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 is an excellent time to become more conscious of discerning God’s desires for us. During Lent, we look more deeply into our habits so that we may affect a sort of spiritual tune-up. The aim is to get back on track with our growth in holiness, to try to clean up areas of sin, and to become better disciples. It is also a good time to reflect upon the sacrifices Jesus made for us, done purely out of love and of His desire that we be saved so that we might spend eternity with Him. Therefore, reading and praying with the Passion narratives is an excellent Lenten practice. Our reflection upon what He suffered can help us to consider our own behaviors so that we might see more clearly if we are growing closer to Jesus or if we have been spiritually lazy and are moving away from Him, even if unwittingly. Another way to put this is that we need to examine whether or not we are living in line with God’s will. All people of faith grapple with what that might be, but for many the phrase ‘God’s will’ strikes fear. The saints, and Jesus Himself, teach us that there is never anything to fear when it comes to approaching God or to discovering His will because the desire of God’s heart is always for our best interests, and of course, that we would know His love more clearly.

One of the most discussed concepts in all of spirituality is that of ‘knowing God’s will.’ Even so, many folks think that God’s will means He would have some kind of tyrannical control over us if we acquiesce to Him, that is, that we would suffer some sort of loss of freedom. Many others think that God’s will is some esoteric plan which only the holiest of the holy could ever figure out. These thoughts could not be further from the truth. In Old Testament terms God’s will is that we “do the right, act justly, and walk humbly with our God.” (Micah 6:8) In New Testament terms God’s will is that we “love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and that we love our neighbor as ourselves.” (Matthew 22:37-39) Both are essentially saying the same thing. But how we do those things, in the details of our lives, is left up to us. Life is filled with great complexity, but there are ways to discern the presence of God in order to move closer to Him and thus to grow in holiness. The most important thing to know is that it is not about knowing God’s mind, but rather it is about experiencing His heart and our home within it.

To learn discernment, we must first dispel the root of our fear. The enemy wants us far from God, so he wants us to believe that God will ask something loathsome of us and that it will bring us unhappiness. Of course, this is untrue; fear is not of God, but is an attempt by the evil one at deception. Next, we need to understand that God knows the depths of our hearts. Thus, God would never ask us to do something which is outside of the gifts with which He uniquely endowed us. God loves us more deeply that we could ever fathom, and therefore He does not play guessing games as if to make our lives more difficult. He has provided the Scriptures, especially the Gospels, to help us know how to act; but because He knows where our ultimate happiness lies, God also ‘speaks through’ the people and events of our lives to help in making the choices which ultimately lead us closer to Him. That is, in response to our experiences, we need to become attentive to the movements of our heart which indicate a direction we should go. To identify these movements we can ask ourselves questions such as the following. "What moves me to greater joy? What makes me the most fulfilled? What interests me or draws me? What leads me closer to God?" Our responses, the feelings and attractions we experience, are what we pray with. If they are in line with the gospel and with coming to a greater love for God and therefore, a greater freedom, then we have discerned what God is calling us to do, in other words, His will. Remember, His will is always grounded in our own freedom. We choose freely because that is the nature of His love for us.

An example of a person who learned how to follow God’s call quite vividly is that of Servant of God, Fr. Walter J. Ciszek, S.J. Born in 1904, Walter Ciszek grew up in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, and entered the Jesuits at 18. While a novice he heard about the need for missionaries to Russia. Strongly feeling this was what he was called to do, he asked permission to go. Therefore, he was sent to Rome to study the Byzantine Rite and to learn Russian. After ordination, however, he was sent not to Russia, but rather to Poland. In 1939 when Poland was invaded by the Russians, he ended up on a jammed cattle car in horrific conditions, traveling into the Soviet Union. Once there, he could not tell anyone he was a priest because of the communist regime, a reality which kept him from doing any ministry. He struggled with God’s will for him at this point. But through prayer he learned that “God does not expect men single-handedly to change the world or overthrow all evil or cure all ills. He does expect him, though, to act in these circumstances ordained by His will and His providence. Nor will God’s grace be lacking to help him act.” In other words, Ciszek learned that even if he could not do the ministry to which he was ordained, he could act in love, caring for others, listening to them and sharing in their suffering. Thus, relying on grace, he saw that everything was truly in God’s hands.* 

Unexpectedly, Ciszek was arrested by the Soviets who somehow discovered he was a priest. They sent him to Lubianka, the most dreaded prison in Moscow. For five years he was in solitary confinement in a tiny, nearly windowless room, enduring interrogation and torture, accused of being a Vatican spy. He was then transferred to the gulag system, ending up in Siberia where he somehow survived 15 years of hard labor in the mines, managing to bring the sacraments and to minister to those imprisoned with him. After those years, he was freed from the gulag but forced to remain in Siberia. Abruptly, in 1963 he was taken into government custody, sent back to Moscow, and put on a plane to America: a letter he had written his sister had gotten through and so the government traded Ciszek for some Russian spies. He returned to America where he spent the rest of his life ministering and teaching until his death in 1984. 

Throughout his ordeal Ciszek had many moments of despair, especially at the beginning. But through his prayer and reliance on God he learned to forget about himself and to act as another Christ. He wrote, “God does not ask the impossible of any man. He was not asking more of me, really, than He asks of every man, every Christian, each day of his life. But He was asking only that I learn to see these suffering men around me, these circumstances in the prison, as sent from His hand and ordained by His providence. He was asking me to do something, as another Christ; to forget about self and feeling sorry for myself, and to act in the situation after the example of Christ himself.”* This is a remarkable insight borne of prayer in the midst of unimaginable suffering.

​Like Fr. Ciszek we can learn to do the will of God if we attempt to do everything with a bit more love than we might at first think we can offer. With practice, we can learn to take self out of the middle of that which is being asked, letting God replace it with the graces needed to get through painful or difficult situations. Fr. Ciszek’s example teaches that our very presence is more important than anything we can or cannot do: it is about being present to God in our prayer, opening ourselves to that which comes our way, asking for the grace to act in love, and accepting the path which is before us. If we fail along the way, we can turn to God for help, but what is most important is that we keep trying. Similarly, if all we can do is share our presence with others, be assured that it is the best gift to be offered. We can learn how to be as other Christs, knowing that even the smallest deed done with love is a great gift to God. This is what Fr. Ciszek came to understand. He learned to let go of getting stuck in self-pity and found freedom in embracing the presence of God in the midst of horrific conditions. In this, he became holy, and so too, can we.

May we confidently put ourselves in God’s hands! May we persevere on our Lenten journey that we might come to know, love, and serve God better! May we learn how to discern the will of God so that we might come to greater freedom! May we be inspired by the life of Servant of God Walter Ciszek and turn to him for intercession! May we trust in the love of God and that He will give us the graces needed to be strong in difficulty and suffering! May we bring God’s love to others by forgetting self and trusting that our presence is enough! And may we come to experience God’s heart and our place within it! Let us continue to meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

​                  ©Michele L. Catanese

Notes:
* The quotes are all from He Leadeth Me by Fr. Walter J. Ciszek, S.J. The specific quotes here can be found on pages 48-50. ~ Fr. Ciszek wrote a number of books. The first was called With God in Russia (written with the assistance of Daniel J. Flaherty, S.J.) and was intended as a memoir, written at the behest of his Jesuit superiors. However, about 10 years later he wrote He Leadth Me (again with the help of Fr. Flaherty) and said it was the book he wanted to write in order to say all that he was not able to write earlier. Later he wrote With God in America: The Spiritual Legacy of an Unlikely Jesuit.

For more on the life and experience of Fr. Ciszek here are two short, but excellent biographies: 
http://www.ciszek.org/About_Ciszek.html
http://jesuits.org/news-detail?TN=NEWS-20171013024940

​Images:
1. I chose to use my photo of bluebonnets in the Texas Hill Country because they are a sure sign that Spring is here. Lent happens as winter turns into spring, and so I also think of these flowers as a symbol of new life. They bring joy to the hearts of the many who view them. Viewing a carpet of them in a field is definitely life-giving.  

2. This painting is St. Francis Giving His Cloak to a Poor Man by Giotto. It is the second of the 28 panels in his fresco on the walls of the Upper Church in the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi, Italy. I chose this because St. Francis of Assisi is another outstanding example of someone who made a radical transformation from entitled rich kid to one of the truest disciples of Jesus who ever lived. He learned to become totally selfless in everything he did, even when he had to overcome his fear and utter distaste for lepers and the poor. https://www.wga.hu/html_m/g/giotto/assisi/upper/legend/franc02.html


3. This is another of my photos, taken on the Big Island of Hawaii. These small yellow birds were relatively prevalent, a sight that continued to grab my attention because of their vivid color. I chose them with the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in mind: "Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more important than they?... So do not worry...." (Matthew 6:25-34)

​4. Photo of Fr. Walter J. Ciszek, S.J.: This is the one the Jesuits have used on his prayer card. You can find it at one of the sites listed above.

5. Russian Arctic, East Siberian Coast, n.1, painted by David McEown: I chose this water color because it seemed to convey the bleak Siberian winter. It contains a bit of beauty which is present even in the bleakest places, as seen in the colors which seem to be reflected from sky and snow. 
​http://www.davidmceown.com/northeast-passage

6. Icon, Nuestro Salvador De Las Sandias by Fr. William Hart McNichols: I chose this icon because it conveys a sense of peace and healing. Jesus is holding a symbol of peace which is also a symbol of the life which comes with interior freedom. You can find this icon at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/nuestro-salvador-de-las-sandias-012-william-hart-mcnichols.html

7. This is one of my favorite images of all. It is a sculpture of The Creation of Adam by God which is found in Chartres Cathedral in Chartres, France. It is one of the most tender, and thus consoling, images I have ever seen. It speaks of the love with which God created us: the breath of His breath and the clay fashioned just right so that we might have life as described in Genesis 1 & 2.

Finally, a thank you to the dear friend who inspired this entry: In gratitude that you are such an inspiration to me and to so many others, Fr. Richard. 

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. 

By all appearances the beginning of the season of Lent seems to be rather comforting. Even though we often enter into it not quite sure where we are going concerning our prayer, abstinence, and almsgiving, with that “uh-oh, it’s Lent-what am I going to do?” feeling, we flock to get ashes as if we can hardly wait to begin the process. It is a fascinating phenomenon, observable every year, when people crowd their churches on Ash Wednesday as if it is the most important day of the year. Actually, in a way, it is. The Scriptures tell us, and our Christian faith informs us, that redirecting our lives is necessary since we tend to go a bit off course throughout the year given our imperfection and proneness to sin. We hear phrases such as “return to God with all your heart” and similar exhortations for us to redirect, reconnect, and rebuild areas which may have fallen into decay or have gone slightly astray from the path to holiness we truly desire. Our behavior displays an eagerness to do this, even though we may say the opposite, because deep down we know Lent offers us an opportunity to reflect and then act upon where we have been in our journey, where we are now, and where we hope to be as we do the work of becoming more intentional as disciples of Jesus Christ. Lent is not only about looking at our faults and failures, though it is important to work on these areas; it is also about being drawn more deeply into the depths of God’s love and the response we would like to make to Him. And that is rather comforting.

The beauty of our relationship with God, highlighted in the season of Lent, is most profoundly expressed in the gift of salvation offered through Jesus’ unfathomable act of forgiveness, that is, His suffering, death, and resurrection. With that in mind, something said by Pope Francis during a press conference seems appropriate for reflection as we begin this season. * He said, “God always forgives, human beings sometimes forgive, but when nature is mistreated, she never forgives.” We know the struggle of trying to forgive and we know the burden of being held hostage to a grudge borne by another toward us. From time to time we probably have been the bearer of a grudge, our choice to carry the great weight of our own lack of mercy. Therefore, Lent is a reminder that we can ask God for the graces needed to let go of our burden of unforgiveness or to have the grace to approach the other, difficult as that may be, to ask pardon. And best of all, we can always, always approach God for forgiveness both in our personal prayer and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

But as Pope Francis points out, when it comes to the environment it does not seem to work that way. Perhaps it is because the world is tangible and finite, so it lacks the flexibility built into the formlessness, complexity, mystery, and capacity for life eternal built into our heart and soul. Whatever it is, the fact remains that we are meant to be stewards of our finite world. The first few chapters of the Book of Genesis reaffirm this reality multiple times. First we have Adam and Eve learning that they cannot abuse their relationship with the things of the earth, including each other. They are described as being lovingly made from the clay of the earth, brought to life by the very breath of God. (Genesis 2:7; 21-23). And in both Genesis 1 and 2, the authors describe in great detail how God created the environment (and “saw how good it was!”) for the usage and enjoyment of His first children. After their sin, Adam and Eve may have lost Paradise, but their choice to disobey did not mean they had lost the garden; instead, they now had to take care of it with hard work. The first two covenants, that is, the one with Adam and Eve, and the one with Noah, make it abundantly clear (pun definitely intended) that the environment is a gift to humanity, but that it is also our responsibility to take care of it. Although subsequent covenants did not mention this, each successive covenant is built on the one before, culminating with Jesus who is the embodiment of God’s mercy, compassion, love, and beauty.

A recent experience brought vivid awareness to the Pope's words concerning the environment. My husband and I hiked to a remote area in the Big Island of Hawaii referred to as “The Green Sand Beach.” ** It is called this because the sand is made up of pulverized olivine, (the gemstone also called peridot), one of only four such beaches in the world. It is something we have dreamed of for years, so when we finally arrived on the cliff which overlooks the green sand, a sight one cannot mistake, I was filled with great joy. We were the first people there that morning: the sand was pristine in all its amazing olive-ness, and for a half hour we were alone in that spot. I felt I was in the presence of Love as expressed through the vivid colors of sky, water, and sea. How great is the love of God that He would create such a magnificent place for His people to enjoy!

But the point of describing this, unfortunately, is about something quite different. As thrilling as it was, during our hike we found some trash along the path. Seeing used water bottles, abandoned ‘slippers’ (how Hawaiians refer to flip-flops), and all sorts of non-biodegradable junk, truly saddened me. Additionally, there were groups of people who opted to get to the beach (illegally) in four-wheel drive vehicles, trampling the land roughshod, and creating a fair amount of noise in the process. Though I did not let it ruin our adventure, it was utterly disappointing. Let me be clear: given situations like this worldwide, it is important that as a people we actively reflect upon and change our behaviors. While most of us do not ordinarily think of ourselves as activists, we must understand that all disciples of Christ are, in fact, called to be activists when it comes to issues of respect, dignity, and mercy. We need to acknowledge that as those in a covenant with God we have committed to trying our best to be good stewards in our relationships with others and also as caretakers of the environment which cannot be repaired once we lose it. Respect and mercy should be the attitude of our hearts encompassing everything we do.

​Lent is an opportunity to become more mindful through our acts of sacrifice, that is, our choice to ‘give something up’ for the duration of the season. A suggestion is to perhaps make an effort to simplify so that we might be more conscious of God, less distracted by things, and more attuned to our stewardship. We do not have to go overboard: all we need are small steps because the point is to form new habits (or reform old ones) which will continue after Lent ends. Perhaps we might choose to do without plastic bags and wraps in all forms, (more difficult than it sounds), or to participate in a community project to clean up a neighborhood area. We might be more conscious of our usage of water, or consider that which we possess, cleaning out and donating (rather than throwing away) some of our excess. As we fast and practice abstinence perhaps we might take the money we saved on what we did not eat and buy groceries for donation in a weekly basis, or we can sort through our pantries and bring what may be there in excess to our local church or food pantry. This can help with awareness concerning the wasting of food, part of our overall attitude of caring for the environment. Finally, we should work on cleaning up our ‘inner environment’ as well, asking for graces needed to keep us from gossip and judgmentalism, or any area in which we recognize the need for growth. Perhaps we can use our time differently, deleting a bit from our social media usage and adding it to our prayer in order to become more attuned to God’s mercy and love, which of course is the goal of Lent in the first place. 

We can challenge ourselves to apply the same fervor we put into our effort to get ashes to the entire season of Lent. While it is not required during the week, it would be wonderful to commit to one extra Mass on a weekday, again with the same enthusiasm with which we began the season. After all, more powerful than the ashes, (sacramental reminders of our mortality), are the Word and the Eucharist which are the very presence of God. Lent provides a great opportunity to ask the Lord for the graces we need to grow as stewards of our relationships, the environment, and of the individual gifts He has given. It is an opportune time to work at growing in holiness simply for the love of God. 

May we live the season of Lent as obvious witnesses, ‘marked’ with faith, just as we spent Ash Wednesday marked with ashes! May we spend time assessing our gifts and discovering our excess, so we will be moved to share what we can with those in need! May we have respect for the dignity of others and for the environment, becoming better stewards as  disciples of Jesus Christ! May we find comfort in the presence of God, knowing we can always turn to Him for forgiveness and mercy! And may we share the mercy and love of God with others through our expressions of sacrifice, abstinence, prayer, and almsgiving! Let us continue to meet in the merciful heart of Jesus! Peace!

                                                 ©Michele L. Catanese

Next post: March 25.

Notes:

* A good Lenten reflection on care for the environment might be to read the encyclical written by Pope Francis, Laudato si’ found at http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html

Here is a link to the Pope's statement concerning Lent for this year:
https://aleteia.org/2019/03/05/have-you-read-the-popes-unique-twist-on-lent-this-year-check-it-out/?utm_medium=aleteia_en&utm_campaign=english_page&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR17BV4ZY_YUCPMvnfAITbe7k88U2qtg4-SMi1QHp8oNqihNz2BHErjAZ48#Echobox=1551767569

​** The true name of this area is Papakolea which in Hawaiian means “plover flats,” for the bird species called the golden plover which was prevalent there at one time. The sand is green because hundreds of thousands of years ago the combination of volcanic action and the pounding waves of the Pacific Ocean combined to create this amazing beach. There are only four such beaches in the world, one in each of these places: Guam, Norway, the Galapagos Islands, and the Big Island of Hawaii.

Images:
1. The Church at Auvers-sur-Oise by Vincent van Gogh (1890): While it does not show many people 'flocking' into the church, I loved the simplicity of the woman on the walkway near the front of the church, seeming to indicate that she came from inside. Perhaps she just received her ashes.... You can find a bit more on this painting at https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/artwork/vincent-van-gogh-final-paintings17.htm

2. This is a photo I took on my recent trip to the Big Island of Hawaii, mentioned in the entry. I chose this shot because it captures the vivid colors and beauty which are often seen in our fragile, yet incredible, world.

3. This piece, called Viriditas Triptych, was painted by Fr. William Hart McNichols. It is part of a larger work, Viriditas Finding God In All Things. Obviously it can stand alone, but is also an integral part of the larger work. I chose this triptych because it embodies the beauty of the Earth as a precious creation; in the center we see the Earth surrounded by the love of God and also filled with His presence. It is a gift from God to His beloved children. If you are interested in purchasing this or any other works by Fr. Bill, (they can be purchased in multiple mediums), you can find the triptych at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/viriditas-triptych-william-hart-mcnichols.html

4. & 5. These are my photos of the Green Sand Beach, located near the southernmost part of the Big Island of Hawaii. The first of the pair is what the beach looks like as one approaches from the southern coastline path. The dirt on the path does have a greenish hue to it, but the beach is far below. The second photo is to show how very green the sand truly is. (The 'hand model' is my husband.)

6. Again, this is one of my photos. These are spinner dolphins playing in the bay near where we were staying in Kailua-Kona. I chose this photo for two reasons: first, they represent the sea life which is sadly being effected by the plastics we discard. And second, dolphins are communal animals, that is, their activities are almost always in groups (pods). They are fiercely loyal to one another, and love to play with each other as well as with humans as they were doing at the time of this photo. I cropped the photo, but there were people on paddle boards and in kayaks with whom the dolphins were interacting. 

7. This artistic rendering of ashes seemed an appropriate way to end a post about the start of Lent. Perhaps it is a reminder that we all come from the same 'beginnings' created by God, and it is also a reminder of what Genesis tells us about Adam and Eve being created from the dirt. 

​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 clearest facts of life is that the world is imperfect and that we are imperfect. Indeed, life is a mess, and yet Jesus came to lead us to perfection. This is the Good News: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that everyone who believes… might have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Jesus never said our earthly life would be perfect or that we had to be perfect. He did say that His way brings light, truth, and life because He IS the light, the truth, and the life. Thus, He offers us a pathway to perfection, one that requires us to embrace our imperfections as gifts, because all we have to offer is what we have at hand. Jesus said, “Give and gifts will be given to you; good measure, packed together, shaken down and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.” (Luke 6:38) If we try to visualize this, it appears to be quite a mess: that God’s gifts will be shaken down and overflowing such that they end up in our laps is anything but neat. In other words, even the gifts God gives are given in light of our imperfection and brokenness. His grace is perfect, but He knows the vessels are cracked! Therefore the first thing we learn is that we must accept our brokenness if we are to work with it, and if we desire God to work with it, too. Yes, life is chaotic, but who we are and all our ‘complicatedness’ is the raw material for our holiness. *

The gospels clearly indicate that Jesus wants to heal, and thus to free, those who are struggling with whatever hinders growth in holiness. In order to advance, we have to understand that while the path to holiness leads us to perfection, holiness itself is not perfection. Perfection takes place only after we die and enter into eternal life with Jesus. But until then, it is the path that is important, because the path leads to the destination. Therefore, instead of denying our imperfections and thus being caught in them, we need to accept them as a way to holiness and therefore, our pathway to Heaven. We can embrace our brokenness with humility, just as Jesus embraced becoming fully human while still being fully divine. If He had not ‘stooped low,’ leaving Heaven and entering into our imperfect world, we would not have a way to enter into the perfection of Heaven. We need to remember that the only way God can work in our lives is to work within our brokenness. Everything He does is designed to come to us in the midst of our reality. 

Even the holiest of the Saints, (as if holiness could be quantified), had ‘feet of clay.’ They were as imperfect as anyone else, but the difference is that they became keenly aware of their faults and failings, and in their love for God, sorrow for their sins grew such that they knew they needed God’s constant help to overcome their sinful tendencies. But as they grew in holiness, they often had to contend with those around them who judged them harshly, only seeing what they wanted to see and therefore believing the worst of them, adding insult to the lives of these truly imperfect, but holy, people. A saint who dealt with this treatment was St. Margaret of Cortona, (1247-1297; feast day, February 22). Her life can teach us that judging people without knowing the root of their woundedness simply does nothing positive for anyone: it pigeonholes the one being judged so that they are never viewed as who they truly are, trapping them into a particular ‘role,’ and it fosters closed-mindedness and even hatred in the ones doing the judging. In short, it creates a barrier to the growth of all parties.

St. Margaret of Cortona was born in Laviano, Italy. When Margaret was seven her mother died and her father remarried a woman who subsequently treated Margaret harshly. The result was that while still young, Margaret ran off with a nobleman from a neighboring town. Never married to him, she bore a son, living as his mistress for nine years until he was murdered in 1274. After his death, Margaret had a conversion and publicly confessed her sins. She attempted to return to Laviano, but unwelcomed in her father’s house, she and her son sought refuge with some Franciscans in Cortona. However, even after her conversion Margaret often fell into temptation, having numerous affairs which resulted in feelings of self-loathing and deep remorse. She truly wanted to overcome her tendencies and was finally able to turn her attention outward by caring for the poor. Eventually she began a religious congregation whose ministry was to help the poor and she was also able to found a hospital in Cortona, preaching against vice when she had the opportunity. During this time Margaret also developed a deep intimacy with God through her prayer. But no matter what good she did, gossip and judgment swirled around her until her death. Instead of focusing on her good works, many judged her for her sinful past, as if to doom her to its realm. Therefore, Margaret struggled doubly: not only did she wrestle with strong temptations to sexual impropriety, but also from the sting of false accusations. 

Jesus taught His disciples that mercy and forgiveness are the way to heal people. He did not condone their sins, but rather He offered freedom from the patterns that held them captive. An example of this is found in the gospel passage about the adulterous woman, (John 8:1-11). Jesus offered the woman freedom, but never berated her about the severity of her sinfulness. However, let us note that it was not the woman who sought the healing; she was dragged unwillingly by the Pharisees into the town square where Jesus happened to be. Had he not been there, they would have stoned her to death. But Jesus saw what was going on. He knew the Pharisees were attempting to ‘kill two birds with one stone’ (pardon the pun) by punishing the woman, and in the process, trapping Him. He literally disarmed the Pharisees by saying that the one who was without sin could cast the first stone, and thus the woman was left alone with Him. Remember, she did not ask to see Jesus, nor was she seeking healing or forgiveness. But to her great surprise, instead of condemning her, Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven. Go and sin no more.” This statement must have been shocking to her because no one had ever loved her like this before. Jesus forgave her, but He also offered her the freedom to choose how to respond to this love. Indeed, He had set her free.

We would do well to learn from the lessons of Jesus and the adulterous woman, and from the life of St. Margaret of Cortona, now considered the patron saint of falsely accused people, people ridiculed for their piety, the homeless, reformed prostitutes, the mentally ill, and those prone to sexual temptation (and temptation in general). ** Her experience teaches that the grace of God is more powerful than our sin and that it is more powerful than the accusations of those who judge us according to what they think they know. Margaret also teaches us not to let the weight of our sins, no matter how great, distress us so much that they keep us from God: there is always hope because there is always forgiveness. We can also turn to Margaret for inspiration as we struggle with what others may say about us, but also to ask her help in keeping us from falling into the same sins against others, as well. The grace needed for this is of paramount importance today, as we have greater ways to perpetuate these sins through the usage of social media and the instantaneous way we can make ‘news’ travel. The temptation to give in to this sort of sin gets greater all the time, and so we must resist, remembering that when we are weakest, God is the most powerful. We must pray for the grace of self-control and for the wisdom to learn how to respond in love. The way of the Gospel is always the way of mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and love: the way of Jesus always brings life and light.

It is time to turn our attention toward Lent, remembering that a return to the Lord via adopting His way of mercy and forgiveness is truly at the season’s heart. It would be good for us to accept Jesus’ invitation to greater freedom by receiving His forgiveness and mercy so that we can offer these same gifts to others. And perhaps we will see that our imperfection is actually a gift insofar as it offers us the opportunity to seek God and to grow in humility and love before Him. Let us try to surrender our sinfulness, even if we do so imperfectly, so that we might take to heart Jesus’ words: “Give and gifts will be given to you; good measure, packed together, shaken down and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.” 

​May we learn to embrace our imperfection as a pathway to holiness! May we be strengthened against all behaviors that tear down and destroy, instead choosing those which build up and bring life! May we ask the intercession of St. Margaret of Cortona when we are slandered so that we can respond in love rather than to react with anger! May we be freed from patterns of self-destruction and despair if we fail in our attempts to overcome sin, turning to the mercy and forgiveness of Jesus which is lavishly and freely given! And with the eyes of Jesus may we learn to see others as beloved children of God who are loved sinners just as we are! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace! 

                                         ©Michele L. Catanese

Notes:
* I know ‘complicatedness’ is not a real word. However, ‘complexity’ did not have the impact or precision I sought here. Let’s face it: we are complicated!

** One article I read suggests that St. Margaret suffered from bi-polar disorder. Perhaps her story can assist our understanding of how people might struggle with issues that are beyond their control, encouraging us to have more understanding and compassion. Click here for the article: https://www.catholicireland.net/saintoftheday/st-margaret-of-cortona-1247-97-penitent/

​Next post: March 11.

Images:
1. I took this photo outside of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It is Adams' Falls. I chose it to open this post because it is a somewhat messy waterfall. The water was rushing all over the place, logs were down, and to top it all, this was taken during the mud season. Trust me, it was a mess.

2. This is another of my photos. It was taken at Lost Maples Natural Area, in Texas. I chose it because of the brokenness of the stones in the drying stream bed. As imperfect as this dying stream seems to be, it actually has a beauty of its own. Not only that, but it was part of the path through this wooded area.

3. Again, this is part of a photo I took while in Rome, just outside the basilica of St. John Lateran. I believe that is Moses. I chose it because of his right foot which caught my eye immediately. Moses definitely had feet of clay; he was not perfect, as holy as he was. But it was the stone (once clay?) statue with the big foot which spoke most here. With a bit of whimsy, one could say he is pointing at it.

4. This painting of St. Margaret of Cortona was done by an Italian artist named Vittore Crivelli. (1440-1501). I liked the posture of prayer with which he depicted Margaret, but also one can see the pain of being misunderstood in her face.

5. This icon is called Jesus Christ Holy Forgiveness, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. This icon fits perfectly with the passage about the adulterous woman. The eyes of Jesus truly draw the viewer in with a look of infinite mercy and love. You can find this icon at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/jesus-christ-holy-forgiveness-040-william-hart-mcnichols.html

6. I had to use a painting by Vincent van Gogh here. This one is called Olive Grove (1889). I chose this particular painting because olives must be crushed if we want delicious olive oil for cooking. But my main reason was that van Gogh was one of the most ridiculed artists of his day. He was considered mad, especially after he cut off his own ear. He painted this while in the St. Rèmy asylum, suffering from mental illness. Even while ill and suffering, he painted incredible beauty.

7. This is a close up from a photo I took while at the first Mass of a priest-friend. I wanted to highlight the chalice and the water being added to the wine. Again the grapes had to be crushed to become the wine, which at Mass becomes the Blood of Christ at the consecration by the priest. It was a fitting photo for the end of the post.

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 artist Georgia O’Keeffe once said, “Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven't time, and to see takes time – like to have a friend takes time.” This is especially true in the realm of the spiritual life. To develop a relationship with God means that we have to take the time to do so, and this includes pausing to notice His presence in the little things in our daily lives. God is present at all times; it is in our life of prayer that we learn to recognize how He uniquely reveals Himself in our hearts as well as in the wider world. Another way to put this is that our growth in relationship with God is a series of little epiphanies, those ‘aha’ moments in which we gain a little more clarity about who He is, who we are, and who we are in relationship with Him. In keeping with the theme of keeping Epiphany as a season,* let us reflect upon our growth in the spiritual life as a series of moments offered by God which enable us to see something as if for the first time. And let us realize that it is also a choice we make to accept what God offers so that our awareness might be heightened to recognize more of the tiny miracles in our midst. To see a flower, to experience God in our friendships, takes time for growth and development. But if we do not first see, there is nothing to nurture and nothing to develop. To experience an epiphany we need to be seeking, just as the Magi were seekers who wisely learned to see more deeply.

Interestingly, in our current technologically-oriented society we hear a lot of talk about ‘virtual reality’ and ‘augmented reality.’ We accept these notions without hesitating, and yet when we hear the word ‘miracle’ (or other faith language) we may be tempted to scoff or think about it as something that would never happen to us ‘even if miracles did happen.’ Of course, we know that virtual reality is mostly fantasy; however, it can lend itself to reality, such as in the case of medical teams who may use it to aid in surgical skill. But for most people who use it, the point is to enter a reality which augments the one we are in, or which is alternate to what is truly real, such as in a game. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with this, so long as we do not become addicted to it or use it as a substitute for what is real: if unchecked, virtual reality could become a substitute for actual living and authentic relationships, or it could become an escape from that which we do not want to engage in. If we use it as a tool, or simply for fun, it can help us to see things differently, but there would be danger in lumping all situations of faith and believing in what is unseen, (or not as easily seen), into the same realm along with it.

With this in mind, however, it is important (if not a bit ironic) to note that the entire ministry of Jesus was about augmenting reality, or rather, our perception of it. In fact, the very nature of revelation is to disclose or add to that which we do not readily see; it is about God opening our eyes to the depths of His love. I must repeat the essential distinction: Jesus was not trying to deceive with a false notion of truth, but instead He was opening our eyes to things that we have either lost sight of, or have failed to see in the first place. Everything Jesus said and did was to augment the way we perceive life with God and to help us to see with His eyes of mercy and compassion. The miracles He performed were a way to change the reality of those who were suffering, not simply for alleviation of pain, but so that they would continue to grow in the way they saw God’s hand in their lives and then take that epiphany into the world to affect the lives of others. An example of this was when Jesus encountered a paralytic, a man clearly desiring physical healing; to show that the state of our soul is more important than our physical bodies He said to the man, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” Upon saying this, He was challenged by onlookers for daring to forgive sins; Jesus then healed the man physically, adding to the healing of soul He had previously given. (Matthew 9:2-7) Let us be clear: Jesus intended to heal this man from the start, but as in everything He did, He was also making a point. Surely the healed man had a clearer sense of God’s action in his life. Another example is when Jesus took His closest friends up Mt. Tabor and transfigured before them, allowing them to see Him in an augmented way, (revealing His divinity). Even being mystified at the time by what had happened, they were able to gradually grow in understanding of this event, never seeing Jesus the same way again. And after the His death and resurrection, their eyes were opened in a deeper way, their reality was augmented so that they could look upon others with the eyes of Jesus: everything became a miracle. This new seeing is evident when early in Peter’s ministry he said to a crippled beggar, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you,” healing the man in the name of Jesus. (Acts 3:1-10) Peter clearly understood that faith and love transform our relationships. If we take this to heart, we too can open ourselves to the same gift, transforming our relationship with God and with those we meet. Our love can be healing, changing many lives, including our own.

Rather than to only focus on miracles, (such as those claimed at Lourdes for example), ** our concentration today should be on learning to see the things we sometimes fail to see. There is much beauty in our midst, but because we are not looking for it, or because we are too busy or pre-occupied to notice, we miss the amazing things God does daily. We shouldn’t feel guilty if this is the case; rather we can be as those who experienced the first Epiphany, learning to see a star or a tiny baby as revelations of the love and mercy of God to a world hungering for His presence. And from them, we can learn to be patient with the process, discovering that to truly learn to see, as well as to discern, takes time. But we will also discover that it can become a wondrous experience to learn to see the hand of God in something as simple as a flower and even better, in a friend, (including the stranger, who is simply a friend we have not yet gotten to know.)

Opening ourselves to an epiphany is about letting God transform our hearts and minds to see and hear differently. It is about allowing our awareness to be heightened, or rather, to be transfigured, accepting that it is a process; subtle changes will take place in our vision, so that in an entirely new way we begin to recognize God’s presence within, as well as in others. This process transforms the way we perceive the world, not in a way which denies sin and the suffering which is present, but the temptation to be defeated by that very suffering is diminished, whether it is our own suffering or that which is in the world. Therefore, if we desire to continue our journey in light of Epiphany, we need to make it a daily habit to take the opportunity to see a flower or something seemingly ordinary and let it be transformed by the light of God. We need to allow ourselves the time to nurture our friendships, not simply waiting for the other to do all the work, but to make it a priority to take some time to enjoy the presence of the other, to listen and savor the moments spent together, and to see the presence of God at the heart of the relationship.  

As Georgia O’Keeffe implied, we must make it a priority to take the time to develop the ability to see and appreciate the small things, to allow relationships to grow and to flourish, especially the one we have with God. If we are to nurture relationships through our love, we need to develop the eyes to see beauty, even if it is only raw potential, and thus to see others the way Jesus sees. We will find that if we do, our hearts will not only be filled with joy, but also with gratitude for such small, yet priceless, gifts. This is the vision of the ‘season’ of Epiphany, to learn to see with His eyes, to love with His heart, and to welcome with His embrace. We can learn to see, if we but ask.

May we continue to seek whatever epiphany the Lord is offering! May we make it a habit to spend time with the Lord in order to learn to recognize His presence more clearly! May we allow Jesus to open our eyes, to augment our perception of the reality of His love! May we learn to see the presence of God in the beauty of creation, and especially in the heart of a friend! May the Lord help us to overcome the temptation to be defeated by suffering and the effects of sin, that we might become stronger in our faith and perseverance in times of trouble! And may we see with the eyes of Jesus, expanding our reach outward to others in mercy and love! Let us continue to meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

​                                               ©Michele L. Catanese

Notes: Next post, February 25.

A sad irony is that O’Keeffe’s eyesight failed later in her life. Perhaps the loss enhanced her deep valuing of the gift of seeing. The opening quote is found at https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/georgia_okeeffe_134583

For more on Georgia O’Keeffe go to: https://www.okeeffemuseum.org/about-georgia-okeeffe/

* See my last two blog entries to understand what I mean here. You can find them in the Archives located in the right margin of this page.

** This post was inspired by the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes which is celebrated on February 11. For more on Our Lady of Lourdes, go to https://marypages.com/lourdes-(frankrijk)/

Images:
1. This is a painting by Georgia O'Keeffe called Pansy. It made sense to pick one of her paintings of a flower for the first image. And (full disclosure) my favorite flower is the pansy, so there was no way I was going to lead with anything else! But know that she has many magnificent paintings of landscapes and other subjects, too. You can find more by doing a Google search for Georgia O'Keeffe and then clicking on images on the top of the page.

2. I took this photo while in Ireland a number of years ago. It was taken on the west coast. I chose it because when one is at the seacoast, there is so much to see that glorifies God.

3. This is a painting by James Tissot called The Transfiguration. (1886-96) I chose this particular depiction of the Transfiguration because it captures the apostles as overwhelmed by what they were experiencing. It underscores the idea that it takes time for more complete understanding, whether what we see is 'big' or is something which at first seems not to be extraordinary at all. You can find a bit more at https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/4516

4. I took this photo when on pilgrimage at Lourdes, in France. This is the grotto: the statue was placed at the spot where St. Bernadette saw the Virgin Mary. 

5. Another of my photos, taken in Rockport, Texas: this bird was in a wooded area which is part of a wildlife preserve. I chose this because of the detail one can see in this close up. I had to be very still to get the photo. 

6. The Starry Night is one of Vincent van Gogh's most famous paintings. (1889) I chose this to be in keeping with the theme of the Epiphany. First, the magi followed a star, so symbolically this connects. But I also think that truly seeing stars is something we rarely afford ourselves. It is an easy pleasure to partake in, weather permitting. Go look at some stars! To aid in my last statement, check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA54NBtPKdI&fbclid=IwAR2iSjl3kGrt-Sz2E8mxSROimP11jnj5jcnC8YT_vPfr_5ZIFTQjX9PP2r0www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA54NBtPKdI&fbclid=IwAR2iSjl3kGrt-Sz2E8mxSROimP11jnj5jcnC8YT_vPfr_5ZIFTQjX9PP2r0

Heartfelt thanks to a friend, Joe OHaire, for sharing this video with me and then encouraging me to share it in this piece. 

​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 time between the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of Lent can feel a bit awkward. Ordinary Time began with the Baptism of Jesus, but we know it will be interrupted by a rather lengthy set of seasons, not resuming again until well into June. It would be a mistake to approach these weeks as simply a connector between seasons. Instead let’s consider this time as an extension of Epiphany, as in times of old when Epiphany was actually considered a season. In that light, we can reflect upon the leadership of the Magi and the symbolism of the gifts they gave which coincide with the three facets of our baptismal covenant, a reminder of our call: we are baptized as priest (frankincense), prophet (myrrh), and king (gold). To be priest refers to our membership in the common priesthood and so it is about being witnesses to our faith through prayer and service. We have looked at prophetic living in depth this past year, but suffice it to say that it is about humbly, yet boldly proclaiming the faith even if it is contrary to popular culture. To be king refers to our leadership as just and merciful in our use of whatever power we have; we set an example by living what we profess. Truly, our kingly role is one we do not often consider since kingship is a foreign concept to us. But if we look to the Scriptures we can see that there are many kinds of kings, not all involving a crown. Jesus taught that true kingship is wrapped in love, not as mere sentimentality, but as the foundation of everything we do. This bold love is our call as His disciples: leading through service.

The Old Testament is replete with stories of kings. There are two sets of books which are totally dedicated to their reigns: the aptly named 1 and 2 Kings, and also 1 and 2 Chronicles. The saga of kings in Israel actually begins with Saul in 1 Samuel and ends with the Exile hundreds of years later. Additional insights into some of the kings permeate the prophetic books as well. As expected, there were good kings and some horrifically evil ones. The greatest of these men, albeit not perfect by any means, was King David. At the end of his life David spoke of what God said to him about his kingship, and thus of God’s description of good leadership: “Of me the rock of Israel said: He that rules over men in justice, that rules with the fear of God, is like the morning light at sunrise on a cloudless morning, making the greensward sparkle after rain.” (2 Samuel 23:3-4; ‘Greensward’ is the green, grassy turf.)* In other words, a kingly leader is a person whose heart is filled with justice, but always in context of the deepest respect and relationship with God. This leader is a person of prayer; and it the result of that prayer, of coming to know and love God better, of disposing oneself wholly to God in humility and love, that this person is of great beauty to God. This is a person who stands out from among the rest. 

​In the New Testament we see that leadership is completely bound in mercy, compassion, and love, but that the love Jesus preached was incredibly challenging. He said: “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” (John 13:34) Jesus wanted us to love the way He loves, something that seems daunting since we know He is God and therefore He loves perfectly; we are imperfect and cannot love in this way. However, Jesus is not expecting perfection from us, but rather that our intentions are always formed from the perspective of the best interests of the other. Love is about action and heroism, and it is about humility and selflessness; love is about living in imitation of Jesus, leading others to God for the sheer joy of sharing what we have received. The love Jesus teaches is a thing of beauty, “like the morning light at sunrise on a cloudless morning making the greensward sparkle after rain.”

An example of a good leader was St. John Bosco (1815-88) whose feast day is January 31. He was from a poor family, and unfortunately his father died when he was a small boy. While his mother was saintly, one of his older brothers cruelly beat John when he discussed his desire to become a priest, not wanting him to leave the family. After much prayer, John ran away and after a short time was able to enter a seminary with the help of a priest he had met. John eventually devoted his life to helping boys who did not have fathers, especially after he saw how many were imprisoned for crimes committed due to lack of guidance. As a result John set up schools for poor and fatherless boys, offering education and guidance so that they could lead productive, Godly lives. He also began a religious congregation, the Salesians, so that others could aid in the ministry of teaching, role modeling, and service. St. John Bosco was a great leader, living his vocation as priest, (in the ministerial priesthood) prophet (going against the culture to bring the gospels to those who might never have heard it), and as king, (leading with justice, mercy, and love).

​The kind of love Jesus asks of us clearly involves great effort, but it bears fruit because it is steeped in love. From the way Jesus lived we see that kingly love is about forgiveness, not retaliation. Love is about selflessness; to really love means to set our own ego aside, seeing the other person as equal to ourselves in dignity. Therefore a kingly person never ‘lords it over’ anyone, but sees the other as sharing the same humanity, even if we are vastly different in how we dress, what we look like, how we speak, where we are from, or what our customs and preferences might be. A loving leader is one who does not condone everything the other says or does, however: to be kingly means we model kindness and respect, but we also know when to challenge. From experience we know that leaders, good or bad, influence the accepted behaviors of the people they lead. If we look to Scripture, it was the sinful behaviors of the evil kings which led the people astray because the people began to think, even if unconsciously, “If it is good enough for the king, it must be okay for us, too.” And similarly, when a good king was aligned with the love of God, acting justly, the people responded by living with similar dedication to God. (Of course, I am speaking generally: there are always faithful people in times of sinful leadership, and vice versa. But it cannot be denied that the behavior of a leader does affect the behavior of the populace.)

​If we desire to live up to our baptismal role as kingly, we do not have to become the next political ‘wunderkind,’ spiritual guru, or voice of the people. What we do need is be an example of Christian love and charity in our daily activities. Like Jesus, we are called to truly listen to one another, being present to the one we are with. We are called to discern rather than to jump to conclusions based on what we think we see. A good rule of thumb (based on what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount) is that if we are going to assume anything, it is that things are not always what they seem. Only God knows all that there is to know about a person; there are always hidden circumstances of which we know nothing. Therefore, a kingly leader knows not to judge another based on what they see or hear. As a result, a kingly leader is one who is filled with the joy of accepting God’s wisdom, and is filled with gratitude.  

Living our call to be kingly does not mean we will be impervious to suffering, but rather it means that we turn to God to help us to be the best witness we can be in all of the circumstances of our life. It also means that we become continually more aware of our own sinfulness and shortcomings, such that we learn to have a compassionate heart, realizing that we are no different in our imperfection than those we serve. True to our kingly role, we ‘rule’ only insofar as we become the servant of others, just as Jesus taught His disciples on the night before He died. (John 13:14-15) Thus, our witness will glorify God and lead others to Him. Then perhaps God can say of us, as of David, “[They are] like the morning light at sunrise on a cloudless morning, making the greensward sparkle after rain.”

​May we live in conformity with our baptismal call to be priest, prophet, and king! May we continue to grow in understanding of what it means to be kingly, imitating Jesus, the true King! May we grow in our Epiphany journey, having our own moments of revelation as to God’s desire for us! May we seek the intercession of St. John Bosco that we might open our hearts to others, especially the poor! May our Christian leadership be a thing of beauty, “like the morning light at sunrise on a cloudless morning making the greensward sparkle after rain!” And may we imitate Jesus, making an effort to find quiet time for reflection upon our relationship with the Father as well as the grace to live our call to love! Let us continue to meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace! 

                                                 ©Michele L. Catanese

Notes: Next post will be February 11.

* I like this translation, the NAB, for its poetry. NAB stands for New American Bible and it is the translation before the recent revision. (The newest one is the NABRE.)

Images: 
1. This image was titled Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh, found at the site below. It is a mosaic and is probably in a Greek Orthodox Church. I chose it because it is one of the few images that shows all three magi with their gifts in their hands. If you look closely at most images of the magi, one of them is empty handed, presumably already having delivered his gift. Trust me, I looked at many! http://www.greeknewsonline.com/gold-frankincense-and-myrrh-the-gifts-of-magi-to-christ/

2. This is one of my photos, and while it does not show a green, grassy turf, it does capture the beauty of the dew as after rain. It was taken while on a hike in Lost Maples State Natural Area in Texas.

3. Once again, while this does not depict a cloudless morning at sunrise, it does show the contrast of the sunlight bursting through the clouds after the rain. It was an incredible sight. This was taken at the harbor on Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont.

4. This a photo I took of a mosaic of St. John Bosco at the Salesian church in Turin, Italy, where he ministered and where the school still is thriving. I cropped the original photo to get more of a close up. Here he is seen with a young boy on the viewer's left, and a young man on the viewer's right. The boy is representative of the boys to whom St. John Bosco ministered. The young man, however was a model representing the fine men St. John's pupils grew into. But the fun part is that this model is himself on the road to canonization. That's Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati! 

5. This painting is Jesus Healing a Blind Man by Duccio di Buoninsegno. I chose it to represent the compassion of Jesus. He never judged the people to whom He ministered, but rather, offered mercy and love.

6. This is an icon by Fr. William Hart McNichols called Christ the King the Bridegroom. I chose it because it features Jesus as a suffering servant king.
It can be found at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/christ-the-king-the-bridegroom-066-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. 
​

January is generally a time when people make resolutions for the new calendar year. However, it almost seems as if there is an expectation that many of us will not be able to keep them. It is sort of a ‘cultural inside joke’ that by the end of January not only will we have been unsuccessful in keeping our resolutions, but that we may have even forgotten we made resolutions in the first place! To truly resolve to do something means that we sincerely desire to improve an aspect of our lives or to gain better habits. In spiritual terms, it means a conversion, a change in behavior which comes about through a bit of hard work on our part, while relying on God’s grace to help us achieve the goal. But in order to know what we could deepen or change, we must first do some reflection, perhaps pondering in a similar way as to that of the Virgin Mary when she held many things in her heart. Although we have come to the end of the Christmas season, it would serve us well to spend some time reflecting upon what we gleaned from it. It would make no sense to have celebrated such a rich season if we were to walk away unchanged and without any new insights into what it means to be disciples of Jesus, members of the family we call the Body of Christ. If that was the case, we will have missed a wonderful opportunity for growth “in wisdom and age and favor before God and others.” (Luke 2:52)

We might wish we could be like Mary and Joseph, pondering everything which happens and then applying to our lives the insights and wisdom we have gained, something we mistakenly think came easily to them. Their lives were actually no quieter than ours, but being totally in love with God, they could not imagine a day without spending time with the One they loved. Indeed, it does take time: even Jesus had to spend many years “growing in wisdom” as we observed on the Feast of the Holy Family. We also heard at the Epiphany that the Magi needed the time spent journeying in order to discern the events which unfolded in Bethlehem, sidestepping the evil desires of Herod while they came to pay homage to the Child. In these feasts a common thread is pondering, waiting, discerning, and then applying what God has revealed in order for growth in "wisdom, age, and favor" (that is, holiness) to take place. Therefore, if we desire to make a change or to grow in holiness, our resolution should be to dedicate ourselves to more prayer time for discerning what we are called to do and how we might go about it; if resolutions are going to be kept, we need to ask God for the graces and insights needed to reach our goal. It always takes a while: wisdom cannot be rushed.

But before we can resolve to grow in this way, we need to be aware of our relationship to Jesus. If we do not know what that is, there is little way we can grow in any kind of wisdom. My suggestion, then, is to make it our top priority to truly be His: if this is the only resolution we make, we are well on the road to growth. Remember that at His baptism (celebrated this past weekend), Jesus went into the river as an unknown figure in Israel. He had lived in obscurity for 30 years as a seemingly ordinary young man, a carpenter from Nazareth. Then He traveled to the Jordan River to be baptized, though He did not need to be cleansed of sin. Rather, He was inaugurating His ministry and teaching us about the relationship we are invited to have with God. No sooner than He emerged from the River, than the voice of the Father was heard saying that He was pleased with Him. Another way to look at this is to see God as a proud Father saying: “This is Jesus: He is mine and I love Him!” Therefore, when we came up from our baptismal waters, we can be sure that the Father said the same thing of us: “This is my beloved: she (he) is mine and I love her (him)!” God has claimed us as His. And so we need to resolve to truly claim Him as ours, too. 

​As we enter into Ordinary Time it is important to be aware of whose we are, but also to keep in mind that each of us belongs to the wider family of the Body of Christ. Therefore, it might be good to devote some of our daily prayer to focusing on others, discerning who we need to pray for, (and then act upon it); simultaneously, we can also pray to grow personally, in some specific way, as a member of this family. We might pray to be more welcoming or to accept the welcome and assistance of another member of the Body of Christ extended to us; or perhaps we might need to accept a specific responsibility, or to reach out to someone in our own sphere of relatives, friends, and acquaintances. It could be that we need to grow in generosity, (inspired by the Magi), or to grow in welcoming the stranger, (inspired by the Holy Family who were not welcomed and consequently had to find a stable for Jesus’ birth). Or it might be to find wonder and awe in simple beauty, such as a flock of sheep, the stars of night, or a tiny baby. Whatever it is, in order to come to new insights or wisdom, spending time in prayer with the insights of the Christmas season can help us to keep alive the spirit of love and welcome which seem to come more easily during the holidays.

If we belong to God and truly acknowledge this, we can see more clearly that He expresses His love in many ways, not the least of which is through our communities, specifically our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus chose 12 apostles along with other men and women, (including His own mother, Mary), who were true disciples. These committed people kept the mission alive and thriving after His death and resurrection. And after they were gone, many other holy ones devoted their lives to the spreading of the kingdom, continuing the work of building up the community of the faithful. These holy women and men continue to teach the lesson that it takes a family, the Christian family, to make this mission effective. Therefore, it is important to ask the Spirit’s help in discerning the call of the Lord to Whom we belong and Who belongs to us, that we might put our prayer into action with our brothers and sisters and for our brothers and sisters.

​If we desire to grow in holiness, and if we want to grow in relationship to Jesus, it is important to enter more fully into the mysteries of our faith through prayer and an effort to study, perhaps by immersing ourselves in a chapter of the gospels each day, some spiritual reading, or by listening to a podcast about the faith.* We can do as the secular world implies, but in a spiritual way; that is, we can ‘lose weight’ by letting go of the stuff that we drag along with us daily, the baggage of unforgiveness and old wounds which keep us from reaching out to others in love and mercy. Perhaps ‘losing weight’ also means sharing our goods, letting go of the ‘bloat’ of things we have accumulated which we do not use and do not need. We can resolve to put our reflection into action, taking to heart the example of the Holy Family and the figures of the Christmas season, all of whom needed one another to bring Jesus into the world and then to keep Jesus safe when He was young and vulnerable. We can align our efforts with the gospels, something that does not require any special gifts, by teaching it to our children through our example as well as our words. We could get involved in a parish ministry, and we could dedicate ourselves to reaching out to others in small ways as opportunities to do so arise. 

​To bring Christ into the world and to make His message known takes a family, and we, the Body of Christ, are that family. The best way we can grow in ‘wisdom and favor before God,’ (holiness), is to first understand our identity as belonging to the Father who loves us in the same way as He loves His Son. Then we can work together to bring the peace, mercy, and love of God into the world, offering this same understanding to those who do not yet know of it. If the joy, goodwill, and wonder of the Christmas season did not move us in some way, then perhaps now is the time to return to the mysteries, pondering with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, so that we might live as members of the Holy Family, in unity with one another, and in gratitude and love for God. 

May we be inspired by Mary and Joseph to the prayer of reflection, savoring and pondering the insights received during the Christmas season! May we have the patience and courage of the Holy Family and the Magi to stay with that which is beyond our understanding and then to trust God’s prompting! May we recognize in the words of the Father at Jesus' baptism, that we, too, are His beloved! May we join with our brothers and sisters as one family in Christ working together to build the Kingdom! And may we truly carry the faith, good will, and joy we experienced at the coming of Jesus into the rest of the year! Let us continue to meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                                           ©Michele L. Catanese

​Notes: The next post will be January 28.

​* A suggestion is Word on Fire. Bishop Robert Barron has many podcasts that one can choose from. There are a few others who are also excellent who are also part of the Word on Fire team. http://wordonfireshow.com/ You can also look up some videos they have on YouTube. Here is the home website: https://www.wordonfire.org/

I would also suggest an article I read recently. The author suggests we think of Epiphany as a season, the way it was many years ago. I really like that idea, and it inspired some of my reflections in this post. https://aleteia.org/2019/01/08/the-forgotten-season-of-epiphany/?utm_campaign=NL_en&utm_source=daily_newsletter&utm_medium=mail&utm_content=NL_en

Images:
1.This painting is called The Road in Front of St. Simeon Farm in Winter, by Claude Monet. (1867). I chose it because it seemed an apt January scene, symbolic of the beginning of the year, but it also is a peaceful, reflective scene which can be pondered.

2. This is an inset from a work of Bl. Fra Angelico called Adoration of the Magi (1440-60). I chose this because it is hard to tell if the adorer is a shepherd or one of the Magi. That it 'blurs' the class distinction, is wonderful!

3. One of my photos, the Jordan River, Israel: I felt that this nondescript bend in the River, said to be 'the spot' where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, was appropriate. However, even if this was in fact the actual spot, the water is now brown, polluted, and overgrown with reeds; in short it is not very appealing. Yet there were many men and women being immersed here for actual baptism when we were visiting. The faith of those folks, allowing immersion into that now dirty water, was truly amazing!

4. I chose this photo of stars, taken through the Hubble telescope, because it is awe inducing! Perhaps we can resolve to see the beauty around us in some way on a daily basis. The challenge is on! (It is not that difficult once you let yourself really see.)

5. I took this photo of a stained glass window while in Le Mans, France, a number of years ago. I chose it because I love how St Joseph was depicted along with a more modern family. Personally, (though I do not know for sure) I think it is the Martins, a family which contained three saints, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, her mother St. Zelie Martin, and her father St. Louis Martin. If you think it could not be the Martins' because you see two boys along with the five girls, that's because there were two boys in their family, but they died as infants; the artist most likely included them because they truly were members of that holy family. 

6. This icon is called Mary, Mother of Mercy - Dedicated to Pope Francis in the Year of Mercy, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. I chose it because I love the playful child Jesus, who seems to be almost dancing on the globe while blessing the viewer and perhaps the entire world. I see joy in this icon: the child Jesus and Mary seem to be sharing a wonderful moment. You can obtain a copy of this at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mary-mother-of-mercy-dedicated-to-pope-francis-in-this-year-of-mercy-289-william-hart-mcnichols.html

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

​The Feast of the Holy Family is a beautiful celebration, but I must confess that when I was young the choice of the gospel for this day was a bit confusing to me. We celebrate the Nativity of Jesus only days before, beginning the season of Christmas with the baby Jesus finally making an entrance into our crèche displays and celebrations. And then surprisingly, inside of seven days the gospel turns to a twelve year old Jesus! It had not occurred to me that the reason the gospel moves so quickly to the boy Jesus is not because of history or chronology, but it is because it gives us an insight into the relationship between Jesus and His parents, emphasizing the theme of obedience. I daresay that for most of us this theme is not very appealing. On the one hand we enjoy our peaceful scenes with the baby Jesus, and on the other, the word ‘obedience’ makes us cringe: it is not attractive to our culture at all! Our distaste for the concept really is a shame, because obedience stems from love, not from subservience. It is a misplaced focus on self which misleads us. Obedience understood as subservience is about ‘me;’ obedience understood as rooted in love is about the other, in this case, God. Therefore, the Feast of the Holy Family offers a wonderful opportunity to re-direct our understanding about what it means to be obedient to God and to put our focus back where it belongs. As it was with Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, we come to see that obedience brings incredible graces, particularly love, deep peace, and joy.

The biblical concept of obedience is the one which will help us to understand the choices of the Holy Family in response to God. Historically, obedience had been completely understood as keeping the covenant, and keeping the covenant meant accepting the love of God implicitly and then returning it as best as humanly possible. For them, (as for us), this meant that the response was bound to be flawed because humans are imperfect. However, they learned that the best response that can be given is sincerity, and this was what counted most with God: that one’s intention arises from love for Him. The covenant, then, was rightly interpreted as a monumental act of love on God’s part because through it He offered the people guidelines to keep them safe. If we look to Exodus and the Law, we see that the Israelites who accepted it were overcome with joy when it was given. (In Exodus 24:3 the people accepted the covenant and to ratify it, Moses made a sacrifice to God.)* Clearly, the people understood that the Law was meant as an act of love on God’s part because they recognized and accepted that His wisdom was beyond theirs and that His statutes and commandments were ways God was protecting them from all manner of harm. As a result, they viewed the law not as constricting, but rather as freeing. In this light, obedience and wisdom are inextricably connected: the obedient one is the wise one. Another way of putting this is that the obedient one is the holy one.

​Mary is a model of this loving obedience. Her holiness sprang from a love of God so deep that she could not conceive (pun unintended) of doing anything contrary to that love; she knew she was created from Love for Love. So when an angel unexpectedly appeared and told her what God desired in terms of her participation, she agreed humbly. Remember, because true obedience stems from love, one is free at all times and so her free response of utter and complete trust, “May it be done to me according to your word,” was an obedient acquiescence steeped in “love beyond all telling.” (Advent Eucharistic prayer) Furthermore, Mary trusted so completely that she was able to go to the hill country to tend to her pregnant, but aged cousin on nothing more than the angel’s word. Upon her return, she continued to obey by entrusting news of her pregnancy to her betrothed, Joseph, a message that he perceived as coming from an infidelity on her part. Mary’s obedience was such that she was willing to risk Joseph’s understandable rejection of her which would mean she would have been an unwed mother, a crime under the Law. But her obedience, and hence her holiness, meant God’s obedience, too: He adhered to His promise that all would be as He had said.

Joseph was also a man of obedience and love. Remember that from his vantage point, his soon-to-be-wife Mary had left town for about three months, and when she came home she revealed that she was pregnant. He was going to adhere to the Law, but God sent the angel Gabriel back to Nazareth to tell Joseph that Mary’s story was true, and so instead of blindly obeying the Law, he obeyed the Love of God. He took Mary in, quietly married her, and was content to be in the background for the rest of his life.** Joseph’s love for God and for Mary was so great that even when he did not understand, he trusted God’s plan. Nor did he resign himself to obscurity with a shrug and a sigh: rather, he embraced it for the sake of his beloved God, his beloved wife, and his beloved son, Jesus. He understood obedience correctly: it is about the other and not about self.

The gospel for this Feast also contains the theme of obedience as an act of love. At twelve Jesus was still considered a child and as such He was deeply bound to his parents’ instruction and discipline. What we learn is that Jesus, still growing in wisdom and knowledge, thought that in teaching the scholars in the Temple, He was obeying His Father in Heaven. But in staying behind He had caused concern to the ones to whom He had been entrusted, even if His actions were well-intentioned. Remarkably, when Mary told Jesus that He needed to come home, implying that His time for teaching had not yet come, He obeyed her. *** The last two lines of the passage are the most important: “He went down with them…and was obedient to them…. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.” (Luke 2:51-52) Jesus, though fully divine, was also fully human: therefore, growing in wisdom, He recognized the love of His parents as God’s love. 

​We learn from this important feast that obedience is about love and that it brings peace and joy. We learn that when we are obedient to God, we grow in wisdom and therefore, in holiness. Obedience also teaches us that the only way to be with another in love is to be open and listening. That means we must first take this posture with God, something we can develop by spending time with Him in prayer. All we need is a heart which intends to be open and the desire to make a response as we can. It means we develop trust in God, accepting that sometimes obedience means we will not understand what is asked of us. Just as what God asked Mary and Joseph to do was beyond their ability to understand, we will have times when even stretching our farthest will not be enough to comprehend the way of God or the outcome of a situation. But if we desire to grow in obedience we can ask Mary and Joseph to help us so that our response is as sincere and grounded in the love of God as theirs was. Once we become grounded in that love and love becomes our motivation, and once we focus on God and not on self, we will desire to have it no other way. 

On this Feast of the Holy Family we are invited into a deeper love, a deeper holiness, and hence, a deeper peace and joy. As we gather around the crèche let us pray that it is a time of getting inside the experience of Mary and Joseph so that we see the value of obedience as flowing from love and not from subservience or oppression. And if we catch even the smallest glimpse of this truth, we can take it from the crèche out into the world. If we can understand that obedience is of love, and hence it is free, we can offer the freedom of being loved by God to others, too. In our kindness in the face of ugliness, in our mercy in the face of neglect, in our compassion in the face of unforgiveness, and in our selfless acts for others which are sometimes met by ingratitude and selfishness, let us consider that this is how we bring Jesus to others. Our world does not like the concept of obedience because it sees it as oppressive and values a misguided freedom, which at its heart is about license to act however one wants and thus is self-centered. Instead, the message of the Holy Family is that true obedience is about the freedom which comes from the wisdom of God, a free gift of love to which we respond freely. In our offering of self to Jesus this Christmas, we offer a paltry, unrefined, flawed gift, but one which He values more than all the gold, frankincense, and myrrh in the universe. 

May we open our hearts to the wisdom of true obedience! May we find the peace and joy which come from trusting God in the way of Mary and Joseph! May we be filled with the joy of belonging to the Holy Family as members of the Body of Christ! May we be unafraid to offer ourselves as gift to Jesus during this Christmas season! And may we find joy and blessing in our humble worship, as one people around the manger with Mary and Joseph, angels and shepherds, and all manner of wise folk! Peace!

​                                          ©Michele L. Catanese

Notes: Next post on January 14, 2019.
 
* See Deuteronomy 4:32-40 to read about God’s love for His people from the beginning; Deuteronomy 7:12-15 and following also.

** Remember to regard the gospel passages together, as a whole, to get a more complete description from the birth narratives: Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-7.

*** Interestingly, it would be Mary who would indicate later when the time had in fact come for Jesus to begin His ministry. (John 2)

Final Note: The other readings of the Feast of the Holy Family also provide examples of biblical obedience. The 1st reading is about Hannah. The passage is excised from a rich, almost humorous, story: a previously barren Hannah wisely obeys the instruction of the High Priest and is able to bring forth Samuel, a son destined for greatness. (I encourage reading the entire passage: 1 Samuel 1-19.) In the 2nd reading, St. Paul also extols the wisdom of obedience. He writes: “Let the peace of Christ control your hearts….Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly….” (Colossians 3:15, 16) He reminds us that obedience to the Law of Love means that we try to act as Jesus taught. It is not that Paul was unaware that our response would be flawed, but rather that we would try to re-focus our response on God rather than to focus upon ourselves. This obedience once again, is about love, not blind adherence to rules.

Images:
1. The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by Fr. William Hart McNichols: I chose this image of the Holy Family for its simplicity so that it speaks for itself. If you are interested in purchasing a copy in one of many mediums, you can find this image at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-nativity-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-034-william-hart-mcnichols.html.

​2. One of my photos, taken in New Zealand at Larnach Castle in Dunedin (South Island):  I chose this because the leaves seem to be obedient to the laws of nature, stretching toward Heaven in a gesture of praise to God for the very laws which govern them.

3. A painting by Bl. Fra Angelico which depicts the Visitation: I chose this one because I love the presence of the other two women who are witnessing the obedient love and service of Mary to her elder cousin, Elizabeth. (I especially like the one peering around the doorway.)

4. An icon called St. Joseph and the Holy Child by Fr. William Hart McNichols: I liked that this particular icon shows Jesus as an older child, not an infant, and also that part of Joseph's face is obscured, but so too is the face of Jesus. It is as if Jesus is 'absorbing' some of the obscurity of Joseph and making it His for 30 years. (Remember, Jesus was totally hidden until he was 30 years of age.) You can find it at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/st-joseph-and-the-holy-child-239-william-hart-mcnichols.html.
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5. The Child Jesus in the Temple by Duccio di Buoninsegna, (1255/60-1315). One can clearly see Mary and Joseph imploring Him to come home. He is obviously attentive to them, and so He obeyed.

6. I took this photo while hiking down Gornergrat, a mountain just outside Zermatt, Switzerland. Our guide pointed out this chamois, a creature that is a mix of deer and mountain goat. They have horrible eyesight, but they can hear and smell with incredible sensitivity. It is clear that it caught our scent and it can be seen at attention, listening for our movement. I got this quick photo, and therefore could not be picky about the weed in the middle of it since the chamois darted off almost immediately after the shot. As in the text, it stretched to its furthest to get the information it needed and responded immediately.

7. Stained glass of the Holy Family: What is especially attractive in this amazing artwork is how the magi, seen on the right of the piece, are depicted. They do not look at all regal, and in fact, they look rather ordinary, and therefore, more humble than we usually see them portrayed. In fact, they do not look very different from the shepherds on the left side, but given that they are offering gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they are indeed the magi seen as examples of obedient, humble love.

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

When we think about the characteristics which define the season of Advent the first word that perhaps comes to mind is ‘waiting.’ Indeed, it is a time of reflection and patient waiting for the time of fulfillment to be at hand, to paraphrase the evangelist Luke. Unfortunately we live in a culture which does not like to wait for anything, and with all the distractions which abound it can be difficult to be patient until the moment when Christmas arrives. It is actually beneficial for us to enter into the struggle of waiting, sitting in the tension between the pressure to hurry up and the contrasting spiritual virtue of being patient, because in this we can discover insights into the experience of Mary and Joseph who had to wait the normal nine months for their child to be born; or that of the nation which had been waiting for centuries for the Messiah to come. In that light, how difficult can four weeks be? Of course, in the spiritual life, (as in the whole of our lives), we know that we are constantly waiting, and it is in the waiting that we find God. But another important virtue which accompanies the patient waiting of Advent is the humility it takes to do so. To wait is among the most humble things a person can do because it means we are acknowledging that time and eternity are not in our control. Thus Advent becomes a humble season, not just because of the holy ones we contemplate, but it is humble because we are being invited to enter into their ranks. When we wait, we acknowledge our powerlessness and our inability to do anything without the gift of God.

Throughout Advent we hear Scriptures which highlight the process of waiting and which encourage us to be ready for fulfilment at a time we do not know. The prophets express the benefits of waiting as well as the glory of God which will be revealed. It is not just the difficult messages which they bear, but they tell us that God is ready to bring healing, peace, and joy as He comes into the world through His great love. A prophet who always has a large presence throughout Advent is Isaiah. With eloquent prose he describes the Prince of Peace who will come. In his day Isaiah was a powerful figure, a prophet of great renown, and as such he had followers which sometimes included the current king. Therefore, it is his contemporary, and very probably such a follower, to whom we turn as our final guide in prophetic living: the prophet Micah. We know little about this man, except that he came from an obscure, humble village in the foothills of Judea.

​The passage we hear on the fourth Sunday of Advent when our waiting is at its height, is the ultimate description of the humility of this season: “But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah, too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from old….” (Micah 5:1) God chose an insignificant town, so small that the people of Judea could barely identify it, to bring forth the fulfillment of His promise. Bethlehem was the place of origin of David the great king, yet it had become so obscure and his clan so small that no one expected another leader to come forth from that place. Many people in this area were poor, the area was one of the humblest places in the land. Micah, also from an obscure village, truly understood the profound depth of this reality: God, who is supremely glorious, would come to the humblest place among the lowliest people, to make His entry into the world. Micah emphasized this to teach something profound about God: He comes to a humble place because God is humble! Micah must have learned this truth from Isaiah who taught that we are not the only ones who wait. “Yet the Lord is waiting to show you favor, and He rises to pity you; for the Lord is a God of justice: blessed are all who wait for him!” (Isaiah 30:18) The Almighty humbly waits for our readiness and forces nothing upon us. He waited to send His Son; He waited to show the people His mercy and love; He waited to bring them justice from oppression. And so He humbly waits for us.

Micah gave us an important insight when he showed us that greatness and humility are not opposites. Rather, we learn that to be holy means we recognize that greatness is found in humility. He wrote that the Messiah would be like a shepherd and that His greatness would extend to the end of the earth (Micah 5:3). This seems like a contradiction in terms, but Micah knew that it takes a tremendous strength to remain humble when one has power. Power can corrupt unless the mighty one is grounded in a relationship of accountability, trust, and humility. Jesus, though divine, was accountable to the promise made by the Father; in His humanness He had to trust in that same promise, and in humility and vulnerability He came to fulfill it. God the Almighty came as a tiny baby, to an obscure couple in a ‘forgotten’ village. And Micah, reminiscent of the words of Isaiah, tells us: “He shall be peace.” (Micah 5:4)

From Micah, then, we learn an important lesson in prophetic living. We learn that patience and peacefulness, kindness and humility are what make us strong. We learn that to live prophetically we draw our strength from the Humble One, Jesus the Lord for whom we wait. Just as Mary humbly gave herself to the service of the Lord, saying to the angel Gabriel: “May it be it done to me according to your word,” and just as Joseph followed the instructions of the same angel in so much humility that he acquiesced to becoming one of the most obscure saints of all (and thus one of the greatest); just as John the Baptist was able to announce that one was coming who was mightier than himself; just as the shepherds were out in the fields watching their flocks, the humblest of all and yet most open to God; and just as Micah was in the shadow of the great prophet Isaiah, so too are we called to humility, ‘quiet’ service, and peace.

Advent is the humblest time of the year. It is not mere symbolism or even sentimentality which calls us to contemplate the crèches we have in our homes and churches. It is not an exercise in ‘good psychology’ or a giving in to being so tired that we are helpless to do much else other than stare at the scene, (though if that is what it takes, so be it.) Advent teaches us to be like Micah, one who hears the word and speaks it verbatim,* a message of hope, of peace, and of openness to the flow of God’s time. He teaches us to embrace our powerlessness over God’s timing, something which offers grace, not ineffectiveness. He teaches us that to live prophetically we have to slow down, let the silence open our hearts and minds to God’s Word. Prophetic living springs forth from the listening, the discerning, the laying down of our need to do things our way and in our time, and therefore, enables us to allow God to come in His way, at His time, and in the way that is most needed. There is strength in that humility, and thus there is glory: God’s glory. As Micah tells us, “His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth: He shall be peace.” But it is Jesus' disciples, you and I, who will bring His greatness to the world through the strength we have learned from the prophets and from His heeded message. 

Finally, Micah tells us that God requires (only) one thing from us, which is “to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with our God.” (Micah 6:8) Perhaps that is the most important message we can receive concerning how to live prophetically. It implies that we are kind, just, willing to serve, and humble. In other words, we are to bear peace when we live prophetically, emptying ourselves completely to the time and desires of God, who is Himself humble because He waits for us to offer ourselves completely to Him. Once we make such an offer, we will be able to see the goodness of Justice and Mercy, even though we may not understand. To be humble is to trust God and to accept that we are powerless to comprehend many things and that much is out of our control; it is to trust that He carries us under the shadow of His wing, ready to come again, so that we might be with Him forever. Therefore let us embrace this humble season, let us join with Mary and Joseph in the empty stable, let us work for justice with John the Baptist, and with Micah let us learn to walk humbly with our God. 

May we continue to open our hearts to the beauty of the humble season of Advent! May we find serenity in our contemplation of our Nativity scenes and thus discover blessing in the waiting! May we recognize that humility is our strength and that kindness is our call in the midst of a culture filled with the message of self-aggrandizement! May we learn through the example and words of Micah that our holiness lies in our lowliness! May we learn to do the right, love goodness, and walk humbly with our God! And in humility, may we join Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds and kings in adoration, wonder, awe, and gratitude at the coming of our Lord Jesus into our world! Peace! Maranatha! Come, Emmanuel, come!

                ©Michele L. Catanese

Note: Next post December 31. (Joyous Christmas to all!)

​* See Isaiah 2:2-4 and Micah 4:1-3. They are identical.

Images:
1. This painting is part of a triptych painted by Fr. William Hart McNichols. This one is called Study for Winter Trees of Life. I chose it because it is a humble scene which seems to heighten a sense of waiting. I love the candle in the left corner, beneath the tree, which appears to speak of hope and comfort: the Light of the World, perhaps. You can find this image at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/study-for-winter-trees-of-life-299-william-hart-mcnichols.html
The triptych is found at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/tree-triptych-for-rivera-funeral-home-220-william-hart-mcnichols.html

2. This is an icon of the prophet Micah found in the iconostasis of Transfiguration Church in Kizhi Monastery in Karelia, Russia. I found it on a Wikipedia page, admittedly, but I liked it because I believe the scroll he is holding has the words of Micah 6:8 quoted later in this post. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micah_(prophet)

3. This map is of ancient Judea, to which I have highlighted in yellow the two obscure, small towns mentioned in the post. The one on the far left, west, near the Mediterranean Sea is actually Gath, which was a large city. But Micah's hometown, Moresheth, was not far from Gath. His town was too small to be on any map! The other highlighted town is Bethlehem-Ephrathah. For those with good eyes, you will see Jerusalem just north and a bit east of Bethlehem. I chose the map to give a sense of perspective of the area and how humble those towns mentioned really were. I found the map at https://www.conformingtojesus.com/charts-maps/en/map_of_ancient_roman_judea.htm

4. This painting is called Bluebell Wood by Nicholas Hely Hutchinson. I chose it because it seemed to resonate with the passage: "He shall be peace." This wood seems peaceful, somewhere I would love to walk.

5. This icon is called Mother of God Waiting in Adoration by Fr. William Hart McNichols. As I said in the last entry, I can hardly imagine an Advent reflection without an image of Mary. She is in prayer, but in a posture of humility. Although she is already pregnant in this icon, it seems as if she is saying yet again to the Lord: "May it be it done to me according to your word." You can find this icon at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mother-of-god-waiting-in-adoration-248-william-hart-mcnichols.html

6. This is one of my photos taken in the Tirolean Alps in Austria. We had stopped by the side of the road for a stretch break and this was the view. It is true that mountains are humbling in their majesty. The way the sun was emerging from behind the peaks gave me a sense of the glory of God.

7. I took this photo of part of my crèche scene at home. It may seem silly that Mary and Joseph are looking adoringly at an empty crib, but I do this every year as a way to highlight their anticipation and joy, and hence my own. They are reflecting upon what is to come and Who is to come. 

8. Since this post is the last one of Advent and the next entry will not come until after Christmas, it seemed fitting to end with the four candles of the Advent wreath lit.

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

Advent has begun, and though our intentions may be good, when the season comes to a close we could find that it came and went without our ever having delved into its richness and beauty, but that instead we spent the time trying to ‘beat the clock’ to Christmas. It is true that for some this time can be stressful rather than filled with the joy which is truly at the heart of the season. But these four weeks do offer us an opportunity to deepen our lives of faith as we await the coming of Jesus; there is a way to keep a healthy balance between our ‘secular’ activities and spiritual life. If we look to the Scripture readings for each Sunday of Advent (and better yet, if we pray with the readings for each day of the season) and reflect upon their message throughout the week which follows, we can immerse ourselves in Advent themes. It does take discipline to keep Jesus as our focus when things get busy, but we do not have to avoid the various activities and festivities which present themselves. In fact, we can sanctify every aspect of these next weeks by consciously doing everything with our heart centered on the coming of Christ.

Advent begins with a sense of anticipation for all that is to come throughout the season, culminating at Christmas. So when we hear the opening words of the first (Sunday) reading of Advent, we can begin to direct every aspect of our December journey toward becoming infused with the sacred: “The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah. In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land.” (Jeremiah 33:14-15)* With these words we are reminded that no matter what happens in the next four weeks, the most important thing is to remember that God fulfills His promises because of His great love, always within the context of mercy and justice. As we prepare for Christmas and desire to participate in the season of Advent without losing its richness, we can look to all of our encounters as opportunities for offering mercy and being just; that is, to act with respect for the dignity of others. Not only will Advent become a time of great depth, but we will grow in holiness, preparing for the return of the Lord in due course.

The Old Testament readings for the Sundays of the first two weeks of Advent, respectively from the Book of Jeremiah and the Book of Baruch, are a good place to begin, and a little background will help in understanding the connection between the two men. Jeremiah was a major prophet and Baruch was Jeremiah’s scribe, recording his prophecies. Thus, the prophecies and letters in the Book of Jeremiah, the Book of Lamentations, and the Book of Baruch are all the words of Jeremiah as recorded by Baruch. They were friends, and to Baruch’s credit, he was one of the few who stuck with Jeremiah when all others turned against him. But Baruch was not a prophet! Despite this fact, Baruch teaches us a profound lesson: we can live prophetically without having to be a prophet!

​There is an important distinction about what it meant to be a prophet in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word which is translated to ‘prophet’ is ‘nabi,’ which means “God’s mouthpiece.” Prophets did not foretell the future; rather, they confronted the people when God was displeased with their behavior, (breaking the covenant), and then tried to encourage a return to God lest calamity would befall them. God did give the prophet knowledge of what could happen if the people persisted in their sinfulness, but the prophet had no way of knowing if it would actually happen or how it would happen because they did not know how the people would respond. The prophet was a messenger and therefore he (or she)** was not a judge of the people: judging was God’s job. Thus, Jeremiah was a ‘mouthpiece’ for God, speaking His word consistently for many years. Since Baruch was the man who recorded Jeremiah’s words, we could say he was ‘the mouthpiece for the mouthpiece.’ Or we could say that he learned to live prophetically by literally following in the footsteps of Jeremiah, going where he went, assisting him, and even risking his own life by rescuing him from prison as Jerusalem fell. Baruch made sure the words of Jeremiah found their audience, often doing so quite heroically and at great risk to his own safety.

In the Old Testament reading for the First Sunday of Advent, Jeremiah proclaims the fulfillment of God’s promise through the coming of the Messiah (Jeremiah 33:14-16). And on the Second Sunday we hear: “Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning… put on the splendor of glory from God forever,” and that "God is leading Israel in joy by the light of His glory, with His mercy and justice for company.” (Baruch 5:1-9) In this, Baruch emphasizes another lesson in living prophetically: to live with hope. While the gospels for these same weeks are seemingly in stark contrast, and one describes the coming of Christ on a day that will “assault them” (Luke 21:35), we need to remember that the message there is intended for those who are not prepared for Jesus to return because they have rejected God outright or have neglected any kind of relationship with Him. For them, the coming of Jesus will be difficult: His judgment, even though accompanied by mercy, will be sudden and severe. But for those who have heeded the message of Jeremiah, as revealed by Baruch, hope lies in being prepared through the sincerity of our love, (not in our perfection): for the faithful, mercy will be the mainstay, and judgment will find them worthy and ready. These readings are a strong lesson in prophetic living, which is that we live with hope and that our hope should be shared.

Thus, Baruch teaches us that to live prophetically is to have the hope which prepares us at every moment for the Messiah to come into our midst. He teaches us that to be heroic in our hope we need to make sure the message is shared. He teaches us to seek mercy and to give it, and he teaches us to be just in order to work toward greater justice in the world. Finally, Baruch teaches us that we must learn to listen and discern. To have aligned with Jeremiah who was treated as a pariah, and to have spent his life writing and distributing his words meant that Baruch had to pray about what he heard and to recognize whether the message was consistent with what God had revealed in the past. Therefore, he had to truly hear the message, pray over it, and then act upon it.

​In order to enter into Advent more fully we need to act as a messenger in the way in which Baruch did. That means we listen to the Lord in our prayer and we reflect over the words of the Advent Scripture readings, letting them take root in our hearts. It only takes a few minutes each day to do this. And like Baruch, we must be willing to act a bit heroically with kindness, peace, and love. We do this by offering respect and dignity (through our time, talent, and/or treasure) to the poor, the lonely, the downtrodden, the depressed, the ill, the marginalized, and the outcast, welcoming them into our friendship. We need to let mercy and justice be our company, bringing love to those who are without it, forgiving those who have wronged us, and working for a more just world through our actions. We must break down the walls of prejudice and hatred by being open to the alien and welcoming to the stranger. We must be an example of mercy and compassion to those who are not merciful and compassionate. In doing so, we will be living the message of the One for whom we wait: Jesus.

This way of living is not only prophetic living, it is Advent living. It is inviting the Word into our world anew, preparing a place for Jesus in our heart so His love can transform our seasonal activities: all our celebrations with friends and families, our dinner preparations, gift choosing and giving, our singing and decorating, become the secular made sacred. Letting everything in our lives become sanctified is what the spiritual life is about. Therefore, we look to the day of Jesus’ coming with joy knowing that “all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” (Luke 3:6) As we ready the stable for His arrival, and as we ready our hearts to greet Him, let us rejoice that when Jesus comes, He will have mercy and justice for company.

​May we welcome the season of Advent! May we have the discipline to spend quality time with the Scriptures of Advent every day! May we recognize the presence of God who comes with mercy and justice for company! May we be inspired by the friendship of Jeremiah and Baruch, that we might be filled with gratitude for the friends who accompany us! May we be like Baruch, willing to spread God’s message in word and deed! And may we find comfort in all the holy ones who come to us during Advent, John the Baptist, the angel Gabriel, Mary and Joseph, Zechariah and Elizabeth, who teach us how to wait in reflection and joyful expectation, and then to act on what we learn! Let us meet in our prayer, awaiting the birth of our Lord, Jesus! Maranatha! Come, Emmanuel, come!

                                                    ©Michele L. Catanese

* The translation I am using for all the Scripture passages is the New American Bible.
** By the definition I have used, Deborah, (Book of Judges) was considered a prophet.
 
​Note: Next post will be December 17.

Images:
1. This is a photo I took on a rare snow day in Houston a few years back. The lemon on the tree, and all the plants, were 'surprised' by snow in December that year. I chose this picture for the opening of the entry because it seemed like winter, and obviously Advent, was in a hurry to come that year. There is a lesson in readiness here.

2. This incredible painting is called The Appearance of Christ Before the People, by Russian artist Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov. (1837-57) I love this because it shows Jesus coming over a hill into the scene as John the Baptizer points to Him declaring: "Behold, the Lamb of God!" The future apostles Peter, Andrew, John, and Nathaniel are there, as well as the rich young man who would have an encounter with Jesus later on. I found this on a website which is worth a look at, (Aletieia) along with other artistic works, and that is where I obtained the explanation as well. https://aleteia.org/slideshow/slideshow-russian-art-goes-to-the-vatican 
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3. This is an icon of Jeremiah and Baruch which is housed in the Heritage Museum in Amsterdam. It was one of the few icons I could find which depicted both men.

4. I took this photo of Mont Blanc in the French Alps during a recent trip to Europe. I thought it would be appropriate here because it speaks of the glory and splendor of God.

5. Since I emphasized that prophetic living includes living with hope which we share, it only seemed right that I have this icon accompany the text. This is Mother of Holy Hope, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. It would be inappropriate, in my mind, to write an Advent blog without a pregnant Mary accompanying it. No one speaks to Advent more than Mary, the Mother of our Lord. You can find this icon at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mother-of-holy-hope-263-william-hart-mcnichols.html

6 & 7. I chose to use the Advent wreath with one candle lit since this will be posted for the first week in Advent. But since I referred to the readings of week 1 and 2, and because I will not be posting again until week 3, it seemed like there should be both candles lit at the end of the post.

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.