Years ago when I left religious life and moved to a new city I truly owned little. I got a teaching job relatively quickly, but it afforded an incredibly low salary. Because I had no credit history, I had to be ‘creative’ to convince the manager of an apartment complex to let me move in, and for a while I had no furniture to speak of. Often things were a bit desperate; to say the least, it was pretty tough. I learned a fair amount about poverty during that time. There were many nights when my prayer was to be able to pay for rent, food, and to keep my decrepit car from needing yet one more repair. But in all of that, I never despaired because the Lord was incredibly gracious in keeping me from ever getting down to that last penny. God never abandoned me or left me destitute, even if I didn’t have much. In retrospect I see that I was actually quite rich; that is, I was rich in the kindness of others and rich in the care of God. Whenever I was at the end of my money, someone would come through with a kindness, or something would happen that would help my needs to be met. The result is that I have never doubted that with prayer, God will meet our needs if we trust in Him. This does not mean that I got whatever I wanted, when I wanted it. Rather, it means that God gave me what I needed as He saw fit. Please don’t be mistaken: there was suffering involved, especially since there were no guarantees for anything. But I learned an incredible amount during that time especially in recognizing my spiritual poverty in the need to rely on God, to trust in Him no matter what, and to respond in gratitude when I felt His comfort or received His aid. Notice I did not say the gratitude was only for what was received; of course there was gratitude there, but what meant more was experiencing His love and His presence offered especially through family and friends. It taught me to embrace the poverty which is not about things or the lack thereof: it is about putting all of our trust in God, in His wisdom, mercy, and love. 

In his Letter to the Philippians St. Paul described this poverty.​* He wrote, “Brothers and sisters: I know how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things, I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I can do all things in Him who strengthens me…. My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:12-13, 19, italics mine) The truth of this, often missed in the midst of difficult times, is that there are great riches in God and He freely offers them to us. While we do need the material to live, it is the loving touch of God that sustains and underpins everything: we are certainly not alone and have more than we think in our friends, family, and church communities. And whether we are materially rich or poor, the Lord will give the spiritual aid we need, the strength to persevere when we need it most. He is always with us and nothing can separate us from Him. (Romans 8:31-39)

We must also realize that we might be the ones to help those who see no end to their suffering. Just as people came to my aid in unexpected ways, perhaps we are called to reach out from our surplus to help those who do not have the means to survive financially or who need assistance at home for whatever reason. When we participate ‘in person,’ we become Christ to others, a strong message of evangelization as we offer mercy, kindness, care, and action. If the occasion also arises that we can verbally evangelize, such as praying with a person, we can also do that. No matter how we feel about our level of eloquence, a simple prayer is as powerful as one with lots of verbiage. The point is our sincerity and intention, not the amount or type of words used. We can also give ‘anonymously’ through donations of food, clothing, money, and goods (even blood!) to organizations that distribute them. 

It is important to let the Holy Spirit guide us to do and say what our hearts discern as we put the works of mercy into action. But above all, we need to cultivate in prayer the recognition of our own spiritual poverty; that is, that we can do nothing without God’s help and that with it, we can do all things. In this time of pandemic in which so many are suffering physically or economically (or both), it is important to ask for what we need as well as to offer what we can. Our poverty is our wealth: all of us are poor because we need to rely on God for everything, and as a result all of us are rich in God’s mercy, love, and compassion. As we share with one another of our mutual richness in poverty, let us continually trust in the love of God. Indeed, we will see that we can do all things in Him who strengthens us. 

May we have the courage to put everything we have and everything we are into God’s hands! May we turn to the Holy Spirit for discernment as to the best use of our time, talent, and treasure! May we find freedom in embracing our poverty and the richness of God’s grace! May we be diligent in sharing the trust in God and the holy poverty we embrace! And may we learn to love as Jesus does! Let us meet in the heart of Jesus! Peace!

                              ©Michele L. Catanese

* This was the second reading from the liturgy of the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Images:
1. My photo,  Mt. Cook, New Zealand: I chose this because of the low clouds which partially obscure the mountain. 
2. Photo, broken bread: Bread is the food of the poor and of the rich.
3. Icon, Seven Works of Mercy by Olivuccio di Ciccarello da Camerino: This is one of seven icons by the artist in the Vatican Museum Pinacoteca. 
4. My photo, Giverny, France: This was taken in the gardens of Claude Monet in Giverny. 
5. Icon, St. Francis Patron of Colorado, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. I chose this because the saint who is most identified with both material and spiritual poverty is St. Francis of Assisi. You can find this for purchase, if you want a copy, in one of many mediums at ​https://fineartamerica.com/featured/st-francis-patron-of-colorado-186-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. 

Any parent or anyone who has ever worked with children knows that once a toddler understands the meaning of the word “no” they will start exercising its power. We are all born rather strong willed and although we do not remember our own personal ‘terrible twos’ everyone goes through that phase. If all goes well, we outgrow it, (or at least we should). The mature have learned that their own will is not always the way things will be, or perhaps should be, done. But even the most docile do not naturally like having things go against their own will. That we want our way and not God’s is at the heart of original sin; we ‘deem’ what is ‘fair’ and in doing so, we arrogantly act as if we know better than God does. That is why one of the most profound lines in Scripture is the response of Mary to the archangel Gabriel when he announced that she would be the mother of the Son of God: “May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) Mary did not grow up knowing this would be the role she had been chosen to fulfill. Therefore when she assented, Mary was knowingly letting go of many thoughts, dreams, and expectations for her future life, entering into an immense unknown. Years later at a wedding in Cana, she would reflect her lifelong commitment to trusting God completely when in reference to Jesus she said, “Do whatever He tells you.” (John 2:5)* 

​The first of Mary’s two statements was directed at God. She was willing to enter into the unknown because of her great love and trust in the Lord. What followed was a time of joy, but also great suffering: she had revealed her pregnancy to Joseph while they were betrothed, she had fled with her family when Herod wanted to murder Jesus, forced to live in a foreign land for a few years; she lost Jesus in the crowded city of Jerusalem for a few days, and sometime later became a widow. But in all of it she always did the will of God, and thus was able to let go of Jesus when it was time. She did not know that it set Him on the road to death, but as a widow, letting go of her only Son was a huge ‘yes’ to God. Therefore, her second statement to “do whatever He tells you” was directed at us, too: if we do as Jesus instructs, we accept His wisdom, which is far greater than our own. Further, we put ourselves into His hands so that even when we suffer, He is there to comfort and guide. There are no better hands to be in than God’s.  

Conforming our will to God’s will is certainly not easy. It wasn’t for Mary, nor was it for any of the other Saints. But a common denominator in their lives is that they placed themselves in God’s hands, allowing His will to be done. One such saint is St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, (1905-1938, feast day October 5). She suffered greatly during her life, especially when she was in the convent, but with the grace of God, she was able to put aside her will and in love, do that which God called her to do. Her life echoed the words of Mary, doing what Jesus asked of her. St. Faustina had visions of Jesus and Mary which she wrote about in her Diary and from which we can learn an immense amount about the “oceans of mercy” offered by Jesus. Because of St. Faustina, we have a special prayer, (the Chaplet of Divine Mercy), a wonderful image of Jesus which she described and had painted, and we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday on the Sunday after Easter.** It is clear she put God’s will ahead of her own.

If we want to know how to do what God tells us, we need look no further than the Scriptures. In Micah 6:8 we learn what the will of God is for each one of us: “Do justice, love goodness, and walk humbly with your God.” In short, a life of prayer and discernment, and acting on it, is God’s will for us. Jesus taught that we are to love one another as He loves us: love, and the mercy which flows from it, is the foundation to ‘doing justice’ and this is the will of God. Therefore, we must continually return to the Gospels and learn from Jesus and from Mary how to live with trust in God’s presence no matter what befalls us, to trust in the gifts God gives which enable us to love, to bring peace through working for justice with mercy, and to recognize that sometimes the smallest things, if done with great love, can become the greatest miracles of all.

St. Faustina wrote, “Act in such a way that all those who come in contact with you will go away joyful. Sow happiness about you because you have received much from God; give, then, generously to others. They should take leave of you with their hearts filled with joy, even if they have no more than touched the hem of your garment.” Let us do whatever He tells us by living as St. Faustina suggests. What we are called to do is not always complicated, but it means letting go of our chosen way of doing things and doing as Jesus would. If we trust in Him we can make a difference in many lives, including our own.

May we ask Mary and Jesus to help us to have the courage to do what God wills rather than what we will! May we ask the intercession of St. Faustina for Divine Mercy to be at the center of our actions! And may we learn to trust in Jesus and thus to do whatever He tells us! Let us meet in the heart of Jesus! Peace!
​                                                                 
                                                                      ©Michele L. Catanese

*In saying, "Do whatever He tells you," Mary was letting go of any future life with Jesus in her home, allowing her will to yield to God's. Once Jesus performed the miracle of turning water to wine, His public ministry began. Mary was well aware that once Jesus left home, she would be quite vulnerable since a widow was always put in the care of a son in Jewish culture. But she was also telling us to listen to what Jesus, as God, teaches in His gospel message.
​**​If you want to know how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet click here:  www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/year-of-faith/how-to-pray-the-chaplet-of-divine-mercy

​Images:
1. My photo, Isle of Skye, Scotland.
2. Fresco painting, The Wedding at Cana, by Giotto. This is found in the Scrovengi Chapel, Padua, Italy.
3. Icon, St. Faustina Kowalska, Apostle Of Divine Mercy by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you are interested in obtaining a copy you can purchase one at ​fineartamerica.com/featured/st-faustina-kowalska-apostle-of-divine-mercy-094-william-hart-mcnichols.html
​4. My photo, taken near Silverthorne, Colorado. 
5. Painting commissioned by St. Faustina Kowalska and her religious community of Jesus as Divine Mercy. 

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

When I was teaching theology, my students would go to the chapel for a reconciliation service in lieu of class once each year. While in the chapel awaiting the Sacrament, they sat spaced apart, (a form of ‘social distancing’ I suppose) because teens are teens: they would be talking with each other if not for the spacing. I encouraged them to use the period for reflection, saying that they should view it as a gift, as it was the one time when nothing was expected of them: there was no pressure, there would be no quiz, they did not have to produce results, and they could just be themselves with the Lord. I cannot say they were always participating, but I trust that some prayer and reflection went on. Sure, there was some dozing off, too, but at least they did it in the presence of the Lord. Actually, this is a good approach to prayer for everyone, especially for those who are struggling with it or have not spent quiet time with the Lord on a regular basis in a long while. Therefore, consider this an invitation, a message of encouragement to spend time in prayer, a time when you can be totally yourself, when nothing is expected of you, and in which you can enjoy the luxury of being with your most loving, faithful Friend.

Often we are so busy that prayer goes to the bottom of our ‘to-do list’ because other things are deemed to be more pressing. Soon we lose the habit because we have convinced ourselves that ‘I can do it later, but if I don’t get to it I will survive anyhow.’ But aren’t we invited to do more than survive? And without prayer, are we really living our best life? If we approach prayer as a job to accomplish or a chore to be done then of course it will not be something we look forward to participating in. And if it becomes ‘something we do,’ rather than a relationship we engage in, there is no way we will desire to pray, other than perhaps uttering a rote prayer here or there. While rote prayers are wonderful too, they are only one part of prayer. There is no substitute for the time given to building a relationship with the Lord who desires this with all His heart! It is also a mistake to think prayer is ‘something I do.’ Rather, prayer is a mutual relationship with God who shares in the work. Not only that, but we really do not have to do anything but be there and open our hearts to Him. As with my students, there are no prerequisites, no quizzes, and we do not have to produce results, (God does that with our cooperation).  

The reason most people give for not praying, or not praying enough, is that they are too busy. On the contrary, St. Francis de Sales said: “Every one of us needs half an hour of prayer each day, except when we are busy – then we need an hour.” He knew that the busier we are, the more we will need God’s help and guidance to get through our daily obligations. Prayer is a time for resting in the arms of God; it is not an activity, but rather, it is sacred inactivity. That is, on the holy ground of our mind and heart we can simply ‘be’ with God. Of course, as in any relationship we need to share what is on our mind, what needs fixing, what is bothering us, what is going well, what is important to us, etc. We also need to allow God time to respond deeply within us, which does not mean we will hear or feel anything at that moment, but that we have opened the door to seeing and hearing differently throughout the day. And if we have nothing to say, then we can just rest in Him. If we approach God as a best friend with whom we are meeting, there will always be something to say and something to learn from Him. 

St. (Padre) Pio of Pietrelcina (feast day, September 23) often said, “Pray, hope and don’t worry.” In prayer we put everything into God’s hands, especially our worries. Remember, prayer is not only for asking favors; and when we do desire something we should not expect to change God’s mind such that we will get whatever we ask for. Prayer is about our hearts being opened to greater mercy, forgiveness, compassion, understanding, service, justice, peace, and love. In this stressful time in our lives we can look to an insight St. Paul offered concerning a grace God can give: encouragement. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in every affliction so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. For Christ’s sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5) Prayer opens us to the grace of encouragement and acts as an aid to weathering the storms of this life. Encouragement leads to hope, and hope leads to joy and gratitude. Therefore as we rest in His arms daily, entrusting Him with our burdens and fears, let us accept the encouragement of God, His love and His grace, so that in being encouraged we might encourage others, too.

May we turn to God in prayer more readily during this time of uncertainty and the unfamiliarity of newness! May we enjoy time spent with the Lord, growing in love and holiness as we enter more deeply into our relationship! May we receive the graces we need, especially encouragement! And may we offer what we receive in prayer to those who are also in need of encouragement! Let us continue to meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

​                               ©Michele L. Catanese


Images:
1. My photo, chapel in Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand: This of course, is not where I taught, but it is a small chapel.
2. Painting, The Sheaf Binder, by Vincent van Gogh.
3. My photo, taken at Direlton Castle and Gardens, Direlton, Scotland: Sometimes we need to simply be quiet, smell the flowers and meet God there!
4. Icon, St. Padre Pio Mother Pelican, by Fr. William Hart McNichols: If you wish to purchase a copy of this in any number of mediums, you can find it at fineartamerica.com/featured/2-st-padre-pio-mother-pelican-047-william-hart-mcnichols.html
5. My photo, taken at the Dolphin Discovery, Grand Cayman Island: These amazing dolphins were being encouraged by their trainer who can be seen at the bottom left. Beautiful creatures!

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

​I was blessed to have a wonderful, wise spiritual director for many years. She was both a delightful person and a spiritual powerhouse. She offered many insights during our time together, but the one which impacted my spiritual life most came in the form of a question: “What difference does that make in the light of eternity?” This was a creative way to encourage discernment, to suggest that whatever I chose needed to lead me toward God, not away. It also was a great way of keeping things in perspective, balanced, with an emphasis on what is truly important, rather than trivial. This is important for consideration right now because of the added stress and tension in our everyday living. We are in a pandemic, have had natural disasters, and there are many justice issues that require immediate attention. Unfortunately, however, there are people suggesting that we are nearing the end of the world: indeed, there are books and articles about this, even one from a priest who suggested all sorts of ‘evidence,’ his priesthood somehow lending ‘credibility’ to the claim. Every age in history has been fraught with difficulties and calamities; this is not new. Therefore, we must remember to weigh everything in the light of eternity, that is, in the light of the Eternal One, God, and what He and He alone revealed when He sent Jesus. Everything we do should be directed in this way, no matter when He returns, whether it is to everyone at once or when we individually go to Jesus at the end of our natural earthly life. In other words, Christians should always live lives directed toward entering Heaven when we are done here on earth. We should live every day with a mind toward eternity.

Christians have been concerned about the Second Coming of Christ from the get-go; Jesus had only been dead and risen about 20 years when this issue cropped up. In the earliest written New Testament document, the First Letter to the Thessalonians, St. Paul dealt with the misunderstanding the community had, that is, the mistaken belief that Jesus would return during their lifetime. Paul clarified the issue by reminding them that Jesus would indeed fulfill His promise to return, but that He had said no one would know the day or hour. * Paul wrote, “Concerning times and seasons, brothers [and sisters], you have no need for anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night…. Therefore… let us stay alert and sober.” (1 Thess 5:1,6) In essence Paul was reminding them not to needlessly worry, but instead to live in the light of eternity: to be ‘alert and sober’ is to live the teachings of Jesus so as to be prepared for the time when we do enter into Heaven. 

At the end of his ministry Jesus offered three parables to illustrate what we should do to be prepared. (Matthew 25) The Parable of the Ten Virgins teaches about living our lives with mercy, generosity, and love. Jesus indicated that the wise virgins were the ones who were ready when the bridegroom unexpectedly showed up. The oil in their lamps was the graces they had ‘gathered’ through their works of mercy, something which could not be divvied out to the ones who never prepared and were not living in the light of eternity. In The Parable of the Talents, the wise are described as those who build up the Kingdom of God, growing in holiness as they share their faith, ‘making interest on what they have been given.’ Finally, in the third story, The Judgment of the Nations, Jesus described exactly what one must do to build the kingdom while growing in holiness: give food to the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned and ill, and welcome the stranger. In short, we will be judged on the quality of our love. If we are doing the best we can, (which does not mean that we have to be perfect), we have nothing to fear. This is what it means to live in the light of eternity.

We should live every day with a mind toward eternity while remembering that life is a gift. This means that we should not be in a hurry to get to Heaven or to read all the so-called signs which render us unnecessarily terrified. Eternal life with God is what we aspire to; messages which make getting there something to fear, however, cannot be of God because fear leads to a focus on self rather than on God. Living with a mind toward eternity means that we utilize the gift of life with humility and gratitude. If we are able, we can savor the gift of life by giving what we can, working for justice by being just, working for peace by being peaceful, treating all life from conception to natural death with reverence, working to help the poor by offering whatever small acts of kindness we can give, and so on. If we are suffering, ill, or unable to participate in much, we can accept the kindness of others as a way of living with humility and gratitude: it is a kindness to accept kindness. In treating life as the gift that it is, we will indeed be living with a mind toward the light of eternity, just as Jesus has taught.

May we continually discern our choices in order to live with a mind toward the light of eternity! May we learn to distinguish between that which leads toward unity, life, and God, and that which leads toward division, fear, and self! May we prepare for eternal life by offering our time, talent, and treasure to help those in need! And may our lives be signs of hope to those who feel hopeless and of love to those who feel forgotten! Let us continue to meet in the heart of Jesus! Peace!

                                  ©Michele L. Catanese

* Jesus made it quite clear that there would be false messiahs claiming to ‘read the signs’ about when the world would end. Jesus said we should not listen to them: “But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” (Matthew 24:4-30; 36-44) 

Images:
1. My photo, sunset over the Gulf of Mexico, Biloxi, Mississippi. 
2. Icon, The Second Coming of Christ The King by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you wish to obtain a copy of this or any other icons or images from Fr. Bill's work you can find this one at fineartamerica.com/featured/the-second-coming-of-christ-the-king-149-william-hart-mcnichols.html. (Remember, I do not get any remuneration for posting how to obtain copies of Fr. Bill's work: it is solely for the joy of sharing.)
3. Painting, The Parable of the 10 Virgins by Phoebe Anna Traquair. This is found at Mansfield Traquair Church, Edinburgh, Scotland. 
4. My photo, in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado near Estes Park.
5. Painting, Soliel by Vincent van Gogh.

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. 

Sometimes re-reading a novel after many years can be quite eye-opening. I recently made this discovery while revisiting Lost Horizon by James Hilton, written in 1933. Even with concessions for it being dated, it was a huge disappointment this time. Quite frankly, it left me a bit shocked. It was always a hokey premise: a plane crashes in the Himalayas and once the passengers climb a ridge, they find a beautiful populated valley, Shangri-La. Its ‘perfection’ includes incredible longevity for those who live there. What shocked me, however, was the philosophy described by the plane wreck survivors’ mysterious host  who said that their “prevalent belief is moderation…. avoiding excess of all kinds – even including, if you will pardon the paradox, excess of virtue itself.” In short, they practiced goodness in moderation, immorality in moderation, and so on. The host said that as in everything, their faith is approached with moderation so that they are even “moderately heretical;” later he states that “many religions are moderately true.”* This is not perfection, but rather it is dangerous, a type of relativism: anything goes… within moderation, of course! Since the novel was written, many have equated the phrase “Shangri-La” to mean a blissful place, but in the book Shangri-La is not a place of true freedom. As I considered this, I began to reflect upon Heaven as taught by our Christian faith in which it is clear that Heaven is not some ‘thing’ on earth, utopian in essence. Let me be clear: utopia does not exist, Shangri-La does not exist, and perfection on this earth does not exist. But Heaven does exist, precisely because it is not at all of this earth. Rather, Heaven is the one true Paradise which we will enter only after we leave this life. It is true eternal life with God forever based on His love and mercy. There is nothing perfect on ‘this side’ of Heaven, but the magnificent gift is that because of God’s mercy, we can enter into it someday.

When we recently celebrated the Assumption of Mary into Heaven we celebrated that when she died Mary went ‘whole’ from the earth; but where did she actually go? We know the answer is “Heaven,” but the truth is that Heaven is not a place. Rather, Heaven is a state of being which is totally different than that of this earth. It is outside of time and space as we know it, ** and it is where God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) dwells. In Heaven we will spend eternity with God “where He will wipe away every tear and there will be no suffering” (paraphrase, Revelation 21:1-4) We cannot attain Heaven and simultaneously still be physically alive on the earth, though we can get ‘glimpses’ of it in prayer or in spiritual experiences when we are overcome with joy that has no explanation as to its source other than that it comes from God. These moments are brief and fleeting, (though sometimes they can last much longer);*** but the effect of the experience ‘proves’ to the pray-er that it did happen. These experiences are nearly impossible to put into words, but that is also a sign that the experience was real. We simply have no words to describe the indescribable.

The reality is that we will have to experience all that life entails, the suffering and difficulties, joys and blessings, before we can get to Heaven. Jesus assured us that if we are baptized and have belief – (this means we freely accept the gospel teachings He gave and put it into action) – and we sincerely attempt to grow in holiness, we will end our earthly days with entrance into Heaven. After death, some of us will first have to deal with unrepented sin or sinful attitudes; that is, we will need to be cleansed of whatever has kept us from growing as we should have. (Like Heaven, Purgatory is a state outside of time and space, an experience of being purged or refined so that we become perfected for entrance into Heaven.) If all this seems difficult, it is. Jesus clearly said the road is narrow and the way difficult. But the Good News is that God freely offers powerful graces and we can freely accept them. In fact, He will give any graces we ask for to attain that end. It presupposes we have a relationship of love with Him forged through prayer. And it means that we are humbly grateful before Him because we know that we can do nothing without God’s help. 

There is no perfect place, nor does perfection exist outside of Heaven. Any attempt for humans to create Heaven on earth will fall short at best and end disastrously at worst. God sent His Son to offer that which no human can create: He alone offers everlasting life, the redemption and perfection that only exist within Him. While God never said our life here would be free of pain and difficulty, He does offer us freedom from those things at the end of our journey if we stay the course. The beauty lays in personal discovery of God’s deep love and mercy, which we can accept as gift and then offer to others. All we need do is seek, ask, and knock, and it will be given. 

May we seek after the true paradise, life in Heaven with God forever! May we ask the help of the Holy Spirit to attain the purpose for which we were created: to know, love, and serve God in whatever way we are called! May we spend time in prayer with the gospels, especially the proclamation of the Kingdom by Jesus! May we pray for the gift of discernment, that we might learn to recognize the voice of God and to reject the seductive voices of the world! And may we have the consolation of Jesus, who is always present, guiding us home to Heaven! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!
                                                                      ©Michele L. Catanese

* Lost Horizon by James Hilton, Digital Fire edition, 2020; pages 42-43; 62.
** Magnificat, August volume, Bishop Robert Barron, Daily Gospel Reflections 8/15/2020
*** St. Teresa of Avila, for example, had extended experiences of union with God or had a sense of viewing Heaven. Many others such as St. Catherine of Siena, St. Faustina, and St. Seraphim of Sarov also had visions of Heaven. Though this is rare, it is indeed possible not just for those who are adept at prayer, but God can break through to anyone at any time since these experiences are pure gift. It is my belief that on some level great artists, writers, composers must have an intuited sense of Heaven in order to create such works of beauty. For a bit more on this, see 
https://littlestsouls.wordpress.com/2013/07/25/visions-of-heaven-the-perfect-joy-of-the-blessed/

Images:
1. My photo, near Mont Blanc, Chamonix, French Alps. I know this is not the Himalayas, of course, but it was the closest photo of a snowy mountain and valley (with a stretch of the imagination) that I have.
2. My photo of a painting in a church in Verona, Italy: The Assumption of Mary.
3. My photo, taken in the highlands of Scotland, near  Grantown-on-Spey. If ever there was a place that made me feel like I was seeing Heaven, it was in the Highlands, particularly this spot.
4. Painting, inset of Tree Triptych for Rivera Funeral Home by Fr. William Hart McNichols. Within the leaves of the tree, there is a space that looks like a heart. That is what drew me to this painting. 
If you would like to obtain a copy, go to https://fineartamerica.com/featured/tree-triptych-for-rivera-funeral-home-220-william-hart-mcnichols.html
5. Again my photo, a peaceful garden in Lerwick, on the Mainland of the Shetland Islands, Scotland.

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

I am fortunate to have been able to visit some places associated with Mary the Mother of Jesus during my travels. On a trip to Ireland my husband and I visited Knock where Mary appeared in 1879, and a few years later we were able to visit Fatima and Lourdes. We also traveled to Israel where we prayed at sites which were part of the life of Mary, described in the gospels. All of these places were uniquely inspirational and beautiful, but the place that moved me the most was where the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary in Nazareth. The exact site of the Annunciation is beneath a sizeable church, in a simple, cave-like room, a place which is far from elaborate. The other sites also inspire faith and glorify God, but the little humble room, a place reflecting the humility of Mary, impacted me greatly. The spot seemed wrapped in prayer, Mary’s and that of all who have prayed there in the centuries since. It felt as if had I entered into the intimacy of her encounter with the angel kneeling before her who explained, “Nothing is impossible for God” along with the echo of her words: “I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be it done to me according to your word.”

We celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15. This feast celebrates Mary’s extraordinary entrance into Heaven: immediately after her death, Mary’s body and soul were reunited and she was taken whole into heaven. All of us will have our bodies and souls reunited and glorified at the end of time, but because Mary was pure, immaculately conceived and totally sinless, (because God had anticipated that she would freely consent to be the mother of our Lord, Jesus Christ), having lived a life of total disposal to God, she was given the honor of experiencing this body and spirit wholeness immediately, without having to wait for the Second Coming of Christ. There were witnesses to this event, and though it is not recorded in the Scriptures, it is part of what we call the Tradition of the Church. There is not a lot about Mary in the gospels, but of this we can be sure: Mary was true to her promise to the Father by caring for Jesus during His life and then by caring for His people forever after. Thus, Mary is our mother, too, a perfect mother who we can call upon at any time. 

​From Scripture and Tradition we learn that Mary is an excellent role model and so I suggest that we let her teach us through them.* She humbly reveals the value of listening and pondering prayerfully as we sit with her at the Annunciation. Mary teaches us to welcome angels, the message of God, and the grace of the Holy Spirit. She models humility, discernment, obedience, and openness to what we may not originally see as possibility. She models trusting in God even when we do not understand. As we travel with Mary to the hill country to serve her cousin Elizabeth, she teaches how to savor our relationships. She shows us how to respond to the gifts God gives by sharing those gifts with others in turn. As we witness the birth of Christ, we can learn from Mary how to share Jesus with ‘wayfarers’ who come into our lives, be they wealthy kings or poor shepherds, sharing especially with those who do not know exactly Who it is that they seek. When we observe her finding her ‘lost’ Son in the Temple, Mary teaches us to seek Jesus with patience especially during those times when He seems absent. She teaches perseverance in prayer, applying what Jesus said: “Seek and you shall find.” At the wedding in Cana Mary encourages that we do whatever He tells us: to be a disciple means to follow Jesus’ teaching, trusting in it. As we hold vigil with her at the Cross, we learn from Mary that although grief and pain will be part of our lives, we are never alone because Jesus remains present with us always. At Pentecost Mary shows us how to open our hearts to the joy of the Holy Spirit. And finally, as she did when she died and was assumed into Heaven, Mary teaches us to have courage in passing through death, trusting that we will indeed have everlasting life with God. 

There is much to learn from so pure and loving a mother as Mary. My suggestion is to ask for the grace to work on one of her ‘lessons’ at a time. It would also be good to ask for the grace to imitate her example of humility, love, mercy, and prayerfulness. And if we feel like even that is too much, then perhaps we can imitate her by interceding for others in our prayer, asking Mary to intercede with us for our world as we do so. Let us take this time of celebrating her Assumption into Heaven as an opportunity to reflect upon Mary’s life, to ask the Lord for the grace to be more like her, and as an opportunity to say thank you for having such a Mother who wants nothing other than what is best for our world so that we might have healing and peace. 

May we ask the intercession of Mary saying: “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you!” May we take the time to reflect upon the gifts and graces we receive from God our Father so that we might be able to say: “I am the servant of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word!” And may we respond to the teaching of Jesus, Son of God and son of Mary, that we might become examples of mercy, justice, service, and love! Let us continue to meet in the Heart of Jesus!
                                                                           ©Michele L. Catanese

​* In Scripture, the Gospels of Matthew and Luke have the most about Mary: Matthew 1&2 and Luke 1&2 cover the Infancy Narratives, which includes everything from the Annunciation to the finding of Jesus in the Temple. The wedding at Cana is in John 2. All four Gospels describe the death and resurrection of Jesus, but Mary’s presence there is best described by John. (John 19:25-27) Mary’s role at Pentecost is covered in the Acts of the Apostles chapters 1&2. And the Assumption can be read about in the Catechism of the Catholic Church which includes that which is covered in Tradition.

Images:
1. My photo taken in the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, Israel. This spot is said to be the site where the Annunciation took place, as told through Tradition.
2. Icon, The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you are interested in obtaining a copy in one of a variety of mediums, you can purchase it at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-blessed-virgin-mary-mother-of-the-church-william-hart-mcnichols.html
​3.  My photo, taken just outside of Auckland, New Zealand.
4. My photo, taken in Dunedin, New Zealand. This rose makes me think of Mary as the Mystical Rose, pure and beautiful.
5. Painting, part of a fresco at San Marco Convent, Florence, Italy, The Annunciation by Blessed Fra Angelico. In my opinion, this is the purest, most moving artistic rendition of so sublime an event as the angel appearing to Mary. 

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

Every now and again it is good to pay attention to the little things that make us smile. One such thing has come to me from a rather odd place: a TV commercial. It is an animated ad for a supermarket chain which depicts a round, hairy-chested, workout-clothed guy sporting a long pony tail, but is balding more than a little. He never stops exercising while simultaneously drinking a green smoothie as the song “I’m Too Sexy” * is heard in the background. The little guy runs out of his smoothie, discovers an empty fridge, and thus drives to said supermarket, exercising to the beat the entire time. The ad ends with him making a new smoothie, still to the beat, with a facial expression that confirms that he does indeed think he is pretty sexy. This clever commercial, 30 seconds of lighthearted fun, never fails to make me smile. And it has helped me to realize that now more than ever it is important to find the simple things which bring joy, or at least a smile, and be grateful for them even if they are a bit silly. It is a reminder that it is good to pay a bit more attention to the seemingly insignificant things which we either take for granted or simply have forgotten how to see. This is not suggesting a denial of life’s realities, but rather that we need to stay balanced if we are to remain emotionally and spiritually healthy. To see and savor tiny moments is important. In fact, it is often in the little things that the greatest miracles are found. 

​To find joy in little things is related to the greater spiritual gift of wonder and awe. We receive this grace at Confirmation, but sometimes we under-utilize it because we forget it is there. Given that we specifically receive the gift of wonder and awe along with knowledge, wisdom, piety, counsel, fortitude, and understanding, it is therefore of equal importance with them. Some may say that we entertain easily if we go out to a river and see a shore full of rocks and find them fascinating. I do not believe that is the case; rather, we are utilizing the gift of wonder and awe. But if we can spend time gazing at a sunset, searching the sky for a rare comet or a meteor shower, enjoying gentle surf, or spending time in a peaceful garden, we can engage the gift of wonder and awe which can move us to glorify and praise their Creator. We can learn to savor these moments, and well we should, since our lives can be so busy that we become jaded to them. And if we can find wonder and awe in things, imagine how much we can find in experiencing other people if we let this gift take root.

St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556, feast day July 31) is one who learned to see with such clarity that he was often filled with ecstatic joy, a result of the gift of wonder and awe. Although he did not describe the experience in detail, on the banks of the River Cardoner where he nearly ended his own life in despair, Ignatius noticed joy. That is, he was invited by the Holy Spirit to embrace life and to let go of his sinful past which at that point overwhelmed him completely. He had been forgiven, but had been unable to accept it until he let the grace of God become all he needed to proceed into his future. Once he realized that we are all loved sinners and that God will give us the graces we need when we ask, he was able to start seeing and savoring that which gave him joy. Ignatius learned to recognize God’s presence in others and to see the giftedness within them that perhaps they themselves had not yet seen. It was this ability, (part of the gift of discernment, but also his unique gift) that enabled Ignatius to attract and then instruct men who shared his vision for mission and ministry. 

What convinces me most about the wonder and awe-filled heart of St. Ignatius is the Suscipe prayer which is found at the end of his Spiritual Exercises. Only someone with a heart moved profoundly by the Holy Spirit, who lets Love lead, could have composed the prayer which ends: “Give me your love and your grace. That is enough for me.” ** The entire movement of the Spiritual Exercises is meant to help the retreatant to arrive at this point; that is, to help them to embrace the joy of knowing that our purpose is to know, love, and serve the Lord in whatever way we are called. No matter what our personal expression of the call might be and no matter how much struggle we encounter along the way, if we give everything over to the Lord and trust in His love and His grace, we will begin to see joy in little things that others may see as ridiculous or insignificant. Let us savor that which brings wonder and awe, even the silly things, and let grace and our love of the Lord be the power behind our ‘evangelization by example.’ And because God is in those moments, they are indeed miraculous.

May we ask the Holy Spirit to help us with the gift of wonder and awe so that we may see and savor the little things which bring us joy! May we bring joy to others, letting them experience wonder and awe at the gift we offer them, and in doing so make their burden a bit lighter! And may we ask the intercession of St. Ignatius of Loyola to help us attain the graces we need that we might be able to say “your grace and your love are enough for me” for the greater glory of God! Let us continue to meet in the heart of Jesus! Peace!
                          ©Michele L. Catanese
* I’m Too Sexy was written and performed in 1991 by Right Said Fred, a rock group from the UK. It eventually made its way to the US and was on the radio for a while before fading away. The song was originally meant to be a satire of those who walk the catwalk or who are body builders who think too highly of themselves.
** Full text of the Suscipe prayer: “Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. All is yours. Dispose of it wholly according to your will. Give me your love and your grace. That is enough for me.”
Images:
1.My photo, a playful marmot on Copper Mountain in Colorado: this little critter seemed a bit whimsical, and also a bit full of himself, so it seemed a fitting photo here.
2. My photo, rocks at a lake near Copper Mt., Colorado: I truly did find these rocks captivating.
3. Icon, St. Ignatius in Prayer Beneath the Stars by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you look carefully, St. Ignatius' feet are not on the ground. He is seen in ecstatic prayer, joyful in the Holy Spirit. You can obtain a copy at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/st-ignatius-in-prayer-beneath-the-stars-137-william-hart-mcnichols.html
4. My photo, sunset in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico: If you look closely there is a man kneeling on the beach. Perhaps he is in prayer, filled with wonder and awe. 
5. My photo, a bobblehead I keep on my desk of St. Ignatius, (Iggy): While this may seem strange to end with, the statue is whimsical and makes me smile: I think Ignatius would approve.
 - A particular shout out to a Jesuit friend in Denver and to my two Jesuit friends in Puerto Rico, and also to all my friends in the Society of Jesus! To the Jesuits, Happy Feast Day!

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

While recently reading a book about St. Catherine of Siena, (1347-1380), I was struck by the practicality of some of her insights. In reference to our relationship with God she said, “Open the door to your heart, for it is really rude to let God stand at the door of your soul without opening to Him.” Leaving anyone standing at a closed door is rather discourteous, especially when it is God! St. Catherine is indicating that when we deny God entrance, we cannot grow in relationship with Him; but she is further implying that to keep Him outside is a sin against ourselves because we are also refusing His mercy and the opportunity to let ourselves be healed. The truth is that none of us deserve forgiveness, but in His great love and mercy God offers it anyhow. The whole of our faith revolves upon this reality: we are all loved sinners for whom Jesus the Lord died and rose in order to offer us something we could never deserve or earn. He simply offers the gift because He is mercy and He is Love. And in this, He wants us to learn to offer the same love and mercy to others for the good of everyone in our communities, churches, and world. In other words, it is how we evangelize and thus contribute to building the Kingdom.

A stumbling block to forgiveness is that sometimes we think forgiving means forgetting. To try to forgive is good, but to try to forget is to do ourselves violence. Besides, it is almost impossible to do anyway. In fact, if we were to forget we would learn nothing from the experience. Forgiveness is a process in which we must honestly access what the offense against us has been, the state of our relationship with the other, and what it will take for healing to occur. To forgive means we have to risk setting the other person free whether we think they deserve it or not. It means we offer the mercy and let God offer the judgment. And let us be clear, judgment and justice is not the same thing, though one flows from the other. Judgment is about deciding who deserves what, and only God can accurately do that, though He offers us the ability to discern and make informed decisions based on grace, common sense, and His teaching. Justice is what is done to atone, the action taken to right a wrong, to learn from an event or situation, and finally to heal. Offering mercy does not mean that we eliminate justice; remember, justice without mercy is cruelty and mercy without justice becomes an ‘anything goes’ mentality in which chaos will reign. Justice must be based on love so that we can move forward together. Without love and mercy, (which indicate that we have indeed forgiven), justice cannot take place.

In the gospels Jesus healed and forgave many people, but the healing of the paralytic stands out. (Matthew 9:1-8) When Jesus approached the paralytic, He first told him that his sins were forgiven, and then later He stated that the man was healed of his bodily infirmity. Only after Jesus indicated that healing the man’s soul was more important than healing the body, was the man able to get up and walk. Newly healed, the man could now do what was needed: picking up his mat, he got to work. This shows that God’s justice and mercy were affecting change within this man. Jesus offered him healing, but the man needed to get up and work at building a better life. That is, he needed to go out and offer to others the same mercy he had received. 

It is important to truly desire to forgive, but if we are honest, we need to beg for the grace so that we can mean it with sincerity. That is, we need to allow ourselves time to grieve the pain and hurt, and with the help of grace, to let go of what holds the other and ourselves bound. We must acknowledge that we are all sinners, and then be sorry for our part in sin. Only when we have humility can we begin to see that the other is as weak and prone to sin as we are. As long as we think we are somehow better than the other, forgiveness (true mercy and justice) is not really possible. We have to own that we are just as capable of the sin as the other had been. In other words, we cannot forget redemption. If we keep people stuck in their past mistakes by judging them based on it, we will never reconcile. And if we fail to forgive, we relegate everyone to the status of Judas, forgetting that even he was offered redemption. The problem for him was that he refused it, unlike Peter, whose sin was also a betrayal, but who did accept redemption because he allowed himself to be humbled, to trust in the promise of Jesus’ mercy, and  committed himself to work for God’s people, that is, to build the Kingdom of God where true Justice and Mercy reign. So let us continue to work on our own issues of sinfulness and to reach out to others so that we can let true justice, equality, mercy, and love grow in our communities, churches, and world. Let us not be rude to God: let us open the door to our hearts and let Him in. 

May we ask for the intercession of St. Catherine that we might learn to recognize the Lord standing at the door of our heart so we can open it! May we accept the gift of humility that we may offer mercy to others and work toward justice together! And may we ask for the graces needed to forgive those who have wronged us so we can move forward in love! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

​                         ©Michele L. Catanese

Note:  God’s justice and mercy have always been consistent. If we read the passages in the Old Testament in which God was angry with His people due to their massive sins, He always rescued them when they cried out in true sorrow, having learned a lesson. But then there was always atonement; they did not simply walk away, but had to work through the consequences of what they had done. That is, justice was meted out. The atonement was not a payback demanded by God; rather, the consequences of their sin helped them to learn from their mistakes. In the end, the atonement brought healing and freedom through the knowledge they gained along the way….until the next generation came along and the process began all over again.
Images:
1. Icon, St. Catherine of Siena - Guardian of the Papacy, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can obtain a copy of this icon at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/st-catherine-of-siena-guardian-of-the-papacy-288-william-hart-mcnichols.html
2. My photo, a river on the North Island in New Zealand. This symbolically captures the flowing of justice and mercy as coming from the same source, God.
3. Painting, Peasants by Diego Rivera. 
4 Painting, The Good Samaritan, Vincent van Gogh.
5. Icon, El Buen Pastor, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can obtain a copy of this icon at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/el-buen-pastor-188-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. 

Of all the people who have influenced my life, I believe my maternal grandmother was the greatest. It was her faith in God, lived every day, which made the deepest impression. That she was a woman of prayer was evident; she did not hesitate to speak of her faith, though she never preached. While she was in constant pain from arthritis, she laughed a great deal. She had suffered much in her youth, losing her mother in a fire, followed by a cruel stepmother who also died, and then another stepmother, but I do not remember her ever bemoaning those events. I believe that my grandmother was quite holy, though like all people, not perfect. Although she only had a third grade education, the wisdom which flowed from her faith and love of God, habit of prayer, enormous generosity to everyone, and the way she lived the teachings of Jesus, all had profound impact upon my life. She had a heart filled to overflowing with the love which united her to Jesus through Mary. I came to realize that she had immersed herself in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Another great influence upon my life was that of Harvey Bankston, whose name might have been Hardy, but who eventually invited me to call him “Pop.” In short, his father was a freed slave who had lived in Virginia where Pop was born. I was a 25 year old religious Sister when I met Pop; he was 99. That first day he was hand mowing his yard in the sweltering heat of a Louisiana summer. As I was visiting with his wife Clementine, (Mum), Pop came in, changed his shirt, poured some homemade whiskey into a small glass and offered me some. I told him no thank you, and his response was: “A gentleman always offers a lady something to drink.” This dialogue became a daily ritual. I was smitten the first time he said it. There is much I could recount, but the two things that stood out most were his faith and his love. Pop taught me more (and more accurately) than any book or history course about what it was like “being black in a white man’s world.” (Pop’s words) There was no rancor; as he said, “it just was.” But when the man prayed, oh my, when he prayed! Pop was always soft spoken and gentle, but his love for God was so evident, it moved my heart tremendously. It was as if he had given me something to drink; not liquid, but rather Love from the Heart of Jesus.*

In June we celebrated the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, respectively. They are not holy days of obligation, but we celebrate them for a reason. The Church is not only encouraging us to praise and worship God, and to honor Mary for her role in salvation history, but it is reminding us that we can enter into a deeply loving relationship with God. That is, the love and example of Jesus and Mary should be great influences upon how we live, just as those who stand out in our memories as good and holy people also molded us in some way. And although our hearts cannot be sacred as Jesus’ Heart is sacred (because He is both God and man) and our hearts cannot be immaculate as Mary’s heart is immaculate (because she was conceived without sin), these hearts can and should influence us. In other words, our hearts can be sanctified by inviting the sacred to reside there; similarly our hearts can be purified through prayer and grace. It is because we are not perfect that we need to turn to the hearts of Jesus and Mary and let them be a refuge and a fountain of love from which we can drink. These hearts teach us to reflect or ponder prayerfully, to trust God, to forgive ourselves and others, to be humble, to have mercy, to let go of prejudice and fear, to find courage to live justly, to value all life, to be a peacemaker, and to always point others to God through our word and deed. These hearts also know what it is to suffer, and so they comfort us when we need their help.

It would be good to take time to reflect with gratitude upon the good and holy people who have positively influenced our lives by offering us something spiritual to drink. Perhaps after reflecting upon our experiences of them, we can share these stories with family, especially in the light of faith. But we should also reflect upon how we have let Jesus and Mary influence us, and perhaps grow in how we let their influence shape our lives. Then we can reflect upon the type of influence we have been or want to be upon others. This is a form of evangelization because what we say and do in living the gospel is a way of exposing others to God’s care and love. If we try to do everything with love, there is no doubt we will be affecting others, inspiring them to come to know the Lord, too. Love is a form of evangelization. Even the smallest gesture of care can change a life forever, whether we ever come to know it or not. This is what it means to enter into the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary: it is about becoming a conduit of their love from which others can drink, too.  

May we enter into the Hearts of Jesus and Mary! May our words and deeds have a positive effect upon others, signs of love which enrich and bless! May we reflect upon the Scriptures, the lives of the holy ones and of those who led us to drink of Love, that we might emulate them! Let us meet in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary! Peace!

                       ©Michele L. Catanese

​*If you want a bit more on Mum and Pop go to my Archives from July 2013 when I first wrote about them. The entry was called “Falling in Love.” My Archives contain everything I have ever posted from 2013 through the present and are always available for reading or re-visiting. You can find the links on the right side of this page arranged by year and month. For now, here is the direct link: https://www.catanesesd.com/micheles-blog/falling-in-love
​Images:
1. My photo, glowing trees in a vineyard, taken near Schulenburg, TX. This photo represents the glow of holiness, and also that the fruit of the vine becomes the Blood of Christ at Mass, of which we can drink.
2. Painting, Farmhouse by Vincent van Gogh. This seems to depict the simplicity of Mum and Pop's farm house, but also that of their beautiful hearts.
3. My photo: statues of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. They belonged to my mother, given to her by a close friend. They were blessed by St. Padre Pio!
4. Painting, Ruth, Naomi, and Orpah by Marc Chagall. This spoke to me of the influence of family and of shared love, too.
5. Icon, Mother of God, Life Giving Spring by Fr. William Hart McNichols. I loved all the images in this icon of water offered to slake thirst, especially for the suffering or ill. Perhaps it is timely to pray with this icon given our struggles with the coronavirus at this time. If you wish to obtain a copy in any medium you can purchase one at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mother-of-god-life-giving-spring-179-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 most difficult parts of staying at home these past months have been the inability to see friends and family the way we would like and the inability to be physically present in our faith communities. While some might be venturing back to church, others are unable to do so for various reasons. Being physically separated from worshiping with the Body of Christ also means we are unable to receive Holy Communion. Hopefully these ‘losses’ have led to reflection upon what indescribable gifts these are. Whether or not we have returned to celebrating within our churches, perhaps this past Sunday,  (the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ), felt extra special. And as such we should continue to reflect upon it, taking the time to recognize the privilege that it is to be a member of the Body of Christ and what an unfathomable gift it is to receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ when we receive the Eucharist.*

We are part of the one Body of Christ which paradoxically is both ours and not ours. It is ours because each of us is part of the Body, united as one, joined to it by baptism. Because it is ours we have a responsibility to take care of the entire Body, that is, each member of it. And thus we should reflect upon what St. Paul said when he wrote that each member has equal value and importance no matter what their placement or function in the body might be. (1 Corinthians 12) Each member, then, is not only of equal importance and dignity, but each one has the responsibility of taking care of the other parts, as well as taking care of themselves both in a physical and spiritual sense. Therefore, if one member hurts, all hurt; if one member sins, all are diminished. Conversely, if one member is healed, all partake in the healing. The Body, then, is ours because we belong to it and are united “as one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:29) 

But the Body is also not ours. We do not own or possess it; rather, it belongs to Christ, the Head of the Body. We are not our own: we belong to Christ, 'purchased with His Blood’ when He chose to die on the Cross for us. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) At our baptism we became part of His very Body through the love given by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Therefore, we are His and we belong to Him. This does not mean we lose freedom, however; rather, it joins us to God in a way that reinforces the gift of freedom which we have always had. Remember that true freedom does not mean we can do anything we want, when we want. Freedom means we choose to respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, something which actually leads us to greater freedom because it connects us more fully to God. God is the source of all freedom and we must remember that freedom is about Truth, (that which is revealed by God) not about our egos or wants: freedom is about what communicates love to our brothers and sisters and to our Lord in our so doing. True freedom, because it is based on love, builds up, it does not tear down. 

Freedom means that we are connected to the love that is God. Thus, loving our neighbor, whoever that person might be, (everyone, including those who are not members of the Body of Christ) is what it means to live in freedom. You see, freedom is also both ours and not ours. It is ours because the ability to choose is a gift we have all received; it is not ours because it has to be offered and shared, just as love has to be shared. We do not possess freedom all for ourselves. For freedom to be true, it has to be extended to others, but always grounded in love no matter what the response of the other might be. Therefore, we need to be prayerful and discerning about how we choose to respond to one another. Again, freedom does not mean ‘throwing all caution to the wind’ and doing what feels good: freedom means doing what Jesus would have us do, something which can be difficult at times. Loving our neighbor means listening to one another, forgiving wrongs, being willing to change, and trying to make the best choices, the loving ones which are grounded in Truth. Freedom is not an easy gift to bear, nor is love, if we are honest, because it means at times we must sacrifice our needs, wants, self-centeredness, our way of doing or seeing things, to follow the gospel of love. Jesus said the truth will set us free. (John 8:31-32) Yes, it will when we accept it. The truth is that we are One Body receiving from the source of Love: the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ which unites and empowers us as members of that one Body. Let us pray with this in the days ahead, reflecting on the gospels, praying for discernment prior to our much needed action, that what we do is grounded in love, and that we work toward justice and respect for all God’s people, recognizing that living with dignity, something we share with all people, truly does set us free. 

May we reflect upon the gifts of our membership in the Body of Christ and of the Eucharist! May we embrace the paradox that the Body of Christ is both ours and not ours! May we share freedom grounded in Truth and Love with all our brothers and sisters! And may we be filled with the Holy Spirit as we pray for discernment and then move to action, small or large, in order to heal the Body and build up the Kingdom! Let us continue to meet in the Sacred Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                                                                               ©Michele L. Catanese
​* Just a note: When we receive only the consecrated host, the Body of Christ, we are still receiving the fullness of Christ: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. We are not 'losing something of Jesus' if we do not receive from the cup. Each of the species, host become His Body and wine become His Blood, contain the fullness of Jesus.

Images:
1. Painting, St. Hilarion by Arthur Lismer, (1885-1969) Lismer was one of the Canadian "Group of Seven" artists.
2. Painting, inset of Chalice and Host by Jan Davidsz de Heem (1606-1684) .
3. Icon La Sangre de Cristo by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you are interested in a copy you can purchase one in one of many mediums at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/la-sangre-de-cristo-242-william-hart-mcnichols.html
4. Painting, Festival of Lights, by John August Swanson.  
http://johnaugustswanson.com/default.cfm/PID%3D1.2-3.html
​5. My photo: Paris city street, taken from the window in the hotel room in which I was staying on a trip a few years back: a bustling city, representative of all God's people.