Something that most of us consider ‘uncouth’ is the practice of re-gifting, that is, receiving an item that is not liked and passing it on to someone else. This action is actually neither good nor bad, but it is our intention that renders it one way or the other. If the object being passed along is thought of as something that the other really would like, then it could be an excellent choice for giving. If it is simply to rid ourselves of something with absolutely no thought of the other, or to simply fill an obligation to give, then our motives are tacky at best, self-serving at worst. However, in the spiritual life re-gifting is not only considered a good thing, it is encouraged! Jesus taught that what we receive is supposed to be passed on. Holding possessively onto the gifts God gives means we have missed the key point in Jesus’ teaching (love); it is to misunderstand God’s gifts and graces, that they are not meant for us to possess, but rather to nurture, to learn from, and then to pass on to our brothers and sisters. In truth, we possess nothing, not even our own lives, but rather, through our Baptism we belong to the Lord as His adopted sons and daughters.* Rather than possessing anything, we are meant to be the stewards of what God gives and all is meant to be shared. That is to say, what we receive as a gift, we are to give as a gift.

A truth by which we should live is found in Jesus’ second discourse in Matthew’s Gospel: “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” When He commissioned them to go forth, Jesus told the Twelve to proclaim that the Kingdom of God is at hand. “Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.” (Matthew 10:5-8) Jesus also said to take no money, sack, second tunic, or walking stick as they traversed the countryside sharing the Good News in word and deed. For us as for them, to go forth in this way requires two things: a deep trust in God, and that what we are given is not meant to be held on to, but to be shared or given away. This truth incorporates the entirety of the Gospel and the life of Jesus: He held on to nothing and neither should His disciples. Remember that a short time before commissioning the Twelve He had said, “The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20), indicating that just as He laid everything down, we should be willing to let go of whatever we have, even to laying down our desires, our own will, and perhaps even our life.

As we grow spiritually we receive many gifts in the form of graces. These are intended to help us grow closer to the Lord, and therefore, to grow in holiness expressed through our movement outward to others in service. Thus, we share our time, talent, and treasure which becomes especially beneficial if we give sacrificially. This means that rather than only giving of our surplus, we sacrifice in a greater (more ‘heroic’) way, as Jesus would.** This includes more than material things, but also comprises our behaviors: respect for everyone including those who act as enemies, forgiving as we have been forgiven, listening as we have been listened to, serving as we have been served, offering mercy as we have received mercy, living justly with peace, and things of this sort. It is even greater if we offer these to those who are unable or even unwilling to return them to us; that is, the most sacrificial gifts are those given when there is no possibility of return whatsoever. To give in this way is to make a pure offering of love. 

Giving what we have received is actually an expression of gratitude to God. In thanksgiving to Him we return a portion, so to speak, by offering what we have received to others. However, to truly understand giving we must look at the often overlooked ‘art’ of being a good receiver. It takes humility to receive. If we are going to offer our gifts, we must let others offer theirs to us as well. If we do not receive humbly, we will be robbing the other of their ability to serve the Lord through their offered gifts, just as we are hoping to offer ours. This includes receiving from God; many people mistakenly believe they are not worthy of God’s gifts and are therefore actually refusing them. The art of giving always includes knowing how to receive. In short, we are called to live in love, sharing mutually with one another, gratefully receiving and gratefully giving. (Acts 4:32-35)

​Remember, we cannot give what we do not already have; we need to cultivate a relationship with God, approaching Him with an open heart and open arms in order to receive all that He wants to bestow. It is then that we can effectively go out to the world offering what we have received as gifts. And when we do this, our spiritual coffers will never be empty. Jesus said, “Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” (Luke 6:38) If we trust Jesus, our hearts will be filled with His love, an abundance that will increase as we share it with our neighbors. What we have received as a gift, let us give as a gift.

May we trust in the teaching and example of our Lord, entering more fully into discipleship through our receiving and our giving! May we be generous givers and humble receivers! And may we grow in holiness through the generosity of God’s love! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

​                      ©Michele L. Catanese

* The term "adopted sons and daughters" is about the change in our relationship with God that takes place when we are baptized. Adoption in this sense refers to the change in our fundamental relationship to one of deeper intimacy with God, as well as our new inclusion as members of the family we refer to as the Body of Christ.
​** See what Jesus said of the widow in the Temple who gave two small coins in comparison to the wealthy Pharisees. (Luke 21:1-4)

Images:
1. Painting; Cornucopia, artist unknown.
2. Painting; Jesus Missions the Apostles, by Duccio di Buoninsegna, (early 14th century)
3. My photo; while hiking in Colorado, near Silverthorne.
4. Icon; St. Martha of Bethany, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. One might think at first of Martha as being more of a doer than a receiver, but actually she learned from Jesus. Therefore, in my mind she is a patron not only of hospitality, but also of one who learned from this experience how to give generously so as to have open hands to receive from the Lord. You can find this icon at fineartamerica.com/featured/st-martha-of-bethany-william-hart-mcnichols.html
5. My photo; marketplace in Catania, in Sicily, Italy. 
​6. Painting; The Basket of Apples, by Paul Cézanne. (1895)

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. 

For those who are news-weary it is always wonderful to discover an uplifting story about true love. Sometimes it is about a couple who have been married for upwards of 50 years, or perhaps it tells of two people who found each other again after being separated for almost a lifetime; at other times it is a story of heroic friendship. Whichever it is, stories of true love usually concern two people who make a commitment, whether through a covenant or friendship, and do everything they can do to uphold it. Of course, we know that the people involved are far from perfect, but that it is in their willingness to bring out the best in one another and to work together during challenges that they are able to persevere despite their individual imperfections. All of this takes a lot of work over time, but through it all, love will grow richer and deeper as the two people grow. It is no different in our most important relationship, the one we have with God, in which it is necessary to develop our commitment through time spent with Him learning to hear and discern, grow in graces, ask forgiveness and to accept mercy offered. God thirsts for us in ways we cannot imagine. That is, He wants nothing less than our heart. 

Much has been written about how to develop a greater commitment to God and how to foster advancement in the spiritual life. The basics involve prayer, study, the Sacraments, keeping the Commandments, and working on humility, service, and love. However, rather than to emphasize our part, let’s reflect upon how God loves us. First, we must recognize that only God is capable of the true and perfect love of agape to which Jesus still wants us to aspire. That is, we can grow in love in incredible ways, but we will not love in the profoundly mysterious, complete way God does. This is not to say we should give up; on the contrary, growing in holiness and the spiritual life is our call and certainly God would not call us in this way if we had no chance at growth. While God’s mercy and forgiveness are greater than anything we can offer, His love is the basis of our inspiration to grow in love for Him in return. 

To begin, let’s reflect upon the incomparable, unfathomable true love God gives. Above all, this is found in the Eucharist from which all other Sacraments flow. The Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus is available through the greatest act of mercy and love ever offered. Every time we receive it, Jesus says, “I love you.” He wants us to rest in that love, opening our hearts to Him. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, through the absolution spoken by the priest, God says, “I am so glad you came, letting my mercy wipe clean the barriers and dirt that have accumulated. My child, I love you!” Likewise, the water of Baptism is the water of love. Though we may not have been able to ‘hear’ God’s voice with our ears, our hearts certainly heard: “My child, I love you.” When we read the Scriptures, every word and action of God contained there is God’s means of saying, “My children, I did all this because I love you.” When we go to Him in personal prayer and adoration, God says, “Thank you for wanting to spend time with me. I love you.” And finally as we grow in trust and the ability to see God in every stone, in every bit of nature, in people we encounter, that is, as we grow in holiness, we will better know it is God saying “I love you.” This includes the times of trouble, suffering, toil and pain: the more we learn to see and hear the ways God offers His love, the more we will recognize that He is with us especially in the most difficult of times.

The name of true love is God. St. John expresses this eloquently: “In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent His only Son into the world so that we might have life through Him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as expiation for our sins…. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.”(Full passage, 1 John 4:7-16) Further, St. Paul tells us that nothing can separate us from God’s love: “...neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Full passage Romans 8:28-39)

Let us pray with these and all of the passages of Scripture that speak to our hearts of God’s love. It is important that we consider the gifts that He offers daily, particularly those found in the liturgy, the Sacraments (especially Eucharist), in the lives of the saints, our brothers and sisters who are examples of the love of Christ, and through beauty. It is important that we learn to see and hear because God wants nothing less for us. It is in acknowledging His love that we will be inspired to grow in returning love, not as obligation, and not even due to our gratitude, (though that is important), but because our hearts are so overflowing with love for God, that we want nothing less than His Heart! 

May we become more aware of the true and perfect love God has for us! May we be inspired by grace to grow in receiving and offering love to God! May we want to offer nothing less than our heart to God! And may we want nothing less than His Heart in turn! Let us meet in the Heart of our Lord! Peace!

                                           ©Michele L. Catanese

Images:
1. My photo, Smoky Mountains, Tennessee.
2. Painting, Corporal Works of Mercy, artist unknown
3. Fresco Painting, The Last Supper, Giotto.
4. Image, Hebrew Name of Yahweh: Adam Kadmon, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. This is the Tetragrammaton (I AM WHO AM) with the Hebrew letters transposed over one another. If you wish to purchase a copy in one of many mediums, go to ​fineartamerica.com/featured/hebrew-name-of-yahweh-adam-kadmon-183-william-hart-mcnichols.html
​5. My photo, taken from behind a waterfall in the Smoky Mountains.
6. Stained Glass, Sacred Heart of Jesus.

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

Many years ago I had the blessing of meeting an older priest who had retired from active ministry, though he had permission to say one Mass every Sunday at a chapel in a converted barn on land belonging to his brother. It was an incredible gift to have met Monsignor,* especially since he was clearly holy, possessing many spiritual gifts, a man of humility and love. His holiness seemed natural to him, though I know it is something in which he grew throughout his life. I also know holiness (such as his) is natural insofar as it is something we are all called to and that we are all capable of attaining. Among other things, an important aspect of living a holy life is the importance of being an example. Someone who lives a holy life can and often does offer inspiration to others, encouraging spiritual growth through their words and deeds. Therefore, when we choose to work at growing in holiness, what we are choosing is to affect the lives of others through our witness. Of course, it is worth the effort for many reasons, but especially because our holiness pleases God.

Although our holiness does not really need the influence of another, (but only that of the Holy Spirit), it certainly helps to have good examples such as the Monsignor. Without holy ones to be as our spiritual heroes the seeds of holiness can remain ‘un-watered,’ diminishing the chances of development. Further, what we do gives witness to what is at the center of our hearts. If we believe that we can grow in holiness, then with effort we will. But if we believe there is no way we can become holy, then not only will we stunt our own growth, but there will be little to inspire others to work at it either. In other words, to be holy is not only a call, but in a way, it is our responsibility since as disciples our work is that of building the Kingdom. Additionally, our efforts at holiness are the best gifts we can offer to God as a gift of love.

To be holy means learning to love more fully and without restraint, that is, as Jesus taught, and to recognize our ‘threefold’ identity in God: we are children of the Father, disciples of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Once we have accepted our status in these ways and truly take ourselves and our call to discipleship seriously, committing more deeply to our covenantal relationship with God through the Sacraments, study, and prayer, putting into action what we learn and pray, then we are truly on the road to holiness. Given that holiness is about what grows in our heart, a point to ponder is the lasting effects of the love which is at the center of holiness and which marks us as true disciples of Jesus. In each of the parables found in Matthew 25, Jesus indicated that it is the quality of our love that will build the Kingdom, and it is what we will be judged on. Thus, we work at building the Kingdom by building upon the graces we have received; as we grow in holiness, we do that which Jesus has called us to do.

That being said, we must remember that in the Gospels Jesus made it clear that His disciples would have powerful spiritual gifts. So why don’t we take Him at His word? Jesus said: "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these….” (John 14:12) If we truly believe this, then we can and should be doing the greater things of which Jesus spoke. The works Jesus promised that His disciples would do were not just for the first century Church, but they were meant for all those who believe and have joined themselves to Him through Baptism. If we accept the entire message of the Gospels, and if we take to heart Jesus’ call and especially those very words of ‘doing greater things,’ it will happen.Therefore, we should be interceding by praying for healing of every sort and for issues of justice, teaching the Gospels in word and deed, helping the poor, and all the things Jesus said His disciples would do, and we should do it with the faith and belief that we can.** This does not mean our prayers and intentions will always provide the results we want, because what God does is based upon His wisdom and love, not ours. But Jesus said our faith will move mountains, so we should trust in Him enough to believe we can move them, first by praying, then by acting in ways that cooperate with that for which we have just prayed. In truth, it is His Holy Spirit working through the holy ones that moves mountains!

Many Saints have shown that the best way to grow in holiness is to be about doing small things with great love, though we should not limit ourselves: we can do the ‘big things’ with our love, too. Nonetheless, loving in small ways is something we can all do, and it is an effective way to begin. As love becomes our motivation, it will also become our power to persevere. It will enable our growth in humility and selflessness, leading to a habit of loving in greater ways than we thought possible. Simply put, holiness means to become as Christ: to not only put on the mind of Christ, but His heart as well. 

​May we desire to grow in holiness that we might become a witness to the Love of Jesus! May we be inspired by the lives of the holy ones to help move us to do greater things! And may we call upon the Lord to help us stay committed to the work of spiritual growth! Let us meet in the mind and heart of Jesus! Peace! 

​                                                        ©Michele L. Catanese

* The holy priest was Msgr. Francis P. Ferme of the Diocese of Brooklyn, NY. He passed away in 1984. He had a beautiful spirit about him, and it was clear that he was a man of prayer who cared deeply about his little flock. He also had many spiritual gifts that I witnessed firsthand. I was blessed to have known him and continue to pray for his intercession. For a bit more on him, go to https://stannsyonkers.org/history-of-st-anns
** You can find the greater things which Jesus spoke of in the commissioning of the apostles in the synoptic Gospels, specifically Matthew 10:1, 7-8; Mark 3:13-15 and Mark 6:7 ff; Luke 9:1-2; and finally the passage I quoted in its fullness, John:14-12-14. Also if you read the Acts of the Apostles you will see the fruit of Jesus’ words in the miracles the apostles were able to accomplish.

Images:
1. My photo, taken on the grounds of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. Holiness speaks to me of natural beauty.
2. Fresco painting, The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs, by Blessed Fra Angelico. (1423-1424), located in the church of San Domenico, Fiesole, near Florence, Italy.
3. Painting, The Prayer, by Vincent van Gogh. (1882)
4. Painting, Jesus Missions the Apostles, by Duccio di Buoninsegna, (circa 1300) 
5. Icon, St. Therese of Lisieux Doctor of the Church, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. The Little Way of St. Thérèse was all about doing small things with great love.This icon can be found at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/st-therese-of-lisieux-doctor-of-the-church-043-william-hart-mcnichols.html
6. My photo, Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg, TN.
​
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. 

About ten years ago a car accident took place in Missouri in which a priest appeared out of nowhere, prayed for a while with a young woman trapped inside her car, and then seemingly disappeared. The story went viral and yet no one seemed to know the priest, where he came from or where he went. Many speculated that he may have been an angel who came in response to the prayers of both the injured woman and the first responders whom she had asked to pray out loud for her. While there are many possible explanations, the fact that prayers for help were answered is an assurance that God intervened regardless of who it was that came and offered assistance. God can do all things and does send angels in many forms; they do not necessarily have to appear as winged beings as we most often think of them. Either way, it is important that we broaden our vision and recognize that not only do angels come among us, but that we may have already encountered them; that is, we may have “entertained angels unaware.” (Hebrews 13:2)

There are many stories recorded in the Scriptures that mention angels. One of the most significant is that of the three angels who visited Abraham and Sarah, (Genesis 18:1-15).*Abraham prepared a meal for them and gave them the greatest hospitality that he could offer. At the end of the meal the angels in disguise revealed that Sarah would bear a son in her advanced age. Another significant account is that of the Archangel sent by God in the story of Tobias: the Archangel Raphael appeared as a man named Azariah in answer to the prayer of the recently blinded Tobias while simultaneously answering the prayer of a young woman named Sarah who begged for help because she was tormented by a demon. (Book of Tobit) The Gospels also mention angels numerous times, so we can correctly ascertain that angels continue to serve God by rendering aid to those who pray for help. 

However, what the writer of Hebrews was saying was less about real angels than it was about how we should treat all those who we welcome into our homes and our churches. In other words, the real message is that we should recognize the possibility that we might be the assistance God provides for someone who is in need. In this way we are to act like the angels insofar as we are called to humbly serve, not waiting for someone else to do what we might be able to do. To be as an angel means we act selflessly in love, perhaps by simply being present and listening to the other, offering comfort and assistance if necessary. To be as an angel means that we open our hearts to others, inviting them in, so to speak, which does not always mean something dramatic is going on the other person’s life or that we are to do anything outwardly heroic; rather, it means we are totally present to the other and we offer the refreshment of friendship and care. 

Two aspects come to mind concerning acting in love and selfless service. First, we might be the ‘host’ who is to offer hospitality in our welcome to the stranger or friend. "Entertaining angels unaware" implies that we should always act with hospitality of the heart, treating everyone with respect as welcomed guests would be treated. Jesus clearly valued this kind of behavior, something we see in a dramatic encounter He had in which He was the guest at the home of a rich man. A penitent woman washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, and then anointed them with costly oil. When the host criticized her, Jesus responded that this host had not greeted Him appropriately, and had neglected to wash His feet and anoint Him on the head, (customary at the time), pointing out his lack of hospitality. (Luke 7:36-50) The second aspect, one we often miss, is that of knowing how to be a good guest. The guest should graciously accept the hospitality offered and be clear in his/her gratitude. And at a larger gathering, a guest (this pertains to all of us) also needs to remember that when they enter a room, they are not the most important person in it! Therefore, guests should act accordingly, with humility and respect to the host and anyone else present: each of the other guests is also a child of God and therefore is as ‘an angel in disguise.’ If we come in thinking ourselves as the first, then as Jesus says, we will be the last. (Matthew 20:16) Even if we are the sole guest, we are to remain gracious and humble, just as Jesus was when He was eating and drinking with His friends. 

It would be good to pray with the Scriptures (particularly the Gospels) which refer to hospitality, reflecting upon our own behavior when we are the host and when we are the guest. Hospitality is an important component of discipleship and it can make a difference in the lives of those who we meet. We may never know when we have made such a positive impression that it sparks someone to conversion in some way or another. Instead of 'entertaining angels unaware' we should treat each one as if he or she is an esteemed guest; it is something we can do whether it is in our actual home, or simply by inviting others into the domicile of our heart. When we welcome the guest, we also welcome Christ.

May we act with love in entertaining the ‘angels’ we encounter! May we grow in self-awareness, discerning when we need to speak and when we need to listen! And may we be as Christ to others, recognizing when they are as Christ to us! Let us continue to meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                                 ©Michele L. Catanese



* The angels in this encounter were in reality the Holy Trinity. Also, remember that at the time of this event, Abraham and Sarah were still called by their original names, Abram and Sarai. Their names were changed by God later as a sign of their new mission.

Images:
1. My photo; Summer sky in Texas.
2. Icon; The Holy Trinity by St. Andre Rublev.
3. My photo; Charcuterie  Board, Ragusa, Sicily. The charcuterie board and a glass (or two) of wine is the quintessential Italian hospitality feast.
4. Painting, The Penitent Woman by James Tissot.
5. Painting, Cottage Hospitality by William Collins (1824-1889)
6. Image; Holy Theologian Bernard Lonergan by Fr. William Hart McNichols. In a symbolic way, the ‘angels’ are a depiction of the Holy Trinity, in this case, coming to the aid of Fr. Lonergan, one of the great Catholic theologians. It is reminiscent of those that came to Abraham and Sarah. You can find this at ​fineartamerica.com/featured/holy-theologian-bernard-lonergan-122-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. 

 It is all too often that we see or hear about something that disparages Christianity or belief in God in some way. And sadly there are times when the derision is directed at us personally because of our adherence to the faith. Indeed, it is difficult when it is personal, but let us remember that detractors are as loved by God as those who are faithful. This means that while we are called to stand up for our faith, we must do so with love and respect, even in the face of disrespect, just as Jesus did. Certainly seeing people reject a merciful and compassionate God ought to move us to sadness, but as Jesus taught, we are not to be rude in return; rather, we are to respond peacefully as the situation warrants. What we do should be visibly identifiable as Christian and we should speak respectfully, but without watering down our beliefs. That said, I will not sugarcoat this: even if – (perhaps especially if) – we act in love and humility, it will cost us. Indicating the cost in discipleship Jesus said, “No servant is greater than their master,” (John 15:20). This means we are to do as He did, ‘washing the feet’ of all our neighbors (including our enemies) with actions of love, mercy, forgiveness, and welcome no matter what the response of the world may be.

Some of the most remarkable figures in the history of Christianity are the martyrs, the ones who chose the ultimate cost of discipleship. While they died for the faith, it is only one part of their response to His call. In other words, they did not set out to be martyrs, but chose it when they were put in a position in which they saw it as the only way to remain faithful to Jesus. While we might not be martyred through blood as they were, all disciples are called to another type of martyrdom* which comes as a result of attacks upon our practices and beliefs. If we desire to be disciples and claim to be Christian, we can be sure that we will be counted among these. An example is found in the lives of four holy women, Saints Barbara, Margaret of Antioch, Dorothea (Dorothy), and Catherine of Alexandria, all martyrs of the 3rd and 4th centuries. Not much is known about any of them, except for a common theme: they were virgins, and the purity with which they lived in some way contributed to their martyrdom. All of them died because they refused to sacrifice to the gods, which meant renouncing their belief in Jesus Christ and their adherence to Christianity, and also, each of them refused to marry a pagan man. What we know of these women reveals that purity was not just an issue of the body, but an interior virtue, a purity of intention which was expressed through their virginity. In this, they challenge us to look at our own purity of intention and whether we are willing to be made fun of, shunned, betrayed, or to fight temptations away from our faith because of our adherence to the gospel and love for Jesus. As disciples of Jesus we must expect challenges because we go to Church every Sunday, do works of mercy, do not hide or apologize for having faith,** and have moral values that we will not compromise just to ‘fit in.’ We must be willing to go against the culture which falsely professes that everything is okay and nothing is sinful. If we do so, we will sustain some scrapes and bruises on our hearts, but we will be living as true disciples.

​The most painful assaults are those that come from our family members (or even friends) who do not hold the same beliefs and deride us for our dedication. It is true that the worst attack always comes from within: Jesus was betrayed by one of His inner circle, that is, one of His chosen apostles. Even though He knew in advance, it was still exceedingly painful for Him, and therefore He understands how we feel when we experience it. When we do, however, we are to count ourselves as blessed. Jesus said: “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you, and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me.” (Matthew 5:11) If we desire to live our faith with conviction, we must prepare to be challenged for doing so. But we can take comfort in knowing that those who made the ultimate sacrifice and those (perhaps like us) who have been ridiculed for having faith, are blessed and are promised that “the reward will be great in Heaven.” We should rejoice and be glad because of this. (Matthew 5:12) 

​It is important that we build each other up, supporting our brothers and sisters in Christ when challenges are directed at our faith. We should never lose sight of the gospel message of Jesus, and when it gets rough, we can count on the Holy Spirit being present with the strength of grace to help us remain faithful. Jesus said: “Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say…. it will be… the Spirit of the Father who will be speaking through you.” (Matthew 10:19ff) With this promise we can always trust in Him that indeed we are not alone, and in fact, we are truly blessed. In trusting Jesus, we await the reward of being with Him forever in Heaven.

May we rejoice in the witness of the martyrs, taking courage for our own efforts to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ! May we give glory to God by our steadfast love and commitment to Him! And may we continue to build up the Kingdom by witnessing to love through our word and deed! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                                ©Michele L. Catanese

* Martyrdom that results in death is referred to as red martyrdom, or bloody martyrdom. Martyrdom such as I described in which we suffer interiorly rather than physically is referred to as white martyrdom, or bloodless martyrdom.
** I am referring to an emotional response: ‘Apologizing for having faith’ is when we do not assert our beliefs when we can or should, or that we underplay it, or even compromise it by watering it down, usually in conversation and sometimes even in what we do or fail to do. In effect, our words and actions portray that we are embarrassed by the faith rather than that we are dedicated to it. Therefore, it is as if we are asking another to forgive us for believing in a way contrary to them so as not to ‘make waves’ or be seen as ‘not fitting in.’ Christianity has always been counter-cultural. (To be clear: theologically when you hear ‘apologizing for the faith’ it is referring to the use of apologetics to defend the faith, which is something we should do!)

Note: If you desire more on the women mentioned who are referred to collectively as the Four Capital Virgins you can go to:
St. Dorothy, https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=221
St. Catherine of Alexandria, https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=341
St. Barbara, https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=166
St. Margaret of Antioch, https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=199

Images:
1. My photo; the island of Ortigia, Siracusa, in Sicily, Italy. This shows St. Paul’s Catholic Church on the right with the dome, partially occluded by another building, across the street from Roman ruins of a temple. (It is said St. Paul preached on the spot of where the church stands today.) The contrast between pagan belief and Christianity is obvious here.
2. Panel Painting; The Four Capital Virgins (Heilige Jungfrauen), by Ulrich Mair (1480-90). It is in the “Middle Ages Collection” at  the Alpinmuseum, Kempten H1 in Germany. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alpinmuseum_Kempten_Hl_Jungfrauen_1485.jpg
(Printed with permission: licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.)
3. Oil Painting; Approaching Storm, Dog Point, 1914 by Tom Thompson.
4. Image; The Holy Spirit The Lord the Giver of Life The Paraclete Sender of Peace, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-holy-spirit-the-lord-the-giver-of-life-the-paraclete-sender-of-peace-093-william-hart-mcnichols.html
5. My photo; roadside waterfall near Flam, Norway. 

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

I have come to really enjoy working with my fitness trainer. Because she knows her craft so well and is especially attentive as I do each exercise, she has helped me to grow in strength and balance. In order for me to grow she gives me challenging workouts, and rightly so, or else I would not be gaining anything except some fun conversation twice a week. Plainly put, this means there is some measure of ‘pain’ involved. Let me be clear: it is beneficial discomfort, an important part of the process of becoming fitter. When my muscles were tight during one particular session, as she stretched them she told me to “relax into the pain.” She was right: once I stopped fighting it and went with it, the pain seemed to lose its power. This bit of wisdom also applies to our spiritual life. When we are struggling with an issue, memory, wound, or character weakness that needs strengthening, or when we experience dryness in prayer, we have to go into it, to face it head-on and then work it through with disciplined prayer. There is no way around it, only through it. We do not have to do this alone: if we trust God enough to share our pain and struggle with Him, the healing and strengthening will come. A way to do this is to enter into the wounds of Christ, to pray with the mystery of His suffering. What this does is to help us change our interior disposition toward our pain which then enables us to persevere and even suffer with joy knowing He is intimately with us.​*

To enter into the wounds of Christ is not to deny the presence of our pain by pretending it is suddenly gone. Instead, we join our suffering to His, embracing our pain rather than fighting it. Entering into the wounds of Christ is transformative: through Him, we do experience our pain, but we learn to experience our pain differently. It means to enter into His Heart, letting Him hold and transform us through the power of His mercy and love. We know this, yet we often forget that the power of His wounds is in the love with which He bore them for us. Therefore, His wounds can teach us more about what love really is: it is sacrificial, humble, and selfless, and by entering in, we are empowered to love more like He does. Just as with my trainer who sometimes holds on to me to prevent me from losing my balance, we can rely on Jesus to do the same. He does not do the work for us, but He helps with the transformation of our hearts: the stronger we become, the more we trust that when suffering breaks open our hearts, they are actually expanding in compassion, helping us to develop a disposition of mercy and forgiveness, becoming less judgmental and more selfless. That is, our own suffering can help us to become more sensitive to the suffering of others, to have a deeper understanding which transcends our focus on self and directs us to lift up others. If we let it, suffering becomes a transfiguration of heart which will transform and deepen how we love.

Just as fitness training requires discipline and strenuous work, so do our spiritual practices.** The spiritual life, particularly prayer, requires discipline, and yes, sometimes hard work. If we truly want to grow in intimacy with God and in spiritual strength we have to remember that spirituality is not a separate part of our lives, but permeates the whole of who we are. Therefore, we must prioritize prayer as part of every day. Sometimes we will find prayer dry, even painful, and when this happens we can enter into the wounds of Christ, just being with Him in the silence. In one of His discourses Jesus said, “…unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” (John 12:24) In other words, if we do not suffer a little in this process of growing spiritually, especially in letting go of that which holds us bound, then we will not have the new life of holiness that we are offered. The pain of this ‘death’ is temporary, even if it does not feel like that at the moment. As St. Paul said, “This slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure.” (2Cor 4:17)

Entering into the wounds of Christ teaches us to love as Jesus does, a love to which all disciples are called. To suffer within the wounds of Christ, in the Silence of our God who knows all things, always moves us outwards in selflessness. To love this way will involve pain from time to time, but it always leads to the joy of new spiritual strength, a deeper sense of how loved by God we truly are, and it leads to growth in holiness. Just as the work of physical training is arduous and requires a bit of sweat and encouragement, guidance, and goals to meet, our spiritual life is no different. And just as my trainer accompanies me, our spiritual hard work is always accompanied by the Lord. If we intentionally enter into the wounds of Jesus, we will also be entering into His Heart. It will make us stronger, especially in the most challenging areas of love, and it will give us the peace we long for as we rest in Him alone. 

May we enter into the wounds of Christ to have our hearts transformed! May we find healing and wholeness within the wounds of Christ! May we persevere in the hard work of growing in the spiritual life, particularly in our prayer! And may we be true disciples as agents of healing and bearers of His love! Let us meet within the Wounds of Christ! Peace!

                              ©Michele L. Catanese



* A note on suffering with joy: When we let go, or relax into it, the pain no longer has power over us and we rise above it. This is how one suffers with joy, an often misunderstood concept. The joy we experience when entering into the wounds of Christ is not emotional, but spiritual because we allow His sacrificial love to empower us to persevere through just about anything. It is also important to remember that we are never to choose suffering for its own sake. Suffering comes unbidden, but rather than avoiding it or denying it, we can join ourselves to the Lord, offering our struggle in the silence of prayer as a gift to Him. Entering into His wounds is to come into deeper understanding of the gift Jesus gave us in our salvation and it is to respond by extending that love to others through acts of sacrifice, forgiveness, toil, and justice. On the surface, this is difficult to embrace, but as with physical conditioning, the result is growth, particularly growth into a deeper experience of the Love of God accompanied by a more profound experience of extending that love to our brothers and sisters. ~ Also, depending on the wound or weakness being worked through, a trained spiritual director can help a directee to work through spiritual issues.
** In a striking passage in The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Ignatius says that God labors for us. What follows are exercises (meditations) that teach how we, too, can labor for God.* In other words, God works for us that we might come to know and love Him better, to which we respond through our hard work of service.

Images:
1. Drawing; The Prayer, by Vincent van Gogh (1882) You can find some information on this drawing at https://www.vincentvangogh.org/the-prayer.jsp
2. Fresco painting; The Resurrection (Empty Tomb) by Blessed Fra Angelico. The resurrection, beginning with their encounter with the angel, taught the women to experience their pain differently. You will notice Mary the Mother of Jesus added to the left corner by the artist.)​
3. My photo; taken in Granna, Sweden.
4. Icon, Nuestro Salvador de las Sandias by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can find this icon at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/nuestro-salvador-de-las-sandias-012-william-hart-mcnichols.html
5. My photo; sunset in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

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.

An unfortunate trend these days is the need to be known. With the rise of social media we are aware that some folks are willing to do all sorts of things in order to be noticed, often desiring to become instantly famous. Some of it seems quite harmless, but there is a great danger here. As Christians we remember that Jesus taught His disciples to serve humbly, which means that our intention should be for our good deeds to be done in a hidden way. Clearly, social media does not encourage humility, and while there are some celebrities who do manage to live humbly, it is quite difficult to avoid getting caught up in what can become an addiction to attention. Interestingly, humble ones sometimes do find themselves in a ‘spotlight’ that they have not sought. This is true of many of the saints who only desired to serve Jesus yet ended up catching the attention of those around them. For the holy, fame is unattractive; they put no small effort into avoiding it since they recognize it as both a temptation and a distraction from the path of humility. Therefore, if we desire to grow in holiness, it is this path, the path of humility, upon which we should set our sights.

The need to be known usually stems from the need to be validated. The saints were not immune to this condition, but rather, they allowed God to form them by letting go of self as they immersed themselves in Him. A great example of this is Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897) who was incredibly self-centered as a child, but overcame it with the help of grace. She struggled with the need to be the center of attention, but the turning point came through some overheard comments made by her father one Christmas; it stung deeply, but in that moment she surrendered all of her desires to the Lord completely. Thérèse went on to enter the Carmelites at 15, leading a hidden life of service through prayer. In one of the most important moments of her religious life, she realized that her vocation was love, a recognition which moved her to work at perfecting her love by perfecting her humility. If not for her Superior recognizing her holiness and requiring her to write her autobiography, St. Thérèse would have died in total obscurity. Today she is one of the most beloved of all the Saints.

We can see that part of what makes one holy is humility, and while there are many such holy people, our focus will be limited to two other Saints, each of whom lived in different centuries, but whose lives bear striking similarities. First is St. Alphonsus Rodriquez (1533-1617) who touched many lives as he happily did menial work. Early in his life St. Alphonsus suffered greatly; he had been married, but lost his wife, three children, and his business all in a short period of time. A few years later when he desired to enter the Jesuits as a priest, he was considered unsuitable. However, instead of succumbing to disappointment, he became a brother and embraced life as a humble doorkeeper at the Jesuit college in Majorca, finding joy in serving those he encountered. Similarly, St. André Bessette (1845-1937) entered the Congregation of Holy Cross as a brother rather than as a priest due to poor health and poor education. He, too, overcame disappointment, and joyfully spent his life as a porter at Notre Dame College in Montreal. St. André became known for his healing prayers which drew many people to seek out this ‘lowly’ doorkeeper.  

​All three of these saints would have remained hidden, one as an obscure nun, and two as lowly doorkeepers, except that God wanted others to know about them so that they could touch lives and inspire humility. What is most important is the source of their love: Jesus. He taught His disciples the way of love through His words and deeds, even humbly suffering and dying out of love for us. As St. Paul wrote, in pouring Himself out the act of love is so immense and extravagant that at the name of Jesus Christ every knee must bow. (Philippians 2:1-11) Through Jesus’ great act of humility we are immersed into the Heart of the Lord who is Love. We learn two important lessons from this: first, that humility is an expression of love, and second, that the most loving acts are those that cannot be repaid. Thus, the path of humility and the path of love are one.* If we desire to travel this path, to grow in holiness through humility, we must put the gospel of Jesus into action in a real and tangible way. 

It is important for us to examine our actions and our consciousness daily to uncover which areas are wounded, where we have perceived ourselves to be less than we are, that which discourages us from service, or what fuels a desire for recognition.** To grow in love of others we have to grow in true love of self, which means to see ourselves as we really are; that is, to see ourselves as God does. Once we can accept ourselves as who we are and we are able to let the Holy Spirit work within us, we will have the freedom to express our love through humility. To the humble, everyone around them is seen as Christ, the Beloved whom they want to serve with all their heart.*** Let us seek to grow in humility, and therefore in love, walking the path which is the very same one upon which Jesus walks.

May we ask for the grace to walk the path of humility! May we be inspired by the saints who walked this path! And may we examine our consciousness daily so we might grow into the holy ones we are intended to be! Let us meet in the heart of Jesus! Peace!

                           ©Michele L. Catanese

* See another wonderful passage from St. Paul in which he sums up what love is, 1 Corinthians 13. In verses 4 and 5 he indicates that love seeks no reward: love is humble. 
** One of the best methods for this is the Examen written by St. Ignatius Loyola in The Spiritual Exercises.
*** The mistake many make is to think that to be humble we need to abase ourselves or see everyone else as better than we are. That is totally false. To be humble is to see oneself as God does, that is, with love and mercy, and as we look outward at others, to see them as Christ. 
Further notes:
-The autobiography of St. Thérèse is called The Story of A Soul. The Christmas incident took place in 1886 and is described in Chapter 5; she called it the “Grace of Christmas.”
-If you are interested in more on St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, SJ you can go to https://www.jesuits.global/saint-blessed/saint-alphonsus-rodriguez/
​Also, here is a link in which the author says, "Here is perhaps the humblest, meekest, most unpresuming saint ever!  He embodies one of my favorite quotes from the Psalms: “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Psalm 84:10.
After this is a beautiful poem written about St. Alphonsus by Gerard Manley Hopkins, (one of my favorite poets): https://carinyademaria.wordpress.com/2014/10/29/saint-of-the-day-alphonsus-rodriguez/
-The comment on St. Alphonsus and Psalm 84 can be applied to St. André Bessette, too:  https://holycrosscongregation.org/holy-ones/st-andre-bessette/ 
Images:
1. Photo taken by my husband: with our guide while hiking a path on the north side of Mt. Etna. (That's me behind the guide.) Sicily, Italy.   
2. My photo of an original photo of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. (She is holding a card with the images that reflect her name in religious life: Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face.) I took this photo at an exhibition at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. 
3. Image, St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, SJ, artist unknown. 
4. Painting, Pond in Sunbeams 2019, by Aleksandr Dubrovsky.
5. Photo, St. André Bessette, CSC (Holy Cross community photographer)
6. Icon, Our Lady of Silence, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. To be silent and listen is an act of humility. If you are interested you can find this icon at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/our-lady-of-silence-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. 

We have heard the adage that absence makes the heart grow fonder. There is truth to this when we are physically away from someone with whom we are in a relationship with a solid foundation. However, if we are totally disconnected, never thinking of the other because we are also absent mentally and emotionally, rather than making the heart grow fonder, the relationship will erode and then die out. In short, our priorities will have shifted so much that ‘the other’ ceased to be important. This behavior reveals something about the nature of that relationship in the first place, and if it is a recurring pattern, it gives light to the nature of one’s ability to commit to the work of maintaining relationships. As difficult as this is between people when it occurs, it is much more challenging when we behave like this with God. There is no substitute for God, however, and to put someone or something before Him can be disastrous.* There is none more reliable and steadfast in love than God, so the good news is that if we do move away from Him, God will always take us back. He is faithful, resilient, merciful and unchanging in His love. 

Unfortunately, a consequence of sin and our brokenness is that our priorities can (and do) get ‘out of whack’ through a gradual movement away which we hardly notice. Inadvertently we fill our time with so much that we do not have time for God or prayer, or we simply become lax, such that our relationship with God suffers. At other times, we become attached to things that we put before God without even realizing it. It is good to continuously examine our relationships and priorities to make sure this is not happening, and if it is, we can take steps to change, asking the Lord to help us to do so. Something that can help is from St. Ignatius of Loyola who taught that our memory is an important tool in our spiritual life. Without memory of the graces and consolations we have previously received, we can literally forget how much we need God, how gratuitous He is, and subsequently lose sight of the great gift of the love and mercy which He freely offers. Memory helps us to better see how much God has done for us, helping us to persevere when we are challenged. St. Ignatius said to also remember the times of desolation when we did not feel God’s presence and how hollow that was; we learn to recognize that whatever we put before God cannot really satisfy our longing. 

Ironically, what takes place when we fill our longings with things that fail to satisfy such as putting people, material things, or acclaim first in our lives, is that we really are longing for the only thing that can satisfy us: God. Therefore, our longing is actually a gift if we recognize it as such. A good exercise to help with this is to remember the time when we were not able to attend our churches during the pandemic. We longed to be fed and pined for the fellowship that was previously enjoyed; we longed for our brothers and sisters with whom we share in the faith, and perhaps we realized how much we need each other. Many also longed for a way to serve as they had done previously. We had no communion in any way, neither in the Eucharist nor through being present with our parish families, our worship communities. This type of longing was actually a good thing because it heightened our realization of the greatness of the gift we have been given in our faith, our brothers and sisters in our faith family, the clergy who serve so selflessly and hopefully it deepened our sense of gratitude when we returned. The reality is that longing is actually a grace when it is hope-filled. Yes, our communities here on earth are imperfect, but what we should continue to always long for is the perfected community which is to come, but of which we are already a part. Our communities are meant to be continual reminders of this.

The last thing we hear at the end of Mass is from the deacon, a reminder of Jesus’s commission to make disciples: “Glorify the Lord with your life.” We glorify the Lord when we build the Kingdom, thus we are being reminded that the liturgy is meant to continue through us as we bring Jesus outward in our service. Those words echo Jesus’ commission when He told the apostles to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you….” (Matthew 28: 18-20)** That is, the last thing Jesus told His disciples prior to His Ascension is that we are to build the Kingdom by word and deed. Our humble acts of love and mercy will draw others to Him and this, of course, glorifies God. Perhaps we can reflect upon what it means to be such a disciple, asking ourselves whether or in what ways we are glorifying the Lord with our lives. It would also be good to reflect upon the gift of our church families. We have a great gift in our worship communities because we find God in our rituals and in the brothers and sisters who form our extended family. Let us rejoice in this gift as we look forward to the day when we will be gathered together in Heaven.

​May we have faith in God and always seek to be united with Him! May we never cease to long with hope for a deeper relationship with the Lord! May we glorify the Lord with our lives! And may we be filled with gratitude for our faith communities in the One Body of Christ! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                   ©Michele L. Catanese

* When we look for happiness outside of God not only can we get further from Him, but we can come to spiritual and even physical harm. To put nothing before God was given to us as the first of the 10 Commandments given by God out of love and care for His children. God knows that only the power of His mercy and love can save us. All else will tempt us with hollow lies, but they are, in fact, just that: lies. All we have to do is look to the stories in the Old Testament to see how many times the people got in trouble because they tried to find a substitute for God. All those instances ended in disaster. Only when they listened to God did they find peace and prosperity.
** See the entire passage: Jesus told the apostles to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” This means we are to live the gospel He taught and thereby evangelize in word and deed, building up the Body of Christ. But notice how He prefaced this commission: “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore….” This implies that He shares His power with us, that is, the grace to live the commission that He then stated. And after He gave the commission, Jesus concluded by saying “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 19-20) Everything we do includes Him, and He will help us see it through.

Images:
1. My photo, sunrise at 39,000 feet, taken from a plane as we were flying into Denmark.
2. Drawing, St. Ignatius at Prayer in Rome, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you would like to purchase a copy of this drawing you can find it at fineartamerica.com/featured/st-ignatius-at-prayer-in-rome-william-hart-mcnichols.html
3. My photos, on the banks of a fjord in Norway.
4. Painting, The Ascension of Jesus by James Tissot.
5. My photo, a sunset in my neighborhood.

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 the depth of the mercy and love of God can boggle our mind. I remember a conversation I had with someone who really struggled with it. She became quite animated, saying that she simply could not understand how God could be so forgiving or how He could love so much, and that it made no sense to her. It seemed to me that she was a lot closer to the truth of God’s mercy than she realized. This is because God’s love is completely incomprehensible and unfathomable; there is no way we can know its depths because God cannot be encapsulated into a description or definition. God is the infinite One, who therefore is limitless in His mercy: He is love and He is mercy. On the other hand, our minds are limited, and so we simply cannot ever understand this great and wonderful mystery. Thus, we should be overwhelmed and awed by the mercy of God. Rather than trying to conceptualize this reality, it is better to experience it through a relationship with Him, letting Him reveal His love as He will, allowing it to penetrate our hearts, forming us into people of love and mercy. Therefore, instead of ‘spinning our wheels’ trying to understand the unknowable, it is better to gratefully accept it as a gift beyond description, and then rejoice in it.*

There are many reasons why we struggle to accept the reality that God’s mercy is so great. Sometimes it is because we experience guilt as a result of our sin, a temptation that gives rise to feelings that we do not deserve His forgiveness or mercy.** No matter how ‘bad’ or serious we think our weaknesses, sins, or past actions have been, refusing to forgive ourselves is refusing God’s love. By doing so we are (wittingly or unwittingly) acting as if we know better than God. We are deciding that our judgment is more accurate than His by condemning ourselves when all God wants to do is set us free! The reality is that He forgives us much more readily than we forgive ourselves. In the Gospels, Jesus told Peter and the other apostles that they were to forgive someone 77 times (or 70 x 7 times) which basically means that we are to forgive without limit. He taught that this is so because God forgives us that way. Just think of how many sins all the people of the world have committed throughout history. If it could be counted, the number would be far greater than 77 times for each person, and yet, God never ‘runs out’ of mercy. This limitless mercy is a consistent theme in the teaching of Jesus and is often found in His parables, such as the Lost Son, the Good Samaritan, and the Unforgiving Servant. (Luke 15; Matthew 18:21-35) One that is particularly pointed in revealing that God does not do things as humans do is the parable of God’s generosity: the workers who are all paid equal amounts even though they do not work the same amount of time. (Matthew 20:1-16) This shows that God’s wisdom, as well as the mercy that flows from it, is so great that it is far beyond anything we can comprehend. 

St. Faustina (the saint of God’s mercy), repeatedly referred to the ‘oceans of mercy’ with which God is filled. In her Diary she wrote, “Let no one doubt concerning the goodness of God; even if a person's sins were as dark as night, God's mercy is stronger than our misery.” She continued, “One thing alone is necessary: that the sinner set ajar the door of his heart, be it ever so little, to let in a ray of God's merciful grace, and then God will do the rest.” (#1507) St. Faustina was describing how God’s mercy is healing and that it can change our lives little by little, or even all at once, as God sees fit. She went on to say that while our sins are why Jesus suffered so much in the Garden of Gethsemane, He still accepted them all and carried it to the Cross in order to redeem us. Therefore, to refuse His mercy because it seems too good to be true is to rob ourselves of the entire point of why He came. And even if we do deny His mercy, God is unrelenting: He will continue to offer it anyhow, especially when we see Him face to face at the end of our life. 

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy (given to St. Faustina by Jesus) is a beautiful and powerful prayer that I suggest we make part of our daily prayer.*** I have heard that the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy are the two most powerful weapons we have against the powers of evil. I also believe that the more we pray the Chaplet, the more we meditate on God’s mercy, and the more we meditate on God’s mercy, the more we open ourselves up to offering that mercy to others, too. Mercy is at the heart of Christian love and it is a hallmark of discipleship. Perhaps we can spend time meditating on Divine Mercy, praying the Chaplet, and asking for the grace to be filled with the mercy and love of God, especially when we are most challenged by evil, disappointment, or betrayal. If we experience mercy rather than trying to understand it, we are more likely to become channels of it, allowing mercy to transform us into humble disciples. When we do this, we grow in holiness, becoming filled with gratitude in knowing this kind of love is only possible through Him.

May we be open to the Divine Mercy of God so that our lives are transformed! May we ask the intercession of St. Faustina that we might receive the merciful healing graces we need! And may we become people of mercy and love! Let us meet in the merciful heart of Jesus! Peace!

                                ©Michele L. Catanese

Notes:
* I like this description of mystery: “It is not the human mind that grasps God: the divine majesty grasps us.” (A Concise Dictionary of Theology by Gerald O’Collins, SJ and Edward G. Farrugia, SJ
** To be clear, guilt is not helpful  because it usually is a response in which we tear ourselves down or carry a burden we refuse to let go of. Rather, sorrow for our sin is a freeing response. Guilt is anger turned against ourselves such that we ‘beat ourselves up’ about what we have done, etc. Sorrow is when we have remorse, a desire to not sin in the same way again because we have offended God. In guilt we turn inward; in sorrow we turn outward, desiring to be healed, to grow because of our love of God. 
*** The Chaplet of Divine Mercy: https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/pray-the-chaplet
Finally, here is a prayer composed by St. Faustina that is a wonderful way to pray for the grace of mercy.

A Prayer of St. Faustina
May the greatest of all divine attributes, that of Your unfathomable mercy, pass through my heart and soul to my neighbor.
Help me, O Lord, that my eyes may be merciful, so that I man never suspect or judge from appearances, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbors’ souls and come to their rescue.
Help me, that my ears may be merciful, so that I may give heed to my neighbors’ needs and not be indifferent to their pains and moanings.
Help me, O Lord, that my tongue may be merciful, so that I should never speak negatively of my neighbor, but have a word of comfort and forgiveness for all.
Help me, O Lord, that my hands may be merciful and filled with good deeds, so that I may do only good to my neighbors and take upon myself the most difficult and toilsome tasks.
Help me, that my feet may be merciful, so that I may hurry to assist my neighbor, overcoming my own fatigue and weariness (…)
Help me, O Lord, that my heart may be merciful so that I myself may feel all the sufferings of my neighbor. (…)
May Your mercy, O Lord, rest upon me.” (#163, Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul)
https://divinemercy.life/the-prayers-of-saint-faustina/#:~:text=May%20the%20greatest%20of%20all,and%20come%20to%20their%20rescue
Images:
1. My photo of a rain cloud coming in over the ocean at Grand Cayman. 
2. Painting, The Good Samaritan by Vincent van Gogh.
3. Photo of St. Faustina Kowalska. I love her wry smile in this photo.
4. Icon, Mary Mother of Mercy (Dedicated to Pope Francis in the Year of Mercy) by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can find this at fineartamerica.com/featured/mary-mother-of-mercy-dedicated-to-pope-francis-in-this-year-of-mercy-289-william-hart-mcnichols.html
5. Painting, Divine Mercy. This was the image St. Faustina had painted at Jesus instructions. It is how she saw Him.

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. 

Studying our family history is a pursuit which can offer many insights, hopefully helping us to see our ancestors as real people rather than viewing them as a gene pool from which we have emerged. While the events of our ancestors’ lives and their personalities will remain mostly unknown, they are part of our history and we are connected to them. Recently I asked the help of a friend who is quite adept at genealogy work if he would investigate some of my family tree. Delighted at what he found, it subsequently inspired reflection upon the genealogy of Jesus presented in the Gospels. Just as with our families of origin, the list of Jesus' ancestors is important, perhaps more than many may realize. It reveals a tremendous amount about God’s plan of salvation, a continually unfolding plan that includes each of us. It suggests that all along God intended our inclusion in the Body of Christ, that our lives are affected by those who came before, and that we, too, will affect the lives that come after us. In short, we are rooted as one in and through Jesus: we are connected, and we all belong.

When reading the Gospels, it is tempting to skip past the genealogy of Jesus to get to the 'more relevant stuff,’ but I must insist: this is the ‘relevant stuff.’ The Gospel writers were intentional in recording only that which was essential to understanding Jesus and His teaching. There is nothing superfluous or without revelatory meaning in any part of Scripture: every word is important. Therefore, we should pay attention to the genealogy as much as any other part of the gospel. If we look to Matthew we will see that beginning with Abraham, he divided the list of Jesus’ ancestors into groups of 14 generations, not to give an exact, exhaustive list, but to symbolically express that God had a plan from the beginning for His Son to enter the world, and that Jesus is the fulfillment of those promises.* Matthew, a Jewish convert writing for a community of Jewish converts, knew that his readers would understand that message, which was not only about their past and present, but was also a message of hope for the future: God’s plan includes future generations who factor into the continuation of that which was laid out from the beginning. Thus, no matter what it seems like, no matter how dire things appear, God has a plan of which we are part that will end with victory and joy. And in this plan, “even the hairs of your head are counted.” (Matthew 10:30)

Luke’s genealogy contains some different names than we find in Matthew. And while Matthew emphasized Jesus’ connection to Abraham, Luke went further, connecting Jesus all the way back to Adam, from whom we all descend. Luke, a Greek convert writing for a community of Greek converts, knew that Abraham and covenants would not be familiar to his readers. Therefore, in the first two chapters of his Gospel, Luke showed that Jesus was fully man, eloquently writing of His mother Mary, thereby informing the Greeks that Jesus shared in their humanity and was approachable. He also announced that Jesus was God’s own Son, revealed by the angel’s proclamation to Mary. After the birth narratives Luke continued to explain the divinity of Jesus by highlighting His authority: the genealogy is written in reverse order, connecting Jesus back to Adam, and hence to God, the Father. This authority is the source of the power with which Jesus taught, healed, and worked miracles. In short, Luke emphasized that Jesus was fully God and fully man, but he also made it clear that God’s plan included all people: men, women, Gentile, Jew, poor, outcast, sinner, etc.**

Our takeaway from the genealogy of Jesus is first, that we take to heart that we are no less a part of this grand plan than Jesus was. If God has every hair of our heads counted, He certainly does more than just notice us: He loves us! It is also important that we never forget the fact that we are connected to God. We should always be conscious that God never takes His eyes off us, and would delight in it if we never took our eyes off Him. Second, our spiritual connection is far more important than that of the flesh, and inspired by the genealogies in the Gospels, we can and should reflect upon our inherited legacy from Jesus which flowed through the first Christians and all of the saints whose lives and message are part of our spiritual DNA. We should ask ourselves what we would like our contribution to be as part of this line of witnesses (paraphrase of Hebrews 12:1) and then pray for the grace to live it. 

​Finally, we should apply what Jesus and the revelation of His genealogy taught: as we are welcomed, we are to welcome everyone, offering love, mercy, kindness, and generosity. In this, our lives have incredible meaning and purpose. From the lowliest and humblest to the greatest and most notable, all have a part to play in building the Kingdom. We are called to use whatever gifts we have been given to evangelize, serve one another, and grow in holiness. And lest we think we cannot do this, we can, because all of us are capable of love. We are connected to our earthly family through a line of ancestors, yes, but it is the spiritual connection with Jesus that is the source of all gifts, and through Him we have our truest family.

May we recognize the importance of our connection to one another as members of the Body of Christ! May we be filled with gratitude at the gift of being part of one family! And may we respond to our brothers and sisters, guiding and welcoming them into our Christian family! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

​                                            ©Michele L. Catanese

* The Jewish culture was steeped in the symbolism of numbers, so the division of the list into 14 generations had symbolic meaning. Seven was the number of perfection, arising from the seven days of creation, seen as perfect since God made everything 'and it was good.’ Hence, this is a reference to completion and perfection. 14 would be ‘double the perfection,’ not that something complete and perfect can actually be doubled, but rather, the exaggeration would alert a Jewish convert who would understand that there was an emphasis on God’s plan being perfect and intended from all eternity.
** Remember, the Greeks feared gods because in their mythologies gods were deities who couldn’t care less about humans and if they got involved, were nothing but trouble. In revealing Jesus as fully man and fully God, Luke was teaching them something contrary to what they believed previously: there is one true God and He cares immensely. This was a foreign thought to them, and therefore, it was a monumental revelation that the true God was merciful, loving, and welcoming to all.

​NOTE: I am taking a blog holiday for the rest of the month which means that I will skip the next blog in the 'every other Monday' writing/posting schedule I generally keep. This allows me to keep the ideas (and hopefully the writing) fresh. If you would like something to 'tide you over' my suggestion for Monday, July 24 is this entry from 2016. www.catanesesd.com/micheles-blog/learning-to-see-beauty

Images:
1. My photo, Punta Secca Beach, Sicily, Italy. My paternal grandmother was from a port town very close to this one.
2. Painting, Celia Thaxter's Garden, Isles of Shoals, Maine, by Childe Hassam (1859-1935)
3. Sculpture, The Creation of Adam, Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, France.
4. Painted image, The Galilean Jesus, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you are interested in purchasing a copy you can find it at 
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-galilean-jesus-266-william-hart-mcnichols.html
5. My photo, Ostuni at night, Ostuni, Puglia, Italy.
6. Mosaic, Abel to Melchizedek from Basilica di San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy. Abel is Adam's first born, and Melchizedek was the priest/king who offered the first bread and wine in the book of Genesis when Abram (Abraham) helped them banish their enemies, thus a connection to Adam, Abraham, and a foreshadowing of the Eucharist.
7. Mosaic, Abraham and Sarah offering a meal to the three angels who came from God and who foretold the birth of Isaac. (Sarah is seen on the far side of the mosaic, laughing.) Basilica di San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy.

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