​While vacationing on the Big Island of Hawaii many years ago, my husband and I decided to drive to South Point so we could access an incredibly unique beach near there. GPS did not exist at that time and if not for an incredibly detailed and well-written guide book, there is no way we could have found our destination. Upon arrival, we began the hike to Papakolea Beach, one of only four green sand beaches in the world. To get there required a 2.5-mile hike into the prevailing Spring trade winds, but after a short while we realized we were underprepared and decided to abandon the attempt with a resolution to come back someday to complete the trek. Ten years later, we did just that. This time we left early in the morning, prepared adequately, and using the same guide book we found the desired beach. I would characterize Papakolea Beach as one of the most beautiful places I have ever been; it is simply stunning.* Adding to the wonder of the place was that we were alone there for about half an hour. During our brief visit, however, ​I did not feel the presence of God; rather, I can say that I experienced Him through the unique beauty of the place. Images may have faded, but the experience has stayed with me, indelibly imprinted in my mind and heart. 

Although there are many facets in this experience which could be explored,** let us focus on one rather important issue: how we respond when God seems silent. One of the most challenging aspects of prayer is that after an initial burst of fruitfulness, it often becomes dry and difficult, giving the impression that God has become distant and silent. He is actually neither; that is, when we no longer feel God’s presence He is still there and He is still speaking. God’s ‘silence’ may be a signal that He desires to teach us to listen at a much deeper level as He begins to convey His presence and His message in ways that are different from our previous experiences. This change is not meant to be upsetting or frustrating, but rather it is a sign of our growth and consequently of God’s trust in our desire to become closer to Him. Indeed, when we accept His invitation into this reciprocal trust, He will enable us to do so through the graces which originate in Him: heightened faith, hope, and love. These gifts are not static, but rather they are dynamic. In other words, when we are invited into a greater level of trust, the gifts He gives can only grow. This growth takes place because as we go deeper, our heart becomes more closely aligned to His, opening our capacity to receive God’s love. Thus, God’s call is to enter into deeper mystery, deeper faith, deeper trust as He communicates beyond our thoughts and feelings and into the depths of our hearts.  In short, He calls us into the silence where this can take place and our response needs to one of openness and humility.

It is important to note that there may be other reasons for a lack of sensing God’s presence. A possible cause is having neglected prayer, the consequence of which is becoming unattuned to how God might be present. Another cause could be distractions that arise due to attachments which have inadvertently been allowed to come before God. And finally, one might be falling prey to temptations to doubt God’s grace and love. No matter the cause, it is important to ask the Holy Spirit for help in enlivening our baptismal graces of faith, hope, and love so that we can rest in the assurance that not only is God near, but He is both listening and speaking to us. We can ask for the grace to trust that God will never abandon us, and therefore when He seems silent, there is a good, even if mysterious, reason. It is especially important to remember this when praying for a desired outcome and the prayer does not seem to be answered. God has heard, but because His wisdom is far greater than ours, beyond our ability to comprehend, we must rely upon our trust in Him. And we must apply the same trust when we see the effect of evil in society, are personally attacked because of our faith, or when disasters, natural or otherwise, befall the world. Whether we perceive it or not, God is always present and active: that is, God is in control.

My experience at the Green Sand Beach helped in recognizing that God is often found in the process and journey of prayer, but that when we enter into the silence, (perhaps His intended ‘destination’), we can find peace and even joy. As arduous as the process can be, it aids our growth in the virtues of patience, perseverance, and hope. The good news is that when God initiates through what seems like His silence, He also gives the means of accepting His invitation, that is, grace. Though we will not have a felt-sense of God’s presence nor ‘hear’ His voice every time we go to prayer, especially if we have been called to a deeper level, He is always present and active in our lives. Our response of believing and humbly accepting that He is present despite a lack of felt ‘evidence,’ along with perseverance and a continued “yes” to God, will enable a more intimate relationship as we enter into the mystery of His beauty, love, and mercy. Let us proclaim with conviction, “Jesus, I trust in you!” 

​May we humbly respond to God’s invitation to enter into deeper prayer! May we ask for the gifts of greater trust, patience, and perseverance when God seems silent! And let us never, for any reason, hesitate to run to God, our Father in Heaven! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace!

                         ©Michele L. Catanese

* The four green sand beaches are the following: Papakolea Green Sand Beach, the Island of Hawaii; Punta Cormorant Beach, Floreana Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador; Talofofo Beach, Guam; and Hornindalsvatnet Lake, Norway. The green sand is formed by olivine crystals which are born of volcanic eruptions. For more, go to https://www.tripsavvy.com/the-best-green-sand-beaches-6835485

** Here are some lessons that are analogous to the beach experience, though there are always limitations to such comparisons. First, while prayer is something that is quite natural, we need a guide book for spiritual growth, which, of course, is the Holy Bible; the more we read and learn from it, the more insights we attain and the more we desire to learn. We also need adequate food and drink for the journey, (the Body and Blood of Christ). It is also wise to learn from 'local guides:' Scripture classes and books written for biblical study. Finally, we need to beware of 'scams and scammers:' our guide book warned of squatters who might try to trick people into paying for parking, (the land is public). This also occurs in our spiritual life because the evil one is always trying to scam us into sin and out of following the Lord. The devil is the "father of lies," therefore the greater our understanding of Scripture, and the more we familiarize ourselves with the ways of the Holy Spirit, the better our discernment becomes so that we either avoid the devil’s traps, or quickly see that while we have fallen for a deception, all is not lost since we can receive God’s grace and mercy.

Images:
​1. My photo; Papakolea Green Sand Beach, Big Island of Hawaii.
2. My photo; my husband hiking ahead of me as we were heading to the Green Sand Beach. Once the hike begins, there is no shade. (A tip: all one has to do is follow the coast and you cannot get lost!)
3. Drawing; The Prayer by Vincent van Gogh.
4. Icon; Mother of Holy Hope by Fr. William Hart McNichols. It seemed fitting to highlight Mary in this choice of image since her "yes" to God changed everything. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of this icon in one of many mediums, go to https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mother-of-holy-hope-263-william-hart-mcnichols.html
5. My photo; my footprints in the green sand, Big Island of Hawaii.
6. My photo; the beach from the cliff. (There is a passageway that leads down the cliff to the beach, but if you do not know where it is, it looks like it is impossible to get to the bottom.)
7. My husband's photo: my hand holding some green sand. Thank you for indulging me in posting more photos than I usually do, but I thought it would give more insight into the beach for those who might be interested. It is an incredible sight.

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 begun a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church. It began on Christmas Eve when Pope Francis knocked on the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica and it was swung open as a symbolic gateway to encourage believers to enter into a spirit of renewal, that is, a period of opening our hearts to God anew. The symbolism is based on the words of Jesus who said He is the door, or the gate. (John 10:7) Thus ‘opening the door’ is an invitation to enter into Jesus’ heart in a deeper way by recognizing and then letting go of what impedes our growth in the spiritual life. The concept of ‘jubilee’ is first found in the Old Testament when the people would release others from debts and spend the year with renewed attention given to God. As it was originally intended, this Jubilee year is also meant as a time of focusing upon God, and as a response to His grace, reflecting His love and mercy in our actions. In a word, it is a time of conversion, which basically means a change of heart to be more aligned with that of God. Therefore, in this Jubilee Year we are called to examine our relationship with God and renew our commitment to Him through greater participation in the Sacraments, prayer, and reflection.

This process of a year of Jubilee is one which is meant to enhance growth in our spiritual lives, that is, to root out the distractions and learn to rely more on the Lord. Perhaps this is why from the beginning the Lord instituted the concept of jubilee as something to be repeated regularly. The roots of jubilee are found in the Creation account when God rested on the seventh day. (Genesis 2:1-3) This type of resting is so important to God that He placed it within the 10 Commandments. He said we must keep the sabbath holy, which means that the sabbath is to be a day of rest from other tasks so that we focus with less distraction on worship of the Lord. (Exodus 20:8-11)* Later, God instructed the people to celebrate a sabbatical year every seven years; after seven repetitions of the seven-year cycle, the 50th year was considered a jubilee year. (Leviticus 25) Without going into detail, the basic concept was about “release, restoration, and reconciliation:” release of servants, restoration of the fields, and reconciliation with those with whom we had become estranged.** The jubilee was an important lesson from God who was basically directing His people to act as He does. In other words, the very graces He offers, (to be healed, or released from our slavery to sin, to restore our relationship with Him, and the mercy He offers through forgiveness of our sins), are what He wants us to offer others as well. In short, this is what conversion is meant to be: a response of love. 

​Our participation in the year of Jubilee is rather critical for ourselves and for the world. Let’s be clear: the world has always been complicated, the tempter has always tempted, and sin has always been at odds with God’s grace. The Jubilee year, then, is an opportune time to immerse in the mercy and grace God offers so that we may have a change of heart, and therefore make a graced response. By immersing in Jubilee, our actions and behaviors will be transfigured is some way, a sign of our love and gratitude to God, and the result of God’s grace. If we do not participate in the spirit of jubilee this year, we risk missing an important opportunity for growth in holiness; that is, we risk not having our hearts transfigured to be more like His. If our hearts are not changed, the world will not change. But if we do accept the gifts of His grace by letting our hearts be more conformed to His, we will be stronger in the battle against all that works against goodness. The good news is that if we ask Him, God will give us the grace we need for our growth, and we will discover a greater sense of peace and joy as we live within the world such as it is.

Conversion is an ongoing process. How magnanimous of God to offer His grace and mercy to us! Thus, we can (and should) renew our commitment to the Sacraments as sources of His grace, develop a deeper commitment to prayer, and reorder our priorities so that God is the center of everything we do. It is a time of asking God to reveal the attachments that distract our attention away from Him so we can let them go. It is a time of falling more deeply in love with Him, of growth in humility so that our one desire is to please Him and to grow closer to Him. During this Jubilee let us also resolve to respond to the daily opportunities for service that present themselves. If we immerse ourselves within it, this Jubilee year can be a time in which the conversion of our hearts, fueled by God’s grace, will empower us to act with greater love than we ever thought possible. St. Thérèse of Lisieux once said, “To pick up a pin with love, can save a soul.”*** As she indicates, we are not called to unrealistic or impossible tasks; small steps and simple acts are all we need so long as they are done with love. Therefore, if all we can do is pick up a pin, let’s do it for the Lord, and always do it with love.

May we accept the graces God offers by participating in the Jubilee Year! May we allow the process of conversion to take place within our hearts! And may we be empowered by grace so we might be a conduit of God’s transformative love in the world! Let us meet in the Heart of Jesus! Peace! 

​                           ©Michele L. Catanese

* “Remember the Sabbath day – keep it holy. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God. You shall not do any work, either you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your work animal, or the resident alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord has blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:8-11) It is interesting that the Lord elaborated on this commandment more than any of the other 9! (If you notice, there are three verses in the Creation story which show God detailing the day of rest. Therefore, it certainly is obvious that rest and worship mean a lot to God.)
** Daniel Esparza named the three aspects of jubilee in an article in Aleteia entitled A Quick Guide to Pilgrimage in a Jubilee Year. https://aleteia.org/2025/01/05/a-quick-guide-to-pilgrimage-for-the-jubilee-year?utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_campaign=EM-EN-Newsletter-Daily-&utm_content=Newsletter&utm_term=20250105
​*** Found in the Yellow Notebook, conversations St. Thérèse had as she lay dying in the last year of her life.
Images:
1. My photo; a holy door at St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, Italy.
2. Painting; Gardeuse de vaches, Eragny. (Cowherd, Eragny) by Camille Pissarro (1830-1903)
3. Icon; El Buen Pastor, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you are interested in purchasing a copy you can find it at fineartamerica.com/featured/el-buen-pastor-188-william-hart-mcnichols.html
4. My photo; the sky in New Mexico.
5. Mosaic; God the Father resting after creation. Palatine Chapel, Palermo, Sicily, 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.