Blog Archives

What Would Mary Do?

12/29/2015

WWMD? I seldom think of that. There are plenty of WWJD? items around, but I have never seen a WWMD? item.

Advent has come and gone and the beautiful Feast of Christmas 2015 has been celebrated. Already, we are listening to and praying Mass readings concerning the losing of the Child Jesus in the Temple. Very soon, we will celebrate the Baptism of Jesus. In not too long a time, we will begin the journey of Lent!

I ask myself as we liturgically relive the life of Jesus from his birth on the first Christmas to his Passion Death and Resurrection, if I can relive it all through the eyes of Mary? Can I emulate her response to the Will of God for her life, and ask myself WWMD? when I am confronted with sorrow, joy, confusion or misunderstanding? How did she react to the reality of life as she took care of Jesus and watched him grow? All I know of Mary from the Gospels suggests that she was a woman of deep, authentic discernment and prayer.

May 2016 be a year when WWMD? be my guide and mantra.

0 Comments

The Letters

12/4/2015

0 Comments

A new movie about Mother Teresa's correspondence with a spiritual director during her life opens up in the theaters today. I haven't seen it yet, but I am looking forward to is, based on the reviews I have read so far.

From what I know, Mother Teresa experienced the dark night of the soul for many years, experiencing desolation and doubts. After her death, when this was revealed, a journalist wrote how the letters she left behind proved that she was not the holy person the world had thought her to be. On the contrary, that she continued to love God and serve God's poorest faithfully without interior consolations and peace, shows how holy she really was.   She loved completely, despite her feelings or lack thereof.

I read today that Mother Teresa will be canonized a saint on September 5, 2016.   This made me smile because I remember when my oldest niece was choosing her Confirmation name and chose Teresa.   I asked her if she was being named after Theresa of Avila or the Little Flower.   She told me that she was taking the name of Teresa after Mother Teresa, who at that time was still alive.   In her teens, my niece had already recognized holiness in our midst.   It is so very good that finally, this holy woman will soon be known as St. Teresa of Calcutta.

Sometimes we picture the saints as people who have it all together or who find it easy to give, to forgive or to pick one dying person after another off the dirty streets of Calcutta.   Holiness takes effort.   It is the constant striving to love God at every moment, no matter what that moment holds.

My prayer is that I may learn anew from Mother Teresa, the woman who I remember so well from earlier years. I pray that I may heed her words, asking us to "Live simply so that others may simply live." I want to remember her mantra of always measuring my love for Christ by the five words "You did it for Me." When my life holds moments of dark suffering and hurt, I want to remember her example of faithfulness as she carried a cross which was hidden from our sight.

If you see The Letters, I would love to hear your feedback. May this movie be a source of many graces for all who view it.

0 Comments

Advent Patience

12/2/2015

0 Comments

I've been working on a project all day today and it isn't going too well! That is the "bad news." The good news is that it spurred me to make this an Advent Moment in my day: a moment to exercise a bit of patience!

Living in this century and civilization encourages me to be impatient with lots of people and lots of things. I am getting more and more accustom to pulling up information on my computer NOW, and to planning events months from today NOW.   I get used to not having to wait for too much in life. I get used to controlling a lot of my day and when I lose control in some way, my impatience kicks in.

I wish I was as impatient with my relationship with Christ.   I want to develop a longing for him that colors all I am and all I do. I wish this was always as important to me as the other projects I give so much time to, but before I become to hard on myself, I do realize that this longing is always the river that runs through my being, no matter what other things I am doing each day. This Advent Moment is a grace, I think, to bring me back to my spiritual senses.

First of all, no matter how much I want to hurry my spiritual growth, that simply does not happen at my beck and call.   Even in my impatience for God and for growth, God can teach me and lead me to where I am to be in the here and now of my life.   God loves me where I am right now and wants me there. God's grace, as always, will bring me to the next juncture of my life.

"Patience People . . . "    God always fulfills the promises made to us.   Be at peace.

0 Comments

What Would Mary Do?

The Letters

Advent Patience

Author

Archives

Categories