We Belong to Him

November greetings to dearest Sisters in Christ,

Each day, the Church sets Saints before our eyes and hearts to esteem and emulate, but we are launched into November on day one with a colossal Solemnity that represents them all to us!  The number of saints who reign with Christ is vast.  “I saw so large a number,” reports St John, “that nobody could count them.”  The Solemnity of All Saints brims with so much wonder and love that the Church affords us an entire octave to ponder, live out the graces, and, in the end, bolster our resolve to join the saints, known and unknown, that unceasingly cheer us on.  Surely His Majesty does not discount the pleas of so many of His friends for us!

St Teresa of Calcutta reminds that all are called to holiness and that holiness is assuredly linked to following God’s Will.  Each has a plan that is heaven-sent and heaven-destined.  Each has a place in that great cloud of witnesses.  Our cooperation is essential.  Despite our family of origin, geographic location, vocational call and work, St Teresa reminds that in our hearts, our authentic selves are known in an unreserved relationship with Jesus. Simply put, we belong to Him.

As pilgrims in progress it is challenging to avoid dividing our allegiance to other things or relationships versus allowing Christ to be the nucleus.  As Catholics, the sacramental life comes to the rescue.  The Holy Eucharist is, after all, the Sacrament of Unity.  Both our interior lives and external relationships can benefit. We learn first-hand from Our Lord Himself in the Blessed Sacrament.  He is the Way to rightly-ordered love and relationship with Him and others.  Yet we are dull of mind and compromised in vision. Holy Church offers more help through the closely-related sacrament of Reconciliation.  (Consider reviewing Oct 2016 Communique regarding Confession.)

A way of life through the graces of the Eucharist and Reconciliation fosters our spiritual vigor in our rootedness in Christ.  St John Paul II reveals, “The Eucharist is the secret of my day.  It gives strength and meaning to all my activities of service to the Church and to the whole world.”  St Bridget affirms the benefits of Confession: “Just as an animal becomes a stronger beast of burden and more beautiful to behold the more often and better it is fed, so too confession – the more often it is used… conveys the soul increasingly forward and is so pleasing to God that it leads the soul to God’s very heart.” St John Bosco concurs, “You can fly to heaven on the wings of Confession and Communion,” and “There are two things the devil is deadly afraid of: frequent Communion and frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament.”

As Seven Sisters we seem poised to make friends in heaven and enemies in hell.  Each week we return to Our Lord to seek the holiness of another, mutually opening ourselves up to holiness for ourselves.  We beckon a whole-ness of heart for the other, a total belonging to Christ that makes the heart true to its design and destiny.  Availing ourselves to frequent Confession and Communion will hasten the removal of obstacles of resistance to God’s love and His Will, and in turn strengthen our weekly Holy Hour offerings.

Hungarian-born Ferenczy’s subject in Birdsong, appears to have a tender awareness to something above and beyond.  Even in her full and expectant maternal state, she seems to give pause to listen, perhaps to even seek intently, something more that offers an even greater fullness. Does the warble of a bird solicit an attentiveness that then reaches above it?

Seven Sisters by and large exhibit an unmistakable depth of joy, living witnesses of Christ’s desire to instill His joy – and that it may be complete (John 15:11).  However, perhaps a bit like Ferenczy’s subject, Seven Sisters understand that its completion is not in this earthly life. In St Matthew’s parable of the talents (Mt 25:23), following a statement of the master, “Well done, good and faithful servant”, the master further rewards the servant by an invitation to “Enter into the joy of your master!” Another version puts it: “Come and share your master’s happiness!”

The happiness of the saints is complete. What augments the delight of the saints most may very well be the thought that the joy is eternal.  We too are destined for this.  The priest or bishop we pray for is destined for this.  Unreservedly belonging to Jesus compels us toward this. In season and out of season until all seasons converge. The sacramental life, especially frequent Communions and Confessions, offers strength and clarity.  What a joy in the journey as we seek complete joy – for ourselves, for another!

United in prayer and mission…

that our prayers may find the heart of every bishop and priest…

 … eternal gratitude continues as you each remember to offer a wee Hail Mary for me every day….  “One Ave Maria makes hell tremble” (St John Vianney). Pray that I will not ‘spoil the beautiful work that God has entrusted…’  (St Teresa of Calcutta)

… your kind emails and notes and phone calls and generous support always arrive to my heart door at the right moment! Your financial sacrifices are for 100% furtherance of Apostolate.  THANK YOU!  The letters of testimony are so beautiful and edifying! What glory is given to God through your writing! Eternal gratitude is mine for YOU! Be assured of my continued daily prayers for you at the altar.

 Janette
+JMJ+
[email protected]