Retreat and Discernment

August 5, 2023/0 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, Evangelization, Faith, Fellowship, Ignatian Spirituality, Inspirational, Pilgrimage, Prayer, Retreat, Transfiguration/by Margaret Zacharias

Retreat and Discernment

Our gospel reading this weekend reports that “Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.” (Matthew 17:1) (1)

Other passages in scripture also demonstrate how our Lord retired into the wilderness, alone or with spiritual companions, as an integral part of his spiritual rhythm. He used these respites to focus on prayer, and to replenish his energies during a demanding physical ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing.

Retreats and spiritual direction offer refreshment for our own lives as Catholics, too. Recently, I participated in a first formal one-day orientation to the teachings of St. Ignatius.

For many years, my primary resource for discernment has been Authenticity: A Biblical Theology of Discernment, written by Thomas Dubay, S.M. (2)

That reading provided a welcome foundation for what I experienced at “Image & Imagination in Prayer,” an Ignatian retreat sponsored by Emmaus House in Urbandale, Iowa on July 22.

Emmaus House was founded in the Diocese of Des Moines by Jesuit priests in 1973, at the invitation of then-Bishop Maurice Dingman. At first, Emmaus House served the diocese by providing spiritual direction and retreats exclusively for Catholic clergy. But it quickly expanded to offer these resources for members of the Catholic lay community as well as some Protestant clergy. (3)

I was intrigued by how original spiritual methods developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th century anticipated several techniques employed by archetypal psychologists today.

Swiss physician C. G. Jung, the founder of archetypal psychology, studied Ignatius’ teachings in the early 20th century, and gave a series of lectures about their value in Zurich between 1933 and 1941. English translations of these lectures have been published only recently, in January of 2023.

Both approaches focus on events in ordinary daily life. Both are designed to bring forth the full flowering of human individuality. Both honor the integrity of images and feelings as they emerge from a person’s inner being, and use “active imagination” to help deepen relationship with the unique divine spark alive in each of us.

What Dubay calls outer verifications occurred throughout my one-day introduction to Ignatian method. I crossed paths with dear friends from different parts of the diocese as well as from different eras in my life; and encountered new acquaintances who wandered in my direction for a purpose we discovered together only as we met.

Under leadership of spiritual director Amy Hoover (4), we contemplated a series of readings and questions offered for private prayer and reflection. Then time was provided for optional sharing with individual retreat partners at our tables.

Reported movements of the Holy Spirit permeated the retreat throughout the day. These repeated, meaningful ‘coincidences’ — simultaneous events without any causal relationship — are what Jung called “synchronicities.”

In one humorous example, intending to excuse myself for a trip to the coffee table during a break, I commented to my companion, “I think I need some sugar.”

Snickers bars immediately dropped down from above our heads, right in front of our faces, like manna from heaven.

We both looked up to see the refreshment hostess making rounds with a bag of candy. But how did she manage to arrive at our table — one of more than twenty in a large parish hall — to be there at the exact moment I spoke?

Later, we were asked to write what we noticed about a picture postcard. While I had written about the display of creation — seasonal weather, contrasts in foliage, moss growing on ancient stones — one of my table mates had first noticed that “there’s no human being here.” She had placed herself and her husband taking a walk, right into the picture, as her focus for the scene.

Another companion among us had been seized first by curiosity about the path’s curve into a distance that lay behind bushes and trees. He had written with poetic insight about what might lie unseen around the bend.

Most dioceses in the United States publish a list of trained spiritual directors and local retreat opportunities, often right on their websites. If you haven’t yet experienced these gifts of our faith, it might be worth exploring what resources are available near you.

Scriptural readings for the Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola on July 31, and for the Feast of Transfiguration of the Lord on August 6, are rich with vivid images for further contemplation on your own, too.

I pray that each of us can experience a personal transfiguration this August. May we feel the awe and wonder that enlightened Peter, James, and John two thousand years ago, when they witnessed our Lord in earnest conversation with Moses and Elijah on Mount Tabor.

NOTES:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080623.cfm.
San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1977, originally published by Dimension Books.
https://www.theemmaushouse.org/history.
https://www.theemmaushouse.org/eighth-annual-ignatian-retreat

Blessed Laura Vicuña—Patroness of Abuse Victims

August 1, 2023/0 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing/by Larry Peterson

Blessed Laura Vicuña—Patroness of Abuse Victims

Laura Vicuña was born on April 5, 1891, to a man named Joseph Domenico Vicuña. Joseph came from a family of Chilean aristocrats. Laura’s mother, Mercedes Pino, was the daughter of farmers. Joseph Vicuna had married a woman who was considered “beneath him.” As a result, his family disowned him.

Mercedes and her daughters, Laura and Julia, were okay while Joseph was alive. However, civil war broke out in Chile and quickly spread to Santiago. The family fled to Temuco, but a short time later, Joseph was killed in battle. Everything changed for Mercedes and her daughters. As far as her husband’s family was concerned, Mercedes did not even exist. Despised and rejected by the aristocratic Vicuna clan, Mercedes took her two daughters and moved to Argentina.

When Mercedes arrived in Argentina, she quickly discovered that work was not plentiful and life could turn hard. A local rancher, named Manuel Mora, sensed Mercedes’ vulnerabilities and offered her a job working for him. However, it was not a job where you could go home every day. On the contrary, Mercedes was told that she would have to live with Mora at the ranch. Manuel Mora also told Mercedes that if she agreed to live with him, he would send Laura to school, where she would be taught by the nuns. Marriage was not an option.

Mercedes weighed her options and knew in her heart that moving in with Manuel and sleeping together was wrong. But she desperately wanted her daughters to receive a Catholic education. She knew that she could never afford to send them to the Catholic school. So she moved into Manuel Mora’s ranch with her children.

When Laura was of age, Manuel kept his promise and had Laura enrolled in the school run by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco). Before long, Laura began developing a deep love for the Catholic faith. She began spending extended periods of time in prayer and learning all she could about Jesus and the Blessed Mother.

Written in her First Communion notebook were the words, “Oh my God, I want to love and serve you all my life. I give you my soul, my heart, my whole self.” She became so pious that many of her classmates began to ignore her. She even tried to join the Salesians, but she was only ten and was told that she would have to wait until she was a bit older.

Laura loved her school, but her joy at being a student there turned to concern and worry when she returned home for vacation. She now realized that her mother was living with Manuel as his wife. She knew this was a sinful thing to do and began praying that her mom would leave Mora and once again follow God’s commandments.

Laura Vicuña is on the right in the third row.

Manuel beat Laura severely several times to make her forget about becoming a nun

She was a child of eleven years of age, and Manuel Mora, who probably already harbored lust for the growing girl, heard that she had voiced a desire to become a nun. Enraged at this idea, Manuel beat Laura severely several times to make her forget about becoming a nun. He told her and her mother that if she did not forget the “ridiculous idea” of becoming a nun, he would stop paying for her education with the Salesians. The nuns heard of this and told Mercedes that both of her daughters would have full scholarships to the school and that there was no need for worry.

But Laura was worried about her mom’s soul. She remembered what Jesus had said: “No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends.” Laura decided to give her own life in exchange for her mom’s salvation. She asked Jesus to take her so her mom could be saved. Soon after, the child became seriously ill with pulmonary tuberculosis.

She told her mother, “Mama, I offer my life for you.”

Laura’s health quickly deteriorated. Before she passed away, she told her mom, “Mama, I offer my life for you. Before I die, mother, would I have the joy of seeing you repent?”

Her mother cried out, “I swear I will do whatever you ask of me! God is the witness of my promise.”

Laura smiled and said, “Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Mary. Goodbye, Mother, now I die happy.”

Laura Vicuña, weakened by beatings from Manuel Mora, died from her illness on January 22, 1904. She had not reached her thirteenth birthday. She was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II on September 3, 1988 She is a patroness of abuse victims, incest victims, and children who have suffered the loss of their parents.

Blessed Laura Vicuna, please pray for us.

The Greatest Gift

July 28, 2023/0 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, Family Life, Love, Spiritual Life/by Rick Clements

The Greatest Gift

We live in an age when there are a lot of misconceptions about love. Some people seem to think that love is primarily about emotion, about warm feelings toward another person. And it’s no wonder that they think that, when so many contemporary novels, songs, movies, and TV shows tend to portray love in this way. In contrast to these popular depictions of love, Hans Urs von Balthasar, the brilliant Roman Catholic theologian from Switzerland, offers us a far more demanding (but also far more fulfilling) definition of love: Love is the selfless gift of self, given and received.

The gift of self: if you’re married, that’s what your spouse wants from you: your spouse wants you; your self; your heart. Ideally, your spouse reciprocates your gift of self with his or her own gift of self to you. If that’s not where your relationship is at right now, make a change. No, don’t change spouses. Change the way you’re treating your spouse, and watch how those changes can improve and strengthen your marriage. Make a genuine effort to be more giving, more generous, more sacrificial, for your spouse’s sake. Hopefully, sooner or later (hang in there if it takes a while), they’ll notice the change in you, and they’ll become more willing to reciprocate with their own sacrificial gift of self. Be the change you want to see in your marriage instead of just wishing for a better relationship, and you can help bring about that change.

The gift of self: if you have children, that’s what your children want from you, too: you; your self; your heart. Of course, your children want and need many other things from you: food, clothing, shelter, education, etc. But what your children most need from you is…you. That’s why it’s so important that you spend as much time as possible with your kids while they’re growing up. It’s a cliché, but it’s true: you never get the years of their childhood back, so make the most of them while you can. Your kids need as much of your time and attention as you can give them. They want to get to know you (at least until they’re teenagers, when they may think they have you all figured out already anyway), and they want you to get to know them. When your young child excitedly asks you to look at the picture he or she just drew, they’re not just looking to share a picture; they’re trying to share themselves – their talents, their interests, etc. They’re not looking for just a nod and a perfunctory “That’s nice”. Yes, they’re looking for your affirmation and your approval, but they’re also looking to connect with you. They want you to take a genuine interest in their work, and thereby, an interest in them. Put the cell phone down and really look at the drawing (and at your child!). Give them the chance to talk about what they drew, why they drew it, etc., because that gives them the chance to tell you about themselves, to share themselves with you. It’s one of the ways they’re trying to tell you they love you. By giving them your undivided attention and by taking a real interest in the picture they’re trying to share with you, you’re not only opening yourself up to receive the gift of self your child is offering you; you’re also giving them the gift of your own self in return.

The gift of self: if you’re a human being, that’s what God wants from you. God wants you; your self; your heart. And God doesn’t ask for anything that he hasn’t already given. Jesus Christ is God’s self-gift to the world. God wants to be united with each of us forever. We were created for union, union with God and our fellow human beings. The Son of God became one of us to make that union possible. Jesus is God’s gift of his heart to the world, the gift of his heart to each and every one of us. And God’s hope is that we will respond to his gift of self with our own gift of self in return.

* This article is an excerpt from Rick’s latest book, The Book of Love: Brief Meditations (https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/thebookoflove/)

Photo by Lina Trochez on Unsplash

Three Things I’ve Learned from my Chickens

July 25, 2023/2 Comments/in Animals, Catholic Writing and Publishing, Community, Encouragement for Writers, Family Life, Inspirational/by Sarah Pedrozo

Three Things I’ve Learned from my Chickens

As writers, we know that one aspect of writing well is writing authentically. By that I mean we have to follow the rules of the reality we are writing about, whatever they may be. The rules governing Middle Earth are a little different than those in Narnia, for example. If we are writing about our own world, here on planet Earth, 2023, one practice that can help us write authentically is the habit of being observant of the world around us, so that we can convey those small details in our stories. In fact, being observant might even lead to a new understanding.

What does any of this have to do with chickens, you might ask? Doesn’t the title of this article signify something having to do with those small animals? Besides, I’m not saying anything new in that opening paragraph.

Let me begin, then, by saying that I never intended to become “the chicken lady” of my neighborhood. When my husband called from work one day, saying that a colleague had no further need of 4 unhatched baby chicks and did I think we could take them in for a while, I said “Sure” simply because I like animals and couldn’t stand the thought of those little chickies being – literally – thrown away. That was about the extent of my thinking.

Fast forward a year and a half later, and we now have 5 stout ladies who take up a third of our backyard. And they are delightful. I have become thoroughly attached to them. Through observing them closely these past several months, I’ve also learned a few things. Here are 3 of them.

Habits can produce happiness.

My hens follow the same routine every day. They wake up with the sunrise, then run out to munch on the food I give them. It is always the same food, but they are nevertheless excited to see it every morning. They spend the rest of the day alternating between scratching for bugs, chatting with each other and resting. At 7pm each evening, they gather by their gate and call for their nightly visit. I bring them some rice or a little bread and we spend time together. After a few more sips of water, and a little extra scratching, they put themselves to bed at dusk. They follow this same routine every day. They witness to the importance of good daily habits, of doing a little bit consistently over time, every day. I often wonder what I could get done if I was such a creature of routine.

2. Don’t be afraid to try.

Even though my hens are quite content in their pen, that doesn’t mean they don’t look up and notice the green grass and fresh flowers blooming in other parts of the yard. They are always up for new ways to escape their yard to get to greener pastures. (In fact, I am convinced that whoever wrote the script for the movie Chicken Run really did have chickens.) Our Rhode Island Red, Cocoa, makes a point of pushing on the garden gate at least once an hour, just in case it has been left open. Our silver Welbar, Sandy, learned exactly where to stand so that she could fly up and just reach the tip of the fence, push off with her foot, and propel herself into the grass. They also know our habits, and often try to follow the dogs in and out. I think they hope we won’t notice an extra pair of legs. Even though they appreciate their home, they’re never afraid to push on the gate one more time or keep an eye out for another weak spot in the fence. They remind me not to get too complacent, but to keep looking up and trying.

3. Appreciate your community.

My little flock did not choose each other, but they’ve formed themselves into a community nevertheless. Although they are all different types of hens, they get along. Yes, there is certainly a pecking order (Sandy is at the top) but there is still room for everyone, despite their various temperaments. For example, Pebbles, our black Australorp, tends to get broody and take over the nesting box, while Pepper, a light Brahma and the smallest of the five chickens, likes to make up for her small size by being feisty and pecking everyone, including the dogs. Occasionally there are some ruffled feathers but most of the time there are contented, chatty clucks and check-ins, and at the end of the day they all go into the hen house and sleep peacefully together. If I’ve had a hard day with a difficult person, I really notice their ability to not hold a grudge and to let bygones be bygones. It reminds me that I might not always want to spend a lot of time around a certain person or persons, but I don’t have to take everything personally and I don’t have to carry resentment with me every day. (And I’m always somewhat flabbergasted that the hens consider our two pitties part of their community!)

These are a few of the conclusions I’ve come to over the last few months, in the mornings with my coffee watching them greet the new day, and in the evenings as the sun is setting. As I mentioned above, close observation of the world around us helps us to be better writers, and maybe even better people. These five little ladies are speaking to me all the time. Is there something that speaks to you in your life? What do you closely observe? And is it changing you?

Featured image from iStock-chicken (3)

Cath-Lit Live: Charting the Course by Leslea Wahl

July 24, 2023/0 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, Fiction, Novel, Young Adult Novel/by Amy Cattapan

Cath-Lit Live: Charting the Course

“Cath-Lit Live!” features brief interviews with Catholic authors who are releasing new books. Hosted by Catholic author and speaker Amy J. Cattapan, “Cath-Lit Live!” gives viewers a glimpse into the latest Catholic books while getting to know a bit about the author as well.

Charting the Course by Leslea Wahl

Stuck on a ship with her estranged father for this high school reunion – not a merry way to spend the holidays. But could an onboard mystery and a cute boy be the course correction Liz needs? Set amid the beauty of the Caribbean islands, Charting the Course delves into the topics of fractured families, generational high-school dramas, taking responsibility for your actions, and focusing on faith to keep us anchored. The twists and turns in this high-seas adventure will keep the reader bracing for the next wave of intrigue.

About the author: Leslea Wahl lives in beautiful Colorado and is the author of several award-winning teen novels. She strives to write stories that encourage teens to grow in their faith through fun adventurous mysteries. Leslea is often inspired by her family, their travels, and real-life adventures. She particularly enjoys including the furry, four-legged members of her family in her novels. Besides writing, Leslea also reviews faith-based novels on her website and is a founding member of CatholicTeenBooks.com.

You can catch “Cath-Lit Live” live on A.J. Cattapan’s author Facebook page. Recorded versions of the show will also be available to watch later on her YouTube channel and Instagram.

A Writer’s Vision

July 21, 2023/2 Comments/in Beauty, Catholic Writing and Publishing, Inspirational, Spiritual Life/by Kimberly Novak

A Writer’s Vision

I watch a robin nestled upon the branch of my backyard tree singing. As it flies away, I feel wonderment. Perhaps the robin is seeking a better view or its next meal. The breeze picks up ever so lightly and I am transported to the wings of a butterfly.

Most would not give a second thought to these events. As a writer, it is these simple, everyday moments that spur my creativity.

There were times in my writing journey when I turned a simple lawn weed into a complete book chapter. Most would view the yellow dandelion as an irritant and nuisance. In contrast, I saw it as something friendly and a great jumping-off point in my story. Many things feed my creativity, especially in nature. However, over the years, I have learned that my imagination goes into overdrive when I add God to the mix.

Every summer for the past four years, I have attended a retreat focused on painting. It is important to note that I have no talent in that realm, yet that particular retreat has been a favorite of mine. I was a bit intimidated, to say the least, when I first attended, but God quickly showed me why He had sent me there.

Something happens in my brain when I focus on things with a crafty nature. I believe God uses this medium to draw things out of me for His greater purpose. Over the years, the masterpieces I have created in this retreat have looked fabulous in my eyes but not so much to anyone else. I see the exhibits through the eyes of the Spirit, who fed me during each brush stroke.

I’ve learned a lot and have had many inspirations through this faith-based activity. Mostly, I have been able to break through barriers that may have kept me from doing something to which God has called me. Using the skills taught during this retreat, I have brought a creative depth to my writing. I drew inspiration from a mushroom while walking the dog that turned into a colorful, giant umbrella for a snail and caterpillar in my book, Bella’s Beautiful Miracle: A Caterpillar’s Journey.

Due to other events this summer, I was forced to miss the art retreat, and I thirsted for a flicker of creativity. This topic arose in a recent conversation, and I quickly realized why I longed for such a spark. As a writer, I see the beauty and majesty in everyday things that most people take for granted. In the hustle and bustle of the summer and planned and unplanned life activities, I had not allowed myself to bathe in God’s beauty in this way.

It is not only the art retreat that fuels creativity. The combination of nature and faith life are significant components. To rejuvenate my creative side, I ventured outside with my laptop and noticed the little robin in minutes. As I looked upon the little bird, all I had to do was place my hands on the keyboard, close my eyes, and allow the Spirit to lead.

By basking in God’s glory of nature, colors, and the physical action of creating, I become fed creatively and spiritually. This summer, I ask you to consider in what ways your spirituality provides your creativity or vice versa. Then, spend time prayerfully considering how God wants you to work that into your lifestyle.

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to shine in ways you may have felt fearful about. I love that I have no talent as a painter, yet I can participate in that action and create something beautiful in another medium. Art, as a spiritual gift or just for fun, is a lovely way to express God’s light and love! Step out of your comfort zone and go for it!

Writing for Children

July 18, 2023/0 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, Self-Publishing/by Angela Lano

Writing for Children

Are you thinking about writing a children’s picture book? Writing a story for a younger audience can be a lot of fun once you get the hang of it. You will want to pick a subject that is not difficult for a child to understand. Put yourself in the child’s shoes. Think about what your potential reader’s likes or dislikes might be.

Do you know someone who has a young child? Once your story is written, ask the parent to read it out loud to their child. Ask the parent and the child questions such as:

Did you like my story?
Do the characters make sense?
Is there something else I should add to the story?
Should I take out this part?
Do you understand the plot?
How can I make the story better?

Getting advice from parents and your target audience will help you decide how to continue with your manuscript. Making your story appeal to a younger audience takes a lot of time and patience.

Should I self-publish my children’s picture book?

That depends. Before jumping too quickly into either the self-publishing or the traditional publishing routes, do some research. Look at the different options. Think about the pros and cons. If you decide to go down the traditional publishing route, be prepared for rejection letters.

Some publishers require writers to go to a literary agent before sending something directly to them. If you do decide to pitch a query letter and a pitch package to a literary agent, make sure that the literary agent accepts new writers and pay close attention to the literary agent’s guidelines.

Get advice from both self-published and traditionally published authors. Ask them what their experience is with self-publishing or traditional publishing. If an author has a good experience with a literary agent, they might recommend their agent to a new writer.

A word of warning

Don’t be surprised if the literary agent still rejects you after they look at your work.

Last advice

Pray about these options. Ask God to give you wisdom about whom you should submit your story to.

Refuge For This Refugee

July 9, 2023/0 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, Poetry/by Paula Veloso Babadi

Refuge for this refugee

After years of refugee life, my niece-in-law is finally finding refuge with us in the United States. She trekked through the mountains in northwestern Iran to Turkey over a decade ago, and will arrive here this week. Hers is one story among millions who suffer through such storms. She recently shared a couple of passages that sustained her in dark times:

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished.” Malachi 3:6

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

While I have never experienced the dire circumstances of displaced refugees, I have sought refuge from life many times. I believe everyone has. Even the apostles, when fearful of capsizing in the middle of a huge storm, sought refuge by waking Jesus in the boat. But I didn’t always turn to Jesus for calm in the storm, I mostly turned to food for comfort.

It took more than fifty years for me to internalize that my true source of comfort is as close as Jesus was to his disciples in the storm. These days His words and sacraments are more consoling than any other food, and the more I immerse myself in His word, the less worldly refuge I seek. My niece learned this at a much younger age than me.

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Knowing even a fraction of what my niece and others have been through as refugees makes me thankful for my own small crosses and grateful for such a loving, gentle savior. Today’s gospel passage is all the rescue I need today – I just need to remember to actively reach out and act according to His Word.

The poem which follows was a first step to acknowledging action and can be found in my book: Everywhere Hope.

Lord, Lord

by Paula Veloso Babadi

I cry “Lord, Lord,”
yet stubbornly cling to the darkness of my false god
and yield to enveloping numbness.
It placates and buffers the gnawing
from which I am unwilling to reach up and
grasp the Hand
longing to save me from myself.
I hide from the ugliness I might discover
in the light of a clear mind.
Instead, I remain dazed
from the fleeting pleasure of sweet deceits, and
fall into the pocket of oblivion
where nothing matters
anymore.
What makes me think I will magically say “yes” to
Truth that longs to find me
after a lifetime of submitting to the subtle
and easy lie?
My actions betray my heart.
It is not enough to cry “Lord, Lord.”
I am convicted by Paul’s lament.
If I sincerely ask for rescue, He will come
and sweep me upward.
Jesus, I trust in You.
“Lord, Lord,”
give me strength not just to ask and trust,
but to act.

Love vs. Hatred—And the Winner Is?

July 4, 2023/0 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing/by Larry Peterson

Love vs. Hatred—And the Winner Is?

There are two kinds of pride: negative pride and positive pride. This essay references negative pride, also known as “selfishness” or “meism.” Positive pride is the pride we take in working hard to do our best while loving our neighbor.

Enter the deadly sin of pride.

Love is all about giving, isn’t it? Christ loved us and GAVE His life for us. “No greater love is there than to lay down your life for a friend.” Now that is some serious giving. Most followers of Christ do their feeble best to follow His message. But: enter the deadly sin of pride. That demon can grab us in its powerful grip and, frequently, never let go. The great sin of pride is characterized by all those whose persona reflects words such as stuck-up, egotistic, aloof, cocky, dismissive, superior, or pretentious. The list can go on and on and on. It can be summed up by the phrase, “loving oneself more than anyone or anything else.”

Today it seems that pride has filled the hearts of many to a point where people, so consumed, now HATE unconditionally. What many of them hate most is one word and what it means. That word is made up of only two letters. That word is NO. They want no one to dare tell them what to do or how to behave. They have embraced secularism (defined as a system of political or social philosophy that rejects all forms of religious faith and worship).

Pride can destroy so much

How sad it is that pride can destroy so much, from family relationships to friendships to nations. Many people, when their “personhood” is offended by someone else, will instantly reject any love within them in exchange for a blast of using four-letter vitriol to express themselves. And that may be the precursor of an actual physical attack against their newfound enemy. The love they may have had vanished instantly. Was it even there to begin with?

Feigned love can vanish like a puff of smoke in a windstorm. Have you seen the “love” extended by political candidates toward each other? Have you noticed how it seems to come from those who have fallen in love with themselves over all else? Part of God’s gift of free will is allowing each and every one of us to make choices. Some of us can forgive and turn the other cheek. Others—no way.

They even reject natural law

Here is their problem: the Judeo/Catholic/Christian belief system has boundaries. Christianity tells us what God wants us to do and what NOT to do … why, the NERVE of Him! So, many secularists (not all) take it to another level in their selfish requests to abolish the influence of religions that have the audacity to say NO to certain behaviors. They even reject natural law in favor of their own personal agendas.

Catholics and other Christians are the most persecuted people on earth. Why is that? Why is there such hatred by so many toward something that is all about goodness and love? All Christians (including 1.2 billion Catholics and 800 million Protestants of varied denominations) follow Jesus Christ. That is 2 billion people (or two thousand million) who follow His teachings and His promise of Eternal Life. What is the crux of His teachings? Well, now, the bottom line is this: loving your neighbor, and forgiveness. Yeah, I know that many who proclaim to follow Jesus do not even attempt to Love their neighbor or forgive anyone for anything. How powerful is the sin of pride?

How can love and lorgiveness be things to hate?

The prideful rant against Christmas, which is all about giving. They rail on about using the name of God in schools and at sporting events. They want crosses at cemeteries taken down from the graves of fallen soldiers. In many cases, those who hate Christians kill them. Men, women, and children die every day in different parts of the world simply because they are followers of Jesus. How can love and forgiveness be things to hate? How powerful is the sin of pride?

Has anything changed?

Nothing has changed since Jesus walked the earth two thousand years ago. He preached Love & Forgiveness , so they beat Him, tortured Him, and killed Him. The loving crowds who screamed “Hosanna” on Palm Sunday turned fickle and screamed “Crucify Him” the following Friday. The list of people murdered for following Jesus over the centuries (including His own apostles) is countless. Being a Catholic and Christian was never supposed to be easy. Jesus Christ did nothing but love us, each and every one of us. Look what happened to Him. How powerful is the sin of pride?

Read the First Letter of John

So, during the trek toward Election Day 2024, the question to be considered might be this. What is love? The answer can be found in the Bible in the First Letter of John:

We have come to know and believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in Him. (1 John 4:16)

Sadly, the war on Love increases in intensity.

Red Blood Cell or Glob of Plaque?

June 23, 2023/2 Comments/in Catholic Writing and Publishing, Love, Spiritual Life/by Rick Clements

Red Blood Cell or Glob of Plaque?

God has entrusted to each of us a unique role, a unique mission of love, within the Body of Christ. That may seem hard to believe at first: God has given me a special mission of love to carry out in life? But it’s true. Each of us is given the great privilege, and the solemn responsibility, of helping to pass on the divine love to other members (and prospective members) of the Body of Christ. Which includes everyone, because God wants everyone to share in his divine life and love forever (Matt 18:14; 1 Tim 2:4). You have been given a unique mission to share the divine love with others. The unique meaning and purpose of your life lies in your mission of love. Your mission is irreplaceable. No one else can fulfill your mission for you. No one else’s life will touch the exact combination of people that your life will touch. No one else can make the contribution to the eternal circulation of love flowing within the Body of Christ that you were born to make. What is the mission of love with which God has entrusted you?

For most of us, the mission of love that God has in mind isn’t some dramatic, world-changing mission, something that will have a huge impact on the world as a whole or draw a lot of attention to us. Instead, most of us are called to local missions of love. There’s a saying that goes something like “Strive to make your little corner of the world a better place.” It’s a good saying. If we all did that, the whole world would be a much better place.

The absolutely best way to make your “little corner” of the world a better place is to spread some of the divine love to that little corner. Start at home. How can you be more loving to your spouse? How can you be more loving to your children? Then extend yourself further: how could you be more loving to your friends? Your neighbors? Your co-workers? The people you perceive to be your “enemies”?

We all have a choice in life: we can be red blood cells flowing within the Body of Christ, helping to carry life-giving oxygen (the divine love) to other members and prospective members of that Body, or we can choose to be globs of plaque, clogging the arteries of that Body and obstructing the flow of divine love. Most of us are a little bit of both. Resolve to be more of a red blood cell and less of a glob of plaque.

* This article is an excerpt from Rick’s latest book, The Book of Love: Brief Meditations (https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/thebookoflove/)

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