Madonna of the Wheat

JMJT! Praise be Jesus Christ! Now and Forever!


Madonna of the Wheat

Today we hear the parable of the weeds in the field.  Jesus explains that,

He who sows good seed is the Son of Man,
the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom.
The weeds are the children of the Evil One,
and the enemy who sows them is the Devil.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire,
so will it be at the end of the age.

The Son of Man will send his angels,
and they will collect out of his Kingdom
all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.
They will throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine like the sun
in the Kingdom of their Father.Whoever has ears ought to hear." {Mt 13:37-43]

This isn't one of those parables that leaves a warm fuzzy inside. The good news is that Jesus doesn't just leave us with visions of a fiery furnace enmeshed in our minds, because just prior to this parable he speaks of the Weeds and the Wheat living together.  He points out that the weeds are planted by the enemy, but then he makes an interesting point.  He tells the servants not to pull the weeds out, because they will likewise damage the wheat before the harvest.  He further instructs them, "Let both grow together until the harvest."  

This is they key in my mind.  The two are intertwined, and in a sense are dependent on one another as those seeking sanctification are exhorted to love one's enemies and to pray for them, to practice the virtues, mercy, patience, and goodness. One the other hand, those who are in the weeds at the moment, are always being invited to break free from sin and experience healing and forgiveness through the grace of God and the prayers of their brothers and sisters.  It is never too late for a single soul until the very end at harvest time.  During our lifetimes, Jesus desires that our souls grow and mature in rich soil.  As the  "bread of life", He invites all of us to imitate and follow him by being sown, fallen, crushed, buried and resurrected as a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, only then bearing good fruit. [See Jn 12:24]

Who better to assist us in this sometimes difficult process than Our Blessed Mother, who is honored under various titles related to this rich imagery?  These titles include Madonna of the Wheat, Our Lady of the Loaves, Multiplier of Wheat, and Theotokos She Who Ripens Grain.

Theotokos, She Who Ripens Grain

I don't know about you, but when I am getting a little too close to the weed patch or getting ready to go all in, I know that my Mother is there to keep me safe and protect me from harm.  She reminds me of my call to holiness, and her gentle tenderness calls me back to the wheat field where I am still growing and experiencing episodes of my ego being crushed and ground up, just like Jesus' image of his servants who follow Him.

Madonna of the Wheat http://campus.udayton.edu/

As I am seeking to practice the Beatitudes, and to imitate Our Lord and Our Lady, I have the assurance that she is the God-bearer, and was hailed for the "fruit of her womb".  She only produces good fruit in her spiritual children through the deft hands of her Spouse, the Holy Spirit, and through the powerful embrace of Our Eucharistic King, who comes to us at the altar of Bread and Wine and nourishes us. In the Song of Songs, the Bridegroom sings the praises of His bride be extolling her beauty as follows, ""Your navel is like a round goblet Which never lacks mixed wine; Your belly is like a heap of wheat Fenced about with lilies." [7:2]  This is indeed Our Lady, who held within her Womb the Messiah, whose body and blood was to become the Tree of Life for us in the form of the Eucharist which as the source of our faith sustains us. 

Of this we can be assured: Our Lady is fruitful and seeks what is best for us. She wants to multiply blessings for us as so vividly seen at the Wedding Feast of Cana.  Just as Our Lord multiplied the loaves of bread and fish, so Our Lady wishes to lead us to the source of all multiplication, Our Lord Jesus.  We need only recognize our dependence upon Our Lord, and ask Our Lady to keep us safe in the field, to ensure that we remain amongst the wheat or are converted from weeds to wheat in any areas needing purification.   

St. Mary of Jesus Crucified summarized this with an apropos image: The proud person is like a grain of wheat thrown into water: it swells, it gets big. Expose that grain to the fire: it dries up, it burns. The humble soul is like a grain of wheat thrown into the earth: it descends, it hides itself, it disappears, it dies; but to revive in heaven...She further reminds us, "At the feet of Mary I came back to life."

Our Lady, Multiplier of Wheat...Pray for us.

Our Lady of Loaves...Pray for us..

Meditating with Elijah

JMJT! Praise be Jesus Christ! Now and Forever!


Scenes from the Life of Elijah Jorg Ratgeb 

Today is a special Feast Day of Elijah who is considered an exemplar and spiritual founder of the Carmelite Order, along with Our Lady.  His name means "My God is Yahweh", and his life was a constant reflection of this truth, and his dedication even amidst peril and extreme challenges.  This Feast Day is a hidden celebration, unknown by most in the Church, which is somewhat appropriate for this larger than life Old Testament prophet who nonetheless found himself living a hidden life in between active obedience to the various missions that God called him to undertake.  Such oases of seclusion was where Elijah drank from the stream of quiet contemplation, listened for the subtle whispers of the Spirit, and was fed and nourished by angels and ravens to assist Elijah in fulfilling his higher calling from God.

Just as a reminder, I am providing a brief summary of this very dramatic Prophet's life, and the primary events that happened on his watch.

Elijah was chosen by God to be the prophet of Israel during the reign of King Ahab (874-853 BC). During this time, King Ahab married Jezebel and built a temple to the false god of Baal. Elijah is sent to the king and predicts a drought to plague the nation for 7 years as a result of his disobedience and unfaithfulness.  Elijah is able to escape the king and queen's wrath, and is instructed by God to go to hide himself in the Wadi Cherith or stream near the Jordan where he is promised that ravens will feed him. After the stream runs dry, Elijah finds himself in Zerephath where he meets a widow and asks her to share her food. She states that she is making her last flour cakes with the oil and flour she has, and then is prepared to die with her son of starvation. Elijah promises God's protection and provision for her if she will share, which she does, and her foodstuffs are multiplied during the famine and drought.  A while after inviting Elijah into their home, the widow's son dies.  She laments having ever met Elijah, but the Prophet lays his body down upon him in a profound posture of prayer, and the boy revives. 

The third year of the drought, Elijah meets King Ahab's army face to face on Mt. Carmel and challenges his false prophets of Baal to the one true God.  Both build altars, but the gods of Baal take no action in consuming the sacrifice and offering upon it.  Elijah pours water upon the altar of God, and all are stunned and amazed that the Lord consumes his offering in a dramatic fire from heaven.  The people recognize the one true God and lament their errors. Elijah is instructed by God to slay all of the false prophets and worshipers of Baal.  After this mighty battle, Elijah predicts rain and sends a servant to the top of Mt. Carmel to look for clouds. On the 7th attempt, he reports seeing a tiny cloud "as small as a man's hand rising from the sea." Elijah recognizes this as the Virgin Mary who will give birth to the Messiah (1 Kings 18:41-46).

Jezebel is quite perturbed by the slaughter of her false prophets and warns Elijah she is going to kill him. Elijah escapes to a broom tree in despair, but is approached by an angel who orders him to get up and eat for strength for the journey.  He walks 40 days and nights to Mount Horeb.  Once there, Elijah finds himself in a cave in prayer.  God asks him, "Why are you here?" Elijah answers, "I have been most zealous for the Lord God of hosts, but the Israelites seek to take my life." (1 Kings 19:11-18) God tells Elijah to go to the mouth of the cave and to listen as He passes by. He doesn't hear God in the thunder, nor the earthquake, but in the tiny whispering sound of the wind, at which point Elijah covers his face.

Elijah lives out the rest of his days in prayer.  He meets Elisha and places his cloak upon him as his successor. When he is about to die, Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah's spirit. It is granted to him and he watches as Elijah is taken up to heaven in a flaming chariot and horses near Mt. Carmel. This was said to be the beginning of the school of the prophets of Carmel. We are also told that Elijah will return at the end of time, "to appease the wrath of the Lord, to reconcile the heart of the father to the son and to restore the tribes of Jacob." (Ecclesiasticus 48: 9-10)

Whew! What a life he led! These various periods of prayer and rest, punctuated with active work for God's Glory is a rich well of meditations and considerations for our own journeys (although probably not as intensely colorful and filled with miracles, missionary movement, and physical danger).  His surrender to being used as a mouthpiece for God and a pawn in His Kingdom and for His Glory speaks volumes concerning the seasons of the soul, the spiritual wealth of seeming victory as well as defeat, and the ebb and flow of God's movements within us. 


 Landscape with the Prophet Elijah in the Desert  BLOEMEART (1610’s)

REFLECTIONS:

1. Do I obediently seek shelter from the world and its busyness, when the Holy Spirit summons me out into the desert to speak to my heart or do I insist on staying occupied with earthly matters and ignore the voice of God due to fear, attachment, or pride?

2. Do I allow God to feed me at the Eucharistic Table with his Precious Body and Blood or do I ignore the power and strength found only in the Sacraments and Holy Mass?

3. Do I trust in God's Divine Providence for me and that He will provide for my needs?

4. Do I find time to be alone with the alone and to ponder and listen in silence?

5. Do I recognize God's Presence in all of Creation and its beauty? Do I treat all human life with respect and dignity, as well as protect the environment and all in creation?


Elijah with the Widow and Son


REFLECTIONS:

1. Do I ask for the help of others when I am in need or do I try to handle it myself, and thus further my self-sufficiency and pride? 

2. Do I share what I have with others in need, especially the poor, the widowed and orphaned?

3. Do I trust and have confidence in God's Divine Provision and always count my blessings, even in times of hardship and seemingly impossible situations?

REFLECTIONS:

1. Do I stretch myself and give all I have to others when they are in dire need?

2. Do I pray for others' healing and pour out my heart and prayer to them in times of severe trial?

3. Do I pray to God without ceasing thereby making my entire life a prayer in allegiance to

Jesus Christ through the intercession and example of Our Lady?

4.Do I exercise faith that myself and others will receive what they need when I seek God in prayer and persist in prayer?

Offering of Elijah CHAGALL (1956)

REFLECTIONS:

1. Do I exhibit courage when faced with heresies or blasphemies against God, the Church, and Her teachings? If I am not called to speak directly, do I at least take all of these needs to prayer and pray in a spirit of reparation asking for Jesus' Divine Mercy for the whole world?

2. Does my example show others that I am a Christian? Do I participate in things that are not holy or put into question my moral beliefs and values?

3. Am I attached to any false idols such as money, prestige, power, vanity, other persons, sensual pleasures, substances/addictions, etc?  

4.Do I seek reconciliation with God in the sacrament of Confession on a regular basis in order to grow in sanctity and rid  myself of faults and venial and/or mortal sins?

Elijah Taken Up in a Chariot of Fire by Giuseppe Angeli (1780)

REFLECTIONS:

1. Do I have trust that Our Lord has a plan for my life and those of my loved ones, and all happens according to His Most Perfect Will when we are walking with Him?

2.  Do I fear death or do I understand that it is a passage to new life for believers? What other fears do I have? Meditate on "Perfect love casts out all fear." 1Jn 4:18

3.  Do I believe in His goodness and Divine Mercy for me and for all of humanity, and that all have the opportunity to choose Him and His love?

I am hopeful that these reflection questions inspired by the adventures of the Prophet of Elijah can assist all of us as we seek closer conformity in doing His Divine Will in the spirit of the Tishbite we celebrate today.

St. Elijah...Pray for us...

Meditating on Christ with Artist Bl. Fra Angelico

JMJT! Praise be Jesus Christ! Now and Forever!

Three weeks ago on a quiet Friday morning before much of the population of Florence (or its many tourists) seemed to be awake, my husband and I walked into Dominican Convent of San Marco where the monk and world-renowned painter Fra Angelico [now Blessed] would spend his years praying and painting. A little history about this beautiful convent located in the heart of Florence: In 1437 Cosimo il Vecchio de’ Medici decided to rebuild the entire convent , at the suggestion of Antonino Pierozzi the Vicar-General. The work was entrusted to Michelozzo, and the decoration of the walls was carried out between 1439 and 1444 by Giovanni of Fiesole, later known as Fra Angelico, and his assistants, including Benozzo Gozzoli. The church was consecrated in 1443 in the presence of Pope Eugenius IV. 

Fra Angelico decorated the cells on the first floor, and other spaces in the convent, with frescoes charged with profound spiritual and ascetical meaning; he began with the lunettes above the doorways in the Cloister of St. Antoninus, which Michelozzo had built before 1440. As we walked into the main space in the Museum/Convent on the first floor, we turned the corner and were greeted with a fresco that made me literally gasp- the Crucifixion. Of course, like all of us, I have seen many beautiful depictions of Our Lord's Passion and Death, but never one like this. It took my breath away because Fra Angelico included not only all of the Apostles, above the rendering, but at the feet of Christ and with Our Lady who is depicted as fainting, he includes numerous saints - people like you and I who strove for holiness and attained it.  Below that are windows of various prophets found throughout the Old Testament.



I am not one to cry in public, but I was so moved, that is precisely what I did.  I felt an intense presence of God, and the core mystery and sorrow of His Passion and Death for our sins.  It was as if the painting were communicating the deepest mysteries of Christ and His ultimate sacrifice and inviting us in as participants, not just observers.  I was transported to the scene on Calvary. I was there.  This intense feeling of sorrow and presence remained with me, as we finally continued to view the cells of the monks on the upper floors. The first fresco to greet us at the top of the stairs was the famous Annunciation, as Our Lady with full docility and surrender kneels before the invitation of the Archangel Gabriel to become the Mother of the Savior. A deep sense of joy replaced the emotional depths of sorrow I felt stirring so deeply within me until that point in time.  Looking at these walls, it was incredible to think of the detailed work and intense talent that was involved with creating these frescoes directly on the walls.  These two frescoes and several more within the open spaces of the complex and the church itself were created for aids to communal meditation and contemplation.  Other such communal paintings included St. Dominic with Crucifix and Madonna of the Shadows.   I would affirm that this goal of aiding deep meditation and prayer was astoundingly successful.



As we continued, the individual cells of the monks were laid out to the north, east and south of the Annunciation in long hallway passages.  Although small in size, each monk's simple cell consisted of another beautiful fresco depicting a mystery of the life, passion, death or resurrection of Christ, or a mystery of Our Lady.  These were to be used for private meditation and to move the monks deeper into the mysteries of God's truth, love, and mercy.  As prior, one can only imagine with what love Fra Angelico created these for his brother monks.  Especially aweing and moving for me were the depictions of the Transfiguration in Cell 6, the Mocking of Christ in Cell 7, and the Coronation of the Virgin in Cell 9.  One can only imagine what fruit was borne for these religious men who daily awoke to their particular fresco and were able to gaze upon it and enter into the depths of its essence and mystery.


The Transfiguration

The Mocking of Christ


The Coronation of the Virgin

This experience made such an impact on me that I felt called to re-institute my daily meditation of Jesus' Passion and Death.  This emotional experience also confirmed for me that I am often drawn to  a form of Augustinian prayer in my meditation time, which means that I use a form of lectio divina [Scriptural or other spiritual reading] or gaze upon such beautiful works of art or icons and then transpose myself into the scene or relate it to today's world and situation.  By experiencing Fra Angelico's inclusion of so many everyday people in his convent, as well as beloved saints in his paintings who were depicted as present during the entire Paschal mystery, my soul was really moved and pierced. His method of bringing these images and Biblical scenes and traditions to life became more palpable and relevant to me in a sense, when I was spiritually transported below the Cross holding Blessed Mother while weeping, or kneeling in Adoration at the Birth of Christ, His Transfiguration, or in honor of Our Lady's Coronation.  I can affirm that Fra Angelico successfully used his God-given gifts to help others raise their hearts to God and enter into the deep abyss of Jesus' Sacred Humanity, and Our Lady's virtue and docility, and his works continue to do so to this day. What a grace and blessing to enjoy such gifts after more than 500 years of existence!

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God... Have mercy on me a sinner.
Bl. Fra Angelico...Pray for us.

My Encounter with Sts. Louis & Zelie Martin

JMJT! Praise be Jesus Christ! Now and Forever!




Today while in Adoration an interior whisper reminded me that I should look to see the exact date of  the Feast Day for Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin. Lo and behold, it is today! This catapulted me back to the memories of last summer when my family and I spent a good portion of the day in Lisieux, where our family was able to attend Sunday Mass at the Basilica and then pray before some of the relics of St. Therese as well as her beloved parents, Louis and Zelie just three days short of this special day to honor them.  After taking in the beauty of the upper basilica with its intricate stained glass windows and mosaics depicting Jesus as the Good Shepherd who is beckoning all to "Venez a moi!" ("Come to me!"), we headed to the crypt for a smaller and more intimate space with its darker lighting, marble decor, and mosaics depicting the main stages and highlights of St. Therese's life.  In the back of the crypt, there rested the beautiful reliquary of Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin.  There they were together as they had been throughout their fifteen years of marriage, during which time they would become parents to nine children, only five of whom would survive infancy and childhood.



I remember praying for a lot of intentions within my own family, as well as for other friends and loved ones as I knelt down before the gold-inlaid chest containing their bones.  Who doesn't need prayers for their marriage and family? The list is long.  I felt a sense of great confidence and peace while asking for their intercession, after having read the letters between Louis and Zelie, as well as Zelie's letters to other family members in A Call to a Deeper Love.  Through these communications I felt that I knew Zelie in a special way in particular, and could appreciate her desires to help her children in gaining eternal life, making decisions, and keeping them traveling along the path of sanctity. In doing so, I saw how important it was for her to honor her husband as she did, and the bond that the two of them had in making decisions as a team with Christ as their Center and Head.   I also recognized how supportive and affirming Louis behaved towards his wife, even giving up his own profession in order to support and assist her lace-making business more fully, and being at her side through sickness and health until the very end when she would succumb to the ravages of breast cancer.  

In short, they both lived with the highest good in mind for one another in their marriage - God Himself, and eternal life.  All was ordered towards that end for their children as well, in a rhythm of life that consisted of prayer and work within the household and out in the world.  This central goal was carried out through a deep reverence for the Sacraments - especially by attending daily Mass, as well as reading holy books as a family and taking pilgrimages. Their daughters were raised to honor God, Holy Mother Church, and the angels and saints. This love of God was carried out by frequent acts of charity for their neighbors, employees, household staff, etc.  It was not unusual for homeless paupers to dine in their home and be recipients of whatever they could give to assist the unfortunate.  As a result, the family did not operate on pious platitudes, but on small acts of mercy and kindness done with great love. Sound familiar? 

The day following our visit, while driving through the green hills of Normandy, I received a text on my phone from Wells Fargo.  It said, "Zelle is always with you."  I was taken aback. What is this? It looked liked Zelie. Although I finally figured out what new app they were trying to introduce me to, I couldn't help but think that this was a little sign from heaven that beautiful and brave Zelie had heard my prayers the day prior.  At their canonization on October 18, 2015, Pope Francis remarked, "The holy spouses Louis Martin and Marie-Azélie Guérin practised Christian service in the family, creating day by day an environment of faith and love which nurtured the vocations of their daughters, among whom was Saint Therese of the Child Jesus."



I continue to pray to them for how I can better love my husband and children each day, and therefore love and honor God in my vocation. Last December on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I received an interior nudge from Our Blessed Mother that I begin to write little post cards to my husband at least once a week to express my love, support and appreciation.  It has been a spark of renewal, kindness, and thoughtfulness for the two of us sprinkled with the element of surprise as he never knows when I will sneak this into his car or briefcase, or what will be depicted on the postcard.  In return, he often brings a dozen roses or other bouquets home in gratitude.  These are all seemingly small acts, but are all done with great love and are bearing fruit.  I desire to multiply these acts more and more for him in the spirit of Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin.  

Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin...Pray for us...

St. Benedict's 12 Degrees of Humility and Our Carmelite Charism

JMJT! Praise be Jesus Christ! Now and Forever!


Today we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Benedict, the Father of Western Monasticism and a great saint and miracle worker.  To this day, His Rule still guides many thousands of religious and lay people affiliated or vowed in his order and has influenced countless other early religious orders including the Carmelites.  Carmelites would be inspired by His Benedictine Rule in which the rhythm of the day and prayer was scheduled around the recitation of  the Divine Office. This would remain a central component of the much shorter Rule of St. Albert which was fashioned for the Carmelites particular spirituality and call to contemplative prayer.  

Chapter Seven of St. Benedict's Rule is devoted to the topic of humility- something every Christian continuously strives for on the journey of life.  He outlined 12 degrees of humility, which can be used as guideposts for all Christians as we heed the call of Jesus to, "take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart."  [Mt 11:29]

The twelve degrees are as follows:

1. Fear of God and remembrance of Him in all things;
2. One must seek not to do his own will, but instead to do the Will of the Father as Jesus did
3. One must be obedient to God and His Church in all things great and small;
4. One must be patient, enduring everything that comes to him in silence;
5. One must not hide our sins, but eagerly confess them;
6. One who seeks humility must be content with the poorest and worst of everything;
7. One must consider oneself lower than anyone else;
8. One must not seek to stand out, but instead do only what is required and needful, following the example of the saints;
9. One must restrain the tongue and keep silence when tempted to sin with sword of the tongue;
10. One must be serious-minded, not frivolous, loud or silly - drawing attention to ourselves
11. Our words to others should be measured, and covered with gentleness;
12. Humility will then be manifest in one's inner heart and outward behaviors, and permeate one's entire life whether in activity or silence and prayer.

He ends this chapter of the Rule by setting forth the fruits of such efforts:

Having climbed all these steps of humility, therefore, 
the monk will presently come to that perfect love of God 
which casts out fear. 
And all those precepts 
which formerly he had not observed without fear, 
he will now begin to keep by reason of that love, 
without any effort, 
as though naturally and by habit. 
No longer will his motive be the fear of hell, 
but rather the love of Christ, 
good habit 
and delight in the virtues 
which the Lord will deign to show forth by the Holy Spirit in His servant now cleansed from vice and sin. [see http://www.osb.org/rb/text/rbefjo1.html]

For most of us [at least myself], this can seem to be an overwhelming list of degrees, one in which I might just be in negative territory at times.  BUT, that should not discourage any of us from using these degrees to guide our behaviors, and help us to be more aware of our need for the meekness displayed by Our Lord Jesus Christ, Our Lady, and the community of the saints. I can ask myself, "Do I really need to chime in with my opinion on this subject at this moment?" "Am I drawing too much attention to myself or not maintaining proper decorum in Church or out with others?" "Am I being obedient to the Church, to my Carmelite rule, to my husband, to my parents, my boss,  or those who have some authority over me?"  

Although the Rule of St. Albert does not mention the word 'humility' even once surprisingly, it does clearly state and underscore that we are to strive to live in allegiance to Jesus Christ, which entails the following initiatives in our daily lives:

• to develop the contemplative dimension of their life, in an open dialogue with God
• to live full of charity
• to meditate day and night on the Word of the Lord
• to pray together or alone several times a day
• to celebrate the Eucharist every day
• to do manual work, as Paul the Apostle did
• to purify themselves of every trace of evil
• to live in poverty, placing in common what little they may have
• to love the Church and all people
• to conform their will to that of God, seeking the will of God in faith, in dialogue and through discernment.

It is easy to see how central the virtue of humility is to attaining these ways of life and virtues.  St. Teresa of Avila, sees humility as a cornerstone of prayer and progress in the contemplative life.  Humility must always be doing its work like a bee making its honey in the hive: without humility all will be lost […] As I see it, we shall never succeed in knowing ourselves unless we seek to know God: let us think of His greatness and then come back to our own baseness; by looking at His purity we shall see our foulness; by meditating upon His humility, we shall see how far we are from being humble. There are two advantages to this. First, it is clear that anything white looks very much whiter against something black, just as the black looks blacker against the white. Secondly, if we turn from self toward God, our understanding and our will become nobler and readier to embrace all that is good: if we never rise above the slough our own miseries we do ourselves a great disservice.  [The Interior Castle]

She also discusses humility at length in The Way of Perfection and advises as follows to avoid false humility:

Humility, however deep it be, neither disquiets nor troubles nor disturbs the soul; it is accompanied by peace, joy and tranquility. Although, on realizing how wicked we are, we can see clearly that we deserve to be in hell, and are distressed by our sinfulness, and rightly think that everyone should hate us, yet, if our humility is true, this distress is accompanied by an interior peace and joy of which we should not like to be deprived. Far from disturbing or depressing the soul, it enlarges it and makes it fit to serve God better. The other kind of distress only disturbs and upsets the mind and troubles the soul, so grievous is it. I think the devil is anxious for us to believe that we are humble, and, if he can, to lead us to distrust God.When you find yourselves in this state, cease thinking, so far as you can, of your own wretchedness, and think of the mercy of God and of His love and His sufferings for us. If your state of mind is the result of temptation, you will be unable to do even this, for it will not allow you to quiet your thoughts or to fix them on anything but will only weary you the more: it will be a great thing if you can recognize it as a temptation. This is what happens when we perform excessive penances in order to make ourselves believe that, because of what we are doing, we are more penitent than others. If we conceal our penances from our confessor or superior, or if we are told to give them up and do not obey, that is a clear case of temptation. Always try to obey, however much it may hurt you to do so, for that is the greatest possible perfection.” (Way of Perfection, Ch. 39, para. 3).

May these great saints and their prescriptions in attaining humility be there to light our paths towards union and perfection in Christ Jesus, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for the Glory of God the Father. Amen. 

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel...Pray for us.

St. Benedict...Pray for us.

St. Albert...Pray for us.

St. Teresa of Avila...Pray for us. 

Wounds and Scars in this Month of the Precious Blood

JMJT! Praise be Jesus Christ! Now and Forever!

What a blessing it was to explore various parts of Europe on an adventurous month-long trip that took me to Poland, the Baltics [Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia], and finally, Italy before heading back home.  I loved all of it, but found a special place in my heart for Poland, the ancestral homeland of my beloved paternal grandfather, Walter Torzala.  When reflecting on that first week spent in Poland, I am drawn to our second day when my son and I set out from Krakow to Jasna Gora on a two hour bus ride, to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa.  In this lovely monastery founded by the Ruthenian Prince Ladislaus of Opole in 1382, the beautiful image was entrusted to the Pauline monks from Hungary.



Some contend that this holy image was painted by St. Luke on a tabletop owned by the Holy Family, and brought over from Jerusalem to Constantinople by St. Helena where it remained for 500 years until royal dowries saw it transferred to what is now modern-day Russia.  Others insist that the image was created in the mid to late XIII century as the Balkan icon.  Either way, it was painted with tempura on a canvas which was attached to the surface of three lime tree boards.  In the 14th century, the Polish king St. Ladislaus displayed the beautiful icon in his castle, where Tartar invaders attacked and an arrow pierced Our Lady's throat on the icon.  Seeking to keep the image safe, the icon ended up in its present-day location of Czestochowa after the King's horse drawn carriage refused to budge until the icon was delivered into the safe-keeping of the Pauline monks.  Unfortunately, its safety was short-lived as the Protestant Hussite iconoclasts attempted to harm the icon in 1430 by stealing the image and attempting to take it away.  When it was found that their carriage would not move, they hurled the image to the ground, breaking it into three pieces and then struck the right cheek of Our Lady resulting in four diagonal slashes crossing each other, to add to the other the two longer slashes being visible on the face and neck from the previous attack.

Many attempts were made by the King Wladyslaw Jagiello to restore the image to its original state and grandeur. The best Polish artists dedicated their talent to the task, but a miraculous fact occurred: once the restoration was completed, the paint which covered the scars left in the face by the sword blows of the heretics ran off! Italian artists called in later to restore it found that same phenomenon occurred with them. Finally, it was decided to make a copy of the original picture on a new canvas, preserving the wounds. Today, millions venerate this unique black Madonna who holds the Christ-child while pointing to her beloved Son. 

I've always loved this image, but seeing it in person really impacted me on a deeper level as I contemplated why Our Lady wanted her scars to show, how this relates to the wounds of her Immaculate Heart, and how it relates to me and all of her spiritual children.  She is the Theotokos, the Mother of God, Queen of heaven and earth.  Her beauty surpasses all of creation, and has been described by mystics as beyond human comprehension.   Why display such physical scars?

It occured to me that scars are identifying marks.  They are permanent reminders of an event and are defined as "a mark left on the skin or within body tissue where a wound, burn, or sore has not healed completely and fibrous connective tissue has developed."  They are considered to be a natural part of the healing process.  We know that the wounds of Christ, the scars in His hands and feet, were the identifying markers of Our Savior following His Resurrection.  These scars are described twice in the Gospel of John, Chapter 20: 19 That Sunday evening[b] the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!"  Soon thereafter, Jesus' wounds would take center-stage again as  doubting Thomas is in disbelief and invited to put his hands into the wounds of the Risen Christ.



We can probably understand the centrality of Christ's wounds as pointing to the Cross and Our Lord's ultimate sacrifice in order to gain redemption.  "He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds." (IS 53:5;) and with all believers we proclaim, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" [Rev 5:12]

But what about Our Lady? Why does it seem that heaven has ordained for this image to preserve such scars upon Our Blessed Mother's countenance? I would start by pointing out that the face is the physical means by which we identify one another.  It is an integral part of who we are,and tells us a story.  Our eyes often reveal our emotions, our brow conveys thoughts and feelings, our mouth communicates with words, a smile or frown, a bitten lip.  Our face holds clues about our ancestry, our wrinkles can reveal our lifestyle and profession, our sorrows and secrets.     

We all carry scars, both physical and spiritual.  We have the hidden scars which have pierced our hearts and from which we so often have to seek forgiveness, and healing.  These interior scars can be united to the wounded Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Sorrowful Heart of Our Lady who was pierced with seven swords of sorrow.  When we unite these interior scars with Our Mother's, she knows what to do with them and understands as the sword of sorrow that pierced her heart enabled that "the thoughts of many may be revealed" to her. In other words, she understands the hurts and heartache of her children.  Their joys and pains, worries and dreams, traumas and victories are all received by Our beloved Mother who comprehends the deepest recesses of the souls of her children.  

This image goes further to indicate that she also comprehends our external struggles, physical pains, and sufferings.  She is not a mother who is wrapped in perfection and unable to see, hear or has not experienced the pangs of pain, cold, hunger, fear or exhaustion.  Her physical life was in danger from the moment she conceived Jesus, and continued as she traversed the hills of Palestine to see her cousin, Elizabeth, as well as while escaping into Egypt and living amongst strangers.  Her suffering, both physical and spiritual, continued as she traversed the Via Dolorosa with her Son, and as she watched him be crucified for our sins. The grief, the exhaustion, and the spiritual and physical suffering that she endured in union with Jesus became fully realized when Jesus made her spiritual mother over all of us. "Behold, your Mother." With this last will and testament, this last gift of endless mercy, Jesus expired.  Any mother can attest to the spiritual, emotional, and sometimes physical pain that comes with the love of a mother. That love that permeates our very beings and wants to defend, protect, and guide our beloved sons and daughters, whether they be biological or spiritual children.  


Many saints carried physical scars that helped to identify them with their mission for Our Lord. The Little Arab, St. Mary of Jesus Crucified, was scarred for life when a Muslim man slit her throat for refusing to convert to Islam and left her for dead. she would miraculously survive, being nursed by Our Lady herself, but until her death, this 10cm long scar had to be covered to protect her tender skin that was paper-thin and her voice was perpetually hoarse.   St. Kateri, "the Mohawk Lily", suffered from small pox as a child that left her face disfigured, so much so that she would cover her face with a blanket before going outside in order to hide her scars.  Upon her death, her face was fully recovered and without blemish. To this day, she is a saint for all those who feel shunned and scarred.  



And let's not forget St. Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese slave who found herself mutilated by a woman who cut more than 60 patterns into her skin and then put flour and salt in them to ensure their permanence.  It is hard to imagine enduring these hardships, but all of these women stood firm in their conviction and belief in Jesus Christ regardless of the hardships that faced them.  Their scars were testaments of their enduring faith and their ability, with Our Lord's grace, to overcome physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges and traumas.  

See https://www.stelizcc.org/2018/02/08/black-history-st-josephine-bakhita/

I contend that Our Lady of Czestochowa met these three saints, with the visible scars upon her cheeks and throat, and the seven swords of sorrow piercing her Immaculate Heart, as a sign of solidarity and solace.  To the present day, she continues to bring comfort to her children whose physical and emotional marks communicate a part of their human experience and identity. Whether it be surgery or acne scars, disease, violence, or accidents, heartbreak, past sins, mental illness, abandonment, rejection or addiction, Our Mother, the Black Madonna, is there to comfort us and hold us in Her loving arms. She carries her own scars and ours as our Mother, our Mediatrix, and our Queen.

I do not write this to be depressing, nor to glorify or romanticize scars, but instead to look at the realities of life that bring hurts of various kinds.  It is absolutely essential that we know and believe that we are not alone, that Our Triune God weeps for our hurts and wounds which Jesus has taken upon Himself, and Our beloved Lady meets us exactly where we are at and understands the disfigurements on our bodies, hearts, and souls.  She tells us with Jesus, "Be not afraid."  The good news is that when we allow it, the glory and light of the Lord Jesus shines forth through these very same scars that afflict us and tell others a story about not only our hardships, but about our triumphs in Christ Jesus, with Our Lady  of Czestochowa at our sides.  Together we can say in victory with Our Lady, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." [Philippians 4:12]

Our Lady of Czestochowa...Our Black Madonna... Pray for us! Amen.