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Man wants to build Heaven on his own…” -Canon Jacques Leclercq Last night, we had a Mardi Gras dinner at our church on base. Our new priest sat beside my husband and me and shared lots of wisdom. The man knows his Bible. At one point he said, “Heaven cannot be attained without sacrifice and suffering. We must die to self which will always cause suffering within us. And when we die to self, and die with Him as He did on the Cross, we become more like Him. We do not have a Lord who does not understand suffering. What makes us think we could live this Christian life free of it and still resemble Christ?” We want to build our own Heaven here on earth. We want finite pleasures over infinite joy. We want comfort over struggle. We want our will over God’s. It is ludicrous for the created being to think it can ever surpass the Creator in making Heaven. Yet, we try all the time. Lent is that time of preparation where we follow Christ to the Cross and join with Him in His suffering. It is, after all, we that caused the suffering. Ash Wednesday is where we specifically remember our littleness and dependency on God and are reminded that apart from God, we are nothing. May you have a blessed Ash Wednesday and Lenten Season.
Continue ReadingTomorrow, Catholic Pilgrims, we begin Lent. This is not a secular self-help time. It’s not a time to outdo others or ourselves in past years. Things don’t need to be complicated. We just need to remember that everything we do or don’t do during this time is to be done with the soul purpose and intention of walking with Christ in the desert. Prayer, penance, fasting, and almsgiving. If there is no sacrifice involved, it lacks what is needed for this time. It is good to go into the desert with Christ, Catholic Pilgrims. Our souls need it. Live the faith boldly and travel well this Tuesday.
Continue ReadingI finally finished "The Diary of Country Priest." It took me so long because it’s a book that needs devoted attention. This is a book that needs time for contemplation with a fine wine or a good whiskey. There is no high climax. The movement is slow. You cannot sit and devour it. So, if you need swift movement, high energy, and an easy read, I would not recommend this book. The priest--whose name we never know--is a very Christ-like figure. He is simple and good. He wants nothing more than to take good care of his parish, but his light is too much for his parishioners. His light draws out there darkness like a magnet draws out iron shards. Most people cannot handle it and therefore fight against him as if they are fighting against God. Really only one allows that fight to bring about healing. So, if you are wanting a book that forces lots of deep thoughts, I would recommend giving it a try. It takes some time to get the flow of the writer, mostly because the book is translated from French. However, if you are willing to give it time, give it prayer even, I think you would be rewarded by this humble novel with its humble priest. Happy reading and have a good Monday, Catholic Pilgrims.
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