Little Sacrifices with Great Love

There are many great events to celebrate in August but our cartoon this week focuses on Saint Maximilian Kolbe on the 80th anniversary of his martyrdom . Yet it still is connected to the next day’s feast, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Kolbe saw how she did everything, no matter how small, as an act of tremendous love. And he taught his many friars that as well as demonstrating it in his own witness.

Many of our friends and benefactors may not see themselves as the generous souls they really are, But, as is often the case, we know of the great love behind each gift. Once again we raise our prayers of gratitude for the known and unknown donors who are able to assist us. Please always be assured of our prayers.

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Ahhhh....the easy life?

Who doesn`t want a life of ease and comfort? Who wouldn`t want a calm life free of stress, anxiety, and hard work? Well, if you`re looking for that, rest assured you won`t find it, even in a monastery. You`ll find lots of hard work, of course, and little ease or comfort. As to stress or anxiety? No matter your walk of life, you`ll find some of that. So, if "all we do is pray" sounds overly cozy and pleasant, read on.

We haven`t entered into monastic life to escape the stress and anxiety of the world. We come to this life to enter into a long spiritual combat that consists of our entire lives offered up to Christ for the sanctification of his priests and the needs of the entire world. Combat implies you automatically have an enemy to contend with. Most often that is our own selves, our fallen nature. But when our mission encompasses others, in this case priests, we can`t ignore the enemy outside ourselves whom we know, beyond doubt, is after their Christ-marked souls.

Knowing the devil is after priests, and thus also after all those who pray and sacrifice for them, actually need not cause any stress or anxiety either, because it grants us the calming assurance that every hardship can be transformed into grace purchased for priests. Even the roughest situation can be offered up with tranquility of soul. The `stress-less-ness` of our lives is in this exchange: our little battles for their peace.

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Make a plan and God laughs, right? There is a converse rule of thumb too. Make a plan that is NOT God`s and be miserable. Despite appearances to the contrary among the elite, celebrities, and the lives of the rich and famous, have you ever personally met someone who got "everything they ever wanted" apart from God to be truly joyful, content, peaceful and satisfied?

What a blessing it is that WITH JESUS we already have everything we can want or need - even amid the trials, difficulties, persecutions, poverty etc., that may never have been part of "our" plans! God`s plans for us are always the best. ...

WHY IS THE CAT JUST SITTING THERE?

Humans love to anthropomorphize animals. We can watch a cat staring and presume to know just what it’s thinking or wanting and discover we are altogether wrong in our guess. A cat can patiently wait on its prey for hours. Or sit close to its human for long periods of time.

Have you ever thought that God might enjoy having us give him that kind of attention habitually? We marvel that a cat stays close by our side, doing ‘nothing’ more than snooze perhaps, yet it gives us pleasure (especially if there is purring). Now think of a dry, difficult holy hour of adoration before the Eucharist. Perhaps we even fall asleep and feel we did ‘nothing’ for the Lord. Nothing more than ‘snoozing’. Is God displeased the holy hour didn’t go the way we wanted? Or is he delighted that one he loves is simply with him? Perhaps that’s just one reason he designed pets as animal companions...to remind us of his constant presence and of his desire that we also be present to him.

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Meus maxime mortificatsio est vita communis. In English, “My greatest mortification is community life.” Saint John Berchmans

While that can be true, so can a surprising contrast, “Community life is my greatest joy.” ...

How does the cat discern?

Yes, we are sort of sharing some of our news regarding how we are going to manage Come and See visits during COVID. But, thanks to the amazing qualities of fictional cartoons, we can do so all while respecting the privacy and discretion of the women discerning their possible religious vocations.

When you are lighting a fire with a match or a spark, you are careful not to expose the early flame to too much wind or it will go out. Gunther, however, has no such reservations. And he’s very discriminating about who can rub his ears. #sisterreginacomicstrip ...