God Alone

On Sunday night I was coming home from a trip to North Carolina. The light in August, if you have noticed, is different than that of July and especially June. The early summer has a white, almost harsh light, but later summer is golden, warm, mellow. The shadows are somehow deeper and louder; nothing is watered down in August sunshine.

All of this sun and green were passing me by. Great, straight fields of crops stretching out, punctuated by trees flaming with light and height. I get sentimental about the end of the summer, especially the end of summer in North Carolina, when suddenly you find another season has gone and you can't always remember how you spent it, but you hope you did it well.

As we drove, we passed a billboard of a car salesman and his dog. It's part of this salesman's advertising campaign, and has been for years. I used to know someone who thought this campaign was very funny, so every time I see it, I think of him. This is someone I used to be in love with, someone I thought would be in the picture for a long time to come.

So summer is at its peak, approaching waning, with the sun burnishing everything in full relief, and all my thoughts turned toward - how does this happen? How does time go on and on, how do I leave behind things that were once so important to me, that no longer are? Why is it almost uncomfortable remembering ourselves as we were, with those awful growing pains as we go from one stage of life to the next? Why is it that time will never stop, and give you an explanation?

St. Theresa of Avila prayed:

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.

This is the only sure thing. Relationships, houses, jobs and friends change. You change, too. But the only true thing (as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, amen) is the permanence and reality of God. The only answer is to keep God at the center of your life because without it, you are adrift. There is nothing else, anyway.

You can't ever really leave those things from your past behind, even if you wanted to. I am the sum of all my experiences and thoughts, the people I have met, the ideas I have synthesized into my life, the loves and opinions that have grafted themselves on to me or that I have grown into through wisdom and choice. I will never, ever leave that love behind, because I am unable - it is as much a part of who I am as my hands, my eyes.

When I feel as if I have lost something (or someone, or an experience) that I know I will never get back - even if it is for the best - I turn to this truth and know that nothing has been lost, after all. It is so important to learn and grow from where we've been, and just as important to keep moving forward with the understanding that everything happens in God's time, according to his plan, and that we are always in His hands.

Feel that for a moment: feel the feeling of being held by God, forever, unceasingly.

 My heart ached a small bit for the sunshine and the past on Sunday. But acknowledging the love of my Creator brought me back to the present and the blessings that fill my life today, and a gratitude for the opportunity to keep going toward whatever He has planned for me next. That is all that is asked of me. And  I thank God every day for keeping me close to His heart and opening my eyes so I can begin to see this.

Novena to St. Philomena

It's novena time once again! Please join me and the community at PrayMoreNovenas.com in praying to a powerful intercessor, St. Philomena. Learn more about her and sign up for daily email reminders here.

The novena starts tomorrow, Sunday, August 2. Personally, I am not familiar St. Philomena, and am enjoying learning more about her reputation as a healer and miracle worker. And I'm looking forward to getting to know her better through prayer!

The Legionary Image

Below is adapted from the allocutio I will give this evening at the Legion of Mary meeting. The allocutio is a talk given by the spiritual director or president on a topic from the handbook, Legio Mariae.

Ch. 25, Legio Mariae: The Legion Picture

There is a lot of information in this chapter! Let us look at some of the symbols Frank Duff describes: first, there is the dove, which is the symbol for the Holy Spirit. Mary was present at the descent of the Holy Spirit and it is understood that through her, the fire of the Holy Spirit is enkindled in the hearts of mankind.

The words bordering the image represent the catena prayer, as each letter is connected to the next as in a chain. Catena, of course, is Latin for chain. Daily recitation of the Catena binds Legionaries to each other across the globe. And in the portrayal of Mary we see her enveloped in light, “fair as the moon, bright as the sun,” underneath the words of the Magnificat, which is the “ever-present thought of Mary’s mind.” Duff reinforces the idea that it is just as important to our Lord now as it was then to rely upon his holy Mother to accomplish great things in His name.

And of course, no image of the Blessed Mother is complete without the crushing of the serpent’s head. We often see her looking glorious and mighty, with a puny little snake crushed underneath her heel. In our Legion picture, the large serpent is wrapped around the globe, mouth open, hissing angrily. Mary stands serenely above, in complete dominance. It is a wonderful reminder that she has always had power over the forces of evil.

Underneath Mary are her legionaries in battle under her name, and beyond them, the innumerable Legionaries who have passed on but remain members of her army. It is a beautiful thought that those who serve her on earth continue to do so in Heaven, and continue to have her blessing and intercession.

These symbols are vivid reminders of very real things. In the image we see our faith on display, along with the relationship with Mary, not just as Mother of God, but as the Mediatrix of All Graces, the one through whom our work is performed. We call on her and the Holy Spirit to aid us in our work and pray that we can serve her faithfully.

Even more important is the reminder of the universality of our faith and the bigger picture, if you will pardon the pun, that may go unseen in our day-to-day work. Frank Duff references the “undying warfare,” between Mary’s offspring and the offspring of evil, which we know to be true. All the time we are given the choice to choose between good and evil. These are not necessarily huge, obvious choices, but are the day-to-day decisions which we make and which shape our life. How we act in the present determines our earthly, and our eternal, future. Who do we side with? How do our actions speak of us? Do I choose the path of least resistance because it’s easier, or do I stay true to my faith, even when it’s difficult? Behind the scenes, in the world that exists beyond ours, the choices we make have repercussions. The angels, our Legionaries on the other side, and of course the Blessed Mother, are all there to help us make the right choices in our lives. Whether we see it or not, this eternal battle goes on.

Examining the Legion image every once in a while will be beneficial for returning to the reasons behind what we do and what we believe. It may even be a good image for meditation. Take some time in the coming days to examine the picture and reflect on how it makes you feel, or if perhaps it draws you closer to the Blessed Mother or your calling as a Legionary. Perhaps you will receive some divine inspiration!