Loving Life

Frequently we receive prayer requests from couples who desire children but who are unable to conceive, and few things are more thrilling than having new parents write that ‘their prayers have been answered!’ Both the suffering desire of waiting for a child and the joy of a new little one are testimonies to the sanctity and the supreme beauty of life itself. Someone who longs to bring forth life has in fact, a unique opportunity to recognize all the more the great gift of the persons that surround them. Each life is a real gift – an undeserved, unasked for, willed by God, created for and by Love – gift! And with these gifts comes great responsibilities that conscientious parents know very well! The call to support, nurture and promote the good of the lives of our neighbors is imperative for all of us. The consequences of neglecting such ‘good works’ contributes to the deterioration and even corruption of our families and society at large. As GK Chesterton said, “If we believe in the sanctity of human life, it must be really a sanctity; we must make sacrifices for it.” For Christians this is certainly not new – the Gospel is full of such admonitions. Even now, as 40 Days For Life is observed throughout our nation and around the world, it is the perfect time to renew again our wonder at the beauty of human life and our resolve to make sacrifices for the good of each of our neighbors – those born and unborn! With this mindset we steer clear of the dangerous temptation to ‘take and control’ that which is not legitimately ours. We belong to God, the all wise Creator and Master of all life and we are safe in HIS Hands.

The Pictures above were taken at Sr. Maria Maris Stella’s investiture family visit in our parlor! Little nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters of our Sisters usually ‘steal the show’ whenever we have the joy to spend time with them!

Led By Grace & Truth

The man we honor today throughout the Church, Blessed John Henry Newman, is a brilliant example for all who seek to follow Christ’s lead, His light, His truth. The tangible graces that evoked a principle conversion in Newman at the young age of 15, awakened in him the realization that God was “Closer to me than I am to myself.” Such awareness drew him to solitude where he saw all the beauties of this world as a veil through which he glimpsed the greatest reality – God. This depth of resonance with grace gave him a great capacity to recognize the divine call and accordingly follow his conscience. Led by the unerring wisdom of the Church Fathers, he embraced the Catholic faith at the expense of his former clerical career and unfortunately, many friendships. As St. Paul once wrote, he had forfeited everything for the sake of the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ. Not knowing what he was to do as he entered the Church, the conviction that he had a mission to fulfill never abated. Indeed, he was to be conformed in the pattern of Christ’s suffering. After entering the Church, setbacks, misunderstandings, failed ventures, lack of support and other difficulties relentlessly struck their blows. Nevertheless, he became and remained a faithful and courageous shepherd, laboring for others. Again and again and again he abandoned himself to the Hand and Providence of God. It was in this self surrender that he was ushered “From shadows and fantasies to truth.” He will intercede for us also, that we might never give up seeking the light of truth.

‘A man of conscience is one who never acquires tolerance, well-being, success, public standing, and approval on the part of prevailing opinion at the expense of truth. In this regard Newman is related to Britain’s other great witness of conscience, Thomas More, for whom conscience was not at all an expression of subjective stubbornness or obstinate heroism. He numbered himself, in fact, among those fainthearted martyrs who only after faltering and much questioning succeed in mustering up obedience to conscience, mustering up obedience to the truth, which must stand higher than any human tribunal or any type of personal taste.’

~ Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger from the Book 'On Conscience'

Cause of Our Joy

For the faithful disciple of Christ, the days commemorating one’s commitment to God are second in joy only to the day when ‘it’s all been said and done!’ Today Sr. Marie Emmanuel of the Mother of God celebrates 50 years in Religious Life and it is a day of joy indeed! Her Jubilee Mass honored Mary, Cause of Our Joy whose willing ‘fiat’ gave us Christ our Redeemer. Crowned with flowers and joined by family members from various states, Sister radiates the peace and fulfillment of a life lived with and in Our Savior. Among all the needs and intentions that come our way, Sister Emmanuel has especially ‘adopted’ the EWTN family. As a true friend of God, for her it is imperative that as many persons as possible come to know the goodness of her Spouse – and to that end all ‘being and doing’ is directed. It certainly is no secret that any form of Christian life has it’s share of drama (the drama of salvation!). Living in Religious Life for so long is no exception to the above statement! In short – Sister Emmanuel has a huge stock of stories galore. But the best ones are still being lived… Congratulations Sister!