Rejoice and Be Glad!
Not too long ago, our Beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis, wrote a beautiful exhortation to the faithful. Within the context of this full work he reminds us again, as the church so often does, there is one simple goal for our lives, to become a sign of the holiness of God, to strive to be walking saints. Reading this document I have been struck by its simplicity, and yet at the same time its paradoxical nature of deep challenge. There is one goal, ONE—to strive for holiness. In many magazines we see the titles, “The Six steps to the perfect life” or “Twelve things to put yourself on the right track for shaping the perfect you.” Jesus however only gives us one thing to work at “strive to be holy as my Father in heaven is holy.” One instead of six, or twelve, or whatever other various number you may see in the tabloids, sounds great sign me up!
While one task at first sounds simple, at the same time, there is a caveat, Pope Francis directs us to become holy in the unique individual way God has marked out for OUR particular souls. He states, “There are some testimonies that may prove helpful and inspiring, but that we are not meant to copy, for that could even lead us astray from the one specific path that the Lord has in mind for us.” WOW. This leaves a great question to be pondered, “Do I know who I am in relationship to the heart and mind of God our Father and Creator?” Perhaps at this point we see the one thing and say, “Yeah, maybe I should go back to the twelve steps in that magazine. Pondering the whole of my existence within the context of the will of the mind and heart of God versus making sure I go to bed early, organize my daily papers, eat healthily, etc.” which set sounds less daunting? As my own life goes on however (thus far rather short and full of inexperience though it may be to be sure), it becomes more and more evident to me that no matter what set of tips or tricks I try to use, from a spiritual point of view or secular, my heart keeps hungering for the one step approach. It seems all hearts are drawn to this, to find ourselves attentive to our place within the heart of God, to accomplish the plan he has created for us.
Now before this becomes “Rejoice and be Glad: the commentary”, I promise I am coming to a close, but not before I mention the other biggie that is stressed. Our striving for holiness is meant to be done in the context of relationship, with God and with others, again a Trinitarian formation of love to and in our world. In our time, more than ever, it is easy to get caught up in the self-seeking, narcissistic trends so often popularized by the culture and say, “This is a mission for God and I alone. I will strive and get there at all costs and become holy to bring myself to a happier existence.” This can be an easy trap to fall into, because under the guise of my coming closer and closer to God, it can very sneakily become filled with judgement of others, self-pride, a self-ordained hierarchy of worthiness in God’s sight, the list could go on and on, and basically the entire meaning and purpose of becoming holy is completely lost. Francis tells us clearly, “It is not healthy to love silence while fleeing interaction with others, to want peace and quiet while avoiding activity, to seek prayer while disdaining service…. God draws us to himself, taking into account the complex fabric of interpersonal relationships present in a human community…. no one is saved alone, as an isolated individual.” This is where I see clearly the heart and charism of my Beloved Foundress Blessed Pauline so clearly.
Mother Pauline repeatedly told the Sisters all throughout her writings, and original draft of the constitutions that our cloister must be with the poor (those that God has given to us in the service of the church whether literal or spiritual etc.). She was known for staying for hours in the chapel running to God with her lists, her lips moving while her heart said steadfast prayers, yet the moment she was called to care for “these least ones” up she went and followed the sanctuary in the form of the child, the beggar, the Sister, you name it she followed, but she was ultimately following God where He led her throughout the day. She however never felt the work was enough but, always returned to him in the heart of the Eucharist and back she went to the actual chapel where work was finalized on bended knee. This was how Mother Pauline was called to Holiness but what about my particular call to holiness. Well I’m still figuring it out, but I think part of it usually goes something like this, God asks me to bring him the prayers of the day, this could be a prayer to be encouraging, loving, and friendly, as a child I am teaching piano to asks if he/she can play “Are you sleeping brother John” for the twelfth time after only getting two bars in and restarting because they forgot to go back to C yet again. Or, as I am tying my twentieth shoe for the day on the recess yard to remember Jesus took a towel a bathed the feet of his loved ones— to quickly say “Jesus in Joey’s feet I see yours” even as the quadroopled sized knot that must be undug to create a more manageable bunny ear tie presents itself to be quite a bit of a struggle. To come home and instead of first sitting on my own chair in my room after a long day, sit at my seat in the chapel and unwind the day with Jesus presenting all the joys, challenges, and sweet little loves he has given me back to him. This is so far some of the stuff that calls me to sanctity. It’s pithy, not to noble sounding, not Joan of Arc quest-like in virtue or fortitude, but hey saints are made to be big and little. All I know is, as our Pope has said it, I want to be devoted “anew to following and promoting the desire for Holiness.” So rejoice and be glad with me, and let’s take our Holy Father’s words, Mother Pauline actions, and all the saints with us as we walk the road together.
