One Plus God

We look around the world today and think how crazy the world seems. It can be overwhelming to  realize what we are up against these days:

 "What's the point? What difference can just one person make anyway?"

Have you ever heard these words spoken to you? Or spoken them yourself perhaps?

I have heard them too many times to count over the years and I've even heard them come out of my own mouth now and then.

The problem with this type of mindset is that it sets us up to lose before we've even begun. Imagine if the saints thought like this? All we need to do is look at what Mother Teresa did during the span of her lifetime and we can see that she did not allow herself to fall prey to this kind of thinking. One person can make a huge difference if God is in the equation. Think of what each of these people accomplished during their lifetimes:

Moses + God = the liberation of an enslaved people

Mother Mary + God = the salvation of the entire human race

 Peter + God = the birth of the Church

We cannot say, "Yeah, but they were saints!" Moses was not a saint - he killed a man. St. Peter 

was simply a fisherman - a fisherman who denied Christ three times.

I love this example:  Therese + God = Doctor of the Church...with millions following her "little way" and she accomplished all this without ever leaving the convent or its grounds. (How's that for amazing?)

So never ask yourself what you can do.

Ask yourself what you + God can do.

Saints and Blesseds

My "pick" for Lent yesterday was to research a little known saint (little known to me anyway) and during the course of my research I came across a great website - Saints and Blesseds Page. This site is filled with information on unusual and lesser known saints. I chose to research St Lidwina whom I had heard of but knew little about. She is the patron saint of ice skaters and the chronically ill. Her story is fascinating! Thomas a Kempis witnessed a few of her miracles and was so fascinated by this saint that he wrote a book about her that you can read online.

Holding Grace's Hand

My daughter has a friend named Grace and the two of them often walk around holding hands. Walking to the pool or playground, one of them inevitably reaches out to grasp the other's hand. It's as if they innately understand the power of two. A united front. They even run this way at times with the faster child slowing her steps to match those of the slower one. It reminds me of God's grace.

God is always with us. Grace frees us, supports us, heals us, comforts us, molds us. The saints were not born saints. They became saints. When God reached out to grasp their hands they did not pull away but placed their hands in His. At first grace moves slowly, for it is patient. Then it moves at a steady pace because grace endures and believes. Next, grace runs for it is strong and courageous. Finally, grace and the human person fly in unity straight into Heaven, for grace is love and love is everlasting.

"It is not enough for me that God has given me grace once, but he must give it always. I ask, that I may receive; and when I have received, I ask again. "          St. Jerome

"Behold, I make all things new."             Rev. 21:5

Wicked saints

I love reading books about the saints. The more wicked they were before their conversions the more they interest me. That is why some of my favorite saints are St. Mary Magdalene, St. Paul, and St. Augustine. St. Augustine was really rotten, even when he knew God was calling him, he still held back. St. Paul needed a hard knock on the head before his conversion; it reminded me of my own experience. These saints give me the greatest hope for my own salvation. The wicked ones who were forgiven the most were the ones most passionately in love with the Lord. They became full of zeal. I often ask for the intercession of these sinner-saints. I can relate more to the sinner-saints than the ones who never fell very far.
Suffering-saints are another favorite of mine. Whose heart wouldn't be moved by the intense sufferings of St. Padre Pio? Actually, most saints fall into these two categories. There were a couple of saints who were practically perfect from birth but don't ask me who they are; I've already forgotten their names :)