We are gifted at least once a year with a book to allow us to read and grow at Church. The one that was set out on tables for us to have is now....My Life with the Saints by Fr James Martin, SJ
Pat started reading it ahead of me, over Christmas weekend, and the things he told me about it intrigued me! He spoke quite a bit about Thomas Merton, who I know has not been officially sainted by The Church, but was huge in my early Catholic days, and in the days that I considered "a call" to religious life... as I have shared... when my dad told me that he was becoming Catholic along with my mom and the younger 8 kids... he allowed the 3 oldest to make this lifelong and life-changing decision on their own. I had been led to consider becoming a nun... after living a similar life of prayer-chores-and sharing scripture in a Christian commune in Colorado. My "famous" immediate answer to my dad..."I want to be a nun, so yes I want to become Catholic!"
In those early years of discovery... that have now turned into 40 years of daily being fed and growing, including now the journey of shared faith that this memoir is blessing me with, I am ooooohhhing and aaaaahhhhing over Fr James putting into words the deep feelings I have for the saints and how they have changed and colored my world like the most glorious stainglass window or the most glorious masterpiece of art!
Today's Gospel is the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple where he meets Simeon, "this man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Isreal, and the Holy Spirit was upon him." This is the decade that I pray for Hallel on the days of the Joyful mysteries, and I always feel that we did give her to her spouse, Jesus Christ. We got a call from her yesterday, and her dad always has to ask her if she is happy and where she belongs..."Yes, dad." She told us of the almost continous prayer and masses that were said for Christmas vigil and beyond. John told her that she probably laid down in her cell for a short rest in between each. She is now somewhat caught up on her rest after celebrating HIS birth in every way that they possibly could! ONe thing about being part of the Community... you are always deeply a part of what is going on in the Church, along with many saints, the Church Fathers, the Pope, and all that makes The True Church the Truth and the Light!
My sweet grandchildren by the light of the advent wreath last night... Fr James in his book wrote a chapter about Thomas Merton, and how reading his book - Seven Story Mountain - was instumental in his leaving a life of big business, and eventually becoming a Jesuit priest! I just read another biography about Merton, and to know of this man, who went to Gethsemani in Kentucky, and revently visited his grave and sat in the chapel where he was ordained a priest and said prayers throughout his cloistered life. It felt like I was there with him and was a very wonderful and deeply touching to me... sharing the way that Merton awakened us to our Catholic faith and journey that never ends! So amazing to find a comrade on the JOURNEY! Now he has gone to St Ignatius of Loyola, and he was so instrumental in our listening to His Word, and hearing His Call to come into The Church! I am groaning with deep thankfulness to this certain saint that spent years formulating the Ignation Exercises... The retreat is explained this way... "During the time retreatants ponder the love of God, pray over the decision to follow Christ, contemplate events from the life of Jesus, and experience God's creative activity in all things." I can so see how the Exercises enabled my father to hear Christ call to him - "Come and embrace my Bride, The Church!" My dad said, without looking back at his Protestant ministry, "Yes!"
Jesus, another day has arisen in which I am filled with such wonder at all you have given me and blessed me with every day of my jouney with you in your True Church! How I love your Saints and all that they show me! I am overjoyed to reconnect with some old friends that were instrumental in our journey and shed light on the many possibilities for each of us to consider. As Maria and Jospeh said in their Christmas letter: "Well, we just wanted to let you know, that we still are in the fight. We want to be saints. We love Jesus, and we want Jesus Christ to be in everything we do. We're not here to quit. We are disciples of Christ. So, as your Christmas Season goes by, pray for us... Let us be saints together - to be anything else is not to have lived." With words like that as the wind beneath my wings, and all of the amazing "Saints" in my life past, present and future... I am filled with such wonder and AWE! Jesus, I trust in you! Amen and Halleluia!
Bless-bless, Barb"I thought of everything I would like to say to Thomas Merton: That there was probably no other person other than Jesus so responsible for my vocation. That, thanks to his writings, I still carried within myself the pull toward the monastic life in the midst of an active world. That his life of contradictions and complexities helped me see that all of us, no matter how crazy our lives seem, can be holy. That he helped me understand what he called my 'true self,' the person I am before God, and the person I am meant to be. And that, though obviously flawed, he remained one of my great heroes.
But nothing seemed right. So I said simply, 'Thanks,' trusting that he knew all I meant..."
Fr James Martin SJ as he stood at the graveside of Thomas Merton in Gethsemani Kentucky... I join you with so many, "Thanks, Thomas Merton! I am forever changed by your sharing your journey!"Bless-bless, Barb Verly, the grateful
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