Sister Lucia, Fatima Visionary, and the Call to Faith

Early photo of Sister Lucia

While I was at Mass yesterday morning, I noticed a meditation written by Sister Lucia Santos, the Carmelite nun who was the eldest of the three children who saw Our Lady of Fatima in 1917.  

It is a meditation about faith, which appears in the May 2013 issue of Magnificat.  Here are her words, highlighted in blue, followed by my thoughts.

The first call which God addresses to us through his messenger is ... a call to faith:  My God, I believe. 

Our faith journey begins when we can profess our faith in God's existence.  It is my impression that fewer and fewer people are willing to take this initial step.  I feel sad about this lack of faith in God and pray daily that everyone will come to know and believe in God.

Faith is the basis of the entire spiritual life.  It is by faith that we believe in the existence of God, in his power, his wisdom, his mercy, his work of redemption, his pardon and his fatherly love. 

Faith as a theological virtue is infused in those baptized "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Most Catholics want their children baptized as soon as possible.  I was baptized within three weeks of my birth.  My daughter was baptized the day after she was born.  Some Christians think that baptism in infancy is too early, because the child is unaware or doesn't understand.    While this may or may not be true, I have faith that God can communicate with anyone at their level of understanding.  God communicates, through grace, his very presence in all the baptized.

It is by faith that we believe in God's Church, founded by Jesus Christ, and in the doctrine the Church transmits to us and by which we shall be saved. 

Some people are able and willing to profess belief in God, but not in God's Church.  Some do believe in the Church but not in all that the Church professes and teaches.  Why?  What blocks them?  Probably there's no single answer.  

It is the light of faith that guides our steps, leading us by the narrow way that leads to heaven. It is by faith that we see Christ in others, loving, serving, and helping them when they are in need of our assistance. 

I like to think of faith as a light, a light that illuminates the darkness and helps us see the truth.  There is an expression, "the eyes of faith."  There was a time in my own faith journey when it was difficult for me to "see" Christ in others.  It didn't stop me from loving, serving or helping them, though.  People like Blessed Mother Teresa have been a good, saintly example to those of us who are blind to Christ's presence in others.

And it is also our faith that assures us that God is present within us, that his eyes are always upon us. They are eyes of Light, almighty and immense, which extends everywhere, sees everything, and penetrates all things with the unique clarity proper to the Divine Son alone, as compared with which the sun, which we see and which warms us, is no more than a pale reflection, a fragile spark emanating from the Light of the immense being which is God.  

When you're up and about, do you sense God's eyes looking at you and noticing you?  There was a time when I was constantly aware of this.  Although my belief in God hasn't waned, I don't have the awareness as constantly as I once did.

Faith generates confidence and is a comfort, especially when there's such an assault on faith from secular and diabolical forces.  Sister Lucia's sun analogy is very apt.  The physical sun, a tiny piece of creation, yet so luminous, is a mere speck compared with the power of the Creator of all. This puts reality in perspective.

These few lines penned by Sister Lucia inspire my own faith and motivate me to read more of what she has to say.

Although I found Sisters words in Magnificat, they are an excerpt from the book "Calls" from the Message of Fatima.   It sounds like a good book for spiritual reading.  Although out of print, used copies are available.

Remembering the Fatima Events of 1917

Today is the memorial of Our Lady of Fatima.  What is it that we remember and celebrate?  In 1917, on six occasions, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three Portuguese children from Fatima, a village near Lisbon.  During the apparitions Our Lady requested that they offer their prayers and sufferings in reparation for sin, for the conversion of sinners, and for world peace.

My father told me the Fatima story when I was a child.   The actual events occurred about two years before he was born.   I particularly recall dad describing the Miracle of the Sun, which happened in October at the time of the final apparition.  It was raining heavily that day when thousands gathered where Our Lady had been appearing.   As usual the three children prayed.  This was also the day that Our Lady revealed her identity to them as she had promised she would.  She called herself the Lady of the Rosary.  She also urged everyone to stop offending God by sin and to pray.  In addition she strongly encouraged them to pray the rosary often and devoutly.

Illustration (two-page spread) of the Miracle of the Sun that appeared in my childhood textbook

Then something amazing happened.  The rain stopped.  The sun appeared like a huge silver ball, and it began to move.  It spun three times and flashed beautiful colors like a light show.  It ended when the sun stood still and the flashing lights stopped.  It was the last time the children saw Our Lady.

Not long after my father told me about Fatima, I read the account of the apparitions in a third grade Ginn and Company Faith and Freedom reading book, This is Our Valley.  The illustrations captivated my young imagination, especially because the children involved, Lucia Santos, and her cousins Francisco and Jacinto Marto, both now canonized as Blesseds, were about my age.  Had I lived at that time and place they could have been my friends or school mates.

Photograph of Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta

Last summer I renewed my devotion to Our Lady of Fatima after viewing the film, "The 13th Day," which is based on the memoirs of Lucia and thousands of eyewitnesses who experienced the miraculous events.  It was one of the movies in a summer film series sponsored by the religious education ministry of my parish.  You can get a hint of what a fine movie it is at this link, which has film clip excerpts like the following, and more good information.

New Source for Spiritual Inspiration from a Catholic Perspective

If you know me, then you know how much I love words and love learning new ones.  This trait was passed on to me via my parents, who were word aficionados.

Connie Rossini, who blogs at Catholic Spirituality BlogsNetwork, introduced me to a new word this morning.  The word is idiolect and, according to the online Merriam-Webster dictionary, it means "the language or speech pattern of one individual at a particular period of life."  Connie gave the word a new twist by connecting the word with one's spirituality.  She says,

Have you ever thought about your spiritual idiolect?  Since your soul is unique, you have a personal way of speaking to God that no one else completely shares.

If you have not heard of the new blog, I urge you to visit the link and get acquainted with the inspiring posts written by a variety of Catholic bloggers, each of whom have a spiritual idiolect and who love the Catholic faith.

Spiritual Practices: Value of Family Prayer

I learned to pray in my childhood.  One morning when I was in kindergarten our teacher, Mrs. Kershke, asked if anyone knew a prayer.   Hands waved vigorously as many classmates of mine volunteered.  I was vexed that I could not volunteer, because I did not know a prayer.  At least I didn't think I knew one.  Mrs. Kershke called on Billy and he recited the "Hail Mary" prayer.  Something about that prayer was familiar to me, but I certainly didn't know it by heart.  That day, upon returning home from school, I let it be known that I wanted to know a prayer.  In fact, I was upset with my parents for not having taught me sooner.  So my education in prayer and praying began.

At first I wanted to know the words to a prayer.  For a young child learning the words and the accepted physical posture of folded hands, bowed head, and perhaps kneeling is the start for becoming prayerful.  I applaud my father for his way of teaching by example.  He was, in fact, a prayerful person, although he was laid back about it.  I could actually sense God's presence in the atmosphere of our home when my Dad prayed.  He was silent.  His eyes were closed.  I saw the rosary beads moving through his fingers as he lay on the sofa after coming home from work.  I knew that something was going on, something good and holy, even if I could not articulate it.

Our family ritual before bed time included story-telling or reading stories, singing songs, and finally prayer.  One prayer I remember learning was "Hail Holy Queen," the English translation of "Salve Regina."

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy; hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.   Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.  O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Source:  A Catechism of Christian Doctrine, revised edition of the Baltimore Catechism, No.2, copyright, 1941, Archdiocese of Chicago School Board.

My father was good about explaining the meaning of the words to the prayers we learned in response to specific questions posed by me or by my brother and sister.  So, for example, in the "Hail Holy Queen" above, when I asked him, "What is a vale of tears?" he said it meant the sorrows and struggles of life on Earth that will end when we are with God in heaven.  Likewise, the phrase, "after this our exile" meant the same thing.  I marvel at how well my father incorporated little lessons about faith into our nightly prayer sessions.

Recently our Holy Father, Pope Francis talked about family prayer.  He said,  

During this month of May, I would like to recall the important and the beauty of praying the Holy Rosary, contemplating the mysteries of Jesus, reflecting, that is, on the central moments of his life, so that, as for Mary and St. Joseph, He may be the centre of our thoughts, of our concerns, and of our actions. It would be beautiful if, above all during this month of May, we would recite together in our families, with our friends, and in our parishes, the Holy Rosary or some prayer to Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Praying together is a precious moment for making our family life and our friendship more steadfast! Let us learn to pray more in our families and as a family!”

I learned to pray within my family.  During a recent homily my pastor suggested that it is usually the mother who passes on the gift of prayer to her children, but that was not the case with me.  The role of my father in shaping me as a person who prays was central.

Dad's rosary beads were like these.

The Best Blog Posts I've Ever Read

Heather King writes a blog called Shirt of Flame that I find inspirational.   What I like best about her writing is its authenticity.  If you take the time to read her posts you will discover what I mean.

The following post was the best one I've read until today.
WHY I AVOID BOTH THE CATHOLIC LEFT AND THE CATHOLIC RIGHT

Today I read this post by Heather, and I like it equally well.
THE POPE APPROVES OF THE SOF COM BOX

Here is an extended quote from this recent post:

I also quickly discerned what kind of comments I would host: those that reflect fellow feeling; fresh insights; a sense of humor (always welcome), or courteous, well thought-out dissension. I will not host  comments that are insulting, rude, or doctrinally wrong. In a post that is clearly from goodwill and a searching heart, a commenter who zeroes in on a tangential, not-in-discussion point is doctrinally wrong, because Catholicism is not stupid. An insulting comment is doctrinally wrong because the doctrine of Christ is love. A comment that is rude, threatening and anonymous is doctrinally wrong because the doctrine of Christ is courage.

Insults and rudeness drive traffic--thus I have foregone that kind of traffic.

Which brings me to my real point: the incredible gratitude I feel to my readers.  As I told Austin, "I am never more certain I haven't gone completely off the rails as when I am irresistibly drawn to Mass; when everything in me just desperately wants to be close to Jesus"...And if you follow Shirt of Flame, in some way you want to get close to Christ, too--close to truth, close to goodness, close to beauty... 

So what is so good about these posts?  In my opinion what is good is the notion of avoiding partisan Catholicism and not engaging in vitriol and acrimony. 

It seems that our Holy Father, Pope Francis, concurs.  Catholic bloggers ought to be about the business of proclaiming the joy and goodness that characterizes those who live faithful Catholic Christian lives.

Spiritual Practices: Examination of Conscience

As a Christian I am bound to follow my conscience, my inner guide to doing good and to avoiding evil.    Every Evening, as the day winds down, I spend about  ten minutes at the beginning of "Night Prayer" to review my day by examining my conscience.  The guide that I have found most helpful lately is called "An Examen."

I like this way of reflecting on my day because it is balanced.  It helps me see both the times I practiced virtue as well as the times I sinned.  This is in contrast to other examinations I have used which emphasize only the sinful acts.  Noticing God's goodness and appreciating his providence is another outcome that has helped me.  I feel a strong impulse to give God glory and praise as a result.

First I remember that I am in God's presence.
Heavenly Father, I know you are with me, looking at me with love and caring for my every need.  

Then I review my day and express gratitude.
Loving Father, thank you for this day.  Thank you for the gifts and graces you have given me.  Thank you for life itself.  Thank you for the people who have grace me and touched me.
Between each sentence I pause and recall something for which I am specifically grateful about the day, the graces, the people that God has placed on my path.  Today, for example, I was grateful for the gift of understanding a section of a piece of guitar music that has been a challenge to learn.  I also thanked God for unexpectedly meeting a friend and her son at the frozen yogurt store.

Next, I ask the Holy Spirit for help.
Come, Holy Spirit, my dear advocate and guide.  Help me appreciate and understand what has been happening in my life today.  Instill in my heart a deep appreciation of God's presence in the people, happenings, and events of today.
I wait to see if something surfaces.  If so, I rest in that for a short time.  It may be a realization that the patience for which I've prayed has improved my relationship with a difficult person.

Then I review how I lived today. 
I do this by recalling various scenes from morning afternoon, and earlier in the evening.  Usually I can remember just one or two incidents, although there are times when I remember many things.  Here I pay attention to the emotions these scenes elicit.

Sometimes the memory leaves me with feelings of contentment, fulfillment, joy or serenity.  In other words there is a positive feeling.  I have learned to see these as God loving me through them.

At times the memory elicits from me feelings of hurt, emptiness, frustration or anger.  These are unsettling memories.  Such emotions alert me to areas where God is inviting me to grow through repentance or a change of heart.  I may need to give a person or something within me more attention.

Finally, I look forward to tomorrow with hope.
In the light of the review I talk with God about my future hope of following his will and growing closer to him.  I may make specific resolutions and ask God to help me remember them and to enlighten me when opportunities to fulfill them come my way.

"The Examen" is part of the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola.  I recommend it for those who are serious about living their faith and growing in holiness.  You can learn much more about this form of prayer at "The Daily Examen" page of Ignatian Spirituality.

Heroism and Holiness: Chaplain gets Medal of Honor 62 years after death

Korea is in the news, again. When I was a child of six, learning to read, some of the first words I learned were WAR and BOMB. Why? The daily newspaper, The Chicago Daily News, delivered to our Chicago home, frequently had those words in huge black letters on the front pages. I didn't know geography yet. So, when I went to sleep at night I stared at the ceiling and wondered whether or not a bomb would fall on me. My parents assured me that we were safe, but still I wondered.

Here is an inspiring story about a priest, Fr. Emil Kapaun, who served as chaplain during that conflict. Not only has he finally received the Medal of Honor for his exemplary heroism, but he's being considered for sainthood for his extraordinary holiness.

Read more:   Chaplain gets Medal of Honor 62 years after death