Inspiration in my inbox

I struggle from time to time....trying to see how to achieve holiness amidst diapers, spilled milk, disciplining children, etc. It can all be so chaotic. Well, today a gift from God arrived in my inbox. A homily from a dear friend and holy priest. Just the kick in the pants I needed; and the reminder that I am striving for sanctity one diaper and one day at a time. Thank you Lord for the inspiration, encouragement, and reminder that everything done for you is of eternal value. Now read this and go hug your babies(even the big ones :o) ) !


About 10 yrs ago there was a rather unusual worldwide tour –focused on a young woman, w/ 1+ million people coming to see her in 85 different cities in the US alone. So what was so unique about this? It was a tour of the relics – i.e. the holy mortal remains of a young lady who died 100+ yrs old – St. Therese of Liseaux – popularly known as The Little Flower. Why would a young lady – who entered a cloistered convent in France at the age of 15 + died just 9 yrs later, draw such interest? No doubt it is b/c of her auto-biography, The Story of a Soul in which she expressed in simple words, her little way to holiness, i.e., loving God in the ordinary duties + routine events of her daily life.
In today’s Gospel, the parables urges us to recognized that our Lord is the TRUE treasure + the Pearl of great price. St. Paul also reminds us today that God works all things for good for those who love Him. To love God fully means to be completely united to His will. Perfect union w/ the will of God includes not only faithfulness to His Commandments + Church teachings but also, fidelity to the duties of one’s state of life. Such fidelity means that we faithfully do our particular responsibilities that are part of our calling given to us by God. (Pope Benedict XV: "Sanctity properly consists in the conformity to God's will, expressed in a constant and exact fulfillment of the duties of our state in life.”)
In the 1st reading, the young King Solomon asks for “an understanding heart” which greatly pleases God b/c he asked not for a selfish pleasure but for this gift to help him be faithful to the duties of his state in life as the King of God’s chosen people. Fidelity to the duties of our state in life is at times monotonous, difficult + even frustrating, Yet if we pray to recognize that it is God’s calling for us at the present time + is thus the particular means by which He calls us to become saints, it makes it much easier to be faithful to them + less likely to complain about them. (Fr. de Cassaude states that “fulfilling these duties are most precious + salutary for the soul by the very fact that they give it the undoubted assurance that it is accomplishing the good pleasure of God.”) No matter what our state in life, we can become a saint – if, like St. Therese, we faithfully fulfill our duties out of love for God. The saints also teach us that such faithfulness not only leads us to Heaven but also bring us happiness in this life. If we feel inspired to undertaken some project/activity – even a holy one - that isn’t consistent w/ the duties of our state in life, we are deceived + must reject it.
The Bk of Sirach reminds children/young people of their duty to obey their parents Also, children + young adults, your state in life calls you to be hard-working students, kind to your bros + helpful to your parents. Also, all young single people, you have a duty to pray daily to know + willingly accept - your primary state of life - be it marriage, priesthood, or religious life.
For those who have a job, that state in life, dictates that you work honestly + diligently, giving a full day’s work for a full day’s pay. St. Joseph as a carpenter is an excellent model. You should pray daily for the grace to be faithful to our work obligations + like St. Therese to do all our work out of love for God.
Those of you who are married, have a special duty to your spouse to help them get to Heaven. Also both spouses have particular duties at you home to be faithfully performed. If blessed w/ young children, you have a solemn duty to raise them in the Catholic Faith + esp teaching them to pray, esp at meals, in morning + before bed. You also have a special duty, which can be difficult at times, to bring your children to Mass each Sunday + frequently – every month or so - to receive God’s mercy in the Sac of Penance.
As our parents become elderly + less independent, we have a duty to care for them, which often requires from us to a great degree of self-sacrifice. If you are retired, a widow/widower, or single + are in reasonably good health, God has now given you a state in life in which you have more time to serve Him through spiritual + corporal works of mercy.
Through the e.g. + intercession of our Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, St. Therese + all the saints, may we daily strive to be faithful to the duties of our state of life, + seek to love God in performing even the most ordinary + monotonous of these. And if strengthened by daily prayer + frequent + fervent reception of the Sacs, we will be on the sure path to obtaining the Pearl of great price + that buried Treasure – our Lord Jesus Christ - + eternal joy in His Heavenly Kingdom.

Appendix: from Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1885-1971), thanks to:
http://antoniobacci.blogspot.com/2008/06/duties-of-our-state.html
1. Everyone finds himself in a certain position in life. He may be there
either through force of circumstances or through somebody else's desire
or through some secret inspiration from God. In any case, each of us is
in a certain sense place, and God either wills it or permits it. We
should not complain about our state in life. No matter what that state
is, we can either be saved or damned for all eternity. In any position
we can do a great deal of good or a great deal of evil, according to the
way in which we co-operate with the grace of God. We should not envy the
positions of others. This would be unjust, because it would be
tantamount to questioning the arrangements of Providence, which gives
everyone the graces necessary in his particular state. It would also be
injurious, in so far as we should be worried and disturbed instead of
working peacefully and earnestly in the place assigned to us by God.

2. Some are called by God to the lofty state of the priesthood or of the
religious life. This is a very great grace. We should co-operate
generously and do our best to overcome any obstacles we meet. Others are
called to become good Christian fathers and mothers and to rear a
family. This is a most important role, because the proper education of
children and the future of the Church and of society depend on it. Every
position has its obligations, which each of us should work hard to
fulfil in every detail. The grace appropriate to our state will be
available to us. But this grace has to be balanced by a sincere
determination on our part to carry out carefully the duties of our
state. Let us examine ourselves in this regard. If we discover that we
have been neglectful or deficient in any way, let us resolve to put
things right.

3. Let us be content or at least resigned in the position in which
Providence has placed us. Let us pay special attention to those things
which we are obliged to do. Anything which is not necessary should be
left until later, even if it is more pleasant or seems more worthwhile
in itself. Let us never become involved in business which is
incompatible with our state or dangerous to our eternal welfare. Let us
not make light of minor offences against the duties of our station.
Smaller transgressions gradually become greater. Above all, let us try
and sanctify our calling. It is one thing to work conscientiously,
another to work in a spirit of holiness. Even pagans can do their duty
earnestly. Doing our duty is only a help to our eternal salvation if it
is done with God's grace for the purpose of serving Him, for His love
and glory. This should be our manner of behaviour. If it is, we can
claim to have sanctified our state in life and to have made our work
holy.


--
In Jesus through Mary,

Reverend Father Richard Carr