Hermit, Christian, Catholic, etc.: St. Vincent Ferrer and Other Thoughts

A spiritual friend has sent information on this St. Vincent Ferrer, while the person humbly and courageously lives with mental illness, takes meds no one would want to take, doing great mystical good with suffering, along with the heroic compassion and fidelity of spouse and adult son--inspirational Christians and Catholics.The person's brother Tom remains battling COVID-19 for breath and life with blessing of ventilator, in ICU in major hospital.  We keep praying for him and for everyone the world over!

I've had many thoughts and a phone conversation, a couple emails from spiritual friends, who have given me input on my lamentation.  One reminded me of something I don't even recall having sent in the past: Treasure of Humility.  From that gift long forgotten, was sent to me this morning a quote.   "The lower you descend, the higher you ascend."  This is helpful.  Another spiritual friend emailed the reminder that we are all sinners. 

Someone called to apologize if had ever added to or encouraged me by being receptive to what I find in myself so reprehensible.  How humble of that person!  Has not encouraged in my sin; I do well on my own in that!  Was reminded that Jesus loves us all and forgives us.  This is true, of course, but I did explain that last night I let the Lord know that it does not even matter to me if He forgives me.  I know He does, for He loves me and puts up with me no matter what awful of my ugliness and sin.  I don't even want to add that on of what He must do for me.  HE DIED FOR ME--an act that is for all eternity.

But of course, I understand all the theological aspects, so please, readers, do not think ill of me all the more for not understanding what I'm trying to express.  I did ask the one spiritual friend to not think I was "beating up on myself."  The person knew instinctively, grace of God and wisdom the person possesses in great measure and so loves the Holy Spirit.  Realized that my lamentation is necessary, very real, very rightful--even more rightful, needful, than what I myself realize.

I will share some of what the person who has such great suffering of mental illness wrote in regard to St. Vincent Ferrer.  Of course, we are aware of daily saints, can read stuff ourselves.  But I am so taken and inspired by this person, writing out the saint of the day and adding poignant thoughts.  All is very regulated from the mind extremely intelligent, but moderated as such medications effectuate.  How I cherish what this person writes!  Really is miraculous, the spiritual immensity of that soul.

I appreciate, also, the person's pointing out to me that even saints were sinners, the Church has had times of such sinful foolishness.  Even pointed out that there are 36 Doctors of the Church, four of them women.  There is but one Virgin Mary, but who on earth of any gender  embodied more grace, perfection, or more power, prestige, position--not that she wanted any of these last three?  She was content with her gender, with her mission and purpose, God's will.  Who was more humble, more nurturing, more influential and necessary to the maternal birthing and the earthly life of Jesus Christ, God-Man, who more respected of humans and for the ages?  So in that regard, there are women who look to Mary, who do not envy, nor try to imitate, or wish they were men.  Why would they in what matters in God and eternally?  (And I'm not disregarding the good and holy need of economic, educational, societal, and various other temporal rights of women as much as these being rights for all people.)

"St. Vincent Ferrer...presbyter, religious, missionary (c. 1350-1419).  Vincent Ferrer was a Spanish Dominican priest, born in the city of Valencia.  He was one of the greatest preachers of his time.  With singleminded determination he made preaching journeys through Spain, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland, drawing large crowds.

"Unfortunately, Vincent was also know for his attacks against the Jewish people and for trying to convert Jews to Christianity against their will.

"There are other saints guilty of this terrible sin, just as there are saints who supported slavery and saints who treated women badly. Saints re human beings and therefore are sinners.  In the gospels, Jesus reminds us that He came for sinners, and that even the angels rejoice whenever a sinner repents.

"If you read his [Vincent Ferrer's] bio, he was alive when there were squabbles about who was the true pope.  Vincent continued to preach, working until just before he died at the age of 70."

All very good aspects to remember.  I've had various thoughts come to me in the silence today, and even with bits of news on in background off and on, as I like to keep up some with what is affecting the peoples of the earth--and now some animals, such as those in Brooklyn Zoo or such.  Heard something of one or more getting COVID-19.

I'll try to write of the thoughts on subsequent posts.  Going to now watch Mass from St. Patrick's Cathedral.  Our parish live-streams daily on FB and on youtube, but I'm not on FB and laptop has warning when I try to open youtube site.  Parish closed, so St. Patrick's will be my adopted one.

Please continue on this Palm Sunday:  #PrayforEasterMiracle; we pray for miracles through this global coronavirus pandemic.  Whatever God wills, however many, for any and all miracles.  Let us recognize them daily!

God bless His Real Presence in us!

Catholic Hermit: Jesus on How to Pray in Faith

Another couple of situations have arisen regarding a couple of priests who even yet encourage parishioners and any Catholics to come in to their parishes or Catholic centers for confession during this time of lockdowns, shelter in place orders, and highly contagious, rapidly expanding coronavirus pandemic. Someone wondered about going in, making an appointment for face-to-face confession.

Is the person in mortal sin and near death?  No.  Are any of the one priests' parishioners in that dire of situation in which they need to of all times, during this global COVID-19 crisis, be making appointments to leave their homes and come in to the church for confessions?  At what risk does this put the priest, for example, meeting in office or more likely in the case brought up, in the small confessional?  

There may be no associate pastor to take over should the priest become ill.  And parishioners would not know if they were carrying the virus (or other ailments) for 2-4 days prior to onset of symptoms; nor would the priest know of himself if he has the coronavirus for that length prior to symptoms.  And we must not forget that some people, particularly under 60 years of age, remain asymptomatic of very light symptoms--although now younger persons now are found to also become seriously ill, as well.

Let us pray for everyone, well-intentioned priests and parishioners, Christians, non-Christians, to think through what is the most prudent, wise, charitable and safe way to live our lives during this global pandemic, even if our own particular areas are not "hot spots."  The concern remains of those professionals leading us in the efforts to slow and stop the spread of COVID-19 that no area is without possibility of endangerment of virus explosiveness.  Please, stay home with Jesus in the Tabernacles of our minds, hearts, and souls.

So we come back to the challenge of our Catholic faith and of the sacraments of which we are so appreciative of the Sacraments, and of the tangible aspects of the Sacraments.  But it does certainly now bring to us even more so, the challenge of FAITH.  Is God asking of us and in some ways, enforcing in us, the great and supreme challenge of increasing our faith in His Real Presence:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

In war time circumstances, are soldiers able to readily have tangible, sacramental confession when in the trenches?  Did people in times past of plague and pestilence, have access to tangible, sacramental confession?  Even if in mortal sin, does Jesus neglect them at judgment, and not have mercy and love on those who wanted to confess their sins but were unable to?  

We do not know empirically, of course, but we do have some anecdotal evidence shared by various saints with gifts of inner sight and clairvoyance, and of ability to see and know beyond the veil between this life and the other side.  Such saints as St. Padre Pio were able to assure concerned family members of loved ones who died without sacramental confession, that their beloved were saved at the time of judgment; or also just before the person took a last breath and soul departed: souls were able to ask the Lord for forgiveness and forgiveness granted.

This coronavirus pandemic has been described as a war on an invisible enemy--a virus highly contagious, quickly spreading, and with oftentimes dire consequences.  We as Christians and as Catholics Christians at that, have a great opportunity to grow in our faith more than ever before in many of our lives.  This includes the type of faith that goes beyond our tangible means of it being safe to worship together, and to partake of the sacraments together or in contact physically with a priest.  Even funeral Masses must be limited and private; baptisms are private or postponed depending upon if the infant is in danger of imminent death.

The Lord is teaching us, through this global crisis, to come to Him; and in these Lenten Scripture readings for Mass, we are reminded of how Jesus' faith teaches us how to have faith--those of us who desire to follow Him explicitly and implicitly.   Those who want to follow Jesus to the point of dying to ourselves and in imitation of Christ, who seek union in Him, can learn from Jesus such aspects as how to grow and live in faith.  Today's Gospel of St. John, Jesus exemplifies to us how to, individually between soul and God, pray in faith.

"Jesus said to her [speaking to Martha who was incredulous that Jesus wanted the stone rolled away from her dead brother Lazarus' tomb due to the stench after four days his body had been enclosed] 'Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?'" 

To pray in faith, Jesus reminds Martha (and Mary was by then with her sister to meet the Lord) that if they believe they will see the glory of God.  To us, Jesus reminds that when we pray in faith, we ought to begin with, truly believe that we will see the glory of God, that we believe so faithfully and fully in God's power and might, that our base of faith is evidenced not only with belief within, but with what comes next. 

"So they took away the stone.  

Action as a response to our faith, to our belief that we will see the glory of God, comes next.  They did as Jesus asked; they did what was necessary for their prayer and desire to be fulfilled.  Faith requires belief and concrete steps to demonstrate our faith--such as the act even, of asking for that which we hope in God to happen, to receive, to transpire in whatever way God wills--and of which we really do not know what that might be.  Mary and Martha did not know what Jesus would do; but in their great faith they knew that if Jesus had been there, that their brother would not have died.  They expressed their desire to Jesus in so many words, and they had expressed their faith in Christ and their belief in Him as God, as the Messiah, who could do all things.

And Jesus raised His eyes..."

Then Jesus shows us the type of attitude, presence, and even posture we must take in praying with faith.  He raised His eyes--a signal of looking up positively, toward the heavens, but perhaps also not in the more negative stance of looking down to the ground.  Raising the eyes, looking upward, subconsciously removes our stance and thought from the temporal and ourselves, to the openness and clarity of the sky.

"and said, 'Father, I thank you for hearing me."

Jesus shows us this very important facet, early on in our praying in faith:  With gratitude, thank God the Father for listening to us and for hearing us.  God does not need to listen to us; but He does because He loves us!  How far does gratitude go with human beings goes infinitely farther and further with God our Father!

"'I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they  may believe that you sent me.'"

Jesus teaches us next, the aspect of praying in faith in which we express our confidence in God and also state the purpose of any prayer of faith--that of witnessing to others the glory of God and the relationship of God and Jesus as One, and that Jesus is God's Son, the Messiah sent to save us from our sins.  So in our prayer of faith, we, too, must know that God always hears us.  And we can mention either in verbal words or thought flashing, that we are praying with such confidence in God, with such faith, because of the ramifications our prayer will have to others, so that others may believe in Jesus Christ and that God sent Him to us as His only begotten Son, to save us all and give us eternal life.

"And when he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!'  The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth.  So Jesus said to them, 'Untie him and let him go.'"

In our praying in faith, Jesus demonstrates to us the next step--that of a stance of ultimate command in word, thought, or inner strength of heartfelt desire.  We make a statement in one of those forms--whether or not externally so--to express our faith in courage and truth that what we have asked will be; we offer a follow-through, a follow-up act of faith.

"Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him."

Finally, when praying in faith as Jesus in this portion of Gospel teaches us, step by step, we affirm the reality that by the prayer of faith and the outcome of answered prayer to God the Father, in the Name of Jesus Christ His Son, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we and others will see the results of what God has done and will believe in Jesus Christ whom God has sent for all of us, to all souls for all time.

(To read the full account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, refer to The Gospel of John 11:1-45.)

I realize the above can be abbreviated in a 7-step process of how Jesus prays in faith, and how Jesus would love for us to learn to pray in faith, as well.  And I might work on that.  But for now, please consider us all striving to have more faith in a maturing spiritual life--especially in these times in which for the good of others, of ourselves and those close by, as well as for the entire world and the economy of major countries who then can provide the resources to help countries with great needs.

I encourage to continue  to #PrayforEasterMiracle.  Although in the United States, the shelter in place and other guidelines are being extended through April 30, the many who have been passing along the #PrayforEasterMiracle hope and faith in God prayer effort are continuing to pray in faith for God to show His power and might in ways unknown but in which we have full faith in His loving mercy and providence for all of us, His children.

God bless His Real Presence in us!

                           

Catholic Hermit: #PrayforEasterMiracle

Pass it on, please.

God bless His Real Presence in us!

God bless His world!