Perseverance

“We must pray for that perseverance because none of us is exempt from difficult moments.” Pope Leo XIV

It has been a hot summer in this part of North America. Recently, I was walking outside and longing for the winter. As I came out of mass, I recalled the recent gospel that we need to ask, and we will receive. Interestingly, it does not seem so easy to receive, and sometimes it is even harder to ask. On a recent visit to the Carmel cloister, one of the sisters is preparing to celebrate a milestone in her spiritual life. I remember when I was finishing university and wondering how I will be able to work the next number of years. We all need to endure many things. The heat, responsibilities, commitments, saying yes to some things and no to others. Sometimes, I have heard that life is about choices. That might well be true, but I would submit that it is more about following. Who do we follow?

“We must learn to embrace it(perseverance) and make it part of our life, to be strong. It is one of those gifts that builds over time, in the small trials at the beginning that help us to be stronger, to be able to carry the Cross when it becomes heavier. It helps us start to move forward and then keeps us advancing.” Pope Leo XIV

A couple of saints’ lives struck me recently. St. Christina the Astonishing was one. At age 21, she experienced a severe seizure and was thought to have died. At her funeral, she recovered and levitated and returned to earth to pray for the souls of purgatory. Her life was a collection of events that were recorded by a Dominican professor and witnesses. She slept on rocks, levitated, begged, rolled on fire, stood in frozen water. Some would have obviously thought of her as tormented, others might have believed in her. She finally died of natural causes. Blessed Cristobal Lopez de Valladolid Orea came from a poor family. He tried to run away young and join a seminary. Ill-health prevented this. He became a hermit and then joined the Third Order of St. Francis. He worked in hospitals and founded an order to do so. He died of cholera while tending to other patients.

“Never give up Prayer…. And should you find dryness and difficulty, persevere in it for this very reason. God often desires to see what love your souls has, and love is not tried by ease and satisfaction.” St. John of the Cross

These saints always seem to speak directly to me when I read about them during the day or before mass. They are witnesses for me and motivational. The choices in front of us are not easy and sometimes they are not clear. However, I was reminded by people who care about me that the road ahead might not be clear to me, but it is certainly clear to God. We need to remember that when we are asking for clarity and help along the way. There are many obstacles along the way. Let us be reminded constantly that we are not alone on this road despite the difficulties. We need to move forward with confidence.

“Nothing great is ever achieved without enduring much.” St. Catherine of Siena