You Will Not Be Overcome

“He did not say: You will not be troubled – you will not be tempted – you will not be distressed. But He said: You will not be overcome.” Blessed Julian of Norwich

It is easy to simply forget about thinking that what we are doing is worthwhile or not. I remember a time when I was a young child when I was afraid of water. We had a summer house, and I would never go in the water or in a boat. I was petrified. Once, a family member simply pushed me into their pool and from that moment I was never afraid of water.  The first time I got on a plane, I was quite worried. Crossing the ocean for the first time was a challenge. I fly often now and though the turbulence irritates me, I simply follow the example of my friends in the Carmel cloister. They remind to simply ask my guardian angel to sit beside me. Others would reduce this to legend or folklore, but I trust the sisters and it does help.

“There is no man in the world without some trouble or affliction, though he be a king or a pope.” Thomas a Kempis

St. Rose of Lima inherited her mother’s fear of the dark. St. Rose realized her mother felt safe with her husband when she went out looking for her daughter; St. Rose realized that she herself would be safe with her spouse who was Christ. I happened to be scrolling through social media recently and saw the videos of Pope Leo’s visit to Lebanon. There was great joy in the faces of the people and hope had sprung again. The Holy Father went to stay with the people to bring the same message he carries everywhere – that Christ loves us. How many saints through the centuries repeated the same thing through their words, witnesses and actions. According to tradition, St. Dymphna consecrated herself to Christ but after her mother died, her father desired her. She resisted and fled with a trusted group to Belgium. Her father found her and since she resisted his instructions, he cut off her head. There is a church dedicated to her in Geel, Belgium.

“To doubt is the greatest insult to the divinity.” St. Padre Pio

For 20 centuries, the Church and its saints have brought us hope. We are inspired, instructed and educated but we rarely take heed of what is told to us and what we see. Pope Leo could have been afraid and not gone on a trip to Turkey and Lebanon, but he chose to trust. We need to do the same – trust. We continue to look ahead at what is possible and not behind us to what could have been. Hope and trust are so important. These two can never be lost. Let us go forward.

Let us love without being afraid of losing those things which pass away and let us give without measure". Pope Leo XIV