artists and their religious masterpieces, musicians and their inspirational music, holy places, holy families, religious orders, secular institutes and much, much more. At the center of this house stands Jesus with his loving Heart and open arms, saying, “Come to me.” Ever exploring this wondrous house, the Christian realizes the harmful effects of brooding about past situations, and instead pays attention to present discoveries, for above each door are the words “Hope to all who enter here.”
The Church is much more than an institution, a system of legalistic rules, or hierarchy. It continues the mission of Jesus and fosters a way of life that sustains sound morals, purpose, and direction toward that which is most noble, most beautiful and most sacred to the human person. A Catholic life lived rightly can be an intimate walk with God. As Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Phil 4:8).
John Henry Newman wrote:
Trust the Church of God implicitly even when your natural judgment would take a different course from hers and would induce you to question her prudence or correctness. Recollect what a hard task she has; how she is sure to be criticized and spoken against, whatever she does; recollect how much she needs your loyal and tender devotion; recollect, too, how long is the experience gained in 1800 years; and what right she has to claim your assent to the principles which have had so extended and triumphant a trial. Thank her that she has kept the faith safe for so many generations and do your part in helping her to transmit it to generations after you.12
A Christian walks into an old, quiet Catholic church and may see the flicker of candle flames in a rack, each flame representing a prayer. Someone may be saying a rosary at Mary’s altar, someone else making the Stations of the Cross, yet another praying quietly at the back of the church. All is hushed in an atmosphere of otherworldliness. Years ago the Church was referred to as Holy Mother Church, and rightly so. She is the haven from the hurts on earth. She is like a mother who holds her young child’s hand as they cross a busy street. These days we need a strong mother who protects and defends us from the exigencies of modern society. Be careful, she says to us. Remember we are children of God and somehow things work out if we do our best and trust in Divine Providence. Christians should not be overwhelmed with the mechanics of the Church. Rather they must see the Church as the channel for the message, mission and mystery of Jesus. It isn’t the what of externals around us, but the who of Jesus within us. Holy Mother Church is wise and holy, she wants her children to get to heaven and she has been around for a long, long, long time. Indeed, the Church is our mater et magistra, our mother and teacher.
In April of 2005 the newly elected pope Benedict XVI came onto the front loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to bless the crowds. Gathered around him on the adjoining balconies there appeared all of the cardinals who had just chosen him. The news cameras caught the remarkably pensive expression on the face of Cardinal Francis George of Chicago. When the cardinal returned home, reporters asked him what he was thinking about at that moment. Here is what he said: “I was gazing over toward the Circus Maximus, toward the Palatine Hills where the Roman Emperors once resided and reigned and looked down upon the persecution of Christians, and I thought, Where are their successors? Where is the successor of Caesar Augustus? Where is the successor of Marcus Aurelius? And finally, who cares? But if you want to see the successor of Peter, he is right next to me, smiling and waving at the crowds.”13
Dark before the Dawn
Christians will experience barren trees on their holiness landscape. There will be times when all seems cold and dark. If there is a feeling that time spent in spiritual pursuits is squandered, Sister Wendy Beckett responds: “Body and soul may feel we are wasting our time. Hope smiles and ignores them.” The light in hope is an inspiration to find God’s grace in the dark problems of life. Without hope, hearts would easily break. Adversities of many kinds are a part of life. People spend much time praying that their troubles will end. However if they do not, God can change the way people look at them. Hard times can bring people closer to Jesus, increase love and hope and be a channel to a bare-bones trust in God. Sometimes it seems as if our little flame of hope has been blown out. However, we must remember that it is possible to find God when life becomes thoroughly confusing or disappointing, when all is mystery, and when we are in the depths of pain. We are human, and at times, it is common to think about “what if. . . .” What if I lose my health, fail this test or lose my job? This type of thinking takes us to the bottom of the valley of the shadow. “What if” negatives can shut a person down.
The earth lies cold and dark,
and blackened trees
are sentinels of silhouetted
loneliness against the bleak, stark nakedness of day.
Unwarmed, unwelcome,
I make my way through
landscape damp and chill:
even the birds are silent;
even the trees are still!
I listen to my heavy step:
I hear no other thing,
’Til out of grey curtained distance,
a bluebird and chickadee sing!
~Carmel of Terre Haute
Joan was asked by a sister friend to visit a woman named Isabelle who was in a psychiatric hospital. She was without family or friends. Hospital policy permitted only family visits, but the charge nurse let Joan visit one time for ten minutes. Isabelle’s eyes showed great sadness and desolation. As Joan prepared to leave she quietly told Isabelle that she was special and much loved by God. Afterward, Joan wrote regular encouraging notes to Isabelle. They were short uplifting words about how Jesus loves her or biblical verses of support. Joan also prayed for Isabelle. A year later, there was a knock at Joan’s front door. She opened the door but did not recognize the woman. It was the patient she had visited in the psychiatric hospital. This time her eyes showed peace and happiness. Isabelle thanked Joan for her visit and notes. She saved all of them, and let Joan know how her support helped her get out of the hospital. Isabelle read the notes over and over because they gave her hope when she had no hope.
Hope opens up human hearts. Like curtains slowly parting to admit a winter dawn into a home, hope allows beams of light to make their way into the hearts of humankind. Even when standing in cold darkness, hope reveals a verdant landscape beyond our present desolation. Hope lifts thoughts out of the dark valley toward the inner flame of light. We look forward and move forward to that which gives us a reason to live. Hope brings beauty to a repugnant environment and sustains sanity during intolerable times. Viktor Frankl, in his classic book Man’s Search for Meaning, which was based on his experience in Nazi concentration camps, shows how most people who hold on to the hope of achieving something positive can survive the worst of human conditions. To believe that something good will be fulfilled is a strong incentive for life. Indeed, living in hope is healthier than living in fear. To share darkness with God will help change things for the better. The less people rely on their own strength, the more they depend on grace from the Holy Spirit. Moments alone with him in the dark storms of life are significant benchmarks in our growth. Dark nights will pass. Even though a person may think he is alone, he knows God does not leave him. God is within, mysteriously, ambiguously, elusively, and beyond comprehension. God cannot be harnessed, but a person can increasingly surrender to him. We trust him in the darkness. Mysteries from the dark surprise us: We become content in a simple lifestyle, love God more for himself than for the gifts he gives and learn more about
