A Daughter of Charity

Today is the Feast Day of my Patron, Saint Louise de Marillac. co-Founder of the religious society known as The Daughters of Charity.

She was quite a lady and one who loved God. She has been an influence in my Religious life as well as the life and vision of our Order, particularly in our focus on the Divine Incarnation.

St. Louise embraced the Incarnation as the most wonderful work of God in salvation history. She admired the humility of God-made-Flesh. Christ came, "as humbly as can be imagined so that we might be more free to approach Him". She experienced the whole life of Jesus as a manifestation of the fullness of His love and His pilgrimage on earth as a model for all of us to imitate. For those who don't know much about her I would encourage getting to know her.

Today also marks the 15 year anniversary of my priestly ordination.

Reflecting on this I note that I am still a most unprofitable servant.

But today I take to heart the encouraging words of St. Louise:

"Do not be upset if things are not as you would want them to be for a long time to come. Do the little you can very peacefully and calmly so as to allow room for the guidance of God in your lives. Do not worry about the rest".

Indeed, she has much to say to us today:

"It seems to me that our interior conversation with God should consist in the continuous remembrance of His holy Presence. We must adore Him every hour and make acts of love for His Goodness ... We should raise our minds to God and depend only on Him, remembering that, from all eternity, He has been and is sufficient to Himself; consequently, He can and should be sufficient for us ... It is your prayers... which attract from the Goodness of God all His Graces".

Happy Heavenly Birthday, dear Mother Louise! May your prayer be our prayer as well:

"May my life be solely for Jesus and my neighbor so that, by means of this unifying love, I may love all that Jesus loves, and through the power of this love which has as its center the eternal Love of God for His creatures, I may obtain from His Goodness the graces which His Mercy wills to bestow upon me".

Amen.

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Sadness and Joy

I received word today that Jay King, known as The Pious Subdeacon Eremya, of the Antiochian Catholic Church in America, has fallen asleep in the Lord after a lengthy illness.

I want to remember him here because he touched my heart from the moment I met him.

He was indeed pious and a kindly, loving and humble soul.

Our first meeting was at the ACCA Convocation in 2007 and when we were preparing to leave I heard him running up from behind saying, "Oh no you don't! You are not getting away from here without me getting a chance to kiss your ring again!" The hug I got from him after that was far more valuable to me than the ring-kissing.

I was blessed to attend the Convocation again in 2009 and Eremya and I talked again. I had to excuse myself from him for a moment but then he called me back and said, "I need another hug from you before I have to go."

Eremya, we know you had to go and we are sad because we miss you, but where you have gone we hope to follow and there is great joy in that Hope.

Please remember us as we remember you.

Please pray for us.

Please pray for such a sinner as me.

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