Category: The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine

Is she Taylor Swift, Kate Middleton (Duchess of Cambridge), Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Audrey Hepburn, Maria Sharapova, Tessie Sy-Coson, your teacher, your “lola,” or your mother? Sometimes, we will be dismayed to learn that the generation today reveres celebrities who dress around half naked, who are involved in drugs, in pre-marital sex and extra-marital affairs. Our society values status and beauty above true success and values.

A true role model is one who possesses the qualities that we would like to imitate in our lives. And who would be more perfect for that title than the Blessed Virgin Mary? She is the perfect spouse, parent, friend, and relative. She is a woman of substance as she possesses outstanding virtues such as humility, obedience, detachment, charity, purity, … (name them all). Mother Teresa called Our Lady, “the most beautiful of all women, the greatest, the humblest, the most pure, the most holy… a model for all women.” In fact, one of her great secret of sanctity was her closeness to Mary whom she loved so much. She wrote: “Cling to Mary and ask her to teach you how to love Jesus more and more since no one did the will of God as completely as she did.”

Mary inspired admiration and emulation. She did not gossip. She was serene and at peace in the face of sufferings. She was obedient; unlike many of us “Cafeteria Catholics” who chose what we wanted to believe and what we wanted to disregard on the Church’s teachings. In a twentieth century setting, Mary is not the type who will post a selfie on social media, but who only wants our attention on Jesus. We cannot imagine her wasting so much time on long phone conversations, soap operas, computer games, and some social networking services. Her choice of clothes will be something elegant and modest, avoiding low neckline and short skirts.

We cannot go wrong in choosing Mary as our role model for today’s generation. By imitating and loving her, we have the key in our quest for sainthood. She will lead us straight to her Son, Jesus.

(Reference: “Mother Teresa’s Lessons of Love & Secrets of Sanctity” by Susan Conroy; “Catholic Truths for Our Children” by Patti Armstrong; “You can become a Saint!” by Mary Ann Budnik)

A death in the family, a broken marriage, an incurable sickness, … we can only cry like Jesus, ”My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” At times like this, it is hard to see God’s love and providence.

Life on earth is a journey, a pilgrimage to heaven. It is not always easy. All of us experience suffering; even Jesus and Mary are not exempted. It is only in heaven that we can find true happiness.

It’s difficult to believe what St. Josemaria wrote, that man’s treasures on earth are hunger, thirst, heat, cold, pain, dishonor, poverty, loneliness, betrayal, slander, prison, … or what Blessed Teresa of Calcutta wrote: “Suffering, pain, humiliation – this is the kiss of Jesus.” Once she told this to a suffering lady who replied, “Tell Jesus not to kiss me-to stop kissing me.”

“Suffering is a gift from God,” Mother Teresa would add. This is because something good can come from an evil through God’s intervention. Suffering can change us for the better; it can help us earn merits; it can be used to atone for our sins; it can benefit those for whom it is offered (such as a conversion or a quick entry into heaven for souls in purgatory). No one wants this gift; but when it comes, we look at it in a new way, accept it as God’s will, and let Him do great things with it.

At times when we do not see the light at the end of the tunnel, let us remember that Jesus is also in the tunnel. He is with us.

We are not alone in our pain and suffering. He wants us to stop worrying and to trust in Him. What He chooses for us is what He knows is best for our salvation. He may shield us from suffering, or He may provide us with unfailing strength to
bear it.

The way to heaven and eternal happiness has always been the way of the Cross. The joy of Christ’s Resurrection cannot be accomplished without His passion and death. Suffering with faith-filled acceptance and love has always been a path to holiness and a way to save souls. But we need prayers; we need God. There is a big difference when we try to look at suffering in a positive light and when we embrace it rather than reject it. It becomes less painful when accepted. As St. John Vianney would say: suffering in serenity is no longer suffering.

(Reference: “Mother Teresa’s Lessons of Love & Secrets of Sanctity” by Susan Conroy; “The Way” by St. Josemaria Escriva; totus tuus blogspot “Christ’s Compassion for the Suffering”; “In Conversation with God” Vol. 1 by Francis Fernandez; “I Choose to be Free” by Jack Philip)

Many full-time housewives, when asked what they do, feel belittled and give a humble answer “I’m just a housewife.” They fear being stereotyped as being overweight, under-educated, uninformed, and boring. They dread being labeled as homemakers who spend most of the time watching TV soaps or game shows, playing “candy crush” game, having body or hair treatment at beauty spas, shopping, and checking on “facebook.” We have to realize that not everyone who devote themselves to motherhood and full-time homemakers are like that.

In fact, many of them are talented and accomplished women. Although their work may be financially unrewarding and sometimes monotonous, they know that their commitment to their families is very important. Chopping onions, changing diapers, vacuuming carpets, tutoring a son, preparing clothes for the husband may not be as “glamorous” as the outside-of-home-work. But their rewards are the smiles, embraces, and love of their families.

A famous conductor of an orchestra was asked which instrument was the most difficult to play. He answered, “Second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists. But to find one who can play second fiddle with enthusiasm – that’s the problem. And if we have no second fiddle, we have no harmony!” First violins are often the stars of the show; they get the melody lines; they get to sit next to the audience. Behind them are the second violins who are hardly seen. They play a supporting role; they play the harmony to the first violins. Without them, the orchestra would sound incomplete.

The work of a homemaker may be compared to that of a second fiddle. It is actually the hardest role to play as it appears unfulfilling by world standard. We should not look down on the humble work of the home because God wants to bestow this unique role on married women. No work is unimportant when it is done and offered up for God. We just have to work intensely behind the scene without seeking applause or admiration. Jesus notices our continuous exhausting work and our little sacrifices (done cheerfully and without show). He sees them and gives His blessings. St. Josemaria said: “Never expect men to thank you for your work. Do not seek human compensations. Always work for love of Jesus Christ.”

We ask Mother Mary to help us play our best as second fiddle. She is THE EXPERT in this very important humble work of the home.

{This article is not meant to offend mothers who MUST work outside the home to provide for their families. They deserve our prayers and support. This is about those full-time career mothers who are in the work force not because of need but because of greed and prestige.}

(Reference: Raising Catholic Children by Mary Ann Kuharski; http://meetingintheclouds.wordpress.com )