Refuge

This week I had the privilege of hearing Cardinal Dziwisz (please don’t ask me to pronounce it) speak about his good friend St. John Paul II. ("what the heck!" right?? I freaked out too.) Dziwisz was friends with the Saint for 40 years. Forty. (You can read all about it in his book if you want.)

Any who, he told us some stories about our beloved pope; one of which really struck me. Pope JPII visited Ireland in 1979, and was greeted by over 2.5 million people. It marked the first visit to Ireland by a pope, and the people were really excited. While there, he said a mass with the youth of Ireland. He spoke about the challenges they face, their potential to uplift the land they call home, and the love that the Father has for them. At the very end of his address he professed simply: "Young people of Ireland, I love you."

At this moment, the crowd of millions applauded. And they continued to applaud. The crowd reached a roar and only kept climbing. They heard the words of love from their father, the pope, and cheered. This went on for twelve minutes. I don't know about you, but one minute seems a bit lengthy, and my hands would be tired of clapping at about two. But these young people continued clapping for twelve whole minutes. He believed in them, and he loved them. He challenged them, and helped them see the opportunity they had to influence change in the world. So they trusted him. They believed him. And they loved him with all their heart.

Pope John Paul II reached the souls of so many because of his radical love for God and for God's children. Through that, he was able to make those youth feel individually loved in a crowd of millions, yet we allow those living on the streets, or even within our own homes, to feel abandoned in a "crowd" of 2.

St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.”

There are a lot of ways we can approach poverty, but my personal challenge is to be more present. Instead of listening to music, try out silence. Maybe it will inspire you to actually talk to the person next to you in line, on the bus, in class, at work… Sit next to the person who is alone at their table. When you see someone living on the street, even if you can't give money, you can tell them your name, ask theirs, and say a prayer for them. (If this interests you, please look into this for safety tips and practical ways to outreach to our friends on the street.) Call that friend you know is having a tough time. Send a letter to your parents telling them how much you love and appreciate them. We have amazing capabilities to change how others feel in any given day. We can be the reason someone smiled, the one to brighten someone’s day, the one to show others their dignity, and remind them of the Father's love. Be a refuge.

Corporal Work of Mercy: Shelter the Homeless

• Send a care package with special treats to an orphanage.

• Chang the subject when someone is gossiping, or slandering another. Try to uplift the conversation and bring a sense of peace and joy and beauty into the lives of others rather than

• Donate to or volunteer with programs such as Christ in the City to further their efforts in working with the homeless.

• Be a place of temporary shelter for someone else. If you have a home, host a group of people over for a guys’/girls’ night. Make dinner together, have a game night, or go for a hike. Find a good way to escape from the stresses of work or school and build community together.

• Go to daily mass one extra time this week. Mass can both be a refuge for us and transform our hearts so that we can be a refuge to others.

Spiritual Work of Mercy: Bear wrongs patiently

• When you want to complain today, say a prayer of thanksgiving instead.

• Work on gratitude. It’s so easy to complain about what we don’t like; look for 10 things today that you are grateful for.

• Impatience can stem from our selfish pride. (Thinking that I should be, and am perfectly capable of being in control of myself and every situation surrounding me.) Say a litany of humility and ask God for the grace to live out the virtue of patience.

• Try to live the virtue of temperance (AKA deny yourself in someway.) For example, sit in silence in the car instead of listening to the radio, get up when your alarm goes off the first time instead of snoozing, choose not to indulge yourself with a treat, read a book instead of spacing out to TV or wait a day to watch the newest episode... etc. (You can practice temperance in various little ways. I hope those can help you think of some more catered to you!)

• Impatience can also stem from discouragement. (You aren't perfect, or growing in virtue as quickly as you might have hoped.) Know that God is working, even when we don't see it. Ask God to perfect and transform you through His love. If the lives of the saints is helpful, contemplate St. Martha. (Luke 10: 38-42, and then in John 11: 1-27). She lived the same thing, ask her for help! St. Martha, pray for us!

• Regarding impatience with a person, sometimes we project on others what we don't like in ourselves. Look for the root of your impatience and see if this is something you find in yourself. Ask God for the grace to overcome it and act in charity.