Death has a way of focusing the mind.

My husband and I have experienced two deaths in the past eight months, an older sibling in each family. Reflecting on death and the power of prayer makes me so grateful for the Catholic Church family. Whenever I ask for prayers, dozens of you respond immediately offering Masses and rosaries and who knows what other acts of charity for the requested needs? I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Reflecting on Family Trees and St. Stephen

A priest friend once told me, "There's no one deader than a dead priest." They have no descendants to pray for them and are soon forgotten. But the reality is that we are all "soon forgotten." I remember my grandparents on my dad's side, but I never knew my mom's adoptive parents and no one in our family knows anything at all about my mom's birth parents. My mom didn't even know she was adopted until after she was married. 

Sunday Meditation: "Soon we shall die and all memory [of us] will have left the earth."

"Soon we shall die and all memory of those five [who fell from the bridge] will have left the earth; and we ourselves shall be loved for a while and forgotten." 

That quote from the last chapter of The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder struck me this afternoon as I sat on the front porch reading and listening to the rain. How silly it is to take ourselves too seriously. Most of us will soon be forgotten after we die, even by members of our own family. I only know the name of one of my great grandparents, John Schneider. I know almost nothing about him or about his wife. I know the names of a few of my grandmother's siblings on my dad's side. Uncle Edgar was a Jesuit who I met once or twice, but she was the youngest of thirteen and I never met most of her brothers and sisters. The generation beyond remains shrouded in the mists of past time.

Who's the Greatest?

From St. Mary's in Hot Springs, AK

Were you listening at Mass this morning? The disciples were arguing along the road about who was the greatest. They still had the idea that Jesus would be a worldly Messiah defeating the Romans and setting up His kingdom on earth. (Even after Jesus told them He had to suffer and die! They were slow learners.) The apostles were Jesus' inner circle. They saw themselves as his ministers and cabinet heads (sitting on his right and left). So they no doubt were arguing about who was going to be the chief of staff or the prime minister.

Of course Jesus knew exactly what the apostles were talking about. Don't you think He asked them what they were discussing on the road to make them feel embarrassed? They clearly were, since none of them would answer His question. And what did He do? Brought a little child and put him in their midst. "Those who wish to become great among you must become like this little child," He said.

What is a child? Little and not much in the world's eyes. Think of the little ones in our own culture. The littlest are nothing but doll objects -- to be trashed if unwanted and sought at all costs, even through immoral means, if wanted. Sad.

But, Jesus said, it can't be that way among you. The greatest must be servant to the rest. So...a great question for tonight's examination of conscience? How have I served others today? Do I really want to serve? Or do I long to be served? Do I want to be little in the world's eyes? Or do I want to receive honors?

Fr. John Hardon often said only little, humble people get into heaven. He also said one only gains humility by suffering humiliation. Are you ready for that? Are you willing to pray for that? Gosh...am I? Have you ever prayed the Litany of Humility?

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.

Humility is the Fundamental Virtue

I've been praying the Litany of Humility which is not for the faint of heart. My spiritual director reminded me of it and gave it to me for a penance. I'm trying to pray it now at least once a day. May its words sink into my heart.