Great Small Things

“I am not capable of doing big things, but I want to do everything, even the smallest things, for the greater glory of God.” St. Dominic Savio

During the pandemic, I was teaching online. It was not easy to adjust to Zoom after being in person most of my career. I tried to do the same things online that I would do in person. It was not possible. Those first few days were a bit strange, and the learning curve was wide. A colleague told me that less is more. We do not need to work the same way but we needed to change our strategy. It worked and I was much happier. I have been reading various articles from various sources about how many new Catholics were entering the Church the last few years. Media reports, Instagram and meeting people in the RCIA all confirm this. The search is on for meaning in life and this has brought a renewed interest in faith. Lent is over and we passed through the Triduum. It is a beautiful experience living this with an intensity. However, I tried not to do a bunch of activities, but instead do fewer with more intensity. It was much better. Staying the course, moving forward brought the joy of Easter at the Vigil and Easter Sunday. We sing with Mary the Regina Coeli as we have renewed hope.

“To live without faith…. That is not living, but existing.” St. Pier Giorgio Frassati

St. Vincent Ferrer was born from a Spanish mother and an English father. He became a great preacher who spoke Spanish but was understood by others in their own language. He was known as a miracle worker and people were cured in a hospital just by him praying in front of it. He worked so hard. Whenever I am near Detroit, I stop to see Solanus Casey. He lived simply, was a simplex priest and cured many people through simplicity. We do not need to do great things. We need to do only what our Lord wants. Blessed Elena Aiello was raised by her devout father after the mother died. She cared for sick prisoners and refugees during World War I. She had surgery on her shoulder while she was in the convent, and it was done poorly. She developed an infection, but she prayed to St. Rita of Cascia. On Good Friday when she was 28, Jesus removed the crown on his head and gave it to her. She was cured.

“Start by being brave about everything, driving out darkness and spreading light.” St. Catherine of Siena

The end of Lent and the Triduum and finally Easter are amazing. I can never get that reading out of my head when Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and thought Our Lord was gone. He was, but he had risen. The Apostles saw the linens folded neatly. He was alive. Joy surely had raced through their hearts. Amazement that truth had been revealed. We cannot lose hope. Pope Leo reminds us often. We cannot lose hope. Some days are harder than others, but Christ is with us through them all. We need to be strong. We need to have faith and we need to trust. Open our eyes, ears and hearts to the reality that is waiting for us. There is nothing else so great.

“Fear not that your life shall come to an end, but rather that it shall never have a beginning.” John Henry Newman