By Zoe Cannon
Gratitude for the Gift of Faith
“I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:4).
The Epistles of Paul reminds us that we belong to Christ; we are loved by God and called to be saints. This powerful message seems fairly simple, but in a big and complicated world, we need help to remain focused on Jesus! By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are strengthened by grace infused in the sacraments. The sanctifying grace from our baptism makes us a participant in the Trinitarian life of the Church.
Our salvation and freedom to worship God came with great sacrifice. Persecutions are still a concern in a secular world that opposes the values of Christian believers. The most important message we can share with family, friends and even strangers is the simple truth that God loves us all. He loved us first! We belong to Him!
I started a tradition for our young grandchildren. I create a book with pictures and information about the preparation and reception of their first sacraments. This past weekend, I scanned hundreds of photographs to put together books for two of our grandchildren who made their First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion in 2023.
I enjoy documenting life with photographs as much as I love writing in journals. Looking through our pictures I am reminded of how much God has blessed our family. Our Catholic faith is the reason for much of the joy shared from one generation to the next. Conversation about the gift of faith in a family instills tremendous value in the life of a child. A faith-filled picture book with recorded dates and memories of our sacramental life is a great keepsake!
When I searched my iCloud storage for specific pictures, other memories popped up and made me realize how fast people and life change. The photos also revealed how beautifully unchanged the reception of sacraments is in the Church. I found an incredible picture taken in January 2016, inside the doors of St. Francis Xavier Minor Basilica in Vincennes. “The Year of Mercy” had just begun on Dec. 8, 2015, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, with the opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The Holy Door closed and the “Year of Mercy” ended Nov. 20, 2016, the Solemnity of Christ the King.
I stood in awe of the beauty inside this Cathedral when I opened the designated “Door of Mercy” in Vincennes on that day. The sunlight coming through the stained glass windows illuminated the altar and the mural of the crucifix behind it. As I focused on God’s mercy — the greatest expression of His love for the world — I saw this image with a new and overpowering perspective — different than the thousand other times I had entered this church. This Extraordinary Holy Year was promulgated to remind us of the importance of asking for forgiveness, and the power of grace received in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The Church is providing a great opportunity to celebrate a Eucharistic Revival. After three years of preparation, a celebration will be held in Indianapolis this summer of 2024. As you take advantage of this Eucharistic renewal, please continue to understand the importance of asking God for His mercy. We have offended Him, but His mercy is everlasting. Grace from all the sacraments heals the soul. In receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus at holy Mass we must be worthy to receive. Jesus takes the ordinary things of life and transforms them into occasions of grace! I give thanks to God for the grace bestowed on us through Jesus. Amen!