By Zoe Cannon
Gratitude for the Gift of Faith
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race” (John 1:1).
Life! This precious gift was created and planned by God for us to enjoy forever! A happy life is realized with full understanding of truth as revealed by God. The whole truth really matters. How do we know what is true in a world filled with conflicting information? Most often people put their faith and trust in things of the world where wealth seems more important than wisdom. “But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it” (James 1:5).
We are almost two weeks into 2024! Without faith, the hope for happiness and peace seems a bit daunting. Each morning, I check the calendar for the saint of the day and read about their life for inspiration. It is comforting and humbling to read about the endurance of these holy people through hard times, evil infiltration and persecutions. Their witness and courage give me strength. “Consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us” (Romans 8:18).
We planned a family activity for the New Year. We researched and chose a saint as our patron for 2024. The opportunity to pray together through the intercession of a patron saint for protection and guidance is powerful. Studying the lives of the saints helps us appreciate the importance of their heroic virtue as part of our own salvation. You might also recall a special devotion to a particular saint from a relative when choosing your family patron. The research for our family led me to a book in my library about purgatory. Jesuit Father F. X. Schouppe wrote: “Purgatory: Explained by the Lives and Legends of the Saints.” This is not the most joyful study, but enlightening when described through the eyes of the saints.
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we read about the “last things.” These are not discussed often but are an essential part of our faith. Information about: The Resurrection of the Dead, The Final Judgment, Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, and the Communion of Saints are necessary for our salvation. In fact, they are professed and recited in our Creed. If we say we believe in them, then we need to understand what they mean. The topic of sin, which is death to the soul, is also avoided in conversation, but it was certainly a concern in the lives of the saints. Actions do have consequences, but our culture ignores this reality, and the damage it creates in our relationship with God.
Most people are uncomfortable talking about the reality of death. Our society spends money trying to hold off the aging process with life-enhancing products. And we are desensitized by the movies created to attract audiences with scenes of violent death. God never intended our death or the destruction of human dignity to be entertainment. There is power in prayer for the respect of all life, a happy death, the souls in purgatory, and the protection of our souls through the mercy of God here on earth. In the book on purgatory, the saints reveal that a holy Mass offered for the deceased is more efficacious than prayer and fasting. Pray for the souls in purgatory! The Word is Truth … so there is always love! Amen!