How Can We Leave Jesus or Our Faith?-The Church in Crisis-2018

I went on a retreat on Sunday to the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, Long Island NY. The Missionaries of the Most Holy Eucharist led the retreat. They live at the beautiful retreat house and regularly give Eucharistic Retreat Days (as well as other types of retreats), which helps the seminary and helps the faithful. They create a very holy and reverent atmosphere, which includes Mass, Adoration, Reflections, Confession, the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Benediction.
A priest from the Order, who spoke at one of the conferences said that in light of what is happening in the Church, what can the faithful do. We can't leave the Church, because we can't leave Jesus. So true. In the end its about our relationship to God and the Most Holy Trinity. Those of us, who have a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus, are holding on and praying that real reform and renewal will happen within the Catholic Church. For the good of the Church and all Catholics, (lay and religious) that better happen sooner than later. As long as there are those in the hierarchy who are in denial and don't see the enormous harm that has been done by this crisis, throughout the world, then I get frustrated as others do (and young people walk away from the Church).

I gave a talk and led a discussion about St. Therese of Liseiux yesterday. I know a lot about her, since many years ago I took a long distance course from the Carmelite Institute, centered on her writings, including her poetry.  She is a remarkable saint and Doctor of the Church. Her love for Jesus was mystical. She could feel his presence and loved him in a way we all should.
We can't leave our faith and we can't leave Jesus. Even in the midst of great suffering and a dark night of the soul, Therese never stopped loving Jesus.
NJA

Therese-the Little Flower-Her shortest prayer:
"Jesus, make me like you."