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."

Fr. Barron's Excellent Video on All Saints

The saints have greatly inspired me on my spiritual journey. I have a great devotion and love for many of the Carmelite saints such as St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Teresa of Avila. These were extraordinary women, in any time, and their love of God and willingness to do God's will, at all costs inspires me to persevere on the spiritual journey, through good times and bad.

These are trying times we are living through, though each age has had its challenges, the modern world is moving at such a fast pace, it's difficult to keep up, stay close to God and discern God's will at each moment. Without prayer, it would be totally impossible. With God all is possible.

St. Therese, the Little Flower, as she called herself loved Jesus in a mystical way. It was if he was standing next to her and she could sense it. On her profession day she sent out invitations to her wedding, she was "marrying" her Divine Spouse. St. Therese (as Fr. Barron notes about all the saints) is a friend to all who pray for her intercession or study her works. Many devotees have commented that they felt Therese was a friend to them, in some mystical way. Therese's little way of spiritual childhood recognizes that we are all in need of God's mercy and help, everyday of our lives. We all use poor judgment at times, we all could do better. To strive to be like Christ in the world, to be Christ to others is the goal of the spiritual life and yet it is so difficult. The saints provide us with a way to do it, to discern God's will through prayer. Recently, I had to make a difficult decision, in my heart I knew what God's will was, it was very clear to me. So clear I couldn't dismiss it. It went against what I wanted to do, it went against what made sense in the natural realm, but for some reason, God wanted me to do it God's way. I still don't know why, but I'm sure someday it might become clear, or perhaps it won't, this side of heaven. From that experience I learned that going against our wants and doing God's will, in all things, is not easy at all. The human will can be strong but I know God has my best interests in mind, I know that God loves me unconditionally and so I intend to do God's will, to say my prayers and to keep St. Teresa of Avila's words close to me, "So many problems come from imagining Jesus as far away, when he is really near." And of course, these words should never be far from the lips of a Christian, "Jesus, I trust in you."

May the Saints bless our efforts and bring us to holiness.

NJA

http://www.wordonfire.org/WOF-TV/Commentaries-New/Fr-Barron-comments-on-All-Saints-Day.aspx