A Time For Thanksgiving and Rededication

Living in a Covid world has been quite challenging.  However, this new reality can also be a time for thanksgiving and rededication to our Catholic faith because this health crisis brings into sharp focus those three often-asked philosophical questions- “Who am I,” “What am I doing here?”, and “Where am I going?”  Each of these questions could take volumes to answer but I think we can ponder them a little bit here, in the context of our Catholic Faith.

Who Am I?

We are, and try to be, faithful Catholics, passing our days in the Lord’s vineyard, fighting the good fight, living by the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, the Precepts of the Church, the Corporal and Spiritual work of Mercy as well as all the truths the Church teaches.  Thereby trying to save our own souls in order to get to Heaven and bring as many others with us as we can.

Our Good Lord, in His infinite wisdom, left a plan to do just that!  It is called the Catholic Church – and He left this precious jewel – or rather treasure chest of jewels, in the hands of poor sinners like us.  The jewels are a road map to Heaven via the sacraments. As we know, the Church is both human and Divine.  It encompasses all aspects of our journey from Heaven to Earth.

I think of this often at funeral liturgies, I think of the Church suffering, the Church Militant, and the Church Triumphant –all right there.  Throngs of angels and saints surround the altar.  When a body is buried, it reminds me of the poor souls in Purgatory.  A funeral is a golden opportunity to take stock of our own lives by thanking God and Rededicating ourselves to Him and His Church.

What Am I Doing Here?

I think the best thing we can do, on a daily basis if possible, is to attend and participate in the Mass.  It is here that we receive the body, blood, soul, and Divinity of Christ.  Perhaps that is why it puzzles me that at a time like this after most of the pandemic restrictions have been lifted, we are often seeing fewer Masses.  Many parishes are on their “Summer Schedule,” others have eliminated some Masses because of fewer priests and/or lack of attendance. Maybe more preaching on the importance of Mass attendance, and the meaning of Mass itself would be helpful. Some Pastors are calling priests from other parishes or from retirement houses to be sure the scheduled Masses are celebrated.  Of course, staggering the Mass times is also an option so it would be available to a greater number of working people.

A Time to Rededicate

Perhaps it is time to take extraordinary measures to make up for all the Masses that went unsaid during the pandemic. Think of all the graces wasted, all the Holy Communions not received, all the Confessions not heard, and all the Novenas and Devotions not said.  Even the sacramentals, like Holy Water, another opportunity for grace, were not available.  It is a difficult but imperative task to reclaim our traditions  However, I believe it is well worth the effort.

Only a priest can confect the Eucharist.  Without priests, the Eucharist would not be available to us.  We must thank them and work with them to get things back on track again.  Not only would it help our Church, but also it would be of great help to our country and the world at large.  We must support our priests, helping with whatever we can or with whatever they ask of us.  We owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

Where Am I Going?

There are few things stronger than a soul in the state of grace.  United, we can only succeed.  So, whatever your vocation in life is, whether single, married, or Religious, won’t you give some thought, as we enter yet another phase of the “new normal,” to how you can show Thanksgiving to God for what He has given us and Rededicate yourself to His cause, whatever He calls you to do?