WHERE YOUR HEART IS

“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”

Luke 12:34

What’s on your heart today?  What gets most of your attention?  What is important to you?  The answers will point to where your treasure is.  For most people, it is family, a hobby, sports, career, etc.  My immediate family is my treasure; they are my life.  My heart is also with the Pauline Family as a Pauline Cooperator.

We all like to share what’s on our hearts. Thinking about Mary Magdalene that first Easter morning – she had to go and share the good news.  I love to share stories, especially about my four young grandchildren and my story as a Pauline Cooperator and all the joys that come with it.

How it all began:

My journey started with a random visit to a Pauline Books & Media store.  I was immediately attracted to all of the books, music playing in the background, the beautiful chapel and, of course, the Daughters of St. Paul!  As time went on and I got to know the sisters better, attended evenings of prayer (followed by tea parties!) and events at the book center, I was invited to start formation as a Cooperator.  Through the formation process, I learned about the prayer life and spirituality of the Pauline Family.  Little by little that initial attraction grew stronger and transformed my heart into a closer relationship with Jesus.

Living the Pauline spirituality – to live Christ, to give Christ:

Pauline spirituality is all about bringing Christ to others any way possible in our day-to-day lives through daily prayer and witness – trying to imitate the virtues of Christ.

While going through the Formation Period with others, we frequently asked: “What are we going to do after making our Promise?”  After being a professed Cooperator for 13 years, trust me, there is always a way to live out the Pauline charism and bring Christ to people from our homes, parishes, and workplaces.  Jesus will place in our lives the people He wants us to encounter, often through very ordinary, everyday things (even washing windows in a convent!).

Within the Pauline Family, along with currently working with various Cooperator teams, one of my favorite activities is helping with book exhibits and visiting elementary schools with the sisters to introduce the J Club Program that provides Catholic books for children.

I currently help to facilitate a Bible Study/Prayer Group and introduced the group to the music of the Daughters of St. Paul.  No surprise, they all want to attend a Christmas concert some day!  As a Eucharistic Minister at a local hospital, I bring spiritual material to the patients. 

Prayer, however, is most important.  From our Founder, Blessed James: “The first and principal duty of man, of the Christian, the religious, the priest, is prayer.  There is no greater contribution we can make to the Congregation than prayer.  No work is more useful for us than prayer.  Prayer, therefore, has to be before all, above all, the life of all.”

Becoming a promised Cooperator has been life changing, has gotten me back to the basics of knowing, loving, & serving God, and has given me the opportunity to meet other like-minded people, even during this period of social distancing, thanks to Zoom meetings.  It is a continual journey – to live Christ, to give Christ.

Cooperators gathered in Charleston in 2019 to witness the Promise of new Cooperators

The Bible – The Word of God:

The Word of God is one of the two main pillars of the Pauline Family.  Since becoming a Cooperator, I read the Bible every day.  To be able to give Christ, we need to know Him.  The best way is by reading the Word of God.  The scriptures have come alive for me and have touched my heart, especially the Gospels and St. Paul’s letters.  From Blessed James Alberione: “The Bible is God’s letter to mankind.  It is the first and principal book to be read, especially the New Testament, in order to grasp the thought of God.” 

Psalm 119 summarizes it well for me: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

Favorite Cooperator Memory!

On the top of the list is a Cooperator Pilgrimage to Italy about 10 years ago.  We visited the Cathedral of Alba where the Pauline Family was founded, and witnessed the filming of the Media Apostle Movie about our founder, James Alberione.  We even assisted in carrying the filming equipment through the streets of Alba!

The Journey Continues:

Not sure what the Lord has in store for me in the future, but I am looking forward to it.  I have found a treasure; the Pauline Family is in my heart.

”What’s on your heart?  What are you looking for today at this time in your life?  If it’s to grow in holiness and bring others closer to Christ, join us.  There is nothing to lose and so much to gain!  (www.daughtersofstpaul.org/cooperators)

If you are a Cooperator, share with us your journey; what is on your heart.

Maryann Toth has been a Pauline Cooperator since 2008.  She resides in New Jersey with her husband, Richard, is the mother of two daughters, blessed with four grandchildren and semi-retired as a Credit/AR Manager.  She serves as a Eucharistic Minister and lector at her parish and volunteers at a local Catholic hospital.  Helping at book exhibits and JClub presentations are her favorite activities as a Cooperator.  She currently serves as a Lay Provincial Team Member with the Daughters of St. Paul.

A Month of Pauline Celebrations

What a whirlwind it has been! Just when we’d all like to slow down and catch our breath spiritually, we are offered a series of celebrations this year in the Church and in the Pauline Family. The year includes the Year of Saint Joseph (proclaimed by Pope Francis), the Year of the Bible (proclaimed by the Superior Generals of the five Congregations of the Pauline Family), and the Year of the Eucharist (for those of us who live in the Archdiocese of Boston).

So, where do we ‘take up arms’ this month to enter into the spiritual combat swirling abound us? Well, I suggest the Pauline saints in this month of January can help bring us through any deep waters and bring us closer to Jesus Master, Way, Truth and Life. This month gives us three: the anniversary of the death of Blessed Timothy Giaccardo, SSP (1/24), the Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle (1/25) and the feast of Sts. Timothy & Titus, Bishops (1/26). Each of these celebrations presents us with a reason for a renewed spirit in what is arguably a more challenging time in world history.

from daughtersofstpaul.com

First, Fr. Giuseppe (Joseph) Giaccardo. He was born a sickly child and almost died at six months old but the prayers of his parents to the Blessed Virgin Mary interceded for his life, and hence as a young boy growing up and, all of his life, he held a great devotion for Her. His gentle, kind, and devout ways were soon recognized and certainly deepened by meeting Fr. James Alberione, the Founder of the newly formed Pauline Family. He was quickly invited to join the Founder by first entering the Seminary in Alba and, soon after, by becoming the first priest of the Pauline Family.

A close collaborator of Blessed James, Fr. Timoteo (his professed name) soon became Fr. Alberione’s right-hand in all matters, as he was found to be trustworthy, discerning and very dedicated to the Apostolate. He exemplifies for us the great spiritual virtues of docility, humility and perseverance as does the greatest of all the saints: his namesake St. Joseph, the Husband of Mary. These three natural virtues were lived-out perfectly by the foster-father of the Christ Child and are the foundation for a mature spiritual life. Blessed Timothy urges us on to embrace, engage and live these virtues in their fullness in order to one day be raised to the altars of heaven nearest the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph and (eventually, Saint) Timothy Giaccardo. Might we take time each morning to ask the LORD for these virtues through their intercessions? Is the Year of St. Joseph not a great time to set out in the early hours of the morning to practice these virtues daily? If so, we are on our way to holiness!

Second, the Conversion of St. Paul. This celebration of his Damascus Encounter with JESUS Master literally changed the world forever. This Jewish Pharisee, Roman citizen, and righteous zealot pursued to persecute the early followers of The Way until he himself experienced a new vision and understanding of (the soon to become) Christianity. His whole world was thrown upside down to the point that he himself would one day be martyred for the very faith he once persecuted. St. Paul’s Letters make up most of the New Testament outside of the Gospels and orientate us to a deeper understanding of the superlative theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Love, “… the greatest of which is love.” This we know because St. Paul tells us in his First Letter to the Corinthians (cf 13:13). It is these supernatural virtues that become the Truth, the Way, and the Life found in the Scriptures. So might we set out to know Christ through the Holy Scriptures? Is the Year of the Bible not a great time to begin again and plan to read the Bible everyday? If so, we are on our way to holiness!

Finally, the great disciples of St. Paul, Sts. Timothy and Titus. How can we know these two followers of St. Paul were great saints? Well, besides being mentioned numerous times and having Letters addressed to them in the Holy Scriptures they were two of the first bishops in the life of the Church. And like all bishops then (as now), their primary responsibilities were to teach the mysteries of the Faith and celebrate the Sacred Mysteries: The Eucharist. They had a zealous and devout love for the Presence of JESUS in the Eucharist and guarded this daily celebration with their very lives. Is our devotion to the Eucharist so intense? Enough to want to die for HIM? In a time when belief in the True Presence of JESUS in the Eucharist has sadly and gravely waned, even among Catholics, can we seek out more time to be with HIM in this Year of the Eucharist? If so, we are on our way to holiness! And that is what the Founder desired more than anything!

Fr. Ed was ordained to the priesthood in May 2000 for the Archdiocese of Boston. He was assigned to three different parishes in the Archdiocese from 2000-2010 before his appointment to the Faculty of Saint John’s Seminary, Boston, where he is Dean of Men and Director of Pastoral Formation. He is also the Spiritual Director & Liaison for the Archdiocese to Catholic Homeschooling Families as well as the Spiritual Director to the World Apostolate of Fatima (Boston Division). He is perpetually professed in the Institute of Jesus the Priest of the Pauline Family, an institute for diocesan priests.

The Thorn in His Skin

Dr. K, one of the younger physicians in our group, is famous for his smile. He absolutely loves his jobs as husband, father, and gastroenterologist. Last Monday morning, his twenty-something-year-old maroon jeep was not in the lot as I pulled in. Others in the office voiced their surprise that the ever-early Dr. K had not shown up to begin seeing his long list of office patients, on his always-overbooked schedule. As I was preparing to text him, the office door opened, and we saw Dr. K’s ever-present smile. We all immediately noticed raised red bumps the size of large raisins framing his swollen eyes. His short, straight brown hair was much thinner, with quarter-sized clumps of hair missing over large patches of his fiery red scalp. The skin from the V of his scrub shirt to the bottom his mask was replaced by a coalescence of the same bumps that set up a firewall around his hairline. The whites of his brown eyes were too red to sparkle.
In this time of infectious disease panic, he assured the staff that he again tested negative for Covid. We grilled him about new soaps or shampoos or detergents, but he recalled no new exposures. He was going to try to get in to see a dermatologist, but in the meantime, he was ready to work. The smoldering itching would not allow him to sleep the night before, and he was subsequently exhausted. Still, he would not consider rescheduling his patients. Unfortunately, his first patient was frightened by the alterations in his usually clear complexion, and she told him she was uncomfortable looking at him, and she preferred to reschedule. Unaffected, he carried his genuine smile from room to room throughout the morning.
He then drove over to the hospital to make rounds, where he faced even more horrified stares and threatening glares. Although his face burned more and more, the unknown inflammation was unable to suck the caring energy from his smile.
Even after a week, two dermatologists and an infectious disease doctor cannot identify the still worsening skin condition. When he encounters others, he ignores his physical pain and asks about them and their families. This morning he asked if we had heard MercyMe’s song, “Say I Won’t” and excitedly relayed his plans to road trip to Ohio to visit his daughters in college. He jokes that social distancing was not a problem at Mass due to the fear other parishioners had about getting too close to him.
One of the nurses asked me how he could possibly still be so joyful when he had to be unimaginably miserable. She was shocked that he sounds so hopeful when he has no idea what he has, but his symptoms are worsening while experts cannot identify the disease. She mistakenly assumed the reason for his joy had always been his good looks, his awesome family, and the job he loves.
I have known Dr. K for longer than he has owned his jeep, and he would be the first to be able to identify the cause for his joy and hope. He is a poster child for 1 Peter 3:15, as he is always “prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” Dr. K does not just have an intellectual knowledge of his Catholic faith; he has a vital, intense, close relationship with Jesus. He does not just offer to pray for others; he brings their intentions to Jesus in deep personal prayer. When he cares for many patients in a day, what he actually sees are individuals who each bear the face of Christ (in their sufferings, hopes, joys and healing). He invites others, by his actions and infectious joy, to foster that same relationship with the Divine Master.

If we fail to make our relationship with Jesus the cause for our hope, we are doomed to disappointment. I have learned in my own life that when I look to anything or anyone but the Word Made Flesh for momentary or long-term happiness, I am bound to be disappointed. These bad choices most often take the form of sin, which is usually a cheap imitation of the real joy we find when we follow God and His Church. A good example is pornography. God gifted us with the gift of procreation. If we instead count on pornography to make us happy, we are looking at a false illusion of marital love which excludes the Truth of God and our relationship with Him, which dooms us to disappointment. The fact that any sin harms our relationship with the Blessed Trinity is enough reason to try to avoid sin, and, as all the Pauline Chapels proclaim near the Tabernacle, to “Be Sorry For Sin.” No one knows our weaknesses better than Christ, and He does not expect perfection. Instead, we can do all we can to strengthen our relationship with Jesus: spending time in prayer with Him, reading Sacred Scripture, loving others with the love of our Creator, avoiding sin, participating in the Eucharist, and living a life of true joy that will attract others to Christ and His Church.
This illness may or may not be a thorn in Dr. K’s flesh (literally, in his skin). When St. Paul asked the Lord to relieve him of his thorn (whatever Paul’s thorn was), the Lord refuses Paul’s request, stating that “power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). If Dr. K entered a nurse’s station and told everyone they should pray and strengthen their relationships with Jesus, his suggestions would likely have little influence on their spiritual lives. However, when one witnesses the undisturbed loving relationship between Dr. K and Jesus, we can easily see our need for a Redeemer and an attraction to pursue that type of relationship with our Savior who loves each of us so individually and so deeply.
In their book, A Month with St. Paul, Blessed Father Alberione and Blessed Father Giaccardo point out St. Paul’s passion about relationship with Jesus as the source of our hope in this life and for eternity. In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul states: “We are children of God, and if children then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:16-17).
I pray that Dr. K receive complete healing from this thorn in his flesh, and I thank God for the gift of Dr. K’s life as a a tremendous example of evangelizing with the witness of his life.

Jeff Mathews, MD, has been a Pauline Cooperator since October 11, 2009. He serves as President of the Daughters of St. Paul Advisory Board in St. Louis. He and his wife, Carolyn, have three sons, two daughters, and a son-in-law. He is looking forward to Pauline projects in 2021, including the Biblical Year of the Pauline Family, The Daughters Project, and the increasing presence of the Daughters of St. Paul bringing Jesus to all areas of social media.

Finding the Holy Spirit

One of the most beautiful attributes of our Christian faith is our ability to devote our thoughts, feelings and actions to arrive at communion with the most sacred Holy Spirit of God. Being able to seek our inner identity, the glow of our soul in its most pristine condition, its humble and pure nature, is what rejoices us and gives us the strength to combat all tribulations. As soon as the pandemic hit, I realized that the best way to battle it as a warrior was to strengthen my faith and plow along forward to get closer to the Cross of Jesus.

On this road to Jesus, we encounter many difficulties. At some point, we are like Veronica, wiping the blood that drips from Jesus’ face because we can be compassionate; other times we are like Simon of Cyrene, who helps Jesus carry the cross to share the burden of his suffering. Through compassion and charity, we are always searching for a North Star, like a voyager through the rough seas, with the ultimate goal of finding a seaport that will give us tranquility.

As true Christians, we seek to make our own selves a temple of the Holy Spirit, because we know that His presence in us will give us the graces, faith and power to fight our most difficult battles. With this faith, we believe in the resurrection of our souls, and in the final re-encounter with our previously departed loved ones. With this faith, we know that Jesus in in control of our destiny, and wants to protect us like lost sheep that have been found; all we need to do is trust him with all the fibers of our soul. Once we reach a level of faith that leads to this uncontestable belief, all our fears disappear.

“Father, forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

What happens if I lose my life? Will I disappear into oblivion, or will my soul rejoice in the new infinite love found in heaven, with the presence of Jesus Christ and our loved ones? Truly believing in Jesus’ love and mercy means rejecting fear altogether. This includes the fear of being criticized, of being attacked, insulted, and mocked, by those that harbor hatred and “don’t know what they are doing.” It also means eliminating our phobias, our fears of getting on an airplane, of taking risks with our decisions at work, with our financial options, or with our major life crises.
It means letting go our fear of dying and losing this wonderful privilege of inhabiting, with all our senses, this beautiful planet.

I went out for a walk the other day, in the middle of this pandemic. I started appreciating everything around me, as I walked and walked. The crispness of the air that I breathe, the autumn leaves falling like butterflies, the multicolored flowers on the road, the aroma of roses, the birds singing, the blue sky, the gentle breeze, the bees feeding on the flowers, the dragonfly playing with the wind; all these inspired in me a sense of ultimate peace. I realized that I am constantly falling in love with the life and beauty of nature that surrounds me, a marvelous gift from God. How can I ignore so many blessings? The very capacity to appreciate the gift is a wonderful grace. God is our Father of infinite love, and his love manifests in every minute of our lives, in every fraction of a second, in what our senses perceive, in what our hearts assimilate.

The language of God is love. It doesn’t matter what political views we have, or what solutions we want to impose on others that don’t agree with our opinion. What matters is that God is the only one who can read the intentions of our heart, and it is those intentions that make us come closer to his infinite mercy and benevolence.

Should I be afraid of the pandemic? A sense of civic duty, of responsibility to my neighbor and loved ones, tells me that I should be careful and respectful with my actions, to protect myself and others. However, having the Holy Spirit in my own temple gives my own soul peace and serenity, removes fear, and gives me hope for a better future.

Mine is a soul fused to the Holy Spirit through faith, and strengthened by the love of my wife and children, my siblings, my parents, and the faithful departed that guard me like angels in these turbulent times.

Fernando Dangond, MD, is a member of the Holy Family Institute novitiate, along with his family. He and his wife, Monica, live in Weston, MA, and have been blessed with two sons, both in college, and a beautiful daughter, Christina, who left to be with the Lord in 2018. Dr. Dangond, a neurologist and scientist, works developing medicines to treat devastating neurological diseases.

Following the Master

A lot has been said lately about slaves and masters in our American history. Most of us are horrified by the very idea that our nation once allowed one person to own another person. It is abhorrent, in fact. And so, we need to be clear as to why we Paulines prefer to call Jesus Christ our Master. Will others be offended when they hear us? Occasionally we are tempted to drop the title when we pray with others who aren’t members of the Pauline Family, as if this title embarrasses us.

Let’s take a new look at why we use this title for Jesus who for us is Master, Way, Truth, and Life. Jesus said of himself, You call me “teacher” and “master,” and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet (Jn 13:13-14). We see that Jesus interchanges the titles “master” and “teacher” even though there is a definite difference between them. In the academic world the distinction is clearer. College graduates usually begin with a Bachelor’s Degree in their field of study. If they want a leg up on other candidates for job opportunities, they will continue studying and obtain a Master’s Degree. So to address Jesus simply as Teacher would be to put him on a par with anyone else who teaches the faith, morals, or spirituality. What does it mean, then, to address Jesus as Master? Does it just mean he was only a little smarter than the other teachers of the Law? And weren’t the experts in the Law in Jesus’ lifetime called Doctors of the Law? Shouldn’t we then be calling Jesus, Doctor?

The point here is that calling Jesus, Master, involves a whole different dynamic, way beyond any particular level of knowledge, which of course, is a silly argument when we are speaking of Jesus who is the Son of God, the Author of all knowledge. So, what kind of Master is Jesus? Again, we find an answer in Jesus’ own words. When John’s disciples asked Jesus where he was staying he invited them: Come, and you will see (Jn 1:39). And as others came into his circle, they were invited to follow him, that is, to stay with him. That is exactly what they did: they stayed with Jesus day and night, hearing what he said, doing what he did, eating with him, traveling beside him. Also in Luke (18:18) Jesus has a dialogue with the rich young man and concludes, There is still one thing left for you: sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have a treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. Jesus is inviting him to complete discipleship. Put everything on the line and follow me. This is actually the way of ancient Greek masters like Plato. His disciples didn’t just attend a daily class with him, but they became his companions, living with him 24/7.

“Fine for you Paulines living in a religious community,” you might be saying, “but we are the Paulines in the world. We’re juggling families, jobs, education, housing, hobbies, and all sorts of responsibilities. How are we supposed to leave everything and follow Jesus Master?”

This is why our devotion to Jesus Master includes his self-definition of Way, Truth and Life. Paulines don’t have to live just one type of life. Our Founder created ten individual ways to follow the Master. The beauty of it is we give Jesus Master our whole self in whatever of the ten we have chosen. Way, Truth, and Life corresponds to those faculties that define us as human beings: will, mind, and heart. These faculties are the keys that allow us to really and truly follow Jesus as disciples. We follow him especially in how he lived and spoke in the Gospels and in how he leads us now through his Church. We believe what he teaches; we will what he wills; we love all that he loves. “We clothe ourselves with Christ,” as St. Paul tells us to do. Ask Jesus to help us see how we can be his disciples, his followers, in our own particular life with all its complexities.

As we celebrate the Pauline feast of Jesus Master, Way, Truth, and Life, may we desire to be more attentive to the wonderful gift that is ours to share: the following of Christ our Master, after the example of St. Paul and under the motherly protection of Mary, the Queen of Apostles.

Sister Mary Lea Hill, a member of the Daughters of St. Paul since 1964, has enjoyed communicating the faith through a variety of apostolic assignments. Her skills as a story teller were honed as director of audiovisual productions when Pauline Books & Media first produced animated features in the early 80s. An editor and author for many years, Sister Mary Lea has written several books, including Prayer and You, Blessed are the Stressed, Saints Alive: The Gospel Witnessed, Saints Alive: The Faith Proclaimed, and the best-selling Basic Catechism (co-authored with Sister Susan Helen Wallace).

Rosary Story

God is funny! Here is my rosary story.

Ouch! Big pinch is what I get when my mother detects drowsiness as we pray the rosary. It also comes with a stare if my siblings and I kneel with a slouch. Everyone kneels without exemptions, and, with the proper posture. On the fourth and fifth mysteries, we have the option to sit down. On my good days, I continue to kneel.

Looking back, I cannot remember praying the rosary daily. It makes me a bit sad thinking about that. I have grown in my love for this devotion, just as I have grown more in love with the Eucharist. Before the pandemic, I would go to daily Mass, enjoy listening and reading the Word of God, and pass on what I learned in theology to the Adult Faith Formation group in my parish. Mary does point me to Jesus.

I find it amusing that God allowed me the opportunity to serve in the Office of Worship in the Diocese of Honolulu, where our bishop and its director entrusted to me Marian events to plan and coordinate. For the first Fatima event I coordinated, I chose a non-Marian prayer. My bishop’s correction hit me. In his homily during Mass he emphasized that Fatima is about the message of praying the rosary because it was the rosary that Mary asked the three children to pray.

I never stopped praying the rosary altogether. I just did not always pray it with a fervent devotion.
Having had many opportunities to lead the rosary and assign people to lead it, I have become accustomed to praying it more often. Lately, I wake up about an hour early to pray it, then I allow myself to drift off to catch more sleep.

Here are some reasons that my devotion has grown, some things I am learning along the way. The rosary has become part of my formation, and this is how the grace of God works through it:

1. Discipline: For fifteen minutes, I have the chance to gain the momentum of a steady peace and quiet as I meditate on the life of Jesus. My mind occasionally drifts apart, but the words of the rosary bring me back to its peaceful embrace. I know I am more intimate with Jesus.
2. Meditation: Through meditation, I discover the beauty of enhancing my prayer life. For instance, for the first Joyful Mystery, the Annunciation, I am learning to pray more personally: “Lord, should I forget, echo to me the announcement of St. Gabriel to Mary that I may always remember the joy of the message that brings hope–that Jesus is coming–when my vision becomes clouded.” Ultimately, the mysteries take us to the completion of salvation history.
3. Modelling of Mary: Mary models to me a sweet disposition, mainly her way of pondering things in her heart. To ponder is to contemplate. To “contemplate” means to think about something intently—with a calm spirit. Mary reminds me not to react, but to respond with sincerity, firmness of faith, and a calm spirit.
4. Mary intercedes: My recitation is joined to those of other people’s recitation, and this prayer becomes a beautiful offering to God for many reasons, be it a petition or thanksgiving. Here in Hawaii, many Catholics pray the rosary to calm hurricanes. God has spared us many times from what could have been severe devastations to our Islands, the last one of which was Hurricane Douglas. On the day of its expected arrival, we had nice warm weather as usual.
5. Meaningful life: Based on my observations, families that pray the rosary have a life with meaning and purpose. Their children prosper. They have zest for life and are never far from God’s graces. I have witnessed the lives of people I know who struggle, but continue to have a devotion to the rosary. Their lives are fruitful.

These are just a few of the points I gathered about my growing devotion to Mary. Our Mother continues to point me to Jesus, but I am almost sure she does not want me to forget her, since she is our Mother and a vital part of salvation history. Notice how the very last two mysteries are about her, the last one being her queenship of both Heaven and Earth.

I am not sure how my earthly mother’s painful pinches played a role in my devotion to Mary. That part is still a blur. Nevertheless, now, when I struggle to fit the rosary into my prayer life, the Holy Spirit takes over with his nudging. I will continue to lead rosaries for my Adult Faith Formation group because often, nobody wants to lead it. God is funny that way.

Easter Almuena started joining the Pauline Cooperators formation when her children were still small. She had fond memories of her family having meals with the Pauline Sisters in their dining room atop the Pauline Bookstore in downtown Honolulu. It was only in 2016 that she formally made the promise with three others. Easter holds a master’s degree in pastoral theology. She and her husband, Deacon Joe, serve at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace. Easter’s greatest joy is spending time with her husband, children, and very soon to be, a total of five grandchildren.

Discerning the News in an Election Year

I used to love to watch the news when I was a child. My parents, Jack and DeDee Mathews, were very good about watching all three news channels with us, because they took the time to explain both sides of any disagreement over the issues or news stories about politics. Mom and Dad wanted us to have a fundamental knowledge that individuals on both sides were approaching issues “with a good heart.” So regardless of the issue, I have always assumed those commenting on an issue were approaching from a position of love and not hate, and since Jesus is love, I always picture at least a little bit of Jesus on any side of any disagreement.

After many decades of hearing the news, and fewer years of reading emails, the discussions unfortunately are sounding less like the charitable look at varying views of a news story my parents thoughtfully discussed, and increasingly like opportunities to demonize those with opposing viewpoints.

My emails about politics or political issues tend to be equally from liberal and conservative sources, which I think my dad would appreciate if he were still alive. What would make him roll over in his grave is the tone that both sides use to vilify the other and encourage hatred for those with opposing views. Email subject headings blatantly call for the email recipient to help “destroy,” “crush,” or “ruin” people who disagree with their position, likely because the email authors have learned that harsher language results in supporters digging deeper to support the cause.

My dad never identified as conservative or liberal, Democrat or Republican, because he believed “labeling yourself as one side or another starts you on the slippery slope of accepting everything one group believes in, and the moment you agree with 100% of either political side, you have stopped thinking for yourself.” Not surprisingly, my mom taught me how easy it is to listen to the loudest voice, but the weakest, most vulnerable, suppressed voice is the most important one to hear.

My dad would be sorely disappointed in how many use the media as a means of supporting their agenda while tearing apart those with alternative positions. I have switched news channels to hear the same “news” stories told in diametrically opposed manners. The negative focus results in greater animosity and anxiety in the audience. I have even found myself angry over a story, and then I realize I would not have been the least bit upset had I heard the story without a newscaster telling me how upset I should be.

I have had the great opportunity to be present with the “media nuns,” the Daughters of St. Paul, as they watch the news. They pray for everyone involved in each story; and they pray against no one. They consistently recognize Jesus in everyone throughout each story, as well as those working in the media who present the stories. As their founder, Blessed James Alberione, taught them and all the members of the Pauline Family, human dignity and the common good, the basis of Catholic social teaching, are our guides for discerning the news. He wrote “The Social Catechism” to explain how Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition have consistently taught principles of Catholic social teaching since the beginning of the Church (an English version was published in the 1980s called “Designs for a Just Society”).

If I am honest, I will admit that I am now often tempted to not watch the news, as the experience can be exhausting and depressing. However, I have realized that the only hope for our world is to truly listen to one another, or no one’s voice will be heard. My advice (which I have basically stolen from my parents’ good advice and the mission of the Daughters of St. Paul) is to look for the love that motivates women and men to act so passionately for what they believe. Jack Mathews believed wholeheartedly in the inherent goodness of everyone – even those with whom he disagreed. 

I enjoy having friends with varied views on different subjects, because we can appreciate and respect one another’s views. I have also learned that heartfelt discussions with friends have changed my views way more often than someone insulting me or assuming my motives are ignorant or hateful. When I listen to others and look for the love that motivates them, I can understand their point of view more clearly and can easily find Jesus in the discussion. 

From my friends, I have learned some important facts I consider when I read or listen to news media:

1.    My brother-in-law who passionately defends the Second Amendment is a gentle, loving Dad who wants to defend his family and hunt; no one is more upset by school shootings than he.
2.    My cousin who wants to eliminate the Second Amendment does not wish to take away anyone’s liberties; he merely wants to do all in his power to prevent further gun violence.
3.    My pro-choice partner at work does not want to see babies die. He knows it is a tough choice, but he believes it is more important to support the mother if she chooses abortion. He does not believe life begins at conception, and he is a physician.
4.    My pro-life partner at work does not want to see women suffer. He wants to do all he can to protect every life from the moment of conception to natural death. He believes life begins at conception, and he is a physician.
5.    I have many friends who came to the United States as immigrants. They all love and support immigrants, although their tremendously different views on how immigration reform should proceed in the United States have surprised me.
6.    Hunger and poverty seem to be universally abhorred. I believe nearly all Americans want to see people lifted from poverty, and no one should ever have to go to bed hungry. Ever.
7.    I have learned to not assume that a friend who votes for a particular candidate agrees with everything that politician or that political party stands for. Voting is a tough decision. The Founding Fathers were smart to make elections by secret ballot.
8.    Racism is real. Many of my friends have experienced this personally, and they are most angered when others deny the existence of racism in our country. We must admit the horrors of racism – as individuals, as a Church, and as a country – before true healing can occur.
9.    It is more difficult to prejudge individuals than groups. As a parent, I have experienced  the agony in watching  my own children suffer; and this brings me into communion with parents of gay and transgender children who have witnessed the tears  and devastation of their own children as they suffer from prejudice and hatred.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church makes this easy for us: “They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided” (CCC 2358).
10.    Sadly, if we stop talking, we will continue the trajectory of a significant part of the media who wish to make us warring teams of “us vs. them.” As my dad would say: “We are all us.” Jesus is on both sides of the discussion. 

What the Daughters of St. Paul teach through their media literacy/media mindfulness programs has helped me ask these important questions when discerning the news:
1.    What’s going on?
2.    What’s really going on?
3.    What difference does it make?
4.    What difference can I make?
 

These questions also follow the framework for theological reflection: experience, reflect, evaluate, discern, act. In the case of the news, prayer is always the first action because it places me in a mindset to be more present to the issue.
 

Again, many people argue about the best ways to solve these tough issues that are frequently based on “demonization of the opposition.”  As I discern the news and the needs of people, I remember that my parents taught me that each person is coming from a foundation of love, so I will always assume that to be the case. When we attempt to shame or humiliate others for their beliefs, it becomes more difficult to see Christ in one another, and way less likely we can change their mind or heart on an issue. If we are to have any chance of bringing love to our crazy world, we need to quiet ourselves enough that we can listen and revive the now antiquated practice of having sincere, respectful dialogues with others. I guarantee you will discover that the individuals you talk with are not motivated by hatred; they are motivated by the same love we have and want to bring to our world so desperately in need.
 

Blessed James Alberione formed the Pauline Family to listen to and heed the messages of the Popes. I think he would have liked Pope Francis’ introduction to his World Communication Day message this year:

“I would like to devote this year’s message to the theme of storytelling, because I believe that, so as not to lose our bearings, we need to make our own the truth contained in good stories. Stories that build up, not tear down; stories that help us rediscover our roots and the strength needed to move forward together. Amid the cacophony of voices and messages that surround us, we need a human story that can speak of ourselves and of the beauty all around us. A narrative that can regard our world and its happenings with a tender gaze. A narrative that can tell us that we are part of a living and interconnected tapestry. A narrative that can reveal the interweaving of the threads which connect us to one another.”

http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/communications/documents/papa-francesco_20200124_messaggio-comunicazioni-sociali.html

Jeffrey E. Mathews, MD, made his promises as a Pauline Cooperator on October 11, 2009. He currently serves as President of the Daughters of St. Paul Advisory Board in St. Louis. He and his wife, Carolyn, have three sons, two daughters, a son-in-law, and a GrandDog named Winston.

A Marvelous Exchange: Salvation Beyond Our Wildest Dream

Christ does not put himself alongside a person’s life but by right penetrates that person to his or her intimate depths: he is more us than we are ourselves. Father Forlai

Right now, Christ is not only with us during the Covid19 crises, Christ is transforming us into an icon of his life and presence. At prayer in chapel one day I knew I needed help to recapture my patience and to surrender my feelings of anxiety. My co-novice, Sr. Julia Darrenkamp, told me about a book that she said contained a treasure trove of insights for our spiritual life. I purchased a copy of Mary, Mother of Apostles. It is about “Christ lives in me;” it is about salvation beyond our wildest dreams. It is a book you will spend a lifetime with. If you want to know why Mary is about Jesus, this is the book for you. If you already have devotion to Mary, be prepared to wonder if you really did until now.

I realized this was not a book to read alone. Each sentence opened new horizons of the meaning regarding Mary’s motherhood. Her motherhood was that wonder of a “yes” pronounced in full not only to God but also to us, until Christ is formed in us. 

St. Paul wrote; “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you” (Gal. 4:19). After just a quick read through this book I have my suspicions that Paul picked up that saying from Mary.

In only one Facebook invitation to join me for a Zoom Book Club, twelve participants signed up. During my hour of adoration, the idea of a guide took form. Along with a copy of the book, a reading guide was sent out to participants with a date for our first weekly Zoom book club.

Here are some of my favorite quotes (I have underlined most of the book). This book has helped me to focus on Jesus during these times of quarantine and facemasks, and incessant hand washing (which usually reminds me of Hamlet’s mother). As I meditate on each passage in preparation to share with the book group, new insights arise.

The risen Jesus still incarnates himself, still gives himself in the Eucharist until the end of time, healing ills even today. He still speaks to us as to disciples – weeping, suffering, praying, loving without interruption. This is possible because I freely offer myself to him, saying, ‘Lord, I am sad, come yourself to live your sadness in me. I am consoled. Come in me to live your gratitude to the Father…’ A well lived Christian existence is that of the baptized in whom Christ relives all of his mysteries.

The Holy Spirit works this marvelous exchange that makes us contemporaries of Jesus.” This is not due to our effort or strength, “earthly events of my life are changed into Jesus’ and his eternal and glorious mysteries are exchanged with mine. We stand before a marvelous reality that makes us exclaim with St. Paul, ‘It is no longer I who live, Christ lives in me’ (Gal. 2:20).”

 This video book review is a meditation in itself: 

We still patiently bear the burden of the old self while we are here on earth. We live in continual surrender and conversion.

Mary always entrusted and abandoned herself into the hands of God. Her trust grew as she closely followed the events of her son’s life in a crescendo of abandonment that reached its summit on that day of Calvary. Mary grew in the grace she already possessed. St John Eudes, someone Father Alberione based much of his Eucharistic spirituality on, spoke of the Sacred Hearts not in the plural but in the singular — the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary. Little by little as we offer the Master hospitality in our inmost being, we arrive, without even realizing it, at the point where we ourselves are the guests, nourished and hidden in God (Col 3:3).

Download the free Mary, Mother of the Apostles Book Club Reading Guide

Sr. Margaret Charles Kerry, FSP, celebrates 45 years of life and mission as a Daughter of St. Paul. With a Masters from Boston College School of Theology & Ministry, she gives presentations on the vocation and mission of the laity, media literacy, and evangelization. She directed the Association of Pauline Cooperators for 15 years and was creative editor of The Pauline Cooperator magazine. Sr Margaret is superior and manager of the Pauline Center in Charleston, SC.  She is also coordinating wonderful Pauline Cooperator groups in this region.  Author of three books: St Anthony in the Encounter the Saints series, Strength in Darkness: John of the Cross and Live Christ; Give Christ: prayers  for the new evangelization.

The Gift of Being “Other-Oriented”

For those of you who know me, you know I tend to write and speak about radiance; how it is God’s light that shines through us, if we allow him to do so.  As I have reflected on and thought about radiance, I have asked different people what radiance means to them.  One woman described radiance by using a term that I absolutely loved.  She said that being radiant is about being “other-oriented”. Those two words, put together like that, pack a punch.

It seems like we are living in a time where being “other-oriented” is so critical.  Wearing a mask, keeping six feet apart due to COVID is certainly guidance to be “other-oriented”.  At the same time, the protests start as a consideration of others; their needs and rights.  What I observe however is that many things start by being “other-oriented” and then evolve into being about self.

Consider the protests.  Protests are for human rights, for fair treatments, and these are other-oriented. But along with the protests we have also seen riots. Looting, damaging stores and businesses are activities that seem to focus on self, I fear, not others. Keeping that “other-oriented” perspective is crucial. What causes humanity to move from focus on other to focus on self ? Perhaps the answer comes from Blessed James Alberione who offered “Humility is the keeper of the virtues.”  Without humility, other non-virtuous activities can happen, and quickly.

Lack of humility does seem to be at the root of some of the challenges we see right now.  In a world that encourages you to buy, buy, buy and that you “deserve” this or that, it is no wonder that people learn to think of themselves first and others second.  To truly be other-oriented, one needs to be humble and honestly put the needs of others before their own.  Christ was such a perfect example of this for us.  His guidance to us was to “love our neighbors as ourselves”.  He knew this would be difficult for us.

Humility is difficult and perhaps even more difficult when the world is in disarray, as it is today.  But, isn’t it in these strange and scary times that being humble and in service to others is so critical?  Yet, these are the very times that we want to hunker down and protect ourselves.  But, those who are in service to others, who are “other-oriented” are truly radiant stars, as Mother Thecla described.

 “God is a very good cameraman and will project the film of  our lives.  Let us be radiant stars.”   

Mother Thecla Merlo, Daughters of St. Paul

During this trying time in our world, I am seeing beautiful, radiant souls who are letting God’s light shine through them.  I identify them because they are so “other-oriented”.  These are the people who are making masks and giving them away to senior centers, or the people putting thank you signs and gifts out for the delivery people, or those bringing food and meals to others.  I was in line at the grocery and the person in front of me inquired of the cashier, “how are you really, given everything going on here?”  The cashier lit up, someone truly cared about her and was being “other-oriented” by asking that question.

The thing about that little question is that it led to a big smile on the face of the cashier.  Someone cared, and that mattered.  Someone was being “other-oriented” in the moment.  Yes, we can require masks and social distancing.  However, I believe that being other-oriented cannot be required or stipulated; it is an inside job.  When we let go of our self-interest and truly see others, that is when God’s light shines through us and we can be radiant.

During these tough weeks with all that is swirling around us, what gives me hope is the radiance I see around me.  I look for those people who are “other-oriented” and I see God at work.  I cherish the many beautiful pieces of humanity I see, and pray that God will continue to open the hearts of many to take care of others during this time.

The once international corporate marketing executive is now an author, speaker and promised Pauline Cooperator who encourages people to live radiantly, letting God shine through them. Donna A. Heckler was blessed with a prominent career serving multi-billion dollar organizations and now focuses her writing at the intersection of faith and business. Donna’s award winning book “Marketing God: Inspired Strategies for Building the Kingdom” was just released in August 2019 by OSV and is a crash course for those passionate about their faith and looking for ways to share it effectively.

Recognized as a thought leader in brand and marketing strategy, she is co-author of the book The Truth About Creating Brands People Love. Donna penned the acclaimed book Living Like A Lady When You Have Cancer after her stage 3 cancer diagnosis. She worked through her treatments but worked even more at trying to live radiantly every day.

God now takes a front seat in Donna’s life as she shares her journey, her beliefs, her faith in her writing and speaking. Donna reminds us to sit quietly with God and to live radiantly despite what is happening in our lives, with God shining through every day.