29 October 2012 Fidelity in little things Jesus Christ taught several practical lessons from the parable of the unjust steward, which, taken in a wide sense, also contains maxims in spiritual life. “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.” (Lk 16:10) These few words teach us how much we should have at heart fidelity in little things as the constant rule of our conduct. 1. ‘Motives as regards God.’ Our first and highest duty is to love God; give him proofs of our love and fidelity. Doing his holy will in smallest things is giving him these proofs. 2. ‘Motives as regards others.’ We all wish to gain many souls, to save the most hardened sinners. We should be generous towards God, faithful in the smallest things, and our success will be certain. 3. ‘Motives as regards ourselves.’ In great trials, in strong temptations. “Courage, good and faithful servant! Because you have been faithful in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.” (Lk 19:17) Let us weigh carefully the truth of these motives, and make an act of faith on each of them. Then examine in detail our life. Does our conduct conform to these truths? Are we habitually faithful in little things? “Whoever is unjust in what is little is unjust also in what is great.” (Lk 19:10) This sentence, coming from the lips of the infallible Truth, ought to convince us that habitual infidelity to norms we count of little importance is very hurtful to us, and may bring fatal consequences to ourselves and others. 1. We lose an immense treasure of merit for ourselves and for many others. 2. By it our soul incurs many stains which we do not see, but which disfigure it in the eyes of God. 3. It is a great obstacle to the operations of grace, to God’s liberality towards us. 4. Tepidity sets in. One’s bad example entices many others, and perhaps ends in universal irregularity. We should think most seriously upon this matter. However it may be with others, let us take to ourself those words of Jesus Christ: “He who is unjust in what is little is unjust also in what is great.” (cf Lk 19:10) Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp674-6 Little things and the life of childhood Thinking of those of you who, despite years of experience, still go about dreaming (vain and childish dreams, like those of Tartarin of Tarascon), imagining they are hunting lions in the corridors of their homes, where the most they will find are mice. I insist, I can only remind you how great a thing it is to be accompanying God through the faithful fulfilment of your ordinary daily duties, coming through struggles which fill our Lord with joy, and which are known only to him and to each one of us. Rest assured you will usually find few opportunities for dazzling deeds, one reason being that they seldom occur. On the other hand, you will not lack opportunities, in the small and ordinary things around you, of showing your love for Christ. As St Jerome writes, “Even in small things, the same (greatness of) spirit is revealed. We admire the Creator, not only as the framer of heaven and earth, of sun and ocean, of elephants, camels, horses, oxen, leopards, bears and lions, but also as the maker of tiny creatures, ants, gnats, flies, worms and the like, things whose shapes we know better than their names: and in all of them (big or small) we reverence the same skill. So too, the person who is dedicated to Christ is equally earnest in small things as in great.” (“Epistolae”, 60, 12 [PL 22, 596]) A disciple of Christ will never treat anyone badly. Error he will call error, but the person in error he will correct with kindliness. Otherwise he will not be able to help him, sanctify him. We must learn to live together, to understand one another, to make allowances, to be brotherly and, at all times, in the words of St John of the Cross, “where there is no love, put love and you will find love” (cf “Letter to Maria de la Encarnacion”, 6-VII-1591). You can climb to the top of your profession, you can gain the highest acclaim as a reward for your freely chosen endeavours in temporal afairs; but if you abandon the supernatural outlook that should inspire all our human activities, you will have gone sadly astray. Ref: Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 8, 9, 10 The Rosary is the best form of Prayer in Common The Rosary has been called “the psalter of Mary” for good reason. This custom which our ancestors held in high repute ought to be religiously preserved or restored. In Christian families, ... it was a sacred practice to gather before a representation of the Virgin at the close of the day when their labors were over and alternately recite the rosary. Mary accepted this faithful and unanimous homage with great delight. She was in their midst like a loving mother surrounded by a crown of children, giving them the blessings of domestic peace, a pledge of the peace of heaven. Ref: Leo XIII, “Fidentem piumque”, 20 September 1896. In “Documentation Service”, V:311 Meditations on the Litany of the Blessed Virgin ‘Queen of the family’ -- Mary, Mother of God, at your request, Jesus worked His first miracle. He changed water into wine for the wedding guests at Cana. Over the centuries you continue to obtain countless signs and wonders for the poor, exiled children of Eve. We, therefore, ask you to intercede with your Divine Son for the miraculous graces which the modern world so desperately needs: · For conversion and reconversion of whole nations to Jesus Christ and His teaching on marriage and family. · For heroic preservation among Christians of their faith in the indissolubility of marriage, marital fidelity and loving acceptance of children, as bedrock of the Christian family. · For courage of martyrs in all of us followers of Christ, that we may witness to His power to overcome the powers of darkness that are bent on destroying the human family and the moral law. Mary, Mother of the holy Family, and Mother of our families, pray for us. Amen Ref: J A Hardon, SJ, “Crusade for the Family Prayer”, Bardstown, KY40004 • Our Lady of Orope, near Bielle, in Savoy; this image, of cedar wood, six feet high, is in a chapel which St Eusebius, Bishop of Vercelli, erected about the year 380; he often retired thither during the troubles caused by the Arians. — Triple Couronne, n. 112. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Our Lady of Orope (near Bielle, Savoy, France). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Our Lady of Oropa. Vercelli, Italy (380). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (http://www/mariedenazareth.com) • “Madonna della Oropa”. Vercelli, Italy. 380; Bielle, Savoy, France. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)