Strange Manner of Love
As some of you may already know, today we celebrate the feast of the North American Martyrs, one of whom is St. Isaac Jogues. It was by their blood and witness to the Native Americans in the 1640's that led to the birth of the Catholic Faith in our Country and the rising of St. Kateri- the first Native American Saint.
I was reading an excerpt of a letter that St Isacc Jogues wrote reflecting back on his time with the Huron Native Americans before leaving for Quebec. This is what he retells:
"I was watching this disaster...from a place very favorable for concealing me from the sight of the enemy, being able to hide myself in thickets and among very tall and dense reeds; but this thought could never enter my mind. 'Could I really,' I said to myself, 'abandon our French and leave those good neophytes and those poor catechumens, without giving them the succor of the Church of my of has entrusted to me?' Flight seemed horrible to me. 'It must be,' I said in my heart, 'that my body suffer the fire of earth in order to deliver these poor souls from the flames of hell. It must die a transient death, in order to procure for them an eternal life.' Having reached a decision without great opposition from my mind, I called one of the Iroquois who had remained to guard the prisoners. This man perceived me but hesitated to approach, for fear of some ambush. 'Come,' I said, 'be not afraid. Take me to the Frenchman and the Hurons whom you hold captive.' He advanced, seized me, and placed me in the number of those whom the world calls miserable. Tenderly embracing the Frenchman, I said to him: 'My dear brother, God treats us in a strange manner, but he is the Master and he has done what has seemed best in his sight; he has followed his good pleasure. May his holy name be blessed forever.' This good young man at once made his confession and I gave him absolution. I then approached the Hurons to instruct and baptize them. As more fugitives were being brought in by their pursuers every minute, I heard these too in confession, making Christians of those who had not been baptized."
Wow- what an amazing saint! He knew he could hide in safety but chose to go to the enemy so that by his suffering, his enemies souls would be delivered from hell. I am always in awe by the abundant graces that are outpoured on these saints, who have become martyrs. That in the moments that really count- they act so courageously without hesitation.
But what I thought was even more moving than St. Isacc Jogues risking his own life, was the way he spoke to the Frenchman who was about to die. He reminded him that, yes, God does love us in what seems like a very strange manner, but we are to bless the name of the Lord. St. Isacc knew that, oftentimes, God allows very bad or hard things to happen to those He loves. Look at St. Teresa of Avila- as she was riding in a horse drawn carriage to open a new convent (a.k.a.- doing God's work) her carriage broke a wheel in a big mud hole. St. Teresa said, "Why did you let this happen to me?" and God's words back to her were "Because you are my friend." And St. Teresa was quick in saying, "No wonder You have so few of them!"
It does seem to be a constant in the lives of the saints (God's friends) that their stories are filled with illness, huge trials, surrounded by horribly mean people and in dire circumstances. Why does God treat His closest friends this way? The answer is because when Jesus said, "Pick up your cross and follow me," He was showing us that we too, if we want to be like Him, will have to pick up our own crosses daily to be crucified with Him.
Now, this may all sound horribly scary, and quite so it would be- if we were not showered in the graces that we need to carry these crosses each day by our Blessed Mother. All these saints that faced these very heavy crosses, were not scared and sad, but very joy-filled and had heroic courage and peace. This all seems completely opposite of the way the world sees pain and hardship, but we, as Christians, are asked to see these trails with the eyes of faith- like the Martyrs! We can carry these crosses that we have been given and we can do it with great joy, because we are Christ's closest friends.
Notice, St. Isacc Jogues used the term "transient death" because he knew that this life is only for a very short time. We were not made for this life but for the next! Jesus said that He has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us- so that where He is, so may we be. Do not have fear in the face of whatever "hard things" are in your life. God has equipped you with all the graces and virtues that you need to overcome anything being asked of you! Have faith, because God has faith in you!
These are the words of Our Lady for you to feel encouraged and comforted:
"I am your merciful mother. The merciful mother of all mankind, of all who love me, of those who cry to me, and of those who have confidence in me. Let nothing discourage you, nothing depress you. Do not be afraid of any sickness, anxiety, or pain. Am I not your mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Are you not in the folds of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms?"
~Words of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego, December 9th, 1531
I was reading an excerpt of a letter that St Isacc Jogues wrote reflecting back on his time with the Huron Native Americans before leaving for Quebec. This is what he retells:
"I was watching this disaster...from a place very favorable for concealing me from the sight of the enemy, being able to hide myself in thickets and among very tall and dense reeds; but this thought could never enter my mind. 'Could I really,' I said to myself, 'abandon our French and leave those good neophytes and those poor catechumens, without giving them the succor of the Church of my of has entrusted to me?' Flight seemed horrible to me. 'It must be,' I said in my heart, 'that my body suffer the fire of earth in order to deliver these poor souls from the flames of hell. It must die a transient death, in order to procure for them an eternal life.' Having reached a decision without great opposition from my mind, I called one of the Iroquois who had remained to guard the prisoners. This man perceived me but hesitated to approach, for fear of some ambush. 'Come,' I said, 'be not afraid. Take me to the Frenchman and the Hurons whom you hold captive.' He advanced, seized me, and placed me in the number of those whom the world calls miserable. Tenderly embracing the Frenchman, I said to him: 'My dear brother, God treats us in a strange manner, but he is the Master and he has done what has seemed best in his sight; he has followed his good pleasure. May his holy name be blessed forever.' This good young man at once made his confession and I gave him absolution. I then approached the Hurons to instruct and baptize them. As more fugitives were being brought in by their pursuers every minute, I heard these too in confession, making Christians of those who had not been baptized."
Wow- what an amazing saint! He knew he could hide in safety but chose to go to the enemy so that by his suffering, his enemies souls would be delivered from hell. I am always in awe by the abundant graces that are outpoured on these saints, who have become martyrs. That in the moments that really count- they act so courageously without hesitation.
But what I thought was even more moving than St. Isacc Jogues risking his own life, was the way he spoke to the Frenchman who was about to die. He reminded him that, yes, God does love us in what seems like a very strange manner, but we are to bless the name of the Lord. St. Isacc knew that, oftentimes, God allows very bad or hard things to happen to those He loves. Look at St. Teresa of Avila- as she was riding in a horse drawn carriage to open a new convent (a.k.a.- doing God's work) her carriage broke a wheel in a big mud hole. St. Teresa said, "Why did you let this happen to me?" and God's words back to her were "Because you are my friend." And St. Teresa was quick in saying, "No wonder You have so few of them!"
It does seem to be a constant in the lives of the saints (God's friends) that their stories are filled with illness, huge trials, surrounded by horribly mean people and in dire circumstances. Why does God treat His closest friends this way? The answer is because when Jesus said, "Pick up your cross and follow me," He was showing us that we too, if we want to be like Him, will have to pick up our own crosses daily to be crucified with Him.
Now, this may all sound horribly scary, and quite so it would be- if we were not showered in the graces that we need to carry these crosses each day by our Blessed Mother. All these saints that faced these very heavy crosses, were not scared and sad, but very joy-filled and had heroic courage and peace. This all seems completely opposite of the way the world sees pain and hardship, but we, as Christians, are asked to see these trails with the eyes of faith- like the Martyrs! We can carry these crosses that we have been given and we can do it with great joy, because we are Christ's closest friends.
Notice, St. Isacc Jogues used the term "transient death" because he knew that this life is only for a very short time. We were not made for this life but for the next! Jesus said that He has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us- so that where He is, so may we be. Do not have fear in the face of whatever "hard things" are in your life. God has equipped you with all the graces and virtues that you need to overcome anything being asked of you! Have faith, because God has faith in you!
These are the words of Our Lady for you to feel encouraged and comforted:
"I am your merciful mother. The merciful mother of all mankind, of all who love me, of those who cry to me, and of those who have confidence in me. Let nothing discourage you, nothing depress you. Do not be afraid of any sickness, anxiety, or pain. Am I not your mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Are you not in the folds of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms?"
~Words of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego, December 9th, 1531
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