The Desire for Charity

 

Reflection selection from Thomas Merton by Deacon Steve

The first thing we must do when we recognize the presence of God’s grace in our hearts is to desire more charity. The desire for love is itself a beginning of love, and from the moment we desire more we already have more: and our desire is itself the pledge of even more to come. This is because an efficacious desire to love God makes us turn away from everything that is opposed to God’s will.

It is by desiring to grow in love that we receive the Holy Spirit, and the thirst for more charity is the effect of this more abundant reception. 

The desire for charity is more than a blind hunger of the soul (although in certain circumstances it is very blind and very much of a hunger). It is clear sighted in the sense that the intelligence enlightened by the Holy Spirit turns to the Father and asks for an increase of love in the name of the Son. That is to say that the desire for charity in a mature Christian soul is a lucid, deep, peaceful, active, and supremely fruitful knowledge of the Holy Trinity.

Thomas Merton, “No Man is an Island” p. 180

September 27th – St. Vincent de Paul

- Reflection by Deacon Steve for the Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul, September 27th

Fr. Vincent serving the poor

In the “Life of St. Vincent de Paul” by Henry Bedford, there is a chapter called “The Sufferings of Lorraine” and refers to the year of 1639. While the thirty year war was still raging on Lorraine ended up being ravaged by French invaders amongst many. So bad was the devastation that one author wrote, “The country people, livid and gaunt through famine fought for the very grass, the roots of trees and acorns, and devoured ravenously the most putrid carrion. At last famine brought them to such a state that men killed one another for food.”

The author goes onto note that “Vincent heard that cry and at once responded to that appeal.” He gave all of the money they had in the house, and cut the meals in half and substituted some of the food with much poorer alternatives so as to try and offer more for the cause of the people of Lorraine.

Vincent wrote, “These are times of penance…for God is afflicting His people. To so much we are bound by obligation; but ought we not moreover to retrench something of our daily fare for the relief of others.”

After having exhausted his own resources he then looked to others, friends and contacts. Even these resources were soon used up and he had to turn to others. Soon those with more than ample resources were drawn in, such was the great saint’s appeal. Duchesses and other government officials drew on their wealth. Even Queen Anne of Austria would come forward and contribute greatly to the cause of Lorraine’s people.

Such was the influence of Vincent because of his deep prayer life and his amazing faith and trust in God’s providence. As the author says, “Men of less faith might have shrunk from so gigantic a labour; but it was a characteristic of our Saint to rise with the occasion, and to draw courage from what daunted others.”

Let us continue to pray for one another that our faith and trust in God may continue to deepen so that while the challenges that we face may seem overwhelming at times, we too may draw courage and rise to the occasion. Believe me when I say that I know you all have done it many times already.

God bless.

- Steve

Conference Spiritual Reflection - September 13/21 - by Deacon Steve

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The following reflection is taken from  “The Lessons of St. Francis: How to bring Simplicity and Spirituality into Your Daily Life” by John Michael Talbot.

Francis (of Assisi) found his inspiration in the life of Jesus, whose love for us led him to become one of us by being born into the human race instead of remaining in heaven, aloof from us and all our problems.

Most Christians celebrate the Incarnation of Christ as human, around Christmas time and ignore it for the rest of the year. But for Francis, the Incarnation served as a minute by minute reminder to be deeply involved in the world, loving people at close range instead of from inside the strong, stony walls of a monastery.

Francis understood that the dichotomy between solitude and service is a false one, because everyone needs both. If we don’t spend time alone with God, we become spiritually weak, and our work in the world carries little of lasting value. On the other hand, if we spend all of our time with God and never venture out into the world, we may become spiritually isolated and self-contained. We may be full of wonderful wisdom and divine power, but if we don’t share it with others, who benefits? Certainly not other people, and often, not even ourselves.

Here’s how saints down through the ages have explained it: Contemplation and prayer are like an oasis in a dry desert. Through prayer we store up a huge reservoir of water. Our service is the conduit for delivering the water. But once our reservoir is depleted, we need to return to our oasis so we don’t wind up stranded in the desert without water. This is a picture of the life-giving balance between prayer and service.

Talbot, John Michael, “The Lessons of St. Francis: How to bring Simplicity and Spirituality into Your Daily Life”, p. 188 – 189, New York, Penguin Group, 1997.

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