The Healing We Need

Today's Gospel reading (Lk 17:11-19) features the story of the 10 lepers who were healed by Jesus and the one that came back to say "Thank you."

In reflecting on this story in today's Living Faith, Sr. Kathryn J. Hermes, author of Holding on to Hope: The Journey Beyond Darkness, writes

I have always received healing when I have cried out to Jesus, but never quite in the way I expected. God isn't one to follow my instructions (thank goodness). He always has a better idea. The critical point is to realize I have been healed and be attentive enough to discover what God is doing to heal me his way. God gives me so much more than I initially ask for.

Michelle Buckman on Writing "Rachel's Contrition"

I recently read and reviewed Rachel's Contrition by Michelle Buckman.

It is a powerful novel that I recommend whole-heartedly. On Sarah Reinhard's blog today, Buckman gives a very interesting interview on how the novel came to be and its road to publication. Check it out here: Writing Rachel's Contrition

Saint Therese Paper Dolls

I saw these advertised in the National Catholic Register and I just had to post about them. I loved paper dolls when I was a girl and I know I would have loved these: St. Therese and Her Family Paper Dolls. They also have St. Joan of Arc Paper Dolls.

More from "The Confessions of St. Augustine"

I'm slowly making my way through The Confessions of St. Augustine. It is a book best taken in small doses and pondered.

Here are two more quotes:

I will love Thee, O Lord, and thank thee and confess unto Thy name, because you have forgiven me these great sins and these evil doings of mine. To your grace I owe it, and to your mercy, that you have melted away my sins like ice. And to your grace too I owe the not doing of whatever evil I have not done. For what evil might I not have done, I who loved crime simply for crime's sake? Yes, I own it: all these evils have been forgiven me - both those which I committed of my own will and those which, because of your guidance, I did not commit.

My mother, your faithful servant, was weeping for me to you, weeping more than mothers weep for the bodily deaths of their sons, For she, by that faith and spirit which she had from you, saw the death in which I lay, and you, Lord, heard her prayer. . . .My mother asked this bishop to be so kind as to discuss things with me, to expose my mistakes, to unteach me what was bad, and to teach me what was good; for he used to do this, if he found suitable people for his instruction. However, he refused to do so in my case, and very sensibly too, as I realized later. . . .She kept on begging and praying him, weeping many tears, that he would see me and discuss matters with me. In the end he became somewhat annoyed and said, "Now go away and leave me. As you live, it is impossible that the son of these tears should perish."

Coping with the Darkness

It is that time of year again. We have turned the clocks back and returned to standard time. In my home state of Massachusetts, it now gets dark at 5 p.m. By the time of the winter solstice, it will be getting dark at 4 p.m. For those of us who suffer from seasonal affective disorder, it is time to get ready for the darkness – not only the actual extended night outside, but the emotional interior darkness that goes along with it.

Depression is hard to describe to someone who has never experienced it. Those who have been blessed to have escaped this particular affliction often say things like “Think positive,” or “Snap out of it,” or “Choosing to be depressed in a sin because you have lost your trust in God.” They mean well, but they truly do not understand.

When someone is depressed, nothing has much meaning. There is little or no hope. You feel worthless and that life is not worth living. The darkness descends upon you and it feels as if there is no escape. You either want to sleep all the time or have difficulty sleeping.

Depression is not a choice. While it can be brought on by a traumatic event, just as often it is brought on by a chemical imbalance in the body. Some people are just naturally prone to it. Especially in women, hormonal shifts due to monthly cycles or pregnancy can be brutal. Lack of sleep has an impact. Lack of natural light can also be a huge factor.

Depression can hit suddenly. I have compared it to being hit over the head by a two by four. I can be fine one day and wake up the next feeling nothing but despair. Perhaps the hardest part is not knowing when the darkness will lift.

How then does one cope? I am not a mental health professional. These suggestions come only from my personal experience of suffering from depression for nearly twenty-five years, but I hope that they may be of help. Also, please note that children can suffer from depression as well. If your child is having difficulty, please do not ignore their symptoms.

1) Seek professional help – there is no shame in asking for help. Some cases of depression are so severe that they require medication. If you are at risk of harming yourself or someone else, seek immediate care. Even with milder cases, simply having someone to talk with on a regular basis can be a tremendous help.

2) Keep busy – Keeping your mind occupied with other things helps keep the negative self-talk at bay. Accomplishing a given task can also help alleviate the feelings of worthlessness, at least for a while.

3) Take care of yourself, body and soul – eat well, exercise, and pray. These three things can go a long way in maintaining emotional equilibrium.

4) Invest in some full spectrum light bulbs – I always thought one needed a light box to get any benefit from light therapy, but they are costly so I resisted the idea. Last year I discovered that full spectrum light bulbs can help achieve similar results. These light bulbs are available at department or hardware stores and cost only a bit more than regular bulbs. They come in various styles and can be used in most light fixtures. They made a huge difference!

5) Know that this, too, will pass – It doesn’t seem like it when you are going through it, but the darkness will end. The light will come again. Keep believing in that fact.

Revisiting "The Confessions of St. Augustine"

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine asked me about The Confessions of St. Augustine . I couldn't recall much. After all, it has been nearly 15 years since I last spent time with this classic. So, I am rereading it. I've wanted to get into reading some of the "Great Books" anyway, and this one most definitely qualifies. I thought I'd share some quotes with you as I make my way through.

"Yet still man, this small portion of creation, wants to praise you. You stimulate him to take pleasure in praising you, because you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they can find peace in you."

"Oh that I might find my rest and peace in you! Oh, that you would come into my heart and so inebriate it that I would forget my own evils and embrace my one and only good, which is you! What are you to me? Have mercy on me that I may speak. What am I to you, that you should demand to be loved by me? That you should be angry with me if I fail to love you, and should threaten me with the utmost misery? And not to love you, is not this in itself misery enough?"

Prayer for Vocations

Holy and provident Father, You are the Lord of the vineyard and the harvest and You give each a just reward for their work. In your design of love You call men and women to work with You for the salvation of the world. We thank You for Jesus Christ, your living word, who has redeemed us from our sins and is among us to assist us in our poverty. Guide the flock to which You have promised possession of the kingdom. Send new workers into your harvest and set in the hearts of pastors faithfulness to your plan of salvation, perseverance in their vocation and holiness of life.

Christ Jesus, who on the shores of the Sea of Galilee called the Apostles and made them the foundation of the Church and bearers of your Gospel, in our day, sustain your people on its journey. Give courage to those whom You call to follow You in the priesthood and the consecrated life, so that they may enrich God's field with wisdom of your Word. Make them docile instruments of your love in everyday service of their brothers and sisters.

Spirit of holiness, who pour out your gifts on all believers and, especially, on those called to be Christ's ministers, help young people to discover the beauty of the divine call. Teach them the true way of prayer, which is nourished by the Word of God. Help them to read the signs of the times, so as to be faithful interpreters of your Gospel and bearers of salvation.

Mary, Virgin who listened and Virgin of the Word of God made flesh in your womb, help us to be open to the Word of the Lord, so that, having been welcomed and meditated upon, it may grow in our hearts. Help us to live like You the beatitudes of believers and to dedicate ourselves with unceasing charity to evangelizing all those who seek your Son. Grant that we may serve every person, becoming servants of the Word we have heard, so that remaining faithful to it we may find our happiness in living it.

- Pope John Paul II