Reparation Thoughts
….By His Wounds we are healed
Volume XXIII, Number 8
Dear Donnès of Reparation, Family and Friends,
A gentleman who told me he was happy because he had everything he needed. He lived on a spacious property outside the city boundaries and had a lovely home, animals, a well, a garden and all the equipment needed to maintain his spacious domain. He was self-sufficient. It was easy to commend him on all his ‘natural’ blessings and his innovation putting it all together. It had consumed years of his life. When I asked him about his faith connection, he immediately responded: “I used to be a Catholic; was brought up in a Catholic family; taught in Catholic schools; but no longer needed any of that”. Inquiring what caused him to move away from this important entity of his life he simply said: “I didn’t need it. I could get everything I wanted on my own.” I told him that made me very sad. He was finished listening.
A human person is made up of mind, body and spirit. We cannot separate them. They are completely integrated, and each one supports the other; one feeds upon the other; one completes the other and true life is dependent upon all of them. Without this total integration, we are allowing an important facet of our being to starve.
Think about how humans eat. They take one vegetable for the vitamins it provides. Another is chosen for its iron content. Another provides potassium. Another gives Vitamin A. Leafy greens help memory. We spend time reading and exercising to help the mind stay sharp and clear. Even our relaxing hours include puzzles to keep the mind sharp. We watch sight, hearing, movement for the same reason.
Why then, would we chance starving our soul, knowing that when the end comes, the mind and body will die but the soul has an eternal destination dependent upon our use of all our being. Through His Gifts, God has provided everything we need to keep our soul alive, vibrant and healthy. His Word and Sacraments are sources of living nourishment and grace for the soul. We are made whole through Baptism. We are healed, justified, granted pardon, given hope and chance for mercy through Confession. We are filled with the Fire of Divine Love, Jesus, Himself in the Eucharist. Strength for a lifetime of faithfulness is given through the Sacraments of Confirmation and Marriage. Healing of body and soul are granted in the Sacrament of the Anointing. Through Ordination, His Word is kept alive and spread for all to hear. What more could we ask? God even gave us a free will to choose all goodness.
As we journey through this month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and enter the month dedicated to His Most Precious Blood, may we feed upon all that He offers us. It is ours for the taking. He waits for us to say “Yes, Lord! I wish to love You with all my being. Help my weakness and strengthen me to reach high toward that eternal goal which is loving You forever!”
Mother Mary of the Angels, SR
June 2024
