Mary At the Foot of the Cross

 Author: Lisa Graas, assisted by Grok.

Beneath the shadow of the Cross, she stood, The Mother of our Lord, in silent pain,

Her heart, a sword had pierced, as it was told, By Simeon, in the temple, once again.

The sky grew dark, the earth beneath did quake, As Jesus hung, His sacred body torn,

Mary, in her grief, did not forsake, Her Son, her God, from early morn till morn.

"Oh, my Son, my light, my life," she cried, In whispers soft, her voice a mournful prayer,

"How can I bear this sight of you, who died, To save us all, with love beyond compare?"

Her tears, like holy water, fell to earth, Blending with His blood, the price of sin,

In this moment, sorrow's deepest worth, A testament to love that lies within.

She stood, a statue of maternal love, Her gaze fixed on His face, so pale, so still,

Yet in her heart, she knew, beyond, above, He'd rise, fulfill His Father's holy will.

Oh, Mary, at the Cross, your grace we see, Your strength, your faith, your love, a beacon bright,

Teach us to stand with you in agony, To hold to hope through darkest day and night.

For in your sorrow, Mother of our Lord, We find the way to love, to hope, to trust,

That death is but a door, and not a sword, Through which, with Christ, we rise from death from dust.

The Sacrament of Confession: A Spiritual Path to Healing Depression

In the realm of mental health, particularly when dealing with depression, individuals often seek solace in various forms, from therapy to medication. Within the Catholic tradition, another avenue exists that might not be immediately considered for its mental health benefits: the Sacrament of Confession, also known as Reconciliation or Penance. This sacred act, while primarily spiritual, can offer psychological and emotional support for those grappling with depression. Here's how:

A Venue for Emotional Release

Depression often involves a heavy burden of guilt, shame, or unresolved issues. The act of confessing one's sins or personal struggles in a structured, sacred environment allows for a significant emotional release. This catharsis can be particularly beneficial for those feeling overwhelmed by their inner turmoil. By vocalizing what one might not share elsewhere, individuals can experience relief, akin to lifting a weight off their shoulders, which is often therapeutic in managing depressive symptoms.

The Power of Forgiveness

One of the most profound aspects of Confession is the absolution of sins, where the priest, acting in persona Christi (in the person of Christ), grants forgiveness. For someone suffering from depression, where feelings of unworthiness or self-blame are common, this act of being forgiven can be deeply healing. The belief in divine forgiveness can dismantle the internal narrative of guilt or shame, fostering a sense of renewal and peace, which are vital in combating the despair associated with depression.

Spiritual Healing and Hope

The sacrament is not just about confession but also about receiving grace, which in Catholic theology is a participation in the life of God. This spiritual healing can instill hope, which is often eroded in depression. The reaffirmation of God's love and presence can provide a counterbalance to feelings of hopelessness, offering a spiritual perspective that life has meaning and purpose, even amidst personal darkness.

Community and Belonging

Depression can isolate individuals, making them feel disconnected from others. Confession connects one back to the community through the Church. Knowing that others partake in this sacrament can foster a sense of belonging and shared human experience, combating the loneliness that exacerbates depression. It's a reminder that one is not alone in their struggles.

Guidance and Counsel

During Confession, the priest might offer advice or suggest ways to amend one's life, which can have a practical impact on mental health. This guidance can be particularly valuable if it encourages seeking further help, like professional therapy or support groups, alongside spiritual practices. However, the effectiveness of this advice can depend on the priest's understanding of mental health issues.

Routine and Structure

For those whose depression affects their daily life, the regularity of confession can provide a comforting structure. This routine can help stabilize mood by giving a predictable rhythm to life, aiding in time management and self-reflection, which are often disrupted in depression.

Encouraging Positive Action Through Penance

After confession comes penance — acts of contrition or good deeds. This can be motivating for individuals, encouraging them to engage in positive actions that might lift their spirits and provide a sense of accomplishment, which is often lacking in depression.

Important Considerations

• Holistic Approach: While Confession can be immensely helpful, it's not a standalone solution for depression. It should be part of a broader treatment plan that might include therapy, medication, or other forms of support.
• Priest's Role: Not all priests are trained in mental health counseling, so the quality of the experience can vary. It's beneficial if priests are aware of mental health issues and can direct individuals to professional help when needed.
• Personal Belief: The benefits of Confession can be highly dependent on one's faith and belief in its spiritual efficacy. For those less connected to their faith, the sacrament might not offer the same level of comfort.

In conclusion, the Sacrament of Confession can play a supportive role in managing depression by offering emotional release, forgiveness, spiritual healing, community connection, guidance, and a structured approach to life. However, it's crucial to complement this spiritual practice with professional mental health care for a comprehensive approach to recovery. For those within the Catholic faith, this sacrament might not just be a ritual but a pathway to psychological and emotional rejuvenation.

Offering Up My Sufferings

 It's been a rough couple of days for me due to depression. Thank God I still have my faith. I am offering up my sufferings for the intentions of the Passionist Nuns. It brings value to my pain which helps me to tolerate it.

There is physical pain, too. It is difficult for me to rise from a seated position and to walk once I get up. I am thanking God that I can participate in His Cross, that graces may flow.

"The more deeply the cross penetrates, the better; the more deprived of consolation that your suffering is, the purer it will be; the more creatures oppose us, the more closely shall we be united to God." 

- St. Paul of the Cross

Sunday Catholic Mass Today | Daily TV Mass, Sunday July 21, 2024

 

Dealing With Stage Four Neuroendocrine Cancer and Advanced Fibrosis

 

Image: Wikipedia - Philippe de Champaigne's Vanitas (c. 1671) is reduced to three essentials: Life, Death, and Time

Dear Readers,

Since my last post here something really big has happened. As you already know, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroendocrine Cancer. You can learn more about Neuroendocrine Cancer here. So far, the cancer is in a lymph node between my lungs, my bones (but not the marrow), and most notably in my liver. As it turns out, I recently learned that I also have advanced fibrosis of the liver which is one step down from cirrhosis. The fibrosis, according to my oncologist, "can be as life-limiting as the cancer." In short, it's not good news at all.

Right now, I don't really know what my prognosis is. It is possible that I could live for two years or live a long life depending on the progress of the disease. I have been on chemo for 18 months and am taking a break from it now. The cancer has remained "stable." That is, neither growing nor shrinking. We are monitoring it with a CT scan every three months. Right now, the biggest concern is the fibrosis and I hope to get in to see a GI specialist soon. I understand that the wait for an appointment can be months long.

In the meantime, I ask for your prayers. I have committed, thanks to the suggestion of the Passionist Nuns, to pray the Surrender Novena. You can find it here. I am leaving everything in the hands of Jesus and I am offering all of my sufferings for the intentions of the Passionist Nuns.

So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom. - Psalm 90:12

Going Through It

 Dear Readers,

I'm sorry I've once again been away for a while. It's because I'm going through a serious bout of depression. It's all I can do to keep Pierced Hearts updated.

See Today's Readings here.

God bless you all.

With Love in Christ,

Lisa

June 10 - Today's Readings: Saturday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

 

The Angel Raphael refuses wages from Tobit and Tobias.

In today's readings, we find the Angel Raphael refusing wages from Tobit and Tobias. Raphael says to them that they need to give alms for expiation of sins. He then reveals himself to be an angel of God.

In the Gospel, Jesus points to the widow who has given all she has in comparison to the rich who have given much but not enough of what they have. This is also known as the story of "The Widow's Mite." 

He sat down opposite the treasury
and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
"Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood."

How many of us are willing to give all that we have to the Church? It must take great faith to do such as this. There is an article today at The Federalist about a family who is sacrificing their livelihood for the sake of living a Godly life in the face of great persecution. Please pray for the McKnight Family.

As is our tradition, enthrone the Sacred Heart in your home this month, and place your family under the protection of the furnace of Christ's most merciful love.

God bless you all.

June 9: Today's Readings - Friday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

 

St. Ephrem of Syria, Doctor of the Church

St. Ephrem of Syria, pray for us. Today is his day on the calendar.

Read today's readings here.

I am very weak today and unable to offer any commentary on the blog. I'll be lying down a lot. Thanks for prayers.

June 8: Memorial of Our Lady of Sunday and Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

 

Our Lady of Sunday

Today, June 8, is the Memorial of Our Lady of Sunday. From the Patron Saints Index, we read: 

An apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Auguste Arnaud on 8 June 1873 and 8 July 1873. Arnaud was married, the father of two, and a winemaker who regularly skipped Sunday Mass to work his vineyards. Our Lady appeared to him in the vineyard on 8 June and reminded him “You must not work on Sundays.” In honour of this blessing, Arnaud placed a cross and a statue of Mary at the site in the field. On 8 July Our Lady appeared again, this time to both Auguste and his neighbors who had gathered there, and told them, “You must never work on Sunday! Blessed are those who believe.”

A very brief but efficacious message this is! Because of the wide variety of Mass times, on both Saturday nights (which fulfills the Sunday obligation) and Sunday mornings, it is very rare that someone has to skip their Sunday Mass obligation to go to work. What does the catechism say about working on Sundays? Let's take a look.

2185 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord's Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body. Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.

It seems very simple. There are times when an employer requires someone to work both Saturday night and Sunday morning, and one is legitimately excused from their Sunday obligation in these cases, but it is still our duty to do everything possible to attend our Sunday Mass obligation. The Church even calls on us to work with our legislature to ensure that Sundays and Holy Days are considered to be holidays. 

In today's readings, we continue in the Book of Tobit to learn about God's provision of a husband for Sarah. The Angel Raphael brings Tobiah, son of Tobit, to marry Sarah whose seven previous husbands died before the marriage could be consummated. Yesterday, we learned that St. Raphael got rid of the demon which had killed those men. Today, both Tobiah and Sarah kneel in prayer to God before going to bed, and thus the marriage is blessed from its beginning. What a wonderful example for newly married couples.

In today's Gospel, we learn the two greatest commandments:

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
"Which is the first of all the commandments?"
Jesus replied, "The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these."

Indeed, whether it is in arranging our work schedule so that we can worship God for our Sunday Mass obligation, or putting off the joys of the honeymoon to tell God that you marry not for lust but to fulfill God's will for man and woman, we should always seek to put God first in our lives.

As the Psalm today says:

Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Amen.

Today's Readings: Wednesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

St. Anthony Mary Gianelli, pray for us.

There is so much that can be said today about today's readings but I will try to be as brief as possible. 

Yesterday, birds pooped in Tobit's eyes causing him to go blind. Today, he proclaims that all his punishments from God are just but he cannot bear to live anymore, so he asks God to let him die. 

"Lord, command me to be delivered from such anguish;

let me go to the everlasting abode;

Lord, refuse me not.

For it is better for me to die

than to endure so much misery in life,

and to hear these insults!"

At the same time, Raguel's daughter Sarah was enduring harsh insults, as well, and was being attacked by a demon. She, too, proclaimed that God's punishments are just and asks God to let her die. As a great sign of His love for us, God sends the Angel Raphael to heal Tobit's eyesight and to drive the demon from Sarah.

There is so much that can be learned from this alone.

I was having a conversation with my protestant brother the other day about redemptive suffering. That is, our sufferings have value in God's eyes. This is true because He loves us so much. All of humanity's sufferings are just punishments from God, whether for our own sins or because of the sins of others. God does not allow suffering without just cause because He is all-just. Tobit and Sarah both acknowledged that their sufferings were just, not necessarily because of their own sins but also because of the sins of their people. We are all connected to each other as members of humanity. 

In like manner, we are all connected to Christ because He became a member of humanity. He took all of our sufferings onto Himself for all of our sins. He was able to do this because of His spiritual connection to us in His humanity and in His Divinity. But we still suffer. He did not take our sufferings away. Instead, He made them redemptive, provided that we offer up our sufferings in union with His on the Cross.

Paul said, 

"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church."

The only thing that is lacking in Christ's sufferings is our participation in them.

In today's Psalm we learn:

No one who waits for you shall be put to shame;

those shall be put to shame who heedlessly break faith.

Job was rewarded for his faith. So we shall be rewarded when we suffer in faith. God sends His graces to console us as we console Christ on the Cross.

The same principle holds true for the resurrection of our bodies. In the Gospel, Jesus says:

He is not God of the dead but of the living.

In like manner, God is not a God of suffering but of grace among the living.

Today's saint is St. Anthony Mary Gianelli.

Founder of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Garden 1829, a women‘s teaching order that also worked with the sick, and which continues its work today in Europe, the United States, and Asia. Bishop of Bobbio, Italy in 1837. 

There is a great prayer to him for our bishops that I would like to share with you.

 Saint Anthony Gianelli, who through your work have shown such great love to all, intercede for the bishops of the world and especially my bishop {name of your bishop}. Help our bishops to spread the Gospel to all men so that through them all men may find the way to salvation. I ask you to intercede on my behalf so that through your powerful intercession I may obtain the grace that I so ardently desire {name your intention}. Intercede for me and for all those who are dear to me peace of mind, perseverance in good works and a holy death. Amen. –

It is so important for us to pray for our bishops. It is doubly important for us to offer up our sufferings for them and for others in need of graces.

May the Lord be with you today.