For "Star Wars" fans, eager anticipation preceded the seventh film which continues the sci-fi epic of good versus evil, "The Force Awakens." Unfortunately, we see this real battle on the world stage daily, and it is no Hollywood fantasy. Unlike the Jedis, we have no ethereal "force" to tap into for extra support. Or do we?
Throughout the centuries we have been given many devotional prayers, such as the rosary, revealed to St. Dominic by the Virgin Mary in 1208. On Sept. 12, 1213, after reciting the rosary, massively outmatched Christian knights won a spectacular victory against the Cathars in the Battle of Muret in southern France. They attributed the miraculous outcome to the intercessory power of the rosary. Again centuries later, on Oct. 7, 1571, vastly outnumbered Christians defeated the impressive Ottoman navy at Lepanto, off Greece. Again, the rosary was credited as instrumental. Many historians agree this outcome preserved European civilization and was perhaps the greatest naval battle ever fought, and the Church still celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on Oct. 7 in memory of this victory.
I became more interested in devotional prayer after I survived a plane crash on the Hudson River in 2009, on U.S. Airways Flight 1549. When the captain told us to "brace for impact," I said mental goodbyes to my family and then my only solace became contemplating the Divine Mercy image. I had rekindled this devotion to the Divine Mercy, along with the rosary, in my New Year's resolutions that year. My faith became paramount before we hit the icy waters, and it gave me peace amid dread and fear. We were very fortunate to have no fatalities, and the crash was dubbed the "Miracle on the Hudson."
One of the aspects of devotional prayer that I have found intriguing are the extraordinary promises attached for those who pray with heartfelt dedication, such as the 15 promises of the rosary, including one against misfortune; the 12 promises of the Sacred Heart as revealed to St. Margaret Mary Alocoque, including peace in the home, and those of forgiveness of the Divine Mercy given to St. Faustina. There are others even less well known, such as the promises of the Way of the Cross revealed to Brother Estanislao, in which Jesus promised to be "a protective shield"; those of the Holy Face of Jesus given to Sister Mary of St. Peter, for preservation of the faith, and the Green Scapular promises revealed to Sister Justine Bisqueyburu, for health and conversion. Information about these and others can be found easily on the internet.
Jesus said: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you." If we take our faith seriously, we know we have a small, but critical, part to play in our salvation. We are called to a loving, trusting relationship with God, and devotional prayers offer an easy way to foster these sentiments. It takes a degree of humility to realize our need for mercy. To believe in the power of prayer and, further, to believe in the promises attached to certain devotional prayers, requires a bit more: a simple, childlike faith. In Scripture, Jesus said there is something key about being childlike, as did great saints like St. Therese of Lisieux.
Beyond gifts of grace and blessings, we engage in something profound through prayer: we oppose evil directly. It was the "secret" of the saints. Padre Pio even called the rosary "the weapon." Lest we get discouraged and wonder what we can do to counter great evils in the world, we can take up devotional prayer with faith, humility and courage. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers...against spiritual wickedness..." (Eph 6:12). Long ago, no doubt the armies of Jericho thought absurd the methodical marching of the Israelites around the walls of their city, but amid blasting horns on the seventh day the walls indeed fell. A biblical foreshadowing of modern day devotional prayer? May this Jubilee Year of Mercy inspire us to seek out the mercy and power of these treasured devotions, and may the force (of prayer) be with you, always.
Fred Berretta is a member of St. Matthew Church in Charlotte.
Pope Francis has a "burning desire" during this special Jubilee Year of Mercy. He wants us to reflect on and practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy so that we may "enter more deeply into the heart of the Gospel where the poor have a special experience of God's mercy."
Many of us memorized the works of mercy as children, but a little review might help us to "rediscover" them as this jubilee year gets underway. The corporal works are feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger, healing the sick, visiting the imprisoned and burying the dead. The spiritual works of mercy are counseling the doubtful, instructing the ignorant, admonishing sinners, comforting the afflicted, forgiving offenses, bearing patiently with those who do us ill and praying for the living and the dead.
Let's take a look at how we can practice the first two corporal works of mercy toward the elderly, both on a material and spiritual level. We'll begin with our bodily needs.
Many people on fixed incomes subsist on foods that are less than ideal from a nutritional standpoint. Fast foods and other processed items are generally cheaper than wholesome fresh food, but they are also lower in nutrients and higher in unhealthy ingredients such as sugar, fat and sodium. This is not good for seniors.
The elderly may also experience mobility issues or lack the transportation needed to get out shopping on a regular basis, so it's much harder for them to obtain fresh foods. Here are a few ways we can practice mercy by helping to feed and give drink to the elderly:
- Take your elderly loved one or neighbor grocery shopping with you. If that is not possible, offer to shop for them on a regular basis.
- Gift the elderly with nutritious, home-cooked meals.
- Besides delivering meals to them, take the time to dine with your elderly neighbor or relative at home, or take them to their favorite restaurant from time to time. Many widows and widowers lack the motivation to cook for themselves when they live alone. Having a dinner companion on a regular basis could both improve their health and lift their spirits (and yours as well).
- Help a senior sign up for Meals on Wheels or access other similar resources.
- Become a Meals on Wheels volunteer.
- If your loved one is hospitalized, try to be present at mealtime whenever possible to ensure that they receive proper nutrition.
- If your loved one resides in a long-term care facility, bring favorite treats or nutritional supplements to stimulate their appetite. The care team can give you recommendations.
- Ask your elderly loved one to share their recipes or expertise for making their favorite holiday or ethnic specialties. Besides nourishing them, this will celebrate family traditions, honor their heritage and experience and create new memories. Sharing in this way could be even more enriching for you than for them.
These are just a few of the ways we can practice mercy by feeding the elderly. But as Christ said, no one lives on bread alone. Only Jesus can satisfy our ultimate hunger, since He is the Bread of Life. Just as it is often difficult for the elderly to get out grocery shopping, they may also be unable to get to church to satisfy their spiritual hunger. An important way of feeding our older friends and relatives is to ensure that they are able to get to weekly or even daily Mass. If they are housebound, make sure someone in the parish brings them Holy Communion, or take responsibility for this yourself; it's a beautiful ministry.
Whether we bring an older person a pot of soup, a batch of homemade cookies, a bowl of fresh fruit or Holy Communion, we also bring them the warmth of our presence, our friendship and our solidarity. At the same time we encounter Jesus Christ Himself, who will one day say to us, "When I was hungry you gave me to eat; when I was thirsty you gave me to drink. Come to the banquet in my Kingdom of Love!"
Sister Constance Veit is the communications director for the Little Sisters of the Poor in the United States.