One week post life as a Dumb Ox Missionary Intern has proven many challenges, yet also innumerable graces.
I was talking with my Dad a day or so after I got back and he posed this question: "What are the two takeaways from your time as a missionary?" I thought for a moment, but the answer was clear:
1. Prayer fuels everything.
2. You're only as strong as your community.
One of the first things I learned during our formation week in the beautiful Natchez, Mississippi was from the papal encyclical Redemptoris Missio (Mission of the Redeemer) where we learned that we are constantly called to be missionaries. The seasons of what each mission look like are simply different in how they are physically carried out, but all possess the same cornerstone as the last: prayer and community.
This new season of mission for me is teaching me a valuable lesson in understanding the importance, and the gravity, of now choosing my faith life, prayer life and living out the sacraments in a newfound way. Over my time as a missionary we made commitments to attend daily mass, immerse ourselves in the sacraments, complete a daily holy hour and recite night prayer. It was something that kept us so centralized in our mission because everything revolved around prayer and when we would engage in it together. Often, on free weekends, the first thing that was mentioned was where we were going to pray and go to Mass--scheduling everything around our prayer time instead of the other way around which we often, especially myself, are guilty of. This significantly fuels my desire to stay in that state of grace now, post that mission, but presently in another mission.
The Lord has called me back to Baton Rouge where I live in a beautiful home with two gracious and holy women, Katelyn and Alexis. I was called back to working with children at the YMCA where I have been for some time now. It has also brought answers to prayers as I will have the privilege of being a Nanny for two wonderfully kind boys. The Lord's call has brought me back to a familiar place, into a fairly routine life, so that I may be sanctified through this stage of my new mission.
Propped up on a bookshelf in our den is a canvas that reads, "give us this day our daily bread." Pondering on this phrase of a prayer that is insanely familiar to us all, it has a new meaning for me. One of Dumb Ox's faithful servants and employees, Adam Fuselier, has encouraged each of the missionaries to persevere through something he refers to as the 'spirit of monotony.' With our good and gracious Lord, we are always moving in one direction or another in terms of our relationship with Him. We are either moving closer to Him or falling farther behind with each day that passes; one thing's for sure is that we are never stagnant, or staying still. But sometimes it can feel like we are wading through this seemingly never-ending abyss of complacency toward prayer, immunity towards the Lord's grace or boredom with the sacraments that in fact give us life.
I think it's crucial to realize that the Lord is never simply staying still, that he is always fighting for us. (Exodus 14:14) Something that never ceases to amaze me is how incredibly intentional our Father is. He ceaselessly intricately weaves different phrases, images, songs, people and movements in our heart just so we may lift our eyes to His gaze.
This past week, post mission life, has been trying. The routine and the spirit of monotony sometimes make it so easy to simply forget night prayer or to bargain with your daily commitments how much prayer you really 'have time for.' Something I have realized this week is that when my prayer life suffers budget cuts, my physical nature is not as gentle, serene or even as easily captivated by God's mercy and my spiritual life seems to wither away through my lack of ability to adequately nourish it.
I'd like to encourage each of you to begin this novena that my missionary brothers and sisters are partaking in for the grace to transition from one season of mission to another. This novena is truly wonderful and I can attest to the grace running through my heart and we are only on Day 6! (Padre Pio prayed this novena often for those who asked for his prayers.) If you would like to join us in this prayer imploring grace from the Sacred Heart of Jesus, please click here!
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of attending a vocational celebration and going away party for a dear friend, Sharon, who is boldly answering the call and entering the Sisters of Life in New York! On the way to her celebration one of my missionary brothers, Matthew, turned to me in the car and simply said, "Let's be saints. Lets just do it. You want to do it?"
I think we all sincerely desire to be saints but there is at least a small part of us that doesn't think we are holy enough or pray enough or save enough or are selfless enough to be canonized.
I would like to rebuke that lie and challenge us all to start living for sainthood today.
Let's just do it.
Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song. --JP2
St. Thomas Aquinas, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Joseph and Pope Saint John Paul II
PRAY FOR US!
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