Finding fulfillment.

One of the most profound questions I’ve ever been asked was, “Are you fulfilled?”

‘Am I fulfilled?’ I thought to myself. I stammered in trying to answer it. What does that even mean?

Fulfillment is the achievement of something desired, promised, or predicted. To be fulfilled is to be happy or satisfied because of fully developing one’s abilities or character. But those are dictionary definitions for the concept. We need to personalize fulfillment. So let’s do that: Our work, our families, our relationships with others… all of these help us to feel fulfilled. And at the root of all of these things is one thing: Love.

You’ve probably heard the complaint that ‘we’ throw around the word love too freely in modern society. We love people, we love God, we love French fries … we ‘love’ everything. So how do we identify the type of love we should have for God and our neighbor from the love we have for everything else?

C.S. Lewis describes four different types of love from a Christian and philosophical perspective using Greek words for affection, friendship, being in love, and charity in his book The Four Loves. Friendship and charity are the two I wish to reflect on here.

Friendship is a strong bond between people who usually share common values, interests, or activities. It isn’t necessarily necessary, and it is the least natural of the loves, according to Lewis, because we freely choose it. We find people and choose whether to keep them in our lives or not. True friendship is hard to find, especially in a society dominated by technology and individuality. In a section of the sixth chapter of Sirach, we get a description of what true friendship looks like. This selection reminds us of our humanity and that sometimes people we choose as friends are only there when it suits them and can turn against us in times of trouble or if they can gain from the situation. Friendships sometimes even get turbulent and cause us a lot of pain. However, “faithful friends are a sturdy shelter; whoever finds one finds a treasure. Faithful friends are beyond price, no amount can balance their worth. Faithful friends are life-saving medicine; those who fear God will find them. Those who fear the Lord enjoy stable friendship, for as they are, so will their neighbors be” (Sirach 6: 14-17).

As Catholics, we have the responsibility to live morally upright lives. We should strive to be prudent, patient, and humble while we live justly. Moreover, the ‘fear of the Lord’ mentioned in Sirach is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit imparted to us at our baptism and given fully at our confirmation, which enables us to try to avoid sin and attachment to created things out of respect for and love of God. Much of our lives are lived through modeling behaviors and social comparisons. So, it follows that if we are prudent, patient, humble, and filled with fear of the Lord (sometimes called wonder and awe), then those we surround ourselves will also be those things, ‘for as [we] are, so will [our] neighbors be.’

Charity is set apart because it is described as unconditional, ‘God’ love, or agape. Charity is a self-sacrificing type of love. Lewis calls it the greatest of the loves, and it is one that we must constantly work at to achieve because of our humanity. It doesn’t just come to us easily or very naturally. Charity is also one of the theological virtues, along with faith and hope. Charity should exist regardless of what is happening – it should be a constant in our changing world. But we so often see that it is not. And sometimes neither are faith and hope. These are the virtues that are not fully accessible to us without assistance from God. Thomas Aquinas suggests that these virtues “have God for their object…they are infused into our souls by God alone [and]… we come to know them only by Divine revelation in the Sacred Scriptures.”

In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul urges us to “owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another” (Romans 13: 8). In looking at the Greek translation of this reading, we find that St. Paul isn’t referring to the French fry-love when he urges us to love one another. Indeed, it is the agape love that we are called to have for our neighbor. So how do achieve it?

First, we must constantly call upon the Lord to have him strengthen us in faith, hope, and charity. Daily. Next, we should surround ourselves with faithful friends, because through their example we should be able to form stable relationships that will lead us to the kind of love God wants us to have – something that is real, pure, genuine, and better than French fries. The great reward that St. Paul reveals to us is that when we achieve that love, we also find a sense of fulfillment, “…for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13: 8)

So am I fulfilled? Yes, and I’m working on it every day.

---

God calls us to be counter-cultural.

In the Old Testament, we hear the prophet Jeremiah lamenting as he struggles with the Lord’s call (Jeremiah 20: 7). We know all too well of the mockery Jeremiah must have faced as he preached to a people who were worshiping other idols before God. Today, some of the things people tend to put before God are money, drugs and alcohol, and relationships, among other things. But if our souls thirst for God (Psalm 63), we can take this mockery.

We know that it is certainly not an easy life God calls us to – to follow Him. In fact, St. Paul tells us we are to make ourselves a “living sacrifice” (Romans 12: 1). He goes on to urge us not to conform to this age but to be transformed so that we may truly discern the will of God in our lives (Romans 12: 2).

But, the discernment is not just going to happen in the hour we devote to attending Mass on the weekend. It’s not even a day-long or weekend long retreat. This type of discernment requires a daily commitment – to see God in all we do, in our work, and in every person we encounter, those we like and especially those who annoy us. That’s what sacrifice is all about though – being uncomfortable but praying for grace, growth, and wisdom through the discomfort.

By doing this, we might also live up to Christ’s suggestion that everyone who wishes to follow Him must deny themselves and take up their cross in order to do so (Matthew 16: 24). He made the ultimate sacrifice on the cross for our salvation, so we must now strive to follow His lead. Every day.

How can we do this? Each person’s call is different, so there is no set formula. We can start by beginning and ending each day in prayer – offering thanks for the day, asking for help in our difficulties and struggles, and praising God for His beautiful creation. Even though the world seems to be a scary and depressing place some days – it’s still part of God’s creation as are each and every one of us who live in it. We can also try to carve out time for God by receiving the sacraments frequently. Attending Daily Mass and frequenting the sacrament of reconciliation are just some ways we can do this. We can also devote some time to visit Him in Adoration or even meet up with friends just to share in fellowship.

Here the Athens Catholic Community, in addition to our weekend Mass schedule, we have:

• Daily Mass: Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:30PM at Christ the King, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:15AM at St. Paul, Wednesdays at Noon and Thursdays at 6:30PM at Sacred Heart in Pomeroy, and Fridays at 12:15PM at Christ the King
• Confession: Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-5:25PM at Christ the King; Saturdays at 4PM at Christ the King and 4:45PM at Sacred Heart in Pomeroy; Sundays at 8:45AM at Sacred Heart in Pomeroy and 5PM at Christ the King
• Adoration: Every Thursday from 9AM-9PM in the Holy Family Center Chapel at Christ the King and on the third Sunday from 12-4PM at Sacred Heart in Pomeroy
• Fellowship Groups: OU Catholics for college students, Athens Catholic Young Adults for those age 22-30, Athens Catholic Teens for high school students, the St. Francis Society for men and women over 50, Catholic Women’s Club for all women in the parish, Catholic Ladies of Columbia, study groups and more…

On the weekend of September 9-10, parishioners will have the opportunity to sign-up for various ministry groups and activities in our community. All should help us to grow in faith! Whatever we do – we must always remember that God is always with us – it’s not just the time we consciously give Him, but an always kind of thing.

---

Saint Stalkers
by Mary Catherine Kennedy
Athens Catholic Social Media Coordinator/Webmaster

Have you ever had a saint stalker? A member of the recognized communion of saints who just keeps popping up in your life? You probably have -- you just might not have noticed it. I think I’ve had a few saint stalkers in my day, but the one who is currently trying to get my attention and help save my soul is none other than St. Therese of Lisieux. She’s been hard at work with me for nearly 4 years now. Yes, you read that correctly: Four. Long. Years.

When did I first realize that St. Therese was saint stalking me? It’s been a more recent revelation to me, honestly. I’ve had the notion of saints stalking around in the past – in fact, I think one of my first true saint stalkers was St. Francis de Sales. I’d read some things by him… when I would look up inspirational quotes, he would appear… Fr. Mark gave out a de Sales quote at an ACT meeting he held with the kids when I was youth minister… the list goes on. So, noticing these types of repetitive instances is important to realizing one of the saints is trying to get your attention.

The realization that St. Therese was lurking in the shadows set in for me, however, a few weeks ago. Having moved to Maryland for a new job, I’ve been trying to get into a routine of life that makes me comfortable – and it certainly hasn’t been easy. At the end of the academic year, I was able to do some traveling and went to Schenectady, NY with my family to visit my aunts in my dad’s hometown.
On our visit, we took my niece and nephew to Central Park – a giant park in the middle of Schenectady where my brother and I spent our childhood summers playing on the outer space themed play structures. Nearby, there’s a community rose garden. So, my sister-in-law, Lisa, and I walked over to the rose garden with my niece, and in a passing comment, Lisa explained, “It’s so interesting how you pray for something and things happen.” This intrigued me, as before my brother married Lisa in 2011, he told me she was a part of what he called the “God-squad,” but she and I had never really had discussions about faith. I’m not sure why. “I just finished a novena to St. Therese, and look at what she’s given me,” she continued, motioning towards the beautiful, newly bloomed roses in the garden. Our conversation abruptly ended as my brother and nephew joined us and we took some family photos. But a seed had been planted.

Our trip ended, and I found myself back in Maryland for a few days. Struggling spiritually, I went to my bookshelf where I have several books – secular and spiritual reading – and mindlessly grabbed one: Everything is Grace - The Life and Way of Therese of Lisieux. I didn’t even remember buying this book, nor had I ever read it – but it spoke to me that day, beckoned me to grab it instead of the other titles sitting close by, so I figured I needed to give it a shot.

Having made that decision, I was instantly reminded of St. Therese popping into my life 3 and a half years prior, when my mother was dying from cancer. At her bedside just before she was moved to Hospice, we prayed the Chaplet to St. Therese with some people from our church. I'd never heard of the chaplet before, but it includes the short prayer: “St. Therese of the Infant Jesus, Patroness of Missions, Pray for us!” followed by 24 Glory Be’s – one for each year that Therese lived. My mother only lived another week after praying the Chaplet together, and I struggled to get through her sudden death. While grappling with my mother’s death, I tried reading Story of a Soul – St. Therese’s autobiography – but just couldn’t get in to the book. I gave up, defeated. But Therese didn’t give up on me.

She waited, perhaps until that moment in the rose garden with my sister-in-law, to re-enter my life. Having read Everything is Grace over the past few weeks, I’ve learned that St. Therese, too, lost her mother to cancer in 1877. Her mother’s death crushed Therese’s spirit, to the point that she spent yea rs trying to redefine herself by overcoming the feeling of abandonment, the fear of being alone, and the confusing doubts and crippling self-consciousness that losing a parent often causes. Reading about Therese and praying for her intercession these past few weeks has brought a sense of peace to me that I’ve needed since my mother passed away.

Therese continued to make her stalking known to me as I visited friends in Athens last week. The friend I stayed with was, unbeknownst to me, making a retreat with Therese and as I entered her apartment, I immediately saw a photo of the saint staring back at me from the side table. Another friend asked me to proof a document he was working on – and of course, the first footnote credited one of St. Therese’s writings. I get it, Therese. Thanks.

I am still struggling. But everyone struggles. I’ve learned that even Therese struggled to her final days. But the struggles we encounter are part of what makes us human. I’m excited to continue to learn more about Therese’s Little Way and her prayer life. I’m excited to learn why she was named a Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II and why she is referred to as the Doctor of Merciful Love. And I’m thrilled to pray for her intercession as I continue this journey. I encourage you, too, to pay closer attention to your surroundings – maybe you have a saint stalking you!

Funny enough, as I was trying to think of something to write about for this blog (something I’ve been meaning to do for a few months now but just didn’t feel inspired), I went back to a blog I created in 2011 for school but abandoned after my mom died and life became too much. I was greeted by a post I had written October 26, 2011 that ended with:

“I can’t begin to explain how much prayer aids the soul in getting through the day to day. I think St. Therese of Lisieux says it best though:

Perhaps St. Therese started stalking me before I even realized it.

Posted: Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Title Photo and Single Yellow Rose by Mary Catherine Kennedy | Image of St. Therese from St. Theresa Catholic Church Austin

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23
 

Title Photo by Katie Freddino | Photo of Pope St. John Paull II from The Apostle of Divine Mercy webpage

Posted: Sunday, April 3, 2016

Title Photo by Katie Freddino | Prayer Card Photo by Angelo Bautista | OU Catholics Group Photo by Jacob Welter

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------