J.M.J.
October 19, 2017
Sts. John de Brebeuf, Isaac Jogues, and companions
Dear Family of Mary!
“…And my Son, who is of the eternal now, He is speaking to you with words of life and is sowing love in open hearts. Therefore, I am imploring you, apostles of my love, have open hearts always ready for mercy and forgiveness. According to my Son, always forgive your neighbors, because in that way peace will be in you…” (October 2, 2017)
The saints we celebrate today are very good examples of Our Lady’s words to us. They had open hearts, filled with the words of life and love. They were ready to give mercy and forgiveness, always forgiving their neighbors and seeking the way of peace. They did not run from martyrdom but accepted ill treatment for the sake of the souls of their flock.
Fr. Isaac Jogues chose to give himself up to the Iroquois, saying, “It must be,’ I said in my heart, ‘that my body suffer the fire of earth in order to deliver these poor souls from the flames of hell. It must die a transient death, in order to procure for them an eternal life.'” (recorded by Fr. Jerome Lalemant, S.J.)
Only the Son could instill such love in a heart. Only Jesus can give us the courage to suffer for others, to forgive and to love with our eyes on heaven. Jesus alone can fill our hearts with such mercy.
On my long flight home from Medjugorje, I glimpsed a movie the depicted the fate of missionaries in Japan in the 1800’s. They were tortured endlessly. But the movie failed to capture the presence of Jesus in the martyrs, the love and power that Jesus instills in hearts that are open to Him. It made the martyrdom merely a test of will power. On our own we cannot love, forgive or suffer for Jesus. Only Jesus’ love and mercy in us can overcome such things.
Our Lady wants us to realize that we need to open our hearts to receive Jesus in them, every day, to open and receive Him. He is our only strength and love.
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2017
PS. Announcing a weekend retreat in South Bend, Indiana:
