Remember
/“One generation commends Your works to another; they tell of Your mighty acts.”
Greetings to dearest Sisters in Christ! The Church annually turns her attention to the Eucharist and Adoration during the month of August. Our patron, St John Vianney (Feast Day Aug 4), reminds, “There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us.”
For 30 years Andrew Carroll has accrued approximately 150,000 letters penned by soldiers during every major American war, dating back to the Civil War. Many were entrusted to him from families of deceased soldiers; others discovered in barns, flea markets, garbage bins, and home renovations. The missives hold historical relevance and poignant revelations of the heart. Through them, one can take pause to remember…
Likewise, a golden thread of the writings of sacred Scripture is a call to remembrance. God Himself (and through His prophets) beckons us to remember His covenants, wondrous deeds, mercy, enduring promises and above all, His everlasting love. Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart… Remember the former things, those of long ago (Isaiah 46). And for our sake, God remembers these things too, including remembering our sins no more. As for us, God will never forget us. We are inscribed on the palms of His Hands. In the creation of the new heavens and a new earth, He promises that the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. The long and the short of it: God remembers and invites us to come alongside to remember truth, beauty and goodness: for our sake and the sake of others!
As the encroaching cancel culture urges a forgetfulness of history and distortion of truth, beauty and goodness, our Lord counters the influence by providing every kind of assistance. Foremost, He has promised the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to teach all things and bring to remembrance of all that He has said (John 14:26). With His Church as guardian, the deposit of faith is preserved. The ministerial priesthood is entrusted with the sacramental life of the faithful, foremost the holy mysteries of the altar. Multiple times in every hour of every day, priests echo the words of Jesus: Do this in remembrance of Me, making good the paramount promise of Christ to “be with us always”.
Filled anew with the life of Christ, Mary proclaimed the greatness of the Lord, recalling all that He had done for her and others. Millions begin their day by echoing her words of recollection of divine intervention in the recitation of Morning Prayer (Liturgy of the Hours). Knowing then that Mary holds a stellar memory, we confidently call upon her to remember that never was it known that anyone who fled to her protection, implored her help or sought her intercession was left unaided (Memorare).
Aside from words, signs help Christians to bear to mind significant things. The Lord has set the rainbow in the sky. The Church has set colorful vestments to mark liturgical seasons of remembrance. The Sign of the Cross is a potent witness of remembrance of our Trinitarian life, fortified and made perfect for us through the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me (Lamentations 3:20). Incense and flames atop vigil candles remind the heart that our prayer offerings live beyond the moment they are whispered. Holy water hearkens to our baptismal promises. Sacramentals release a flood of remembrance of the sacraments and the wealth of our Christian life of truth, beauty and goodness. Crucifixes, rosaries, blessed medals, mantillas, wedding rings, holy cards, statues, icons, scapulars, blessed salt – all affirm that we are ne’er forgotten.
Remembrance also begets action. A priest kisses the altar where Love will come. Genuflection acknowledges the King of kings. Our hearts fill, then respond, as we remember those the Church reminds us to preferentially remember: the poor, the little ones, the prisoner, the ill-treated.
As Seven Sisters, we can serve as living icons of Christians who remember. Our sure remembrances of our Catholic identity, reverent use of sacramentals and especially our intentional actions through sacrifices of prayers serve as an antidote to an insidious poison that is attempting to erode and distort our Christian roots and way. Loyalty to prayer is the certain remedy.
When Andrew Carroll travels, he handcuffs the case filled with the military letters to his wrist. His is a task of remembering and preserving to eventually pass them on. His action of safeguarding the treasured goods is telling. As Seven Sisters we are entrusted with the task of prayerfully supporting those priests/bishops in the crossroads of our lives. Our fidelity to prayers helps to safeguard the passing on of the flame much like the detail of Visscher’s sketch of The woman with the candle. Our sacrifices of prayer are telling. Be assured that the scribes in heaven take note. St John Vianney reminds us, “A priest goes to Heaven or a priest goes to Hell with a thousand people behind.” Let us remember: our sacrifices of prayer affect multitudes. Let us help to fill heaven!
United in prayer and mission...that our prayers may find the heart of every bishop and priest...
... eternal gratitude continues as you each remember to offer a wee Hail Mary for me every day.... “One Ave Maria makes hell tremble” (St John Vianney). Pray that I will not 'spoil the beautiful work that God has entrusted...' (St Teresa of Calcutta)
... your kind emails and notes and phone calls and generous support always arrive to my heart door at the right moment! Your financial sacrifices are for 100% furtherance of Apostolate. THANK YOU! The letters of testimony are so beautiful and edifying! What glory is given to God through your writing!
Eternal gratitude is mine for YOU! Be assured of my continued daily prayers for you at the altar.
Janette (Howe)
+JMJ+
sevensistersapostolate@gmail.com
The woman with the candle (detail) - Cornelis Visscher II