Catholic Online Forum

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Yesterday saw the first funerals of the little ones killed in CT. The newscasts continue to be filled with reports on both the shooter and the victims. Many of us continue to ponder God's purpose in allowing so much sorrow, so much evil in the world.

Looking to Our Mother of Sorrows and her experience when Herod sought to kill her newborn Son, I believe that she cooperated, along with St. Joseph in the graces given to them in their trials. Their Faith, Hope and above all Charity grew in their trials, and so must ours. How very great their faith was! The Old Testament gave only promises of the great things the Messiah would do for His people! Mary knew in her heart He had done great things in her but she was yet to experience much more in her life with Jesus.

What are we to learn from this latest tragedy? We are called to believe that God works all things unto good for those who love Him... (Rom 8:28). We are called to live in faith without necessarily "seeing" the good God works, for a long time to come. Mary is certainly our Mother and Model to guide us in walking by faith in a world of violence, hatred, and rage. She lived as a human person among sinful men and women, yet with faith in God Who remains Good, despite evil.

Bl. John Paul II wrote that God's Mercy puts a limit on evil. He will not permit us to carry a cross which He does not give us grace to carry. Mary and Joseph knew His Mercy in their lives, and continued to look upon His Face in Jesus. May we continue to look with faith, for His Face, hope in Him and love Him through all the trials, for He became one of us -- small, vulnerable and threatened. He has overcome the world and told us not to fear, but to believe.

Please let us continue to pray for all those who are suffering, and continue looking to Him as Mary and Joseph did, on this earth, and now gaze on Him for all eternity. The first Christmas brought great Joy and yet the shadow of the cross was over the crib.

_________________
MariaChristi

Moderators...maybe Simon's topic should be moved to a thread of it's own?



Mary

_________________
"Those who encounter the Risen Jesus
and entrust themselves docilely to him have nothing to fear.
This is the message that Christians are called to spread
to the very ends of the earth." Benedict XVI

Good point, Mary.

Let's see if we can start this thread all over again as it was intended.

_________________
Ian DC
Blessed Ever Virgin Mary -- Sanctuary and resting-place of the Blessed Trinity where God dwells in greater and more divine splendour than anywhere else in the universe

Thanks, Ian...


Mary

_________________
"Those who encounter the Risen Jesus
and entrust themselves docilely to him have nothing to fear.
This is the message that Christians are called to spread
to the very ends of the earth." Benedict XVI

Ian, perhaps these beautiful powerful comments by Father Gerhard will bring life to this thread.



To read the rest of Fr. Gerhard's comment go here:
http://gerhard-hattinghsblog.blogspot.c ... deeds.html


Mary

_________________
"Those who encounter the Risen Jesus
and entrust themselves docilely to him have nothing to fear.
This is the message that Christians are called to spread
to the very ends of the earth." Benedict XVI

Good one, Mary.

_________________
Ian DC
Blessed Ever Virgin Mary -- Sanctuary and resting-place of the Blessed Trinity where God dwells in greater and more divine splendour than anywhere else in the universe