Dear Family of Christ,

What is humility and why do we need it?

From the Catechism #2559, “Humility is the foundation of Prayer.” Humility brings us further than self-righteousness. The poor in spirit or the humble are close to the Lord, He hears their cry, and He provides for their needs. The practice of the virtue of humility allows us to let go of our illusion of control and to be dependent on God.

Dear Family of God,

NO means “Next Opportunity,” what a positive attitude! This weekend we will hear the teaching about being persistent in prayer. God wants us all to never give up with our prayer life and with our interceding for the conversion of those who have not known yet the love of God.

Dorothy Day, the great Catholic activist, doubted God’s existence. At least in her early adult years. But something changed when after giving birth to her daughter, she experienced an overwhelming gratitude. She later described how, as she held her daughter, the only appropriate response was a kind of unlimited gratitude. She had done nothing to deserve such a gift — this tiny, miraculous life — but there she was, flooded with gratitude, completely undone by the love of such a Giver.

A priest friend of mine received a call from a family whose elderly mother was dying. Within thirty minutes, he was at her bedside, offering the consolation of the sacraments, anointing her with the oil of the sick, and commending her soul to God. She passed not long after, and for months, her family spoke of their deep gratitude for his presence. When I phoned him to commend his faithful ministry, he simply said, “I was just doing my job.”