Heaven Gained a New Saint Named Teresa

Dear friends,

This past week and a half my husband and I have been quietly mourning the loss of our dear friends’ beautiful and precious sixteen year old daughter, who passed away unexpectedly. Despite their grief, our friends have unwaveringly continued to trust in the Lord. Their faith has been a source of consolation for their family and friends — it certainly has been for us.  

The post below is something I wrote on November 4, 2011.  As I re-read it, it made me think so much of our friends. Their daughter, Reese, was named after St. Teresa of Calcutta, about whom the post was written. This post is dedicated to our dear friends and dearest Reese.  Today is Reese’s funeral and also a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, which is so appropriate since our friends are committed pro-lifers.   

~~~

As I was praying and kneeling on the pew with my husband this morning after receiving Holy Communion, an interesting thought came to mind. It was simply the word peace. In my prayer this morning I was asking God to give me a task. Whether He would give me a task or not I would still be thankful to Him. The word peace came to my mind. It could have been through the Holy Spirit (God answering my prayer) or through the prayers of St. Charles Borromeo since it is his feast day today. Anyway, it was a curious thought as I am still contemplating the word after almost twelve hours.

I listened to a talk by Father Larry Richards a few years back. He talks about a time when he and a friend went to visit some of Mother Teresa's nuns. He mentions how spiritually conscious and aware they were in front of the Blessed Sacrament. He says that once the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, all of the nuns immediately bowed down and touched their heads to the ground to worship. Fr. Richards then continued about a sign at the entrance of their chapel.

"The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace."

These words were once said by Mother Teresa. After adoring the Blessed Sacrament, one of the nuns offered Fr. Richards and his friend to eat with them. At first they declined but the nuns insisted that they join them. At the table, after they said grace, the nuns constantly passed food for their guests, hosting them and making them feel at home. They offered simple food but they shared what they had. After recalling the story, Fr. Richards said that those nuns exemplified Mother Teresa's words. They understood peace because of prayer, through silent prayer they understood faith, through faith love, through love service. Those nuns were stewards of service and ultimately of peace.

Mother Teresa was peace. Fr. Robert Barron in the film series Catholicism names her the most influential person in the twentieth century. Though he has great admiration for Pope John Paul II, he believes that Mother Teresa was more influential.  Mother Teresa is a saint who during her life on earth worked tirelessly for the poor, the unwanted, the pro-life cause and peace.

That same spirit of service can evoke a world of peace. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta and Saint Charles Borromeo, please pray for us and for peace on earth.

Nine Suggestions To Help Strengthen Your Faith

1. Attend daily Mass. There is no better way to start the day than going to church and being in the presence of Christ. The Eucharist is the central teaching of the Catholic faith. Going to Mass allows us to be transformed. We are brought closer to God. Our faith and love grow stronger.

2. Receive the sacrament of Reconciliation. Going to Confession lifts the heavy burdens of sin. I like to say my Confession face-to-face with the priest but you have the option of saying an anonymous confession. After Confession all sins are forgiven. Through God's Divine Mercy, He gives us a clean slate.

3. Pray the Rosary every day. In my lowest moments, I have prayed the Rosary. The Rosary is simple and calming. It has given me hope and strength in times of despair. When we pray the Rosary we address Mary and ask for her intercession and prayers. In turn she gives our requests to Our Lord.

4. Serve others. At the end of Mass, the priest says to the congregation, "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord." When we serve others, we serve Christ. In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus says, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." When we give our time to help others, we are humbled. We are given an indescribable joy.

5. Find a spiritual director. Fr. Larry Richards recommended this in one of his CDs. He said that you can ask a priest or nun to be your spiritual director. The reason for a spiritual director is to keep us in the path of holiness. We are to grow in holiness. We are to live holy lives and become saints. Our goal in life is to get to Heaven. A spiritual director can assist in this. I also like to think of Catholic TV and radio personalities as my own spiritual directors. I follow Fr. Richards, Mother Angelica and Fr. Mitch Pacwa on EWTN. They help me stay the path.

6. Listen to Catholic Radio. There are a number of sources such as the Catholic Channel on XM Radio, Ave Maria Radio, EWTN Global Catholic Radio, Relevant Radio and many others. I have access to XM Radio so I enjoy listening to daily Mass, Archbishop Timothy Dolan and Gus Lloyd with Seize the Day. Many Catholic questions can be answered by listening to Catholic Radio.

7. Listen to Christian music. When I do not have access to Catholic Radio, I enjoy listening to Christian music. Throughout the nation, there are Christian, family-friendly radio stations. The music keeps me in a good mood throughout the day. Many times you will hear inspirational stories, too.

8. Forgive others. To forgive is a difficult act to do but Jesus calls us to. Mother Teresa had love and compassion in her heart for the poor and unwanted. She once recalled a story. She found an abandoned woman in a garbage dump very feverish and left there to die. The woman told her, "My son did this to me." Mother pleaded with her and told her that she must forgive her son. She continued, "In a moment of madness, when he was not himself, he did a thing he regrets. Be a mother to him, forgive him." After a long while, the dying woman conceded to say that she forgave her son. Right before she died in Mother's arms, she was able to say it with a real genuine forgiveness.

9. Spread the Good News. This is part of the New Evangelization that Blessed Pope John Paul II initiated. We can do our part in the New Evangelization by spreading the Good News through social media. Facebook, Twitter and e-mail are great starting places. There are a number of church group ministries that you can join. There is power in numbers. The wonderful thing is with the Catholic Church no one is alone. We Catholics belong to a community. As a community we can grow our faith. Consider giving Catholic gifts (books, CDs) as Christmas or birthday presents.

Other Resources

1. EWTN is the Eternal Word Television Network. It is on 24/7 and on the website you can watch live streaming. EWTN has a broad array of wonderful Catholic programs and movies. EWTN's website has a wealth of Catholic information such as devotions and prayers. It is normally my go to site for all things Catholic.

2. Catholics Come Home is a fantastic website that guides people to the Catholic faith. Whether one is a non-practicing Catholic contemplating returning to the church, a non-Catholic interested in learning more, or a Catholic who would like help in growing in the faith, the website welcomes everyone.

3. The Reason For Our Hope Foundation was started by Fr. Larry Richards. I enjoy listening to Fr. Richards' homilies which can be found on the website. He also has a great guide to Confession on his website. Fr. Richards will no doubt capture your attention. He speaks the truth about the faith in an inspirational way. Read more about the foundation and Fr. Richards on his website.

4. Rome Sweet Home is a book by Dr. Scott Hahn. It is about Dr. Hahn's and his wife's journey to the Catholic faith. It is a well-loved book by many. I especially recommend it to those who are away from the faith or are looking for answers.

5. Word On Fire by Fr. Robert Barron is right now promoting the Catholicism series and is showing on EWTN. This series is the first of its kind and has been well received by Public Television and many Catholic leaders. Fr. Barron took some amazing pilgrimages around the world to showcase the beauty of the Catholic faith. Its intent is to evangelize and glorify God. This is a must see for everyone wishing to seek God. Check out the Word On Fire and Catholicism Series websites.

6. No Turning Back is Fr. Donald Calloway's miraculous story of once being spiritually dead but finding peace in Holy Mother Church and the priesthood. It really is a story of God's Divine Mercy and how anyone who is open to the Holy Spirit can change his or her life for Christ. You can learn more on Fr. Calloway's website.

7. Bella is a beautiful movie about life. After watching it, I immediately became involved in the pro-life movement. I signed up to be a volunteer at a local pregnancy center as a counselor. I also participated in the March for Life in Washington, DC for the very first time. Both were unforgettable experiences.

~~~

Heaven gained a new saint named Teresa and we are sure she is with her namesake St. Teresa of Calcutta, Our Blessed Mother and Our Loving Lord Jesus Christ.  

St. Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us!

Dearest Reese, pray for us!

In His faithful and loving service,

Elaine and Martin Javier

Jim Caviezel and the Holy Rosary

This picture was taken this past summer with Fr. Fred Mannara, the pastor of the Most Holy Rosary in Syracuse, New York.  My family and I had just met Fr. Mannara the day before at a Macedonian festival!  Father warmheartedly and graciously invited us to visit his beautiful parish that seats at least 1400 people.  And so we took him up on his invitation.  He was so surprised and excited to see us the very next day for Sunday Mass that he asked us to bring up the gifts and stay after Mass for a personal tour.  What a wonderful day full of blessings it was!

The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary so I would like to share my favorite Rosary quotations on Sundays.  I really am drawn to Jim Caviezel's talks and message.  Here is part of a presentation he did in the spring.

"I believe Jesus wants the full truth about Mary - that she is the world's Spiritual Mother, the Co-redemptrix and Mediatrix, to be proclaimed by the present Pope, so that Our Mother can utilize her 'full power' of intercession to bring peace, true peace, to the world.

My friends in Jesus and Mary, the present world scene is one of unprecedented moral breakdown, natural disasters, and even greater global threats of war and terrorism are now looming in our midst. The power of Satan is evident, no matter where we turn. Our whole world is in desperate need of the peace of Jesus Christ. And his peace, both spiritual and global, will only come to us - as it did originally - through the person of Mary, our Mediatrix and Advocate!

At Fatima, Our Lady promised that 'In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph... and a period of peace will be granted to the world.' Let us trust in these words of Our Lady. Let us pray, especially before our Eucharistic Jesus, for true and lasting world peace through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of All Peoples.

She will keep her promise, but we must do our part. As St. Bernard has written, and as I have seen in my own life: 'You will not go astray if you follow her... you will not get lost if you call to her. If she is holding you by the hand you will not fall. If she is protecting you, you have nothing to fear. You will not grow weary if she is at your side.' But you must reach out to her.

My brothers and sisters, be faithful, call out to your Mother, pray the Rosary for world peace! Adore Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and Heaven will respond!

Before I leave you, this path will not be an easy one for our bishops and laity who accept this challenge and the fight to fulfill the will of God is never easy... but from God's gospel and Mother Teresa's personal creed, they echo this sentiment: Blessed are you when people hate you... when they exclude you and insult you... and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man.' In the final analysis, it is between you and God... it was never between you and them anyway."

- From Jim Caviezel's presentation delivered at the World Day of Prayer for Peace through the Mother of All Peoples, Amsterdam, June 1, 2019

I wish you peace and love this holy month of October.  God bless you and your families!

The Catholic Diocese Of St. Thomas In The U.S. Virgin Islands

Several weekends ago, we had a pleasant surprise from a visiting priest at our parish.  His name was the Most Reverend Herbert A. Bevard, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.  And he gave a most heartfelt homily that touched me deeply.  

St. Thomas, he said,  is beautiful, a tropical paradise.  There are white sand beaches and pristine aqua blue waters everywhere you look it seems.   And if you stay at a Marriott or a Ritz Carlton or any of the numerous resorts there, hotel employees attend to your every need.  

Yet for all the beauty and luxury most tourists see, the Diocese of St. Thomas is ironically the poorest diocese in the United States.  Its eight parishes are among the poorest in the nation.  But because the diocese is part of the U.S.  it does not qualify for support from any international mission organizations, and so it is dependent on the generous support of other parishes in the U.S.   

Bishop Bevard lamented today's culture.  "We are a throw away society.  When we don't want something, we just throw it away."  The poor in his diocese are victims of this mindset.  They  live next to dumps and abandoned cars, looking for their next meal or anything of value as they rummage through refuse and piles of trash.  You can imagine the stench that must be overwhelming.  They are struggling to stay alive while most of us have never missed a meal.  This is extreme poverty.  

Bishop Bevard described a sad experience.  He would visit villages when he could and bring a bag of fruit and another bag of candy for impoverished children.    When the children saw him, they would run towards him and eat all that he had.  But one time  one little boy came too late.  By the time he got to him, there was no more food to give.  The little boy begged but the bishop said that both bags were empty.  He told the little boy to go back home and ask his mother for food.  Sadly, the boy said that it wasn't his turn to eat that day.  He had eaten yesterday and today was his sister's turn to eat.

The bishop said that it was his first time to ever hear such a thing.  For most of us, a lack of food is not a problem.  Usually we have an abundance of things to eat.  So the little boy's heartbreaking situation is so foreign that it is beyond comprehension.  As head of the nation's poorest Catholic diocese, the bishop is the voice of the many hungry children who desperately need help from those who can generously give.  

In his homily, the bishop also mentioned that he had converted to Catholicism.  He was eleven years old when the idea of becoming a Catholic came to him.  He had never stood inside a Catholic church before but he decided to talk to a priest.  The priest asked him to serve Mass with him the next day.  The young Herbert Bevard was surprised as he did not know that Mass was said daily.  The priest also explained the miracle that happens each time the priest consecrates the bread and wine.  Because of that he wanted to become a priest.  He told his parents and his parents' response was to send him to military school.  He never had the opportunity to go to Mass or see a priest during those years but his desire to become a Catholic never waned.  He prayed the Hail Mary often and this sustained him. 

After graduating from military school in 1964, and with his parents no longer resistant to his desire to become a Catholic, Bishop Bevard was baptized in the Catholic church.  In 1976, he baptized his mother and brought her into the church.  He also eventually baptized his father and  brother.  What a beautiful conversion story!  

And the bishop explained that all of this was possible because of the goodness of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  He said, "Remember the Blessed Mother always.  Give everything to the Blessed Mother.  She will ensure your admittance into heaven."  

Before ending his homily the bishop  asked for prayers.  He asked  that we pray for the people of his diocese, and to also pray for the priests of the diocese  who work so hard and who have left their homes and families to do God's work.  Finally he asked, "And pray for me."  

Yes, Bishop Bevard.  I will pray for you, a kind hearted and humble servant of God. I will pray for you and your Godly and holy mission.  May Our Lord and His Blessed Mother protect you and strengthen you all the days of your life.  Amen.

Special Mission Request

In your generosity please consider supporting Bishop Bevard's mission by giving to the Catholic Diocese of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.  You may send your donation via online banking or mail a check to:

Bishop Bevard

P.O. Box 301825

St. Thomas, V.I.  00803

Contact information:

Email:  vichancery@gmail.com

“We are a throw away society.  When we don’t want something, we just throw it away.”

“Remember the Blessed Mother always. Give everything to the Blessed Mother. She will ensure your admittance into heaven.”

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