St. Lucy
This painting by Corrado depicts God addressing Satan, who points downward to earth. Image via Wikipedia
Dear Family of Mary!
As we approach Christmas, I feel this message is timely. We all want Christmas to be a special time, a moment of serenity and peace in the midst of our frenetic and stressful lives. We somehow think that Satan is gentlemanly enough to not mess with us on Christmas. But he is anything but a gentleman and goes for us when we are least aware of him. That is why Christmas can be a time of great sadness and family chaos. The enemy goes for broke at Christmas, trying to harm us, because emotionally we may be more vulnerable. Our Lady warned us in 1994: "In this time, Satan wants to create disorder in your hearts and in your families. Little children, do not give in. Do not permit him to direct you and your lives." (January 25, 1994) Creating disorder in our hearts and families is his specialty. His influence must be resisted day in and day out. I remember this story, told to us by one of the Medjugorje patriarchs. We were talking one day about a trial he had gone through and he told us how he got through it. He said when he was a child he remembered seeing his father out in the field with his worn out, ancient tractor. The tractor had broken down again. His father was patiently taking it apart, piece by piece, with nuts and bolts and gears stacked all around him. Under his breath, he could hear his father repeating, "Devil, I give you nothing! Devil, I give you nothing."
Our friend's father was resisting the enemy by not giving in to anger or impatience, doubt or despair. He was accepting that difficult situation with trust in God and dogged determination. The enemy was not going to make him angry or irritable, mean or explosive. That tractor was a battle ground in which God was winning. This father was growing in holiness and humility, and the family would only be stronger because of his courage! Our friend learned this lesson well, and was able to do the same for his family when he was beset by a terrible trial. Our friend told us that his beautiful daughter was expecting twins, and went to the hospital for a routine test. One of the technicians made a terrible mistake, and his daughter and her babies died. In the aftermath of that terrible loss, he was advised by many people to seek retaliation and sue the hospital and the workers. But he refused, saying that there had been enough suffering, and he would give the devil nothing, just like his father. What an example of forgiveness and going the way of Jesus and the Cross! Our friend chose the way of peace and reconciliation. What an example these Christian fathers are to us all! We all have situations in which we are tempted to "lose it". We all have relationships that can tax our patience, crises in which we might feel a desire for retaliation or crosses that can make it difficult to love. When we feel pushed to the limit this Christmas, we can remember this father and son, and repeat under our breath, "Devil I give you nothing!" This reminds me of the words of St. James: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) And the words of Our Lady, "Little children, do not give in. Do not permit him to direct you and your lives." We can reject the disorder that Satan wants to create, by choosing trust and hope and peace for ourselves and those we love! In Jesus and Mary!
Cathy Nolan
PS. As of today, Monday, December 13, 2010, our internet Rosary will be "live" at 10:00 am EST every day! New time, same Rosary!! Join us at www.marytv.tv !!
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