From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, quoting St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas:

We all want to live happily; in the whole human race there is no one who does not assent to this proposition, even before it is fully articulated.

How is it, then, that I seek you, Lord? Since in seeking you, my God, I seek a happy life, let me seek you so that my soul may live, for my body draws life from my soul and my soul draws life from you.

God alone satisfies.

We recognize people through the altar

This picture shows that we are community and how we recognize people "through the altar, " or the altar where the most important things happen.

I found this today from an unknown student, probably drawn five years ago or more, possibly from even earlier. Not only is the artwork beautiful but also the language is powerful.

What might We recognize people through the altar mean?

Could it mean,through the sacrifice of the mass we see our humanity in Christ and then recognize it in the community?

This student (and I taught 8-, 9- and 10-year olds) expressed a deep understanding of how community expresses our deepest selves.

It may have a different meaning too that I would love to know.

Where's my sword?

I used to look at the sword tucked under the arm of the Joan of Arc statue at church and wonder "Where's my sword?" I thought I needed a champion or a sword or some kind of weapon in the world I perceived as hostile.

Yesterday, looking at the statue, I saw it meant something else.

The sword is tucked under her arm because she isn't using it. She doesn't need it: she has an army; she has armor; she has inspiration. A call from God. From our distance, maybe the details don't matter. She had an idea (she was given an idea?) that took her over, and she armored herself in it. People followed her.

There is what I saw: the best sword is an idea, and other people.Yesterday in church I was surrounded by love as the children in the program made their First Communion. The families, our team, the congregation, all of us in aggregate were an army of love.

And I had my sword. Instead of doing battle, we can march forward as a loving, building community. There are days (like yesterday) when I can say for sure, yes, this can be.

Two footnotes to that inspirational flight though:

She, Joan, did have a real sword, sharp, and people died. There are consequences. 

And we know how the story turned out for her. 

She, like most of the saints, are terrible models if we are afraid of death, suffering and disgrace.

Even if we are afraid, the saints can help us be less frightened; we can look to them for inspiration or we can pray for their intercession.