Blessed belated Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of Mary.
Here’s a little reflection to accompany my recent piece on the spot-on Flannery O:
As well as the purifying HA HA experience of a communal penance service at my local parish.
Father gave some great guidelines to kick off an examination of conscience, per the seven deadly sins.
He started of course with pride:
Does it always have to be about me?
Am I the center of my own little universe?
CONVICTED!!!
I love the way God is always turning the tables on people in Flannery’s stories. We hardly ever get what we want — because it’s bad for us!
Ha right, blessed Holy Week!
After listening to your StJoseph’s thoughts I opened my Magnificat and read from today’s essay:”To reach sanctity sighs do not suffice…” and thought of your reflection. We try so hard and think so much we are unique in our efforts of holiness and yet we’ve sinned as you say before we reach the beginning of the confession line! Thank you for sharing so humbly and for illuminating Flannery O’Connors story.
Wishing you a blessed ending of Lent!
Did you have some sugar? We had zeppoles here in Rhode Island!
Cynthia, yes! That reflection this morning was wonderful! We can read good stuff and make vows and intend to do our VERY BEST but none of it avails much in any lasting way. What does, though, as she said, is real time spent in silent prayer…exactly what Fr. Donald Haggerty is telling us…pray before the tabernacle or monstrance or a crucifix…It stands to reason that we’re invited to and need to spend real time with Christ…the one “sacrifice” I, for one, find extremely difficult–would much rather walk two miles to Mass, e.g., praying the Rosary. Which is fine as far as it goes, BUT!
Yes, I had some sugar near end of day, a few spoonfuls of pistachio halvah, one small Trader Joe’s chocolate peanut butter cup, and three sour gummies, also from Trader Joe’s, two red and one orange (the latter for “penance,” as I dislike orange, which I’m sure saved any number of souls).
But stop: zeppoles! I had to look them up: For those like me who are unfamiliar, “A zeppola is an Italian pastry consisting of a deep-fried dough ball of varying size but typically about 4 inches in diameter. This fritter is usually topped with powdered sugar, and may be filled with custard, jelly, cannoli-style pastry cream, or a butter-and-honey mixture.” Obviously, you Rhode Islanders really know how to do the Feast of St. Joseph up. Hope they were delicious.
Well Heather, this is timely. I have been asking to be more invisible not have anything be about me. I so wish to draw down my pride and be humble humble.
Who needs pride?
Not I’d!
Haha
Ha, love the couplet! T-shirt worthy! “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned…once again, I have become the center not only of my universe, but of THE universe”…Let’s take heart: even Jesus fell three times…
Blessed Holy Week to you–
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