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Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
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Today the church celebrates the Memorial of St Teresa of Avila or Teresa of the Child Jesus. Saint Terresa lived in the 16th century. Together with St. John of the Cross, they made reforms on the Congregation of Carmelite friars and nuns. In one of her famous works of contemplation, “The Way of Perfection,” a practical guide on how to achieve spiritual growth, she mentions three things that inform this short homily or reflection. She talks of three essential virtues for a prayer filled life: Fraternal love: she implores us to nurture a deep and sincere love for one’ s community Detachment from worldly desires and affections. Humility: that helps us to understand our faults, imperfections and recognizing that all good comes from God.
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We are in the world of ‘fast things, fast foods, fast internet, and fast transport system!’ We are bothered by anything that is slow. Everything needs to be very fast. If it is not fast, it hurts us and mostly, we will give up on that cashier, hotel, or transport system.
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From the sayings of the desert Father; A brother questioned Abba Arsenius to hear a word from him and the old man said to him, "Strive with all your might to bring your interior activity into accord with God, and you will overcome exterior passions.” The disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray, and the prayer he gives to them, “The Lord’s prayer”, basically invites them to totally surrender to God, to bring all their focus on consistently carrying out his will.
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There’s an old story about a group of single men in a Bible study. After listening the gospel of the day, they got into a debate over which sister, Mary or Martha, would make the better wife. One insisted on Martha: “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and she sure knew how to cook!” Another voted for Mary: “She was thoughtful, quiet and loving, I’d be happy with a woman like that.” Finally, another guy ended the debate: “I’d like Martha before dinner and Mary and her quiet after dinner.”
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We all draw lines. Sometimes with a pen. Sometimes with our eyes. Sometimes just in our heads, where we don’t say it out loud, but we know, who belongs and who doesn’t. Who’s one of “us,” and who’s one of “them.” Who’s good and who’s just off. Who deserves help, and who brought it on themselves. Let’s talk about one of the most universal lines we all draw, the kind that shows up not in theology books, but in traffic. If I’m driving slowly, I’m responsible. I’m aware. Maybe even holy. But if someone else is driving slowly? They are an idiot, holding everyone back. Probably texting. Or sightseeing on the highway.
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On September 7, 2025, Pope Leo, by God’s grace, raised Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager, to the altar as a saint. This canonization was an extraordinary family affair. For the first time ever, twin brother and sister and both parents celebrated the sainthood of their son and brother. Carlo died as an only child in 2006 at age fifteen. His mother and father yearned for other children without success and began the long process of adoption. Antonia, his mother, said Carlo appeared to her in a dream to tell her that she would be a mother again soon. Not long after, she discovered she was pregnant with twins. The boy, Michele, proclaimed the first reading at Mass and Francesca presented relics of Saint Carlo at the offertory.
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