Wit & Wisdom | Katherine Ocello: Such a Time As This – My Daily Bread: A Reason2bCatholic blog

Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”

St. Catherine of Siena

from the author

Katherine Ocello is a mother, wife, faithful lay Catholic, and blogger in her spare time. Her words from two years ago resonate today and will likely also do so in the days, months, and years ahead. Hers is a message so many faithful Catholics need to hear today. We need not be discouraged at the state of affairs; rather, as Katherine wisely says, let’s look to the saints – these holy men and women of our Catholic tradition – as an example of what we, ourselves, are called upon to do each day.

For Katherine’s poignant message, used with the generous permission of the author, please read below.

Peace be with you!

Disciple of Christ | Son of the Church

Such a Time As This

You and I were made for such a time as this. Everything that this year has brought us, we were created for it. It’s easy to become discouraged, when you look at the state of our world and see statues of Saints being torn down, Church’s empty — or worse, locked. When you see our faith under attack. When you see nothing but death, destruction, hate, anger, violence, and division all around.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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But, I’m reminded, that you and I were made for such a time as this. When you don’t know what to do, or you’re feeling helpless, look to the Saints. They never turned their back on The Church, and they didn’t stay silent either. They weren’t hateful, but they didn’t pretend things were OK when they weren’t, either. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Remember, they were regular people just like us. They too may have lived seemingly small, ordinary lives at the time, but it was their great faith that led them to do incredible things for God and His Church.

So, what do we do, in such a time as this? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We use our voice, like Catherine of Siena did.
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We pray unceasingly, like Monica did.
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We love our families, like Louis and Zelie did.
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We sacrifice for others, like Maximilian Kolbe did.
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We defend the marginalized, like Junipero Serra did.
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We fast, like Padre Pio did. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We rebuild a Church in need of repair, like Francis did.

We learn and defend Truth, like Aquinas and Augustine did.
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We forgive, like Josephine Bakhita did.
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We serve, like Teresa did.
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We give our lives to Christ, like Peter and Paul did. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

And we fight, like Joan did.
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How they responded to the challenges and hardships they faced in their time was their path to Sainthood. Maybe this is ours. You and I were made for such a time as this. We are called to respond. We are called to honor The Church, defend Truth, and give glory to God. How we answer this call may be exactly what makes us into great Saints.

Used with author's permission, and as first published, "Such a Time As This" by Katherine Ocello at her blogsite, June 25, 2020.

Katherine Ocello is a wife and mother living in a small town in New Jersey. She can be found blogging about "sharing the beauty and freedom in faith, family, and farm life" at Loves Jesus & America Too and on Instagram.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.”

Hebrews 12:1

When freedom does not have a purpose, when it does not wish to know anything about the rule of law engraved in the hearts of men and women, when it does not listen to the voice of conscience, it turns against humanity and society.”

Saint Pope John Paul II