Saturday, May 28 : Blessed Columba Marmion

We are the Church’s ambassadors. Now what is the most fundamental quality of an ambassador ? To be clever ? powerful ? to have a large fortune at one’s disposal ? to have influence ? to shine by one’s personal talents ? to eb “persona grata” with the sovereign to whom one is sent ? All this is useful and necessary; all these qualities would contribute without any doubt to the success of one’s mission, but they would be insufficient and sterile, they would even deviate from the end in view did not the ambassador identify himself first of all, and as perfectly as he possibly could, with the intentions and opinions of the sovereign who sent him, with the interests of the country he represents. The Church deputes us to the King of kings, to the throne of God. We must then identify ourselves with her views and wishes; the Church confides to us her interests, which are those of souls, those of eternity. This is not a trivial matter ! Let us then take into our hearts all the needs, all the necessities of the Church, (…), the anguish of souls in pain, the perils of those who are at this moment grappling with the devil, the anxieties of those who have to direct us, in order that all may receive God’s help. (…) Remember what Our Lord himself said: “Amen, amen I say to you: if you ask the Father for anything, he will give it you” (Jn 16:23). Rely upon this promise, ask much, ask in all confidence, and the Father from whom “every perfect gift comes down” (cf. Jas 1:17) will open his hands to fill every soul with blessings. For it is not we who pray, who intercede at this moment; it is the Church, it is Christ, our Head, the supreme High Priest who prays in us and stands before his Father to plead the cause of the sous he has redeemed (Heb 9:24, 7:25).
Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team