And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14
“You have placed me in charge of souls, assigning to me so many beloved sons, that I should love them with singular love and direct them to You by the way of Life, but I have been to them nothing but a mirror of human weakness; I have had no care of them; I have not helped them with continuous and humble prayer in Your presence, nor have I given them sufficient examples of the good life or the warnings of salutary doctrine. Oh, mean creature that I am! With how little reverence have I received Your innumerable gifts, the graces of such sweet torments and labors which it pleased You to accumulate on this fragile body, nor have I endured them with that burning desire and ardent love with which You sent them to me…For the love of Christ crucified, absolve me of all these sins which I have confessed in the presence of God, and of all the others which I cannot remember.”
Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) in The Dialogue of Catherine of Siena (London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co, 1907) 139.
I came upon the last words of Catherine and found a keen insight for my own journey of generosity.
She acknowledges herself as a mirror of human weakness who has received innumerable gifts from God. Perhaps you can relate? I know I can. You’ve been blessed so much, even given the charge of many souls, but you feel in the end you’ve done a mediocre job at best to form them.
She reveals a secret here, namely, what she wishes she had done differently.
She says that she wishes she would have helped them with continuous and humble prayer, examples of the good life, and warnings of salutary doctrine. It causes me to ponder the role of prayer, example, and teaching in my own care of souls as GTP has grow to have ten total staff.
Consider what stirs within you in the care of souls God has entrusted to you.
God forgive our human weakness despite your love and gifts. May our care of souls be nurtured by continuous and humble prayer, by sufficient examples of the good life, and with warnings of healthy doctrine so those we serve know how to live. Hear our prayer in your mercy in the name of Jesus. Amen.