May - Month of Mary
The Virtue of Charity & Saying YES
 

     May is the month of Mary. The mother of Jesus. The mother of our Church. Mary is cherished and has many roles in our Church. Our Blessed Mother is known by many names, including Our Lady of Charity for she always is giving of herself, totally. And that is what runs through all her actions and interactions, when she was living on this Earth and since she was assumed into Heaven. Mary embodies charity. She is faithful - saying YES to God.

     Mary grew up simply and was from a family of little consequence to those in power. Yet she was chosen. God often seems to select those the world ignores or casts aside. Earlier this month we remembered Our Lady of Fatima's apparitions to three shepherd children, Lucia Santos, and her two cousins, Jacinta and Francisco Marto. They said YES, just like Mary.

     Mattie, who hailed from Prince George's County, attended Mass several times a week at little Holy Rosary Church in Rosaryville, Maryland. Mattie, some might say, seemingly had little offer, but YES. Mattie said YES to God and to his mission of sharing his Heartsongs and reminding everyone that they matter. Mattie said YES, when his body was failing, to continue with his speaking engagements and writings. And Mattie said YES when God stopped sending him messages thus indicating that the time had come for Mattie to leave his Mom and earthly home. 

     We are all called to say YES. But we don't always respond. Mattie reminded us when he was alive and reminds us now to say YES to our Heartsong. God made us as we were meant to be. With purpose. Saying YES and loving so completely is charity, as in the theological virtue. We love God above all things for his own sake, and we love our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. Charity upholds and purifies our human ability to love, and raises it to the supernatural perfection of divine love. [www.vatican.va] 

     Charity is a selfless love that simultaneously enriches oneself. And it is a love that we do not embody if we have lost our way, which is why it is a theological virtue along with faith and hope. But just because we are lost, does not mean we cannot be found. God and his love are always waiting.

The Way Home
by Mattie J.T. Stepanek -- age 5
Sometimes the way home is love.
Sometimes the way home is together.
And sometimes the way home is
Not just love,
But loving each other.
And sometimes the way home is
Not just together,
But together with other people...
People you love a lot,
People you like a lot, and
People you are friends with.
But all of the times, the way home is
Every good thing that God told us to do.

~ Hope through Heartsongs (Hyperion 2002)