One of the treasures of our Catholic faith are the numerous writings from shepherds of our past that are relatively easy to locate. Several online resources are available to re-discover these treasures. www. Catholic.org, FranciscanMedia.org, Usccb.org, catholicnewsagency.com, newadvent.org, catholicculture. org, catholicsaints.info, as well as many others. Most of the words that follow are taken from a homily by Saint Peter Chrysologus that is printed in the Breviary. He was a bishop in Ravenna, Italy. He was born around 380 and died around 450.

Prayer Knocks

“If you pray, fast; if you fast; show mercy; if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. If you do not close your ear to others you open God’s ear to yourself.

Fasting

Fasting is the soul of prayer and mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. When you fast see the fasting of others. If you want God to know that you are hungry, know that another is hungry. Let us use fasting to make up for what we have lost by despising others. When you fast, if your mercy is thin, your harvest will be thin. When you fast what you pour out in mercy overflows in your barns.

Mercy

If you hope for mercy, show mercy. If you look for kindness, show kindness. If you want to receive, give. Fasting bears no fruit, unless it is watered by mercy. Mercy is to fasting as rain is to the earth. If you ask for yourself what you deny to others, your asking is mockery. Therefore do not lose by saving, but gather in by scattering. Give to the poor and you give to yourself. You will not be allowed to keep what you have refused to give to others. “

Let prayer, mercy and fasting be one single plea to God on our behalf…

This threefold approach to the spiritual life is Trinitarian as well as foundational in our understanding of the three- legged stool, of Piety, Study and Action in Cursillo. I must admit, when it comes to my own self-reflection, I am stronger with prayer, not so much with fasting, my orientation to fasting has been primarily around the season of Lent. My action with mercy has mostly been around the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. So, the invitation from St. Peter Chrysologus is to strengthen our prayer life by always including fasting and mercy. Prayer, coupled with fasting and mercy, may be our strongest intercessory. As we continue to face challenges within Cursillo, The Church and Our Country we might better heed the words of this great shepherd.

Tim Helmeke, Retired Deacon