Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930),Secretary of State for Pope Saint  O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me. From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being loved... From the desire of being extolled ... From the desire of being honored ... From the desire of being praised ... From the desire of being preferred to others... From the desire of being consulted ... From the desire of being approved ... From the fear of being humiliated ... From the fear of being despised... From the fear of suffering rebukes ... From the fear of being calumniated ... From the fear of being forgotten ... From the fear of being ridiculed ... From the fear of being wronged ... From the fear of being suspected ... That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be esteemed more than I ... That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease ... That others may be chosen and I set aside ... That others may be praised and I unnoticed ... That others may be preferred to me in everything... That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should… |
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In answer to The Anchoress's blog, Dear Catholic World, Why Do You Remain Catholic?She asked, "How about if Catholic writers from all over the internet — bloggers, reporters, poets, aggregators, newshounds, journal editors, politicians, new-media-storming priests and nuns, Catholics in secular positions — what if they all were to take a few minutes to jot down “Why I Remain A Catholic” and post it where they can, on websites or social media?"
Here is my answer:
I was raised Catholic. I loved the church and especially loved reading about the saints.
Then in my teens and twenties, I left the church and I listened to the world.The world told me I can be aborted in my mother's womb, and euthanized when I'm old. The world said I need bigger breasts, no wrinkles, Botox, and birth control. The world told me it's okay to hook up and I'm not worth much to anyone. The world told me I'm fat, ugly, and disposable. The world said that TV shows with rape, torture, drugs, sex and violence were award-winning art. The world said that pornography is normal and pedophilia is fine, and it doesn't hurt anyone. The world said that life was all about pleasure, money, sex and success. I learned the world was a liar.The church tells me I'm holy and a child of God. That God has a covenant with me. That He knit me in my mother's womb and I have a great purpose in the world.
God the creator of the universe has counted every hair on my head. He knows me. He loves me. I know that if I was the only person in the world, he would have died on the cross for me. That's what I'm worth. When I receive the Eucharist I go to heaven for a few seconds. When I go to confession I feel the power of absolution. I learned the Catholic Church was Truth.
I am Catholic because the Truth is worth fighting for. The Truth sets you free.
There lies the hidden truth, the Catholic Church breaks the chains of slavery the world has you believing in, and gives you freedom from those things that keep you from true joy. I remain Catholic because over the last 50 years, I realize that only through the Catholic Church, can I be truly free and filled with joy.
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