How to remain standing while those around you fall?

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⚜️ STUDY QUESTIONS

1. Dona Lucilia and many other fervent Catholics in her time recognized the “Cold War” conflict between the communist and anti-communist factions as “a religious war in which the highest interests of the Church were at stake.”

She predicted that “The Europe we will have . . . will no longer be desirable to see, unless our Catholic religion is victorious in the fight against the Russian invaders.”

We seem to have lost the conviction that the wars and conflicts of our time are also part of the same fight – for God and His Holy Church or against Him.

How can we keep that in mind as we hear world news and pray for “peace”?

2. Dr. Plinio is experiencing a privileged time on his European trip.  During an audience with Pope Pius XII, he receives a special greeting and Blessings for himself, his work and his family. He visits at the residence of a renowned Cardinal, receives ”so many invitations and kindnesses” from the Jesuit Priest who was his former teacher, and among other privileges, is assigned a reserved spot at a canonization ceremony.

Naturally, Dona Lucilia would have derived great satisfaction hearing him tell all of this, but on his return, “She did not fail to counterbalance her elation with her unflagging vigilance. She “looked at her son attentively with her serene and penetrating gaze,” and was able to declare once more, “Filhao, thank God you are always the same.”

This conclusion was not simply the case of a devoted mother doting on her highly esteemed son. She was imbued with the realities that even “the best of sons” and an exemplary Catholic would be subjected to the temptations of the very different life in Europe, frequenting lofty social circles and visiting museums and art galleries containing works that are “decent, but also others that are not.”

It was with all of these considerations that Dona Lucilia was able to conclude that Dr. Plinio was “always the same.”

It was of course not accidental that Dr. Plinio was able to preserve his integrity amidst all of these temptations.  What spiritual and practical means would he have employed?

3. From the time of her own wedding, Dona Lucilia has now participated in that of her daughter, Rosee, and now her granddaughter, Maria Alice.

She has experienced personal reversals of fortune and upheavals of world order. She will experience yet another move – a final one – to a lovely apartment thoughtfully refurbished under the direction of her devoted son, which she refers to as “our delightful home.”

In keeping with the intended spirit of the telling of her story, and for various practical reasons, many of her personal trials and sufferings were not included, but we know that throughout everything, she maintained her usual grace and dignity, always doing what good she was able to, and avoiding expressions of anger or sadness.

Is it that she just had a natural disposition to act this way, or what spiritual means would she have used to achieve such equanimity, and how can we apply this to our own lives?

For more articles like this go to Heralds Mundi Telegram or donalucilia.com