Go in the Peace of Christ | Memorial of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal
The celebrant began the Holy Mass invoking the Three Divine Persons, that is, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He ends it by giving a blessing in the name of the same Holy Trinity - but it is God himself who blesses here, not the priest. The celebrant is only an instrument, a "conveyor". After all, each God's blessing is a call for His strength and power for our life, for all that it is immersed in. At this point of the Holy Mass, the priest once again reminds that God the Father is the Creator of heaven, earth and man, that the Son of God - Christ - for love for us, suffered the sacrifice of the cross, and that the Holy Spirit strengthens the whole Church with his power. The final blessing is accompanied by the wish to leave the altar "in the peace of Christ."
We have heard about this joyful, specific peace that Christ himself wants to give us, we heard just before giving ourselves the "Sign of peace." This repetition brings us to an important point: after the common mass prayer, we come out richer for the peace of Christ who has entered our hearts. This peace caused a joyful echo, hence our response: "Thanks be to God" - because he is the addressee of our gratitude. This acclamation also expresses our humble attitude.
We are aware that man will not be self-redeeming. After all, redemption is a gift, the grace of Christ. And therefore, "Thanks be to God." On especially solemn days, the final blessing can take a more elaborate form. The celebrant then says three, short formulas asking for various occasional graces to which we respond: "Amen".
A kiss by the priest on the altar on which "the mystery of our faith" has been accomplished, and a profound bow towards the altar, made with the servers, complete the ritual of the Holy Mass. However, it would be a huge misunderstanding if our contact with God ended when we left the church building. After all, we take the fruits of the Eucharistic liturgy beyond the gates of the church or chapel. For a believer, there are no two worlds separate from each other: the world of religion and the world of everyday life. The Eucharist showed us the manifold unity: the unity of the Persons of the Holy Trinity, the unity of the Body and Blood in Christ, the unity of Christ with us, the unity of all of us with each other. It is still about the same double communion - unity with God and between us, that is, in everyday life.
Brothers and Sisters, you are the Lord's chosen one, those to whom He bow down with love.
You are his heritage, his home, which he blesses. Your happiness is faithfulness of the Lord. He is making you a promise to stay forever with the People who redeemed himself by giving his life on the cross. This belonging is your happiness and hope. God will never abandon you. He will guard and strengthen himself the giving grace. Here he is sending you into everyday life, so that you may experience the fruits of the transformation he has made. Go - you are sent. Do not rest on your laurels, you carry a life within you that is to develop. You have received a light that must not be hidden under a bushel. The Holy Trinity dwell in your hearts - the most powerful Source of new existence. Become like Him. Allow Him to deeply transform your thoughts, feelings and desires.
From then on, the great adventure began, to which Jesus invited his disciples, saying: " It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain..." (cf. Jn 15:16). The Lord's fascinating invitation to participate in the grace of the Eucharist extends throughout our lives.
Memorial of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal
Friendship between people completely devoted to God always results in lasting good. The fruit of Jane and her spiritual director, St. Francis de Sales friendship is holiness. When Janedeparted to God for an eternal reward, she left 87 houses of the Sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary she had founded. Its spiritual director, St. Francis de Sales, Bishop of Geneva, through his simplicity of piety, influenced her life of prayer and the way she was with God. Thanks to him, she moved away from extraordinary practices and external mortifications. The guide on the paths of faith for Joan was Mary in the mystery of the Visitation.
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal was born on January 23, 1572 to a wealthy family in Dijon, France. Her father was an influential politician, speaker of the Burgundy Parliament. Her mother died very early, so she was brought up by a babysitter. She received a thorough education and, at the age of 20, married Baron Christopher de Chantal. She was the mother of six children whom she herself raised after her husband's tragic death during a hunt. This event had a great impact on her life of faith and prayer. Already then, she began to experience mystical graces. She communicated the Christian spirit of life to her children, caring for the sick and the poor, who gathered in large numbers to their caretaker.
In 1604, God put on her way the holy bishop Francis de Sales, with whom she understood at once perfectly. From the time he became her spiritual director, Jane's piety had become evangelically simple, now focusing more on interior mortification rather than external repentance as before. She always treated her relatives with great kindness. She spent a lot of time meditating on the Scriptures and praying without neglecting her daily duties. She remembered God's Presence and wanted to do everything right for God's sake.
As her children reached independence and their future was assured, she concluded that her role as a mother was over. Together with two friends and thanks to the spiritual support of Francis de Sales, she decided to live in a religious community. She wanted to devote herself entirely to prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. In 1610 she moved from Dijon to Annecy, where the first community of the Visitation Sisters was established. Joan de Chantal and her two companions made their religious vows in the presence of St. Francis de Sales. It was June 6, 1610, the feast of the Holy Trinity.
After the death of St. Francis de Sales in 1622, Mother Jane collected all his writings and made sure that his tomb was built at the convent in Annecy in the Church of the Visitants. The new guardian and spiritual director of the order was St. Vincent de Paul.Jane Frances de Chantal died on December 13, 1641, leaving behind 8 volumes of writings, letters and spiritual guidance. She was canonized in 1767 by Pope Clement XIII.
My best wishes to all parishioners of Jane Frances de Chantal Parish in North Hollywood. I keep in my heart the memory of these wonderful retreat days for the Divine Mercy group in your Parish. I wish you all to stay holy and follow the path of your Great Patron, Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, who is the women of God’s Mercy.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george