“O, that I had wings of like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.”
Psalm 55:6 Song of David
~Daily Examination of Conscience~
A Meditation on the Eight Beatitudes
Through the Love and Faith of Saint Veronica
1. “Blessed are the poor in spirit;
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
As Saint Veronica saw Our Lord,
poor in body and spirit on His way to Calvary,
she desired to offer Him the richness of her love
with all that she had to give, a simple cloth.
Have I been attentive to others
who are in need of love and understanding?
Was I helpful and patient toward those in need?
Have I been satisfied with what I have
and what my parents provide for me
without comparing what I have to others?
Have I expressed my gratitude to my parents
for all they do for me?
2. “Blessed are the gentle;
they shall have the earth for their heritage.”
Saint Veronica witnessed the cruelty of the soldiers,
as they harshly forced Our Lord
to carry the cross on His way to Calvary.
‘Gentleness is love when faced with provocation’. (Fr. Hardon)
Have I acted toward others with charity and humility,
without sharpness,
without becoming impatient with their shortcomings?
3. “Blessed are those who mourn;
they shall be comforted.”
As Saint Veronica moved through the crowd,
her desire was to comfort Our Lord
by wiping his wounded,
bleeding face with a cloth.
Have I comforted those who are sorrowful by
being present to them in their hour of sadness?
Have I offered my sorrows to the Lord this day,
in order that He may provide me the spiritual strength
to remain firm in my hardships,
thus helping me to grow closer to Him through of my trials?
4. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for what is right: they shall be satisfied.”
Saint Veronica knew that what was happening
to Jesus was wrong.
She longed to reach him and
offer him the comfort of cloth
as an expression of her faith in Him.
'Those who hunger and thirst for what is right
are those who want what God wants.
God always gives a deep spiritual joy
to those who do His will In spite of trial and difficulty’. (Fr. Hardon)
He left an image of His face on a cloth
for Saint Veronica to discover,
so that she would have a way to remember Him always;
and in turn, a sacred ‘forget-me-not’
to all those who would follow in His ways till the end of time.
Do I want what is right for my family and me,
even if it means I have to sacrifice for that?
Do I offer my crosses to the Lord,
so that He may help me understand
how much He loves me for wanting to do what is right?
5. “Blessed the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.”
Saint Veronica’s strength of compassion
moved her through the noise and chaos of Calvary,
to offer the merciful cloth to the wounded face of Jesus.
Have I been willing to relieve the suffering of others
by listening to them in their suffering?
Have I offered sacrifices and prayers
for those who are suffering in my life?
6. “Blessed the pure in heart: they shall see God.”
The image of Jesus was imprinted
on the cloth that Saint Veronica offered
in love.
The name given to this woman of faith,
Veri+icon, means ‘true image’.
Do I cloth myself in a way
that preserves the true image of Christ in me?
Do I dress to preserve my own worth in its true light,
as a daughter of God, at all times?
7. “ Blessed the peacemakers;
they shall be called the children of God. “
Saint Veronica labored to bring a peaceful expression
of love to the suffering Christ,
in the midst of an enraged multitude.
‘Peacemakers are those who love peace and labor
to establish peace all around them:
they try to heal discord between people
and especially to seek to reconcile sinners
who are estranged from God.
Peace is the tranquility of order.' Fr. Hardon, S.J.
Do I try to keep a sense of order in my own life?
Do I assist with keeping order within my own home?
Do I frequent the Sacraments of
Confession and Holy Communion
to keep spiritual order in my soul?
Peace is the calm that accompanies agreement of human wills,
and is the foundation of every well-ordered society.
The rewards promised to peacemakers
are the grace now of being specially loved by God
as His dearest children and the attainment of heavenly glory
as part of God’s family in eternity.’ (Fr. Hardon)
How have I tried to be a peacemaker in my own family
when there are conflicts?
Do I get the proper rest, nutrition and exercise
so that I may be physically prepared
for the trials that may come into my life?
8. “Blessed are those who are persecuted
in the cause of right;
theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.”
Saint Veronica suffered for her love and faith,
despite the intentions of popular opinion
that would lead to the brutal death of Jesus on the Cross.
'All those are persecuted in the cause of right
who are opposed and criticized for their loyalty to Christ
and His Church and who persevere in doing God’s will
in spite of not being accepted or even being rejected by others.'
(Fr. Hardon)
Do I spend time studying my faith,
through spiritual writings and catechesis,
so that I may witness to the hope
that is within me since the time of my Baptism?
Christ teaches the humanly impossible doctrine
of accepting persecution
with patience and resignation to God’s will
while the world dreads nothing more
than criticism and rejection.
Human respect, which means acceptance by society,
is the world’s moral norm.
The reward for suffering persecution on earth
is the possession of the kingdom of God in Heaven.’ (Fr. Hardon)
Do I offer daily prayers, faithfully,
to strengthen my relationship with Christ
so that I may be prepared to witness to truth,
within God’s permitting will?
Quotations from the catechesis of Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.
Servant of God
www.mariancatechist.com
Reflections written by Sharon M. Willoughby
Copyright © 2010
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