February is the “month between” or sometimes the gateway to the Holy Season of Lent.. In our time Catholicism and individual Catholics in public life are very much in the news. People are curious about our faith. No one can be immune from questions provoked by this publicity. We must take advantage of every opportunity to know our faith on an adult intellectual level. Mother Franziska repeated often to her sisters what she must have learned from her father, loosely remembered as a warning not to “travel around as an “empty suitcase”. Our brains and also our spirits can be compared to suitcases or, today, “tote bags”. What do they contain?. Do we want to imprint our precious brain cells with superficial thrills or petty information or do we want to store treasure there for ourselves and others? Good books and media are available to all but there is also much misinformation in the media used by the general public so that the Holy Father, John Paul II’s desire for a new evangelization can not take place without committed Catholics able to respond accurately to questions about the faith
In this Mother Franziska would have her sisters on the front lines. By their prayers, actions, study and love they would demonstrate the true mission of the Church. They would be familiar with the Gospel from their own dedication to reading Sacred Scripture, and be articulate in a loving and true way about God’s Revelation through His Son Jesus Christ. Were we not promised the help of the Holy Spirit? Can we not rely on that promise during lunch breaks and over coffee as we speak from our own conviction about the wonders God has done in His Church and in our lives. The centrality of the Eucharist will become visible in our own manner in churches and at Catholic liturgies and ceremonies. If we have filled our hearts and minds with the beauty of our Catholic Faith we will be messengers of the Living Christ who wishes to draw all people to Himself. The curiosity about the source of our love and joy will attract them to Jesus. We will make Gods love more radiantly visible in our world.
