Mother Franziska would have loved to live in our day. As I was driving to a new destination and using a gps aide for the first time I imagined her startled question in German what the voice was. I explained that I had just passed a designated exit and the gps was taking time to recalculate. As I explained the meaning of the word she noted how important a concept that was for our spiritual lives. Mother Franziska, at the very beginning of her foundation had a great disappointment with a key factor of her team. She lost the priest who had been the spiritual director of her young community. He gave talks, helped write the beginning rules, heard confessions and celebrated the Eucharist. Then a separation became urgent and she could tell no one for the reason. She confided to a close friend that she was in tears whenever she was alone. It was here that her faith taught her to “recalculate”. Accept the situation which could not be changed and continue along the road to the destination which, she was sure, was the will of God. Trust in God was the hallmark of her life and gave her the strength to go on. When we meet an obstacle, a sin, a scandal, it is not a call to give up but to find a new path. The path may be in a mist, but Jesus is there and in prayer we will find the strong hand that is reaching out to lead us on. This makes it possible to use our most important tool for the New Evangelisation: Our joyful smile grounded in boundless faith in God. Our sad world needs joy and each one of us, inspired by Mother Franziska’s goals: to do good, give joy, make happy and lead to heaven… will be bringing to our brothers and sisters the good news which will be the challenge of the current World Synod of Bishops.
