Sometimes, you need encouragement and you don’t realize how badly you need it. I had a phone call yesterday mid-morning, just as dear Toddler-tron and I were starting to really not play nicely, and it was a call straight from heaven. The friend who was on the other line, for some mundane piece of business, had no idea that she needed to call me, though she assured me by the end of the conversation that she was praying for me.

Last week, sitting in a room full of women sharing prayer requests, a friend offered me as the intention (without saying my name), and I’m the only other one who knew she was having the whole room pray for me. I’m not so good at asking people to pray for me, though I know I need prayers, especially now as I face confusion and turmoil all around me. So when dear Rachael piped up with her prayer request for “a friend,” I felt so loved, and so encouraged.

This morning, as I was catching up on some reading, I found this great quote over at Julie’s place. I can’t help but see it as a blog from heaven, because I really needed this quote today. I especially need to hear that second paragraph about God having a definite purpose for my life, because it makes the trust thing easier.

And how appropriate that it is the “saints alive” (as Father puts it) in my life who are giving me this encouragement, on this, the feast of All Saints! I’m offering Mass tonight in thanksgiving for these saints in my life, including Phone Call Friend, Rachael, and Julie.

Here’s the quote, in all its glory. Kind of makes “Make me an instrument” seem, well, appropriate…

1. God was all-complete, all-blessed in Himself; but it was His will to create a world for His glory. He is Almighty, and might have done all things Himself, but it has been His will to bring about His purposes by the beings He has created. We are all created to His glory — we are created to do His will. I am created to do something or to be something for which no one else is created; I have a place in God’s counsels, in God’s world, which no one else has; whether I be rich or poor, despised or esteemed by man, God knows me and calls me by my name.

2. God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission — I never may know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. Somehow I am necessary for His purposes, as necessary in my place as an Archangel in his — if, indeed, I fail, He can raise another, as He could make the stones children of Abraham. Yet I have a part in this great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connexion between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling.

3. Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain; He may prolong my life, He may shorten it; He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends, He may throw me among strangers, He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide the future from me — still He knows what He is about.

O Adonai, O Ruler of Israel, Thou that guidest Joseph like a flock, O Emmanuel, O Sapientia, I give myself to Thee. I trust Thee wholly. Thou art wiser than I — more loving to me than I myself. Deign to fulfil Thy high purposes in me whatever they be — work in and through me. I am born to serve Thee, to be Thine, to be Thy instrument. Let me be Thy blind instrument. I ask not to see — I ask not to know — I ask simply to be used.

Venerable John Henry Newman

Tags: Catholic, Christian, Faith & Reflection, Quotes