How I feel about it - Father Michael Mary

The spit continues. Accusation, detraction, calumny. I read it with my eyes and each word is like thick spit. I can wipe the spit from my face, brush it off, but it still penetrates my mind and inner sanctum. And I know that anyone for ever searching the Internet could read it and doubt me; mock me and scorn; spit again behind my back.

So how do I feel about it? It is not easy, but it is getting better.

I thought tonight of the prophet who was given a scroll with words written on both sides of the parchment. He was told to swallow it. He ate it and said that it was bitter to swallow but it turned into something sweet in his stomach. Beautiful image! (Ezk 3:1, Apoc 10:9) I think that this is what all this is supposed to be like.

I read the detractions and calumnies and have to swallow them. They are bitter, humiliating. Digestion is slow. But little by little, with the help of Our Lord, they will become a beatitude, and I pray for that. For He said: Blessed are you when these things happen to you for His sake and get ready to rejoice. So that's my optic on it all. It's the tough "Yaka" of our life with Christ.

 I am not the only one who faces these things. Many face worse calumnies. Let us all swallow whatever is written, for the love of Jesus. I say to myself "it's good for me!" whatever it is. Pray and let Our Lord's Crowning with Thorns and Mockery lead us on the road through painful indigestion of the scroll, to eventual peacefulness and spiritual sweetness, to finally rejoicing for the love of Him. That's the treatment we must follow for our souls. It is the way for every person who suffers from detraction and calumny for the love of Christ. 

Remember also what St Alphonsus teaches: He says that the dog only bites the stick that hits him and doesn't see the hand that hits. Which means that it is foolish for us to be angry and bite those who have detracted and calumniated us. They are the sticks. But the hand that hits is the Hand of God. Since God gives us this thrashing, we should submit to it for His glory and in submission to His purposes. It sounds tough, and it is tough, but it is right and just and true. That's us. Forgiveness is a work. It costs. We must pay well for the grace to get it right.

But there is more. It would be incomplete to avoid the charity of stating that every detractor has a moral obligation to reparation. I fear for our enemies. I say that in charity.

We have now reached a depth of detraction and calumny that is gravely immoral, way over the top. Now deep damage has been done and continues to mount. St Alphonsus teaches that each priest and monk possesses nothing in this world except his reputation. The reputation of our community members has now been most unjustly and gravely wounded, practically destroyed. Catholic media calls a Catholic Religious Congregation a "sect". We have become the offal of Christchurch diocese and now is true that "Any stone is good enough to throw at a dog!"

Be that as it is. May our enemies know that I love and pray for them, that I would willingly talk with them and help them to undo the damage that they have caused or contributed to knowingly or unknowing. As God Wills, that the peace of Christ may dwell in our hearts.

Devotedly

Father Michael Mary