Retreat Witness
I gave a talk at our high school retreat this past weekend. The theme of the witness was supposed to be "Recognizing the call and your value to God." I ended the song with a song my mom wrote when she was younger.
I didn’t always know that my vocation was to be a wife and mother. I certainly didn’t know that my vocation was to serve the church through youth ministry. And if you had told me ten years ago that my vocation involved computers, I would’ve laughed in your face. But the Lord works in mysterious ways.
Hi, my name is Raven. I’m the oldest of seven, like long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and chocolate. But we’re getting a bit off track here.
I come from what I like to call an uber-Catholic family. The outdoor Stations of the Cross at my parents church were once in an extension of my backyard. Every child in the family was named after a saint, including me. I just happen to share thee exact same name with my grandmother. But I wasn’t named after her. Each year, we’d celebrate our baptismal days and feast days. Being Catholic was apart of our every day lives.
Given the previous information, it should come as no shock to you when I tell you that vocations and following God’s call was emphasized in my household. My parents were open with us about religious life, marriage, and priesthood. We often prayed for vocations, for couples we knew that had recently gotten married, and for various nuns, monks, deacons and priests we knew. We even drove to Mexico as a family to witness the Ordination of a family friend. We were encouraged to discern our vocation to the single, married, and religious life at a young age. Clearly vocations were important.
But my parents also understood and taught us that there is more to vocations and being called than the future. After all, we’re not just called to be holy when we graduate college or get our first real job. In his talk, The Mass Explained, Fr. Larry Richards says, “Your number one vocation is to bring others to Christ.” That’s right! Our primary vocation, our highest goal, our number one priority is to bring others to Christ! In their strategy plan on evangelization, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote, “Evangelization is the essential mission of the church.” And what happens when we evangelize? We bring others to Christ! It’s that straightforward.
Okay now. I know what you’re thinking, “Beth, how am I going to bring others to Christ?” Or “Beth, you clearly have no idea - I’m still in high school!” Or “I wish she’d finish up already. I really want some candy.” In his book, The Way, St. Josemaria Escriva writes,”
The Way 474: So you are a nobody. And others have done wonders - are still doing them 0 through organization, through the press, through promotion. And they have all the means, while you have non. Well, then, just remember Ignatius. Ignorant among the doctors of Alcala; poor, penniless, among the students of Paris; persecuted, slandered…That’s the way: love, and have faith, and …suffer! Your love and your faith and your cross are the unfailing means to make effective and to perpetuate the ardent desires for apostolate that you bear in your heart.”
God can work through you. Through anyone! After all, he worked through Samuel, a young Israelite. Samuel, in his old age, anointed David, a young shepherd to be king of Israel. Esther was also a young girl and she saved an entire nation! Mother Mary was young when she gave her “Yes!” to God. Being too young is not a good enough excuse.
You are called here, now, today, to “know, love, and serve God and be happy with Him in the next.” God can and will use the many talents you have. You just have to let Him work through you. Fr. Michael Scanlon, TOR says,
"…Go for holiness. If this is the passion that drives us, the priority that orders everything else, all the failures and trials, all the opportunities and risks in our lives can be transformed. They can be seen as ways to grow in holiness. Failure is an opportunity to grow in humility. Frustration is a way to grow in patience. Suffering links us to the suffering of our Savior, who suffered and died for us. The needs of others are opportunities to grow in charity. To go for holiness means to live wholly for God."
Mom’s Song:
The Lord is the strength of His people, a saving fortress for His anointed.
Save Your people, bless Your heritage; shepherd them and carry them forever!
If the Lord has set His heart on you
It was not because of your great strength.
It was for love of you that He chose you
To be His consecrated people!
I didn’t always know that my vocation was to be a wife and mother. I certainly didn’t know that my vocation was to serve the church through youth ministry. And if you had told me ten years ago that my vocation involved computers, I would’ve laughed in your face. But the Lord works in mysterious ways.
Hi, my name is Raven. I’m the oldest of seven, like long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and chocolate. But we’re getting a bit off track here.
I come from what I like to call an uber-Catholic family. The outdoor Stations of the Cross at my parents church were once in an extension of my backyard. Every child in the family was named after a saint, including me. I just happen to share thee exact same name with my grandmother. But I wasn’t named after her. Each year, we’d celebrate our baptismal days and feast days. Being Catholic was apart of our every day lives.
Given the previous information, it should come as no shock to you when I tell you that vocations and following God’s call was emphasized in my household. My parents were open with us about religious life, marriage, and priesthood. We often prayed for vocations, for couples we knew that had recently gotten married, and for various nuns, monks, deacons and priests we knew. We even drove to Mexico as a family to witness the Ordination of a family friend. We were encouraged to discern our vocation to the single, married, and religious life at a young age. Clearly vocations were important.
But my parents also understood and taught us that there is more to vocations and being called than the future. After all, we’re not just called to be holy when we graduate college or get our first real job. In his talk, The Mass Explained, Fr. Larry Richards says, “Your number one vocation is to bring others to Christ.” That’s right! Our primary vocation, our highest goal, our number one priority is to bring others to Christ! In their strategy plan on evangelization, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote, “Evangelization is the essential mission of the church.” And what happens when we evangelize? We bring others to Christ! It’s that straightforward.
Okay now. I know what you’re thinking, “Beth, how am I going to bring others to Christ?” Or “Beth, you clearly have no idea - I’m still in high school!” Or “I wish she’d finish up already. I really want some candy.” In his book, The Way, St. Josemaria Escriva writes,”
The Way 474: So you are a nobody. And others have done wonders - are still doing them 0 through organization, through the press, through promotion. And they have all the means, while you have non. Well, then, just remember Ignatius. Ignorant among the doctors of Alcala; poor, penniless, among the students of Paris; persecuted, slandered…That’s the way: love, and have faith, and …suffer! Your love and your faith and your cross are the unfailing means to make effective and to perpetuate the ardent desires for apostolate that you bear in your heart.”
God can work through you. Through anyone! After all, he worked through Samuel, a young Israelite. Samuel, in his old age, anointed David, a young shepherd to be king of Israel. Esther was also a young girl and she saved an entire nation! Mother Mary was young when she gave her “Yes!” to God. Being too young is not a good enough excuse.
You are called here, now, today, to “know, love, and serve God and be happy with Him in the next.” God can and will use the many talents you have. You just have to let Him work through you. Fr. Michael Scanlon, TOR says,
"…Go for holiness. If this is the passion that drives us, the priority that orders everything else, all the failures and trials, all the opportunities and risks in our lives can be transformed. They can be seen as ways to grow in holiness. Failure is an opportunity to grow in humility. Frustration is a way to grow in patience. Suffering links us to the suffering of our Savior, who suffered and died for us. The needs of others are opportunities to grow in charity. To go for holiness means to live wholly for God."
Mom’s Song:
The Lord is the strength of His people, a saving fortress for His anointed.
Save Your people, bless Your heritage; shepherd them and carry them forever!
If the Lord has set His heart on you
It was not because of your great strength.
It was for love of you that He chose you
To be His consecrated people!