Un-Saintly Behavior

While hesitating at the door, not wanting to bring in our mud-covered dog, who was begging pitifully, the story of Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque's eager willingness to watch over the donkeys at her convent came to mind. Asking myself, "Where is my compassion?" and wondering why my behavior is so much less than saintly, I brought our pet in and immediately put him in his crate so that he would not dirty the house until I had prepared the shower for the next unpleasant ordeal.

Later I re-read the account of Blessed Margaret Mary's life and realized I had forgotten some of the details. By her own telling of things, her natural disposition was not inclined towards certain humiliations. When presented with them she was compelled to seek the Lord's help. He came to her aid with this admonition,

Acknowledge then that thou canst do nothing without Me. My assistance shall never be wanting to thee provided that thou dost always keep thy own weakness and nothingness buried in My strength.

She was not imitating saintly behavior, but relying upon the Lord. Furthermore, it was ultimately her prayer life that was the foundation for all of her willingness to suffer. Constantly in prayer, forever leaning upon her Beloved, her outward actions were the fruit of her interior orientation. I had omitted this detail. I remembered her tireless efforts to keep the donkeys from trampling the vegetable garden and her saying that,

I felt so happy in this employment that I should not have cared if it lasted all my life.

I had forgotten that it was not that she delighted in chasing the constantly, straying animals, but that her prayers meant so much to her. When asked what she had learned while dutifully guarding the garden, she answered,

My Divine Master kept me company so faithfully, that though running about continually I never lost His presence. I received greater lights at this time than I had ever had before, particularly regarding His Sacred Passion and Death.

She relished this mundane task because it allowed her the privilege of keeping her mind and heart fixed upon Jesus, her Beloved. Many of my everyday tasks require more mental concentration than bathing the dog. These other tasks interrupt my recollection and make it difficult to transition back to prayer because my mind is so full and busy. Tomorrow, when our dog wants to come in, I will remember that cleaning him affords me a quiet moment to enjoy the presence of my Beloved and draw near His Sacred Heart.

(Trauth, M. (1919). The life of blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque: Religious of the Visitation at Paray-Le-Monial 1647-1690. London: Sands & Co.)

#prayer #saintstories #contemplativelife