Mission

[BarbTherese]

Read this on the website of Apostles of The Sacred Heart of Jesus (referred to in the thread on Emma in VS).  I thought it worth sharing. It speaks to me of embracing one's vocation with conviction and grateful Joy in all its circumstances - and easier said than done often :

"Love your work; perform it with joy. Do not allow yourself to become discouraged by difficulties, lack of success or humdrum daily duties. Be convinced that this is your mission and you will make God better loved."

— M. Clelia Merloni

Mother Clelia was foundress of the Apostles of The Sacred Heart - cause for canonization in process (details on website)

[Era Might]

I watched the movie The Mission yesterday, one of my favorites. I love the end when both priests die, Robert DeNiro took up arms to defend the Mission, and Jeremy Irons refused to resort to violence...both are shot down, but both were faithful to their mission to the end, as imperfectly as it was to do so.

[BarbTherese]

Thank you!  I haven't seen the movie, but will put it on file for watching in the futures - thanks for sharing.  One of my favourite movies is

Heaven Knows Mr Allison

 This is it, I think.  We might have in all honesty chosen the 'wrong' mission in life/ got things completely wrong in some places -  and followed our beliefs faithfully to the end.  Our Divine Lord of Mercy is not such as to penalise one for getting things wrong in the first place (a rather common fallibly human quality), rather He looks to the integrity of the heart which was true and sincere and remained so.  "Man judges appearances, The Lord knows the heart" (1 Samuel Ch 16) This does remind me of the prayer of Thomas Merton. 

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,

though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.