Friday, 7 December 2012
For my Catholic male friends
Do not be depressed. Several of you have told me in the past week that you are depressed with the situations in America and England.
First of all, as heads of families and as husband and fathers, you cannot wallow in depression. You must rise to the occasion.
Second, did you not expect these turns of events-the mystery of evil, which some of us have seen for 40 years coming?
Third, it is your responsibility to be the spiritual as well as material leaders in your families and in your parishes. Leaders, like Christ, pray, accept the burden of suffering and decide what to do.
Four, what is God's Will for your lives? I cannot answer that question, only you can in great prayer and discernment by giving God the time He needs to speak to your heart.
Depression may be anger. So, five is either getting over the anger or turning it into righteous anger and changing things which you can change. Decide.
Depression is actually sinful if you stay in that state purposefully. Six, get out of depression through the reality that you and your families are going to suffer. Train them and yourself how. (It is not sinful if you are clinically depressed, of course.)
Seven, seek perfection.
Eight, realize that depression may be because you have always been in control and now you are not.
Give God control of your lives and if you have already, do it again.
Nine, seminarians, you have told me you are depressed. Deal with it as you are the age of martyrs. I have tried to tell you this for a long time.
Ten, God is in charge of you, me, your families, the Church, but He, in the Person of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity foretold these times.
Eleven, Christ was crucified. So what do you expect?
Twelve, be a saint and teach your families how to be saints.