Real Charity in the Name of Christ

I am posting this on both of my blogs because of the way this situation has affected me and the feelings and thoughts it has provoked. Yesterday we went to Mass as usual and, as usual, the thought crossed my mind that, perhaps "we" (meaning me, of course) were just too tired to go. It is funny how all kinds of excuses can be made for not going to Mass... My gosh- the list would be an interesting blog in itself. But, as usual, I decided that we must go. Today I felt more positive than usual of this fact and even had to deal with my husband really not wanting to go. Still, I would not hear about staying home. I just felt like we absolutely had to get to Mass. During Mass, while I was in the back of the church with my youngest child, I saw a very small, very sick and very sad looking girl walk in. She was not dressed like everyone else and, because of how terrible she looked, I thought that she was either in some terrible trouble or, perhaps strung out on something. She sat down and began crying. I didn't know what to do. I thought that I should go to her but I thought that maybe this would embarrass her and I didn't want to make her feel any worse than she already did. I did not want to seem insulting or nosey, either. But she only got worse and I just had to make sure that she was OK. So, I walked up to her and gently asked her if she was OK. She was crying and I could tell by the way she looked at me that she was not offended or insulted. I put my arm around her and I asked her if she wanted to talk. She was sobbing hysterically and could not talk. Once she calmed down, we went outside so that she could talk. I can't write what we spoke about but she needed help- she needed medical attention and she also needed to speak with a priest ASAP. Our parish priest was in the rectory while the TLM celebrant was saying Mass so I took her to the pastor and told him that she was in need of some spiritual guidance. This was an understatement but I was trying to be respectful or her privacy. He was preparing for Mass and would not be able to speak with her until after the next Mass- about 2 hours later. I thought that, perhaps, the TLM celebrant would help her so we waited for him behind the church but, unfortunately, he had gone out the front and was gone. While rushing around trying to find him, I saw a Franciscan Friar in the church and asked him for help. I quickly explained her situation and told her that it may really be a matter of life and death. He replied that he was only there for the Mass and so couldn't help (?). Because the girl was in terrible pain and needed to go to the ER, we drove to the Church a few blocks away in hopes that the priest there would help her. My husband went into the sacristy after knocking and calling the priest's name and was yelled at by the priest. He told my husband that he couldn't help until the Mass was over, even though he was not the priest saying it. So, we drove back to our parish and waited. I tried to keep her as happy as possible (which was hard considering the pain and circumstance she was in) and I also tried to keep her there so that she could speak to the priest and then we could make sure that she got treatment. My husband got the priest and he was kind enough to be of service to her. She told him as much as she could and he advised her- but not without a little lecture on morals... which I thought was odd considering the predicament she was in but his goal is to save souls and this is where he was coming from and I can appreciate, understand and respect that. (This is one of the reasons why we love this priest...) So we went to the hospital where a friend of mine works. This friend is a good, trustworthy person who is also pro- life- I would trust the lives of my children in his capable and compassionate hands. It turned out that she was OK and now, I have a wonderful friend who is a very beautiful, strong and kind person. While we were in the ER, I felt so blessed to be there for her- with her. I saw that she was scared and that she had to humble herself quite a bit during the time I was helping her and I was so grateful that this person- who was a stranger- had chosen to put her trust in me. Now, I know that I didn't do a thing; it was God that did. She told me that she had never been to my church; but on that day she decided that she had to go. She had to be close to God. She didn't know what else to do and felt that she just had to go. I told her that I almost didn't come that day... She never lost her faith. She looked at me outside of the church and, despite her pain and fear, she asked "God can do anything, right?" I was floored. It wasn't so much a question fueled by doubt but instead a statement that just had to be said out loud. This child- in pain and suffering horribly was filled with such trust and faith! The more I learned about her life, the more honored and blessed I felt to have met her; she has had a very difficult life and has not given up. I felt so undeserving and unworthy to help her. When we dropped her off, her neighbors and friends thanked me and I blushed; it wasn't me who did anything- it was all God! He deserves thanks- not me! I felt almost ill at being thanked... It is not my praise to take. Once we brought her home, I was able to collect my thought and express them to my husband. I suppose I felt very let down by some of the religious we had encountered that day. No one is perfect- not even priests- I know this. I also know that there aren't a lot of priests to go around and so most priests are very worn out from dealing with the problems of others. This is understandable. But this had been an emergency and it was very hard to get any help for her. While she needed medical care, she would not go to the ER without first speaking with a priest. Priests, I think, are like doctors of the soul and, because of her situation, both her physical and spiritual health depended on being able to speak with a priest. She only needed 5 minutes- 10 at the most. The friar was only there for the Mass which was not set to begin for a few minutes (I should clarify that he wasn't going to say the Mass). I don't know this man; I can't judge him or his motives but I have to wonder if St. Francis would have refused to help. The priest at the parish a few blocks away actually yelled at my husband and refused to help even though my husband told him that someone needed his help! He wasn't saying Mass and so I don't understand why he refused to help this girl. I guess I really felt let down and embarrassed. This girl was a fallen- away Catholic and was getting a good taste of the very worst our Church has to offer... At times yesterday, I was embarrassed to be Catholic because of the un-Christlike behavior towards this poor girl who so desperately needed help! How cruel to turn someone away like that or do absolutely nothing for no apparent reason. I also had to wonder why no one else bothered to see whether or not she was OK during Mass. She was there a good 10 min. before I went to her... I can't just ignore someone crying like that anywhere! Jesus commands us to love each other. We are also commanded to visit the sick (Corporal Works of Mercy) and this girl was obviously sick in some way that warranted some sort of visitation! What have we become as Catholics? As followers of Christ? How can we call ourselves lovers of Christ if we can't love those among us who are also God's children? If we are one body in Christ- why do we allow our arm to suffer without assistance from the other parts? How can we be so cold and callous? We should all be ashamed. My best friend told me that what I did was "so nice." I told her that she would have done the same thing and there was an odd silence. I don't know if she would or would not have but that is not the point. I did what any human being should do for any other human being and- especially- what one child of God should do for another. It is an obligation and a privilege to assist others in need. Helping others is a wonderful way to glorify Him and let His love be felt in the world. It isn't a case of being nice; it is a case of being a Christian and being able to recognize the face of the suffering Jesus in everyone. After all, what we do to others, we do to Him! I am disappointed in my fellow Catholics today. I pray that we all may serve God by serving others and love God by loving others. I pray that people in need will be able to get the help they need from our priests and that priests will be moved to help others in need. I also pray for more priests so that the ones we have aren't so prone to being burned out or desensitized to suffering. I pray for our priests, anyhow, because I think that life must be very hard for them at times. I pray that we- as Catholics- can get it together and behave like proper Christians. It isn't enough to go to Mass well dressed and act holy when we can't act holy in a real kind of way. It isn't enough to say that we are Catholics only to act like heathens. If we continue to act in such a selfish way, we will soon be terribly unworthy of being called followers of Christ. I pray that this never happens. In closing, today is Memorial Day in the US. God bless all of our veterans and people serving in the military! Thank you for your service!