[THEME MUSIC] >> Father: I'M FR. MITCH PACWA AND WELCOME TO "EWTN LIVE" WHERE WE BRING YOU GUESTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. AS MOST OF YOU MAY KNOW, TODAY IS ASH WEDNESDAY. YOU MAY NOTICE THAT I AM NOT WEARING ASHES. WHERE I CELEBRATE IN MY PARISH WE CELEBRATE ASH MONDAY. I GUESS WE JUST NEED A LITTLE EXTRA PENANCE. SO BESIDES HAVING TO PUT UP WITH ME, THEY ALSO HAVE A COUPLE EXTRA DAYS OF LENT, SO THAT IS WHAT WE DO. AND IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL. AS LONG AS WE HAVE A GREAT GUEST, WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TRUST. NOW A LOT OF PEOPLE FIND TRUST BE VERY DIFFICULT. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HURT BY SOMETHING. EVENTS. BY SOMEONE. AND MANY OF US ALSO HAVE OUR OWN DESIRES FOR OUR LIVES THAT WE STRONGLY WANT TO SEE FULFILLED. WE HAVE A FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN. AND ALL OF THESE THINGS TOGETHER AND INDIVIDUALLY CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO TRUST PEOPLE. AND FOR MANY OF US, EVEN HARDER TO TRUST THE LORD. HERE TO HELP US ADDRESS THIS CONCERN TONIGHT IS A RELIGIOUS SISTER FROM THE SISTERS OF LIFE COMMUNITY. SHE HAS WRITTEN A WONDERFUL PRAYER CALLED "THE LITANY OF TRUST." AND SHE HAS RECENTLY PUT INTO BOOK FORM AND TURNED IT INTO A 30 DAY CONTEMPLATIVE RETREAT THAT ANYONE CAN DO AT HOME ALL ON YOUR OWN OR WITH OTHER PEOPLE. IT IS CALLED "JESUS I TRUST IN YOU: A 30-DAY PERSONAL RETREAT WITH THE LITANY OF TRUST." SO PLEASE WELCOME SR. FAUSTINA MARIA OF THE SISTERS OF LIFE. SISTER, WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, FATHER. >> Father: IT IS SO NICE TO HAVE YOU WITH US. WHERE DO YOU NORMALLY LIVE? >> I LIVE IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN SO IT'S A GREAT JOY TO BE HERE TONIGHT. >> Father: GOOD TO BE WITH YOU. WELCOME TO ALABAMA AND ALSO TO OUR AUDIENCE. FIRST OF ALL, YOUR NAME, FAUSTINA, DID THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PRAYER, JESUS I TRUST IN YOU? >> MY MOTHER, SAINT FAUSTINA BEFORE SHE WAS A SAINT, SO SHE HAD THE LOVE FOR HER AND LO AND BEHOLD I AM THE YOUNGEST OF EIGHT AND THAT NAME WAS SAVED FOR A SPECIAL REASON, I AM VERY GRATEFUL. SO I GREW UP WITH THAT NAME. >> Father: IS THAT RIGHT? SO IT'S NOT A NAME YOU TOOK IN RELIGION BUT YOUR PARENTS HAD THAT IS YOUR BAPTISMAL NAME? >> YES. OF COURSE WHEN YOU RECEIVE IT FROM YOUR BIRTH YOU DON'T APPRECIATE IT IN THE SAME WAY. AS I GREW UP I READ A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HER. SHE WAS A MYSTICAL SAINT, ALL THESE AMAZING EXPERIENCES. I DIDN'T REALLY RELATE TO HER, TO BE HONEST, AT FIRST AND THEN I STARTED TO READ A LITTLE BIT MORE IN-DEPTH WITH HER DIARY IN A CLAIM TO THE NAME FOR MYSELF WHEN I SAW HOW JESUS LOVED HER IN SUCH AN UNCONDITIONAL WAY, ESPECIALLY IN MOMENTS OF HER WEAKNESS, ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE WAS AFRAID AND I SAW SOME OF THAT IN ME AND I SAW HER INSPIRE COURAGE IN ME TO REALLY LOOK TO GOD IN THE SAME WAY, THAT HE WOULD BE THAT WAY FOR ME, SO TENDER, SO GOOD, SO SUPPORTING. >> Father: I WAS FASCINATED AT FIRST WITH THIS 30 DAY PERSONAL RETREAT WITH THE LITANY OF TRUST AND I WAS THINKING, I DON'T REMEMBER EVER SEEING A LITANY OF TRUST AND THAT WAS BECAUSE I HAD NOT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU YOURSELF COMPOSED, CORRECT? >> YES. AFTER I HAD BEEN IN THE CONVENT A FEW YEARS THE SITUATION AROSE THAT WAS QUITE CONFUSING FOR ME AND I HAD TO MAKE A DECISION AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT. I COULDN'T SEE CLEARLY AND I WAS PRAYING FOR CLARITY. I SAW A LOT OF DARKNESS AND CONSEQUENCES ON BOTH SIDES SO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I ASKED, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TRUST? I HAD READ ABOUT SAINT FAUSTINA AND HER MESSAGE THAT GOD IS A MERCIFUL AND WE CAN TRUST IN HIS MERCY, BUT FACED WITH THE SITUATION, IT WAS QUITE DIFFICULT. I WAS PUSHING INTO THAT, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TRUST YOU, JESUS? ARE THESE JUST WORDS, IS THIS A SURRENDER THAT I CAN NO LONGER USE MY VOICE AND MY INTELLECT? AM I SUPPOSED TO BLINDLY WALK AROUND? AND THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE OF ASKING JUST WHAT TRUST IS, BEGGING HIM FOR CLARITY, HE DIDN'T GIVE ME CLARITY BUT HE GAVE ME A WAY TO TRUST HIM. ONE NIGHT I WAS IN MY ROOM PRAYING AND IS A CRUCIFIX ON THE WALL IN OUR ROOMS AT SISTERHOOD, AND IT WAS KIND OF A LITTLE CONVERSATION I HAD A MY HEART AND I SAID IF I COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WERE DOING AND WHY YOU WERE DOING THIS THEN I WOULD SAY YES, I JUST DON'T SEE WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM. AND IT WAS ALMOST AS IF JESUS, WITHOUT SAYING IT EXPLICITLY WITH WORDS, BUT IN MY HEART, LIFTED MY CHIN TO KIND OF LOOK AT HIM SAYING I DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOUR YES TO CIRCUMSTANCES, I WANT YOU TO GIVE YOUR YES TO ME. AND I FELT THIS AFFIRMATION INSIDE, THIS HEART, THAT I WILL TRUST HIM AND THAT IS WHAT TRUST WAS. SAYING YES TO HIM AND NOT TO A PLAN. GIVEN MY CONSENT TO HIM, AND NO MATTER WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, IF HE WAS ASKING IT, THAT WAS THE GIFT OF THAT I HAD TO GIVE. >> Father: I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO PAY ATTENTION, THE WAY THAT IT WAS A CRISIS FOR YOU THAT LED YOU TO ASK A MORE BASIC QUESTION, WHAT DOES TRUST MEAN? AND IT'S NOT TRUSTING MY PLAN, MY IDEAS. IT'S TRUSTING THE PERSON, JESUS CHRIST. THIS IS KEY AND I THINK THIS IS PART OF HER MESSAGE AS WELL, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST WE COME TO A NICE, THAT IS VERY BEAUTIFUL. IT IS IN STRUGGLE. >> YEAH, AND IT WAS IN THE MIDST OF THAT STRUGGLE AND THAT MOMENT THAT HE PIERCED THROUGH AND SOMETHING RESONATED IN THE DEPTHS OF MY HEART THAT SAID THIS IS WHAT THE CORE OF THE HUMAN HEART IS. I FEEL LIKE IT WAS ALMOST MADE TO TRUST IN THIS MOMENT, THIS BIG DESIRE TO TRUST AND THAT IS WHEN I FELT THIS INSPIRATION TO WRITE A PRAYER. >> Father: IF I CAN QUOTE FROM THE PREFACE OF THE BOOK, IT WOULD SEEM THAT A PRAYER LIKE THE LITANY OF TRUST WOULD COME FROM SOMEONE WHO PERFECTLY TRUSTED IN THE LORD, BUT THE TRUTH IS IT WAS GIVEN TO ME BECAUSE I NEEDED TRUST, AND SOMEHOW I SENSED THAT OTHERS NEEDED IT TOO. YOU RECOGNIZE THAT COMMON HUMANITY, THE COMMON HUMAN ISSUES THAT WE SHARE WITH THE PEOPLE AROUND US. AND IT WAS YOUR CRISIS RATHER THAN YOUR SUCCESS THAT LED YOU TO STRUGGLE WITH THIS AND RIGHT. >> I THINK JESUS TEACHES US SOMETHING, AS CREATURES WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL. THOSE MOMENTS OF REAL LIMITATIONS AND THERE CAN BE FRUSTRATION AND ALMOST A YET THAT IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY, BEING WITH CHRIST AND OF BREAKING THROUGH, A TRANSFORMATION OF WHAT LIFE LOOKS LIKE TO JESUS IF WE ALLOW HIM TO TRULY PROVIDE WHAT WE LACK. >> Father: THAT'S GOOD. AGAIN, IT'S THE BASIS OF YOUR BOOK, I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW A LITTLE CLIP OF YOU PRAYING THE LITANY OF TRUST. THIS WAS A VIDEO PRODUCED BY A RAY OF HOPE MEDIA, AND WE WILL LET IT SPEAK FOR ITSELF. >> FROM THE BELIEF THAT I HAVE TO EARN YOUR LOVE, DELIVER ME, JESUS. FROM THE FEAR THAT I AM UNLOVABLE, DELIVER ME, JESUS. FROM THE FALSE SECURITY THAT I HAVE WHAT IT TAKES, DELIVER ME, JESUS. FROM THE FEAR THAT TRUSTING YOU WILL LEAVE ME MORE DESTITUTE, DELIVER ME, JESUS. FROM ALL SUSPICION OF YOUR WORDS AND PROMISES, DELIVER ME, JESUS. THE REBELLION AGAINST CHILDLIKE DEPENDENCY ON YOU, DELIVER ME, JESUS. FROM REFUSALS AND RELUCTANCE IS IN ACCEPTING YOUR WILL, DELIVER ME, JESUS. FROM ANXIETY ABOUT THE FUTURE, DELIVER ME, JESUS. FROM RESENTMENT OR EXCESSIVE PREOCCUPATION WITH THE PAST, DELIVER ME, JESUS. FROM RESTLESS AND SELF-SEEKING IN THE PRESENT MOMENT, DELIVER ME, JESUS. FROM THE DISBELIEF IN YOUR LOVE AND PRESENCE, DELIVER ME, JESUS. >> Father: NOW ONE OF THE THINGS, SISTERS, THAT YOU HAVE FIRST OF ALL WRITTEN THIS DOWN. YOU'VE GOT THIS LITANY WITH 30 DIFFERENT PETITIONS, CORRECT? BUT THEN YOU TOOK IT TO THE NEXT STEP OF COMING UP WITH MEDITATIONS ON EACH ONE OF THOSE PETITIONS. HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THESE MEDITATIONS? BECAUSE THERE WAS SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL ABOUT THE PRAYER AND THE SIMPLICITY OF PRAYING WITH THE SIMPLE IMPLICATIONS OF EACH LINE BECAUSE I THINK IT REALLY ALLOWS FOR DIALOGUE WITH AN INDIVIDUAL WITH THE LORD. IT BRINGS UP THINGS, IT NAMES THINGS, IT BRINGS UP AN AWARENESS, EVEN IN THE SILENCE IN THAT PRAYER. MEDITATIONS LIKE THAT WOULD AID TO DEEPEN AND THAT, BECAUSE THERE MAY NOT BE A CLEAR CONNECTION, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, TRUST? FORGIVENESS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT JUST TO BE ABLE TO TIE THAT INTO SOMEONE'S PERSONAL LIFE, GIVE EXAMPLES. THE BOOK ISN'T MEANT TO LIMIT IT, THAT THESE ARE THE ONLY WAYS THAT THIS COULD APPLY. >> Father: OF COURSE. >> BUT IT OPENS IT UP FOR SOMEONE TO APPLY TO THEIR LIFE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT DIALOGUE WITH THE LORD. >> Father: THIS RECOGNITION THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE A NEED FOR TRUST, WHAT DO YOU SEE -- IN SOME WAYS I'M ANSWERING MY OWN QUESTION, THE PETITION TO SHOW PEOPLE NEED TO TRUST ABOUT. TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE'S NEED FOR IS ABOUT? >> AS YOU WERE SAYING IN THE BEGINNING THERE IS SO MUCH FEAR, THOUGH SUCH A STRONG FLAVOR OF FEAR IN OUR CULTURE, ESPECIALLY THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. WE HERE IN JOHN, PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR. SO WE THINK, WE JUST NEED MORE LOVE IN THE WORLD AND THE FEAR WOULD BE GONE. WE COULD LIVE IN A TRUSTFUL ENVIRONMENT WHERE PEOPLE AREN'T ACTING OUT OF FEAR, REACTING AND SELF PROTECTION AND THINGS. BUT REALLY THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF LOVE. GOD'S LOVE IS ABUNDANT, HE GIVES US HIS SON, ALMIGHTY GOD, HIS LOVE IS POURING OUT AND WE HEAR THIS IN MANY WAYS IN THE GOSPEL GOSPELS, RIVERS OF FLOWING WATER, HE'S HEALING ANYONE WHO COMES TO HIM. SO WHAT ARE WE MISSING, SO TO SPEAK? AND I REALLY THINK AND EXPERIENCE IN MY OWN HEART THAT TRUST HELPS US TO RECEIVE THIS LOVE. THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF THIS LOVE THAT CASTS OUT FEAR THAT SECURES US AND BRINGS PEACE AND IS THIS PATHWAY TO UNION WITH GOD. BUT TRUST IS THE MISSING PIECE THAT WE CAN RECEIVE THE LOVE THAT WE ARE MADE TO LIVE AND BE VESSELS FOR OTHERS, SO BRINGING GOD'S LOVE TO THE MESSY SITUATIONS OF OUR LIFE, THAT FRANKLY WE WANT TO AVOID OTHERWISE. >> Father: I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THIS INCREASED FEAR. THERE'S BEEN TREMENDOUS FEAR FROM COVID. AND A LOT OF TIMES IN THIS POLITICAL SPECTRUM THE DIFFERENT SIDES ENCOURAGE US TO BE AFRAID OF THEIR OPPONENTS BEING IN CHARGE. THEY WILL SAY THAT. YOU SHOULD BE AFRAID OF THEM DOING THIS FOR THEM DOING THAT, AND SO ON. THERE IS INCREASED CRIME, SO A CERTAIN FEAR ABOUT WALKING OUR CITY STREETS, ET CETERA. THERE'S A LOT OF AREAS OF FEAR. I'VE ALSO THOUGHT FOR A LOT OF YEARS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT THEY DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN TO THEM, AND THAT IS MORE CLEAR THAN THE IDEA OF WHAT THEY DO WANT. AND ONCE YOU FOCUS ON WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN, IT BECOMES SO WIDESPREAD, AND ANYTHING BAD COULD HAPPEN, YOU KNOW. AN AIRPLANE COULD RUN OUT OF FUEL, FOR ALL YOU KNOW. BUT WHAT IS IT YOU WANT IS AN IMPORTANT ANTIDOTE TO FEAR. >> YES, AND A BIG PART OF THIS IS WE CAN'T TRUST SOMEONE WE DON'T KNOW AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT UNLESS WE FIND IT AND OUR HEARTS ARE -- FOR JESUS, EVERYONE OF US. WHEN WE SPENT TIME GETTING TO KNOW HIM, OUR HEARTS BECOME ALIVE IN THE DESIRE IT OPENS AND THEY ARE CASTAWAY A LOT OF THE GRIP OF THE WORLD THAT IS THEY ARE. IN JESUS AND THE GOSPELS, HE EXPRESSED LIKE ANYBODY ELSE. THERE IS NO ONE TO COMPARE HIM TO. THE HIGH CALL HE GIVES TO US SHOWS HOW DEEPLY HE LOVES US, SHOWS THAT HE BELIEVES IN THE TREMENDOUS CAPACITY WE HAVE LOVE, TO SUFFER. ALL THESE PASSAGES OF LUKE 6, THAT WE CAN LOVE OUR ENEMIES, SOMETHING BEYOND US AND THE ATTITUDES, TO LIVE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL, GENEROUS LOVE, THAT FREEDOM, ONLY GOD, THAT IS ONLY GOD. AND HE SHARES IT WITH US. WHEN WE SPEND TIME IN PRAYER AND HAVE THE HONEST HOUR WITH HIM, SOMETHING COMES ALIVE IN US THAT WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN SETTLING FOR KIND OF A HALF-HEARTED EXISTENCE OF FEAR AND WE ARE ACTUALLY STRIVING AND CAPTIVATED BY SOMEONE AND I THINK THAT IS A BIG PART OF TRUSTING JESUS, IS GETTING TO KNOW HIM AND SEEING HOW HE SPEAKS TO US AND RECOGNIZING THE TRUTH TO THAT, CLAIMING THAT. >> Father: EVEN THE NAME OF YOUR COMMUNITY, THE SISTERS OF LIFE IS TO ME SOMETHING OF AN IMPORTANT CLUE HERE, BECAUSE YOU WERE FOUNDED AS A COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE LIFE AND A CULTURE OF LIFE OVER A CULTURE OF DEATH, CORRECT? >> YES. >> Father: THIS IS VERY MUCH WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND SO OFTEN THE FORCES OF DEATH HAVE CACHET, THEY HAVE POWER BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID, WELL, WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO HAVE A BABY AND I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN TAKE CARE OF IT. I'M AFRAID TO BRING A CHILD INTO THIS WORLD, IT'S SUCH A MESS. WHAT IF I'M OLD AND I AM SUFFERING? I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD TAKE THIS. DOES THAT RESONATE WITH YOU WELLS ALSO? >> YES, IT IS AND WE SEE MANY HEROIC WOMEN COME THROUGH WHO HAVE VERY DIFFICULT SITUATIONS AND THOSE ARE VERY COMMON THOUGHTS BECAUSE IT'S OVERWHELMING AND THEY FEEL VERY ALONE. EXPERIENCE OF FEAR ISOLATES, ALMOST DEHUMANIZES US IN A WAY, SO IT IS SOMETHING OF JESUS, WHAT HE IS OFFERING AN EXPERIENCE OF TRUST IS NO LONGER FEELING ALONE. FOR SURE. BUT I THINK WE ARE ALSO INVITED TO LIVE IT AS A COMMUNITY IN A VERY REAL SENSE. GOD IS ASKING US TO TRUST HIM AND BE GENEROUS IN A WAY THAT HE'S BEEN GENEROUS WITH US WITH OTHERS, THAT ALLOWS US TO BE A FACE OF MERCY FOR OTHERS, TO BEGIN TO TRUST GOD BECAUSE SOMEONE IN THEIR LIFE IS SHOWING THEM GOODNESS AS WELL. THE ONE I THINK PART OF THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH THAT IS NEEDED TO BRING ABOUT A CULTURE OF LIFE VERSUS THE CULTURE OF DEATH IS OVERCOMING THIS FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN. CHILDREN ARE UNKNOWNS. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR PERSONALITIES ARE GOING TO BE LIKE. THE PROCESS OF DYING AND SICKNESS IS UNKNOWN. YOU DON'T KNOW THE COURSE OF IT. YET YOU TRUST JESUS. NOT TRUSTING THAT I HAVE A HAPPY LIFE BY WORLDLY STANDARDS, BUT I TRUST JESUS IN THE MIDST OF THIS. >> AND WHAT I'VE COME TO LEARN IN SO MANY WAYS IS THAT JESUS REALLY IS A MERCY AND MERCY IS UNDESERVED LOVE. COMING TO JESUS, FEELING FEAR IS A GREAT TIME TO COME TO JESUS BECAUSE I REALIZE HE'S NOT LOVING ME ONLY WHEN I'M GOOD OR ONLY WHEN I THINK ABOUT MYSELF -- >> IT IS BEAUTIFUL THAT THE WE EXPERIENCE IT, GOING TO CONFESSION FOR EXAMPLE, IS A REAL EXPERIENCE OF MERCY. HE INVITES US THERE BECAUSE WE ARE GOOD, NOT BECAUSE WE ARE BAD AND HE WANTS TO BE CLOSER TO US, SO IT IS AN EXPERIENCE OF LIFE, NEW LIFE BEING ACCORDED TO US EVEN HERE ON THIS EARTH AND IT IS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH BUILDING A CULTURE OF LIFE. >> Father: ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I THINK GOES ON ACROSS THE BOARD IS WE LIVE WITH OTHER PEOPLE TO VARYING DEGREES. AND IT IS NOT SO UNUSUAL FOR THEM TO DISAPPOINT US AND FOR US TO DISAPPOINT THEM TOO. WE CAN MESS UP AND BE A DISAPPOINTMENT TO THEM, AND SOME PEOPLE EXPERIENCE BEING LET DOWN, ABANDONED AGAIN AND AGAIN. I KNOW PEOPLE WHOSE PARENTS ABANDONED THEM, WHOSE KIDS ABANDONED THEM. HOW DOES SOMEBODY OVERCOME THAT EXPERIENCE OF BEING LET DOWN, SOMETIMES REPEATEDLY? AND THAT VERY PROFOUND LEVELS. >> THIS IS A BIG QUESTION BECAUSE IT IS MORE AND MORE COMMON, THIS EXPERIENCE OF ABANDONMENT AND BETRAYAL AND BY PEOPLE WE WERE REALLY TO BE OUR ONE DEFENSE IN MANY WAYS. OUR FAMILY, THOSE WE HAD BEEN GIVEN AND INTERESTED. SO IT'S A VERY DEEP QUESTION AND THE PAIN OF IT IS LAYERS. I WOULD SAY WITH OUR GOD IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. IT IS REALLY IMPOSSIBLE. THERE IS SOMETHING SO SHATTERING IT REALLY FEELS LIKE A DEAD END AND THERE'S A HEAVY TEMPTATION BECAUSE OF THE REALITY, OUR HEARTS WERE NOT MADE FOR THIS KIND OF BROKENNESS. WE WERE MADE FOR AN ETERNAL LOVE. SO WE LEAN INTO AN AREA OF SELF-RELIANCE, WE WON'T FIND THE ANSWER IS THERE. BUT WITH THIS DISPOSITION OF REALLY SEEKING AND I LOVE THIS SCRIPTURE OF JOHN 5 WHERE JESUS COMES TO THE POOL WHERE THE MAN HAS BEEN WAITING 38 YEARS AND HE WANTS TO BE HEALED AT THE HEALING WATERS AND JESUS ASKS THAT QUESTION WE ARE KIND OF SURPRISED BY, DO YOU WANT TO BE HEALED? YOU WERE THINKING MY GOSH, OF COURSE HE WANTS TO BE HEALED BUT SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY WITH WOUNDS THAT ARE VERY DEEP, JESUS IS AROUSING, DRYING OUT THE DESIRE, I WANT TO BE HERE, I NEED YOU, ONLY YOU, YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE. NOT SOMETHING THAT I CAN ORCHESTRATE OR WORK TOWARDS. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT TRYING HARDER, I NEED TO COME TO YOU. YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS THE DEPTHS OF MY HEART AND PAIN. YOU ARE THE ONLY SECURITY AND SAFETY I CAN REALLY SHARE THAT FULLY AND HE LEADS US TO OTHERS WHO CAN HELP US ON THE JOURNEY BUT REALLY IT IS THIS POSITION OF HUMILITY AND HUNGER THAT PLACES US ON THE PATHWAY TOWARDS HEALING THROUGH HIS LOVE ALONE. >> Father: I'M PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE OFTEN TIMES WHO HAVE VERY LITTLE CONTACT OR MAYBE NO CONTACT WITH ONE OR BOTH OF THEIR PARENTS, THEIR FATHER WAS NEVER AROUND SOMETIMES THE MOTHER ABANDONS THEM HERE THEY ARE HURTING IN THEIR OWN WAYS WITH DRUG ABUSE AND SOMETIMES WITH JUST PLAIN SELF-CENTEREDNESS. AND THAT IS A VERY DIFFICULT REJECTION. DO YOU THINK PEOPLE CAN FIND TRUST IN JESUS, EVEN IN THAT SITUATION? >> JESUS NEVER LEAVES US IN OUR SUFFERING, HE NEVER DOES. THERE IS A FIDELITY TO JESUS THAT IS UNCONDITIONAL. THAT IS A VERY BRUTALLY PAINFUL PLACE BECAUSE WE WERE MADE TO BE ABLE TO SEE OUR OWN GOODNESS THROUGH THE EYES OF ANOTHER, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO CARE FOR US, SO IT IS VERY HARD BUT I WOULD SAY JESUS LEADS S TO THE FATHER, HIS ENTIRE LIFE ON EARTH WAS LEADING US TO THE FATHER, HE WAS ALWAYS POINTING US TO HIS FATHER. AND GIVING EVERYTHING HE HAD WAS A REFLECTION, AND SHOWING THE GOODNESS OF THE FATHER'S HEART THAT HE WOULD COME AND NOT SPARE ANYTHING, NOT HOLD ANYTHING BACK. THIS IS OUR ROCK OF REFUGE THAT WE CAN CLING TO, THAT THIS LIFE, IT IS MESSY. THAT IS NOT THE WHOLE STORY BUT WITH CHRIST, HE REDEEMS OUR ENTIRE PAST AND I BELIEVE HE CAN REDEEM OUR ENTIRE PAST AND USE IT TO HIS GREATER GLORY WHEN WE GIVE IT TO HIM. >> Father: AND I MUST SAY HAVING KNOWN A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO GREW UP IN THAT KIND OF SITUATION, I AM IMPRESSED THAT THE MOST SUCCESSFUL ONES I KNOW HAVE A STRONG LOVE OF CHRIST. IT'S NOT EASY FOR THEM, LIFE IS REALLY HARD FOR FOLKS IN THAT KIND OF SITUATION. WE NEED THE SECURITY OF BOTH PARENTS WHENEVER POSSIBLE, AND WHEN THERE'S A DEATH, THERE IS STILL THE MEMORY OF THE PARENT THAT DIED BUT THERE IS ABANDONMENT. TO OVERCOME, MAYBE IT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH, MAYBE I WAS JUNK, MAYBE MY PARENTS COULDN'T LOVE ME, THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME. THE ONES WHO OVERCOME THOSE THOUGHTS ARE THE ONES WHO LEARNED TO TRUST IN CHRIST. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY REAL ISSUE IN THEIR LIVES AND I SEE IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. LIFE IS STILL HARD, BUT THEY REALLY DO A LOT. >> THERE IS NO GOD LIKE OUR GOD. WHEN WE ARE SUFFERING AND WE REALLY FEEL A DEEP PAIN IN OUR HEARTS, IN SOME WAYS UNCONTROLLABLE. WHEN WE GO TO CHRIST AND SPECIFICALLY GO TO CHRIST AND READ THE PASSION. IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH, THAT IS HUGE. RATHER THAN BEING SOME PIOUS READING WEEK AFTER GOD THAT IS REAL, THAT HAS SUFFERED AND SUFFERS WITH US AND FOR US AND THERE IS SOMETHING EXTREMELY GROUNDING THAT OKAY, THINGS HAVEN'T RESOLVED, I'M STILL EXPERIENCING PAIN AND THERE IS A ROAD AHEAD BUT THERE IS SOMEBODY WHO IS WITH ME AND SOMEBODY WHO CARRIES ME AND WHO IS NOT GOING TO LEAVE ME. >> Father: THERE IS STILL ANOTHER AREA WHERE TRUST COMES IN AND THAT IS WHERE PEOPLE MAY HAVE MORE NORMAL GROWING UP AND MORE SECURE AND SAFE GROWING UP, OR NOT, BUT THEY COME TO A POINT WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, WHAT DO I DO WITH MY LIFE? AND DO I JUMP INTO MARRIAGE? I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE POSTPONE MARRIAGE TODAY, OR A DECISION ABOUT RELIGIOUS LIFE OR PRIESTHOOD BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETIMES A BIT OF FEAR, WHAT IF A BETTER OPTION COMES UP? HOW DO I KNOW THIS IS THE RIGHT PERSON FOR ME TO MARRY? HOW DO I KNOW THIS IS THE RIGHT ORDER OR WHETHER I SHOULD ENTER? THERE IS A FEAR THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO LET GO OF WHAT THEY HAVE AND LEAP INTO GOD'S ARMS TO GO AHEAD AND FOLLOW A VOCATION. THAT IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING. >> I DEFINITELY EXPERIENCED THAT SO THAT IS A VERY REAL EXPERIENCE. I THINK WHAT IS SO HELPFUL IN GOING FORWARD IN MAKING DECISIONS, AND THIS IS DEFINITELY TIED WITH TRUST IS WE NEED TO GO WHERE WE ARE GOING, AND WHERE DO WE NEED DESIRE IN OUR LIFE? IT IS NOT SO MUCH WHAT THE DECISION IS ABOUT BUT WHAT IS THE CRITERIA IN WHICH THAT WE ARE MAKING DECISIONS? WE MAY SAY I MADE A LIFE THAT I DON'T HAVE REGRETS. IN THE BEGINNING OF LIFE MAYBE WE ARE LIVING WITH COMFORT OR ADVENTURE OR THINGS BUT AS A YOUNG PERSON, THAT WON'T SATISFY US. THERE IS SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL ABOUT SAYING, WHAT DO I REALLY WANT? AND WHEN WE SIT IN SILENCE WITH THE LORD, HE SPEAKS THE DEEPEST DESIRES OF OUR HEARTS AND CAN HELP US TO DISCOVER HOW TO VIEW THE WORLD WITHOUT FEAR IN THE FUTURE WITHOUT FEAR BECAUSE WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE GOING AND THAT HELPS US MAKE DECISIONS AND PEACE. >> Father: I SENSE THAT PEOPLE ALMOST GETS STUCK IF THEY DON'T FIGURE OUT THEIR VOCATION BY THEIR LATE 20s, THEY CAN GET KIND OF STUCK. SOME OF THEM REMIND ME OF 10-YEAR-OLDS GO UP TO THE TOP OF THE HIGH DIVE AND THEN THEY LOOK DOWN TOO LONG AND THEN GET TOO AFRAID TO GO AHEAD AND JUMP. THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT TAKES A LOT OF TRUST. >> I THINK IT TAKES COURAGE TO HAVE THIS DIRECT CONVERSATION TO SAY WHAT DO YOU WANT, BECAUSE WHAT IF I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THIS CAREER OR DO WHAT HE SAYS, BUT THE COURAGE TO ACTUALLY SAY THAT QUESTION TO THE LORD AND THE COURAGE TO LISTEN, IT REALLY IS FREEING. I EXPERIENCE, I DON'T GET WILL BE HAPPY AS A SISTER. WHEN I HEARD JESUS CALL ME AND I SAID YES, I FELT LIKE I WAS DISCOVERED. OH, MY GOODNESS, THIS IS WHO I AM. IT WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING FOUND AND FREE AND COMPLETELY WHAT I WANTED. >> Father: DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT BEING IN RELIGIOUS LIFE? >> USUALLY ABOUT MYSELF, NO. I AM HUNGRY TO BE ALIVE, IT IS LIVING AT THE HEART OF THE MATTER AND I GET TO WAKE UP AND SAY, JESUS, I BELONG TO YOU. THERE IS SOMETHING REALLY BEAUTIFUL ABOUT LOOKING AT THE WORLD WITH AN INTERNAL PERSPECTIVE AT RELIGIOUS LIFE. >> Father: THIS IS SOMETHING, BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN TOO LONG TO CHECK YOUR VOWS, RIGHT? >> I TOOK MY FINAL VOWS IN 2018. >> Father: YOUNGSTERS. >> IT'S A GIFT, YEAH. >> Father: WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, MAKING A COMMITMENT. THAT IS WHAT ARE, WHETHER IT IS MARITAL VOWS, YOU COMMIT YOURSELF TO THAT ONE PERSON AND HE OR SHE TO YOU. AND IN RELIGIOUS LIFE, WE TAKE A SET OF VOWELS THAT INCLUDE -- BUT THAT PARTICULAR ORDER THAT GOD HAS GIVEN OUR COMMUNITY AND PRESUMABLY TO US. HOW DOES THIS ISSUE OF TRUST HELP YOU LIVE OUT THAT COMMITMENT? >> THAT'S BEAUTIFUL. TRUST REALLY SUPPORTS THE FREEDOM TO GIVE MY LIFE FULLY AND GENEROUSLY. I THINK A LOT OF THE FEAR OF A HUMAN HEART IS THAT IT CAN ALL BE DEPLETED OR THERE WON'T BE ENOUGH TO DO EVERYTHING, NO ONE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AFTER ME OR THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT TRUST REALLY ALLOWS US TO NOT BE TOO CONCERNED ABOUT OURSELVES, TO LET GOD TAKE CARE OF US, KEEP OUR EYES WHOLLY ON HIM AND IF I'M GOING TO DO HERE, DO SOMETHING HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE, I CAN HOLD TO HIS WORD AND NOT WORRY ABOUT THE REST. IT GIVES ME FREEDOM TO REALLY DIVE IN GENEROUSLY AND DEEPLY SO I FIND IT VERY FREEING, VERY FREEING, YEAH. >> Father: I WANT TO LET THE AUDIENCE KNOW THAT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT THIS LITANY OF TRUST, YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE SistersOfLife.org. AND THEN YOU PUT A SLASH LITANY- OF-TRUST. SistersOfLife.org/Litany-of-Tru st. IT IS POSTED THERE, CORRECT? SO SOMEBODY CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. AND MAKE THAT OUR PRAYER. AGAIN, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT IN YOUR BOOK, THAT YOU TOOK EACH ONE OF THE PETITIONS OF THE LITANY, MADE A WHOLE MEDITATION BECAUSE IT'S A LOT MORE THAN JUST SAYING THAT, YOU CAN REFLECT. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK, BE BACK IN A COUPLE MINUTES AND WE WANT TO GET SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, SO PLEASE STAY WITH US. [THEME MUSIC] [THEME MUSIC] >> Father: ALL RIGHT, WELCOME BACK. BEFORE WE GET TO SISTER FAUSTINA AND YOUR QUESTIONS, WE WANT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO A NEW MOVIE THAT IS COMING TO THEATERS, WHICH I GUESS ARE OPENING UP AGAIN. AND IT WILL BE IN THE THEATERS THIS EASTER. IT'S A TRUE STORY ABOUT A CATHOLIC PRIEST. FATHER STEWART LONG, WHO WAS A BOXER WHO BECAME A CATHOLIC PRIEST. THIS STORY STARS MARK WAHLBERG. WE URGE YOU TO CHECK IT OUT. LET'S LOOK AT A CLIP. ♪ ♪ >> SIX YEARS AGO, I'M AT DINNER WITH TWO PRIESTS FROM MY PARISH AND FATHER KEEPS TALKING ABOUT STU'S STORY, AND THIS IS THE STORY OF A REAL GUY WHO CAN TOUCH PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE LOST THEIR WAY AND IT WAS MY MISSION TO GET THE MOVIE MADE. HE WAS A BOXER FROM MONTANA WHO WAS SUCCESSFUL AT EVERYTHING HE HAD DONE. HE THOUGHT, I WILL GO TO L.A. AND I WILL MAKE IT AND REALIZES THIS IS NOT HAPPENING HERE. >> YOU DO MOVIES? >> YOU DON'T WORK IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY AT ALL? >> NO, MAN. >> HE FALLS IN LOVE WITH AN INCREDIBLE WOMAN WHO INTRODUCED HIM TO GOD. >> I CAN'T BE WITH SOMEONE WHO ISN'T BAPTIZED. >> THEN HE HAS AN ACCIDENT AND HE FELT LIKE HE WAS TOUCHED BY GOD, WHICH IS THE CATALYST FOR HIM NOW BEING SO EXTREMELY COMMITTED TO SERVING GOD AND HE'S GOING TO DEDICATE THE REST OF HIS LIFE TO BECOME A PRIEST. THEN IN THE SEMINARY HE FOUND OUT HE HAD A RARE GENETIC DISEASE. AS HIS PHYSICALITY STARTED TO DETERIORATE, HIS SPIRITUALITY STARTED TO SOAR AND IT MADE HIS MISSION THAT MUCH MORE CLEAR. THE WAY HE APPROACHED IT, EMBRACED AND REALIZED THAT THIS IS HIS OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OTHERS TO BE THE SAME THINGS AND BE THE BEST VERSIONS OF THEMSELVES. THIS IS A PASSION PROJECT FOR ME. I WANTED TO HONOR STU'S LEGACY, THE COURAGE HE HAS AND THE CONVICTION HE HAD. STU WAS A FIGHTER, HE WAS A MESSENGER. HE WAS FATHER STU. >> Father: SO THIS MOVIE, "FATHER STU" STARRING MARK WAHLBERG, WILL BE IN THEATERS APRIL 13TH, RIGHT AROUND EASTER TIME. A GREAT FAITH-FILLED A MOVIE AND WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THOSE. SUPPORT THEM WHEN THEY DO. READY FOR SOME CALLS? >> YEAH. >> Father: LET'S START OUT WITH MARIA, WHERE ARE YOU CALLING FROM? >> Caller: I AM FROM CALIFORNIA. >> Father: WELCOME, THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN. WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION? >> Caller: IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAITH AND TRUST AND HOW CAN WE GO IN BOTH? >> Father: ALL RIGHT, VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION. >> GRACE, IT'S A QUESTION I WAS ASKING AS WELL AS I STARTED TO THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS AND OF COURSE IN THE CATECHISM YOU FIND THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES DEFINED IN FAITH IS THE BELIEF IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST AND WHEN YOU PRAY, PRAYER IS LIKE THE CREATOR I BELIEVE, ANY TIME YOU PRAY THAT AND REALLY PRAY TO NOT JUST READ THE WORDS BUT PRAY, OUR PR FAITH DEEPENS WITH THAT. TO CHOOSE JESUS AGAIN THROUGH THOSE WORDS AND MAKE A DEEPER COMMITMENT TO HIM. TRUST IS NOT GOING TO BE DEFINED IN THE CATECHISM. IT SKIRTS IT A LITTLE BIT. IT IS MORE OF A RELATIONAL WORD AND YET IT IS TIED WITH THIS BECAUSE I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT TRUST, YOU WERE SAYING, THIS OPENNESS TO RECEIVING GOD'S LOVE AND OPENNESS TO HEART THAT I CAN RECEIVE LOVE AND THIS IS A LOVE THAT DEFINES ME BUT ALSO I CAN GIVE THIS LOVE AND IT IS A UNIQUE LOVE, THROUGH THE PRISM OF MY LIFE. LOVE IS SOMETHING THAT JESUS EXPLICITLY USED THAT WORD WITH SANTA FAUSTINA AND HE ASKED THAT AN IMAGE OF HIM WITH HIS HEART T THE FRUITS OF HIS REDEMPTION WOULD BE USED KIND OF WITH AN INSCRIPTION THAT SAYS, JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU. VERY SPECIFICALLY. NOW I TRUST IN YOU, I HOPE A NEW, BUT I TRUST IN YOU. THIS IS A REAL SURRENDER OF OUR HEARTS AND IT HAS AN OVERLAP WITH FAITH, THE BELIEVING IN JESUS BUT THIS IS A RELATIONAL TERM THAT HE WANTS TO BE SEEN IN HIS PORTRAIT AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS A FACE, LOOKING KIND OF WIN OUR HEARTS, BUT ALSO THIS EXPERIENCE OF A REAL OPENNESS TO BEING TRANSFORMED BY HIM AND THIS CHOOSING AGAIN OF HIM FOR THAT TRUST, ALLOWING HIM TO BE GOD IN OUR LIVES. >> Father: EVEN IN THE BIBLICAL LANGUAGES, THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FAITH AND TRUST IS VERY CLOSE. THE HEBREW WORD FOR FAITH HAS THIS SENSE OF BEING ABLE TO STAND UPON THE TRUTH. HE STAND IN FAITH AND TO STAND ON SOMETHING MEANS YOU TRUST IT WON'T COLLAPSE. YOU WALK ON A BRIDGE, YOU TRUST IT WON'T COLLAPSE. FAITH IS LIKE THAT, YOU STAND ON IT. MAKE SURE YOU DON'T. WE HAVE ANOTHER CALLER. HELLO, TAMMY? >> Caller: HI. >> Father: WHERE ARE YOU CALLING FROM? >> Caller: I AM FROM A LITTLE NORTH OF CINCINNATI. >> Father: OKAY. COLUMN THAT I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GOOD PROGRAMS AND SISTER FAUSTINA, I'VE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT HOW WE DO THE NEW EVANGELIZATION ARE STILL UNAWARE OF THE GREAT GIFT WE HAVE IN THE EUCHARIST AND THAT WE HAVE THAT PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS THAT HE SHOWED US IN DIVINE MERCY. I AM A GEN X CATHOLIC. I LEARNED ABOUT SAINT FAUSTINA. I ACTUALLY LOVED HER IN THE '90s BEFORE SHE WAS A SAINT. DIVINE MERCY BEFORE I EVEN KNEW ABOUT SAINT FAUSTINA. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR GUEST TONIGHT AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO, FATHER MITCH, AND ALL EWTN DOES. WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION THEN? >> Caller: HOW DO WE MAKE MORE CATHOLICS AWARE THAT WE HAVE THE GREATEST PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS BECAUSE WE HAVE THE GUEST OF HIM IN THE EUCHARIST AND HE WAITS FOR US IN THE TABERNACLE. >> Father: OKAY, GREAT. >> IT'S TRUE, THIS IS THE UNIQUE GIFT WE HAVE AS CATHOLICS, IT IS SO TRANSFORMATIVE. I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE I MEET TO INVITE -- TO ADORATION BECAUSE I RECEIVED A LOT OF GRACES THROUGH SITTING IN SILENCE WITH OUR LORD IN ADORATION, AND IT'S A VERY APPROACHABLE THING, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO MAY BE A CHURCH THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TO IN A WHILE WHERE THEY HAVE TO STAND AND SIT AND RESPOND OR GET UP AND DO ANYTHING, BUT TO SIT IN SILENCE, EVEN SITTING IN SILENCE FOR 10 MINUTES, 5 MINUTES, ALLOWS THE HEART TO ENCOUNTER GOD AND THEY SAY, JESUS, I AM BRINGING THIS PERSON WITH ME. YOU CAN WORK YOUR WONDERS, BE AN ACT OF FAITH FOR THEM TO OPEN THEIR HEARTS. THEIR HEARTS WANT TO KEEP COMING BACK, WHO IS THIS GOD? IN THE EUCHARIST, I THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL, AND THEN OURSELVES, TO REALLY BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT GIFT, TO MAKE TIME IN OUR SCHEDULE TO LIVE THAT FOR OURSELVES. >> Father: I HAVE A FRIEND IN ATLANTA WHO WORKS WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ON DRUGS AND ALCOHOLICS AND STUFF, AND HE HAD BEEN IN THAT ZONE HIMSELF AND FOUND CHRIST, AND HE CAN'T, JUST TO START GIVING THEM THE CATECHISM. THEY'VE GOT A LOT MORE WORK TO DO. BUT WHAT HE DOES IS HE BRINGS THEM INTO THE ADORATION CHAPEL AND JUST SITS WITH THEM AND THAT PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT BEGINS TO WARM UP THEIR HEARTS THAT ARE OFTENTIMES MADE COLD AND FROZEN BECAUSE THEY CAN'T TRUST OTHER PEOPLE ON THE STREET. AND JESUS STARTS TO WARM THEM UP. I THINK ALL OF US CAN LEARN FROM THEM, THAT WE NEED TO LET CHRIST THAW OUT SOME OF THE COLDNESS INSIDE OF US. THAT IS A BIG THING. WE HAVE ANOTHER CALLER, BRENDA? >> Caller: HI. >> Father: WHERE ARE YOU FROM? >> Caller: I AM FROM TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA. >> Father: OH OH! HOME TO ONE OF THE GREATEST FOOTBALL TEAMS EVER. >> Caller: NOT TOO FAR AWAY. >> Father: NOT FAR AT ALL. WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU THIS FINE EVENING? >> Caller: I JUST WANTED TO THANK SISTER FAUSTINA BECAUSE I DID THE SEVEN-DAY LITANY OF TRUST PRAYER ON THE APP AND IT WAS JUST SO BEAUTIFUL, HER VOICE IS SO BEAUTIFUL, HER HEART IS JUST BEAUTIFUL. I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT WAS JUST SO POWERFUL, AND ANY PRAYER IS SO POWERFUL AND WONDERFUL, AND I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD HARD LIVES, WHICH I'VE HAD A VERY DIFFICULT LIFE, AND I DIDN'T MAKE MY LIFE VERY EASY ON MYSELF EITHER AFTER MY DIFFICULT LIFE. BUT I HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED THROUGH THE TRUST OF GOD AND JESUS, AND DEFINITELY THROUGH THE PASSION. AND FROM THAT, I HAVE BEEN HEALED AND TRANSFORMED. AND HAVE AMAZING, GLORIOUS, HAPPY LIFE BECAUSE OF THIS. I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD REALLY DIFFICULT LIVES, I'VE HAD ONE OF THOSE AND IT WAS TERRIBLE BUT IT CAN BE SO WONDERFUL, AND THIS HAS BEEN A BLESSING AND I JUST THANK GOD. >> Father: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THAT, BRENDA. >> BEAUTIFUL TESTAMENT YOU HAVE THAT GOD IS GOING TO ASK YOU TO SHARE THAT BECAUSE THERE IS AUTHORITY WHEN CHRIST HAS TOUCHED SOMETHING AND CHANGED IT BUT YOU KNOW ONLY GOD COULD HAVE DONE THAT. THIS PLACE THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DEATH OR SHATTER TO BE HEALED AND RESTORED, BEAUTIFUL WITNESS EVEN WITHOUT SPEAKING TO IT DIRECTLY THAT IS GIVEN YOUR PRESENCE IN THE JOY YOU HAVE OF KNOWING JESUS IS A POWERFUL WITNESS. THANK YOU FOR ABOUT AND I CAN ONLY SAY I AM EQUALLY GRATEFUL BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE BENEFICIARY OF THIS MYSELF, THAT THIS IS UNLOCKING SOMETHING I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT TRUST, WHEN YOU TRUST GOD NOTHING HOLD US BACK IN THIS LIFE FROM BEING THE SAME TO THE GOD US TO BEING THE FULL VERSION OF WHO WE ARE, NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE. WHEN WE TRUST GOD, WHATEVER IS THERE TO UNLEASH HIS LOVE WHICH REDEEMS EVERYTHING. I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH THAT AND I AM MOVED BY YOUR WITNESS, SO THANK YOU. >> Father: I THINK BRENDA'S POINT ABOUT TRUST IN SOME WAYS, AS BISHOP SHEEN USED TO SAY, WE NEED TO FIND OUR AUTOBIOGRAPHIES WRITTEN IN THE PASSION OF CHRIS CHRIST. YOU HAD MENTIONED BEFORE, THE IMPORTANCE OF MEDITATING ON CHRIST'S SUFFERING, AND BRENDA BRINGS THAT UP TRULY. I DON'T THINK WE CAN UNDERESTIMATE THAT. LIFE IS HARD, AND WE CAN FIND OURSELVES AND THERE IS PARALLELS FROM OUR DIFFICULT ASPECTS OF LIFE IN THE PASSION OF CHRIST. >> I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED BY IT AND IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, EVEN GROWING UP IN A CATHOLIC FAMILY, YO DON'T WANT TO PRAY, YOU'RE KIND OF SCARED ABOUT THINKING ABOUT JESUS SUFFERING SO MUCH. BUT WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER PLACES OF SUFFERING IN YOUR HEART, IT REALLY IS THE PLACE OF REFUGE. IT'S A PLACE OF REFUGE AND THOSE DIFFERENT TIMES IN YOUR LIFE YOU MIGHT BE DRAWN TO DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT THE FACT THAT JESUS, ALMIGHTY GOD, IT WAS THIS ONE MISSION TO DIE FOR US. HE'S FALLEN, HE IS RECEIVING HELP FROM OTHERS. TO SEE ALMIGHTY GOD TO SUFFER THE WAY HE DOES AND TO NOT BE DISCOURAGED AND TO DO IT FOR US AND TO BE SO GENEROUS IN HIS LOVE, TO BE SO STURDY, HIS CONVICTION AS A FATHER SUPPORTING HIM. WHEN WE PRAY BECOMES ALIVE IN OUR HEARTS. THERE IS A STRENGTH GIVEN TO US AND IT'S NOT A FEELING, IT'S A CONVICTION THAT CARRIES US. >> Father: I THINK THAT'S A KEY THING. USED AS AN EXAMPLE. YOU MENTIONED THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, AND HOW MANY TIMES WE COME ACROSS PEOPLE WHO ARE ABANDONED BY THOSE WHO SHOULD LOVE THEM. SAY IN DIVORCE, OR ABANDONMENT BY KIDS OR THEIR PARENTS OR VICE VERSA. TO BE WITH JESUS AND BRING THAT PAIN TO WIN ONE OF HIS 12 DISCIPLES WHO ARE NEWLY ORDAINED BISHOPS, AND ONE OF THEM BETRAYS HIM AND SHOWS THAT THE TRAIL. AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WANT A DIVORCE, ABANDONMENT BY FAMILY CAN LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, OH, YEAH, THAT IS WHAT MY SPOUSE DID. SHE LEFT ME WITH A KISS AND IT WAS GONE. >> YES, IT'S VERY TRUE. I REMEMBER A DIFFICULT POINT IN MY LIFE WHEN I WAS WITH SOMEONE WHO WAS SUFFERING, PRAYING DEEPLY TO JESUS. THE POWERLESSNESS, THE HELPLESSNESS OF PAIN AND DIFFICULTY, WHICH IS A REAL PART OF JESUS' PASSION AS WELL. AND HEARING IN A VERY STRIKING WAY, LOOKING AT THE CROSS AGAIN, FOR SO MUCH GRACE COMES THROUGH, HEARING HIM SAY SOMETHING VERY SIMPLE TO ME. HE SAID, I ACTUALLY DIED. I ACTUALLY DIED, YOU KNOW? AND OF COURSE WE KNOW THAT JESUS DIED FOR US BUT WHEN WE ARE SUFFERING AND HE ACTUALLY GAVE EVERYTHING. HE HOLDS NOTHING BACK, HE HELD NOTHING BACK. HE WOULD GIVE EVERYTHING TO US IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN ON A PERSONAL LEVEL WHEN WE EXPERIENCE IT BUT IT IS A UNIQUE GIFT THAT WE HAVE AND WE TAKE THE TIME TO BE WITH JESUS. >> Father: IT STANDS IN VERY IMPORTANT CONTRAST. A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN PAY ATTENTION TO THIS TOO. YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ A LOT OF ANCIENT LITERATURE AND BIBLICAL STUDIES AND COMPARE ISRAEL TO OTHER NATIONS. IN MANY OF THE STORIES, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE GREEKS AND ROMANS, THE VARIOUS GODS TAKE ON A HUMAN SHAPE BUT TWO THINGS ABOUT IT. WHEN THEY DO SO, IN ORDER TO DO MISCHIEF AGAINST HUMAN BEINGS, SOMETIMES RAPE, SOMETIMES VIOLENCE. SO IT'S NOT A GOOD THING, IT'S NOT FOR OUR BENEFIT. IT'S FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT, AND THE PAGAN GODS ARE LOADED WITH ARROGANCE, SELFISHNESS, AND PRIDE. WHEREAS, THE SECOND THING IS, THEY NEVER SUFFER. THEY ALWAYS CHANGE THEIR HUMAN SHAPE BACK TO THEIR DIVINE ETERNAL SHAPE BEFORE THEY SUFFER. AND THOSE TWO THINGS ARE THE OPPOSITE OF CHRIST. CHRIST BECOMES FLESH AND NOT FOR MISCHIEF, BUT TO DO US GOOD BECAUSE WE DO MISCHIEF. AND SECONDLY, HE GOES THROUGH EVERYTHING INCLUDING GESTATION ALL THE WAY THROUGH CRUCIFIXION. THIS IS ALL VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE DISTINCTIVE QUALITY OF CHRISTIANITY. >> YEAH, AND IT'S MOVING. IT SHOULD MOVE OUR HEARTS THAT JESUS LOVES US TO THIS DEGREE. I LOVE TO THINK ABOUT, THIS IS A CULTURE TOO THAT IS LACKING IN FRIENDSHIP OR KNOWING HOW TO HAVE FRIENDSHIP. >> Father: YES, YES. >> I THINK JESUS TEACHES US IN A BEAUTIFUL WAY, WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE LEARNING HOW TO BE FRIENDS AND ONE PERSON FINALLY SHARES SOMETHING, IT'S DIFFICULT, AND YOU FEEL TRUSTED WHEN SOMEBODY SHARES THAT INTO BRINGS A FRIENDSHIP TO A DEEPER LEVEL AND YOU FEEL THAT YOU CAN SHARE SOMETHING AND REALIZE, HE REALLY CARES ABOUT YOU. ARE THEY STILL FRIENDS WITH YOU WHILE YOU WERE SUFFERING? WHAT WE SEE WITH JESUS IS HE SHOWS US HIS SUFFERING AND HE INVITES US INTO A DEEPER FRIENDSHIP WITH HIM AND IT GIVES US THE COURAGE TO SHARE WITH HIM THE TRUTH, I'M HURTING, I AM HURTING. AND TO SEE HOW HE ACCOMPANIES US IS SO BEAUTIFUL. IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL. >> Father: IT'S ON THE NIGHT BEFORE HE DIES THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME HE SAYS, I NO LONGER CALL YOU SERVANTS, BUT FRIENDS. >> YEAH. >> Father: THIS BOOK IS CALLED "JESUS I TRUST IN YOU: A 30-DAY PERSONAL RETREAT WITH THE LITANY OF TRUST." BY SR. FAUSTINA MARIA AND IT IS ITEM 1448 AT EWTNRC.com. BY THE WAY, I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE MOVED, AS I AM, BY THE PLIGHT OF THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE. IT'S A HORRIBLE, AND YOU SHOULD STAND WITH THEM. IF YOU WANT TO SEND AID TO UKRAINE, THE BEST WAY THAT WE KNOW OF HERE IS TO DO SO THROUGH THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB. IT'S KOFC.org/Ukraine. THEY WILL GET THE MONEY TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT. THANK YOU, SISTER. IT MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU, BECAUSE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU. THE FATHER, THE SON, THE HOLY SPIRIT. TO SISTER HERE ALONG WITH ALL OTHER GUESTS AND PROGRAMS ONLY BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOU. SO PLEASE KEEP US IN BETWEEN YOUR GAS BILL, YOUR ELECTRIC BILL AND YOUR CABLE BILL, AND WILL BE ABLE TO PAY ALL OF OUR BILLS TOO. THANK YOU, AND GOD BLESS. [THEME MUSIC]
