17 November 2018
Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious
The episcopal motto of the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is the phrase from the Third of Letter of John that we hear in today’s scripture, cooperatores veritatis(Co-worker of the Truth). Cardinal Ratzinger picked the motto in connection with his previous task as teacher and his mission as a bishop. Ratzinger explained that despite the differences between his job as a teacher and a bishop, both professions share similarities in terms of following the truth. Ratzinger believes that the theme of truth has all but disappeared in the world because truth appears to be too great for man and yet everything falls apart if there is no truth (Ratzinger, Milestones: Memoirs 1927 -1977, 153).
Today is the memorial of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Elizabeth is an example to us through her way of following the guidance of a spiritual director to see the truth. Growth in the spiritual life is a painful process because as human beings, we tend to avoid the challenge of seeing the truth. As the daughter of the King of Hungary, Elizabeth chose a life of penance instead of a life of leisure. Under the spiritual direction of a Franciscan friar, she led a life of prayer, sacrifice, and service to the poor and sick. After the death of her husband in the Crusades, Elizabeth joined the Secular Franciscan Order, spending the remaining few years of her life caring for the poor in a hospital which she founded in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.
In your prayer today, reflect on a situation in which you have some fear or doubt about seeing the truth. Can you think of any moment when you were trying to avoid the truth about relationships, your status, employment, health or anything? Perhaps you can ask Jesus to give you more faith and courage to see the truth. Speak to Jesus from your heart about being afraid or uncertain. Listen to what Jesus says to you about it.