STATUESThere were days when our faith practices were so very different than they are today.
Statues. Most Catholic homes had a statue of Mary or Joseph or Francis and often a crucifix -- all to remind us of the presence and assistance of the "holy ones."
These images kept us in touch with our God and the saints. The statues has disappeared from most places except churches -- and there are some Pastors who want them gone from that hallowed place as well. Nonetheless, our minds were, even for just a brief moment, lifted beyond the circumstances that most likely brought us to look at the statue and open a very quiet moment of dialog with the saint of Jesus or God or the Holy Spirit.
Is it not a surprise, then, that the challenges we face each day seem more difficult when we don't have someone helping us? We might think these replicas of people we have never met are "out of date." Strange: the pains, difficulties and challenges these wonderful people and God helped us through have not changed, have not disappeared.
Just a thought, not a sales pitch!
