St Katharine Drexel Parish recently issued the following announcement.

I recently did a funeral of a WWII veteran who entered the military toward the end of the war and was part of the ending of the war in actioon oversees. He was known for being such a pleasant, funny, hardworking family man. But then I thought through his life: he was born 5 years before the great depression and so lived with that suffering un"l he was 15. 

Then WWII started and, after enduring the trauma of that, he was drafted for service. So most of his memories for the first 23 years of his life were around economic hardship and war. So how did he and the others do it? The answer can only be forgiveness. Instead of being resen[ul or angry he and others of his genera"on helped those who had it worse, prayed a lot, and then did their best. And their best was wonderful as they built up schools, parks, service groups, churches, volunteer fire departments and beyond to make our country a great place – mostly for their children and grandchildren. Our readings this weekend warn us that the path to becoming a sinner is through wrath and anger. 12 step programs will similarly tell us resentments (unresolved anger and brooding) are what feeds all addictions. We need to forgive others as God forgives us which is as often as 77 times. 

Recently people declare how things have never been worse; obviously this isn’t true and only betrays the person’s lack of knowledge of history. Others got through much worse things in the past with the gift of forgiveness. This freed them up to look forward to what today and tomorrow might bring. Who or what do you need to forgive to move forward?

 If you need reconciliation"on the Sacrament of Reconciliation"on is offered at St. Columbkille Church during adoration on Thursday evenings from 6 to 6:45 and St. Katharine Drexel Parish Center on Saturdays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Now is the "me to let go, receive forgiveness, and let God. 

Fr. Michael Erwin

Original source can be found here.