How Can I Find You, God? by Majorie Holmes. Guidepost Associates, 1975.

Holmes admits that she is a very busy person as wife and mother, with children and grandchildren, with a house to keep, a husband to please, a job in which she must produce. How can she find God? How can she even have time for God?  She knows she is not alone in this search.  Sadly she admits that God seems like a stranger, not the loving God she knew as a child.

Perhaps Holmes lost sight of her God when she started college when she was so busy in that new endeavor. Or did she lose sight of God when troubles came her way, when she lost money or a job, or through churches that seemed to put up barriers instead of welcome signs?  She finally admits that she lost her God through sheer indifference when she gave lesser goods priority.

The author has come to a time in her life when she yearns for the loving presence of a God she once knew. She came a bit ashamed, trying to find God, inviting God back into her life. For now life has no flavor and she is lonely.  "Please come back, God" she prays.

She then proceeds to name strangers, her parents, her husband, her children, and her friends who were avenues through whom she began the long journey back to God.  Following those important persons, she explains how incidents in her life were strong influences in bringing her HOME. These include births, deaths, books, work, nature, the church, prayer, the arts, pain, the Holy Spirit, and the great gift of love.

Holmes closes her last chapter with these words: "For the very words of love enhance and intensify love. If I want to find God and hang on to him, I've got to thank him for creating me and letting me live. Every moment of my life will be a witness to that wonder. But he will be closer, ever closer, if I love him and tell him so!" ..."People and writings and work. Birth and death and nature. The church and prayer and pain and the wonders of art.  But the greatest of these is love."

(Thanks to Sr. Irene Hartman OP for this review.)



St. John Leonardi (1541-1609) October 9

"I am only one person! Why should I do anything? What good would it do?" Today, as in any age, people seem plagued with the dilemma of getting involved. In his own way John Leonardi answered these questions. He chose to become a priest.

After his ordination, he became very active in the works of the ministry, especially in hospitals and prisons. The example and dedication of his work attracted several young laymen who began to assist him. They later became priests themselves.

John lived after the Protestant Reformation and the Council of Trent (1545-63). He and his followers projected a new congregation of diocesan priests. For some reason the plan, which was ultimately approved, provoked great political opposition. John was exiled from his home town of Lucca, Italy, for almost the entire remainder of his life. He received encouragement and help from St. Philip Neri [whose feast is May 26], who gave him his lodgings-along with the care of his cat!

In 1579, John formed the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, and published a compendium of Christian doctrine that remained in use until the 19th century.

Father Leonardi and his priests became a great power for good in Italy, and their congregation was confirmed by Pope Clement in 1595. He died at the age of 68 from a disease caught when tending those stricken by the plague.

By the deliberate policy of the founder, the Clerks Regular of the Mother of God have never had more than 15 churches and today form only a very small congregation.