“The Eucharist is the secret of my day,” said Pope St. John Paul II. “It gives strength and meaning to all my activities of service to the Church and to the whole world … Let Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament speak to your hearts. It is he who is the true answer of life that you seek. He stays here with us: He is God with us. Seek him without tiring, welcome him without reserve, love him without interruption: today, tomorrow, forever!” — Pope St. John Paul II
Sitting in a pew at church, I silently spoke to Jesus, my strength. “Thank you for this day and for keeping my loved ones healthy.” I opened the hymnal and stood to sing as Mass began.
I am grateful for a personal relationship with the God of creation. His love penetrates my soul and I feel whole and cared for as I worship in unity with the parishioners of my church.
My friendship with Jesus started as a young child. My parents taught me to pray and understand the sacredness of the sacraments of the Eucharist and confession. My mom would point out to me when the priest was consecrating the host and helped me pay attention during each part of the liturgy with her example of piety.
When visiting the chapel as a young girl, my mom would give me coins to light a candle in front of a statue of Mary. We would then pray a Hail Mary together for our particular needs.
Our family would pray a Rosary together and sometimes use flowers or candles to count out the Hail Marys. While driving in the family van, we would take turns leading a decade of the Rosary on the way to our destination.
I like how Rosary means a crown of roses. It’s one of my favourite prayers to calm my mind and regulate my breathing when I become worried or anxious.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are my guides and advocates. I pray for my various needs by imploring their help.
My faith is the fuel that keeps me carrying on when I go through ups and downs with my mental health.
A beautiful thing about my faith in Jesus is that I am welcomed into a heavenly family. I can call upon the aid of many saints and holy men and women to give me hope and help.
“You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them.” – St. Terese of Lisieux
I joined a group a few years ago to attend the beatification of Blessed Don Alvaro. He was the second prelate of Opus Dei – The Work of God. And it struck me that everyone can be a saint. We all have charisms, gifts, and talents that complement the work of the Holy Spirit. We can improve the lives of others.
Mental illness doesn’t disqualify someone from living a virtuous life. We can offer up the suffering experienced in living with a disability. And Jesus can redeem it. No time in sickness goes to waste with God. He can use everything to make his glory revealed.
I am grateful for so many things that Jesus provides me with daily. My prayers become repetitive thank yous to him. His presence is constant, even when I can’t feel it.
My certainty is in Christ. He alone can work miracles, heal wounds, and bring forth life from death. Leaning on him for strength, I know I can do all that he asks of me. Jesus, I trust in you!
Lisa Rumpel’s podcast The Will to Thrive: Stories of Resilience is available on popular streaming services.
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