Souls, Saints and Actions
Updated: Sep 9
The month of November is a time when we especially remember all souls and the community of saints that have gone before us. When I was recently reflecting on loved ones and our community of saints, I found myself wondering... Is there a main message that they have left us with?
As I researched the lives of the saints, I began to see that they show us, through their lives, that our relationship with God and our experience of true life on earth do not come specifically through what we say, but love grows through our ordinary actions. I'm sure we all have fond memories of our loved ones and their simple actions of love. For example; I won't always remember what my Grandfather said, but I will forever remember him especially making us a traditional Maltese dish every Friday night—an action of love that united us.
St Mary MacKillop alludes to the need for us to to act in love when she wrote to Sisters on the 25th March 1873: "I need not tell you to be dutiful and thankful to God for this, and to show by your actions more than by words that you are so." Importantly this quote is part of a powerful letter Mary wrote before she departed for Rome. She was leaving Sisters in the care of Fr Reynolds and others she trusted as she courageously ventured off to try to get Rule approved for the Sisters of Saint Joseph (spoiler alert, she accomplished her mission!). In this letter she calls for unity, respect while she is away, asking for "a true spirit of charity and unity amongst you." She is essentially asking Sisters to act in the ordinary with charity and kindness. She goes on to say "See then how careful you must be. In our unity lies, under God our strength." We know that Mary certainly lived these actions throughout her life.
Ironically many saints have explained this through words - even though their actions speak much much louder:
"Preach the Gospel at all times and only if necessary use words" ~ St Francis of Assisi
"The proof of love is deed." ~ Catherine McAuley
"Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak" ~ St Anthony of Padua
"Love has to be put into action, and that action is service" ~ St Teresa of Calcutta
"Christ has no body now, but yours. No hands, no feet on earth, but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ looks compassion into the world. Yours are the feet with which Christ walks to do good. Yours are the hands with which Christ blesses the world." ~ St Teresa of Avila
As I began to think about quotes from our community of saints and the actions of loved ones I felt inspired to create some cartoons around these. About that time, the librarian at the school where I was working asked me, "Can you create bookmarks for us with quotes that we can give our students?" Then two others also randomly asked for bookmarks. Their requests stayed with me; inspiration struck, and before I knew it, I was creating bookmarks. I am certainly not a Saint, but these three bookmarks are just a small, ordinary action to remember the actions of those on whose shoulders we stand.
These are available to download for free below. I hope this small act of kindness may inspire you... and in turn pass it on to others...
~ Jane
Note: All works featuring St Mary MacKillop incorporate material owned by the Trustees of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, which are used with permission under licence.
I hope you enjoy these 30 second time-lapse videos. View at full screen by clicking the video, then click on the arrows at the bottom right corner of the video.
These downloadable files are saved to print to about A4 size. They are available to download as single bookmark images or I have created a layout with 4 bookmarks per page.
This artwork is copyright and is for PERSONAL USE ONLY. Not to be sold anywhere without permission.
If you would like to reproduce these as a larger item just send me a message and just ask if you have any questions.
~ Jane
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