Chapter 2: Fiat

Wow. This book just keeps getting better! This chapter was the longest chapter in the book. It is so packed with beauty and insight, that I find myself reading selections several times. I also have the opportunity to practice self-discipline as I stop myself from underlining every sentence!!


This chapter had a special impact on me for two reasons: it prepared me for receiving bad news and echoed and complimented an earlier post I wrote about “Our Fiat”.


Here are some points that jumped out at me:


• Did anyone else wonder about her statement that “It is in Our Lady that God fell in love with Humanity.” (page 32). I’m not sure about that, and would love to hear your thoughts.


• Loved her conclusion that the Lord’s choosing of the humble, little creature Mary “proves that in God’s eyes being something comes before doing something.” (Page 32)


• Love how she pointed out that Mary “was not asked to do anything herself, but to let something be done to her…to renounce anything, but to receive an incredible gift” and that “she was simply to remain in the world.” (Page 33) So often we feel inadequate for doing anything short of opening an orphanage in Calcutta or living a monastic life, but Mary reminds us to embrace the role, job, vocation that we have and to be fully in this moment.


• And love, love, love how she described the marriage to Joseph: “He asked for her ordinary life shared with Joseph. She was not to neglect her simple human tenderness, her love for an earthly man, because God was her unborn child. On the contrary, the hands and feet, the heart, the waking, sleeping, and eating that were forming Christ were to form Him in service to Joseph.” (page 34) What a beautiful image of marriage and picture of the unity of the roles of Mom and wife!


• As I pointed out in this post, the imagery of Christ filling the emptiness described on page 35 has so many implications. In my case, I picture Christ filling my empty womb and arms. He fills the empty crib and the lack of child’s laughter and cries. In other lives He might fill a lonely marriage bed of a widower, the heart of a girl longing for a husband, or a wife wondering why her husband doesn’t fill her every need. He might fill the emptiness of a home where a father is deployed, or the wallet of a family in need. Our lives shape the emptiness in various and unique ways, but Christ can fit every mold and fill us completely.


• My friend Leslie, who suggested this book (thank you, Leslie!), tells me that Flannery O’Conner describes pain as an education. She and Houselander would surely agree. I had never considered that the gift of understanding must involve suffering, but her quote resonates with me, “We shall be obliged to see the wound that sin has inflicted on the people of the world.” (Page 37) It is true, that as we suffer, we come to understand others better and grow in compassion and love. In my case, as I suffer from infertility, I’m able to reach out to others in the same situation, as well as those who reject children as a burden. I can support families who welcome children and rejoice with them.


• Any reaction to the world’s translation of the Beatitudes? I was particularly struck by the last one: “blessed are they when all men respect their rights as citizens and forget that they are men, for their reward will not be very great but they will never be unduly disturbed and they will never disturb the complacency of others.” (Page 38). Can you think of any more worldy beatitudes? Here’s mine: Happy are those who have one boy and one girl and the “magic pill” to prevent further disruptions, for they shall be complacent, luke-warm and completely miss the point.


• I was convicted that I find a false sense of security in money and have my own version of materialism. Yikes. Time for confession.


• I was so happy to see her touch on education. “Education is no longer primarily intended to teach him to serve God, or to enrich his life, but only to give him a passport into the commercial scramble.” (page 45) AMEN!


I feel like I could go on and on, (believe me, I could!) but I have already written too much. Each chapter gets me more excited about the next chapter! Is this book what you thought it would be? Are you enjoying it?