Fr John Hardon and the 30 Day Spiritiual Exercise

April 29, 2010, the Feast of Saint Catherine of Siena, marks a very special anniversary. Having known Father Hardon for nearly two years back in 1992, I finally worked up the courage to undertake the thirty day retreat with him.  The last day of my retreat was April 29^th. He never pushed me to do it, but one knew what Father Hardon wanted without being told.  It was a retreat that changed my life so dramatically that it seems it was miraculous.  You see, at the age of forty, with a promising career in accounting, I was ready for our young girls to start school so that I could have more time to pursue my profession.  God had other plans that I was unaware of—but that my husband and Father Hardon were aware of.

Knowing that they were hoping my retreat elections would be:  a) to try and have more children, which was not something I wanted with three C-sections in our history, and b) to home educate all our children—something that I knew only wacko, hippie, radical kooks did.  It was illegal after all!  It was not fair that I should have to sacrifice so much for what they wanted!  One night, after a particularly hard day, I let off a lot of steam to both my poor husband and Father Hardon.   Years later, his secretary was talking about people who had persecuted Father or lost their temper with him.  Father’s reaction, she said, was to spend three days in fasting and prayer for the perpetrator. Oh, my! That is really loving your enemy.  It would seem his efforts were most effective.

Within several days, as the retreat continued—amazing in itself with three young children under the age of six—I decided to give home schooling a try and have more children.  Funny how life changes.  Without the love and prayers and guidance of Father Hardon, the choice never would have been made.  Was it hard to change?  Definitely.  Was it hard to home school?  Without a doubt.  Was it worth it?  Well, one thing is for sure, God cannot be outdone in generosity, as Father Hardon frequently said.  Words could never explain the blessings of making those choices, of doing God’s will.

           

As part of the reflection on our role in the new evangelization, let us ask ourselves, “What price am I willing to pay to convert my friend or neighbor?”  Am I willing to fast, pray, or even lay down my very life as Christ did for me?  Father prayed for martyrdom, whether it be a red martyrdom or a white martyrdom.  Martyrdom is not something to be feared, but a precious gift given by Christ to those He loves the most.  Father showed us that the little sacrifices of our will help us not only to prepare for martyrdom but to experience that peace and joy that can only come from doing God’s will instead of our own. He will bless us beyond our expectations, more than we could ever imagine.