Editor's Note
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Many years ago a college philosophy professor explained to me how to become a millionaire. “Just focus all your efforts on that goal and no other,” he said. “The reason most people don’t become millionaires is because they aren’t willing to sacrifice everything else to do it.”
I don’t think he was saying that was the only way to get rich, and I know he didn’t think wealth was a particularly worthy objective, but he was making a point about faithfulness. When one goal matters to us above all others, and we devote all our efforts to achieving that goal, we will succeed. That goal may be an earthly one like money or pleasure, or an eternal one. Mother Teresa of Calcutta famously said, “God has not called us to be successful. He has called us to be faithful.” In terms of her real, eternal goal, however, Mother Teresa was definitely a success.
This month NCC features eight religious women whose goal for many decades has been service in this world and salvation in the next. They are celebrating anniversaries this year, but there are many others, in our diocese and throughout the world, whose lives have similarly demonstrated faithfulness to the Lord’s call and confidence in his care and assistance. And while the jubilarians’ example – nearly four centuries of ministry -- can inspire us with a certain amount of awe, they show no more than the same faithfulness to which we are all called: constant attention and conformity to God’s will for us and unswerving confidence in his care. That way of living will lead us in the end to the success that matters most.
And lest you think that this faithfulness is a nose-to-the-grindstone, grin-and-bear-it kind of existence, read what these Sisters have to say about their lives. Their words communicate so clearly the adventure, the peace and the joy they have found through serving others.
In 2006, our issues were loosely themed around the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. As we start a new calendar year, NC Catholics will be considering the “Fruits of the Holy Spirit.” Do you remember them? There are twelve: faithfulness, of course, and also charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, modesty, self-control, and chastity. If you know of stories or people from our diocese who exemplify these qualities, I’d love to hear from you at 715 Nazareth Street, Raleigh, NC 27606 or reece@raldioc.org.