DOING THE LITTLE RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER

Leaving a small card in public places may seem like the smallest of things, but Ann does it anyway. On the card is St. Theresa of Calcutta’s “Anyway” prayer, a short prayer of Teresa of Avila about how we are now Jesus’ hands and feet and must be the ones doing his work today, and the prayer of John Henry Neumann, part of which says, “I have my mission – I may never know it in this life but shall be told it in then next I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons” etc. and then invite them back to church.

She often leaves these for the waiter in restaurants, usually quietly placed between the bill and the tip. Although she doesn’t imagine that everyone responds, there was one occasion the waitress picked up the bill while Ann and a friend were still visiting. A few minutes later, the waitress returned and very excitedly thanked them both for the little prayer card, saying that she really liked it… a simple, quiet way to evangelize.

ANYWAY PRAYER – ST. THERESA OF CALCUTTA

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

CHRIST HAS NO BODY BUT YOURS – ST. TERESA OF AVILA

Christ has no body but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which He looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are His body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

THE MISSION OF MY LIFE – ST. JOHN HENRY NEWMAN

God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about.