As I write this update, my sister is having rotator cuff surgery for a massive tear. The surgeon told her that it is worse than 90% of his cases. He implied that her recovery will be rather long and extensive, though he didn’t give an exact time frame. This is because recovery from the same procedure varies from person to person, often dependent upon their level of health and fitness going in. I take comfort in the fact that my sister exercises daily and eats a well balanced diet.
Have you had that experience yourself regarding a major procedure?
It is not uncommon for those who are fit and healthy to experience shorter recovery times and fewer setbacks following surgery. It is then also not uncommon for those in poor health or with high risk health conditions to experience long recoveries and more setbacks. The more we care for our physical bodies in our day to day lives, the more ease we have in overcoming physical
illness or injury if and when it happens.
This week, Fr. Tom (Mannebach) gave a homily during a weekday Mass that really highlighted this point in the spiritual realm. Because we are both body AND soul, this only makes sense that what is relevant and true about our physical bodies, is also true about our souls.
Fr. Tom told us about his summer internship at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton while in seminary. He visited, chatted and prayed with hundreds of patients that summer. Some were Catholic, some were not. He revealed that during that time in seminary, he was questioning his vocational choice and wrestling with the idea of leaving the seminary. However, among the many patients he visited were religious sisters and priests. Father described the demeanor and outlook of those in the religious life as upbeat and at peace, regardless of their diagnosis or prognosis. He attributed this to the lifetime of
opportunities they had within their vocations to be in close and often constant contact with God. The point was, there is a natural byproduct to a life of continual reliance and relationship with God. It may not be anything they noticed from their day to day dealings and duties, but when the big stuff hit… the stuff that sometimes pulled the rug out from under them, they were strong and able to withstand the storms. My own translation of this is that they had the spiritual “health and fitness” to endure their sufferings and remain hopeful, joy filled and at peace. Fr. Tom realized that he wanted this and attributed that revelation partly to his decision to continue on and become an apostle of Jesus Christ through the priesthood.
I found this such a powerful reminder of the body and soul unity in which we were created. Never underestimate those “extras”… daily Mass once in a while if not normally attending, Confession, Adoration, getting to know and enlisting the help of the saints. These gifts of our Catholic faith are so helpful to us. While we often view these things as not mandatory and therefore, not necessary, they do provide the opportunity for sanctifying grace, from which strength and courage from God flows abundantly. It is this grace that allows us to withstand the inevitable storms in life just as it is physical health that allows us to withstand major surgery or physical illness with more ease and fewer complications.
May God bless you and keep you and your families safe!
Kate Rewwer
Parish Health Coordinator
