St. Jude Novena - By Grace Alone

 

Homily for Friday, October 27, 2023

St. Jude’s Novena

By Grace Alone

 

            St. John Bosco – whose relic is on display along with St. Jude up here – was a priest in Turin, Italy in the late 1800s who dedicated his life to young people, running a school for poor boys. Both he and his boys were known for their holiness…but every now and then there would be a student who was quite a character.

            Such was Michael Magone. When Don Bosco found the young lad, he was leading a gang of street boys…at the age of 13. All the boys, including the older ones, followed Michael, calling him “The General”. Don Bosco saw that he was a diamond-in-the-rough…he had tremendous leadership ability – if only he would use it for God! Bosco determined to invite him into his school.

            Michael accepted, mainly because it meant a roof over his head and food on the table. During his first few months at the school, he was in every way the troublemaker! He would get into fights, his language was salted with foul words, and he would complain and moan about going to the chapel for prayer. Every time he made trouble, he would be corrected, and he’d apologize and promise to do better. But his old street-habits seemed impossible to break.

            Finally one day it all snapped inside him. He was watching the other boys play sports, but as he looked at their happy faces, he realized – he didn’t belong here. He didn’t fit in. He was born a street rat, lived like a street rat, and would die a street rat. The sudden realization that he could never be as good, successful, well-behaved, or holy as them really struck Michael to the heart, and he struggled to hold back tears. He even said to a friend, “How can I find peace when I have a thousand devils in me!”

            Luckily St. John Bosco stepped in. He pulled Michael aside and said, “Michael, I have brought you here and given you food and clothing and safety for several months now. Would you do me a favor in repayment?”

            Michael agreed, grateful for all he had received from the priest.

            Bosco continued, “I notice that you haven’t made a good confession during your time here. Would you make a good Confession today?”

            The boy agreed – it was a last-ditch effort to try to find peace and happiness. He spent all day examining his conscience, and when evening came, poured out everything to Fr. Bosco. When he exited the Confessional, something deep had changed within him – there was a lightness, a radiance, a peace, and a joy that he had never experienced. In fact, that whole night, he couldn’t sleep because of his joy. Later on he told Fr. Bosco, “If only people knew the joy that comes with living in the state of grace!”

            He tried with his own efforts – but could do nothing until he invited Jesus to come in and take over his sinful, fallen brokenness – and Jesus made Michael Magone one of the holiest boys that St. John Bosco worked with, so holy that Fr. Bosco wrote Michael’s life story.

            Have you ever felt like St. Paul? “I do what I don’t want to do, and I don’t do what I want to do!” It can be frustrating because we know that it’s good to be humble, patient, kind, chaste, courageous…and so often we find ourselves the exact opposite!

            But that’s where the last line offers us so much hope: “Thanks be to God who has won the victory in the Lord Jesus Christ!” We are not meant to overcome sin and grow in holiness on our own efforts. Yes, we cooperate with God, but it is His grace alone that does it in us. His grace is often gradual, invisible – but sure, nonetheless. As long as we cooperate with that grace by avoiding temptations and frequenting the Sacraments and prayer, He can truly make us holy. You must believe that God desires your holiness – and that He can achieve it in us! As long as we want it too – really want it – He will make holiness spring forth in us.

            One final Michael Magone story – one time Fr. Bosco took all the boys out to a local field for games and sports. Halfway through the afternoon, Michael went missing. By this time he had gained a reputation for virtue, so when everyone returned home, Michael’s friends went straight to the chapel where they found him praying. His friend commented, “You’re so pious, you pray even when you don’t have to.”

            Michael responded, “You don’t need as much prayer as I do. I pray for strength not to fall back into my sinful habits.”

            He knew where the change came from – Jesus Christ. If you can’t change yourself, turn to Christ Who makes all things new – including you.