Closeness with Jesus

Friday, July 22, 2022

Servant of God Chiara Corbella Petrillo's story spoke to my heart.

Chiara suffered great loss yet looked at her suffering as a gain.

"Still, more importantly than saying yes to her sufferings, she also said yes to the graces she received. She asked for "the grace to live grace" or the grace to receive grace." Lisa Cotter, Reveal the Gift - The Feminine Genius

She had one foot on earth and one foot in heaven; meaning she lived her life on earth for Heaven.

I am encouraged by her "yes" one step at a time.

"If you think of life as a race, every step sidewards and backwards, every pause, will seem like it doesn't belong, like a waste of time. Every step is part of life, and there is life in every step." Matthew Kelly, Life is Messy

I was feeling burdened when I read her story but the scripture verse "my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:30) stood out to me three different times in one day.

The third time was part of her story.

On Chiara's final day on earth, her husband (Enrico) asked Chiara, "Is this yoke, this cross, really sweet as Jesus said?"

"Chiara turned her attention from the tabernacle to her husband and smiled. Weakly she replied, "Yes, Enrico, it is very sweet."

I have this written in my journal,

"The yoke means closeness with Jesus." -unknown

For those carrying heavy burdens, befriend Servant of God Chiara Corbella Petrillo.

"Receive the grace to say yes to small things, both trials and blessings. Put aside your worry about big things; focus on the little." Lisa Cotter, Reveal the Gift - The Feminine Genius