Meditating on the Particular Judgement, God gave me great light. I realised that I should have to give an exact account of every action of my life and for every instant of time. To take only my seventeen years of religious life, what account could I give of the 6,000 hours of meditation, 7,000 Masses, 12,000 examinations of conscience, etc.? Then my time: how have I spent every moment? I resolved not to let a day more pass without seriously trying to reform my life in the manner in which I perform my ordinary daily duties. For years I have been “going to begin,” and from time to time made some slight efforts at improvement. But now, dear Jesus, let this change be the work of Thy right hand.
COMMENT: Fr Doyle was a practical and efficient man. In fact, if he hadn’t become a priest, he had the makings of a great businessman. He recognised that each day, each moment, should be directed towards our ultimate goal – union with God. He was constantly focused on this strategic aim.
Let us learn from the example of Fr Doyle to use our time well.
Father Doyle awakens us once again with an important point in the passage above which makes us think: we have a responsibility with the gifts, the very life God has given us, including the many graces He has shared with us, and we will be held accountable as to how/if we used them when we reach the end of our earthly life.
Father Doyle, please give us the awareness and appreciate of all that God has so generously given us, and help us to respond in a way that shows our love for and thankfulness to God.
Today, as we remember Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, may she pray that we, too, will work to have a generous heart, and strive to put that charity into action, as she did.