By Fr. Christopher Kubat
I remember my dad telling me that during the Great Depression, when the doctor came calling at his house when one of his siblings was sick, he did his best to hide, because whatever awful-tasting medicine the sick sibling was forced to take, they in turn would have to take. He had vivid memories of an old man, wearing a tall black hat and long trench coat, with a big black bag full of disgusting pills and syrup.
On the night of Thursday, Feb. 21, I lost my most faithful Seedlings fan, someone who faithfully read my column—my mother, Mary Barbara. Before she became ill she would even cut them out of the paper.
The only other person who cut my column out each week was an elderly woman in a rural parish. After Mass on a weekend there, while covering for a priest who was vacationing, she informed me of such. After I thanked her, she told me it fit perfectly on the bottom of her bird cage. I didn’t ask her if she read it first.
My mother was on many medicines, which she did not like taking, which helped her live into her 90th year, but no more. But there was one medicine that she loved to take, and in fact she loved and adored it.
It was the Medicine of Immortality, namely the Blessed Sacrament. She loved taking it as often as she could so I made it a point to celebrate Mass in her room at the nursing home each and every time I would see her. This is the medicine that will help her live beyond the grave with a risen and glorified body.
Of this medicine the Divine Physician said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.” There are no adverse side effects of this med unless it is taken unworthily, and, for a humble soul, it is addicting.
Like other drugs that are kept in a medicine cabinet, this one is kept in medicine cabinets called tabernacles. It is taken out when needed at Mass and placed in monstrances when it is adored.
Being on the right drugs is important. However, always remember that while regular meds help us live in this world as long as medically possible, there is only one that will help us live forever in heaven with a glorified body. This is the reason we have chapels in all of our fixed sites at Catholic Social Services. Not only do we want to help people physically with their social service needs, and psychologically with their mental health needs, but spiritually because we want to help save souls. May my mother Mary Kubat rest in peace, Amen!
