by Fr. Brian Wirth,
Director of Rural Life
During the fall season, one week I always look forward to is the first week of October: In view of the liturgical calendar, these are the saints we as a Universal Church have the privilege of honoring: St. Thérese of Lisieux; the Guardian Angels; St. Francis of Assisi; St. Faustina Kowalska; Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary.
As the fall harvest moves full speed ahead for the majority of farmers by the beginning of October, I cannot help but marvel at God’s Providential timing and Father-like care for our farmers and their families during this busy time. The lessons provided by these individual saints are invaluable and gracefully support us on a daily basis.
Thérese of Lisieux, the powerful Doctor of the Church yet humble “Little Flower” reminds us of the beautiful teaching of the “Little Way,” in that as disciples of Our Lord, we, like Thérese, strive to do ordinary things with extraordinary love.
The beautiful reality of agriculture and the vocation of the farmer is that every day, the extraordinary is wonderfully found in the ordinary. Thus, whether we realize it or not, the “Little Way” too is present daily, especially in rural life, for the sake of us all growing in the spiritual life. However, concerning the labor-intensive nature of harvest time, farmers and us alike can go deeper.
As I wrote last month, while the harvest is a truly exciting time, it is equally a heavy cross, presenting many obstacles and difficulties, both physically and spiritually. During harvest, sometimes there are things that farmers can control but generally speaking there are far more things farmers cannot control. Herein lies the opportunity to practice daily the “Little Way.”
Whatever God has in store, for better or for worse, farmers in faith, hope, and love, must strive to remain resilient and perform their tasks large or small but also those tasks that seem insignificant in view of the larger/more important work that needs to be done but cannot be accomplished due to circumstance(s).
For instance, even if this means getting everything else prepared while the combine or grain cart is in the shop, or if the field is unfit to harvest due to weather, or for one reason or another a farmer is only able to combine a few acres here and there, or only load one semi-load of grain for the day, strive to perform these “little actions” with great love; remain faithful in the “Little Way” for the sake of Divine charity, God’s “extraordinary love.” Prayer united with intentionality is a powerful weapon against the Evil One.
Regardless if the workday is super productive or if it’s one of those days where nothing goes according to plan, the “Little Way” reminds us that the small actions are no less unimportant, but truly great. If we remain diligent in the little responsibilities, in God’s perfect timing, He will assuredly grant us the graces of His Divine Mercy and more provide farmers strength in the big responsibilities.
In other words, Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but rather at the love in which we perform them.
Such sentiment is similarly shared by St. Francis of Assisi: “First do what is necessary. Then do what is possible. And before you know it, you are doing the impossible.” As the patron saint of ecology, animals, and a model steward of creation, St. Francis offers invaluable intercession for all farmers during the harvest season.
While resiliency is one of the greatest characteristics farmers possess, it is important that such resilience doesn’t turn into sheer resilience. Rather, by way of the lives of the saints and through their teachings, God bestows upon us in countless ways the “sheer gratuitousness” (CCC #218) of His Divine Love and Mercy in our God-given vocations.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, may we continue to keep our farmers in our daily prayers during this harvest season.
Whether our farmers are waiting for the grain cart to be filled, in line at the elevator, waiting for a repair to be made, setting a grain auger or refilling the tractor with fuel, like St. Isidore the Farmer, may our guardian angels assist our farmers and us alike in our daily spiritual/physical work and too, may they protect our families, fields, and equipment, and the preciousness of our Catholic faith.
Lastly, during this month of October, may we keep Our Lady of the Rosary ever near to us and meditate on the fruitfulness of Christ’s Divine Mysteries and above all the Fruit of Eternal Life.
St. Thérese of Lisieux, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Faustina Kowalska, St. Isidore the Farmer, Holy Guardian Angels, Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary; pray for us!
