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Each month, Pope Francis chooses one specific intention, which he asks the Church to remember in prayer. Throughout 2021, Francis has chosen a variety of intentions including violence against women, environmental sustainability, social friendships and the fundamental rights of all human beings.
This month, Francis has asked that the Church keep in the heart of our prayer those who live and move through life experiencing depression and burn-out. It comes at such an appropriate time, I think - when the beautiful colors of fall give way to the blustery, dark days of the winter transition.
For many of us, these days leading up to Thanksgiving and, soon, Christmas break, are cause for excitement and the warm embrace of family and friends - but that is not the reality for all of us.
For good or ill, every transition into winter functions like a kind of time machine, taking us back to every other winter we have spent on this earth. For some, it is a reminder of the way life used to be, back when we lived with our families, and cinnamon rolls, roasted turkey and warm cider filled our senses.
For others, this time of year is a reminder of the way life should have been but never really was - those who have looked all their lives through other people’s windows and at other people’s families, always peering in but never an insider.
Mix this time of year with the reality of those who live and move through life with depression, whether that be seasonal or always, and this time of year can be difficult, sad and lonely. So it is good that we, as a St. Ambrose community, are called to hold in our hearts and in our prayers the people we know and the people we do not, who are affected by depression.
“Sadness, apathy, and spiritual tiredness can end up dominating people’s lives,” Pope Francis shared at the beginning of this month referring to “people who are overloaded due to the rhythm of life today.” As we spend time offering our prayers for our brothers and sisters who find themselves in this reality, might we also be encouraged to reach out and offer our own hearts and our own love. “Often,” Francis added, “we should just simply listen in silence because we cannot go and tell someone, ‘No, life’s not like that. Listen to me, I’ll give you the solution.’”
In the midst of our shared human experience, we can offer a simple, quiet reminder that no one is alone, that there is room at our tables for everyone.
If it is you, who finds yourself in the midst of depression or burn-out or loneliness, please know you have a community of people here at Saint Ambrose that hold you so closely to our hearts. And however far from home you are this time of year, however less than ideal your circumstances might seem right now, you are not alone. You are not. You are seen. You are heard. You are loved. And we will hold the astonishing light of your own being for you when you cannot.
