Italy
The value of daily gestures in the Cuglieri seminary
I remember with nostalgia that our spiritual director back in the days of the seminary of Cuglieri lovingly and constantly reminded us: “Dear seminarians, be careful to do well the small things of every day; one day, when you are priests, remembering this time of formation, you will understand how important it was for your formation.”
I wonder if perhaps, because of these seeds of wisdom from my seminary days, the enchantment for small things has always remained in my heart, precisely because of a pure, unpretentious beauty that shines with an immense and concrete light.
Yes, that overall gaze embracing the small moments of every day, made of care, details, and delicate threads that gradually wrap the entire day in tenderness, is truly deep and genuine love.
The light of the lamp and grace in small details
For example, a small thing (2 or 3 minutes) that begins my day around 5 in the morning is setting my desk in order… What peace to have everything in its place before me, a small order that holds great thoughts and prayers; my day thus opens with a smile toward the many faces and people who, whether through social media or especially in person, will be present.
The day before yesterday the power went out, and I lit a beautiful liquid wax lamp. I thought: why does it shine? And in my heart, I felt the small lights of thousands of droplets that die and thereby illuminate, just like today’s small actions, each one a droplet of love: a little order on the desk, a thought dedicated to others, a kind word, sometimes a silence full of love, a look, a hello, etc.
It is truly a great grace to have this sensitivity and concrete care for small things, which then become great, enormous, because love magnifies them to the size of the sky.
Encountering Jesus Eucharist in Osidda through simplicity
That small vegetable garden I watered, the bed I left in order with care and saying thank you, that phone call I answered calmly and with a smile, those visits to the Blessed Sacrament in the quiet little church of Osidda, a true embrace with Jesus Eucharist, that coffee offered to someone passing by the house on a walk almost expecting the invitation, and so on: yes! A long thread of acts of love that light up our soul and heart with happiness.
How interesting life is! As the years go by, the more we realize the importance and greatness of the small acts that fill our day.
Sanctifying life through small things
And this does not happen only to us elderly people due to the changing needs of the body, but it happens to everyone, who can thus acquire that human-divine delicacy thanks to the many acts given little importance because they are taken for granted, acts that illuminate us with gratitude and contemplation.
Courage then: if we live them this way, we sanctify everything, everything, everything!
And let us carve in our hearts forever with letters of love the words: “Nothing is small if done with love.”
Digitally created image by spazio + spadoni
