I think it goes without saying that we are in the midst of some tough times. For me, this is day 7 of “social distancing” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Life as I knew it was turned upside down. While the outlook of working remote everyday wasn’t necessarily that daunting, the possibility of job loss and the cancellation of all public masses was quite a blow. What are we to do when times get tough? Do we allow ourselves to fall into despair? Do we allow our faith to falter? Do we lose our hope?

In order to make it through such tough times in our lives I would like to recommend the simple prayer: “For you, Jesus.” This simple prayer was the prayer of Blessed Chiara Luce Badano as she struggled through very tough times as a young adult.

Blessed Chiara Luce Badano

Blessed Chiara was born in Sassello, Italy on October 29, 1971. Chiara was her parents’ only child and received from them her christian education. As a child she was described as generous, outgoing, and gentle. As a teen, Chiara was very active and outgoing. She played tennis and enjoyed things like hiking, going to the beach, music, dancing, and singing. Stories say she had a very good singing voice. She was very popular among her friends and very well liked. She would always try to bring Jesus to her friends, not by her words, but by her loving actions and example.

Then, one day when she was 17 years old, in the summer of 1988, her tough times began. While in the middle of a tennis match, she was struck with a great pain in her shoulder, causing her to drop her racket. After many doctor visits, she was told the tragic news. Chiara had osteogenic sarcoma with metastases, a very serious form of bone cancer.

Treatments were very painful and were unsuccessful. She asked to be kept informed of every detail of her illness, and with every new surprise she would unite her sufferings to those of Christ on the cross by praying, “For you Jesus.” When chemo therapy caused her hair to start falling out, she still did not lose faith. With each lock of hair falling to the ground, she would pray, “For you Jesus.” Even when all hope seemed lost and she became paralyzed, confined to her bed, she still refused to give up. She continued to engage with her friends over the phone encouraging them in their struggles and bringing Christ’s love to them. She even refused to take pain medication that would make her too sleepy to continue to live her life. When her life seemed the toughest to live and there was no hope she would say, “I have nothing left, but I still have my heart, and with that I can always love.”

Blessed Chiara Badano went home to our Lord on October 7, 1990. Her last words were to her mom, “Mom, Ciao! Be happy, because I am.” She was just a few days shy of her 19th birthday. Pope Benedict XVI declared her “Blessed” in 2010. Her feast day is October 29th.

Hope For Us

Chiara always wanted to bring Christ to others by her example. If we examine the example of her life, I think we can all see a hope for us today. Many of us are suffering. Some physically with sickness, others mentally with isolation and loneliness due to “social distancing,” others suffering with a hunger and a longing to once again receive Christ in the Eucharist and other sacraments. It is here, in the midst of our sufferings, that we can look to Chiara for example.

Even in the toughest of times, Blessed Chiara did not lose her faith. She did not lose her hope and especially did not lose her love. She trusted completely in God’s promises (faith), confident that one day she would suffer no more (hope), and gave herself completely to others even in her suffering (love). How did she do it? Her prayer. “For you Jesus.” When she suffered, she said she felt closer to Christ, and she gave it to him.

This should be our prayer during our tough times. Every time we hear a news report further restricting our freedoms: “For you Jesus.” Every time we long for our previous activities, sports, movies, school, parties: “For you Jesus.” Every time we feel sick, scared, lonely, abandoned: “For you Jesus.” Every time we feel uncertain about the future: “For you Jesus.” By offering our sufferings to Christ, and uniting with him on the cross, we can grow closer to him. With this simple prayer, we can remember the reason for our faith and maintain our hope in our tough times!

As I continue my journey through lent and social distancing, I pray that we all can grow closer to Christ though this time of suffering. May God bless each and every one of you and keep you safe and healthy.

For more information about Blessed Chiara Badano:
http://www.chiarabadano.org/
http://saintsresource.com/chiara-luce-badano