I will always remember Sr. Mary Kratina, who died on February
1, as being a joyful person. Whenever I came upon her in the hallway, she
beamed at me and said, “I’m so glad you’re here!” That’s an expression of joy
and affirmation you don’t forget.
Christians should be joyful to the core, yet few of us seem
to be infused with that spirit. How did Sr. Mary Kratina achieve it? Based on
the stories that others have shared about her, it
appears that the following characteristics were key to her joyfulness:
• Sr. Mary was generous in giving of herself to her
students, to her staff when she was director of laundry services, to her
sisters in community, and to her family and friends. Generosity in giving of ourselves
to others directs our attention away from our own worries and gives us the joy
of being God’s instrument of care and compassion.
• Sr. Mary had a long memory of the kindness of others. She
would remind you of her gratitude for something you gave her or did for her for
months to come. Gratitude reminds us of our blessings and helps us develop a joyful
spirit.
• Sr. Mary was very faithful in coming to chapel to pray
with the community, even when she struggled to get around. Listening to God’s
word reminds us of God’s love and mercy, which is the greatest source of our
joy.
As St. Paul said of Philemon, I can say of Sr. Mary Kratina:
“Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, [sister],
have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.”
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