A Catholic Summer…reflections of healthy encounters for the middle months

By Carlos Flores RN, Faith Community Nurse

Some years ago, this writer was introduced to the concept of a “Catholic summer” written by a favorite author, Fr. Andrew Greeley (God rest his soul). Fr. Greeley used the phrase in a single sentence of his novel Summer at the Lake i. Spoken by Jane, a main character of the story… “I should have a Catholic summer, one in which we allow the summer heat to rekindle the warmth of love that once existed between us.” Jane was ruminating about an old lover and how viewing the season in this way has the potential of a rekindling, romantic reunion. 

In the same way, our Lord Jesus Christ, desires us to desire him. It is good that we find ourselves returning to rekindle our love for him in all that we do. These warm months offer us an opportunity to do just that. 

A Catholic summer is experiencing the season of light and warmth with a vision that is inspired. A vision whose beauty draws us into the goodness and truth of our faith. Yet, a vision that also enables us to see how we, his people, can experience him whenever, and wherever, we are; A sort of a sacramental ii without actually being one. 

A Catholic summer brings together elements of the world and God’s grace in which we are immersed each day of the season. As a gift of grace, we can find ourselves floating within the divine love of light, warmth, flavor, touch…and one another. 

Our faith expresses the tradition of signs and symbols occupying an important place in our lives. God whispers his presence with us through his visible creation and through human experiences of our relationship with one another.iii The elements that meld summer into pleasant memory, can be a means which brings us into an encounter with our Lord. 

Envisioning this time of year through the lens of our faith provides us the ability to savor the richness and flavor, sights and beauty, sense and touch of what we hold dear to the middle months of the year. If we see it in this way, we then invite Jesus to enter our space creating a grace of wellness within us; Wellness by way of living in faith, hope, and love, despite any moments of challenge that might befall us. Wellness in this sense is a way of accepting his life-giving nurturing which enables us to experience joy and peace despite ill health or unfavorable life events. It is a form of reflection and prayer and encounter. 

A Catholic summer is a way of seeing life that brings us closer to our Lord. 


The Sun / The Son. 
“And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.” Matthew 17:2iv

The sun is consistently dazzling. It provides us with light that is unending and life-giving. It creates beauty and color, warmth and comfort. It gives of itself freely and without end. Those who bask in it will eventually reflect a bronze glow noticeable to others. Without it, we find ourselves in darkness. But, despite any darkness, it continues to exist with its brightness and light returning to us. 

In the same way, the Son, our Lord Jesus, is a constant life-giving presence. His light is forever leading us through our paths of uncertainty. Always showing us the way to truth if we choose to follow his light. He provides us the warmth of the Father through his unconditional love; Embracing us in the most frigid of moments which offers us comfort in all circumstances. He gives of himself consistently and without hesitation. All that is asked of us is to reach for him. Those who follow him, truly follow him, are witnesses to his love, despite those moments when we turn away (sin). We are promised that we can return to the light in repentance and forgiveness. 

The Son forever warms us with the brilliance of his life-giving love.


Water / Baptism
“Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and spirit.” John 3:5 v

Water, literally a fluid of life, dominates our world, both internally and externally. It prevails as the most abundant substance within our body and saturates most of our earthly world. Life would not be without it. 

When we thirst, nothing quenches us to the satisfaction of pure water, nothing is nearly as sweet. Our bodies too are refreshed by bathing in it, swimming in it, being submersed in it. Our minds also are relaxed by its symphony, waves crashing on the beach, a waterfall crescendo, the babbling of a brook, or even the flutter of a cleansing rain. 

In all that it is, we often overlook its significance; unless we take a moment to notice its beauty. Whether we’re sitting on a beach, lulled by each wave and movement or we’re simply sitting in our own yard mesmerized by the droplets of a running sprinkler. Reflecting on how water brings us a life-giving joy can also invite us to contemplate the original life-giving meaning of what our baptism is. 

Our baptism, the basis of the whole Christian life and a gateway to life in the spirit,vi literally, initiates us into the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ himself. In Greek, baptizein means “plunge” or “immerse” into water symbolizing the persons burial into Christ’s death, from which one rises by the resurrection with Christ as a new creature.vii Thus we are reborn through the water. 

In Baptism we become priest, prophet, and king. Priest, as we give God highest praise in piety. Prophet, as we speak and live divine truth witnessing through our lives. King, building the Christian kingdom as a mission in how we live with the gifts we’re given. 

Just so, the sacrament of baptism, as with all sacraments, requires us to be mindful of our part in it. Just as we must bring ourselves to notice the beauty within water, we too must consider what part we play by allowing our baptism to seep into our souls. 

Water is a sacramental of baptism, essential in both our physical and spiritual lives.


Breaking Bread / The Holy Eucharist
“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.” Lk 24:30-31 viii

Coming to the table is perhaps the most frequent social interaction we experience with others. What joy it brings to invite someone to dinner or set out on a small journey for a picnic. During the summer months, al fresco dining, particularly in the evening, can be a pleasure that allows us to interact with one another while also enjoying a meal under a summer night canopy of stars and beneath the heavens. 

Conversations of all topics are expressed over a meal and drinks giving cause to learn more about each other and to feed one another our thoughts, our feelings. We enjoy laughter and share tears during these moments when gathered over the table. How wonderful these moments have with the potential to bring joy. 

Jesus often brought us a to an encounter with himself through a meal. He still does.
On the road to Emmausix, Cleopas and his companion were deeply intrigued by Jesus’ explanations of what had just occurred that morning. His words gave them truths and insights that they hadn’t yet fully grasped. The two weren’t allowed to recognize Jesus, but their souls were stirred by his presence with the encounter. As the day drew to a close, they insisted that their new friend stay and dine with them. As they began their meal, Jesus gave thanks and broke bread with them, at which time they recognized the Lord. 

This Eucharistic moment is one in which we Catholics can all share. Recalling the truth of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Sacrament x helps us to engrain within us that Jesus is actually and literally, physically and divinely present. That we take him in, into our body and soul. This banquet also is us sitting at table with Jesus, along with the twelve apostles, as a work made present by the liturgical action of the Catholic Mass.xi
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How wonderful it is indeed to observe our together moments with others over the table and remember just how our Lord himself brings us together over his divine meal as the living bread that came down from heaven. 



Family, Friends, and all / The Mystical Body
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body.” 1 Cor 12:12-13 xii

We are social beings. Although, each of us has different desires for socializing, we all need and thrive in the touch of human interaction. Through our baptism Gods grace introduces us into the gift of life within the mystical body. We are invited into a blend of souls of both physical and spiritual forms. With one another, our church is indeed more of an organism than an organization.xiii We are a living mystical body. We each have our own purpose and mission, talents and gifts. 

One of our most basic gifts given through grace is the ability to love, however, most of us upon hearing the word “love” immediately sentimentalize it. Thinking in terms of what the Greeks referred to as “eros,” the love between spouses, or “philia,” the love of friendship, love can sometimes be misunderstood. But there is also the richer, Catholic understanding of love referred to as “agape.” St. Thomas Aquinas describes it, as the love of “willing the good of the other, as other.” Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI teaches that with agape, we can “love even the person whom I do not like or even know.”xiv We are then capable of giving Christian love to anyone. 

The warm season gatherings encourage play within which we find loving one another, simple and rewarding. Our summer backyard barbecues and parties reawaken within each of us a return and celebration of who we are as God's children. There is, after all, a child inside all of us, who like John the Baptist in the womb xv, comes alive and leaps with joy when we visit our long-lost cousins or old friends who may have been separated from us by time and distance. We are made to gather with one another and to enjoy each other’s company, simply for the sake of doing so. 

A Catholic Summer is a grace-filled opportunity to rekindle the warmth of love shared between God and us. Moments of encounter present themselves in summer experiences within the blend of sun, water, shared meals, and the gift of each other. We need only to look and see. 


About the author. Carlos Flores is a Faith Community Nurse serving in the Diocese of Tyler, TX. Formerly from the Diocese of Fresno, CA, He along with his bride Sally (also an FCN) work within various ministries focusing on the promotion of health through the Catholic lens. He may be contacted by email [email protected]


i Greeley, A. (1997). Summer at the Lake. Tom Doherty Associates Inc.
ii Vaticana, L. E., & U. (2019). Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. pt. 2, sec. 2, Ch. 4, Art. 1, para. 1667-1679, pg. 415
iii Vaticana, L. E., & U. (2019). Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. pt. 2, sec. 1, Ch. 2, Art 1, para. 1146-1148, pg. 297
iv Fire, W. O. (2020). Word on Fire Bible: The Gospels Leather Bound. Word on Fire.
v Barron, B. R. (2020). The Word on Fire Bible (Volume II): Acts, Letters and Revelation (Leather) (Vol. 2). Word on Fire Catholic Ministries.
vi Vaticana, L. E., & U. (2019). Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. pt. 2, Sec. 2, Ch. 1, para. 1213, pg. 312
vii Vaticana, L. E., & U. (2019). Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. pt. 2, sec. 2, Ch. 1, Art. 1, para. 1214, pg. 312
viii Fire, W. O. (2020). Word on Fire Bible: The Gospels Leather Bound. Word on Fire.
ix Luke 24:13-35
x Vaticana, L. E., & U. (2019). Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. pt. 2, sec. 2, Ch. 1, Art. 3, para. 1413, pg. 356
xi Vaticana, L. E., & U. (2019). Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. pt. 2, sec. 2, Ch. 1, Art. 3, para. 1409, pg. 356 
xii Fire, W. O. (2020). Word on Fire Bible: The Gospels Leather Bound. Word on Fire.
xiii Barron, R. (2014). Catholicism. Adfo Books.
xiv Xvi, B. P. (2006). God Is Love (Deus Caritas Est) (Benedict XVI) (1st: 2/10/06, United Book Press)
xv Luke 1:41