Captain of my soul

As the master and commander of our souls, Jesus takes full responsibility for our safety and well-being as we navigate through life.

Mike Langlois is the Grand Knight of St. Augustine Knights of Columbus Council 7273 in Peru, N.Y. He is also the Upstate Conference Coordinator for Evangelization and Faith Formation for the New York State Knights of Columbus. (Courtesy photo of JASON WYSONG)

Years ago, a genealogy search revealed a 17th century family ancestor was a river pilot who guided merchant ships along the treacherous waters of the St. Lawrence near Beauport, Quebec.

My ancestor navigated perilous rapids, shifting shoals and powerful tides to safely guide people — and cargo — into port. The Christian may encounter turbulent spiritual challenges — such as periods of doubt, feelings of fear or struggles with faith — that are opportunities to guide us to God. The river metaphor may be familiar — or even cliché — but it captures the essence of our spiritual journey. Just as my ancestor learned to read the signs of a perilous river, Christians must learn to discern and navigate the obstacles that threaten their spiritual growth.

A river pilot’s role is to temporarily board the ship to provide navigation through a specific, difficult waterway, while the captain retains overall authority of the vessel. Cora Evans, a 20th century Catholic mystic who the Vatican has titled a “Servant of God,” wrote about her visions of Jesus’ life received during her spiritual ecstasies. At times, she witnessed Jesus as the captain of a majestic ship recalling, “its towering height was like a cathedral ... the banners were billowing high and fringed — such a pageant!” The reality is that Jesus is our captain, who has overall authority of our lives, and we are the river pilots to whom He gives temporary custody of our earthly souls.

A captain expects a river pilot to share in the vigilant care needed to guide the ship to its final destination. In the same way, Jesus asks us to develop spiritual disciplines to avoid the world’s “treacherous waters” — the temptations that can lead us astray — as we navigate our life. Of course, we do nothing on our own for “with regard to God, there is no strict right to any merit on the part of man. Between God and us there is an immeasurable inequality, for we have received everything from him, our Creator” (CCC 2007). What we receive is God’s unmerited grace — an invitation — that will bring us to Him. Invitation accepted — hopefully — we can receive the Holy Spirit’s guidance to develop a personal relationship with the Father and the Son. In the 17th century, an apprentice river pilot worked directly with a master pilot or experienced local guide to become proficient. Similarly, we work with the Holy Spirit to practice self-denial and self-discipline (asceticism) to increase our faith through prayer, the sacraments and study of the Church’s doctrine.

“Prayer,” said St. John Vianney, “is the inner bath of love into which the soul plunges itself.” Prayer should not be too rigid or lacking in personal connection. St. Thérèse of Lisieux, “The Little Flower,” said, “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” In prayer, the Holy Spirit intercedes to properly guide, and connect, our intentions back to the Heavenly throne. Since God is omniscient we can meet Him in prayer anywhere at any time. We strive, like St. Thérèse, to pray with “a simple look turned toward heaven,” seeking a childlike communion with our creator. A good prayer life will provide inner peace, guide our decisions and strengthen our relationship with God.

If prayer nourishes the invisible soul, then the sacraments are the visible gifts that work to impart God’s grace to humanity. The word “sacraments” refers to “efficacious (effective) signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us” (CCC 1131). We participate in the sacraments — a tremendous gift of grace unto themselves — to receive tangible spiritual healing, nourishment and the strength to continue the journey (to Him). We participate in the sacraments — especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation — because in these gifts God shares His holiness which, in turn, can make us holier.

We do not need to be a theologian to be a good Christian, but having a basic understanding of Holy Scripture and Catholic doctrine can provide valuable guidance to a searching — and thirsting — soul. If we pray to nourish the invisible soul, partake in the visible sacraments to receive God’s invisible grace, then we study “the Word” and Catholic doctrine to reinforce it all. Holy Scripture — the inspired word of God — helps us to understand the historical events and teachings that are the foundation of our faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a summary of Catholic doctrine on faith and morals. Together, these spiritual resources work to build our faith foundation, illuminate direction and keep us on the path.

As the master and commander of our souls, Jesus takes full responsibility for our safety and well-being as we navigate through life. He operates on the principle of “command by exception,” offering direction while overseeing our journey, yet allowing us to act on our own free will. With Jesus as our captain, we can trust in his guidance while confidently making choices that lead us safely home.

Mike Langlois is the Grand Knight of St. Augustine Knights of Columbus Council 7273 in Peru, N.Y. You can contact him at [email protected].