Our Lady Is With Us...

12/2020 --

My wife and I moved to N. California recently. We have been attending church at St. Mary's in Arcata. The masses are now held outdoors because of Covid.

There is a lovely statue of Our Lady, but if you look closely you will see she is missing her hands. Perhaps this is a sign she has joined us in our suffering. Like Her Son, allowing herself to become both victim and priest -- praying for the well-being of all God's children...

May the Lord be praised!

Update, 5/2022 --

Now, a year or so later -- and without knowing how/when it occurred, this lovely statue of Our Lady has been repaired.

Her hands are now visibly back in the position of prayer. Our masses are returning to the indoors; the pandemic (for a time) seems to be lifting.

Perhaps some small sign(s) of the good things that come to those who wait upon the Lord...

10/2022 --

Our Lady has lost her hands again. Perhaps a sign of the evil and darkness still in the world. Let us wait with her in silence -- until God comes to our aid.

On How to Petition the Lord...

The discreet lover does not care to ask for what she lacks and desires, but only indicates this need so the Beloved may do what he pleases.

When the Blessed Virgin spoke to her beloved Son at the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee, she did not ask directly for the wine, but merely remarked: They have no wine [Jn. 2:3]. And the sisters of Lazarus did not send to ask our Lord to cure their brother, but to tell him that Lazarus whom he loved was sick [Jn. 11:3].

There are three reasons for this: First, the Lord knows what is suitable for us better than we do; second, the Beloved has more compassion when he beholds the need and resignation of a soul that loves him; third, the soul is better safeguarded against self-love and possessiveness by indicating its lack, rather than asking for what in its opinion is wanting.

-- St. John of the Cross, Spiritual Canticle, Stanza 2 #8

What I Want...

I want the Glory of my Lord
and that there be many to praise Him. . .

-- St. Teresa of Jesus

Rosarium Virginis Mariae

Have been reading this apostolic letter on the rosary by Pope St. John Paul II.  It's absolutely splendid, beautifully written...

It offers great encouragement (and perhaps even a few new insights) to those of us devoted to the Most Holy Rosary of Our Blessed Lady.

http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/2002/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_20021016_rosarium-virginis-mariae.html

On the Solemnity of St. Joseph

March 19th -- Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In thinking of St. Joseph, it seems I've only recently come to appreciate this wonderful saint.  In many ways, I am still learning and discovering how to pray to him.

Sometimes I try to reflect on a few scenes from the gospels, and imagine how St. Joseph might have participated in these events.  My prayers become simple offerings of thankfulness and gratitude...

Some examples:

• Thank you, St. Joseph for not sending away Our Lady when you learned that she was "with child".  Thank you for not exposing her to the cruel demands of the law.

• Thank you for caring for and protecting Mary and the Child Jesus.  

• Thank you for being willing to uproot your family and travel to Egypt when pursued by King Herod.

• Thank you for not being too angry with Our Blessed Lady when you discovered the child Jesus was not with her -- on your return from the trip to the Temple. 

• Thank you for your patience and skill, which you showed when instructing the young Jesus in the carpenter's trade.

• Thank you for remaining silent (the gospels don't record many of your words).  But thank you for always listening to the voice of God!