My late husband, Bob, during our engagement, had been deeply moved by his first Holy Thursday mass. Watching the priest wash parishioner’s feet impressed him profoundly.
One time we were talking about Vigils the night before Catholic funerals. He wondered if the same thing happened before a wedding – a service with readings, prayers and a rosary. I said no but I wish that there was a tradition like that.
Bob thought we should have one. Well why not? We found out this was something that had to be a private thing we did at home rather than in the Church. We started planning our at home wedding vigil.
We looked at books like The Blessing Cup and a Catholic wedding prep book called Marriage, Sacrament of Hope and Challenge, for ideas since both contained little rituals that could be done at home, and then we wrote our own.
We invited friends over for the night before our wedding (we had our bachelor and bachelorette parties earlier in the week).
Bob definitely wanted us to wash each other’s feet, and he wanted a way to include my kids from my first marriage (their dad had died in a car crash when they were little). He felt he wasn’t just marrying me but becoming family to them too. So he bought them both necklaces as tokens of his commitment to them too.
Bob was not Catholic (yet). Most of his friends weren’t either. So while we Catholics prayed the rosary, the non- Catholics could go to the back yard where Bob would have a fire going and could play guitar and sing and people could talk or join him. We rosary pray-ers would join them when we finished.
Our ceremony included an opening prayer, a Scripture reading, intercessions, and an exchange of words of commitment before we washed each other’s feet. We included Bob’s gifting the necklaces to the girls, the sharing of a “Blessing Cup” we passed around, an Our Father and a closing prayer and plus lots of hugs.
I mostly remember that just as he finished washing my right foot, he gave my toes a squeeze with those big warm calloused hands of his.
I think a wedding vigil is such a beautiful idea, a wonderful thing to do. A couple needs as many prayers and as much support as they can get!
Bob was already fighting brain cancer by the time we did this. Our marriage was far from long enough but it was a beautiful one. I am extra glad we started it this way.
I’ve found myself having trouble writing about Pope Francis since his death but I feel I should. It has been hard because I grieve him as so many do, in a deep, personal way, as well as with the Church and the world.
However, I thought with May coming up in a few days, the month the Church has dedicated to Mary, I could honor Pope Francis’ profound love of Our Lady.
Pope Francis turned to Mary the way a child turns to his mother. One of his first acts as Pope was to visit the ancient icon of Salus Populi Romani in Rome, in the Church of St. Mary Major, the oldest church dedicated to Mary. And he returned to that image again and again—before every apostolic journey, and after, to thank her. He entrusted the whole Church to her care and often encouraged us to do the same. In the Byzantine icon, Mary holds the Child Jesus, who holds the book of the Gospel. To me, since his view of Our Lady was centered in the Gospel, much as everything else about him was, that icon seems especially appropriate for him.
He has requested to be buried in St. Mary Major, near that icon where he prayed so often. He said to the coadjutor of that church, Rolandas Mackrikas, Mary appeared to him there asking him to arrange to be laid to rest in that place where Francis had so often come to visit her. He said “I’m so glad she has not forgotten me!”
Francis’ daily prayers included the Rosary, and his heart was especially close to the Marian devotions of Latin America—like Our Lady of Luján, the patroness of Argentina. Mary was not a “plaster saint” to him. (He cautioned against seeing her that way). She was a presence in his life. She was a real person to him.
The Holy Father spoke often of Mary as the “Mother of the People,” especially the poor and suffering. This view of Mary is prominent in Latin American spirituality. Mary walks with the people, accompanies them in their suffering and joy. This is what Franics himself was like. He wanted to be near people, to accompany them, love them, stand up for them, listen to them. Maybe he took after his Blessed Mother.
Pope Francis reminded us that in her Magnificat, Mary praises the God who casts down the powerful and lifts up the lowly, who feeds the hungry and sends the rich away empty. (Luke 1:46-55). Mary stood for, rejoiced in, justice for the poor and the oppressed, and we should too.
In Our Lady, he said, the Church sees what it means to be humble and brave at once.
Mary was little, and saw herself as lowly, but she was bold in faith and love.
My favorite Francis quote on Mary is about her brave humility at the Annunciation; in her response to the message of the Angel Gabriel.
“She recognizes that she is small before God, and she is happy to be so.” (Angelus December 24, 2017) He saw her humility as joyful, open to God, and brave.
And she was brave. Look at her life, so often turned upside down. But she always put Jesus and his mission, and put the Church, first, every time, even when she didn’t understand what was happening. She trusted, doing the will of God as soon as she knew it, no matter what it was, because she was great of heart.
Pope Francis is the Pope who gave us the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost. She is the Mother of Jesus, involved in our salvation and in the life of the Church, united with us in prayer as she was on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 1:14)
He also called Mary the first disciple —the one who listened deeply, believed without having all the answers, and followed her Son to the cross.
Francis loved that she was a woman of deep prayer as well as action.
Immediately after the Annunciation, “Mary arose and went with haste” to visit Elizabeth and assist her in her need. After the most intense and important mystical experience anybody on earth had ever had or ever would have, Mary immediately dives into service and love, helping her relative Elizabeth who is pregnant at an advanced age. (Luke 1:39-56) In the same way, Francis, and we, draw strength from prayer and contemplation. Then we immediately become servants of love. That is what Mary did, and it is what Francis did too. He thought of her as an evangelist, carrying Jesus to others wherever she went. To me this describes Pope Francis well.
In times of crisis, Francis always turned to Our Lady. During the pandemic, he asked the world to pray with him under her protection. In war, hunger, and fear, he encouraged us to say simply: “Mother, help us.”
In a time of grief, it feels right to turn to Mary—because that’s what Pope Francis would have done. He trusted her with his life and his Church. In this month of May, maybe we can do the same. We can pray the Rosary, light a candle, sing the Salve Regina, or simply say, “Stay with us, Mother.”
If we want to carry his spirit forward, we might start by walking with her.
In one of his homilies, Pope Francis said, “A Christian without Mary is an orphan.” But none of us are orphans, even though a wonderful father and beautiful light in the world has gone from us. Mary holds us even now, and she holds her son’s faithful shepherd, Francis close. May she carry him to the arms of Jesus, and may she walk with us until we meet again.
“Mother, help our faith!
Open our ears to hear God’s word and to recognize his voice and call.
Awaken in us a desire to follow in his footsteps, to go forth from our own land and to receive his promise.
Help us to be touched by his love, that we may touch him in faith.
Help us to entrust ourselves fully to him and to believe in his love, especially at times of trial, beneath the shadow of the cross, when our faith is called to mature.
Sow in our faith the joy of the Risen One.
Remind us that those who believe are never alone.
Teach us to see all things with the eyes of Jesus, that he may be light for our path. And may this light of faith always increase in us, until the dawn of that undying day which is Christ himself, your Son, our Lord!” – Pope Franics
Note: I will add to this novena daily until I have reached 9 days. Mary, Immaculate Conception is the Patroness of the United States
Novena Intention:
For the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, for the protection of all who are unjustly detained, and for the conversion of our nation toward justice, compassion, and truth.
Day 1: Mother of the Lowly
Scripture:
“He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the lowly.”
—Luke 1:52
Reflection:
Holy Mary, you yourself fled as a refugee to Egypt. You know the fear of the innocent pursued by the powerful.
Today, we ask you to look upon your child, Kilmar Abrego Garcia—torn from his family and unjustly (mistakenly) sent to a gang prison in El Salvador infamous for its human rights abuses. Intercede for him that justice may be done swiftly and mercy shown boldly.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, hold Kilmar close under your mantle, in the crossing of your arms, safe in your Immaculate Heart. Protect him in that terrible place. Give hope to his wife and children. By your prayers may the light of the Holy Spirit of wisdom, courage, fortitude, righteousness and compassion SHINE into every courtroom, agency, and hardened heart. Inspire those in power to act with courage. And guide us, your children, to build a nation that defends the dignity of every life. Mary pray with us that the mighty will be humbled and the lowly lifted up.
O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Patroness of the United States,
pray for us
Day 2 Mother of Immigrants and Refugees
Scripture
When an immigrant resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress them. The foreigner who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the immigrant as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19:33-34
Reflection
Mary, you carry the hope of the refugee deep in your heart. You understand their desperation, how hard it is to leave community, family, and ones country behind. You always did what you had to do for Jesus, impelled by your love for him and for us too who are all your children.
Please forgive us as a nation, for how we have treated our brother, Kilmar Abrego Garcia. We bring Kilmar and his family to you , as well as all others unjustly detained and imprisoned. Draw them all into your Immaculate Heart full of tenderness and the protective love of a mother. Intercede for their release.
Intercede for the hard of heart, the stubborn, the arrogant and the cruel. May the Holy Spirit blow through their lives upending their schemes and granting them the highest of graces; repentance and humility. May those opposed to justice receive a strong desire to right their wrongs.
By the flames of the Holy Spirit that burn in your heart, Holy Mother, illumine every place and person handling this case and others like it with Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord.
.
The Memorare
Remember, O most compassionate Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your assistance, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly unto you, O Virgin of Virgins, Our Mother. To you we come, before you we kneel, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer them. Amen.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
Day 3 Mother of the Accused
Scripture
But Suzanna cried aloud, “Eternal God, you know what is hidden and are aware of all things before they come to be:
you know that they have testified falsely against me.Here I am about to die, though I have done none of the things for which these men have condemned me.”
The Lord heard her prayer.
Daniel 13:42-44
Reflection
Mother, the night your Son was betrayed and arrested, falsely accused, beaten, mocked and tortured, your heart felt every blow even if you could not see them. As his mother you wished you could take the abuse yourself instead of him. You prayed for him, burying your tear stained face in the Father’s chest.
Pray for Kilmar, for all of the unjustly detained and imprisoned now, for whom your Son gave his face to slapping and spitting with no resistance. Intercede for his release, intercede for his family and everyone fighting for him. Give them all strength and hope during this terrible time. Protect him in that terrible prison. He is your little son. Give him a mother’s presence.
Kontakion 4 (an Orthodox hymn to Mary)
A tempest of many misfortunes … doth beset me, and no longer can I endure its ragings.
But as Thou art the merciful mother of my Savior and God, lift up Thy hands to Thy Son,
beseeching Him to regard the bitter sorrow of my heart
and to raise me up from the abyss of despair, who cry to Him.
Day 4, Mother of Mercy
Scripture:
One of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, and immediately, blood and water poured out.
John 19:34
Reflection
Holy Mother, you stood at the foot of the Cross of your Son, your immaculate heart pierced through with trauma and grief. You suffered with your Son in profound solidarity and compassion. Help our entire nation to grow in compassion. May our leaders have their hearts opened and no longer mock empathy, but repent and receive mercy themselves. May the love and mercy expressed in the outflow of blood and water from Jesus’ side, be deeply received by each of us. Mother, by your pierced heart, by your sorrow and faithfulness, by your willingness to stand at the side of the condemned come what may, urge us to rise up and join you in standing with those who suffer. Show us how to bring the mercy of your Son, the love he bears each of us, to everyone. May the love and sacrifice of the Lord, his mercy and grace, comfort Kilmar, and all of the unjustly detained and imprisoned and their families today.
Salve Regina
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Day 5, Mother of those who Mourn
Scripture
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4
Reflection
Oh Mary Desolate, let us comfort you and make reparation to you for all you have suffered by loving and standing for those who are unjustly imprisoned, torn from their families and communities, mourned by their friends. Teach us to stand with you in standing for them and those who mourn them. May we offer you sweet solace in our friendship and solidarity with you and your Son today, with prayer and acts of service. In sitting with you in silent hope, may we be sitting with them as well just as you do. May Kilmar and all the unjustly imprisoned and detained feel uplifted and supported by you and by us. To this we dedicate this day.
Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
Day 6
Mother of the Risen
Scripture
For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
Luke 1:49
Reflection
Mary who can imagine your joy when your Son was returned to you? When all of life had been restored by his resurrection? How beautiful the whole world looked to you! How beautiful the face of your Son glorified. You probably wanted never to stop holding him. I bet you wanted to cook him all of his favorite foods. You would not have been able to keep your eyes off him, even though your sight of him was blurred by your joyful tears.
By the joy your heart knew that day, intercede for other mothers, wives, children, desperately wating for the return of their sons, their husbands, their fathers. Intercede for the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to his home and family. Pray for all of the unjustly detained and imprisoned that they may be brought home soon. Pray for our country as we spiral into disregard for the lives of immigrants and the rights and dignity of all of the marginalized. Mother of the risen, help us to rise. Help us grow in justice, righteousness and compassion. Let us reflect the Heart of your Son, and the love of your Immaculate Heart in our lives.
Regina Coeli
Queen of Heaven rejoice, alleluia
for the Son whom you merited to bear alleluia
has risen as he said, Alleluia
Pray to God for us, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia
For the Lord is truly risen alleluia
Day 7 Mary,Mother of the Church and Queen of Apostles
Scripture
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus.
Acts 1:14a
Mother of the Church and Queen of Apostles, intercede for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to take a strong clear stand on behalf of migrants and refugees, and in defense of the poor and all who stand to be harmed by this administrations policies and actions. lift your kindly hands to your Son, on behalf of Kilmar Abreago Garcia all the others who are unjustly imprisoned or detained, all who are afraid now. Obtain the release of the prisoners, the conversion of those who would oppress. Your Son did not give us a spirit of fear, but of the power of love. He gives us courage. Remind us, especially Church leaders and government leaders, that when we speak up, we are not to worry what we are to say; it will be the Spirit of Our Father speaking through us. In the spirit of Pope Francis, let us be brave on behalf of the powerless.
Prayer by Pope Francis for our world in danger
O Mary, our Mother, we come again here before you. You know the sorrows and struggles that weigh heavily on our hearts in this hour. We lift our gaze to you, immerse ourselves in your eyes, and entrust ourselves to your heart.
You, too, O Mother, have faced difficult trials and human fears, but you were courageous and bold. You entrusted everything to God, responded to Him with love, and offered yourself without reservation. As the intrepid Woman of Charity, you hurried to help Elizabeth, promptly addressing the needs of the couple during the Wedding at Cana; with steadfastness of heart, on Calvary you illuminated the night of sorrow with the Easter hope. Finally, with maternal tenderness, you gave courage to the frightened disciples in the Upper Room and, with them, welcomed the gift of the Spirit.
And now we beseech you: heed our cry! We have need of your loving gaze that invites us to trust in your Son, Jesus. You who are ready to embrace our sorrows, fly to our aid in these times oppressed by injustices and devastated by wars, wipe the tears from the suffering faces of those who mourn the loss of their loved ones, awaken us from the stupor that has darkened our path, and disarm our hearts from the weapons of violence, so that the prophecy of Isaiah may quickly be fulfilled: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not take up sword against another, nor shall they train for war again” (Isaiah 2:4).
Turn your maternal gaze upon the human family, which has lost the joy of peace and the sense of fraternity. Intercede for our world in danger, so that it may cherish life and reject war, care for those who suffer, the poor, the defenseless, the sick, and the afflicted, and protect our Common Home.
We invoke you for the mercy of God, O Queen of Peace! Transform the hearts of those who fuel hatred, silence the din of weapons that generate death, extinguish the violence that brews in the heart of humanity, and inspire projects for peace in the actions of those who govern nations.
O Queen of the Holy Rosary, untie the knots of selfishness and disperse the dark clouds of evil. Fill us with your tenderness, uplift us with your caring hand, and grant us your maternal caress, which makes us hope in the advent of a new humanity where “… the wilderness becomes a garden land and the garden land seems as common as forest. Then judgment will dwell in the wilderness and justice abide in the garden land. The work of justice will be peace…” (Isaiah 32:15-17).
Day 8 Mary, Throne of Wisdom
Scripture
God of my ancestors, Lord of mercy,
you who have made all things by your word
And in your wisdom have established humankind
to rule the creatures produced by you,
And to govern the world in holiness and righteousness,
and to render judgment in integrity of heart:
Give me Wisdom, the consort at your throne.
Wisdom 9: 1-4a
Reflection
Mary, today we bring the justices of our Supreme Court to you, upon so much of what happened next for Kilmar and all others unjustly detained or imprisoned, depends. Give them wisdom and just judgement in what they decide to do in the face of this administrations’ delays, denials and defiance, lies and various distractions. Give them fortitude and inner strength, a clear understanding of what is at risk for our country if they allow the president and his administration to defy court orders.
You are the Throne of Wisdom, who brought us the Son of God. You are the Spouse of the Holy Spirit, who is the power of love, the giver of life, the inspiration of wisdom. Your Immaculate Heart is filled with intelligence as well as tenderness, courage and love. Intercede for us, for Kilmar, and our courts, especially our Supreme Court.
Prayer
Come Holy Spirit,
Come by means of the powerful Intercession
of the Immaculate Heart
of Mary,
Thy well -beloved spouse.
Day 9 Mother of the Americas
Scripture
”Behold your mother.” John 19:26
Reflection
Mary Mother of the Americas, and Patroness of the United States, pray for us. We ask this because this is about so much more than Kilmar alone. This is about our country’s slide into a competitive autocracy style of government where human dignity is disregarded. We appeal to your motherly protection, to your goodness and love of all people. Intercede for our nation which risks becoming a cruel and oppressive one.
We fervently and with great trust on this last day of our novena, commend to you our battered democracy. We bring to you with trust in your special love of the persecuted victims of injustice, your little son Kilmar Abrego Garcia and ask you to raise your sweet face to your Son, to ask for Kilmar’s release, for his safety and freedom, and that of all those unjustly detained or imprisoned. Please do not stop interceding for us and for them until our request is granted. Your Son said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice for they shall be filled.” We are here to be filled with his blessing then. Let us not be disappointed.
Traditional Prayer
to the
Immaculate Heart of Mary
O Most Blessed Mother, heart of love, heart of mercy, ever listening, caring, consoling, hear our prayer. As your children, we implore your intercession with Jesus your Son. Receive with understanding and compassion the petitions we place before you today,
Most of the people about to be deported and rounded up into camps are our fellow Catholics; people who are praying their rosaries scared to death. Our people. When the U.S. invaded Mexico Irish mercenaries were brought in to fight with the U.S.. But when they saw the flag of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the other side they refused to fight their fellow Catholics. They’re known as the San Patricios or The Saint Patrick Brigade, of 1846. I’ve been reflecting on their celebrated legacy in the wake of the protection of our churches as sanctuaries has been taken away.
We all need to think about how we will respond to possible raids during holy mass. What will you do?
Our Holy Father has said the way we treat migrants and refugees is as important as the way we treat the unborn. The Scripture says we must treat the alien as our native born and not persecute or oppress them. (Lv. 19: 33-34) The Catechism teaches us that they are to be treated in such a way as respects their human dignity, and with compassion.
The Church understands we can’t accept everyone who comes to us asking for asylum but that we should always treat them with empathy and understanding regardless. Catholics believe in the unconditional dignity of the human person made in the image and likeness of God. Jesus says whatever we do to the lowly we do to him. (Matt. 25:40)
The following are quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the topics of migration and immigration.
¶1911: Internal quote is from Gaudium et Spes: “The unity of the human family, embracing people who enjoy equal natural dignity, implies a universal common good. This good calls for an organization of the community of nations able to provide ‘for men’s different needs, both in the fields of social life—such as food supplies, health, education, labor and also in certain special circumstances which can crop up here and there, e.g., the need to promote the general improvement of developing countries, or to alleviate the distressing conditions in which refugees dispersed throughout the world find themselves, or also to assist migrants and their families. to alleviate the distressing conditions in which refugees dispersed throughout the world find themselves, or also to assist migrants and their families.’”
¶2211: “The political community has a duty to honor the family, to assist it, and to ensure especially… the right to private property, to free enterprise, to obtain work and housing, and the right to emigrate.”
¶2241: “The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.”
¶2433: “Access to employment and to professions must be hope to all without unjust discrimination; men and women, healthy and disabled, natives and immigrants. For its part society should, according to circumstances, help citizens find work and employment.”
We may be having a moment here; a moment when God is asking us to stand up even though it’s scary. Everyone worries about the reputation of the Church. We have made our mistakes, often because of that worry. But we know what is right. I hope we won’t blow this and let this moment pass us by. We haven’t always stood up when we should have. We always worry about the balance between appeasing authority to effect change or avoid interference in our affairs, and being faithful to our mission and our call to radical love and to “speak truth to power” as some say. I hope our leaders won’t just straddle the fence. In some of what’s going on we will have to pick a side. Let it be the side of the lowly, the persecuted and the oppressed, the stranger, the immigrant, the refugee.
A friend asked, “I wonder how many of them are named Jesus’. “
This post is for those of us for whom the 2025 Inauguration of our incoming president will be a day of grief, or at least a difficult day.
I am very very sad for my country too and worried as well as I have said before. I am horrified by the ugliness and hate this administration is already unleashing into society – bringing out the worst in all of us.
Here are my survival plans for January 20.
I am not watching the inauguration, not in any way. In fact I’m not listening to the news at all that day. Spiritual reading or audio book sounds a lot better.
I plan to celebrate MLK whose day it is. I can do this by being grateful for him, by posting about him, by reading some of his writings, by talking about him with my family, especially with my grandchildren. Locally we have an MLK day March that because of weather will be a caravan this year. We plan to join it.
If you’re home for the MLK holiday then you can make this a mini retreat day for yourself to recharge and put on the armor of God
. “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:11-17
Pray. Because when we pray we are truly putting more love into the world , in whatever way we choose to pray. If we pray with love and attentiveness God will work through us in secret and powerful ways; our soul becomes a door of grace for the movement of divine love into this world. We don’t have to say anything. We only bring ourselves to God with an open heart. He will only do what is right.
So pray in whatever way you can. Pray as much as you can.
I plan to dedicate my actions that day and any suffering I feel or any happiness, all my thoughts words and experiences of the day, to the cause of truth and justice and right. God knows what those truly are so I don’t even have to be specific.
Next, make this a day of service. Do a good deed. Make a connection with someone. You can pick up trash in your neighborhood. Perform a random act of kindness. Volunteer at a local charity. Spend some time really listening to a child and let them lead the conversation or the activity of their choice. Kids remember things like that. Do someone else’s chores. Pay it forward at a drive through. Give someone flowers. Ask a homeless person how they are. You know what to do.
I also think at least for that day Philippians 4:8 has excellent advice for what to keep in mind. I’m going to try to master my thoughts and put that verse into action.
“Finally, brothers, sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Philippians 4:8
I plan to listen to beautiful music and also to take refuge in poetry. I’ve been reading a lot of poetry lately.
Make good use of that dark day of worry fear and grief. Make it something beautiful for God and for others, for yourself.
It’s like putting flowers in guns I think. Only these flowers are able to bring about the change they represent.
This is it y’all. Let’s prepare ourselves with prayer, with beauty, with acts of service, with peace. That’s our real refuge.
On Christmas Eve the Holy Father knocked on a normally sealed (with bricks) door in St. Peter’s Basilica and gave it a push. Symbolically and ceremonially the holy door was opened wide, ushering in the Jubilee Year of Hope for the whole world so in need of it now.
The holy door represents Christ, who said, “I am the gate,” and “I am the Way.” He is our door, his heart open wide in welcome, beckoning for us to step in to him, to open the doors of our hearts as well, to him, and to others.
This door and this holy year are not merely a symbol and a theme, not only a call from the Pope to renew and intensify our faith, to remember hope and to give hope, though they are those things too. Something very real is happening here, a release, a flood of grace from the treasury entrusted to the Church by Jesus, and to Peter who can unlock and lock, release and forgive.
Veteran Vatican journalist Gerard O’Connell described on the podcast “Inside the Vatican,” being present for the opening of the holy door for the jubilee year 2000 by Pope St. John Paul II. He said we often talk about “ being in the now” but this felt “beyond the now.” I think he was talking about a transcendent present. “Like being in another dimension” he said. I think that sense he had points to the truth of what is actually happening as the Church opens these holy doors all over the world.
Pope Francis urges us to remember that we are a people of hope, a people on a journey, and we have confident assurance that we are on the road with and to Christ. We know where we are going though we cannot see it with our eyes.
He also asks that we turn and give hope to others who need food, shelter, freedom, human dignity, people under relentless attack in war, the refugee and the migrant, the prisoner, the poor.
He is speaking not just to individuals but to nations, urging them to work for peace and to protect human life and dignity. He calls for rich nations to forgive the crippling and impossible debts of the poor ones. He asks for the richer nations to be mindful also of ecological justice for poorer countries as well.
He wants to see restorative justice for prisoners emphasized more than the punitive emphasis we tend to favor. Francis went so far as to open a holy door in a prison (that leads to their prison chapel) and asks that society help these people have hope for their lives beyond prison.
We are called to works and an approach of mercy for all of these brothers and sisters in need of hope
We can also take advantage of the mercy and grace of this holy year by making a pilgrimage. Most of us can’t get to Rome but each diocese will announce pilgrimage sites closer we can journey to.
Here are the ones for the Diocese of Austin. For pilgrimage sites near you check your Diocesan website.
St. Mary Cathedral, Austin
Holy Cross Parish, Austin
Holy Vietnamese Martyrs Parish, Austin
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Temple
Our Lady of Wisdom University Parish @ Texas State University, San Marcos
Santa Cruz Parish, Buda
St. Joseph Parish, Bryan
St. Mary Church of the Assumption Parish, Waco
St. Mary Catholic Center @ Texas A&M University, College Station
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Lampasas
University Catholic Center @ University of Texas, Austin
In order to receive an indulgence:
Visit and Pray at a Pilgrimage Site
Perform a work of mercy or penance
Recitation of specific prayers (If you are homebound and cannot participate in pilgrimage)
We can apply this grace and mercy of the Jubilee Year to our beloved dead to help them in their journey through eternity, for their purification. This is commonly called a “plenary indulgence.” We share spiritual goods with the dead and with the living in the Communion of Saints. So we can access the special graces of the Holy Year for ourselves as well as others.
Another thing a plenary indulgence does is release us from temporal punishment for sins that have already been forgiven. In current parlance you could think of this as the antidote to “what goes around comes around.”
This is also a year for repentance and penance. We can take advantage of the grace of this holy year by returning to confession, making amends to anyone we have hurt, amending our lives, beginning again.
It’s a year of reconciliation and forgiveness. Any forgiveness we are holding back, this year we should let go. Forgive everyone, everyone. Don’t let anything anyone detain you on your way to Christ.
We are Pilgrims of Hope. There is a renewal of Christian Joy afoot! Grab your pilgrim’s staff, put on your pilgrim’s shoes. Let’s go!
Today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the toddlers and babies killed by Roman soldiers at Herod’s orders after Joseph fled to Egypt with Jesus and Mary.
I have never liked the traditional way of describing these kids as martyrs. A martyr chooses death rather than betraying Christ. Little children suffer and die before the age of consent and from the terrible things adults do.
I also am not sure abortion is exactly the best modern comparison to what happened that day. As far as we know the tiny innocents in their mother’s womb do not have consciousness yet. I imagine them, at least early on, as in a dreamlike bliss, violently but quickly disturbed and ended by abortion. Abortion is violent and tragic in several ways. However, as Pat Benatar sang, “Hell is for children.”
This is a good day to pray for children around the world who suffer the violence and callousness of adults, especially from state sponsored terror and genocide where there is no safety, no relief, where parents cannot protect them, such as in Gaza where parents write their children’s names on their limbs in case they are killed so they can be identified, where children are orphaned, maimed, under the rubble, starving, sometimes being operated on without anesthesia if they are lucky enough to find care at all. Surely their blood cries out to the Lord. We all know the outrageous numbers. Hell is for children.
Ukrainian children suffer war as well, and I am struck by the fact that Russia is taking the children away from their parents and into Russia. It reminds me of our child separation policy during the last Trump administration; something a lot of us lost sleep over, protested but felt powerless to stop. The damage to those little ones is profound and many of them were sexually abused as well, or never reunited with their families. It’s a method of torture I believe, to do this to kids and their parents. Some of those children were nursing babies.
In many countries life is so dangerous or poverty is so great that parents are forced to flee with their children to find safety or go where life is possible only to be rebuffed and unwanted, subjected to detention or camps or sent back to the dangers they fled after an often long and dangerous journey.
In Sudán, famine threatens and children die of malnutrition as parents look on helplessly. This is happening in so many countries.
I haven’t heard what life is like for the children of Haiti as their country descends further into chaos, violence, and gang rule.
We know children are forced to fight and kill in parts of the world. Children are trafficked and live lives of nightmarish abuse.
Children are abused in their churches, schools, and families and too often the abusers are protected instead of the children.
And here in America, the leading cause of death for our children is gun violence. .
These are things adults have done or conditions the world of adults have created that massacre the souls minds and bodies of children who deserve safety and love, freedom to be kids. These are the holy innocents of our time.
This is overwhelming. What are we supposed to do? Jesus was stern about any harm done to little ones.
We need to be a part of lessening their suffering, advocating for them, of challenging the structural sin of our world, and the wrong headedness of the powers that be. Nothing will change if we don’t.
Hell is for children, but we are allied with Heaven and we hold the gift of prayer given to us by God. As we stand up for children and help as we can, God makes our prayers and actions big and far reaching. We can be everywhere he is, holding frightened children, drying tears, giving strength, transforming the world.
Holy Spirit, we pray for the Holy Innocents of our time and we dedicate this day to them. You are the comforter and the giver of life, the one who strengthens, uplifts, transforms, the Spirit of Love and Truth, Father of the Poor. Make your way through this world bringing light and nourishment and peace. Make us repent of the sins of the world and show us what we must do. Guide our prayer for every child everywhere in need of rescue and relief of sorrow and fear. May our leaders prioritize the needs and rights of children to safety and freedom and family life.
Bless every little heart on earth on this day of the Innocents.
None of the women of her family or village were there to help her. Men were not used to being part of the birthing process. But Joseph, surrounded by the kindly witness of the animals who seemed to understand, did his utmost for Mary that night in the dark, in the hay of a stable. Maybe she told him what she needed since she would have seen many births by then, going with her mother to help the other women. Joseph held her close and they prayed, wiping tears from each other’s faces, telling each other “You’re so brave!”
Mary laid the Baby in a feeding trough after his first nursing and after wrapping him in swaddling cloth she had brought with her, while Joseph cleaned up and brought her water. Then they would have placed the baby between them and slept, waking to feed him, to gently laugh and touch his soft little head wondering what was going to happen now as beyond the stable the rising star of Bethlehem shone out to the three wise men on their travels, and the angels sang to the shepherds in the fields filling the sky and their hearts with awe and joy.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, coming from the Father, full of grace and truth.JOHN 1:14
Bethany Hang Out 