Litany of Loreto
Today's Title:
Mother of our Savior
(A Thank you to Fr. Kaylor, pastor of St. Therese parish, Brewster, Ohio for greeting me after mass and allowing me time afterward to take photos. The stained glass window and statue of St. Therese are from his church).
Let us consider that the entire Church is on retreat during this holy season of Lent. And the theme of this retreat is the life, passion, death, and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Even for those members of the Body of Christ who are not inclined to focus their minds and hearts on the spiritual, the Church in a gentle way, during Lent, forces all of its members to reflect on the Passion of Christ. A subject not for the faint of heart.
It takes courage to look at the Cross, to embrace it, to lift it and carry it and hold it high and proclaim it to the world in our daily life. It also takes courage to carry our cross with great joy.
I recently heard someone say, "Lent is too long!" Is it too long because we miss our worldly attachments? Is it too long, because it hurts? Is it too long because it reminds us of death, and we may not be ready? St. John of the Cross would tell us it hurts because we are still attached to our senses-living for the body and not living in the Spirit.
For the Secular Carmelite, Lent becomes a season of joy. Of course, it is solemn and penitential, but we know that we must take up our cross, as we have promised to do, and follow the crucified and risen Lord-follow him to Calvary--follow him to the joy of the Resurrected life!
St. Therese is a Saint that we can count on to help us find the joy amid the cross. She, the one who promised to strew her flowers amid thorns, and promising that the longer and sharper the thorns, the sweeter would she sing.
St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila) said she would run a hundred miles from a sour-faced saint. She only said in a different way what the Gospel tells us each Lent, "wash your face and groom your hair..." Do not be like the hypocrites..." In other words, go about your business of praying and fasting, and why not do it with joy?
Our Lady sang the Magnificat in the company of Elizabeth. Her song of praise was not a one-time event. The Church asks us to remember her great joy every day as we complete Evening Prayer and sing the Magnificat. As I have written before, sometime when you think of it, stand before a crucifix and sing the Magnificat. "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior....". God my Savior...
Our Lady, Mother of Our Savior, pray for us. May the world see that we are Christians by our love and by our joy!
Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS
No comments:
Post a Comment