Today began with Holy Mass at St. Mary’s for the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church. Robert picked us up as usual and right on time, and Sister Mary Claire, Mini, and I all rode together through the soft May morning. The trees were full of leaves, and everything looked washed and gentle after Pentecost, as if the Holy Ghost had breathed over the farm and left it quiet and holy.
At Mass, Father LeRoy read the Gospel about Our Lady standing by the Cross of Jesus. I always feel very still inside when I hear that reading. Jesus was suffering so much, but He still thought of His Mother and of us. He said to Mary, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” Father LeRoy said that at that moment, Jesus gave Mary to the Church as Mother. She was not only the Mother of Jesus, but also the Mother of all who belong to Him.
Father said that the Church was born from the pierced side of Jesus, when Blood and water flowed out. Sister Mary Claire explained afterward that the Blood reminds us of the Holy Eucharist, and the water reminds us of Baptism. That made me think of the little spring beginning from the rock wall in the cave and flowing into the Indian Creek. Only this was far holier, because it came from the Heart of Jesus.
After we came home, I went out to my little garage getaway in the grove. Mini came with me, of course, trotting ahead as always. The garage still looked like a church from yesterday, with flowers and holy things placed about so carefully. It was still only our old garage, with weathered boards and a country smell, but somehow it felt like St. Mary’s had lent it a bit of its quietness for the day.
I knelt there with Mini close beside me, and my imagination began working before I could stop it. I pictured the old garage not as a garage at all, but as a tiny chapel hidden inside the grove. The Blessed Mother stood near the altar, not far away like someone in a picture, but near enough to be our Mother. Around her were children kneeling quietly, like little members of the Church. I imagined myself being one of them, and Mini sitting as still as she could, almost like she knew this was a motherly feast and not a running-around feast.
Then I thought about St. John taking Mary into his home. I wondered what it would have felt like to hear Jesus say, “Behold, your mother.” If Jesus said that to me, I think I would want to make the whole house ready for her. I would sweep the floor, put flowers on the table, and try not to leave my books everywhere. But Sister Mary Claire said Mary does not only want a room in our house. She wants a place in our hearts.
So I asked myself if there is room for Mary in my heart. Not just a little corner for when I remember, but a real place, like St. John gave her. I think that is what this feast means for me. Jesus gives us His own Mother, and we are supposed to take her home with love.
Mini leaned against me while I prayed, and I put my arm around her. The garage was very quiet. The flowers outside nodded in the breeze, and the old boards creaked a little, as if even the garage was listening. I thought of Jesus on the Cross, giving everything, even His Mother, and I felt very small and very loved.
Tonight I am going to remember that I am not motherless in the Church. Mary is my Mother because Jesus said so. And if He gave her to us from the Cross, then He must want us to trust her very much.
Evening Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank You for giving us Your Mother. to guard over Your Church, please take me into your care and help me love Jesus with a faithful heart. Watch over Sister Mary Claire, Robert, Mini, and all of us here. Amen.
Love,
Kathy
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 19:25-34
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.”
There was a vessel filled with common wine.
So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth.
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.”
And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.
Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately Blood and water flowed out.
The Gospel of the Lord.
At Mass, Father LeRoy read the Gospel about Our Lady standing by the Cross of Jesus. I always feel very still inside when I hear that reading. Jesus was suffering so much, but He still thought of His Mother and of us. He said to Mary, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” Father LeRoy said that at that moment, Jesus gave Mary to the Church as Mother. She was not only the Mother of Jesus, but also the Mother of all who belong to Him.
Father said that the Church was born from the pierced side of Jesus, when Blood and water flowed out. Sister Mary Claire explained afterward that the Blood reminds us of the Holy Eucharist, and the water reminds us of Baptism. That made me think of the little spring beginning from the rock wall in the cave and flowing into the Indian Creek. Only this was far holier, because it came from the Heart of Jesus.
After we came home, I went out to my little garage getaway in the grove. Mini came with me, of course, trotting ahead as always. The garage still looked like a church from yesterday, with flowers and holy things placed about so carefully. It was still only our old garage, with weathered boards and a country smell, but somehow it felt like St. Mary’s had lent it a bit of its quietness for the day.
I knelt there with Mini close beside me, and my imagination began working before I could stop it. I pictured the old garage not as a garage at all, but as a tiny chapel hidden inside the grove. The Blessed Mother stood near the altar, not far away like someone in a picture, but near enough to be our Mother. Around her were children kneeling quietly, like little members of the Church. I imagined myself being one of them, and Mini sitting as still as she could, almost like she knew this was a motherly feast and not a running-around feast.
Then I thought about St. John taking Mary into his home. I wondered what it would have felt like to hear Jesus say, “Behold, your mother.” If Jesus said that to me, I think I would want to make the whole house ready for her. I would sweep the floor, put flowers on the table, and try not to leave my books everywhere. But Sister Mary Claire said Mary does not only want a room in our house. She wants a place in our hearts.
So I asked myself if there is room for Mary in my heart. Not just a little corner for when I remember, but a real place, like St. John gave her. I think that is what this feast means for me. Jesus gives us His own Mother, and we are supposed to take her home with love.
Mini leaned against me while I prayed, and I put my arm around her. The garage was very quiet. The flowers outside nodded in the breeze, and the old boards creaked a little, as if even the garage was listening. I thought of Jesus on the Cross, giving everything, even His Mother, and I felt very small and very loved.
Tonight I am going to remember that I am not motherless in the Church. Mary is my Mother because Jesus said so. And if He gave her to us from the Cross, then He must want us to trust her very much.
Evening Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank You for giving us Your Mother. to guard over Your Church, please take me into your care and help me love Jesus with a faithful heart. Watch over Sister Mary Claire, Robert, Mini, and all of us here. Amen.
Love,
Kathy
__________________________________
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 19:25-34
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.”
And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.”
There was a vessel filled with common wine.
So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth.
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.”
And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.
Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and they be taken down.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately Blood and water flowed out.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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