A photo taken a few weeks ago after mass and breakfast with great-grandma. Today I am gifted with the morning with Pat's mom... I am thinking about my Mary... granddaughter farmgirl sweet as can be! She came over yesterday with a heavy heart... her pet rabbit had suddenly died and she had just buried it in their pet cemetery. Giving her a hug, knowing of her sad but realistic heart... she has witnessed death many times on the farm in her short 9 years of life. With so many animals close to her as she lovingly cares for them... it is a sure thing that she will suffer death over and over again.
Today is the celebration of The Most Holy Name of Mary. I have so much love in my heart for Mary, my Spiritual Mother, and so much gratitude for her walking this journey with me! As I was sharing yesterday the journey of Susan/Little Sister Hallel and John - they are so interconnected that one cannot be shared without the other- I bemoaned that The Community of Mary the Morning Star had come here so much after Hallel had discerned her vocation - maybe she could be just 12 miles away rather than around the world in Rome! But then recalling how both times we have visited her at their homebase in Saint Pierre, that we were able to go to Lourdes and bath in the miraculous healing waters that flow there, and how John fell in love with Our Lady there and carries that forward in his heart, mind and soul. No, Hallel is where she belongs and I cannot wish for anything more than her happiness as a bride of Christ in The Community of the Lamb! And her sweet reminder yesterday on the phone - "Wounded, I do not cease to LOVE." I long to live this better in my life!
A visit by a special niece, Sr Doreen, a few months back...
Reflecting on Mary this day and her name... it has always been an important one for me in my life and family! My sister Mary died almost 30 years ago from cancer at age 28! She was very close to me and to my husband in our early married life, as she lived with us for some months while I was on bedrest for our second daughter. She helped Pat with the milking and fell in love with the farm... eventually marrying her farmer, Jerry from Wisconsin, and having her daughter, Audrey! Mary also is in heaven and looks down on us - she is Godmother to both Nancy and Susan/Hallel!
In the grotto in Michigan on the anniversary of Mary's death - July 3rd - It is so powerful for me to be in Michigan on the big Lake remembering my sister. Mary was 7 years younger than me, and we would walk down the beach with her under my arm and look for fossils, take in the beauty of God's creation and share all that was on our hearts and minds.... that's about as close as you can get! Then to see her life take a similar path- nursing and farming and family and Catholic... so close inside too!
Mary and Simon taken years ago...
Yes, Pat also has a sister, Mary, just about the age of mine. He also had an Aunt Mary, so we opted to use Maria for our daughter. Many beautiful women carrying forth her marvelous name. The daily "Hail Marys" that fill my life with the language of LOVE - Prayer!
This prayer that names the Mother of God "brought to a dry and barren world the Fruit of LIFE. It will cause the Word of God to take root and bring forth Jesus."St Louis de Montfort
Mary my sister with her beautiful daughter, Audrey!
Jesus, today we join you in honoring your Mother! So many times in my life she has been honored by all the Marys that I know and love - those in heaven and here with me. May we always know that she is there to assist us and carry our needs to you as we rest in her loving arms. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
The two city girls come to the farm... Mary and Barb! Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
No comments:
Post a Comment