I wanted to blog last Saturday; it was the 6th anniversary of John Paul II's death (April 2, 2005) and we went to the North End to take part in the first evening of the Boston Eucharistic Congress. Over 300 young adults were gathered in adoration with the monstrance blessed by Pope John Paul II and sent to the United States to be used at times when the faithful gather to pray for vocations. It was a very powerful evening with live music from students of MIT and Boston University and a dozen priests hearing confessions in the lower church. Attendees took shifts making holy hours throughout the night and into the next day; they took the morning off to offer their time and talents in service to the community in various ways, and returned in the afternoon for the vigil Mass of the 4th Sunday of Lent with Cardinal Sean O'Malley, OFM Cap. We remembered the late pontiff in our liturgies and joined the universal church in celebrating so wonderful a gift. "Be not afraid."
The week before that, we attended the Worcester Men's Conference. It was a powerful showing of over 1000 men from around Massachusetts (Boston's was canceled this year, driving attendance in Worcester). Four Oblates attended, myself included, marketing for vocations but also looking for various opportunities to network and connect with other groups in the area. One of the chief speakers at the Men's conference was Deacon Jack Sullivan, whose miraculous healing, attributed to Cardinal John Henry Newman, from complications after an operation to address a spinal cord injury, was the miracle that led to his beatification this past September. It was inspiring to see so many men seeking to be strong in their faith, singing together at the Mass, and reinforcing their zeal.
The seasons are definitely changing. With snow on the first day of Spring, it was a bit confusing in the Northeast, but the past weeks have borne some sunny days and the new shoots are visible many places. Rambo the turtle is out of hibernation now, and the Italian fig tree in the courtyard is out of its winter protective wrapping. Changing seasons is something I did not notice so markedly in Southern California. My confreres from the Midwest and Northeast rave and marvel about the changes happening and to come, and comment about signs that indicate the severity of those changes. I am slowly beginning to appreciate the changes; after a month or so without snowfall, I was presently surprised to see snow falling one morning and smiled to myself without realizing it. Boston weather continues to be quite unpredictable, though.
The Red Sox had their first home game yesterday (they play the Yankees three times this weekend), and the stadium's activity spills out onto our sidewalks as thousands of game-goers walk to and from the park, wrapping around St. Clement's. The noise of pedicabs and rambunctious fans pollutes the normally (though ironically) quiet atmosphere inside the Shrine.
Something that has come up in recent reflections is the reality of brotherhood and family in this Oblate community. It is something that I have begun to consider more directly and personally. How much do I trust my new brothers? How willing am I to talk to them? How willing are they to share things with me? The distance between us all continues to shrink, and, though I have always felt very welcome and at home, I did not immediately feel the warmth that is family. My sister Christina mentioned to me in the Fall that I have a new family now, and that was nominally true then, but has grown so much deeper now.
For a spiritual reflection, I noticed the Intercessions from Vespers of Thursday of the Third Week of Lent and I have been meaning to put them to use somewhere. The evening that we prayed them, all of my special intentions were included in the general ones, and I just felt a great sense of peace, that there was no need for me to voice my particular prayers because the Church, in her goodness, already anticipated all of those difficulties. That completeness was profoundly touching. It was not just that something that crossed my mind that day happened to be one of the intercessions; every single one was personal, but they were also printed in the same book of prayers governing the liturgies of thousands of English-speaking religious and laypeople who prayed them that same day! Here they are:
Christ the Lord gave us a new commandment, of love for each other. Let us pray to him:May we strengthen our Lenten observance in these final weeks before Easter, uniting ourselves to Our Lord's Sorrowful Passion, that we might also share in His glorious Resurrection, offering everything that we are and have in the hands of our merciful Mother.
Lord, build up your people in love.
Good Master, teach us to love you in our neighbor,
—and in serving them to serve you.
On the cross you asked pardon for your executioners,
—give us strength to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
Through the mystery of your body and blood, deepen our love, our perseverance and our trust,
—strengthen the weak, console the sorrowful, and give hope to the dying.
Light of the world, you gave sight to the man born blind when he had washed in the pool of Siloam,
—enlighten catechumens through the water of baptism and the word of life.
Give to the dead the perfect joy of your eternal love,
—and number us also among your chosen ones.
Love the Immaculata!
Mariam cogita, Mariam invoca
No comments:
Post a Comment