To Love As She Does

The box arrived on Saturday, in plenty of time before the holiday.

They recognized the handwriting, the now-familiar return address. It was addressed to them and they knew good things were guaranteed inside.

Over and over again, they've received such boxes, always with good things inside. 

Because she knows the hearts of children and she meets them where they are.

She loves them well.

This time was no exception. There were heart-shaped cardboard boxes and paints and paintbrushes and all sorts of things to spark creative enthusiasm.

It came addressed to the girls. But the boys know these boxes, too. And they circled in anticipation.

No worries. More than enough in that good box for everyone. Because she knows boys, too.

A morning spent quietly, happily.

Creating beauty.

All while praying for their benefactor.

As she struggles again with every breath. 

That good heart keeps beating. He hears the prayers of children.

Pray with us, please.

Prayer for 9/11

O God of love, compassion, and healing,
look on us, people of many different faiths
and traditions,
who gather today at this site,
the scene of incredible violence and pain.
We ask you in your goodness
to give eternal light and peace
to all who died here—
the heroic first-responders:
our fire fighters, police officers,
emergency service workers, and
Port Authority personnel,
along with all the innocent men and women
who were victims of this tragedy
simply because their work or service
brought them here on September 11, 2001.

We ask you, in your compassion
to bring healing to those
who, because of their presence here that day,
suffer from injuries and illness.
Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families
and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
Give them strength to continue their lives
with courage and hope.

We are mindful as well
of those who suffered death, injury, and loss
on the same day at the Pentagon and in
Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Our hearts are one with theirs
as our prayer embraces their pain and suffering.

God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all men and women
and peace among the nations of the earth.
Turn to your way of love
those whose hearts and minds
are consumed with hatred.
God of understanding,
overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy,
we seek your light and guidance
as we confront such terrible events.
Grant that those whose lives were spared
may live so that the lives lost here
may not have been lost in vain.

Comfort and console us,
strengthen us in hope,
and give us the wisdom and courage
to work tirelessly for a world
where true peace and love reign
among nations and in the hearts of all.

Pope Benedict XI--Prayer at Ground Zero
New York, 20 April 2008 

{Just a note: we have been encouraged to pause and remember and pray every time we notice that the clock reads 9:11. In this way, we remember; we teach our our children to remember; and we truly will not forget.}

Yarn Along: Praying As We Go

Hi there! I'm still knitting along with lots of friends, stitching a Baby Surprise Jacket.

Surprise! It's too big for my "baby." Looks like Karoline will wear this jacket before Sarah Annie does.  That's just fine with me; I was sort of sad that when Sarah outgrew it, it would be relegated to the giveaways or to my hope chest. Now, two little girls will wear it (unless Karoline wears it out). Still investigating exactly what this means in terms of adapting the pattern. And trying not to hyperventilate.

I'm reading Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer, by Norris Chumley. This has been a bit of a serendipitous read. Before the book arrived, I was looking to settle into a rhythm of knitting and praying when I am away from my audio Bible. A little digression: when I was being treated for cancer, I discovered that I had just enough time while they zapped me with radiation to pray three Hail Marys, followed by imploring St. Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, to pray with me that I would be able to conceive, carry, bear, and raise healthy, happy, holy children. My third child born after those treatments, and first daughter, was named Mary Elizabeth. Ever since, I've keyed prayers to certain activities. For instance, I had different repetitious extamporaneous prayers for each of my labors.

My girls have all repeated the words, "in, around, through, off" as they've learned to knit--words that match the actions, marking motion with meaning. I have discovered that in exactly the time it takes me to knit a stitch, I can pray the ancient Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,have mercy on me, a sinner." It fits just perfectly. It's rhythmic and contemplative and meaningful.There is an inner peace to be found in the rhythm of the prayers and the needles.

Chumley's book is a bit of a documentary in print, taking the reader to visits hermits and monks and nuns who share how the prayer is lived in their lives. The rich layers of the ancient prayer are revealed to the reader as they draw us into the practice of simple, simple prayer. Chumley writes, "The point is to try to maintain connection with God at all times, remembering that God is here with us at every moment. The practice of prayer and meditation helps us do that, uniting the inner core of our being, our soul, with God and with all the scattered parts of us."

Knitting and prayer. So simple.

Be sure to stop by and visit Ginny and see what other folks are knitting and reading.

Novena to Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity

Last week, as the KnitAlong commenced, Louise suggested that we pray a novena to Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity for Elizabeth DeHority's intentions. Here is the prayer for you to follow along with us, for the next nine days. You can easily find this prayer every morning (or evening, or both) by clicking on the "Prayers and Devotions" tab along the navigation bar above. It's the very first prayer on that page.

You can also (God willing) print this PDF version of the prayer (to print for your knitting bag?):

Download Novena to Bl Elizabeth of the Trinity

Novena to Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.   Amen.

Prayer: 

O Blessed Elizabeth, in your life here on earth you knew how to balance austerity and sweetness, and you saw ‘denying oneself’ in its proper light. Help me to follow your example, and to contemplate the law of dying to self which appears so austere; and yet is of delicious sweetness, when one sees the end of this ‘dying’, which is the life of God put in place of our life of sin and misery. Pray for me that, through your example, my whole exercise may be to abide in Love.

Petition:
Blessed Elizabeth, please intercede with the Master for the favours which I petition in this Novena: if it be His Holy Will; and if not, then ask Him to grant me those graces I stand most in need of.

here specify your requests

Blessed Elizabeth, with confidence, I invoke your aid.
Blessed Elizabeth, with confidence, I invoke your aid.
Blessed Elizabeth, with confidence, I invoke your aid.

Pray: Our Father, Hail Mary (thrice), Glory Be

O Blessed Elizabeth! In your great love of God, You were always so close to the needs of your friend’s. Now that you are in Heaven, before the face of the Lord, Please intercede with Him for the needs I ask you. Teach me how to abide, in Love and Faith, with the Holy Trinity in the depth of my heart. Teach me how to radiate God’s Love among men and women, in my everyday life, just as you did yourself, so that I may be a praise of God’s glory.

Almighty, everlasting God, by whose leave I pay homage to the merits of Your saint Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity, I pray that through her intercession; You will bestow upon me, the fullness of Your mercy for which I long, and that I may abide in the Love of Christ. I ask this prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

   In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.   Amen.

Celebrating Papa

~Because this letter, written four years ago, is on my heart as we look towards Sunday's beatification. Of course, there was a baby after this one, too. God's generosity exceeds our most fervent prayers.~

 

April 1, 2007

Dear Papa,

I had planned to write a long column this weekend, in time for tomorrow. But the baby was sick and my hands were full, so all the writing I did was in my head.  I planned to write about that sobbing prayer two years ago, when I begged you to intercede for me. And then I'd write about all the little miracles strewn like roses in the days and weeks and months that followed.

Instead, I stayed up all night, dancing with my daughter.  She was feeling poorly and whimpering to be held. I gathered her up out of my bed and swayed with her in the darkness. For hours.  I sang my full repertoire of musicals.  I moved on to old Raffi tunes. I added a little Glory and Praise. And then, I switched to "You Light up my Life."  Her tears ceased and mine fell freely. I settled into the big chair, her head heavy against my chest and I remembered.

I remembered a time two years ago that was dark and sad. I was struggling with depression and so was Mike. Together, we were fumbling in confusion. Recovery from childbirth had been difficult. Recovery from a miscarriage more difficult. A year of infertility following that miscarriage was a year of pain like none I'd ever known. No light. Only darkness.  And on that Friday night, I held an eerie vigil in front of the muted television.

Please God, I don't know what I'll do without my Papa. And yet I know, I know that he is yours; he always was. Morning dawned and the day moved forward and then you were gone. And as naturally as the sobs escaped my throat, my soul begged your intercession. Tell Him, Papa! Please tell Him how sad I am, how much I want a baby, how much Mike needs him. Tell Him, Papa--I know you can.

And you did. Within an hour of that prayer, the answers began to become so clear.  You led us to a different parish. You put people in my path who would insist that I get to know the Little Flower you loved so well, the dear Saint you called a Doctor and by whom you trusted that the fullness of faith could be taught. She and you taught me about Love--Love incarnate, a good and gentle God who understood my pain and stooped to bind my wounds. I re-read all your letters to me. I read her words. Light dawned, love flickered.

Looking back, I should not be surprised that in the months following your death, I pushed by forces greater than me to travel. You were never afraid to travel. I had not been on an airplane in fifteen years. But I flew three times that year. The first time, I went Chicago and visited the shrine of St. Therese and left my petitions there. The last time, I went to Florida at my husband's insistence. We were there for an art gallery opening but we took a day trip to St. Augustine and the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche.  I had a long talk with Our Lady that day. She already knew.I'm sure you told her.

One night, nine months after you died, my husband lit a candle in a church where you once celebrated Mass, in the presence of your relics. And then, our wait for a baby was over and yet it had begun. For nine more months, I was still, love growing inside of me.  I learned to love your favorite prayer and I prayed the rosary with St. Therese, sometimes twenty decades a day, including the five new decades that were your gift to me. All the time, I was almost afraid to believe, almost afraid to think that the light had returned and darkness was dispelled.

Then she was here.  A glorious, beautiful, darling little girl. We call her Karoline Rose. She is a shower of roses, a basket of blessings. She is sweetness and she is light.  As she grows, I will tell her.  I will tell her about her Papa. She will know you and she will be grateful to share your name.

But now, she calls again. Enough remembering. I am living in the present, embracing every moment. I know you're here. I know you see her dear, dimpled chin. I know you watch me kiss her fat little cheeks and I know you smile.

Thank you!