A Special Blessing

 

I entered the adoration chapel tonight a little before my scheduled hour at 6PM.  To my surprise, there was a family there, mom, dad, and 7 children, arrayed in the semi-circle of chairs in front of the tabernacle.  They had been praying aloud as I entered, but went quiet out of consideration for me.  I went over to the father and softly said: “Don’t mind my being here; please continue praying.”  He softly said “thank you”, and continued to lead his family in the rosary prayers.

The tabernacle doors were closed, whether deliberate or not I didn’t know, but I softly went to the front of the chapel and after a quiet prayer opened the doors.  The interior light came on, beautifully highlighting the gold monstrance and the large host it held.  There was a loud gasp behind me; they obviously did not know how this chapel was arranged, but then they continued their rosery prayer.  I prayed aloud with them.

The children took turns leading the Hail Mary prayers, the youngest in a voice so quiet I could barely hear.  And one lost track of the 10 Hail Mary’s and said an extra one.  No one was using a rosary to help with their counting.  I carry in my jacket pocket a rosary which was sent to me by a Fatima charity I sponsor.  I took it out, intending to give it to one of the kids after their rosary prayers were finished.  Then as I prayed, I looked at the back of the rosary’s crucifix.  There, I saw these words: “I am a special child of Mary.”

At the end of the rosary, the whole family sang the Salve Regina hymn in Latin; I cried at the beauty of their young voices in the chapel.  Obviously, this family prays together often.  When they finished the rosary and were about to depart, I went up to the dad and said: “I found this rosary; I’m sure it belongs to one of your children.”  He started to say no, but I waved my hand to stop.  He said thank you, and as he was leaving the chapel he stopped in the light and saw the back of the crucifix and the words there.  A couple of minutes later, he re-entered the chapel with a small young lady, who was holding the rosary.  He said: “This is Maria.  She just made her first Holy Communion today.”  Maria thanked me for the pretty rosary, and I thanked her.

And after they left, I thanked God.  It is the eve of Pentecost.  The Holy Spirit still comes, to bring His words of love, especially to His little ones.  And I was so blessed to see it.

If You Love Me

 

The Bible Study guys reached Mark 14:22 this morning, the establishment of the Eucharist.  The Protestant group of men did note that in Mark’s Gospel the words “This is My Body” and “This is my Blood” were about all Jesus said in this Gospel’s Last Supper discourse, but they attached no special meaning to the words, and knowing what I, a Catholic, believe, skipped by them with little discussion.  I was quiet, recalling other words said: “That they may be one.”

However, the next words Jesus says in Mark are “You will all fall away,” followed by His prediction of Peter’s denying Him three times.  These words were followed by Peter’s vehement retort: “If I must die with You, I will not deny you.”  Those words generated much discussion in the group, about our will vs our human nature.  One man spoke of his trying to forgive the parents of his foster children, who had been so beaten and abused.  Others spoke of loving their spouse.  It’s hard to love even the one you love most, because in doing so you let down your guard and they see your inmost being, and it is most amazing that knowing the real you that they can still love you back --- and we fear they won’t.  Perhaps that is only something God can be relied upon to do, just love us as we are.

Later this morning, I was at mass, and I heard the Gospel (John 21) where Jesus asks Peter: “Do you love me?”  And Peter replies: “Yes Lord, You know that I love You.”  Peter was asked that question and he responded yes three times.  This, after Peter said he’d never deny Christ, but did do that three times.  Why would anyone trust his answer this time?  “You know I love you.”  As the Bible Study guys had discussed, actions speak louder than words.

In our minds we can make the most vehement commitment, but being human we will always be tempted to love ourselves more than our commitment to love anyone else, even God.  As the movie Nefarious and the book, The Screwtape Letters, both point out, we are so easily tempted.  As I walked up to receive Communion at mass this morning (the “This is My Body” that really exists as He said), the choir began singing the words of Jesus we had heard in the Gospel, only they had a slight difference which gave me pause.  They sang: “IF you love Me, feed My lambs.”  IF.  We commit to love, but there are those unthoughtful friends, those stupid co-workers, and those hateful people all around us.  How can I really love these?  How can I forgive them?  Lord, help me.  “You know that I love you.”  But, …

IF, you love me …

 

Review: Nefarious, the Movie

 

The three of us were the only people in the theater to watch Nefarious (although to put it into proper perspective the empty parking lot indicated that the other 19 movies playing at that movie house were equally empty).  At the designated movie start time began the previews of “coming attractions.”  The six previews were all R-rated, and the “highlights,” the scenes to attract your attention to these movies, were all utterly disgusting.  From swearing, cursing, and blaspheming God’s name, to close-up sexual scenes, in a way these previews were actually a perfect introduction to the prime movie, Nefarious.  Nefarious is a movie about evil, demonic possession, and what demons so easily get us to do.

We went to see Nefarious because it was given great reviews --- “up there with The Passion as a movie Christians should watch.”  If your thoughts of The Passion movie jump to the horrible scourging scene, yes, Nefarious has an equally memorable torture scene, but like The Passion the movie Nefarious also has many deeply spiritual words and actions.  The movie presents not only “what” is happening, but also the underlying “why” of the events.  Nefarious showed clearly how the devil often works.  Using what we view as our good intentions, the devil in the movie brags how he convinces us to use grossly sinful ways to achieve these “good” intentions.  He keeps us focused on the outcomes, which we view as highly desirable --- although left unsaid was the fact that we viewed them as highly desirable because in some way they benefited us, and our self-centered-ness.  (I can attest to this truth, as I myself recently acted with good intent, until I was made to see that my intent was being achieved by grossly focusing on my actions, as I ignored the friend I was speaking to.  And, laughably, my topic was how we can better love our neighbor, as I ignored mine!)

My friends and I agreed with the reviews we had heard; this is a movie everyone should see.  Unfortunately, it acts as a mirror that shows us a pimple, and we don’t want to see it.  Nefarious will show most viewers some of their “pimples.” I’m sure the previewed R-rated movies we saw will likely have larger audiences than Nefarious, which further exhibits the need for this movie.  Oh well, perhaps the torture scenes will be emphasized in any Nefarious previews, and act as invites to those R-rated movie goers.