He’s gone!

It’s the feeling after a birthday or Christmas comes and goes. Or when vacation ends. Sigh!! I have been a complete TV addict since the day Pope Benedict set foot on American soil. It was so hard to sit still even while watching on the small screen. I swear my face hurt from smiling each time he wiggled his fingers or smiled ever so cutely. I heard the mass at Nationals Stadium at work with my headphones on at watchthepope.com. Each day I raced back to watch his addresses on EWTN. It was exhausting trying to get everyday tasks done with a 7 and 5 year old while listening excitedly to the Pope.

Of course yesterday my mom and I wanted to be in the few empty chairs we noticed in the Yankee Stadium. But even if we didn’t get to be there we felt his presence and felt the Holy Spirit hovering all around the Holy Father. 

Reaching back into my memory bank to the Papal visit to India when I was a teenager - we didn’t have any tickets to see the Pope. Busloads of people ended up in the wee hours of the morning to this remote area - acres of farmland. There were bamboo barricadesset up at intervals. There was an altar on a raised podium and in front of it there were seating areas for the priests and religious. Then there was a vast open space where people put their belongings down, sat down, prayed, sang and waited to see Pope John Paul II and celebrate mass with him. The energy was exactly as it was in DC and NY this week.  What historic moments. Which brings me to the all this comparison of the two popes I’ve been hearing on the news channels. I think it’s quite silly – I loved Pope John Paul and I love Pope Benedict. There could not be better shepherd for the church.

Daffodils

 Today was the first gorgeous day of the year. Finally, winter, although it was mild this year, seems to be ending. Flowers have been appearing since last week but in the sunshine they seemed even more magnificent today. I love daffodils. I know there are far prettier spring flowers – crocuses, tulips, lilies. But daffodils to me have a more heart connection. I remember in school having to memorize the poem Daffodils by William Wordsworth. Having never seen daffodils growing up in India, each recitation of the poem made my mind’s eye wander and paint this lovely picture of a pasture covered with beautiful yellow flowers! I believed that there could not be a lovelier flower than a daffodil.

 

Catholic schools, religious….

Today the first Friday of the month and at mass and the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament there were a total of 20 people. I remember first Friday’s in India – the church packed with people and the different areas of the town assigned an hour each to stay with the Lord through the night. The area that we lived in, always ended up being assigned the 11 to 12 p.m. hour. We loved it!!! It was amazingly beautiful. We sang wonderful Eucharistic hymns while sitting cross legged on the floor in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Ah! Those glorious days.

Which brings me back to what I’ve heard a lot in the 10 years I’ve been in the U.S. about people who are no longer in the Catholic Church. “I went to Catholic school and after that experience, I don’t want to think about anything Catholic” or “The church I attended had a priest who gave such bad homilies, so I left” or “I don’t think I agree with a church that has so many scandals”. On and on it goes…… it makes me snort and shake my head and go “Bah! Humbug!”. Of course, speaking out about injustices, especially in the church should be brought out in the light and fought against. However, I think we need to remember that the church is based on the teachings of Jesus. It has stood the test of time inspite of human follies and inadequacies. The people who committed crimes or went against the teachings of Jesus were not the stones that held this temple up – it was the Holy Spirit and the blood of countless matryrs and saints. The empty churches make me want to weep. When will there be a awakening? When will there be a revival?

9 months to Nativity

Holy week pushed out the Annunciation I guess, but today marks the day the Word became flesh. One “yes” and mankind was offered hope. As a mother the Annunciation has a special place in my heart. There is so much magic and anticipation while awaiting a child. What must Mary have felt when the Lord of the entire universe lay in her womb? What did she feel when the one who created every being moved inside her? What did she feel when under her palms she felt a tiny heart beat – of the one who put breath in dirt and made man. Mother Mary, help me be the mother you were by loving my family with simple grace.