Fr Rory Writes:
Last year my sister Mary Harrington had her book ‘A Mother’s Love’ published. I believe her book brings us great re-assurance, hope and comfort that God personally knows us and turns all things to our good. He is the divine author of life, so we can truly place our trust in Him. As her book reveals, it was from a place of great anguish, because of our mother’s death, that she received a great grace.
As she expressed it, one month after Mam’s death I was feeling pretty low. I had begun to come away to my own room for a quiet time to pray, now including praying to my guardian angel with more care and conviction. Then I would breathe in slowly and peacefully asking for heavens help in dealing with my grief. On one such evening feeling rather bereft, I expressed a great desire to communicate with my guardian angel. What took place next was quite extraordinary, a really great grace. I had hoped that Mary would come and speak for herself, but the Coronavirus has prevented that. Please God, her visit will happen sooner rather than later. For all of us a great focus for all our prayer during this time of confinement, must be for a vaccine that will overcome this virus.
I often recall our family home where the Catholic faith was very much part of life and the daily Rosary and Sunday Mass were an essential part of this. This was also reflected in daily life. A visitor on entering the house with the words “God Bless the House” and with the response “God save all here” were normal greetings in life. Another particular expression coming with my maiden Auntie Mai coming with sad news ended “no cross, no crown”, if she turned up with good new “wasn’t that providence, Maura”.
As a result of her experience with her angel guardian, Mary developed a prayer group on a Thursday evening through the Autumn, Winter and Spring of each year. I shared in the prayer group many times, and it was a deep well of faith and trust, that prayers were answered. Before having her book published, she produced a daily diary of prayer, which she has documented. She presents it as a prayer journal “Love Speaks”.
Speak, Lord, your servant listens. Samuel 3.9, I add – food for the journey when the cross is heavy.
One example for the day:
April 4th
To behold My cross anew each day, with love and affection, is to reciprocate My love, return My embrace. All who acknowledge My cross by Me before the Father. Within the cross is contained the Mystery of Redemption, the power of love, the power of forgiveness.
‘For he surrendered Himself to death, and was even counted among the wicked, bearing the sins of the multitude, and interceding for sinners.’ Isaiah 53:12
With the help of God, as we continue with the daily rhythm of life. Our Catholic faith while deprived of what we greatly appreciate, our Sunday Mass through screening and more attentive to our journey of faith through this coming year. Next stop, the Great Feast of the Ascension and Pentecost, may provide us with great blessings and strength. In the meantime, pray for our website, that it will develop and respond to all our needs in this time of isolation and or social distancing.