Feast of the Annunciation

On this Solemnity of the Annunciation, we rejoice in the mystery of the Incarnation: that by a maiden's "yes", the Word of God became flesh and dwells among us!

My full reflection for today can be found here.

Not In Control

I'm a perfectionist. Anyone who knows me well will tell you I am detailed oriented. I try to be organized.

And the past few days have been the kind that makes one feel and look disorganized, despite one's very best efforts. Ever experience a situation when your best-laid plans get thwarted, and you exhaust your resources to remake them but it still doesn't work out?

In a nutshell, a much-anticipated event I'd planned for my R.E. program families to have tomorrow at a local nursing home was cancelled Friday morning by the Home's Activities Director. I had another prospective location that was to take us (hopeful "plan B"), but at 1:30 this afternoon they decided against it, too! I was left with 75 children prepared to come in saints' costumes with music and talks, and no where for them to give the program...

In this midst of this saga, our main computer officially froze up. AND for awhile the laptop wouldn't access the database of phone numbers I needed to notify the 48 families. (Thankfully Veronica was able to procure the file for me).

The temptation to get deflated and frustrated has definitely been present. I mean, Lord, when I'm trying to go the extra mile and more to serve You, why the dump of this stress? When it looked like the plan B location might work, both relief and excitement came in. "Lord, I can see now why the first place cancelled — this one will be better!" Then when plan B fell through today, and I was forced to come up with plan C (having regular class back at the school with kids in their costumes), I had to hold up my hands and say, "Okay, Lord, I truly don't see the better plan in all this, but I still trust You."

These kind of bumps and glitches are a raw reminder that I am not in control. Oh, most of us try to be. It's nice to feel like we are. But it seems to me that if we get a little overconfident, the Holy Spirit likes to stir things up to keep us in our place and to make us trust the One Who is in control.

As I sought out the meaning in all of this today, it came to mind how many times Our Lady dealt with bumps and glitches in her road. Things like getting woken mid-night and sent to Egypt with a newborn obviously were not her plan. Nor was traveling to Bethlehem at nine months pregnant, for that matter.

No, our Blessed Mother did not have it easy. I'm in good company. I'm just working on having her reponse — the one that made her full of grace.

Fiat. Be it done to me according to Your Word.

Mini-Interview

A friend recently emailed me some questions on womanhood for a project she's completing, and I thought I'd share my answers here.


How do you feel to be a woman in today's society?
Being a woman in today's society is both a great challenge and a great opportunity. It is a challenge because our society has become a culture of death that does not understand what it means to be a woman. By attempting to eradicate (erase) the beautiful, God-given differences between man and woman, the movement of modern "feminism" fights not for womanhood, but against it. Our current society puts forth a very false image of womanhood, spreading around lots of lies and confusion. All this means that we have a most important call than ever to evangelize through our witness of authentic Christian, Catholic womanhood. As one adage so beautifully says, "The darker the night, the brighter shine the stars!".

What do you value most about being a woman?
I value most my call to bring beauty to the world by reflecting the perfect beauty of God, my creator and Father. And I value the feminine call to motherhood. As Pope John Paul so beautifully explains, we are granted special feminine gifts from God in order to fulfill this call to motherhood -- whether it be spiritual, biological, or both. I am grateful for the feminine capacity to love, to give and nurture life, and to respond to Divine initiation.

Do you have an ideal of what a woman should be like or is there a woman who is a model for you? Who?
When looking for the ideal woman, we of course need look no further than our Mother Mary. I often reflect on how perfectly she reflected the image of God. We are all created in His image, and are called to reflect it by purity and holiness. She did not merely reflect Him, however; she magnified Him! (Magnificat, Luke 1). She shows us what amazing things the Father can accomplish through us if we but surrender our lives and plans to Him. By giving all of herself as a joyful handmaiden, she became the Mother of the Messiah and of all mankind, co-Mediatrix of all graces, and the queen of Heaven and earth. Mother Teresa and St. Gianna Molla are also two big role models for me of beautiful, self-giving womanhood!

What do you think a woman can give to a man?
As women, we are able to give a great deal to man, both individually as a whole. I've learned from personal experience that if I am a real lady, it encourages men rise to the challenge of being real gentlemen. The creation account in Genesis so beautifully shows the Creator's mastery in creating woman as a helpmeet and partner for man. We are equal in dignity, but wonderfully different in design. Both man and woman have a unique call, special gifts, and the ability to complement and build up the other. We women have a "divine assignment": to give man a glimpse of the ultimate beauty and mystery of God through the beauty and mystery of our femininity.

Advent Day 13: Our Lady of Guadalupe

“Am I not here, I who am your Mother?

Are you not under my shadow and protection?

Am I not the source of your joy?

Are you not in the hollow of my mantle,

in the crossing of my arms?

Do you need anything more?
Let nothing else worry or disturb you.”

~Our Lady of Guadalupe

(celebrated today)

Our Lady of Guadalupe explained by Fr. James Kubicki, SJ

(National Director of the Apostleship of Prayer):

Advent Day 10: Memorial of Saint Juan Diego

"What was Juan Diego like? Why did God look upon him? The Book of Sirach, as we have heard, teaches us that God alone 'is mighty; he is glorified by the humble' (cf. Sir 3:20). Saint Paul's words, also proclaimed at this celebration, shed light on the divine way of bringing about salvation: 'God chose what is low and despised in the world ... so that no human being might boast in the presence of God' (1 Cor 1:28,29).

It is moving to read the accounts of Guadalupe, sensitively written and steeped in tenderness. In them the Virgin Mary, the handmaid 'who glorified the Lord' (Lk 1:46), reveals herself to Juan Diego as the Mother of the true God. As a sign, she gives him precious roses, and as he shows them to the Bishop, he discovers the blessed image of Our Lady imprinted on his tilma."

~Pope John Paul II at the Canonization of St. Juan Diego

Advent Day 9: The Immaculate Conception

“What a great gift to have Mary Immaculate as mother! A mother resplendent with beauty, the transparency of God's love. I am thinking of today's young people, who grow up in an environment saturated with messages that propose false models of happiness. These young men and women risk losing hope because they often seem orphans of true love, which fills life with true meaning and joy. This was a theme dear to my Venerable Predecessor John Paul II, who so often proposed Mary to the youth of our time as the ‘Mother of Fair Love’… How sad it is when youth lose the wonder, the enchantment of the most beautiful sentiments, the value of respect for the body, the manifestation of the person and his unfathomable mystery! Mary Immaculate, whom we contemplate in all her beauty and holiness, reminds us of all this.”

~ Pope Benedict XVI
Angelus Address, December 8, 2007

Election Eve

The final hours are here. My family and I just returned from a holy hour of adoration (I confess that some of us drifted off at prayer; we're a bit exhausted from a massive pro-life voter guide distribution effort over the weekend). The mass media is trying their utmost to have us believe it's practically over already...have you noticed the headlines? They're already trying to crown Obama. But as Fr. Pavone so simply and eloquently reminded us: the only thing counted on election day is votes. Not one of the liberal media's polls determine our next president. Actual, real votes do.

And, of course, so does the prayer of a humbled people pleading earnestly to their God. Folks, if there was ever a time to pray, this is it. If you can fast, do so. If you can keep an all (or part) night vigil tonight, do it. If you can take off of work tomorrow to help get out the pro-life vote, do it.

A few election eve articles to help us keep things in perspective:

"I'll Say It Again, This Election Will Be Closer Than They Think"
by Father Jonathan Morris on the Fox Forum

Fr. Frank's perspective on polls, state initiatives and last minute duties
by Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life

What To Do Between Now and Election Night
from PoliticalResponsibility.org

Election Day Traps
from PoliticalResponsibility.org

Our Lady of Guadalupe,

Mother of America,

Patroness of the Unborn,

Queen of Justice,

pray for us!

Photo at left: Senator McCain during his July 2008 visit to the Shrine and Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Mexico (which I was privileged to visit 9 years ago).

Election Countdown/40 Days for Life: Day 10

An Election Prayer to Mary

from EWTN.com

O Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, at this most critical time, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care. Most Holy Mother, we beg you to reclaim this land for the glory of your Son. Overwhelmed with the burden of the sins of our nation, we cry to you from the depths of our hearts and seek refuge in your motherly protection. Look down with mercy upon us and touch the hearts of our people. Open our minds to the great worth of human life and to the responsibilities that accompany human freedom.

Free us from the falsehoods that lead to the evil of abortion and threaten the sanctity of family life. Grant our country the wisdom to proclaim that God’s law is the foundation on which this nation was founded, and that He alone is the True Source of our cherished rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

O Merciful Mother, give us the courage to reject the culture of death and the strength to build a new Culture of Life. Amen.

- Check out: "Being Bold", A heartwarming and challenging post at Faith and Family Live. Are we boldly proclaiming the Gospel of Life?

- Today's Life Devotional here.

Birthday Mother

Thy birth, O Virgin Mother of God,
heralded joy to all the world.
For from thou hast risen the Sun of justice,
Christ our God.

Destroying the curse, He gave blessing;
and damning death,
He bestowed on us life everlasting.
Blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

For from thou hast risen of Sun of justice,
Christ our God.

­ from The Divine Office - Matins (Morning Prayer)

Today, we celebrate with joy the day that Our Lady came into the world — for that brought mankind gloriously near to the coming of its Redeemer. The body of this tiny maiden would one day bear within it the Word Made Flesh...and bring forth that Word to dwell among us.

For more on this tradition and history of this Feast, see these excellent articles:

Birth of Mary at EWTN.org

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Women for Faith and Family

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

In honor of her feast, I'd like to share a report I recently wrote and gave in Spanish class on "Las Aztecas, La Cuidad de México, y La Historia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe". Presenting in Spanish was such fun! Enjoy... and do please let me know if you could understand it. :)

Quiero platicarles una historia verdadera sobre una parte importante de la cultura y tradición de México. Es la historia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Los latinos la aman muchísimo. La llaman “La Virgen de Guadalupe, Nuestra Reina de las Américas”.

Para empezar la historia, debemos remontarnos a México en el año 1531. Era un país muy sufrido. Los conquistadores españoles y los indios nativos se peleaban unos con otros. Estos indios se llamaban los aztecas. Los españoles no comprendían a los aztecas. Los aztecas no comprendían a los españoles. Porque los conquistadores españoles frecuentemente eran crueles a los aztecas, los aztecas odiaban a todos los europeos.

Quiero contarles de la gente azteca. Eran una nación muy grande, un imperio de como diez millón personas. Su emperador vivía en Tenochtitlán. Después de los españoles vinieron, éste se llamaba la cuidad de México, o en inglés, México City. La nación azteca tenían muchos doctores, matemáticos, filósofos, astrónomos, y artistas. Pero también eran una gente muy pagana. Reverenciaban muchos dioses, como el sol, la luna, y las estrellas. Su dios más importante se llamaba “Quetzalcóatl”, una serpiente. Una parte de su religión fue matar personas y sacrificarlas a sus dioses. Los informes de los españoles nos dicen que más que cincuenta mil personas se sacrificaban cada año, y muchos historiadores creen que esto es verdadero. Frecuentemente, estas personas eran los esclavos y los niños.

Ésta fue la gente que vivía en México cuando los españoles llegaron en el año mil quinientos diecinueve. Con los soldados de España, también llegaron sacerdotes y misioneros católicos. Los soldados querían encontrar oro y poder, pero los misioneros solamente querían ayudar a los indios pobres. Pero los aztecas no querían escuchar a los hombres blancos. Ellos no creían que los misioneros les fueran a ayudar. Solamente unos pocos de los aztecas escuchaban a los misioneros y comenzaban a creer en la Fe Cristiana.

Uno de estos aztecas que creía fue un hombre pobre y sencillo que se llamaba Juan Diego. El tenía alrededor de cincuenta años. Su nombre en indio fue “Cuauhtlatohuac”, que significa “Él que habla como una águila”. La esposa de Juan falleció, y él vivía con su tío anciano en la ciudad de México.

Un día, temprano por la mañana, Juan se levantó y se fue a la iglesia. Mientras estaba caminando cerca de una colina que se llama “Tepeyac”, de súbito escuchó una música muy bonita. Entonces él vio a una señorita muy hermosa. Ella llevaba la ropa de una princesa azteca. Su vestido era rosado, y su velo era azul. Él sabía que ella estaba embarazada, porque ella tenía un cinturón negro. Este cinturón se llevaba por una señora azteca para mostrar que ella estaba embarazada.

La señorita habló a Juan. “Juanito”, ella dijo, “Yo soy la madre del Dios verdadero, el uno que da la vida a todo y que es el señor de cielo y tierra. Yo soy tu madre misericordioso, la madre de todo que vivan en este país, y la madre del todo el mundo. Yo deseo dar ama, protección, compasión, y ayuda a la gente de los Américas. Yo necesito que tú visites al obispo de la cuidad de México. Dígale que yo quiero que él edifique una iglesia aquí misma. Esta iglesia va a ser para los españoles y los aztecas, porque yo soy la madre de toda la gente.”

Juan Diego la escuchaba. Le dijo que él no era muy inteligente. Le dijo que él no era un hombre muy importante. Él le pidió, “Señorita, por favor busque alguna otra persona para que visite al obispo.” Pero ella dijo, “No, Juan Diego, yo necesito que tú vayas.”

Entonces Juan fue a ver al obispo de la ciudad de México, que se llamó Obispo Zumárraga. El obispo escuchó la historia de Juan, pero creyó que posiblemente él estaba un poco loco. El obispo mandó a Juan Diego que regrese a su casa. Él le dijo que él necesitaba una prueba para creer la historia de la señorita hermosa.

Juan Diego salió de la casa del obispo. Cuando él caminaba de regreso a su casa, otra vez se encontró con la señorita hermosa. Le dijo lo que pasó con el obispo. Ella le respondió, “Mi hijo, no te preocupes. Voy a darte una prueba para el obispo. Vuelve mañana para conseguir la prueba.”
Pero al siguiente día, el tío de Juan estaba muy enfermo. Juan tenía que cuidar de él y no podía encontrarse con la señorita hermosa. Se sintió muy triste. Dos días pasaron, y su tío estaba más enfermo.

Juan temía que su tío fuera a morir. Su tío le pidió a Juan, “Por favor, sobrino, vaya y busque a un sacerdote para rezar conmigo.” Juan corrió. Mientras estaba corriendo, él se dijo así mismo, “Espero no encontrarme con la señorita porque posiblemente, ella está enojada conmigo.”

Pero de súbito, ella se le apareció a él. “¿Dónde vas, mi hijo?” ella le preguntó.

“Mi señora, lo siento,” Juan explicó. “No pude venir como yo prometí porque mi tío está muy enfermo. ¡Temo que él vaya a morir! Necesito buscar un sacerdote para él.”

La señorita hermosa se sonrió y dijo dulcemente, “Mi hijo, no necesitas preocuparte. Estoy aquí. Soy tu madre. Voy a cuidar de ti. Tu tío no va a morir hoy porque ahora él está bien. Ahora, ¿estás listo para llevar la prueba al obispo?”

“Si, mi señora, estoy listo,” Juan respondió.

La señorita le pidió, “Ve a la cima de la colina que se llama Tepeyac. Tú vas a encontrar rosas allí. Por favor, córtalas y tráelas a mí.”

Ese día, era el doce de diciembre. Era invierno y hacía mucho frio. Sabemos que las rosas no se encuentran en el invierno. Pero Juan fue a la cima de la colina y buscó flores. Y había muchas rosas bonitas, en muchos colores diferentes. Él las recogió y las puso en su tilma, o poncho en inglés. Todos los indios llevaban estas tilmas. Juan regresó con las rosas para la señorita, y ella las acomodó en su tilma. Ella le ordenó, “Tome las rosas y muéstreselas al obispo.”

Juan se fue rápidamente y con mucha precaución. El llegó a la casa del obispo y entró en la habitación, él le dijo al obispo, “¡Mire! ¡Aquí tengo la prueba! La señora la envío para usted.” Entonces, él abrió su tilma y las rosas se cayeron al piso.

El obispo estaba muy sorprendido. ¡Rosas en diciembre! Pero aún había una sorpresa más grande. En la tilma de Juan Diego había una imagen de la señorita, exactamente como él la veo. Era un milagro. El obispo creyó la historia de Juan y comenzó a edificar la iglesia que la señora le pidió. La tilma de Juan con la imagen milagrosa se preservó en esta iglesia.

Pero esto no es el fin de la historia. La señora también se apareció al tío de Juan y lo curó. Ella le dijo que su nombre indígena era “Coatlaxopeuh”, que significa “Ella que aplasta la cabeza de la serpiente”. Porque el nombre sonaba muy semejante a la palabra en español “Guadalupe”, los españoles empezaron a usar este nombre. Pero a los indios, el nombre “Coatlaxopeuh” era muy importante. ¡Significaba que la señora era más poderosa que su serpiente-dios!

La imagen en la tilma de Juan Diego les enseñó muchas cosas a los aztecas. La señora se encuentra en frente del sol, encima de la luna, y su velo cubierto con las estrellas. Esto mostró a los indios que ella era más poderosa que sus dioses del sol, la luna, y las estrellas. Ellos sabían que esta señora poderosa no era una diosa, porque sus manos estaban rezando y ella tenía su cabeza inclinada. También ella era mestiza. Muchos niñitos mestizos fueron abandonados. Pero después que nuestra señora se apareció, mucho menos de estos niñitos fueron abandonados.

Y la promesa de Nuestra Señora se cumplió. En unos pocos años, más que nueve millón de los aztecas se bautizaron en la Fe Cristiana. Y paz vino al fin entre los españoles y los aztecas.
Es muy interesante observar que Cristóbal Colon, que descubrió las Américas cuarenta años antes de la visita de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, llamaba sus barcos “Nina”, “Pinta”, y “Santa María”. En inglés, estos nombres significan “Girl paints Holy Mary”. Esto es exactamente lo que pasó en la tilma de Juan Diego cuarenta años después.

Hoy, se puede ver la tilma de Juan Diego con la imagen de la señorita hermosa en la basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en la ciudad de México. Hace ocho años que yo y mi familia fuimos allí y la vimos. Aún queda un milagro, especialmente porque las tilmas de los indígenas se hacían de fibras de los cactos. Siempre se desintegraban después de como veinte años. Pero después de más que quinientos años, la tilma de Juan Diego con la imagen de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, La Reina de las Américas, está perfectamente preservaba e intacta.

Hace ocho años que yo y mi familia viajamos a México y visitamos la Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Es una lugar muy hermosa. Y espero visitar allí otra vez.

¡Madre de las Américas, ruega por nosotros!

Today's Feast: Mother of the Americas

“It is my heartfelt hope that she whose intercession was responsible for strengthening the faith of the first disciples will by her maternal intercession guide the church in America, obtaining the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as she once did for the early church, so that the new evangelization may yield a splendid flowering of Christian life.”

"In America, the mestiza face of the Virgin of Guadalupe was from the start a symbol of the inculturation of the Gospel, of which she has been the lodestar and the guide. Through her powerful intercession, the Gospel will penetrate the hearts of the men and women of America and permeate their cultures, transforming them from within.”

"How can we fail to emphasize the role which belongs to the Virgin Mary in relation to the pilgrim Church in America journeying towards its encounter with the Lord? Indeed, the Most Blessed Virgin 'is linked in a special way to the birth of the Church in the history... of the peoples of America; through Mary they came to encounter the Lord'".

-Pope John Paul II, Ecclesia in America

An Election Prayer to Mary

I really like this prayer from EWTN's website:

An Election Prayer to Mary

O Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, at this most critical time, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care. Most Holy Mother, we beg you to reclaim this land for the glory of your Son. Overwhelmed with the burden of the sins of our nation, we cry to you from the depths of our hearts and seek refuge in your motherly protection. Look down with mercy upon us and touch the hearts of our people. Open our minds to the great worth of human life and to the responsibilities that accompany human freedom.

Free us from the falsehoods that lead to the evil of abortion and threaten the sanctity of family life. Grant our country the wisdom to proclaim that God’s law is the foundation on which this nation was founded, and that He alone is the True Source of our cherished rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

O Merciful Mother, give us the courage to reject the culture of death and the strength to build a new Culture of Life.

Amen.

Immaculata

"Mary's Immaculate Conception is the sign of the gracious love of the Father, the perfect expression of the redemption accomplished by the Son and the beginning of a life completely open to the working of the Spirit."

- Pope John Paul II

More on Today's feast of the Immaculate Conception at:

Women for Faith and Family

FishEaters.com

NewAdvent.org

AmericanCatholic.org

In Corde Matris

The following was one of the reflections I penned after experiencing "The Passion of the Christ" for the first time three years ago...

This Triduum, may we unite ourselves intimately with Mary, to suffer the Passion with her.

~ ~ ~

To the Mother

What were you thinking, Mary

on that age-awaited day?

“Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

you heard His people say

What were you thinking, Mary
as their whips tore through your Son?
Our sins of flesh atoned for
by the One guilty of none


The innocent, the spotless One
Your precious baby Son
You gave Him up, and offered Him…
to die for everyone


What were you thinking, Mary
as they mocked the Kings of Kings?
“Ecce Homo…Behold the Man!”
On cold deaf ears it rings


What were you thinking, Mary
when Pilate called for water?
It was the spotless Lamb of God
they were about to slaughter


The innocent, the guiltless One
Your precious baby Son
You gave Him up, and offered Him…
to die for everyone


What were you thinking, Mary
as He embraced the tree?
Those beams He would first carry
and be nailed to then, for me


What were you thinking, Mary,
when in the road at your feet
Your little boy fell down in the dust
and your eyes were able to meet?


Your mother’s love went out to Him
Your mother’s hands ached to hold Him
Your mother’s heart beat One with His
as you looked at your precious Son


Your mind went back so many years
to the infant Son you held near
And as your tear-filled eyes sought His
His own told you not to fear…


What were you thinking, Mary
as each nail was firmly pounded?
Each sin of mine wielding that hammer
while each clang in your heart resounded


You stood at his feet as He gave his life
Each soul to redeem and save
Your Son looked down, and then these souls
To you as children He gave


Your mother’s ears heard His prayer for them
who nailed your heart there with Him
Your mother’s heart beat One with His
as you saw the price paid for sin


What were you praying, Mary
as in your arms lay your Son?
Your mother’s heart beat close to His
pierced, now still…the work was done


This Child Whom you were given
Your precious baby Son
You gave Him up, and offered Him…
to die…and live…for everyone

by Claire J.M. Halbur, April 2004
~ ~ ~