It has been 6 months since we traveled to Nairobi. This short video clip, which was put together by Theresa, is a beautiful and prayerful remembrance of the Rosary Procession which opened the Mission as we consecrated the Mission to our Blessed Mother. The clip captures the true spirit of how the Mission, the pilgrims, the singing and the prayer actually was. I am unable to post the actual video to the blog. Please click on the link below to view the video:
A good friend, someone I love dearly, passed away just before the close of Easter Sunday. She was a gift of a person to all that knew her. She was a quiet, thoughtful, warm, gracious, joyful and most of all, a courageous and inspiring woman.
Karin was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer about 3 years ago. We met nine years ago when she and I went on a Cursillio retreat together. We also worked together on our parish council for a few years and would drive together when we would go on our annual retreat for council.
Karen had an open, honest and forthright way about her that I trusted and was drawn to. Interestingly enough, I would think of her as more of a sister than of a good friend. We did not spend a lot of time together but when we would see each other, it was as though no time had passed and we were just comfortable catching up and being in each other's company.
After Mass one Saturday morning last year, she sat with me and a few friends in the pew and told us that they had found liver mets. And then, on another Saturday morning (late spring or early summer), she told me that they had found a tumor in her brain by her pituitary gland. And, with all of this bad news, my heart would sink. And Karin just remained being Karin. She was always very upfront about the disease and honest about her feelings. And she had hope. And she fought the disease and we all prayed. She was remarkable through the whole process.
Several weeks ago Karin was admitted into the hospital because all of the tests indicated that her liver was failing. Steve, Karin's husband, sent close friends an amazing e-mail inviting each of us to come and visit her in the hospital. The first morning that she was in, Father Randy, an Associate Pastor from our parish, visited and anointed Karin. Each day, while she was in the hospital, I would bring Holy Communion to both she and Steve. Eventually, Karin was discharged from the hospital and sent home with Hospice. Karin's liver had stabilized and, shortly after they arrived home from the hospital, they took off for the beach to spend some time with their youngest daughter who was on spring break from her college. When they came home from the beach, I called Karen and she asked if I could visit with them the next morning and bring Communion.
When I arrived at Karin's home, I was happy to see that she looked well and was just herself. We spoke for a few minutes before we prayed and she told me that after they had come home from the beach she just kept feeling like she was missing something. After thinking about it, she realized that she was missing receiving Holy Communion. In her words, she said: "I was starving for Jesus!" That put a smile in my heart and tears in my eyes because I knew how incredibly blessed Karin was in her relationship with Jesus. I was so very happy for her.
It was such a gift for me to go to her home to give she and her husband Communion each morning. I would come in, we would pray, I would give Communion, we would end in prayer and I then I would tell them that I loved them and then quietly leave. It was a tremendous gift to me.
Easter Sunday morning I arrived at their home immediately after the 7:30 am Mass. Karen was resting comfortably in her bed and had a pretty green cap on her head. When I came into the room, she pulled the cap up a little, opened her eyes and smiled at me, and we began the prayers. She closed her eyes while we prayed and opened them when receiving Communion. After the closing prayer, she again closed her eyes and appeared to be resting. I leaned down to give her a kiss and she put her arm over my neck and held on for a second. I told her that I loved her and then I quietly left. I had no idea that I would not see her the next day but I know that she did.
Karin died at a much too early age - 53. But the joy of it is that she died on Easter Sunday. She left behind many friends, many wonderful memories for many people, and an amazing beautiful family - her husband, two daughters and a son. And Kirby and Huxley - two very precious dogs.
I am so very glad that Karin told me that she was "starving for Jesus". Each morning when I wake up, I take our dogs out and look up at the stars in the sky and think about Karin and what she said. I go in, pray my Office (Liturgy of the Hours) and my Lay Missionary of Charity prayers, drink my tea, take my shower and drive to Mass knowing that I, too, am so very, very blessed because I too, starve for Jesus.
Pange Lingua
Sing my tongue, the Savior's glory
of His flesh the mystery sing;
of the Blood, all price exceeding,
shed by our immortal King,
destined, for the world's redemption,
from a noble womb to spring.
Of a pure and spotless Virgin
born for us on earth below,
He, as Man, with Man conversing,
stayed the seeds of truth to sow;
the He closed in solemn order wondrously His life of woe.
It is difficult to believe that it has been 6 months since our pilgrimage to Africa! As we look ahead, we continue in prayer for future Enthronement Missions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for both here in the United States, in Africa and around the world.
Please join us as we continue to pray this Consecration Prayer daily for the spread and continuation of these Missions:
CONSECRATION OF FUTURE ENTHRONEMENT MISSIONS
TO THE SACRED HEART OF JEUS
It is appropriate in our times, to profoundly understand and have a greater conscience of the intimate relationship that exists between the Two Hearts, and of the immense value that an authentic devotion and consecration to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary have in our lives.” (Pope John Paul II, November 23, 1987)
To your Sacred Heart, O Lord, we wish to consecrate ourselves and all future Enthronement Missions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for both here in the US as well as Africa, India, and throughout the world. Through this act of consecration, we desire to enter into your Heart, our refuge and protection. Keep us free from all error and confusion, from all frailty, selfishness, and indifference. Please give us wisdom and clarity in all that we do for this Mission and in our daily lives. May we acquire from your Heart the virtues that we most need, the light that will guide our path, and the strength necessary to be faithful to your will in these future Missions and in all we do. May your Heart be our treasure and our reward. May the graces of mercy, conversion, and peace that flow from your Heart transform us, giving us new hearts like your heart. Moved by the contemplation of your love, may we become true channels of your grace in a world so in need of your love and of truth. Through the consecration of ourselves and these Missions to your Sacred Heart, may we help to establish in the world the civilization of love.
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, you are the most perfect model of total consecration and dedication to the Heart of Jesus. O Mother, it is our desire to live in your Heart so as to learn to love unconditionally the Heart of Jesus, your Son. Through your Heart, may we truly obey Him and serve Him with all generosity, responding diligently to the desires of His Heart.
We wish to consecrate ourselves and all future Missions to your Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart, the perfect and sure path to reach the Heart of Jesus. Your Heart, abundantly filled with grace and holiness, is the refuge where we are healed and liberated from all our miseries and frailties. O Most Holy Virgin, we want to belong to your Heart, bearing within us a complete and loving readiness to do the will of God manifested through your maternal mediation. In virtue of this consecration, we implore you, O Immaculate Heart, to guard and protect us from all physical and spiritual evil. May our hearts be inflamed by the fire and love of the Holy Spirit as is your Heart. In union with you, most pure channel through which Christ came into the world, and anointed by the power of the Holy Spirit, may we be instruments in this world, bringing to all the love, joy, mercy, and peace of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
O Hearts of Jesus and Mary, only hope of humanity! You are our hope since in your perfect union of love for God and for humanity, you have given yourselves for the salvation of the world. Through this consecration of ourselves and all future Missions, we humbly seek to spread the fire of your love and mercy to all we meet and that those who will participate there and here (by their spiritual presence with us), be the light of Truth to all they encounter, so that the world will become a true Civilization of Love. We desire to offer our lives in love and in reparation to your Hearts. With all our lives, we desire to promote and to establish in the hearts of all men the Reign of Love found in the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Amen.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
