The Valley of Tears

When I was saying my prayers today those words resounded a bit more than they usually do. The words are part of the prayer that I say, the "Hail Holy Queen," which is part of the rosary. The passage actually says, "to thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears." So where is the valley of tears? You're sitting on it; it's called earth.

I know it is just me having a blah day. I'm sure you have had them too. Haven't we all experienced the blues at one time or another? Sometimes the world does seem to be crashing in all around you and crushing you while you struggle to breath deep and quell the tears that are just behind your eyelashes. Sigh. I know many people would just get mad at God and walk away from him when they are overwhelmed by life. It seems like a good excuse, the oh poor me syndrome, but in actuality things just happen and it has nothing to do with God sitting there taking revenge on you. I have found that it has more to do with people around you making really stupid freaking mistakes that affects those near and dear to them. Intentionally done, or not, it doesn't matter as it does not lessen the pain that it has caused.

While sitting in the garden, contemplating hating God, I thought nah, it isn't Him. He is the strength that gets me through every day. I have been incredibly blessed with signs and wonders, visions and dreams that absolutely validate not only His existence but His very presence in my life. The beautiful thing is that I am not a saint. I'm nothing special at all actually and the same way He is present in my life He is present in your life too. The one thing I have learned is that to open yourself totally and completely to Him, and to surrender your life to Him, is like having a heavy burden lifted from your tiny shoulders. Very often when things go wrong I tell my son, "the Lord will provide." He has yet to fail me and I know He never shall.

We all feel that empty void inside of us at one time or another. Even when Our Lord was on the cross He felt it. It isn't that God was not there with Him then, of course He was. It's part of the human experience; everyone feels that emptiness at one time or another. I might add that those that sometimes make us laugh the hardest are the ones that feel the emptiest of all. They are just better at hiding it than most of us.

I could do a few things about this. I could "man up," I could give someone a whoop aside the head, or I could just go back to sitting in the garden and wait for a butterfly to amble through. Whichever I decide to do.....

this too shall pass. Tomorrow it will be a memory; "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me....." "He restores my soul"*

Have a blessed and peaceful day.

Mare


*Portions of Psalm 23

Photo taken by Marianne Hare, over Holy Child Church, SINY, on Christmas Day 2011

St. Cecelia Spina Christi Rosary with Reliquary

Now that is a mouthful! Hi all! Business first and then I will kvetch. Gee I wonder how that will translate?

I have been in touch with Greg who has another wonderful find that he is looking to sell. He has a very rare rosary made of Spina Christi, which are a reddish-brown seed from a plant called the Crown of Thorns (spina Christi in Latin). It is a very old rosary and the centerpiece is St. Cecelia, who is the patron saint of singers, composers, musicians, poets and instrument makers. She is depicted often with a musical instrument, most often a piano. The only other one that I have come across in my searches for him dates this rosary to about the 1920s. It appears to be about 23 inches in length and the crucifix, including the pin is about 2 inches. the beads are about 9mm in size.

St. Cecelia Centerpiece

CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE

Most remarkable is that the crucifix is complete with a screw-in closure pin. When you unscrew the pin inside  is soil from the catacombs of the Roman Christian martyrs, one of which was St. Cecelia. I have included a picture of the rosary here for you to see as well as a close up of the centerpiece.  If you are interested in this item please contact Greg at greg@vipbug.com.  He is looking to sell this incredible, rare gem for $100. So get in touch with him!!

I had such an amazing evening last night when I went to a healing mass. My good friend, Fr. Basil said the mass which was a welcome treat as he is here from Nigeria and we only get to see him once a year now, since his studies are now completed here and he returned to his native country a few years ago. We still stay in touch via Facebook, but that is just never the same as seeing a good friend face to face. It was wonderful to receive Communion from him. But his homily is what touched my heart and those of the other worshippers. Now I had basically inched over to the church, which is right around the corner. My left knee rarely cooperates lately and the top of my right foot screamed with pain with each step I took. Slowly but surely I made my way around the corner, determined not to turn around and go home to watch the wrong person win Idol. I was incredibly bummed out yesterday because the doctor had my CPAP delivered to me yesterday and the tech taught me how to use it. Poor pitiful me.........and then came Basil. He told us of one woman in his town who had a horrid, rotting, body that was slowly being consumed by some unknown disease. She was shunned by the community, who rarely came near her anyway because of how she looked and smelled. Then one day this year those incredible beings, Doctors without Borders, came to her town. They did all kinds of tests on her and after years and years of decay and illness diagnosed her as simply being allergic to peanuts. They treated her and now her skin is as smooth and silky as dark brown chocolate. We dont feel well? We call a doctor, hop in a car and he takes care of us. We want to worship? We hop in the car or walk to our local church. We want food? We go to the supermarket and have an overwhelming assortment of food.  Clean water? Not a problem turn on your faucet. Fr. Basil reminded us of every one of those blessings.  So there I sat, for the first time ever, with my body wracked by 3 different arrythmias, fibromyalgia, neuralgia, Cushings Disease, 2 auto-immune diseases and yes, even having to squeeze my cheeks last night, feeling guilty that I had come to a healing mass. Then something amazing happened. The church was filled with the scent of lilies. Looking around I only saw 2 small plants on the altar. The scent lingered for the remainder of the mass and then dissipated when it was over. Amazing. I did not stay to be prayed over. I was there to pray for someone else and I know that the Holy Spirit heard my prayer and would send healing to that person. How did I know that? Because I walked briskly home.  We take everything for granted here in the U.S. Even our homeless people have more opportunities than people in most areas of the world. Getting on the soapbox now people. Wake up! Love your God. Love your neighbor. Love and have compassion for those in your community. These are the most important things in this world and who cares what the Kardashians are up to. Pick up a bible. Pick up a rosary and get your priorities straight. Count your blessings be they great or small. I consider it a blessing just to wake up in the morning. As Fr. Basil loves to say God is good all the time; and all the time God is good. What are you doing for him today? Stepping down now, 

Peace!

Mare