Abbey-Roads2

Raymond Arroyo will be at a St. Paul religious goods store Saturday afternoon, arriving from the airport around 2:30PM - he’ll be whisked in and out, so get there early to meet him.  It is an impromptu special event for the Store arranged by a friend of the Company.  There should be a good crowd.  It’s an opportunity to meet the man Mother Angelica let into her life and permitted to give an account of her life in religion, as well as document her fidelity to the extraordinary vocation God gave her.

Mr. Arroyo is an impressive fellow.  He will be there to meet anyone who wants to talk from approximately 2:30 to 4:00 PM.

(Do not ask him to do Mother Angelica impressions or even mention Pee Wee Herman.) 

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“Cosmo, you’re gonna die!”  - The mother from ‘Moonstruck’.

Kat has an interesting meme sort of thing going on at her blog “Crescat” concerning things she would like to do before she dies…she’s just a couple of years younger than I am - 32 years old she says - so I thought I’d post what I would like to do here instead of leaving a comment at her place.

Places I would like to visit before I die:

• Rue de Bac, Paris, the shrine of the Miraculous Medal apparitions.
• Guadalupe, but I’d have to go back in time before they built that hideous new basilica.
• Back to Italy, to visit all of the saints I missed on my other trips.
• Great Britain, to mourn the reformation.
• The Holy Land - hopefully to die there.

Things I would like to accomplish before I die:

• Figure out what is really wrong with me - I mean, why have I never been normal?  (Not that I ever really wanted to be.)
• Call my sister and little brother.
• Become a celebrity artist, writer and named a National Treasure in my lifetime and become a regular on Oprah and Letterman.  (I’m kidding Don Marco.)

Seriously, back on topic:

• Become holy- to do something beautiful for God - to live a life of perfect love and enter into transforming union before I die - of course, that is a grace - no one can ‘do it’ themselves. (Really!  It is what I hope for though!  Even if it is seconds before death.)
• Then, to die of love…another grace.
• Finally, to bring countless souls, my loved ones, and many, many, many, little ones to Heaven with me - especially all of those I have offended.

Well, that’s my to-do-list.  By the way, my obituary picture will be a picture of me in my 20’s…I can’t let people see me looking like this! 

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Lectio

“Father, it is for you that shame covers my face, that I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother’s sons.  I burn with zeal for your house and taunts against you fall on me.”  -Psalm 68:8-10

Meditatio

Veronica emerged from the crowd, taking her veil, moistened in water to cool you somewhat; gently she blots your Holy Face, careful not to irritate your wounds.  She absorbs as much of the dust, spittle, and blood she is able to, even catching your tears.  She has not yet finished when she is roughly pulled away by the guards, yet your look of love penetrates her soul…deep calling to deep in the roar of the crowd.  Who could ever imagine that a creature could have mercy upon God?  Yet that is what this woman did.

Oratio

Show us your Face O Lord and we shall be saved…it is your Face I seek, hide not your Face.  Let me see anew your Holy Face in the distressing disquise of the poor, the lame, the afflicted, and the despised.  Let me meet you in them, love you in them, serve you in them, have mercy upon them - even those who despise and reject me, or oppose my efforts.  And grant that I may fix my eyes upon your Holy Face, resplendent in Your Most Blessed Sacrament of Love - throughout my life, unceasingly, until I come to contemplate for all eternity your glorious Face in Heaven.

Contemplatio

“Here he is…gazing through the windows…peering through the lattices…” - Songs 2, 9.  He - looking at me, I - looking at Him.

We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, for by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world.

Most compassionate Heart of Mary, Mother of Sorrows, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

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