Thinking out loud…
Today is the feast of St. Margaret of Cortona. No, I didn’t forget, I have just posted so much on her before, that I thought I’d let it go…but I accompanied her to adoration…rather, she accompanied me. Though she looks like a nun in this painting, she wasn’t, that is just how people dressed in those days. She was a great sinner, and a greater penitent.
A friend mentioned her in an email today and he was blown away when I told him that it was her feast day. The saints find us - we don’t really find them.
I went to adoration twice today…I wanted to stay all day. Now I know why I stopped working…I was so wrapped up in daily business and office politics that I pretty much crowded the Lord out. I got in the way of Him.
I understood in a wonderful manner how, as St. Paul writes, “Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow”…I must say, it seemed I ‘experienced’ how the same Jesus I adored today is exactly the same Jesus, Margaret of Cortona, Charles de Foucauld, St. Clare, and every other saint, back to Our Lady and the Apostles adored - He is the same Jesus Christ, Son of God. Truly present: He is “I Am”!
It stunned me somewhat to understand this dimension of our participation in the communion of saints - that in truth - I was adoring Him with my favorite saints - in other words, no matter where they were in time - we are united in this moment - albeit they are now in Heaven adoring Him - nevertheless, with God time doesn’t matter…I’m too stupid to explain my thought…yet it seemed to me I was with the saints - even in this experience of ’time’. Although I can’t explain it, I thrilled to think I was with the saints and angels in adoration.
Then the thought came to me; when Adoro, or Ray or Cathy, or Angela, or Jeron, or Don Marco, or Rhaps, or Jeffrey, or Elena, or Eric and his family, or Mitchell aand Judith, or Paramedicgirl, and all the other people I pray for, who at differing times are at adoration themselves - somehow we were/are there together at the very same moment. Space and time, as it were, disolves - a union occurs - the communion of saints is real and we are all united - even those of us who just pray, albeit we are commonly referred to as the Church Militant. Nevertheless we are united together in the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus. We meet each other there. None of us are ever alone - especially when we are with Jesus.
So Catholic blogger people - we were together at adoration today - all of you who are in my links and beyond, family, friends, former coworkers. Although I say I will pray for you, I much prefer the term, “United with you in prayer.” We are so intimately united. (Sorry, I don’t mean to sound like Dana - “We are one body…” - okay, that snapped me out of it! Kidding!)
I experienced this today, rather, I received this today: All that the Father gives me is mine…Christ is mine, and I am Christ’s, and all of you are mine in the Heart of Jesus. In the Eucharist we are united in charity, for in God, there is no space or time.
I can’t adequately explain or describe my experience…but suffice it to say, I would rather be poor, destitute and homeless, than be without this union of Divine Love.
“Mine are the heavens and mine is the earth. Mine are the nations, the just are mine, and mine the sinners. (Oh! especially the sinners!) The angels are mine, (St. Margaret and Simon and all the saints) and the Mother of God, and all things are mine; and God Himself is mine and for me, because Christ is mine and all for me.” John of the Cross
Pardon me for sharing the intimacy of my prayer with you, it’s just my birthday and I wanted to show everyone the ‘present’ I received. My love and prayer united with all of you. I love you and thank you for your friendship.
May 16th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Happy Birthday!
Isn’t it frustrating–trying to explain how you are with people in Christ? This precise problem–understanding how I take in my heart and to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary all the people in my life, even if our paths have completely diverged–has been a struggle I’ve had with friends.
Sometimes I even think the inspiration of the saints leads me to interior adoration. All of a sudden I’ll be “caught up” with the impression of a certain saint’s words or beliefs as a focus. Its beautiful.
God is so good! What a wonderful birthday!
May 16th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Terry, Happy Birthday and God bless you!
I can’t wait to meet you.
Your words are inspiring…I never considered it this way, but it’s so true, that when we are in prayer, there is no time, and when we are with Jesus, or at Mass, we are partaking in eternity.
What a blessed reality for us all!
May 16th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
In her diary, St. Faustina says that we do not realize how close to us the saints really are.
Funny you should mention that the saints find us, not the other way around. If I may venture a shameless plug, here is the story of how Bl. Margaret of Castello found me.
May 17th, 2007 at 5:24 am
Happy Birthday, Terry!!
What an incredible gift! Thank you for sharing it - you are so correct that Christ is present presently, & that when we pray we are “outside” of time - & as unique members of His Body, we make up the faith of His Church.
So you’re what now… 31, 32?
(You’re such a good kid:)!!!
May 17th, 2007 at 6:33 am
Terry, I like to meditate on this reality as well; the fact that we’re united with all the saints throughout history, especially at Mass and at Adoration. United in prayer with you, my friend. Have a blessed Ascension Thursday.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:28 am
Excellant post, Terry. Thank you for your prayers. I’m envious of the extra time you get to spend face to face with the Lord in Adoration
May 17th, 2007 at 9:13 am
Excellent post Terry. It is a solemn thing to realize we are members of an ancient Church. Currently members of the Church militant, but united with our brothers and sisters in the Church suffering and triumphant. Not only are the saints closer to us than we realize, but we are all members of the same church. Even in Heaven, they are our fellow “parishoners” in a fashion. This thought helps me to relate to them better. God bless.
May 17th, 2007 at 9:58 am
Terry, Belated birthday greetings. This post expresses most of what I would say or understand about the communion of the saints. I just love the phrase itself and what it conjures up. Do you not think if more people really, really understood the significance of the Mass and of how during this supreme sacrifice and sacrament there is indeed a communion of saints, and we there present are united with them our churches would once again be full and the world a better place. Even the part when the priest prays that God’s holy angel will take this sacrifice to His altar in heaven
should be enough for us all to fall to our knees at the full realization of what we are celebrating..rather than just out of habit. Hope I haven’t gone on a bit..thank you so much Terry for all you share.
May 17th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Yes, we are all there at the same moment, just as someday we shall stand before Him at the Last Judgment.
St. Margaret was a tertiary, I believe, and in those days tertiaries often wore religious habits–so she well may have the Franciscan habit in the painting. But yes, that is how ladies dressed back then, too.
May 17th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Elena, Thank you. Yes, St. Margaret is clothed in the habit of St. Francis. I worded it in such a manner so as to place emphasis upon the fact that she was a lay person and not a nun.
May 17th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Yes, she was a lay person like Catherine of Siena, another one people mistake for a nun.
May 17th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
My favorite birthday is one where I spent the morning at a beautiful country church. I was all by myself with Jesus. It is such a great way to spend a special birthday. No bigger gift could we ever recieve.
Happy Birthday, dear Terry.
May God bless you abundantly on this and every day.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Just me - you have no idea how much I miss you - I hope all is going well with you - I think and pray for you and your family. I hope you do not believe all the awful things they are saying about me there.
God bless you!
May 20th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Terry,
My love is unconditional!