My friend Lisa shared a very sweet video of her granddaughter Lucy, who in less than a short minute tells us how to do Lent right! I hope that you will enjoy this short, lively, and absolutely precious tutorial!
Click on the video below and let me know in the comments below how much you enjoyed her video and if it might help you on the remainder of your Lenten journey. 🙂
I recently gave a presentation to the women of Faith & Wine in Lee County, Florida (as well as all of the others tuning in virtually from many parts of the world. The title of my presentation is “Small Things with Great Love: How to Love Like Mother Teresa.” You can see it in below by clicking on it. The woman in the first frame is the lovely Host who introduced me to the Zoom conference.
I suggest that you get yourself a beverage and get comfy. The presentation lasts a bit over an hour. Or, you can watch some, pause and pick up again as time allows. I hope that this presentation will stir your heart.
Thank you for your letter. I hope that you are well. I’m glad that you wrote I’ll try to answer your questions and I hope it will be helpful to you …
You stated in your letter that I have a “ridiculously long name.” Let’s start with that. My first name is “Donna-Marie.” My mother placed a hyphen in my name when she named me and when baptized because she liked the name that she gave to me and was hoping that the hyphen would prevent people from shortening my name. I don’t mind if people call me “Donna” or “Donna-Marie.” I am perfectly fine with either.
Many years ago, when my first book was going to be released for Catholic mothers titled, “Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers,” I decided to use my full first name for the book, rather than just simply “Donna” as others had shortened it to. I did it to honor my dear deceased Mother.
I decided to keep my maiden name of “Cooper” in order to show honor to my dear deceased father. And my last name, “O’Boyle” is to honor my dear husband.
You asked me what makes me “feel important.” I don’t feel important. I do feel deeply blessed to be a daughter of the Most high God.
You asked, “Who” am I “to give spiritual advice? What qualifies you? Nothing!”
I am a Catholic woman, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, an author, a catechist, and an evangelist. I am no better than anyone else. However, I have been asked to share my insights, advice, and teachings. I do so because I love our Lord and want to serve His people.
You stated, “All you do is prattle on to people to pray. Isn’t that brilliant?!”
I don’t think it’s brilliant. Rather, it is out of love that I encourage others to pray. I know by faith and our Church’s teaching that it is the only way to Heaven. I want to share that with as many as possible.
Yes, you are correct. St. Jacinta and St. Francisco were sick. They were very sick. I have never said that they had a “mysterious illness.” However, I do share with people that through their sincere and earnest prayers; following requests from Our Lady of Fatima, they suffered with much love and courage for the conversion of souls. They had been shown a vision of hell by the Blessed Mother and did not want anyone to suffer the terrible fate of burning in hell. Yes, hell exists and there is a consequence for sin. And prayer (as was mentioned above), is essential for everyone. It helps our own souls and the souls of others.
You stated that I am “making money on religion and spouting holiness.” It seems that you might have come up with your questions and comments after seeing me or hearing me in interviews. I suspect you have seen me on EWTN television sharing about Fatima and the shepherd children. You did send your letter to EWTN, after all.
I do not get paid anything for my appearances on the media to share about the Gospel and God’s love, the spiritual life, etc. I don’t get paid for any of the television series that I have created and that I host on EWTN television. It is out of love for God and His people that I share.
You stated that Catholics are not required to believe in Fatima or Lourdes, etc. You are correct in that we are not required. However, the Church in Her goodness and wisdom points us to the authentic powerful apparitions that will aid our souls.
You asked, “Why do we need another book on St. Faustina? Well, to try to put it succinctly, God’s Divine Mercy is so very important to every single person. We need God’s Mercy! Saint Faustina is a wonderful and perfect spiritual guide to help us to understand it more.
You stated, “You drop names all the time — Mother Teresa, Fr. Apostoli, John Hardon. Whoop-de-do!”
When someone is sharing about another’s example and holiness, it would be wise to state their name, wouldn’t it? I share about the Saints quite often. They are our sure intercessors. They help us to get to Heaven!
I hope that my letter to you will be helpful. I wish you well and I am praying for you to feel better. You seem to be upset and hurting. May God profoundly touch your heart and soul in a special way. God bless you!
Yours, in Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
Donna-Marie
I am still in recovery for Covid but I am happy to announce that I will be giving a presentation on Mother Teresa TONIGHT titled, “Small Things with Great Love: How to Love Like Mother Teresa.” It’s at 7:00 PM Eastern (tonight, Thursday, Feb. 25th) and there is still a bit of time to register for this free program. Feel free to share this post with others who might be interested.
Maybe I’ll see you tonight! Well, actually I won’t see you through Zoom, but you will see me. 🙂 Here is the link to register for Zoom.
I have lost tract of the days. I guess I was not successful in writing a bit each day of quarantine. I haven’t been well enough to do so. I’ll force myself to write this post now.
I think today is “Day 8.” However, as I explained on “Day 1,” it is really further along in the quarantine, but I started posting blog posts after the fact. Now, if that is not totally confusing! 😉 I write this post today with a very bad head ache. I’ve already taken a lot of pain medication and I am praying for some relief from the unrelenting head aches.
I’ll try to catch you up a bit. C*v*d is a terrible illness. I hope you don’t get it. It varies with each person. Some folks get mild versions, while others suffer terribly and end up in the hospital, or even succumb to death. Each and every day and night I pray for those who are going to die (by whatever reason) that they will turn to God before taking their last breath so that they can make it to Heaven and not Hell. We must pray for the dying.
My husband and I are very fortunate thus far, that we are dealing with this awful illness at home alone back in the woods of rural Connecticut. So far, we have stayed out of the hospital and we are not “spring chickens!” We have each had a couple of virtual doctor’s appointments so far. That is after our in person visits to do the 3 tests–2 for C*v*d and 1 for the flu. Our C*v*d was positive.
Much effort to peel this little orange, but we are working hard at nourishing ourselves…
It’s a mystery with regard to how we contracted this debilitating illness. I stay home and work here and my husband works alone at his little shop. I have a feeling that my husband picked it up at the grocery store, possibly from a grocery cart handle or from someone there who was sick. We will never know.
It is a very real illness, despite what some choose to believe, perhaps due to what some consider “hype” or political agenda. It is real and it is debilitating. I hope and pray that you don’t get it. Or, that if you do, that it will be mild, please God. Our cases are not mild. However, we are extremely thankful that our severe chills and high fevers seem to be gone now, as well as the horrible sore throats. We hope that they don’t come back. This illness is unpredictable. We are still dealing with many other symptoms; including the awful cough, congestion, severe head ache, random sharp pains, deep bone and muscle pain, exhaustion and weakness.
Each and every day, several times a day, I earnestly cry out to God as Our Lady of Fatima has taught us to pray while we offer our suffering:
“It is for the love of You, the conversion of sinners, and for the reparation of the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
We will get through this with God’s merciful grace. I want to thank you with all my heart for your prayers for us and for all those who are suffering. I am praying for you too!
What happened to “Day 3”? Well, I didn’t get a chance to write anything. I was too busy trying to survive the C*v*d day while taking care of my husband also sick with C*v*d.
Here is “Day 1” which gives a background. “Day 2” which is pretty much a dud. 🙂
I’m not sure what “Day 4” will turn out to be. But, I’m here at the keys for a few minutes…blanket on my lap, and excruciating head ache and all…
When I had the inspiration one feverish night to do this “Quarantine Diary,” I thought I might have something to say each day–but, then again, maybe not.
I’ll share something funny though. A dear priest friend has been praying for us and checks on us each day. One afternoon, as my husband and I were pushing forward, praying the Rosary together, I offered up a particular decade for our priest friend, asking Our Lord and Our Lady to reward him for his generous prayers. No sooner than I uttered those words, Father’s text came in.
“Do you have enough Chocolate ?!!!”
I chuckled out loud and continued on with our Rosary before texting him back to tell him that his cute message sure brought a smile.
I followed that up with, “Yes, we love chocolate, but this stupid illness makes it so you don’t really enjoy too many things. You feel too sickly … thanks for the good laugh! Thanks so much for your prayers. May God reward you!”
Well, I had better get my eyes off this computer screen. Please be assured of my prayers for you…Stay well! May God reward you for caring and for praying for us…
Continuing to offer it all up…
“O Jesus, it is for love of You, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary” (Fatima visionaries)
Still here. Still sick. A bit worse today, but determined with God’s grace to get better. I’ll try to be back with something more substantial, Lord willing. 🙂
I am in quarantine at home with my husband. We are both very sick with C*v*d. I am not even going to spell out the name of the illness because I have noticed that when that word is mentioned on social media, the “powers that be” automatically insert links to various information (propaganda??) about it. They do the same for political posts.
That aside, as I lay feverish in bed last night, I thought I would attempt to write a short blog post each day of my quarantine during this awful illness. I have no idea what I will write about, or if I’ll have the strength to do so. However, I shall try. Perhaps, just a few words or brief reflection each day.
We shall see how it goes.
Well, first off, today is not technically “day one” of my quarantine. But, I guess it’s “official” now. My husband and I have been quarantined since the afternoon of New Year’s Day/Solemnity of the Great Mother of God. That is when the terrible onset of my husband’s illness came on with great gusto.
Chills, high fever, cough and congestion descended upon him without mercy. I took care of him and we hoped and prayed for the best. We didn’t know if it was a virus, flu, or the dreaded C*v*d. The illness progressed with great vigor while we tried to steady the ship in that stormy sea of fever and pain.
I think I should insert a link here to my latest newsletter that explains what led up to now. You can read the brief newsletter here and then continue with this blog post.
Two nights after my husband’s onset of illness, I succumbed to the same illness. The terrible unnerving chills, high fever and deep bone pain assaulted me. After getting my husband settled for the night and getting into bed with a raging fever (even with 3 Advil under my belt,) I hung tightly to my rosary beads and pleaded with Our Lord and Our Lady to get me through the night, and if it is God’s holy will, to enter the new day with a renewed strength in which to to take care of my husband.
Thanks be to God, my fever was down in the morning. The symptoms progressed, but I was able to care for my husband who was pretty bad off with coughing and congestion. I put another call in to the doctor’s office to get set up tests for the dreaded C*v*d.
We had a virtual appointments with the doctor and my husband and I were scheduled for the testing the following day.
I’ll stop there for now, because I want to share a wee bit from last night before my weakness and pain causes me to log off my computer…plus, I do need to muster my strength to make my way to the kitchen to figure out something for us to eat…
I’m back to this blog post now. Turns out that I had to take time away from this writing due to exhaustion and various C*v*d symptoms.
So…back to last night…
When fever and pain awakened me around 3:00 AM, I took my temperature and learned that the fever was back and after taking some more Advil, I opened my night stand drawer to bring out my mother’s Bible that I had kept in there for safe keeping. I hadn’t cracked it open in quite some time. It was the perfect time to do so. I propped up my pillows and began reading from the Psalms which I had flipped opened to.
I read a few pages and ended on:
Take courage and be stouthearted, all you who hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:25).
I placed my mother’s Bible back into the drawer of my nightstand. I blessed myself with Holy Water and laid back down and prayed that I could get some more sleep.
Donna-Marie on EWTN Pro Life Weekly speaking about her new book and new bracelet design for EWTN Religious Catalogue–Simply click the little symbol on the lower right hand corner of the video screen to enlarge the video. Enjoy!
Happy feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal! I’ll share here a message that I posted on Instagram this morning:
Happy Feast Day! Not too long ago, I was blessed to lead a pilgrimage to the Miraculous Medal chapel at Ru du Bac in Paris, France. I had been devoted to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal for many years. I have given out thousands upon thousands of Miraculous Medals all around the world. I never thought I would ever get to the actual apparition site – – where the Blessed Virgin Mary instructed Saint Catherine Laboure about the Miraculous Medal.
Perhaps, you can tell by the kind of “stunned” look on my face in this photo (taken after spending some time there) that I was totally overwhelmed by the blessing of being there. I was also blessed to give the Reading at holy Mass in that chapel of the apparition site for our pilgrimage. In this picture, I am wearing the blessed Miraculous Medal given to me by Mother Teresa during a precarious pregnancy. I never take it off. It’s one of the many she had given to me, but this one is so special to me.
By God’s grace, without any planning, I took up Mother Teresa’s tradition of giving out blessed Miraculous Medals. Today is the Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Tomorrow, is another special day in honor of the Miraculous Medal. It is St. Catherine Laboure’s feast day. By the way, I will be on the airwaves tomorrow with “The Miracle Hunter” on #EWTNradio talking about the Miraculous Medal.
Here is a prayer: Miraculous Medal Prayer
O Virgin Mother of God, Mary Immaculate,
We dedicate and consecrate ourselves to you
under the title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
May this Medal be for each one of us
a sure sign of your affection for us
and a constant reminder of our duties toward you.
Ever while wearing it, may we be blessed by your loving protection
and preserved in the grace of your Son.
O Most Powerful Virgin, Mother of Our Savior,
keep us close to you every moment of our lives.
Obtain for us, your children, the grace of a happy death;
so that in union with you, we may enjoy the bliss of Heaven forever.
Amen. #miraclehunter#ewtnradio#miraculousmedal#rudubac#paris#ourladyofthemiraculousmedal#motherteresa@ewtnmedia@ewtnradio@miracle.hunter
The other day, I posted this little story on Instagram. I’ll paste the message here so that you can see it in case you missed it there. It’s about unexpectedly discovering a lost blessing, as well as realizing that it was almost lost forever…Here is what I wrote the other day…
The other day, I posted this on Instagram. I’ll paste the message here so that you can see it in case you missed it there. It’s about unexpectedly discovering a lost blessing as well as realizing that it was almost lost forever…Here is what I wrote the other day…
I am deeply grateful. I discovered this just today. Many years ago, Mother Teresa had given to me this special image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I have moved around so many times during my life and my belongings have been stored here and there. Unfortunately, many precious things were ruined by water damage.
Recently, as I was cleaning in the basement, I came across this picture mixed in with other items that were totally damaged and had to be thrown out. Thankfully, this gift from Mother Teresa was in a plastic frame which protected it from the mold and moisture. I rescued the dirty and wet plastic frame and image from the box and put it aside with a few other items. It was a busy time, so I planned to get to it when I could.
Today, I had a chance to take the picture out of the plastic frame, turn it around, and discover something I had not seen in so many years—Mother’s beautiful words to me, along with her signature which she had scrawled across the back. Her beautiful gift to me which used to adorn a little prayer table in the corner of my kitchen many years ago was almost lost forever. I am very thankful that I came across this special gift from Mother Teresa when cleaning.
I am especially grateful that it was protected from damage. I put the gift from Mother in a different frame. In this picture, I’m holding it up in front of the image I have hanging in my office. It is Mother Teresa’s canonization image. You probably can’t tell in this picture, but it is a huge image. In addition, if you look closely at the image of the Blessed Mother, you’ll see a tiny cross on her veil. That just happens to be a reflection of a crucifix also hanging in my office which reflected on to the picture as I held it up. I thought I would share this blessing with you…???
On this 103rd anniversary of the great Miracle of the Sun at Fatima, I’d like to share the following YouTube video of my interview with Doug Keck for EWTN’s Bookmark television show. In it we discussed my two Fatima books and Our Lady of Fatima’s message.
I am so happy to share my new book trailer for my upcoming book Prayerfully Waiting, a book for Grandmothers awaiting the birth of their precious grandchild. You’ll learn more about it in my book trailer.
God bless you!
Happy Feast of St. Michael and the ArchAngels! I have designed some Patriotic Novena Bracelets to aid in praying for the USA, which certainly needs prayers, especially at this time. Take a look at the variety of designs below, which will hopefully suit a variety of tastes, and please feel free to share this post with those you know and who love the USA.
I sincerely hope that that my bracelets will be an aid to folks who would like a tangible (and pretty!) item to help remind them to pray for the USA. After it is blessed it becomes a sacramental.
Wear the colors of the USA with pride and pray for our country!
*******
PATRIOTIC St. Michael and Bling NOVENA BRACELET
This PATRIOTIC NOVENA Bracelet with a Saint Michael Medal (with Guardian Angel on the reverse side), a crucifix, a Miraculous Medal, and a petite St. Benedict Medal. This bracelet has extra “BLING” (lots of sparkly components)!
Pray for the USA!
Pray to St. Michael for protection and help for the USA! This “Patriotic St. Michael” Bracelet features a combination of nine red and sapphire blue faceted and shaped beads, small round white pearl-like beads, many Czech crystal rhinestone beads, silver-plated components, a Miraculous Medal, a crucifix, a St. Michael medal with the Guardian Angel image on the reverse side, and a petite St. Benedict medal. It is finished with a decorative silver-colored toggle clasp.
Pray for the USA!
One “Patriotic” Novena Prayer Bracelet with “BLING” for $44.99 (plus shipping):
Here is my interview with Doug Keck on EWTN’s Bookmark television show. We discussed three of my books: Small Things with Great Love: A 9-Day Novena to Mother Teresa, Saint of the Gutters, Advent with Our Lady of Fatima, and 52 Weeks with Saint Faustina: A Year of Grace and Mercy.
You can tune in above by clicking the video or tune in here on Youtube at your leisure. If you like it, Please take a second to give it a thumbs up on You tube. 🙂
This was a very different kind of interview as compared to all of my other visits with Doug Keck for EWTN’s Bookmark. Doug and his lovely producer Lee South were off site so we conducted the interview through a video camera, an ear piece, and microphones (and I was seated on a high stool!).
Unfortunately, the technology was not the best and the feedback in my ear and very loud echoing as I was answering Doug was so disconcerting. I had to persevere and move forward, pretending all was well. 🙂 I’m always amazed at how the interviews come out, despite the technological problems.
A recent visit on “Mast Appeal” Radio show on Ave Maria Radio talking about things from a Catholic perspective including my book Family Consecration to Jesus Through Mary.
Here is the link to listen at your leisure.
I was featured on Boston Catholic TV “This is the Day” on August 18, 2020 through Skype to talk about my book Family Consecration to Jesus Through Mary.
Unfortunately, there were technology issues, but we persevered and were able to salvage a couple of parts of the interview. You can see the links below.
Here are the YouTube clips:
My friend June who had worked nearby to the horrifying devastation that occurred on 9/11 paused to reflect upon the events of her day, and nineteen years later, has shared her thoughts with me.
“I was living in Westchester County, north of New York City,” she recalled, “and taking the Metro-North commuter railroad to Grand Central terminal on the East side of New York City each day.” This began her trek to work, which she did so often, she could probably do it in her sleep!
It began as a typical work day for June. Buses, taxis, trucks, and cars were out in full force. Shop owners were opening their doors for business, while conversations emanated from newsstands and breakfast kiosks, and the unmistakable satisfying rich aroma of freshly brewing coffee wafted through New York City’s air.
My friend recalled her typical morning, “I would then walk to my office at the Verizon location at 42nd Street and 6th Avenue.” Every day, June naturally took in the day-to-day New York City sights and sounds as she walked briskly to get to work.
Looking south from 6th Avenue, the view was dominated by the twin towers.
Though the daily sights and sounds along June’s commute were pretty much predictable, she remembered that on that particular morning, she had made a point to pause and make a mental note of appreciation of the incredible beauty that caught her eye.
June told me, “As I reached 6th Avenue and approached the Verizon building, I recall looking south, seeing the towers, and thinking what a beautiful day it was. Without a single cloud, the sky was an incredible rich blue.”
Mental note taken, she kept up her swift morning pace and got to the office for what she imagined would be yet another true to form work day.
That striking eye-catching beauty that June had gazed upon earlier and so much more was about to quickly evaporate. As June recalled, “I was on a call, when someone came to my office to tell me that a plane had hit one of the towers.”
Dumbfounded, June went over to one of the offices with a view south and “saw just one tower standing.”
She immediately turned to God. June said, “I prayed for everyone, including friends who were working at the Verizon building across the street.” Within minutes, a second plane hit the other tower. As June watched in utter disbelief, she shared, “The second tower fell.”
She added, “I recall praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for all the souls.”
The Empire State Building is just eight blocks from the Verizon 42nd Street building. “Fearful that a third plane might target the Empire State Building,” June said, “about 11 AM, upper management advised us to vacate the building and head home.” June made immediate arrangements with her brother who was working at the same location. They met in the lobby, along with another worker, who headed out with them. June said, “Because no trains were leaving from Grand Central, we decided to walk to my brother’s home in Queens.”
June deeply reflected and continued to share her experience, “By 11 AM, with almost all traffic stopped and no planes flying overhead, and the hushed tones of other people nearby, midtown New York City was eerily quiet.” She told me that suddenly everything had dramatically changed. There were, “No engines humming, no impatient horns tooting, no boisterous crowd conversations.” None of that was left—it had totally, frighteningly dissipated into thin air, it seemed.
June called to mind, “It was spooky without all the noise of daily hustle and bustle.” She vividly remembered, “With so many walking—heading uptown, walking across the bridges usually filled with vehicles—the visual was like that of refugees walking miles to safety.”
June could not forget. “Everyone was focused on the billowing smoke where the towers had been downtown.That frighteningly eerie silence is still very vivid in my thoughts.”
“We walked about seven or eight miles into the heart of Queens,” June shared. The siblings found a tour bus driver who was willing to take them a few miles farther. June said, “At that point, off the bus, we neared the famously heavily traveled Long Island Expressway.”
June recalled the experience. Even eerier still, “With no vehicles traveling on the Expressway, the only sounds we heard were the booms of fighter jets flying overhead.”
June’s brother contacted a parish priest who is a good friend stationed at a church about three miles from where they were at the time. “The priest had to navigate through police blockades but did reach us about an hour later.” June will never forget that long journey when, amid countless others who suddenly found themselves in the same inconceivable predicament, the three of them kept putting one foot in front of the other to get to safety.
“We started our journey at 11 AM and reached my brother’s home about 4 PM.”
It was a trek that June, her brother, their priest friend, and thousands of others would never forget. June said, “I stayed with my brother overnight. The following day, he was able to drive me to the Westchester train station where I had left my car the previous morning.”
As June recollected, she stated a couple of times, “I can hardly believe that all this, and more in the months that followed, happened 19 years ago!” It is still so very fresh in the minds of countless people.
June counted her blessings and told me, “We were fortunate to have been far enough uptown to only see the macro picture of what was happening, but our friends who worked at the Verizon building across the street from the towers saw, felt, and experienced everything within a couple of hundred feet.”
June stated, that because of the unimaginable horrendous trauma, “A number of them suffered from PTSD afterward and still have difficulty today.”
Sadly, in addition to the horrifying devastation thousands have experienced and have even perished from, many others suffer from “survivor’s guilt,” and, as June pointed out, “many are reliving the trauma of seeing everything close up.”
June shared with me, “My brother and I pray each year for the deceased and also for the survivors, those friends and heroes who were there that day and those who worked later at the site doing rescue, recovery, and cleanup.”
June encourages us, “If you haven’t had an opportunity to go to the memorial and museum, both are beautiful solemn tributes.”
Joy is the sign of union with God, of God’s presence. Joy is love, the normal result of a heart burning with love.”
Mother Teresa
Today is a special day. It’s the anniversary of when St. Teresa of Calcutta (whom I still refer to as Mother Teresa), received what she referred to as her “Call within a call” to start her religious order the Missionaries of Charity. I thought I’d tell you about it by using a couple of excerpts from my books.
From my book Advent with Our Lady of Fatima, I’ll share first about Mother Mary and Mother Teresa and then tell you how Mother Teresa’s journey to found the Missionaries of Charity began:
Mother Teresa was madly in love with Jesus and His holy Mother. She chose the Immaculate Heart of Mary as her special patroness and established that special feast day as the titular feast for her congregation. We know that the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a big part of Our Lady of Fatima’s message. Mary’s Im- maculate Heart is full of love for all her children. But it is even more than that.
I will share something rather contradictory. I just said that Mary’s heart was full, and it is full of love and grace, but some- one else — a credible source — says it is empty. In his book Mother Teresa: In the Shadow of Our Lady, Father Joseph Lang- ford, MC, cofounder with Mother Teresa of her community of priests, the Missionaries of Charity Fathers, writes, “The Im-maculate Heart of Mary refers not only to Our Lady’s love and virtues, but also to her interior emptiness of self in imitation of Christ who ‘emptied himself’ to save the human race.” He continues, “Our Lady’s heart is the emptiest of all human hearts, the emptiest of self and the emptiest of pride, and therefore the most ready to give a heart’s welcome and shelter to those who are shelterless.” Fr. Langford knows that Mother Teresa understood the mystery of Mary’s Immaculate Heart: “Mother Teresa saw this as the condition both for receiving and giving God to the full.”
Let’s step back to those dusty, often unreliable train tracks, and that rickety steam train running slowly down them in 1946. It was nearing autumn, and the thirty-six-year-old Sister Teresa left Calcutta to head to West Bengal, where she departed in Siliguri to board the small train to Darjeeling on the last leg of her journey. As I mentioned earlier, she had received her “call within a call” on September 10, 1946, while sitting on that hot, crowded train en route to her annual retreat. As the train made its way on the tracks, amid the sometimes-deafening noise, the humble nun distinctively heard Jesus speaking to her heart. She became profoundly aware of her great and holy work ahead: taking care of the poor and the salvation of souls. After that very eventful train ride, Mother Teresa received countless extraordinary revelations from Jesus, informing her of the mission entrusted to her and reiterating what He wanted. This went on for over a year. Then, at the end of 1947, Jesus revealed a series of three visions to Mother Teresa. She was shown a crowd of the poor in each of the visions. In the first vision, she saw the reality and painful poverty of the poor, and their inner poverty. She saw herself in the scene and the poor were reaching out to her. In the second scene, the Blessed Mother was amid the poor with Mother Teresa kneeling at her side. Our Lady spoke to her:
Take care of them—they are mine. Bring them to Jesus — carry Jesus to them. Fear not. Teach them to say the Rosary, the family Rosary, and all will be well. Fear not — Jesus and I will be with you and your children.
The Blessed Mother is intimately linked to God’s call to Mother Teresa. In the third vision, the distressed crowd is in darkness, seemingly unaware of the presence of Jesus in their midst, hanging from the Cross. Our Lady and Mother Teresa are there, too. But, this time Mother Teresa saw herself as a little child. The Blessed Mother was supporting Mother Teresa, one hand on her shoulder and the other on Mother’s outstretched arm. Our Lady was providing the strength that Mother Teresa needed in that moment. Mother Teresa’s right arm was out- stretched toward Jesus on the Cross. Jesus spoke to Mother Teresa.
“I have asked you. They have asked you. And she, my Mother, has asked you. Will you refuse to do this for me — to take care of them, to bring them to me?”
With God’s grace, and Mother Mary’s incredible help, Mother Teresa was able courageously to give her fiat of accep- tance for such an arduous and beautiful mission. Mother Mary was always nearby to support her as Mother Teresa carried out the work of striving to satiate the thirst of Jesus for the salvation of souls and to bring the poor to Jesus and Jesus to the poor. As well, the petite nun had the huge responsibility of managing her newly founded religious congregation and forming all her Sisters, and later, the brothers, priests, coworkers, and lay Missionaries of Charity who would follow. Again, Our Lady assisted Mother Teresa every step of the way.
Father Langford, who wrote about Mother Teresa and the Blessed Mother, spoke about the two in an interview. “As it was Our Lady who brought St. John, alone among the Twelve, to stand faithfully at Calvary,” Fr. Langford explained, “so it was Our Lady who brought Mother Teresa through the sea of suffer- ing opened before her, that she might shine the light of God’s love on the poor.”
Although the “two-way communication” that I mentioned earlier ceased when Mother Teresa endured the Dark Night, she continued to trust God and moved forward with love to accomplish God’s holy mission entrusted to her. Mother Mary never left Mother Teresa’s side.
Has God redirected your life in some radical way? Do you think He can? Will you allow it? We cannot all be Mother Teresas, but we are all, without a doubt, called to a life of holiness. Mother Teresa often said that holiness is not a luxury of the few but a simple duty for all. Take time to ponder how Mother Teresa was devoted to Mother Mary and relied upon her for powerful help. As we read in the passage beginning today’s reflection, Mother Teresa reminds us, “With great love and trust stand with Our Lady near the Cross.”
Dear Jesus and Our Lady of Fatima, please help me to remember to turn to you often during this Advent, especially when I am suffering in some way. St. Teresa of Calcutta, please pray for me. Immaculate Heart of Mary, please pray for me. Help me to become a saint to bring glory to God!
In one of her letters to me, Mother Teresa asked me to “Be the one.” She was referring to the verse above, beginning this day of our novena: “I looked for compassion, but there was none, for comforters, but found none” (Psalm 69). She told me that Jesus said he looked for one to comfort him but found none. She reminded me that he experienced deep loneliness in the Garden and on the Cross.
Mother Teresa encourages us all to “be the one.” More likely than not, we won’t be pulling maggots out of anyone anytime soon. But, what about the love we can show in our gentle smile at someone who is mean to us, or in the time we give to someone who needs to vent, or in being present to our family members, our neighbors, our co-workers when we are exhausted, and in showing love to a complete stranger when it is difficult to do so. Opportunities unfold for us to love sacrificially every day. Take time to ponder your own life and how God might be calling you to love more sacrificially. Strive to “be the one” to comfort Jesus through your prayers and good works.
This is the novena prayer I wrote for my book Small Things with Great Love: A 9-Day Novena to Mother Teresa the Saint of the Gutters:
St. Teresa of Calcutta, please hear my prayer.
You are a faithful and devoted servant of our Lord and of his poor—those you called, “The poorest of the poor,” those in the greatest need, and those for whom our Lord instructs us to serve, saying, “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers you do to me.” Through your life of holy service, you demonstrated the joy of loving and taught us the greatness and dignity of every human being, from conception to natural death. Your continual walk in faith to serve those in need even as you were stricken with hardship and darkness floods my soul with great hope. Please, dear Saint of the Gutters, help me in my present need by presenting my prayer petition before the throne of God. [Here, mention your request.]
Please also intercede for me so that I may have the strength and courage to give my own personal “yes” each day and so that I will come closer to our divine Lord Jesus Christ, ultimately joining you one day in praising him forever in heaven.
Amen.
I mentioned this earlier in my excerpt, however, I’ll mention it again–Take time to ponder your own life and how God might be calling you to love more sacrificially. Strive to “be the one” to comfort Jesus through your prayers and good works.
I felt inspired to create a lovely bracelet design (which becomes a sacramental after it is blessed) for parents and grandparents of kids away from home. I designed the first two to be a bit fun and uplifting by using the lively colors of glass art beads.
One is a bit more colorful than the next which has darker beads (using blacks and white and some other colors). I made them with my signature nine-beads to represent a novena of prayer and also the nine-month pregnancy of human-life!
I believe having something tangible like these bracelet can bring a needed dose of hope and inspiration to the hearts of parents and grandparents who are missing their beloved kids and grandkids.
It is also a reminder to pray for them continuously.
I have added a touch of “empty nest” as well as giving them “wings” idea to the design by adding a sweet bird with nest charm. The featured medal is of the Holy Family of Nazareth and on the back of the medal is an image of a Guardian Angel. Each bracelet also has a crucifix and a Miraculous Medal.
No two bracelets will be exactly alike because I will place the colors in various different places on the bracelet and might add slightly different silver spacer components.
As well, I’ll be designing a couple of more “Roots and Wings” bracelets very soon so that there will other options for those who do not prefer such a “dazzle dazzle” colorful design with these larger beads.
Each bracelet will come to you in a gift box with a prayer card. I have composed the novena prayer that is on the back of the card that you see here in the photo above.
Here is just one more “Roots and Wings” design, a smaller beads.
I have added a touch of “empty nest” as well as giving them “wings” idea to this design as well, by adding a sweet bird with nest charm and two sweet silver bird components near to the slightly hammered style silver toggle clasp. The beads are sapphire blue glass combined with ceramic blue and white flower pattern.
The featured medal is of the Holy Family of Nazareth and on the back of the medal is an image of a Guardian Angel. Each bracelet also has a crucifix and a Miraculous Medal.
What think ye?
They are available at my “Bracelet Shop” for your purchasing options.
