Spinning

It's hard to believe that this same time last week I was doing last minute preparations for the Write2Ignite Conference. I thank God for this gift (and Cec Murphey and the conference team) and for my carpool buddy Janice Green without whom I'd have ended up in some dirt road up a hill. Lovely house, that, but it was not our hotel.

I had such a wonderful time meeting Christian writers and editors -- on fire for the WORD -- and it makes me ever grateful that God never let up on me, that He kept calling and knocking on my stony heart ...

I had the opportunity to share my faith journey with these faith-filled women and men. One thing that came up a few times was why I chose the Catholic Church, and I don't think I chose it, as much as the Holy Spirit led me to it. Remember that I grew up in the Episcopal church in India, but it is quite different than the one here. I did remember enough of my history even without having touched the Bible for 30 years that for 1,500 years (until Reformation), Christianity was the Catholic Church. So it was very natural for us to step into the church that Christ established with Peter. Interestingly, we derive much of our liturgy from the Jewish practices, so there are many, many similarities if you attend a Jewish service.

I love that Christ gave us the Church, and at the foot of the Cross, he gave us his Mother. Under her protective mantle, all Christians gather. The consecration that I am going through is making it clearer and clearer. Another prayer I am beginning to love is the Memorare:

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,

that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection,

implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence,

I fly to thee O Virgin of virgins, my Mother;

to you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word incarnate,

despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me.

Amen

Our heavenly Mother is our advocate. St. Louis de Monfort's prayer to Jesus includes this:

Alas, O Lord! I am so wretched that without this dear Mother I should certainly be lost.

Yes, Mary is necessary for me at Thy side and everywhere;

that she may appease Thy just wrath, because I have so often offended Thee;

that she may save me from the eternal punishment of Thy justice, which I deserve;

that she may contemplate Thee, speak to Thee,
pray to Thee, approach Thee and please Thee;

that she may help me to save my soul and the souls of others;

in short, Mary is necessary for me that I may always do Thy holy will

and seek Thy greater glory in all things.

And so you see ... I am spinning into this vortex of love ... I am not alone in my journey. As I pray the rosary, it is Mary who leads me closer and closer to Christ.

I will be making my consecration on Sunday after Mass. Pray for me, my friends, that I may walk in the Light of Christ. I am so thankful for all of you.

I promise I will write a post about the conference ... after I have processed my notes and thoughts. Until then.

Pax Christi

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