Shepherd One

 Whenever the pope flies anywhere, you will see that the plane is called Shepherd One.  Even so, the Vatican doesn't own any planes.  The company that owns the plane lets the pope fly on its plane.  I guess, the plane gets publicity, and the pope gets a free ride.  The pope uses an Italian plane to get where he is going, but going back home, he usually flies via one of that country's airlines.  

Sisterhood

 Sisterhood

Two girls, who like to play sisters.

Both wear different headscarves.

One is a hijab.

One is a tichel.

Will we grow old?

Will we see the sun set today?

Will we see the sun rise tomorrow?

Will we remember we are sisters?

Will the open dead eyes of the Palestinian corpses,

and the gaping holes of bombed homes by IDF

go away?

Will the ground ever be green again?

Will you feel your mother’s hands

saying “May Adonai make you like Sarah,

Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah?”

Will you hear your mother’s call to Salat

prayer, and bow and prostrate at her side?

Will we grow up to be soldiers

and will we fight each other?

Will we grow old?

Will we see the sun set today?

Will we see the sun rise tomorrow?

I’m afraid we won’t be able to forget.

Hands Up Don't Shoot

 

Our Lady of Ferguson Icon by Mark Doox

Icons are written because they are stories. This story began in the city of Ferguson, Missouri, which was experiencing protests and riots, as reaction to the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, by the police.  The protests sparked debates about the relationship between the police and Black Americans. 

The rallying cry was "Hands Up Don't Shoot."  The shout was accompanied with the hands in the upright position.  Think surrendering.  Think of a priest's orans position.

Mary's hands are up.

The baby in her womb has His hands up.  Also, the baby is in the crosshairs of a gun.

Mother and baby are black.

Meditate on that.

Simple Explanation of the Mass

 Everything you ever wanted to learn about the Catholic Mass is explained by Mike Aquilina's Understanding the Mass.  This little book, pp.136 pages, is an easy read and easily understandable by beginners and people like me who need to review.

I think it would be a must for those in the Order for Christian Initiation for Adults. It covers the Mass and the origins of the rituals and liturgical gestures.  Beginners will appreciate this book.  It's a keeper for reference.

Trinity

 Where did the idea of God being Three Persons, come from?  It came from Jesus.  Matthew 28: 19.  

New International Version

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

I picture this Andrei Rublev icon.

When I pray, I just take a seat at the table and start talking.

Bulletin for Mary

I'm composing a blurb for my parish's church bulletin. Some friends and I are "tree huggers." We're into gardening and interested in our environment. We call ourselves "Sacred Air Folks." We thought we'd put blurbs in church bulletins, now and then, to call attention to our sacred land, air--environment. Here's one I composed for the month of May. BTW, I've written about Mary Gardens here, in this blog.

from the Sacred Air Folks

May is for Mary

As you purchase plants and flowers this spring, consider devoting some space to plants that have a religious significance, by creating a Mary Garden.  This really is an old tradition.  Some devote space as a place for meditation.  But a Mary Garden can even be a small pot.

      Place a statue of Mary in the garden or pot, and then surround it with flowers and plants that have a Marian significance, either by name or tradition.  Information about Mary Gardens is available: www.mgardens.org   and   www.udayton.edu.mary

      Gardening is an act of faith.  A Mary Garden is special.  This summer visit the Mary Garden in Woods Hole.  It is across from St. Joseph Church.  It is the oldest known Mary Garden in the USA.

Two Historic Landmarks

 Here is a picture of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New Mexico.  They were given this name by the Francisco Missionary Padre Frincisco Torres, as he lay dying.  His last words were I see the Blood of Christ, as he looked at the vista before him--Sangre de Cristo Mountains.  

El Santuario de Chimayo is a small adobe chapel in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.  During Holy Week pilgrims come.  Many are healed there.