Four Short Prayers…
Today I have four short prayers for you. They are very different from each other, but perhaps you might find one of them expressing some of your own thoughts or feelings. Several years ago during my annual retreat, I was struggling with someone. I shared my struggles with my retreat director. We conversed about this situation for a little while, and then she said, “During this week, I suggest you pray for this person. Every day. Nothing long, nothing special. Just offer a sincere little prayer for her.” She added, “After all, we have no idea what she might be bearing right now in her own life.” I followed her suggestion. After a week, my prayer didn’t change that person. But I did sense a small change in myself… a slight shift toward greater patience. Here’s a prayer I wrote based on that experience:
Prayer #1: “And Jesus said, ‘Pray for Them'”
Instead of being angry with her, pray for her.
Instead of worrying about him, pray for him.
Instead of judging them, pray for them.
Instead of gossiping about her, pray for her.
Instead of pitying him, pray for him.
Instead of being afraid of them, pray for them.
Instead of belittling her, pray for her.
Instead of ignoring him, pray for him.
Instead of disliking them, pray for them.
Instead of giving up on her, pray for her.
Instead of forgetting about him, pray for him.
Instead of thinking there’s nothing
you can do about her, him, or them,
pray for them… pray for them.
Prayer #2: “If All I Ever Heard” (From my book Picking Strawberries)
If all I ever heard was the chirping of a single bird,
If all I ever smelled was the scent of one sprig of lilac,
If all I ever tasted was the sweetness of one strawberry,
If all I ever touched was the softness of one bunny’s ear,
If all I ever saw was the vastness of one starry night,
I would have reason enough to fall helplessly in love with Thee,
my Beloved Creator God.
Prayer #3: “Jesus, You Cleansed the Temple” (from my book When the Blue Heron Flies)
Jesus, you cleansed the Temple in Jerusalem.
Your flipped tables over, set doves and lambs free,
and chased out all the money changers,
while yelling, “My house shall be a house of prayer–
not a den of thieves!”
Jesus, come now and do the same in me.
For I too have set up clutter where sacred space was meant to be.
I too am caging living things with my excessive need to control.
I too am enamored with glitz and power and material gain.
Come, Jesus, and reclaim me as your own.
Come cleanse the temple of me.
Prayer #4 “Prayer of the Tuckered Out” (from my book Just Because)
O God, look down upon me, so weary, worn, and stooped,
And hear the humble prayer of one who’s really pooped.
I ask not for good fortune, nor for serenity.
Instead one thing I beg you for: how ’bout some energy?
Sometimes I’m not so good, God, I fight, complain, and shout.
I offer no excuses, except I’m tuckered out.
My spirit is so willing. It wants to do what’s best.
The problem is my flesh, God, for all it wants is rest.
This prayer should be much longer, but what else can I say when
I’m too dog-tired to stay awake? Have pity, God. Amen.
For reflection:
Did any of these prayers resonate with your thoughts and feelings at times in your own prayer life? If so, which one(s)?
What people, events, or things in your life make it easier for you to believe and trust in God?
Prayer can come in all shapes and sizes, can be done in all kinds of places and for all kinds of reasons. What are some of the places you pray? When is prayer easy for you… or when is it challenging for you?
What helps you to persevere in prayer?
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PS: Last week I was working on a future blog on falcons. When I went to save it, I forgot to type in the date I wanted that reflection to be posted. As a result, my rough draft was instantly posted and an alert was sent out to most of you. As soon as I realized my mistake, I screamed “Yikes!” and removed it immediately. So, if you went looking for it, you found “page cannot be found” instead. Thank you to those who wrote asking me where the reflection was or if I had been hacked. All I can say is: Mea culpa! And I’m SO sorry for the confusion!
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I found this little song by Shawna Edwards. It expresses to me the great variety of ways we can pray… the many different forms our prayer can take… how we can pray anywhere, alone or with others… We sometimes make prayer too complicated. This song suggests, “Just Pray.”
Please share a thought or two with us below…
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Embracing the Times in which We Live
There are certain phrases I hear or read frequently that annoy me. One phrase is this: “in our troubled times.” It seems to imply that other times in the past were not troubled or, at least, not as troubled as our times are today. Other phrases are “in our polarized times,” “our violent times,” “our uncertain times,” or “our unprecedented times.” I am not denying the polarization, violence, and uncertainty of our times. And I even acknowledge that in some ways our times are unprecedented. But we do ourselves (and our Christian faith) a grave disservice if we think we are the only human beings who ever lived during “troubled times.” That’s why I believe a basic familiarity with history is essential for us to get a much needed perspective on our current times.
Take polarization. If we view Ken Burns’ incredible documentary on the American Revolution, we will learn how deeply divided the colonists were on declaring their independence from England. Neighbors argued with or even fought against neighbors over this issue. Violence and uncertainty? Read first-hand accounts of the Civil War and you will see unimaginable violence and terrifying uncertainty. And wasn’t the Great Depression “unprecedented” for the people (such as my grandparents and parents) who lived during those times? And what about World War II? Most historians describe those times in words such as these: “World War II was the largest, deadliest, and most destructive conflict in human history.” It took the lives of 60-80 million people–most of them civilians! Virtually every human being on earth was somehow impacted by the global devastation of that war–whether you lived on an island in the Pacific (think Pearl Harbor) or in Timbuktu in West Africa (I verified this fact!) or Willoughby Hills, Ohio–where I was born during the final year of the war. Upon birth I was issued a ration book which I still have. Uncle Sam was inviting me to join the war effort! My weight was listed as 7 lbs. 3 ozs. and my height was 20 inches!
If we think our times are unprecedented, we might be tempted to throw a “pity party,” for ourselves, moaning, “Poor us! No one ever had it so bad!” Or we might try to escape from our awful world. Several “escape hatches” are readily available. One is denial: “Things aren’t as bad as they seem.” Well, unfortunately, SOME things ARE as bad as they seem–or maybe even WORSE. Or we can try to escape the pains of our times through addictions to such things as alcohol, other drugs, gambling, the internet, food, shopping, gaming, social media, and work. Ironically, even religion can be used as an escape hatch: “I don’t care about what’s happening on this earth. I’m thinking only about getting to heaven!”
To escape from the real world is not only impossible, it is tragic. Why? Because, our faith teaches us that human life is a gift from God. And we believe (as I’ve said before) that “REALITY is God’s home address.” That means God is with us in our times. Even more, God is alive and active in whatever times or circumstances we find ourselves. But God is with us not simply to console or comfort us. God is with us urging us to get involved with the troubles of our day. How? By calling us to ever greater love, goodness, justice, and care for one another in our real world. To illustrate what this involvement looks like, Jesus himself gave us a few concrete examples in Matthew 25:31-46: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the ill, visit the imprisoned.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man who became deeply involved in one of the primary “troubles” of his day, a trouble that continues to plague us: the injustices spawned by deep-seated racisim. King once said this about Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan. When the Levite and priest saw the wounded man by the side of the road, they asked themselves, “If I stop and help this man, what will happen to me?” But the Samaritan reversed the question. He asked, “If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?” King labeled the Samaritan’s decision and subsequent actions as “unselfish sacrificial loving.” It is the kind of loving Jesus showed throughout his life–especially on the cross.
Sometimes this “unselfish sacrificial loving” is dramatic and newsworthy: think Mary saying “yes” to God at the Annunciation… the early Christians being slain in the Coloseum, and countless other unselfish loving people such as Francis of Assisi, Abraham Lincoln, Mother Cabrini, Dorothy Day, Oscar Romero, Mother Teresa. But often this sacrifical loving is less dramatic–yet no less real:
The young couple welcoming a new baby into the world–despite our “troubling times”… Parents or grandparents who are doing the daily hard work of raising children… Teachers enthusiastically devoted to their students… Medical professionals caring for the ill among us… Scientists in their labs doing vital yet often tedious research to improve the quality of life…. The woman who just donated a total of 20 gallons of blood… Pastors responding generously to the many needs of their parishioners… Married couples remaining faithful to each other “in sickness and in health”… Picketers peacefully demonstrating for their neighbors who are being treated unjustly… Retirees volunteering for years with Meals on Wheels… Lawyers doing pro-bono work for the poor of their local community… And the teenage boy who mows his elderly neighbor’s lawn in summer and shovels her sidewalk in winter–for free. (She repays him with cookies and brownies!)
So rather than lamenting the times in which we find ourselves, let us ask ourselves, “Where can I help? How can I help? Whom can I help?” And also ask, “If I do not stop and help this man, this woman, this child, these people, what will happen to them? And consequently, what will happen to us?” I agree with the words of Bishop Michael Curry who spoke at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Megan Markle in 2018. In essence he said,”Only unselfish, sacrifical love has the power to heal us and change our world for the better.”
For reflection:
Has your knowledge of history ever given you a better perspective on a current issue or event? In what way?
Do you ever get overwhelmed or depressed by the bad news you encounter frequently? If so, what are some of the ways you prevent yourself from becoming totally hopeless?
Did you ever feel “the call” to help someone in need, a call you felt you couldn’t resist? Could you share that experience with us?
Can you think of any other examples of “unselfish sacrifical love”–whether dramatic or small–that you have seen or been involved in? Could you share your example(s) with us below?
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P.S. Wishing you all a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, the official beginning of summer! May we take a few moments to pray for all our service members throughout our history who gave the ultimate gift of their lives for our precious blessings of freedom, peace, and justice for all. And may we ask our Beloved God for the gift of unselfish, sacrificial love in ourselves to ensure these same blessings for our future generations.
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I have two videos for you today. The first is a song by Jesse Manibusan entitled “Hold on to Love.” The second is a short, short story in cartoon form called “Helping Others Is the Key to Happiness.”
Song: “Hold on to Love” – 4:21 mins.
Cartoon short story: – 2:09 mins. Notice the main character’s hands (and eyes) in the film… and when is the first time you see him smile? And what do his hands do in the rest of the film?
I invite you to respond below to the reflection, the questions, the photos, or the videos. I’m always eager to hear from you!
“Keep Me as the Apple of Your Eye”
A few months ago I featured a phrase from the Bible,”Gird your loins,” and explained what it meant. (See the post for February 23, 2026.) Today I’d like to focus on three other phrases found in scripture: the apple of your eye; amen, amen, I say to you; and you are the salt of the earth.
The apple of your eye. Moses uses this unusual metaphor when he tells God’s people that they are “the apple of God’s eye” (Deut. 32:10). Similarly, the psalmist says to God, “Keep me as the apple of your eye” (Ps. 17:8). And in the book of Proverbs we find this: “The wise father says to his son, ‘Keep my teachings as the apple of your eye'” (Prov. 7:2). What does this phrase mean? The word apple refers to the pupil of the eye. Historically, the pupil was thought to be apple-shaped and was considered the most precious part of the eye. So if someone says you are the apple of their eye, they are saying you are very precious to them and you are greatly loved by them.
But there’s more. In Hebrew the word for apple is ishon. Interestingly, the word ish in Hebrew means man. So, etymologically speaking, the apple of the eye is the “little man in the eye.” If you look very closely into another person’s eye, you will see your own reflection in their eye. When you see yourself, then YOU are the apple–or little man or little woman–of their eye! (If you look carefully at the picture above, you’ll see the photographer’s reflection in the eye!)
Even our Loving Creator’s design of the eye shows how precious it is. The eye is situated in a bony socket which helps protect the eye from injury. The eyelid is another level of protection for the precious eye–as is the instinct to blink if something comes near to your eye. Even the eye lashes are designed not to be plastered with thick mascara, but to shield the eye from dust, dirt, sand, and other foreign objects–even mascara! And tears, too, help lubricate the eye and wash away impurities. Let’s face it, our eyes are precious–and so are WE precious to God and to certain people in our lives!
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Amen, Amen I say to you. Our second phrase, “Amen, amen I say to you,” is found frequently in the Bible. Sometimes it is translated as “Truly, truly I say to you” or “Verily, verily I say to you.” When I taught high school kids, I sometimes said to them, “Now pay close attention to what I am going to say next.” My young male colleague would say, “Now, listen up, you guys!” Or simply “Remember!” or “Don’t forget!” The “amen, amen phrase” indicates that the upcoming statement is very important. Jesus uses this phrase 50 times in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and 25 times in John. Here are a few examples:
“Amen, Amen I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do” (Jn. 14:12).
“Amen, amen I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone” (Jn. 12:24).
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” (Mk. 10:15).
To Peter during the Last Supper he says, “Amen, amen I say to you, this night you will deny me three times” (Mt. 26:34).
And to the good thief on the cross: “Amen, amen I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Lk. 23:43).
If you want to emphasize something–perhaps to your children, grandchildren, or even your spouse or a friend–just say, “Amen, amen I say to you!” You’ll probably get their attention! Or say, “Pay close attention to what I am going to say to you.”… or “Listen up!” And if you want to know what Jesus stressed in his teachings, then, just go through the gospels and circle all the “Amen, amen I say to you’s.” Or simply look them up online as I did for this reflection!
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You are the salt of the earth. In Mt. 5:13, Jesus calls his followers the “salt of the earth.” What does that mean? In Jesus’ time, salt was a very precious commodity. Before wholesale refrigeration (not invented until the 20th Century), salt was peoples’ main way to preserve food. It became indispensable. In addition, when salt was added to food, it improved the taste by drawing out good flavors subtly hidden in the food. Salt was so valuable, it was sometimes used as currency. Roman soldiers were often paid in a “salt allowance” called a salarium, from which we get our word salary!
Today when we call people the salt of the earth, we usually mean they are exceptionally honest, reliable, good, humble, hard-working, dependable, down-to-earth, and even indispensable. Aren’t these some of the traits Jesus wants to see in us, his followers, today? Jesus calls us to humility, hard work, honesty, goodness. He calls us to play a crucial role in the world by preserving his values and by preventing “societal decay.” Let’s face it, to Jesus we, his followers, are indispensable!
For reflection:
Think of some individuals in your life that you would consider “the apple of your eye.” Why are they so precious to you? How do you show your love and appreciation for them through your words and actions?
What words of Jesus do YOU consider some of his most important words (even if scripture does not include the “Amen, Amen,” phrase before these words?) If you were dying, what words would you like to leave for your family, friends, the world?
Is there anyone (living or deceased… personally known by you or not) whom you consider “the salt of the earth”? What qualities does this person (or people) have that makes you think this phrase applies to them?
Announcing a Fall Weekend Retreat:
I will be giving a weekend retreat, Friday evening, Oct. 9 through Sunday lunch October 11 at the beautiful Villa Maria Education & Spirituality Center in Villa Maria, PA. The theme is “Walking with Mary through the Light and Darkness of our Daily Life.” This retreat focuses on Mary as a real person who lived in turbulent times. Using scripture, prayer, music, in-put sessions, personal quiet time, videos and artwork, we will see Mary as a woman who experienced fear, uncertainty, pain, misunderstandings, sorrow and loss–as we do–as well as love, companionship, intimacy with God, peace, joy, and hope. For more information visit their website at vmesc.org or call 724-964-8886. I’d love to see some of you there!
Here is a prayer-song called “Keep Me as the Apple of Thine eye.” It is produced by Gospel Space. I found it easy to pray along with this song. It was comforting for me to do so…
I welcome your responses below to anything in this reflection!
What Is Heaven’s First Law? Hint: It Isn’t Order
Alexander Pope, a prominent British poet of the 18th Century, penned these oft-quoted words: “Order is heaven’s first law.” (from An Essay on Man) Pope and many others of his day, believed we lived in a highly ordered and structured universe created by God “Himself.” They felt this “divine order” should serve as the guiding principle for our intellectual, spiritual, and physical lives. They said, “Just look at how all the planets circle the sun in an orderly way and how the four seasons follow one another in order…. And what are the 10 Commandments if not a list of ten ways to maintain order among disorderly human beings?”
But did Jesus teach the primacy of order? Did he himself live a highly ordered life? To answer those questions, let’s look at the gospels.
Jesus’ life did not begin in a very orderly way. His very coming caused considerable “disorder.” It began with a young woman saying “yes” to God’s extra-ordinary request. Jesus’ life continued in Mary’s womb because of Joseph’s decision to marry Mary and raise her child as his own. Then we have the disruptive trip to Bethlehem, Jesus’ birth in a stable, the flight into Egypt, and, at age 12, Jesus is lost in the city of Jerusalem. It seems to me, Jesus’ early life is marked by considerable disorder.
And once Jesus begins his public ministry, the Gospels show him coming and going, and going and coming, often in a seemingly haphazard way. He has a very flexible schedule, allowing all kinds of people to come to him at will: ten lepers begging for a cure, a blind man who keeps shouting to get his attention, the Scribes and Pharisees who are always trying to trick him, and Nicodemus who comes at night. Notice Jesus didn’t say to him, “Nick, come during regular office hours!”
Jesus often acts spontaneously. He seems comfortable with interruptions. For example, Jairus interrupts him with an urgent request, “My little girl is dying. Please come!” Jesus drops everything and goes with Jairus. But on his way to Jairus’ house, there’s another interruption. A poor woman who has been hemorrhaging for12 years, secretly touches his cloak and is instantly cured. Then Jesus wastes time to stop and talk with her, praising her for her great faith.
The apostles on the other hand, are concerned about order. They argue among themselves who is the “greatest,” that is, who is at the top of their “pecking order.” And they are always trying to establish more order in Jesus’ ministry. They try to shoo away the little children. (Children and strict order seldom coexist!) They are shocked to see Jesus conversing at a well with a Samaritan woman. In their view of the proper social order, this woman has two strikes against her: Samaritan and woman! And later, when Jesus talks of his passion and death (the dissolution of all order!), his disciples try to talk him out of it.
On several occasions Jesus speaks out against allowing order to usurp the place of other more important values–most notably love. He openly cures (does loving work) on the Sabbath. He allows lepers to approach him. He praises “enemies” like the Roman centurion, and he makes a Samaritan a hero in one of his parables. He speaks kindly and gently to a “lady of the night.” He lamblasts the Pharisees for their idolization of order, shown by their rigid adherence to religious rituals and laws. Finally, Jesus becomes a victim of order. He is put to death primarily because he is considered a threat to the established order–both political and ecclesiastic.
Yet order is important. I would never be able to write a weekly blog if I didn’t have some level of order in my life! But extreme order can be a tool of the Evil Spirit. I remember my scripture professor warning us, “All the trains ran on time in ancient Egypt.” He was describing the extreme order in Egypt, where everyone, including the Hebrew slave population, knew “their place” in a strict social order maintained by fear, intimidation, brutality, and death. Closer to our time, is 20th Century Nazi Germany which, in 1945, had 23 main concentration camps with over 1,000 “satellite camps” and forced-labor facilities all over Germany and its conquered territories. This “vast sprawling system of imprisonment and extermination” is a horrific example of order gone diabolically wrong.
Conclusion:
What does this have to do with us and our spiritual lives? First, order definitely has a place in our lives–including our spiritual lives. We need structures to insure time for vital values such as prayer, worship, family, friends, work, service, and rest and leisure. But in the name of good order, we must never sacrifice more important values like compassion, respect, justice, freedom, and joy. For, through both word and example, Jesus shows respect for order. He was basically a good Jew, an observer of the law and ritual. At the same time, he makes it very clear: heaven and earth’s first law is not order, it is love. Always love. Above all love.
For reflection:
On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 meaning “very little order” and 10 meaning “very much order,” how would you describe your current life in general?
Jot down 3-5 priorities in your life. Then reflect on how much time and “funds” you devote to these priorities. Any conclusions?
How comfortable are you with interruptions? Have you ever had a major interruption in your “ordered life” that turned out to be “a blessing in disguise”?
P.S: To Lauren S-C … You emailed Sister Maresa last week about one of her paintings. She tried to respond to you but the email bounced back. Please email her again. She’s eager to respond to your request.
I felt I had to choose for today’s video, the ancient song, “Ubi Caritas, Deus ibi est.” (“Where there is love, there is God.”) The only question I had, which version to choose? Here is a beautiful choral version by Dan Forrest. The moving water in the background enhances the meditative mood of this simple prayer.
I encourage you to jot down a comment below. We all love hearing from our readers.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus: Through the Eyes of A Single Painter
It’s May! And this is the month the Catholic Church traditionally devotes to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. In honor of Mary, I am devoting today’s reflection to several paintings of Mary created by a single artist, Sister Maresa Lilley, a Sister of Notre Dame and good friend of mine. A few years ago I posted a blog on Sister and her paintings. (You can access it by typing her name in the search box on the top right side of this page.) Today we will focus on eight of her depictions of Jesus’ mother.
The painting above is entitled “By the Name of Mary.” It is one of my favorites. To me, it shows Mary as a young woman, a “girl” really. I like to think it portrays Mary at the Annunciation when the angel Gabriel first appeared to her. In her facial expression I see amazement coupled with fear. The brightness of the angel is reflected on her face. Interestingly, there is second source of light behind Mary. It reminds me of a halo, the traditional symbol of a holy person. I like several things about this painting. First, Mary is so REAL. Her hair is slipping out of her head covering. This tells me she is engaged with life–perhaps working hard when the angel appeared. Maybe she was kneading dough, walking to the market in the hot sun, or tending to her small garden. Mary looks INTERRUPTED to me. Doesn’t God interrupt our lives at times too? Mary seems strong yet vulnerable, very human. She is WIDE AWAKE and ALERT to what is happening around her. I resonate with her mixture of wonder and fear. I’ve experienced that combination many times in my life too. I welcome your additional feelings and thoughts on this painting and the paintings that follow.
Painting #2 is entitled “Betrothed to Joseph.” You can think of this painting as Mary’s engagement picture. Painting #3 is one of Sister’s many paintings of Mary with her child Jesus. It’s appropriately called “Joy to the World.” I am especially drawn to the face of that smiling little boy. He is a happy child. He knows his Mom loves him–shown by the way she leans her cheek on his little head. He is well-cared for–as seen in his neatly combed hair. Mary’s strong hand is holding him safe and secure. His little arms seem to be moving. He strikes me as a healthy and rambunctious little boy.
Throughout history, people have wanted to see something of themselves and their culture in their depictions of Mary. So Mary is sometimes depicted as European, African, Asian, American, etc. Some of Sister Maresa’s Mary paintings follow this tradition. Sister spent some time serving in Vietnam. Little wonder she was drawn to portray Mary as a young Vietnamese woman #4. Painting #5 is entitled “Mary’s Boy Child,” taken from the “Jamaican-ish” song sung by Harry Belafonte years ago… And painting #6, “Daughter of Israel,” has Middle Eastern overtones.
Painting #7 captures the darkest hour in the life of Mary when her dead son is taken down from the cross. This painting shows Mary as she tenderly removes the crown of thorns from the head of her crucified son. We can see the anguish on her face. The painting is appropriately called “Heart of Darkness.”
Throughout the centuries Mary has been given many titles such as: Mother of God, Queen of Peace, Star of the Sea, Mother of Mercy, Refuge of Sinners, Cause of Our Joy, and one I’m particularly fond of Notre Dame, which is French for “Our Lady.” Another rather unusual title for Mary is Our Lady Untier of Knots (or Undoer of Knots). This devotion, dating back to 17th Century Germany, symbolizes Mary’s role in helping to solve “tangled” life situations, that is, family problems, difficult personal relationships, community struggles. Here is Sister Maresa’s interpretation of this title for Mary, based on earlier 17th Century paintings:
PS #1: A Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers! We pray today in a special way for our own mothers, living and deceased… and for all our readers who are mothers. May God give all mothers strength, courage, patience, wisdom, joy, and great love as they serve their families and the family of God!
PS #2: Sister Maresa had one of her paintings accepted recently for an Art Show in Gates Mills, Ohio. The first day of the show, her painting was sold! We, her Sisters here, are very proud of her! Her painting is called simply “Zebras”:
PS #3: If you’d like to see more of Sister Maresa’s paintings you can go to her blog “Grace to Paint”: (https://gracetopaint.org) or go to Etsy where she displays and sells her paintings: https://www.etsy.com and then type in Paintgrace. If you’d like to contact Sister personally about any of her paintings or to ask about commisioning a painting, her email address is: [email protected].
For reflection:
Of all Sister’s paintings of Mary, did any one move you or touch you today? Did any of them “speak to you”? If so, which one did and what did it say?
If you could paint, what would you like YOUR painting of Mary to look like? What would you try to CONVEY ABOUT MARY in your painting? I’d love to hear some of your ideas below!
For our video today, I searched for a Marian hymn from another culture. Although many songs were beautiful, I found this one particularly moving. It is labeled simply a Chinese song to the Virgin Mary, and it is sung by “Harpa Dei,” a Catholic ensemble of four siblings. You will see them in the video. They sing traditional liturgical songs in the original language in which those songs were composed. This Chinese hymn to Mary reminds all of us to pray for our fellow Christians/Catholics all over the world, especially those who are facing persecution for their religious beliefs. (The English lyrics will come up automatically.)
I look forward to reading your comments below!
