Today is the Feast of Our Lady' birth. Every year at this time I am reminded of how intertwined my life has been with Mary. My mother prayed to Mary that she would have a child and promised that the child would wear blue and white for the first seven years. I was named Mary Catherine and wore blue and white for the first seven years.
I was educated first four years by the Notre Dame de Namur nuns and then by the RSCJ for 10 years, both of whom were dedicated to Our Lady. I became a Child of Mary on August 15,1958 I entered the Society on September 8,1959 and left on August 15,1964.My first promises as an Associate were made on December 8,1994.
In between Our Lady has been my primary advocate in times of need and yesterday when Pope Francis asked us to devote a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world, it was to Our Lady Queen of Peace that I turned.
This anniversary also reminds me to think in gratitude of all the persons who have shared my journey and guided me over the years, including Pat Steppe,RSCJ, who went to God last week. Pat was in the Noviceship with me under the care and direction of Mavi Coakley,RSCJ. And there are so many others from Molly Fitzpatrick,RSCJ and Nita Villere,RSCJ to Clare Pratt RSCJand Mary Lyman,RSCJ, Mary Ann FoyRSCJ and "Mac" McDuffie,RSCJ, as well as others like Sue Negri, Rev. Chris Digiovine, Rev. Bill Costello,Sharons Furlong and Masarsky,Karlen Wannop ,the Boston Associates and many many others.The list goes on and on. Reviewing this gratitude list helps me to stay positive as I thank Our Lady and Her Son for putting these people in my life to show me the way of love.
It has been ten months since I wrote this blog. On November 22,2012, I shattered my left shoulder and since then I have been waiting for it to heal?? No such luck. It is difficult for me to type for any length of time and my writing is non-existent left-handed!
Finally I will have surgery the end of October. And then the healing begins. There are times when I am tempted to give in to self -pity and it is Our Lady who reminds me to be grateful and to speak openly to Her Son, as she did ( Joan Chittister NCR). So hopefully in another eight weeks or so I will be back "online"
Thanks to each one for being in my life.
capecodcathy
