A Prayer for Pilgrims
Teach us, O God,
to view our life here on earth as a pilgrim’s path to heaven,
and give us grace to tread it courageously in the company of your faithful people.
Help us to set our affections on things above,
not on the passing vanities of this world,
and grant that as we journey on in the way of holiness
we may bear a good witness to our Lord,
and serve all who need our help along the way,
for the glory of your name. Amen.[1]
In the summer of 2015, I made my first Marian pilgrimage.
Well, it wasn't really a pilgrimage, so much as it was a family vacation to the East Coast, and I had seen a photo in one of the books I was reading for my research that I became determined to see with my own eyes. The image was the wood carving of The Visitation created by Master Heinrich of Constance (German, c.1310-1320) at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. In my mind, I had imagined it to be at least several feet tall, if not life-sized. The Met is a wonderful museum with room after room of beautiful works of art, most of which I ignored in search of The Visitation. When I finally arrived, She was in a room that was tucked away and unassuming. The piece was maybe two feet tall. I would have walked past it, had I not been looking for it.
When I arrived, I was in awe. The faces of Mary and Elizabeth were so clear, their hands so meticulously carved. The paint was not terribly faded. I walked around the piece several times, examining every inch; this was an image that had carried my hopes, dreams and possibilities for my dissertation. I was overwhelmed. And so I sat. I sat at the feet of my fore-mothers, Mary and Elizabeth, these brave women who had much to teach me. It was at that moment that I knew I needed to find Her.
In the summer of 2016, I made my first real Marian pilgrimage.
I was supposed to take sabbatical that summer, but because of some changes in my vocation, I cancelled all of the sabbatical plans, with the exception of the pilgrimage. I had made arrangements with one my my professors, Viviane, as well as a clergy colleague, Jeffery, to travel in search of Mary. The plan was four cities in ten days. I was dependent on my meager savings, the little bit of money people had gifted me for this pilgrimage, people willing to spot me a meal occasionally, and a fold out couch along the way. Without this support, as well as the love, prayers and blessings of friends and family, I would not have been able to make this trip.
My first stop was Chicago. During my research, I had learned of the Marian monstrance that was located at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church. This beautiful piece, Our Lady of the Sign, Ark of Mercy, is 9 feet tall and weighs 700 pounds. It was not the magnificent little The Visitation that I had encountered the summer before, but it was magnificent nonetheless. The size alone was overwhelming!
What surprised me about this piece and its setting, was the location in the church. This monstrance was not an altar piece, but rather located in a front side chapel, available for pilgrims and visitors to sit, pray, and reflect. When I arrived, on a chilly, rainy Chicago afternoon, I found warmth and peace in the pews lined up before her. I, along with about a dozen men and women, prayed our rosaries, pondered the issues in our lives and communities, and wept. Our Lady sits above the ark, and for me, she was both Our Lady and a symbol of the Divine Feminine. She was the perfect "Yes" of salvation history. She was the Great Mother to generations before me, and will continue to hold a special place of veneration and adoration for women after me. She is powerful in her size and in her compassion.
My second stop was Dayton, Ohio. I know...it doesn't seem like a likely pilgrimage spot. But in Dayton, the International Marian Research Institute is housed at the university. For two days I toured the Institute and a local art museum. I went through the Institute's archives on apparitions (particularly those known as the Seaton Miracles), I was able to speak with one of the archivists about providing materials to the Vatican in preparation for the celebration of the Apparition of Fatima, and view a large collection of Nativity scenes. What I loved about being in Dayton was the passion that the women who serve the Institute have for their ministry and Mary. Like no other time before, I was in a place where I could talk about Mary with others as if we had been old friends and college roommates with Her. There was a familiarity that we shared regarding Mary.
While I was there, not only did I see one of the largest collections of Marian statues (which included various sizes and materials), I encountered one of the most fascinating Annunciations I'd ever seen. I'm an idiot because I didn't get a picture of the artist information...but I digress (the image is under the "Pilgrimage" tab above). This image is of Mary making breakfast and she's at the kitchen window. Suddenly Gabriel is in the window with her, telling her about what God is asking,kissing her on the cheek, and her eyes tell us everything! She's startled, she's questioning, and I imagine she's at a bit of a loss for words that couldn't be printed in the Gospels! While I'm not a huge fan of blond haired Mary's, her face resonated with me. Too many times I've been told that I have no "poker face" and neither does this Mary. She isn't the silent, stoic, strong Mary of our imaginations; she is the confused and overwhelmed and "why me" Mary of our realities. She is who we would be in that moment.
The third stop on the pilgrimage was to Costa Mesa, California.
No, I didn't see any great works of art or go to a church. Instead, I had lunch....and dinner, but this is about lunch. At this stop, Viviane and I were joined by my priest, Barbara, and dear friend, Marie for lunch at our usual spot. The four of us shared stories, had great laughs, and exchanged hugs. Marie was on my discernment committee for priesthood a dozen or so years ago, and later she went on to serve as the witness, reader and photographer at my wedding. For years she was the parish administrator at the congregation that sponsored me for ordination. Barbara is one of my greatest mentors. My first Sunday in Costa Mesa, I accidentally found St John's while I was driving around town. I made it in time for the sermon and the Eucharist, and was delighted to see a woman at the altar! Little did I know that Sunday that a couple of years later, I would be preaching in the pulpit and celebrating at that altar as part of the interview process for my first call to be Rector! Barbara officiated at my wedding and helped to vest me at both ordinations. Barbara and Marie both have saints names...and they are saints to me.
The fourth stop on the pilgrimage was Mexico City.
I'll save that story for next time...
[1] “Prayers for Pilgrims,” Hereford Cathedral, accessed September 16, 2015, http://www.herefordcathedral.org/worship/Prayers%20for%20Pilgrims.pdf.
Teach us, O God,
to view our life here on earth as a pilgrim’s path to heaven,
and give us grace to tread it courageously in the company of your faithful people.
Help us to set our affections on things above,
not on the passing vanities of this world,
and grant that as we journey on in the way of holiness
we may bear a good witness to our Lord,
and serve all who need our help along the way,
for the glory of your name. Amen.[1]
In the summer of 2015, I made my first Marian pilgrimage.
Well, it wasn't really a pilgrimage, so much as it was a family vacation to the East Coast, and I had seen a photo in one of the books I was reading for my research that I became determined to see with my own eyes. The image was the wood carving of The Visitation created by Master Heinrich of Constance (German, c.1310-1320) at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. In my mind, I had imagined it to be at least several feet tall, if not life-sized. The Met is a wonderful museum with room after room of beautiful works of art, most of which I ignored in search of The Visitation. When I finally arrived, She was in a room that was tucked away and unassuming. The piece was maybe two feet tall. I would have walked past it, had I not been looking for it.
When I arrived, I was in awe. The faces of Mary and Elizabeth were so clear, their hands so meticulously carved. The paint was not terribly faded. I walked around the piece several times, examining every inch; this was an image that had carried my hopes, dreams and possibilities for my dissertation. I was overwhelmed. And so I sat. I sat at the feet of my fore-mothers, Mary and Elizabeth, these brave women who had much to teach me. It was at that moment that I knew I needed to find Her.
In the summer of 2016, I made my first real Marian pilgrimage.
I was supposed to take sabbatical that summer, but because of some changes in my vocation, I cancelled all of the sabbatical plans, with the exception of the pilgrimage. I had made arrangements with one my my professors, Viviane, as well as a clergy colleague, Jeffery, to travel in search of Mary. The plan was four cities in ten days. I was dependent on my meager savings, the little bit of money people had gifted me for this pilgrimage, people willing to spot me a meal occasionally, and a fold out couch along the way. Without this support, as well as the love, prayers and blessings of friends and family, I would not have been able to make this trip.
My first stop was Chicago. During my research, I had learned of the Marian monstrance that was located at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church. This beautiful piece, Our Lady of the Sign, Ark of Mercy, is 9 feet tall and weighs 700 pounds. It was not the magnificent little The Visitation that I had encountered the summer before, but it was magnificent nonetheless. The size alone was overwhelming!
What surprised me about this piece and its setting, was the location in the church. This monstrance was not an altar piece, but rather located in a front side chapel, available for pilgrims and visitors to sit, pray, and reflect. When I arrived, on a chilly, rainy Chicago afternoon, I found warmth and peace in the pews lined up before her. I, along with about a dozen men and women, prayed our rosaries, pondered the issues in our lives and communities, and wept. Our Lady sits above the ark, and for me, she was both Our Lady and a symbol of the Divine Feminine. She was the perfect "Yes" of salvation history. She was the Great Mother to generations before me, and will continue to hold a special place of veneration and adoration for women after me. She is powerful in her size and in her compassion.
My second stop was Dayton, Ohio. I know...it doesn't seem like a likely pilgrimage spot. But in Dayton, the International Marian Research Institute is housed at the university. For two days I toured the Institute and a local art museum. I went through the Institute's archives on apparitions (particularly those known as the Seaton Miracles), I was able to speak with one of the archivists about providing materials to the Vatican in preparation for the celebration of the Apparition of Fatima, and view a large collection of Nativity scenes. What I loved about being in Dayton was the passion that the women who serve the Institute have for their ministry and Mary. Like no other time before, I was in a place where I could talk about Mary with others as if we had been old friends and college roommates with Her. There was a familiarity that we shared regarding Mary.
While I was there, not only did I see one of the largest collections of Marian statues (which included various sizes and materials), I encountered one of the most fascinating Annunciations I'd ever seen. I'm an idiot because I didn't get a picture of the artist information...but I digress (the image is under the "Pilgrimage" tab above). This image is of Mary making breakfast and she's at the kitchen window. Suddenly Gabriel is in the window with her, telling her about what God is asking,kissing her on the cheek, and her eyes tell us everything! She's startled, she's questioning, and I imagine she's at a bit of a loss for words that couldn't be printed in the Gospels! While I'm not a huge fan of blond haired Mary's, her face resonated with me. Too many times I've been told that I have no "poker face" and neither does this Mary. She isn't the silent, stoic, strong Mary of our imaginations; she is the confused and overwhelmed and "why me" Mary of our realities. She is who we would be in that moment.
The third stop on the pilgrimage was to Costa Mesa, California.
No, I didn't see any great works of art or go to a church. Instead, I had lunch....and dinner, but this is about lunch. At this stop, Viviane and I were joined by my priest, Barbara, and dear friend, Marie for lunch at our usual spot. The four of us shared stories, had great laughs, and exchanged hugs. Marie was on my discernment committee for priesthood a dozen or so years ago, and later she went on to serve as the witness, reader and photographer at my wedding. For years she was the parish administrator at the congregation that sponsored me for ordination. Barbara is one of my greatest mentors. My first Sunday in Costa Mesa, I accidentally found St John's while I was driving around town. I made it in time for the sermon and the Eucharist, and was delighted to see a woman at the altar! Little did I know that Sunday that a couple of years later, I would be preaching in the pulpit and celebrating at that altar as part of the interview process for my first call to be Rector! Barbara officiated at my wedding and helped to vest me at both ordinations. Barbara and Marie both have saints names...and they are saints to me.
The fourth stop on the pilgrimage was Mexico City.
I'll save that story for next time...
[1] “Prayers for Pilgrims,” Hereford Cathedral, accessed September 16, 2015, http://www.herefordcathedral.org/worship/Prayers%20for%20Pilgrims.pdf.