The day after the feast of Pentecost – and Holy Mother Church celebrates the spouse of the Holy Spirit – Mary, daughter of God, mother of His Son. Mary, my heavenly Mother. Mary my mother’s mother. For all generations we call her Mother. You gave her to us from your cross, to John first and then to us. She, the mediatrix of grace. What does that mean- mediatrix – the center – the core – the place to obtain all? Your church also is Mother. Feminine, tender, loving, giving of new life – renewed life, joined life, saved life and life born into the eternal kingdom. These are the sacraments – which you gave to us as you walked the earth Lord, just as you gave us your Mother, who bore you into this world through union with her spouse, the Holy Spirit. From your death you gave your Mother to the Apostles who began your church.

It is logical, full of reason and fact that this is your church. One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Passed down, generation to generation, one family line. After Christmas my sister and I found the family you gave to us. In the documents and photos we found a lineage of holy people who united with you. Trials, difficulties and yes separation in marriages unequally yoked. But through prayer and perseverance our faith in you was sustained and passed down to me. I have not done a good job of passing it down. Nor have my siblings. I cannot think right now of any who will bring this faith forward and I am very saddened. Seven children, eighteen grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren, and the faith stops here. The fire is out in my lineage. My mind wonders if it had been out before, but brought back by the spirits of those already gone to you in prayer for us down below. Many of these have life left – as we know it – but again I think of how you said no one will know the time or place of when you are to come again, only to be prepared. I pray every day for them, for the fire of the faith I hold in my heart to be sparked in theirs and that it grows into a leaping flame to pass along as well. They are your children first; I know I failed but you have the power to bring them home, and my prayers are to be your model, encouraging and leading where and how I can by your conduit.

Help me sweet Jesus, giver of divine mercy, love of all hearts, help me to always go to your Mother as the one who leads me to you. May I call on her in my trials and joys and be blessed by her graces which she desires to pour down on those who call upon her. Help me to lead my family to you and your Son, to everlasting life. Queen of Heaven, untier of knots, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious .Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us. And after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us O Holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.