Thank you Padraig for sharing this, I was quite moved by it. Oh, to have this beautiful life of silence and retreat. It was very informative. Peace.
Then if you have time you will love this; it is two hours long but it concerns a modern saint I am very fond of Fr Lazarus Still alive and kicking.
You know at times like this the most important thing of all is what has always been the most important thing of all ; the journey within. To meet Jesus in your heart.
The Jesus prayer reminds me an awful ot of the catholic ROsary or the practise of making frequent aspirtaions, such as, 'Jesus I love you!' I trust you! I hope in you!' The end point of all prayer is that it be continual to fulfill th scriptural injunction of St Paul, 'Pray at all times'. (Romans 11:36) “Pray without ceasing,” “. . . that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17–19) https://www.ecatholic2000.com/cts/untitled-211.shtml
A beautiful Catholic image for this is to get married to God, Spritual Marriage, to live with God at all times. Or to put it another way to enter into heaven while still on Earth; for that is what heaven is ot pray without ceasing, to live with God forever. If we describe this in terms of the roasry or the Jesus Prayer we are meant to become ourselves the Rosary; we are meant to become ourselves the Jesus Prayer. At the end to some extent the words do not matter so very much we reach out and hold the hand of God forever in a silence of love. In the Eastern Churches they call this, 'Divinisation ' , which is also very beautiful and reminds us of the words of St Athansius,
I have shared a couple times here on the Forum, how my parents each struggled with serious, life-shortening diseases, one with bronchiaticis, the other with juvenile diabetes. My Mom died at 62, my Dad at 65. On summer evenings, my parents would retreat to our screened-in back porch overlooking the backyards of Strathmore Dr. There you would find them holding hands, not saying a word. I believe the crucible of mutual suffering bonded their hearts deeply together! Very recently, I discovered that my Mom was given only 6 months to live at the age of 36 in 1949. One might say I'm glad they were wrong. All three of her boys were born after that prognosis! Padraig, I feel I can picture the mystical union now that you used the metaphor of holding hands in the silence of love! Safe in the Refuge of the Immaculate Heart!
Sometimes Terry, right out of the blue I can feel my parents near me, smiling and so interested in what I am up too. I really do believe they are in heaven now but that there love makes them still come back. Of course they have their own work to do and there is , as Jesus said a 'Great gulf,' placed between us; but God's kindess and mercy allows them a little outing now and then to see what they can see and do what they still can do. Funny when I walk the dogs at night I pass and Area called Strahmore, North East and West, it is so beautiful up beside Belfast Castle; I must post a picture. Such gorgeous houses.
I used to look at my parents , who had been married for over 50 years, just sitting , not talking , just communicationg without talking for they knew each other so well. They had truly become one. I always thought that was a wonderful metaphor for contemplative prayer. This talking , without talking. Becuase of knowing the other so well. Just happy to sit.
I would mention with the Jesus Prayer, this is an Eastern Church practise , rather than a Western one. I would suggest generally of a Westerner it is best not to take up an Eastern Practise like this unless you have a very experienced Director familiar with the Jesus Prayer. I believe this way is called Heychastic, it has its own turns and dives. For Westerners I always suggest the Royal Road of the Rosary. You just can't beat it. Also to be a little careful if visting Orthodox sites and teachers; they are when you come down to it schismatic. I mean no offesne by this. But they can be very anti Catholic. Not always' but quite often. Don't get me wrong I love Eastern Liturgy and watching videos of Mt Athos and reading of Orthodox saints, I am not the least bit hostile. It's just they have gone one road and we quite another.
I believe they come to you. I had a very moving and powerful experience along those lines. After my oldest son died—several weeks or even months later—I was at the adoration Chapel in our area and I was praying the stations. I wasn’t thinking of him really—just meditating on the Passion and all of a sudden I felt him beside me. I knew he was there and I knew it was him. It only lasted a few seconds but it was wonderful. God is so good. I believe He allowed him to come to me. I wondered if it meant he had just left Purgatory and was on his way to heaven. I still pray and offer Masses for him but I always wondered.
A priest told me one time that it is very common for the dead to come back in the period immediately after death to console. I have read so many reports of this. The Christmas after my mother died I was doing housework and looked up and saw her standing smiling at me (I was singing at the time) and she said, 'Well at least you're alright' I was so happy to see her but wondered what she meant. A few months alter one of my brothers said he had had a lot of dark thoughts about killing himself that Christmas.
My Mom lost a son, too. It is very hard. You remind me a lot of her. As a Mother, it is not something I can imagine. We can't have kids, my husband and I. But to know your son is well, what a blessing! To have him right there with you. How hard, and yet, to know he is well, going Home, that is good.
Thank you Gracia. It is good to know he is safe. I am so sorry your mother and you and your family suffered that loss too. It never really goes away. Everyone who has experienced this learns to make peace with it knowing it is a wound that never goes away. I am sorry you and your husband cannot have kids. That is a very hard thing too. But I know—I know Jesus takes our suffering and unites it to His sacrifice and makes it supernatural gold. It consoles His Heart and souls are saved. I absolutely know this.
