OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP

These notes were taken during a retreat given by Redemptorist Brother Dan Korn.

History of OLPH  The icon was ‘written’ in Crete in the Greek style.
A merchant took the icon (stole or smuggled off of Crete for safe keeping when the Ottomans invaded in 1423).  He brought the icon to Rome.  He regretted not placing it in a church to be worthily venerated.  He asked a friend to do the task but when the merchant died his friend took the icon and hung it in his own home.  This man also died.  His six year old daughter saw an apparition of our Lady who told the girl she was Our Mother of Perpetual Help and to have the icon placed in the church between the basilicas Mary Major and St. John Lateran.  The girl told her mother.  In 1493 the widow had the icon of Perpetual Help brought in procession to the Church of St Matthew the Apostle.  For 300 years the icon hung there and was known for its miraculous healings.  When Napoleon invaded Rome 1798 St. Matthew’s was razed and the icon disappeared.  In 1859 the Redemptorists raised a new church built over the site of the former St Matthew’s and dedicated it to their founder St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787).    Sixty-four years had passed since the destruction of St Matthew’s.   Not long after the establishment of their new church the Redemptorists heard of the lost miraculous icon which hung in the former church.  A CSsR remembered seeing it neglected in an Augustinian church near the Tiber River.  Inquiries were made; the icon was found and negotiations were made with the help of Pope Pius IX, who, himself remembered seeing the icon as a lad in St Matthew’s, to have it returned to the church between the basilicas.    With much pomp, the Pope gave it to the Redemptorists to “make her known throughout the world.”  On April 26, 1866, at the first Mass held in honor of OLPH a miracle occurred.   The Father General Mauron had replicas of the icon made and sent the CSsR missionaries with a copy to every corner of the world.  Within 30 years her devotion was known all over the world and could be found in churches, shrines and homes as prayers honoring the Byzantine icon of OLPH spread throughout the Roman Church.

Restoration was done on the icon in 1995 returning it to its original glory.

Icons are open windows to heaven.   Icons are prayerfully ‘written’ as a Gospel in image form.  In the 9^th century a strict code was developed by the Greeks on how icons were to be written.  Icons are a visual language.  The faithful ‘read’ the Gospel in the icon.  Those who venerate/pray the icon practice ‘Visio Divina;’ their eyes encounter in the icon a Book of Redemption.   

OLPH     This icon is a ‘book’ written in five chapters: the Face, the Hands, the Child (Logos – Word), the Angels and the Gold.  Legend has it that the icon was ‘written’ by St Luke.  You find this is true when you read the first two chapters of his Gospel.  OLPH is scripture based:  references are found not only in St Luke’s Gospel but in the other Gospels as well, along with the Hebrew and Christian Testament. 

Chapters
The Face   Her eyes are the first to captivate us: as we look into the eyes of our Lady and she looks into ours; it is an intimate gazing; her eyes see our needs and divine energy radiates out to us.    You can tell if the icon is written well if the eyes follow you wherever you go. 
There eight pointed star in the center of her veil.  It is the Star of Bethlehem. Mt 2: 1-8   Mary is also the Morning Star: By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those in the shadow of death, and guide our feet into the way of peace. Lk 1: 78-79   In the Pricilla catacombs in Rome you find the first image of Mary, the Mother of God painted on the wall and above her head is a star.  
She is the Virgin Mother and the sign:  The Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask for a sign of the Lord, let it be deep as the Sheol or high as the heaven… Is 7:10-11  The virgin is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Emmanuel.”  Is 7: 14      The smaller star was added in 1866 out of reverence as was the jeweled crown in 1867.
Mary’s ear is showing: She hears Gabriel’s greeting “The Lord is with you.” as he foretells the birth of Jesus.  Lk  1:26-37   Mary ponders: She was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.  Lk 1:29   
Mary, demonstrates herself as a Woman of Courage and her lips respond: “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word.” Lk 1:38     Mary’s face is serious in OLPH but there is also a calm and deep joy present:  He has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.  Lk 1:48
Mary dress is red foretelling her sharing in her Son’s passion: Simeon blessed them and said to his mother, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Lk 2:34-35
Her blue veil symbolizes her humanity:  “He has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.”  Lk 1:49     After Jesus’ birth, Mary treasured all these words (of the shepherds) and pondered them in her heart.  Lk 2:19
As we ponder Mary’s person, she is to us the Mother of God, the one who shows us the way, Our Mother of Perpetual Help who listens to our prayers.

The Hands   Note Mary does not clutch or cuddle the child to herself.  Mary presents the Child. When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. Lk 2:22
Jesus is the Scroll, the Word, presented for us to read, contemplate, remember and experience his Incarnation, Passion, Death and Resurrection.
He is Emmanuel God-with-us.   The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, God-with-us.  Is 7:14 / Mt 1:23
Mary’s right hand is open and points to the heart of the Word of Redemption. 
Jesus’ hands in the hands of his Mothers are at the very heart of the icon.  It is there we place our hands accepting the Incarnation of Jesus in our life. And with our hands confidently placed in theirs we learn of Jesus Christ Crucified and Risen moment by moment throughout our lifetime.

The Child/Logos/Word   Note this child is not a baby.  His face is mature: The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. Lk 2:40  Jesus increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favor. Lk 2:52
Jesus first words: “Why are you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”  Lk 2:49  
We are the ones searching for Jesus and his Mother presents Him to us.
Jesus’ face is calm.  He is aware.  He is the Son of the Most High Lk 1:32  Whoever sees me sees the Father.  Jn 14: 9   His face is turned toward Gabriel who is holding the instruments of his passion.  He is not troubled or afraid, rather he is resolute. The only stress can be seen in the crease of his neck:  “I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed.”  Lk 12: 50    His ear is cocked to listen: “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say – ‘Father, save me from this hour?’  No, it is for this reason that I have come.” Jn 12:27 
Jesus’ tunic is green symbolizing his humanity.  His cincture is red signifying the precious blood and obedience to the covenant of his passion and death.  His cincture bind us to his redemption.   The brown robe is a shroud yet it is gilded symbolizing the resurrection.  If we allow ourselves to be wrapped with Jesus by our Baptism and Confirmation in the shroud of the redemptive love of his passion and death in our everyday lives we will share in his resurrection.
His red cincture signifies the precious blood and his passion and death.  Flesh and blood, he humbled himself, obeying to the death, death on a cross.  For this reason God lifted him high and gave him the name above all names. Phil 2:8-9
Jesus’ falling sandal indicates his divinity descending into humanity. Though in the form of God, Jesus did not claim equality with God but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, human like one of us. Phil 2:6-7  The sandal itself is positioned over the womb of his Mother.   The sandal is golden.   Here it suggests Christ’s sovereignty: He will be great, and he will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.  He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. Lk 1: 32-33  
Jesus ankles are crossed foretelling his death on a cross. When one is crucified the nail through the ankles causes the foot to flex and show the heel.  I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and he will strike your heel. Gen 3: 15   Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah, for the accuser has been thrown down. Rev 12: 10  

The Angels  The two angels on either side of Mary affirm her as Queen of Mercy, the Ark of the Covenant.   The cherubim shall face each other; their faces shall be turned toward the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant. Ex 25: 20-22 
Mary’s head is inclined toward the Archangel Gabriel who announced the Good News. Now he holds the cross and nails while the Archangel Michael holds the lance and sponge: the instruments of Christ’s passion and Death.  Michael is the Guardian of the Church:  look closely and you’ll see stripes on his sleeve as if he were in the military.  He protects Jesus and Mary, and all those who behold the icon. Their hands are covered out of reverence for ‘sweet the wood and sweet the nails.’ (Arma Christi). St Alphonsus says the purpose of the Passion is Great Love.   Christ was crucified between two criminals.  In the icon Christ is between two angels. Alphonsus says that is the crazy, merciful, healing, liberating love of our God.  And you will note these angels are not full images with legs - it is so that we are to focus on Christ and his Mother.

The Gold  The Star on her veil calls to mind Stella Maris, the Star of the Sea, the Morning Star that announces the coming of the sun/Son.  The gold halos mark their holiness.  The gold on Jesus’ clothing symbolizes the resurrection.  The gold on Mary’s clothing is unique – usually she is not adorned so – Mary’s gilding reflects her Son’s glory. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”  Lk 1:46-47 She is not the Christ.  She is the Mirror of Redemptive Love.  The gold that surrounds the images proclaims the unimaginable glory of the working of God’s redemptive love.

What happens to Mary happens to us by our Baptism and Confirmation:  we are to carry Jesus to others.  In venerating/praying the icon you begin a new way of seeing - drawing you into that sacred space where you experience the mystery of redemption in your life. 

SHARED JUBILEE

On April 16, 2015 the Redemptoristine Nuns celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Profession of Sr. Lydia Lojo de la Cruz and Sr. Mary Anne Reed of the Sacred Heart 65^th Anniversary of Profession.  

The Eucharist was concelebrated in the Chapel of Lourdes Health Care Center in Wilton, CT where the two Sisters reside. 

Fr. Thomas Travers was our main celebrant and Fr. Tom “Martin’ Deely gave a homily celebrating the consecrated lives of Sisters Lydia and Mary Anne.  After the homily Sisters Lydia and Mary Anne renewed their vows.  Fr. Francis Gargani represented Father Provincial and said many kind words of appreciation on the behalf of the Province.    Fr Gene Grohe, also in attendance, let it be known that he himself will be celebrating 70 years of Profession and 65 years of Ordination this year.

Some Carmelites with whom we share the monastery in Beacon and other longtime friends joined us for the Mass and afterward at the SSND Villa where all enjoyed a requested  ‘Easter picnic’ lunch of rice and beans, hot dogs and sauerkraut and all the trimmings plus chocolate cake and strawberry ice cream.  Because we were a small group, it felt like a real family celebration.  Everyone enjoyed looking at the picture display of our Jubilarians throughout the years which was setup in the dining room.

Even though Sisters Mary Anne and Lydia are living at Lourdes and we are in the monastery at Beacon with Sr. Paula temporarily in rehab at Wingate as her leg mends, we are all still contemplatives united by the love of Christ the Redeemer and come as we are to be continually transformed into a Living Memory for the salvation of the world.  This is a mystery and the beauty of hidden grace in our lives.  As Sr. Mary Anne is fond of saying, “All is Gift.” 

To that we all say, “Amen.  And congratulations Sisters, thank you for your years of love and fidelity."

Photos courtesy of Sr. Mary Jane Stefanik, OSsR

AWARENESS, ART, PRAYER

Numbering one to five: which is your favorite?
Which is your least?

Some quotes to inspire:

“The soul craves beauty.” Thomas Moore, The Care of the Soul

“Beauty is a gift of the Spirit that nourishes and heals our souls, for ultimately, Beauty is but another name for God.” Sr. Melannie Svoboda, SND

 “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for.”  Georgia O'Keeffe

“Each day in our world Beauty is born anew, it rises transformed through the storms of history.”  Pope Francis

“An authentic faith always involves a deep desire to change the world, to leave the earth somehow better than we found it.”  Pope Francis

“Be creative in order to achieve peace.”  Pope Francis

“Beauty will save the world.”  Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Idiot

These shapes help bring awareness to our inner live.

Shapes numbered 1, 3, and 5 are important to you.

The Five Universal Shapes

  

The Circle Symbolizes  ~ Wholeness, Unity, Self-awareness (Michaelangelo – drawing of man in circle/square)  The Divine

Meaning 

·    In their search for wholeness they desire room in which to find themselves, and develop their own identity.

In Relationships 

·       These people will feel loved and trusted when allowed plenty of space.

Underlying Fear 

·       Being caught in a situation that will restrict or restrain them

In the Extreme 

·       Narcissistic.

The Square Symbolizes  ~ Stability and Security  (Traditional)  Humanity

Meaning 

·       A foundation. Building blocks or fence. 

In Relationships 

·       Loyal.   Values integrity and authenticity, as well as responsibility and accountability.   People do what they say.

Underlying Fear 

·       Nothing will be accomplished

In the Extreme 

·       Controlling and impatient.

The Triangle Symbolizes  ~  Dreams and Goals
(point up - male / point down - female //  mountain  // 3 perfect number)   Trinity

Meaning 

·       Self-discovery and following their dreams.

In Relationships 

·       Need to feel support in the goals they pursue.

Underlying Fear 

·       That there will be no dreams to pursue

In the Extreme 

·       So absorbed in their dreams that they accomplish nothing in the present.

The Cross Symbolizes  ~ Relationships, Integration 
(Martha and Mary//spiritual and mundane // past, present, future)

Meaning 

·       Balance and the need for connection – to a creative project, to a group, to another person, or to oneself.

In Relationships 

·       Quality, not quantity. They love collaborative work

Underlying Fear 

·       Loss, abandonment, and isolation

In the Extreme 

·       Personal identity can be lost if they try to live life through another person.

The Spiral Symbolizes  ~  Growth, Evolution. 
(Native American – square shaped // shells // labyrinth //ocean waves // fingerprints)

Meaning 

·       Come to the same point but at a different level.  New perspective. Need for variety, novelty and change. They are capable of multiply tasking. 

In Relationships 

·       Flexibility

Underlying Fear 

·       Suppression of creativity, routine

In the Extreme 

·       Superficial exploration of many things at once to escape boredom.

Inside to out – introvert  /  Outside to in – extravert
clockwise – looking to the future / counterclockwise – looking to the past

The Meaning of the Positions

The order in which you ranked them, in terms of appeal to you

Position 1 ~  Where you THINK you are, the process that now has your attention,  you are on a restless journey to…seeking where you would like to be.

Position 2 ~ Your strengths and gifts; where you are currently fluid, and resourceful. This shape reveals the innate talents you are using to assist the growth occurring in Position 3.

Position 3 ~ Where you really are.  It is the most significant as the deepest desire of your heart. Very often this process is unconscious or overlooked, yet you must be aware of it in order to fully manifest the potential it represents. It indicates where your own gifts can be used correctly now. The shape in this position can be a source of unlimited creativity and healing when you support the process it signifies. Once you start paying attention, you may find this shape all around you, where you had not noticed it before.

Position 4 ~ Your motivation. The wound which motivates Position 3 points to past challenges, tests, and circumstances that have motivated your current process of change.    It describes situations that have been resolved or moved beyond.

Position 5 ~ Unresolved issues you wish to put aside for now, or have outgrown or one that you dislike, still resist. This is old, unfinished business that at a later date you will reclaim and integrate.

“Signs of Life, The Five Universal Shapes and How to Use Them” 
Angeles Arrien (1992)

Outline your palm on a sheet of paper.

Now decorate you palm with your shapes 1, 3 and 5.

Pray for awareness and wisdom
for yourself and the people in your life.

The Meaning of Colors

“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.”

Marcus Aurelius

RED ~  Blood, life, love, passion, energy, anger, courage

PINK ~ Romance, joy

ORANGE ~ The color of the sun, playful, warmth, growth, friendship

YELLOW ~ Clarity, intelligence, memory, happiness, wholesome, honor
GOLD ~ power

GREEN ~ Renewal, health, bounty, hope, faith, peace

BLUE ~ Dreams, imagination, inspiration, creativity, calm

PURPLE ~ Secret, depths of the soul, emotions, royal, justice, faith

WHITE ~  Purity, cleansing, healing, safety 

BLACK ~ Mystery, elegance, fear, unknown, death, grief

THE WAYFARER

These last three years we have been true wayfarers along with Jesus, the Wayfarer.  A wayfarer is someone who has traveled, journeyed.  We have all definitely done that in the last three years by literally moving from Esopus to West Park to Beacon and three sisters to  assisted living  at Meadowview, and then to Lourdes. Now recently, Sr. Mary made her final journey to heaven. Communally, we wayfared by way of transitioning, regressing, accepting and continually growing into our new reality. 

When I look at this picture of the Wayfarer, I see it as Jesus welcoming each of us with open arms.  Jesus is ever ready to shepherd and guide us, protect and bless us.    To me it looks like he is about to place his hands around my shoulder, and on the shoulder of whoever is on the other side: you, you, you…each one of you. That made me think of a yoke; as in Jesus saying,  ‘Come to me all who labor and are heavy burdened, and  I will give you rest, take up my yoke and learn for me, for I am gentle and humble of heart.’  Mt. 11:28

On reflecting on the image of the yoke (a curved piece of wood that fits over the shoulders of two draft animals so they can work together) I thought that is what Jesus is like: He is the yoke that holds us together and guides our lives in a gentle manner; not by force but by love and an invitation to journey with him.

This invitation to journey with the Wayfarer didn’t intimidate our Foundress, Ven. Maria Celeste Crostarosa.  We know this aspect of Jesus as Wayfarer inspired Celeste to give her all and follow the one she loved throughout her life. 

In our day, Jesus the Wayfarer travels the road of life with us.  United by love, our love for God, our Redemptoristine life and each other, we journey together with Jesus regardless of our human differences that occasionally trip us up.    Strengthened by the grace-filled yoke of Jesus we rise to be our better selves and continue our journey sure in the knowledge that the Wayfarer will always be by our side.

SECOND GRADE OF PRAYER

At our last meeting we looked at Ven. Maria Celeste Crostarosa's First Step on the Mystical Ladder of her Grades of Prayer which was about faith in the one God and the knowledge of the faith which forms the pathway to prayer.  It was about ‘the gift’ of gazing at God with sheer faith and ‘the response’ to see all things through the eyes of the Beloved.

As I did last month reviewing the First Grade of Prayer, I will only give you highlights of her more lengthy writings.  To review see Nov. 9, 2014.

Ven. Maria Celeste Crostarosa
SECOND GRADE OF PRAYER

Hope and Trust: Dependence on God with full confidence
that is born of hope when one learns to abandon oneself to all that comes to us is from the Father in Christ through the Spirit. 

Oh most pure Truth, You are the faith that brings the soul all the divine treasures: and in your purity I discover my supreme Goodness in all His beauty.  But this lovely sight holds me in a purgatory of love because the true light of this faith highlights the difference that exists between Your most pure being and my own being; and if it was not for that lively confidence and hope in You that this faith produces in the soul, then it would receive a great torment from this divine beauty of Your own being. But the certainty that faith communicates to the soul, as in the previous grade of prayer, increases her hope and trust without her soul understanding how she has received it.

In that passive understanding she receives the knowledge of the wisdom, goodness and power of her Beloved through that cloud of shining faith and sees the beauty of her resplendent eternal sun, and then the soul recognizes her beginning and her ultimate end.

On this second step of this ladder, she finds her peace, as the bride does in the Song of Songs, under the wings of her Beloved and His divine attributes. 

She finds her secure refuge under these divine wings, and in Him she places all her hopes; in Him she hides all her miseries; in Him she rests in all her crosses; in Him she places all her desires; in Him she rejoices in every pain and trouble that she receives from creatures.  All fears are banished from her heart because security abounds in her soul.   In a single loving look she offers Him not only her whole self and her needs, but all the miseries of her neighbor.

She does not do this in prayer but in surrendering her heart to Him. And then the bride receives all the blessings of her beloved God and feels she has received the remedy for all her needs, and has been granted not only whatever graces she has requested, but also whatever she could desire. Therefore, such a soul cannot remain for long in pain no matter what she suffers, either externally or internally, because of the certainty of hope that faith produces a most complete and sublime trust in her beloved God.

Without holding back on anything, she gives her Beloved her own self. He, likewise, gives Himself entirely to the soul so that she may possess as her own all His divine attributes.

Therefore the soul never doubts her God, nor is she terrified by the dispositions that her Beloved ordains, be they arduous to her senses, or be they sweet, for He is never to be distrusted or feared. Because of the recourse she has to Him in her weaknesses, He is honor bound to rescue her as her father, to assist her and love her as her husband, and benefit her as her monarch. Here love is powerful in reconciling the soul to every trouble or pain; it matters little to her, because her heart expands so as not to be limited to the narrowness of her own littleness. And so she awaits the outcome of everything with great tranquility. 

The soul sees clearly that she no longer belongs to any creature; nor expects any benefit from anyone at all.   So, she declares her gift of self to Him with no other intention except to make herself entirely of Him whom she alone loves and enter into His heart - to dwell there exclusively and indivisibly. Here the bride says only one thing, “I am Yours alone and You are everything to me! (for) My Beloved is for me and I am for Him.”

Where to begin!  Celeste shares so many thoughts swinging and swaying between discovery and mystery, joy and pain, surrender and peace, exclusively and indivisibly giving herself to God while experiencing detachment from any creature.  All these are kept steady by the virtues of hope and trust, faith and love. 

The second step on the Mystical Ladder, it seems to me, is more a matter of will born of faith “in surrendering her heart to Him” than in prayer; a conscious act to trust and hope in God in every situation and to respond to all circumstance as would Jesus.   The goal is to make oneself entirely of Him. In the Associate Constitution #5 it states this clearly, “The more we strive to live the love of Christ, the more the thoughts and feelings of Christ will fill our spirit and our heart, the more we will become His faithful images and the more also will we be able to be true witnesses of the love of Him who is our beginning and our End, our Way and our Life.”

In a way the first two steps of the Grades of Prayer remind me of the first two steps of Alcoholic Anonymous Twelve Step program, but in reverse.  Celeste’s first step begins with God is God, my All, and then takes the next step recognizing her weaknesses, limits and littleness.    The first two steps of AA’s program are admitting that one cannot control one's weaknesses and then to recognize a Higher Power.   

Celeste sees this climb up the ladder as a purgatory of love because she is keenly aware of the Truth, the difference between herself and God, and her need for God in her life.  It is only with active faith, trust and hope that she finds rest from all her fears and crosses.

Even today’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord takes up this theme in Celeste’s expression of ‘purgatory of love’ when Jesus presents himself at the Jordan to be baptized and John’s reaction is, “I am not worthy.”  But John is a man of hope and trust, faith and love and baptizes Jesus that he may be one with us and we may be one with God.  As Celeste explains, “Without holding back on anything, she gives her Beloved her own self. He, likewise, gives Himself entirely to the soul so that she may possess as her own all His divine attributes.”

So, to me, this Second Grade of Prayer is more about an actual state of being than prayer.  And yet, it is in prayer when we contemplate on God’s unconditional love for us and our love for God that our hope and trust grows as we continually surrender our hearts to our Beloved and in turn receives all the blessings of our beloved God who is our All.

Reflection questions:

What phrase, or phrases, from the Second Step touched your heart?How does Hope and Trust shape your prayer?

What ‘divine attributes’ have you received from the Beloved?