This past weekend was a family weekend with the visit of my brother, from back east, who was welcomed by some beautiful weather and the presence of our mother who now lives with us.  While gathered around the table enjoying conversation, and the funny comments from the little ones, I glimpsed the most wonderful of visions.  In the midst of our differences, and my mother's struggles to do some of the simplist things, was the most tremendous and sublime beauty that comes from the substantial union of family.  Its a vision that will never cease to captivate the heart.  Here's where I'd like to ask that question, why?  Contained in the inquiry and judgement from this simple question are two elements to unfolding our experience.  There are the practical reasons with their rational explanations, and then there is the element that produces the vision where the family, acting as a window, gives a glimpse of the divine.  Its the question that identifies the Him behind our experience.

The reason for this can be found in the natural family, which as a product of natural marriage, is generative and substantial in union.  It generates a spark of the divine that draws us towards God.  I'm not suggetsing a naive view of the family as if families always mirror some ideal painting of the Holy Family.  Be assured that that I know well the trials of family.  Its not about our actions, despite the role we play in helping make visible God's image.  The spark is written into human nature.

One thing I love about family visits is the conversation about the sports and other interests from back home.  This time it was about the Yankees.  Yea that's right, the evil empire.  I'm a fan...

What draws tens of thousands to Knock this past week and over the years millions to Knock, Lourdes, Fatima, St. Anne de Beaupre?  Even Medjugore with all the questions surrounding it has inspired millions to make the pilgrimage.  The human heart has a natural desire to seek such holy places, an encounter with God in a space truly set apart, a reflection of a new garden of Eden.

It was this same longing that led me as young boy, of about 8 years of age, to desire to pray with the ladies in the grotto room of our Church.  On the way out through the vestibule of our Church there was a small room off to the side where a few people would always go after Mass.  There was a statue of the Blessed Mother and the faithful in there praying were very devoted.  It was a special room; I knew it and wanted to go there and pray.  Its probably best that my father prevented me from going as I would likely have spent half my time looking up in curiosity at the ladies praying.  But it did not keep me from desiring that holy space.  Its almost as if longing to enter that room was the beginning of my conversion to Christ.

What's so beautiful about our Catholic faith is that we recognize the existence of such holy spaces...

Its Mary's lent and the heavenly beauty of Our Blessed Mother shows itself amidst the difficulties of fasting, heat and other pains.  The flowers that bloomed for the Feast of St. Clare are now all in full bloom for the the feast of the Assumption tomorrow.  The novena to Our Lady of Knock begins today the Vigil of the Assumption and ends the day after the Feast to Our Lady of Knock on the Queenship of Mary.  I love this time of year, for it is truly for our Lady.

What is so unique about Knock that it draws such devotion?  Perhaps it is that no words were spoken and the story has a different dynamic. The beauty of Knock during that short period in 1879 is not the easiest to capture. The rain fell in eastern Mayo most of the day and the humble ways of the people and modest landscape may not grab the imagination with simple story or picture alone. Much has been said about the poverty and faith of the people of Knock and their pastor. Like most approved apparitions many miracles of healing have been worked and it has been a place of pilgrimage for many. Among all this, the beauty that moves me to devotion is found in the silence of the event and movement of the  hearts of the people, simple adoration.  For us its about pilgrimage...

Shortly after the oppressive heat with its ninety degree temps and high humidity dropped off and the wind swept in the cool air they appeared ready to bloom on the vigil of St. Clare.  My wife had often spoke of them, the lilies that bloom for the Feast of St. Clare.  Its the vigil of the feast and they're just starting to spread out and bloom.  These same lilies are more commonly known today as surprise lilies.  The medieval days had this much to their benefit, a sacramental perspective that saw the world in terms of God's revelation and named things with a vision for their meaning.  These lilies are a sign of eternal life and to see them bloom for the feast of St. Clare is wonderful.  My wife gets the name of these lilies from the Poor Clares that we always visit during the novena to St. Clare.  Are they known to many as the lilies of St. Clare?  I'm not sure of the history behind the reference but they clearly fit a most appropriate criterion for their name, that is their religious/sacramental meaning.

There is nothing more beautiful than when nature speaks directly to us in unison with the liturgical calendar, as  it does with the Annunciation and Nativity.  And truly wonderful....