Monday, July 2, 2007

Jesus truly present




My Lord is truly beautiful... and fully presences in the Holy Eucharist. Pray with trust in our Lord and he will give you comfort and resolution. Believe with your heart and you shall recieve. Today was a day that i will never forget. I woke up early to attend mass at 6. After mass I went to breakfast with the volunteer like usual but yesterrday Sr. Drucsilla asked if I wanted to talk tomorrow during/after breakfast. She saw right through me yesterday and knew my heart was burden. When all the volunteers left to go off to their assinged sites, I sat with Sister and talked about vocation, relationships, and many other things that I carried as a cross. She told me, "today, you will take the morning off... I want you to spend as much time with Jesus in prayer and he will give you an answer." I came upstair into an empty chapel with the tabernacle centered and the statue of our Blessed Mother to the right and I began to pray. An hour after the novist came in (in groups of 9-15; since there are almost 50-100 of them) they each spent an hour in adoration and did rotations... I had a hard time trying to hear God in my prayer and continued to pray.... "Jesus come... Mary guide me to your Son..." It's so hard to focus when the Mother House is right next to one of the busiest streets in town. Cars, horn, and people shouting started out distracting me but soon it faded, and I was alone with Christ in the blessed Sacrament of the Altar; The Eucharist. I forgot I was there before the Novist and sisters and began to pray and pray; for direction, for trust, and to be more closely united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. All i've seen before is the foolishness of my desire, the desire of worldly things; of the impulses of the flesh but the height of wisdom is to set your goal on heaven by not being bound to worldly desire... the materialistic things we'll soon loose and the value of it looses it's value; the desire to act on the impluse of our flesh only counterfiets what God has waiting for us; whether it's marriage or relgious/holy order. No human flesh or relationship can be our ultimate end but the flesh and blood of etneral life offered at the crucifiction and in the Eucharist will bring true eternal life for our soul. Only through Christ may any relationship be perfected. I must love Jesus above and before all things to be able to love fully and reciprocate the love to others. I am all His and any relationship only helps point me to my ultimate end. I prayed and prayed... and when I was just getting ready to really begin and ask for intentions and signs. The novist had finished their whole session. I just spent 5 hours in adoration and it felt like minutes. I was able to pray for intercession from our Blessed Virgin Mary and did all 4 mysteries of the rosary. May soul rejoiced in God my saviour and i was illuminating with great gratitude of the Love shown by Christ on Calvary. Sr. Druscilla asked me to come back downstair so we could talk some more to hear where I've come in prayers. I won't say much but God has given me the guidance in my meditation.
We will always fall, whether it's in selfishness, relationships, hurting others or not being an image of a true disciple of Christ. But we must remember the station of the Cross... and become an imitation of Christ and a servant like our Blessed Virgin Mary. Christ himself had to carry a cross; of suffering but of great love. He fell numberous times on his climb to calvary, but the glory is that he got back up every time. We must image this... for we are doomed to fall while carry our cross and burdens if Christ himself fell, but we must get back up to walk towards the foot of the cross on Calvary, towards redemption and salvation. God knows the plans for our lives... we must trust that where we're at is where God wants us... and fully heartedly pursue it as God's plan, if it's not His plan he will direct us otherwise. Whatever God has created no man can break. So let us trust in his plan and begin to live and serve everyone with Love.

This morning was one of the greatest time in my life; I got to spend hours in adoration and talk to Sister Drucsilla for a while and than return to adoration and than spend some time at Mother's Tomb. What more could I ask for... but that's exactly it. When you have love with you, you must act and God will put situations in your life so you will. I was headed back towads sudder street to get some lunch; i decided to help out the families rather than the popular resturants that I went to and bought from some sketchy store outside of the houses on the street. I bought something called Samosa and it was WHOOOOO yummy! they were a ruppee each... so what... 2 cents if even? So i paid 50% tip on the Samosa I bought. I got to sudder and I recieved some bad news. (I missed my morning session at Daya Dan... and had to find out during lunch)... Lucy (i don't know if i've mentioned her yet), but she's been in the hospital for 5 days since Sonu died. She also had a high fever and after Sonu, we couldn't risk anything. But today my friend Rosa came and told me Lucy died last night in the hospital. Lucy.... at age 9, also with extreme disability. I had spent time before helping her with physical therapy and bathing her. And couldn't believe what i heard. This was a shock for many of the volunteer, masis, and sisters.... two beautiful souls in one week. I rushed over to metro after recieve the news and got to Daya Dan as quick as I can. Mass was being held for her at 2:30 and i arrived just in time. Jesus truly present in the Eucharist and there he was before our beloved departed soul of Lucy. She laid not in a tomb but in exposition on a platform not to far from the Altar... facing the altar as if she was attending her last mass with us all. She laid there beautifull, clothed in the fines dress, with a ribbion in her hair and flowers covered her all around. At the end of mass I had the opportunity to come and say my final farewell. Nothing moved me more than love, I bowed before her body and rised in tears, placing my hand on her forehead I blessed her with the sign of the cross and the words that came out from me was "I love you Lucy". My soul rejoiced for her union with Christ but mourn the lost of a beloved friend. I bent over her body and kissed her forehead and tears came strolling down my face. "In the heaven there shall be no more tears" the pains of the world and suffering Lucy endured was finally brought to peace with Christ, as she spent her years united in Christ suffering already. My tears turned into tears of joy as I realized that eternal life has begun for her, and I smiled with tears running down my face.
After mass lightening and thunder struck and heavy rain began to pour... I had the opportunity to head back to sudder but decided I needed to go to the cemetary and help bury Lucy's body. Me and 11 other volunteers headed over in two taxi, the ride was about 30 minutes from Daya Dan to a Cemetary around Kalighat. When we arrived there were some delima about a signed signature that needed to be on a form. So there was an hour or more of a delay. By the time the grave was digged and everything was ready it was dark out, I was asked to be one of the 4 to carry her tomb. I carried it in disbelief but with great love, praying the whole way towards her grave site. We did a prayer over her tomb and than I was asked to help lower her into her grave and my heart was filled with much love as I lowered her down. I could not do anything on my own but only through the grace of God may he use me to be his instrument of peace and love. And my heart was filled with love. The sisters gave me miraculous medals to throw into the grave along with her tomb, it was blessed, and than i helped bury the tomb with my hands from the dirt the mounted beside it. The sisters gave me insences to place on the mound of dirt once her tomb was covered, and we layed flowers all over the mound. And covered illuminated her sites with candles as we sang farewell blessings, than the sisters and masis sang a song in Bangali.

This was truly a blessing in my life to be a part of such an honoring role in the life of Lucy. I was able to visit Sonu's tomb and pray for his soul also and my day have been fully blessed with Christ with me always. Just trust and serve! There is much we don't know but faith is our answer. Love selflessly and you will be repaid abundantly through sharing the love and joy of Christ
The day finally came to an end around 8:30pm and I was headed back towards sudder street to finally get some dinner. Oh, by the way... I got to ride with the MC sisters in the Missionarity of Charity ambulance bus/van. It was pretty neat. Kolkata traffic is ridiculous though. And people honk for no reason.... you have a full on traffic jam but people still insist on honking and holding down their horn. It's weird/annoying. There's lanes in the road but nobody ever uses them. Anyways... thankyou everyone for your prayers. I don't know who all was praying but today was a total 180 for me! Thanks thanks and rest in God's love.

Sunday, July 1, 2007

Nabo Jibon


yesterday evening I had a lady stop me and ask for milk for her baby... after joking around with her for a bit (in Bangali!!!) I got her to admit that the child wasn't even hers. The child was dressed in girls clothing to make him seem more adorable for more begging... it's pretty sad that a lot of these beggers spend their life begging. I told her she couuld easily get a job because she speaks english well. But the lifestyle really isn't for her. The begging money is spent like any money of any occupation. A child I saw o n the street that was begging was bragging at me while we're in the cinemas because they got box seats..., it's rather funny or maybe not how we often think that we're helping but as the sister say it may cause them to be dependant on this lifestyle of begging and dishonesty. Anyways... I ended up not buying her milk in fear she was going to resale it but I told her I'll be her and her children dinner if they joined me.. so we sat and talked over dinner. i'm not sure if I did the right thing but she was pretty honest with me afterwards that a lot of it was an act.
As for today, it's been a really off day for me. Although, I went to bed early last night but I didn't want to get out of bed this morning and I missed morning mass because although i set the time of my alarm I forgot to turned it on, (there's still mass this afternoon at St. Mary's luckily). Well, I finally managed to get out at 7:10 to catch my bus to Nabo Jibon (where the MC brothers stay). It was a 30 minutes bus ride; we crossed one of the largest bridge in India.. i forget it's name. Nabo Jibon was amazing, it was for the street children to come in and have fun on Sunday. Today what it my day consisted of was hanging out with the kids and letting them climb all over me, and kicking their butts at arm wrestling. The kids loved me because they were so fascinated that I had braccess. I ended up playing soccer with the kids on this flat mud courtyard. It was extremely dirty, covered with moss, Doggy Caca, and plenty of mud spots. We played barefeet and I was a king because i scored 6 points of the team. The kids are really skilled as the volunteered often fell on the asses on this slippery field. I'm not sure if I'm homesick or what... but my heart wasn't fully there today and I kept trying to give more but was so lazy and in dazed. I ended up going upstairs and asking the MC Brothers if I could take time to pray. I spent a long while in prayer and still more to come. Returning for my prayer break the children were getting ready for lunch. It was the most adorable thing ever! They all sat lined up in two lines in the courtyard and we went around giving them, rice, cury, an egg, and water. It was sooo great seeing them all happy. After the meal the kids left and the volunteers stayed to have lunch with the MC Brothers. It was two of the brothers birthday and so there were two cakes and two candles... we sang happy birthday and did some blessings. After my meal I had the most amazing mango ever... in America, it doesn't even come close to compare. Well, the day is half way done but there's still much for me to do. I'm going to head back to the Mother House and do a couple hours of prayers and adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament and Mother's Tomb and than mass at 6. For the remaining of the night... i'm not sure, maybe hit the hay early. I just feel so drained all day from the moment i woke. Keep me in your prayers. I'm excited for Caitlin to come next week, because it kind of sucks to be a lone traveller when you're in a funk and just want to mellow out and talk but rather you go to the internet cafe to write on a blog or email (no offense). Anyways I'm out... take it easy! God bless and thankyou so much for all your support and prayers!

Tuan



May God give me the strength to trust.

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Children loves music


Yesterday evening my gas from Ireland at the Salvation Army decided to take me out to have some fun, since my friend Donna knew I was down about Sonu yesterday. I took a nap yesterday afternoon so I knew i'd be able to stay up at least till 10pm. So what did we do?.... movie theater! We went to go see Die Hard 4! and it was amazing! The movie was entertaining, but i thinking it was more entertaining that I was at a movie theater in India. They were selling coffee, potato chips, coke, and all sorts of things at the movie theater. There was even a bar at the movie theater. My friend got me some coffee and it was .. yummy! The place is called Brista, right next to the cinema. The movie was fun to watch because it was so neat how the people in India reacted in the movie theater. (I can also see why they think white skin people are "easy" because probably by the media ... all that is protrayed is sexuality rather than dignity) but besides that factor, it was sooo funny to be in a theater with a whole bunch of locals. They would clap and cheer when something exciting happens and everytime they did I couldn't help but laugh. It totally made it for me.
Today I woke up in time for mass at Mother House, i was running a little late because i was suppose to meet a friend to walk to Mother house... that never woke up; so I ended up taking a taxi with the French to Mother House because they were running late and 3 of the guys were altar serving.
Daya Dan today was different because I worked downstair more today. Fr. Jesu-Bondu (in hindi/bangali it means Fr. Jesus is my friend), he was leaving today and he's been the music minstry man for the children. He's a fransican and pretty hardcore. Very strict with the kids but they love him and respect him. During the morning I practiced some songs with Mongol, an orphan that is extremely skinny and too weak to stand, he's in a wheel chair but he's extremely smart. He has no learning disabilities and loves music. I had him come help me with teaching the children the songs today. It's so amazing to watch the children sing. Or count, or say the ABC. It's great!
Afterwards I helped Bashker with some physcial therapy. He's improving a lot in the sense he's not crying about it anymore. He use to cry nonstop when he has to do anything that was trying to help him gain leg muscles (he's pretty lazy... he just likes to lay down or cuddled with... which is very tempting for me). The physical therapist comes in every saturday and was impressed that he was crying when i was working with him, I told them that he's been doing pretty well the past few days and I think we all agreed. Honestly, Bashker is the cutest little 3 year old ever! he's soooooooooooo incredibly studly. When I hold him, I litterally can hold him by a hand. He just throws himself over my shoulders and cling on. And he for surely do cling on... he has such a strong grip and I swear, he's digging finger marks into my skin, tearing out my ears, and pulling out my hair. Strong little guy and sooooooo adorable!
Instead of feeding today I stayed with Angeli. She's sick in her crib and it breaks my heart to see her like so. Already, she's the skinniest thing ever.. tiny little gal, but it just moves me when i see all these tubes, IV or whatever you call them connected to her and she just lay emotionlessly. I sat by her bed and played to her on the guitar and sang. Songs after songs, i sat there and comforted her. And she would turn her head to look at me. As I was singing, we locked eyes, and I stared into her deep brown eyes trying to convey her that I love her... we stayed staring at each other for several long minutes passing a silent message of love. I finished singing/playing the song but we still sat gazing at each other and I knew that she knew that she was loved. I got up and walked out of the room and her head followed me out and I turned back and stood staring back into her eyes at the doorway. God puts so many precious moments in our lives, we just need to slow down to see them. Or have the eyes of a child to recognize them.
On the way home from Daya Dan the volunteers and I passed an old man with his head slit open gushing with blood. It was far more than what we can handle with some gauzes/bandage or ointment, so we got him to the hospital to get him stichted up and paid for the fee, i didn't get to stay to see the final outcome of him getting stiched, i had to get back in time to meet Abani at 1. Abani is a school teacher for a group of 40 plus students in a small village 3 hours away from Kolkata by train. I've been learning Hindi and Bangali from him. Which is pretty exciting. So far I've only learned some basics, but the locals are pretty impressed with the slightest hindi/bangali words coming from a foreigner.
Rushing back to meet Abani, I had some delay because of my metro ticket. It wasn't scanning and I bought a ticket card with 12 rides and I've only used it for 2, so i had to get it refunded. Needless to say... it made me late by 7 minutes to meet Abani, and when i arrived he wasn't there. I'm not sure if he ever showed up or not... but he wasn't there. Well, tomorrow I think I'll be able to work alongside the brothers of Charity and maybe able to work with street children. So i'll be sure to fill you guys all on if it happens.
Thankyou for spending time reading and keeping in touch with me. It means a lot to me. Sorry for all those that want to see more pictures. I haven't been taking many pictures, you're not really allowed to take pictures at these various homes because, key word, they're someone homes... and it's not a musseum. The same goes with the Mother House. Today I did get to witness something absolutely beautiful and captivating after mass this morning. When I came out of mass (we have mass on the second floor of the Mother House), there were all the novist (probably about 100+) they all gathered in the courtyard and sang to a mother that was adopting one of the orphans. It was sooo beautiful! I really wish i was able to take a picture of all these novist and MC sisters or even better... record it on my video camera. Well, i guess that just means everyone who's reading my blog just need to make their way over to Kolkata, India and see it for themself. Alrighty, take care and God bless. May we be a light of Christ to all those we encounter!


Tuan Nguyen

Friday, June 29, 2007

Beloved, Sonu


Last night I ended up not going out to the movies... twice have I tried to go out to relax and both times didn't follow through, but no problem. We found out the movie started at 5:30 and at the time it was already 5:15... plus we needed time to get there. Instead my friend Kiki took me out and showed me the singing lights. Which is absolutley beautiful. It's pretty much a fountain show set to music and colored lights but still it was just so relaxing. It's in the middle of Kolkata and right next to Victoria's momument which is sooo beautiful, I must go and check out Victoria when Caitlin, Briana or Corina gets here. It's quite a sight. I've been getting into many theological discussions here in Kolkata. Whether it's with the MC sisters, the volunteers, or sometimes the locals. Either way it's been spiritually fruitful, many times I don't believe it's anything I can do or say... but i must be a channel for God's words be used through me.
I told Sr Capita on wednesady that I was going to try to make mass at 6am at Daya Dan Friday morning; which meant I had to be up before 5 and find a ride or way to get over to Daya Dan. I was standing in front of Mother House by 5:30.... 30 minutes later, still no bus that was headed towards Manicula. I really should of taken the metro, I don't know what I was thinking. Sadly, it was too late to try to make it to mass at Daya Dan so I went to mass at the Mother House and had breakfast with the volunteers.
On the way to Daya Dan I recieved some news.I wasn't sure what to believe; but thinking of the possibility and realizing that none of the volunteer here would lie to me about this... I begin to tear up on the bus. Before, my tears has always been tears of joy; smiling contagiously at the blessed sacrament at Mass, adoration and praying at Mother's tomb. But today... my tears struck me with sorrow. As I fought to hold it back, wiping tears from my eyes and turning my head facing the window of the bus. When I arrived at Daya Dan I went straight to the cribs where Sonu would be. When I entered the room, Mala (one of the Masis), came and told me that Sonu passed away minutes after I left on Wednesday. Last wednesday while I was feeding him, he was extremely sick with a very high fever. It didn't even cross my mind that this may be his last day. But with many difficulities and poor immune system, something as simple for us as a fever may be as costly for those with such circumstance. I took a deep breath and tried to go on with my work. Mala, along with the other Masis and MC sisters, knew how much I loved Sonu and knew that it was important to let me know. I was silent and the knew how I felt. No tears... but i was fighting it. My worldly view of life was selfish and I could't let it take over myself, especially letting it get in the way of the work of the Masis and MC sisters. Life is beautiful and death is even more beautiful when you know that a life with Christ awaits after death. When you fought a good battle all your life, for 13 years, unable to speak, walk, sit up on your own, feed yourself, move anything besides your head and arms, You've fought your battle and hung in so others may learn how to love. You've finsihed the race. I do not doubt the Sonu spent his purgatory here on earth. And I do believe that through our suffering we are united to Christ's passion on the crucifix.
Everything else during the day seem dazed... i helped with physical therapy for 6 month old Bashker, and help with music for the children downstairs... but i had a part of me die to sorrow. I'm learning how to view death as being beautiful, but my selfishness, and blindness to a greater plan leaves me broken in sadness. When lunch came around, I came into the room with those children with deformity and servere mental difficulties, one of the volunteers asked me "where's sonu, is he sick? I haven't seen him all day." I was couldn't help but leave the room, going outside on the balcony to recollect myself. Tears came easily but by the grace of God, I had the strength soon to come back and continue loving and feeding others that needs the same attention and love. There is much love that needs to be given in the world. If we have great love of God with us, and do not put that love into action our life is empty. If we keep love to ourself, we have nothing to gain but everything to lose. Love is eternal and connects us with those eternally. Love is our light to those who live in darkness. There's not a better time than now for me to pray to our Blessed Virgin Mary, for she was there at the foot of the cross for our Lord when he suffered willingly motivated by love; love for the world. Life is beautiful, and never is about how long you live but truly the lives you touch and how you live it. Sonu have touched my life profoundly in the short time i've known him. Teaching me how to love, and how to be humble. Now teaching me the beauty of life and life after death. I'm really sorry that i can't write more... because the more i write, the more I tear up. And I'm fighting it hard as I'm sittig here at the Internet cafe. So please pray for the our beloved Sonu, that his soul may rest finally in the peace and love of Christ. Pray for the MC sisters, Masis, and volunteers that our work will always be for God and that we may always remember that God has the greater plan. I love you all, and God bless your heart.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

day off


It's a thursday, which means its a day off for the volunteers at the various sites around Kolkata, India. Thursdays are the MC sisters day of prayer and so it's also an opportunity for volunteers to catch up on sleep and call home and all that jazz. So... i utilized the day accordingly. I slept in this morning, got breakfast, made some calls, wrote, had lunch and made some more calls. It's pretty chilled today, not too much going on at all.
Yesterday I met Craig and Erica, brothers and sisters from the states. Craig is the one I mentioned earlier in my blog that is a high school teacher. Anyways, I ran into them again because they had their orientation and i came 2 hours early before adoration to catch some time to pray in front of Mother's tomb and do some adoration on my own (when you do adoration at the given time you only get about...20 minutes or so of your own quiet time). anyways I invited them to come to adoration at 6 and I could show them around and have dinner together. 6 came around and they both joined for adoration and stayed the whole hour. It amazes me how united we are to any denomination through prayers. They werent catholic but the power of prayers and praise speaks volumes and they were able to stay for benidiction, liturgy of the hour, the rosary, and some quiet time. Walking back towards sudder st we went to JoJo's for dinner (i'm growing quiet fond of JoJo's because i know the servers and owner their by name and they know me by name as well) but we just sat and talked about God over dinner. which was pretty amazing. Because whether they werent catholic and i was, we all agreed of the Love of God for us, his ultimate sacrifice and example of love and also our call to love on another as he did, especially in the poorest of the poor. God is good all the time.

Today coming back from breakfast i was writing a letter and the coolest thing happen (it's been happening often but I keep forgeting to write about it) but... it would be really chilled wheather and then suddenly the cloud would get darker and you get this huge gust of wind. Clothes would be flying off the clothesline and then an outpouring of water from the cloud. It's intense! It's like bucketsize raindrops...that's a bit of an exageration but still it was pretty cool. No more than a minute and the street gutter is flooding and various parts are beginnig to flood. But Monsoon season still has not truly hit. The rain only last for about 5 minutes and then it clears up in seconds and become humid again.
Today I had some good veg. noodles at this random fastfood stand on sudder... I think it's called Tirupati. Anyways it was amazing! i had some kimchi and pancake from there also. Yummy. It looks extremly sketch but it's delicious. Ive ate from worst place, on the way to Mother's House; which I would never recommend any tourist to eat at but there's some things that you just gotta try. ... like the swatty potty without TP, haha.
Well there are many things that are going extremely great for me here, and I'm loving the life in India Kolkata. It's not as bad as I thought it'd be but I truly believe that i would not be able to do the work or live this life style if I wasn't able to attend mass daily or go to adoration. For all those that are traveling to visit the Mother House, I strongly recommend daily mass and adoration... if not both one or the other... or visiting Mother's tomb. It the craziness of India the Mother house is so peaceful, CLEAN, spacy and prayerful! Being in India you must always remember to take time to take care of yourself. And that doesn't only mean feeding yourself well, keeping good health, but spiritually ... otherwise you can easily loose your sanity getting so frustrated with things. I believe the hardest part of being in India is the people I leave back at Home in the States. Whether wishing they can be with me sharing and creating memories, talking at the end of the day about all that went on, or just goofing off having fun... i truly love and miss my beloved ones and can't ever express it signficantly enough when I'm away. So thankyou all for your love and support and letting me know that i'm loved also. You have my love and I wish i can convey it somehow. (YUCA- sunshine).
Well it's nearing dinner time so i'm going to meet up some friends and was invited to catch a movie... an english movie? hahaha... sweet. It's nice sometime when everything around you is in a differently language or in a strong accent, to just kick back and watch a movie so I think i'll do that tonight.




If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.
And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.
If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.


Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated,
it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.
For we know partially and we prophesy partially,
but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things.
At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.

So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

~1 corinthians 13:1-13~

PRAYER:
Teach me to live by your example of love. For it is in giving that we recieve your love and dying to ourself that we may rise to eternal life with you. Help me give all of me to you through the service of love, charity, and advocating peace to all I meet. May I learn to be humble in my work and in all things as you humbling become one with your creation and perfected what it means to love. Love is no longer selfish because of your love. All love is a work of God's kingdom. May I become a message of love; a pencil in the hands of God as Blessed Mother Teresa was to the world. Blessed Virgin Mary, I constantly flee to you since you are the Mother of Our Beloved Lord. No more than human but lived out what it meant to be truly holy; may you pray for me to the Lord our God.