"Many who have had great distrust of their strength and great fear of failing on trial, when the time came have suddenly done wonders, because this great sense of their weakness has urged them to seek the aid and succor of God."
- St. Francis de Sales
Finding Peace and Joy in God
By Barbara Furey
Mother of Caitlin '08, Meghan '10, and Colleen '11
Where do we go to seek the aid and succor of God?
When presented with this quote from St. Francis de Sales, I knew I would take pen and journal to my regular "Wednesday appointment," where I would have time to think and prayerfully consider.
The Basilica of St. Mary in Alexandria has Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every Wednesday, and I have kept an "appointment" to spend an hour quietly with Our Lord, every week for many years.
During my Wednesday Adoration hour the past four months, I have often prayed for and thought of my dear friend, Mary, who passed away in late October. Mary and I shared many wonderful moments together through our years of friendship. We were "soul sisters," and with two other friends, we met monthly for lunch and fellowship. We are empty-nesters, who met when our children were in elementary school at St. Mary's. We volunteered together, and shared the joys of First Communions, All Saints' Day Parades, and many other blessed events. Mary's daughter and my youngest daughter even share a birthday.
A special bond came from our mutual love of the Wednesday Adoration "appointments." Mary's hourly commitment followed mine and we would meet for a moment, share a hug, and laugh quietly while arranging a lunch or coffee. Mary was pure joy and happiness. Her smile was infectious, and she was loved by anyone in the St. Mary community who knew her (which was just about everyone, given her personality). Mary visited the residents of our local rehabilitation hospital weekly and continued with that even as she battled through her illness. Her concern was always for her loving family first, and then for others. She was a cheerful gift to all.
Mary and I know the secret to her joy and peace. I am sure she experienced fear and uncertainty in illness, but her soul was nourished and her weaknesses diminished by the Eucharist, and by her weekly "appointment" with her loving Lord.
In one of St. Francis' letters to St. Jane de Chantal, during the period when she was discerning her vocation, St. Francis wrote: "I shall give the matter serious thought and will offer several Masses, asking for the light of the Holy Spirit in order to make the right decision, for you see, my dearest daughter, this is a decisive step and should be weighed in the sanctuary."
At Visitation, we have the opportunity for an appointment with Jesus on every First Friday. For five minutes, or an hour, we can schedule time for silent prayer with Jesus, present on the altar in the chapel. This time spent with Our Lord is rewarded with graces and what my friend Mary and I would call "God Kisses."
Mary's example of trust in Our Lord through the most difficult of trials allows us to see God's kisses and His hand in each moment of the day. That is a comfort and cause for great joy.
Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
(St. Margaret Mary Alacoque)
O Heart of Love, I put all my trust in you.
For I fear all things from my own weakness,
but I hope for all things from your goodness.
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Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School
1524 Thirty-fifth Street NW • Washington, DC 20007 • 202.337.3350
Special thanks to Cecilia Kane '16 for the banner photo.