Tag: christianity

83) It is Well

Our parish hosted a recent Day of Reflection focused on the theme “It is Well.” The theme corresponded to the beautiful hymn, “It is well with my soul,” written by Horatio Spafford in 1873. I was especially blessed with Fr Wratkowski’s reflections about just what it means “to be well.”


He began with the story of the writing of the hymn, a tale of deep faith in God in the midst of tragedy. Horatio and Anna Spafford had experienced financial disaster after the Great Chicago fire, but were now able to plan a trip to Europe to visit family and friends, and to celebrate Christmas in Paris. Horatio had to wait to finish some necessary business, but bid Anna and their four daughters bon voyage and Godspeed on the French steamer SS Ville de Havre.
Off the coast of Newfoundland their vessel collided with an English ship, the Loch Earn, ripping a huge hole in the hull, and causing so much damage that their ship sank within 20 minutes. Fr Wratkowski spoke of how before the ship sank, Anna gathered her children to pray, seeking God’s help. She prayed not only to be spared, but “for the grace to endure whatever might come.”

What came was the tragic loss by drowning of all four of their daughters, with Anna alone surviving. She was rescued by a life boat, and ten days later arrived in Cardiff, Wales, where she sent a telegram home to Horatio with the simple message “Saved Alone.”


He took passage on a ship to join her as soon as he could, traveling the same sea route where his children had perished. The captain of the ship called him when they came to the very spot where his daughters had drowned, and it was there that Horatio looked not down at the sea, but up to Heaven where he trusted his loved ones to be, and the words of the beautiful hymn, “It is well with my soul,” began to live in his heart.


He arrived and joined his grieving wife, and also met with their close friend, evangelist Dwight Moody. In relating their story to him, they were able in faith to say, “It is well. God’s will be done.” This phrase remained in Horatio’s heart, and was the kernel of grace that produced the words of the hymn. There’s much more to the story, and well worth reading, as from this tragedy the Spafford family’s life bore great fruit in service of God’s people.


There’s a beautiful YouTube presentation, with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing the hymn, and a theatrical re-enactment of the story that includes “the rest of the story.”

There are so many hymns that we’ve come to know and love. How much more this one means to me now that I’ve heard the story behind it’s composition. I return again to one of my favorite Scriptures, Romans 8:28. “All things works together for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” Praise God for His Word, for HIs Promises, and for the grace to endure whatever may come, knowing that nothing is outside of His Providence.

Thank You Lord, for the beautiful witness of faith that has been handed down to us throughout the centuries, and inspires us to trust You in all circumstances. Help me to remain close to You always, and know that indeed, it is well with my soul…

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When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

78) Stay Home

At the National Eucharistic Congress, I was blessed with an image of the Lord Jesus, sitting in the armchair in my bedroom and waiting there for me at home.  Home – the place where I’m with Jesus; safe, comforted, protected, at peace :). I saw myself as a little girl, entering the room, coming to sit on His lap, and He wrapped us up in the afghan that had been crocheted by my mom, with a prayer for each stitch.  What a precious place to be, warm and cozy, snuggled close to His Heart! 

     Sharing this image and story with my spiritual director, I mentioned that a word that has been reappearing in my journals has been, “Stay Home!”  The temptation to run off to various spiritual opportunities has not always been in balance with my duties and responsibilities as a wife and mother. I’ve been seeking to come to the right equilibrium as this word continues to show up!

     As our session continued, more thoughts of Home began coming to mind, in different variations.  I’ve moved a fair amount in the last ten years, as I’ve cared for my Mom in her last years, experienced divorce, and moved from our house to a house of my own, then to a small apartment, a more permanent apartment, and now to two bedrooms in my daughter’s house.  In the process of these later moves I’ve recognized that Home for me is being close to a Tabernacle, where Jesus is always present and waiting for me.

     The last several moves brought me to a new geographical place, away from friends and Church community I had known for more than 40 years.  These moves have brought me to two new faith communities, starting all over again in meeting fellow parishioners.  Yet this sense of Home, always having an Adoration chapel and daily Mass as an anchor have made the transitions quite smooth.  I’ve been so grateful for the generous hospitality offered in these parishes to newcomers like me.   

     The Girl Scout song I learned years ago comes to mind here: “Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver, but the other Gold.”  The Gold is my friendship with Jesus, and to be with Him is always a coming Home.

     Today I’m at our family cabin the the North Woods, a place that has always been Home for me.  My parents bought it in 1946, when I was just one year old, and it’s been the place of family connecting and a stable peaceful retreat location as I’ve made all the many geographical moves in my lifetime.  From city to city, state to state, house to apartment, this spot has always been there, always a coming Home destination. 

      As I sit here at the family table, I see the names of our family members which had been etched on the chairs around the table.  I’m surrounded by the communion of saints, praying for me and calling me to join them in the eternal Home, in Heaven!   

     Another level of Home began to surface in reflection, that being the reality that Home is in my very own heart, where Jesus resides always.  In the wake of the Congress, with the Eucharistic Pilgrimages, I came to recognize that each one of us is actually a Eucharistic Procession, as we carry Jesus with us wherever we go!  I can envision Christians around the world, each with the Light of Christ within them, radiating that Light and bringing it’s Glow into the darkness of this suffering world.

     “Home is where the Heart is,” is a saying that’s often been shared.  If indeed Jesus lives in my heart, as His Word proclaims, I’m always at Home, no matter the time or location. I can indeed stay home, for Home is in my Heart! May I continue to live in that awareness of Jesus in my heart, to “stay Home” through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Home to the Heart of the Father in Heaven!

     Lord God, thank you for all the images and remembrances of Home.  Thank You for connecting the dots between Home and Heart, between Home here and Home in Heaven.  Thank you for calling us to live in communion with Your Heart, present within us, and to bring the Love of Your Heart to all we meet, to stay in the intimacy of Home with You… 

62) Reconcilation gifting

The opportunity for Reconciliation was always especially meaningful when celebrated at the Cenacle of Our Lady of Divine Providence – it seems that the Lord often would bring up things from the past that were stumbling blocks to grace.

     At one of the sessions, I felt led to confess a sin of the past whose memory often haunted me.  I had confessed it in a general way previously, but now felt the need to be more explicit about the experience.  The priest was very helpful, as he assured me of God’s grace and mercy.  In thanksgiving, I went to the Adoration Chapel to express my gratitude to the Lord.

     As I sat before the tabernacle, the Lord gifted me with a beautiful image. I saw myself sitting on a bench beneath the Cross, with Mary sitting beside me with her arm around my shoulders.  In my lap I held a photo album – in it were pictures of the  situations I had confessed.  Jesus was on the Cross above us, and as we sat there, His precious Blood began to drip down on the photos, and each drop totally erased the pictures, making them white as if a drop of bleach had been put on them.  He was blotting out all those images with His precious Blood, so that I no longer saw them, but only saw a clean white frame, and felt the comfort of His Presence, and that of Our Blessed Mother.  Now whenever the enemy seeks to raise those pictures before my eyes again, all I see is that image of us sitting beneath the Cross, with those drops of precious Blood that make each photo all white.

      The Lord has blessed me several times by changing the way I remember a difficult experience.  Asking Him to show me where He was with me, or what He was doing, have brought forth images that provide healing grace to painful moments in time, and have allowed me to become more free.  What a beautiful way to bring healing, and to set the captives free!

     Lord God, thank You that You are a God outside of Time, Who has been with us throughout our lives and can bring healing and wholeness to all areas of our lives. Thank You for the healing balm of Your precious Blood, to wash away the stain of sin ~ 

(re-visited from Rosary Reflections, Sorrowful mystery, the Crucifixion. In this season of Lent, of Reconciliation, this memory has always blessed me. May it bring a blessing to others who may be unable to let go of images that want to rob us of our peace)

60). Covid Communion

     During Covid when the churches were closed and we weren’t able to receive the Sacraments, our parish responded by offering appointments to come to the church singly and receive the Eucharist.  How we missed our daily Mass and the easy access to communion!  What a gift it was for our pastor to make this arrangement to allow us to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament!

     I’m often at church lately when it is empty (one of my favorite times and places 🙂 and the memory of that blessed Encounter always touches my heart.  We had to enter by the front door, one at a time with a designated  appointment. The church was empty and silent; the only person present was our pastor, who sat in the chancel near the tabernacle and awaited each solo arrival.

  

  I arrived at my appointed time and entered the front door.  Before me was the long aisle, with empty pews on both sides – the aisle seemed so long!  The silence was palpable, and my footsteps seemed so loud as I gingerly made my way toward the chancel and the communion rail. It seemed such along way to walk!  Fr Joseph rose from his chair, and awaited me as I knelt down to receive the Blessed Sacrament.  It was a holy moment, with not a breath stirring in the church.  Jesus came to me, from the hands of this holy priest, and I was so aware of the sacredness of this Encounter.  A short pause, and then I exited by the side door as another soul came to receive the Eucharist.

     How grateful I am for this memory, and how I want each reception of the Eucharist to carry the same reverential blessing as my Covid reception! How blessed I am to have an unlocked church where I can come in the quiet of its emptiness and stand there at the entrance, reliving this moment!  

     Lord God, how blessed we are to be able to receive You in the Blessed Sacrament!  Thank you for the creative and generous ways your Church responded to the Covid desert, through the goodness and holiness of your priests!  May I never take the reception of communion for granted, and keep this memory alive in my heart…