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1. A week or so ago, Father K asked Pete and me if we would get our feet washed at the Holy Thursday mass. We didn’t even have to think about it – we declined. Neither of us has beautiful feet and between his gouty toes and my feet beaten into submission from years of dancing and then seven pregnancies, (not to mention the fungus amongus) it’s not a pretty site.
But late yesterday afternoon, I got a call from the youth group leader asking if any of my children would be available to have their feet washed, and the only one who could – was Rosie!
She took this responsibility very seriously. She washed her feet in the bathtub twice and made sure the nail polish was okay. Then she put on a pretty skirt and top with her hair put up high on top of her head! She looked really pretty as she sat there with the 11 other people waiting to get their feet washed.
The church had managed to get a good representation of the parish – young and old, male and female, black and white. Rosie was the last one to get washed so she got to see everyone else go first.
Now, Father and Rosie have a bit of history. She drew this for him at Christmas time.
She also goes to confession with him about every other week.
When he got to her, he knelt down and they exchanged big grins with each other. Then he reverently washed both of her feet and then kissed them. It was really very moving, and as her mother, sitting there watching, I felt a lump of … I don’t know… love? pride? sorrow? all rolled into one. And I was grateful she had the opportunity.
2. Kudos to Bobbie Schindler, the brother of Terri Schiavo – who 10 years after her death, was not afraid to show the world that he defied the authorities and took a picture of what his sister really looked like as she was being executed by the state via starvation – her only crime apparently was being the wife of Michael Schiavo.
3. I’m having a terse discussion today on My Central Jersey. com regarding the firing of Catholic teacher Patricia Jannuzzi by Immaculate Catholic School. You can read it in full here.
My opening comment:
Well I agree with this part, “Silence is complicity.” Pope Francis has also been a strong supporter of traditional marriage and the other family and marriage teachings of the church. It’s disingenuous not to mention that as well. As a teacher in a Catholic School, Mrs. Jannuzzi was required by conscience to speak out in support of those teachings, especially in light of the vicious attack she was responding too – which BTW, no one is bothering to mention at all. Why is that? Why is the original post not being castigated but only Mrs. Jannuzzi’s response? If it’s all about “love” and “acceptance” don’t you think the original post, particularly Dan Savage’s vulgar attack on Dr. Ben Carson should be castigated as well? Or is it only “hate speech” if the pro-traditional marriage side defends itself?
4. I’ve had two opportunities to go to confession this Lent. The last time I went I was pouring out some of the feelings I have had about my older children. The priest said exactly the words that I needed to hear – “Just continue to love them.” Doesn’t sound to difficult does it? The hard part is showing them you still love them – because they’re not kids any more. How do you show that love, while still respecting their adult status?
Thinking back on it, my Mom made that look so easy.
5. Along that line, my oldest is moving 8 hours away. He’ll be gone pretty much until the wedding in July.
I kind of thought I found a way to show love for him when I bought my gun – because that gave us something in common and we could go shooting together. I was even going to pursue my concealed carry. But I’ve sort of lost a little enthusiam for it now that he won’t be here.
So that’s the biggest thing I’ve had to give up for Lent- the idea of my oldest child being near to me.
6. As part of my Good Friday Meditation, I’ve been thinking about this article on How Adult Children Hurt Their Parents without Realizing it. I can honestly and truly say from the bottom of my heart that according to this, I was a good daughter. Of all the things that might disturb my sleep, regrets about my relationship with my mother are not one of them. The only breeches I made were in my very early 20s – exactly where my own children are now, and so for that, I can be forgiving.
7. Here’s a bit about the painting that is in our church currently, and scenes from the Passion of the Christ to reflect on this Good Friday.