from Connecticut--miracles great and small......

It is said that out of every tragedy there is a blessing. Though what happened in a Connecticut school on a Friday morning in December was horrific, what happened afterwards can only be summed up as a miracle.
In Newtown, CT, on a Sunday night only ten days from Christmas, there was a gathering of people at the high school there. People of all ages, races, creeds gathered together to pay homage to 26 people who lost their lives. There were ministers, pastors, rabbis, imams and priests, from every sort of religion. In silence and as one, the people prayed in peace. For hope...for understanding, for healing, for strength.
And if this can happen there, I believe that it can happen everywhere!

Why does it take tragedy to befall us before we realize that without God, we are nothing? Why do we allow Evil to strike a blow against us before we call out to God to save us? It reminds me of stories of old, of the Israelites as they wandered in the desert...of the disciples in the boat with Jesus, of his followers long after he was ascended into heaven....we always take God and Faith for granted until we are in need, then we call upon Him to deliver us.
How often do you pray? I don't mean something so frivolous as hoping that your car will start on a cold winter's day (though that is reason enough in the northern climes!) but I mean...pray? Every day? Not just prayers that you say by rote, but deep, meaningful prayers that come from your heart? It doesn't need to be theologically thought out, a simple "thank you, God for this wonderful day!" is a great place to begin. Prayers of gratitude and appreciation go a long way! This leads to prayers of supplication, as in "give us this day our daily bread." Prayers for forgiveness, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." And most important, prayers for guidance: "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil one." God already knows what we need, but just as a parent with a young child, isn't it nice to BE needed?

I have several statutes of the Blessed Virgin Mary in my house. I look upon them in contemplation, I ask her for guidance when needed and recite the "Hail, Mary" often. (For all you football fans, "Hail, Mary" is NOT a type of passing game, rather it is a prayer of devotion to the Mother of Jesus!) She is our mother as well and the "Hail, Mary" offers us a chance to seek her out:

 "Hail, Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus! Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners...now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

May the peace of the Lord be with you all!