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As we bring the year of the priest to a close, I wanted to bring to your attention a habit that I have had since I was a child.

Happy Fathers’ Day, Father

On Father’s Day, I make it a point of wishing every priest whom I encounter a Happy Father’s Day. I must admit that I enjoy the mix of reactions I get when I do this. The priests who know me have come to expect it and welcome my lauds with grace. Others – in their humility I suspect – are more reticent to except my compliment because they are not biological fathers.  To these priests, I love explaining the importance of spiritual fatherhood.  Even more remarkable, some parishioners overhear my Father’s Day wish and invariably add their own.

Spiritual Fatherhood

Father’s Day is a wonderful celebration and biological fathers who are faithful to their vocation as parents are certainly deserving of special recognition on this day. However, I submit to you that spiritual fathers – namely our priests and bishops – deserve a thank you as well.

Thank you!

In my life, these men we call priests have been guides, supporters, cheerleaders, teachers, mentors and now, as an adult, friends. I may not go out and get them a card, I may not buy them a gift but, I certainly enjoy wishing them, and all priests and bishops, a Happy Father Day!

Last Sunday when I was at the Jubilarian Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, I had the opportunity to see the exhibit “Paintings on Silk” which currently is open to the public in the Memorial Hall of the National Shrine. I was immediately drawn to the paintings, especially the faces which appear to capture the mystery of the moment, seemingly fully present to the unfolding of Salvation history in which they have found themselves; they radiate a holiness that is the one and universal vocation.

Exquisite in detail

The artist, Manisha [her Baptismal name is Theresa] Winchell, a Catholic from Rajasthan, India takes a new look at paintings by Fra Angelico and the depiction of Our Lady of Guadalupe bringing India’s vivid colors – see for example the oranges, blues and yellows in the wings of the angel in the Annunciation – and intricate decorations onto the silken canvas. Upon close inspection of these highly detailed decorations one discovers Scripture, in Greek, Latin and Sanskrit, thus giving the paintings an additional spiritual dimension. Manisha shared with me that as she painted Mary’s robes it made her feel as if she were there in each story in Mary’s life and the design of the robes taught her something about Mary. Marrying the exquisite detail of Indian saris and a prayer of praise, Mary’s response to the angel is written on the hem of her robe.

A lesson in inculturation

Gazing at the silk paintings I was reminded of what we mean by inculturation. Inculturation is the word that the Catholic Church uses to speak of how the seeds of the Gospel are planted in every culture. The Gospel then can be incorporated in a particular culture’s customs and traditions. It is obvious to the observer that Our Lady of Guadalupe and the paintings of Fra Angelico speak to somebody who did not grow up in our Western culture and are at the same time enriched by that culture’s contribution. In “The Bridegroom,” it is Indian culture that predominates as one is drawn to a striking image of Mary, clothed in traditional Rajasthani dress walking with her son, Jesus, clothed as a bridegroom. While at first it seems completely unfamiliar to the Western observer, the imagery certainly is not. This painting captures the universal dimension of Catholic spirituality.

Mary, teacher of love

In the ministry of evangelization, we talk a lot about how to celebrate the diversity of the church of Washington in a way that celebrates the universality of our faith. In Manisha’s paintings, she captures it in the faces of the Mary, Jesus and the characters of her work. Manisha’s hope for people who view the exhibit is that “their minds will be raised to Mary, and that they will grow close to her because Mary is a teacher of love.”

The exhibit runs through June 24. Do make plans to visit.

 

Any day that I wear my “Grace if Enough” tee shirt, I’m bound to have an interesting conversation with someone. In fact, sometimes that’s exactly why I wear it.

One day I was at Teaism in Dupont Circle and a man who was there with his daughter asked, “What does your shirt mean?” Great question!

The quote (and the title of a song by Matt Maher whose concert is where I purchased the tee) comes from 2 Corinthians 12:9:

Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Today was no different. I was at the grocery store, and as I was checking out the cashier said to me “Is your name Grace?” I giggled and said, “No, it’s the Grace of God!”

As I left the store, the lyrics of another musician came to mind…my fav, U2:

Grace, it’s a name for a girl, it’s also a thought that changed the world.

Why is it that people don’t know that Grace is more than just a name for a girl?? Why? Because we don’t speak about grace enough. When was the last time you answered someone’s question with the word “Grace”?

“Wow, how did you do so well on your exam?”

“Wow, aren’t these flowers gorgeous?”

“Wow, how did your mother make such a quick recovery?”

Sometimes we forget who’s in charge and how much He loves us. So let’s start remembering and calling His gift by its proper name: GRACE

Here is a rather nice musical rendering of John 6 in Music and picture.

The Song is called “I Believe” by Brian Flynn. The Song is available on iTunes

You can buy the Sheet Music here: http://www.brianflynnmusic.com/index.cfm?load=page&page=36

On the liturgical calendar May 31 is the feast of the Visitation. What a lovely way to celebrate Memorial Day by asking our Mother’s intercession for all the women and men who have died in service to our country and to commend to Mary’s protection, those who are in harms way in defense of our liberty and freedom.

This painting is by Brother Mickey McGrath, an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales of Bee Still Studio. He painted this for a convent at Visitation parish in Chicago and I think it so captures the joy of the cousins visit as they began to make sense of what it was that God was asking each of them to do in the great work of his plan for salvation.

The Magnificat

Today, we also renew our commitment to be part of God’s plan as we pray:

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,  my spirit rejoices in God my savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm and he as scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he has made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever. Amen