Blogs From the Canonisation

Months Mind

17 November, 2010 | Posted By Sian Owen

It is a month today since we gathered in St Peter's square to hear the announcement by Benedict XVI - Mary of the Cross.  So now officially we can plead St Mary of the Cross - pray for us.  Singing the Litany of Mary MacKillop we can replace blessed with saint.  So what.  As the wind blows in typical Wellington splendor I pause to wonder - what difference does Mary's canonisation make.  Does the fact my sister is St Mary somehow make me more whole, more holy?  No.  Does the fact that St Mary of the Cross is named in the canon of saints help feed the hungry, clothe the naked? No. So what?

So ... because of the canonisation event our lives will never be the same.  Mary MacKillop has been claimed by a far greater group than the sisters, the associates and the past pupiles and co-ministers in mission.  Her story, her passion are inspiring to the universal Church, in fact the whole of the world - religious or not.  This recognition of a desire to bring the Reign of God questions ordinary people to do likewise in ordinary ways, where-ever they are and where-ever they might be.  And all of a sudden Sisters of St Joseph are recognisable.  Not by the traditional habit or indeed the teal scarfs people know that we are Mary's girls.

On a personal level I have a wider appreciation of what it means to be part of this institution we call Church that is universal and including.  I also have a greater sense of my own vocation that this is more than God and I in commuity but God, I and a whole lot of other people of goodwill.

St Mary of the Cross, pray for us.

 

 

Comments

  • This is a beautiful story, a beautiful lady, And I am really touched by it.. I am a catholic grandmother in Yukon, Canada. May God bless you all. GB

    20 February, 2011 | Posted By Gay Berg

  • My husband has recently been in St. Vincent Hospital for over three weeks. I visited Mary MacKillop centre and felt peace. I was stretched to the limit with stress, but it had me realise that I need not be as Mary and Jesus were with me.I also spent too much money on beautiful thngs!

    27 February, 2011 | Posted By maureen

  • five years ago we visited St Mary,s tomb and asked for intercession for our then year old granddaughter who was in Westmeade hospital with a rare lung disease, she was not expected to live .In February this year she was brought by her parents to St. Mary,s tomb, 12 days ago she had a double lung tranplant at The Alfred , n today she walked 100yrds without oxygen for the first time in her life. We have prayed and begged St Mary to interdede for her, To have a miracle you must first believe in one . Thank you St Mary praise be to god. I will continue to pray to this wonderful Saint.

    27 July, 2011 | Posted By margaret cassidyBoothstown Manchester England

  • Thank Mary MacKillop for your great acheivements, persistence and love for mankind. I loved hearing about the murderer who wept, and the orphan who you were with at his time of death. Such great love, a shining light. God Bless Mary

    16 February, 2012 | Posted By Lauren