To the Band of Brothers: October 7, 2021

Good morning!

In the backyard of Villa Javier, the Jesuit residence at Belen Jesuit, there is a small Marian shrine. The image is that of Our Lady of Lourdes and happens to be the place for my morning prayer. It’s been there for as long as I can remember and, for as long as I have lived at Villa Javier, it has been my place of prayer. 

Every morning, at 6 a.m., an interesting thing happens. A little tree frog “religiously” makes his way from the surrounding foliage and very quietly leaps onto the statue. He sits on the shoulder of Mary for several minutes in what seems like serene contemplation. On occasion, he will make his way up the side of the statute and on to her head. There are even some mornings when I don’t see the little guy and think that he forgot to make his morning devotion until he pops his head up from behind the image. More than likely, at a time when I close my eyes for better concentration or close my eyes because I have inadvertently nodded off to sleep, he has quickly scurried to the back undetected.

 

He must know something because he is always there… faithfully.

This morning the little frog’s routine reminded me of something. It reminded me of how every morning, before heading to breakfast, Jesuit legend Fr. Amando Llorente would walk out of his room at the John Paul II Retreat House and make his way religiously to the image of Our Lady of the Agrupación. On every occasion when I was praying there myself, I would see how he would quietly walk up to the Blessed Mother and stand in her presence for a few minutes in serene contemplation. Then, as quietly as he had arrived, he would remove his bucket hat, approach the image and bend down to kiss her feet.

He must have known something because he was always there… faithfully.

It is no coincidence this thought comes to me on the day the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. My morning prayer offered a reflection written by St. Andrew of Crete where he proclaimed that in Mary, “the world is raised to the dignity of a holy place for him who made all things.” Her presence, her birth, her life made this broken and dirty world a cleaner, holier space for the Son of God, for her Son. Immaculate Mary was an elevation of all creation in order to better receive Him who, according to St. Paul, the whole of creation has been “groaning” for (Romans 8:22).

Note that St. Paul does not say simply that man groans, but “the whole of creation.” All men and women, earth and sky, seas and dry land, plants and animals, and even the tree frogs are raised to new heights and given a new dignity because of her and her Son. Is it no wonder, then, that the saintly bishop of Crete concludes his discourse by insisting that, “everything, mundane things and those above, join in the festive celebration.” Believe it or not, even Martin Luther agrees (yes, the Martin Luther!), “She is the highest woman and the noblest gem in Christianity after Christ. She is nobility, wisdom, and holiness personified. We can never honor her enough” (Sermon, Christmas, 1531).

So celebrate! I encourage you to take the time today to pray the rosary. Don’t do it by yourself, but take advantage and pray it with the whole family. Don’t be afraid to break out the beads, sit with your parents and siblings and pray. Thank God for the gift of His mother, for the gift of her Son, for the gift of our faith. Remember, all of creation is called to give praise to God and I assure you the little tree frog already has.

Auspice Maria