What a blessing and joy it is to end this year of the Priest on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Heart that beats with mad love for those holy men who have committed their own hearts to that of our Precious Lord.
My life has been blessed to be touched by so many wonderful priests. Just within the past month my family and I were present at the first Mass of newly ordained Fr. Matthew Widder and on the same day, attended a 40th anniversary party for our pastor, Fr. David Cooper. Witnessing both a first Mass and the longevity of priesthood on the same day was a wondrous joy! And today, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee will honor all priests with a special rosary and Mass led by our beloved Archbishop Listecki, as our own wonderful Pope Benedict honors all priests in Rome. (And, congratulations to Bishop William Callahan, auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee who was just named Bishop of LaCrosse, Wisconsin! We'll miss you, but I know that you will be a great blessing to the people of LaCrosse!)
I have been praying a Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus this month for the intentions of a special priest as well as for my own special intentions. I had barely begun the novena when a day of searching for sea glass at the beach produced a real treasure, a sign from God that He was pleased with my prayer. I found a red piece of glass which is extremely rare. Upon closer inspection, I realized that the glass was in the shape of a heart with a gash in one side which reminded me of the sword which pierced the side of our Lord. There are a few scratch marks on the front of the glass which look like they might have been caused by a thorny crown. God gave me a great gift in sending me one of my favorite treasures, sea glass, that resembles His Most Sacred Heart.
I will always treasure this sign of love from God as well as the wonderful priests that have blessed my life and the lives of so many others in a multitude of beautiful and loving ways.
"O my Most Loving and Gentle Jesus, I desire with all the affections of my heart, that all beings should praise Thee, honor Thee and glorify Thee eternally for that Sacred Wound wherewith Thy Divine Side was rent.
I deposit, enclose, conceal in that wound and in that opening in Thy Heart, my heart and all my feelings, thoughts, desires, intentions and all the faculties of my soul. I entreat Thee, by the Precious Blood and Water that flowed from Thy Most Loving Heart, to take entire possession of me, that Thou may guide me in all things.
Consume me in the burning fire of Thy Holy Love, so that I may be so absorbed and transformed into Thee that I may no longer be but one with Thee. Amen." -Lanspergius, the Carthusian
