The heart in prayer...

...is an altar on which
the Holy Spirit places and engraves

the eternal Gospel,
Jesus.

(Fr. Jean Corbon)

A Reflection on Stained Glass

Made by another,
Everything in order,
Depending on an outside and an inside.

Giving glory to its maker,
Showing beauty through its nature,
Letting something else shine through its being.

In-built scenes of wonder,
Revealed to the beholder,
Relying on the glass embracing light.

Darkness does not serve her,
Yet night does not destroy her,
Dawn returns and once more she is vibrant.

All that is required,
Is the sun that fills and fires
And passes through until she is enlightened.

You and I
And she and Him,
We have so much in common.

On The Visitation

When Mary visits her cousin, her concern for another would go on to bear so much fruit, more than she could ever have imagined. Thanks to her thoughtfulness towards someone else in need, Elizabeth would greet her with words now repeated in prayer by millions of people ever since. Endless glory has been given to God with each "Hail Mary!" and endless prayers answered in return with Our Lady's intercessory help.

But also for Mary, as a reward for her generosity and selfless charity towards another - each prayer provides a rose petal with which to crown her during the recitation of the Most Holy Rosary. Mary's goodness becomes her own crowning glory and, as ever, her "yes" sees God's will being completely fulfilled.

She inspires us to think of others first, in the hope that one day our selfless acts of love and thoughtfulness will please God's heart and reap a harvest which we ourselves will not know until all is made clear and completed.