The Monthly Note
July
Summer pilgrim, life pilgrim
by Jacques Lauzier, o.p.
In my Father's house there are many places to live in; otherwise I would have told you. I am going now to prepare a place for you. (John 14, 2)
During the summer months, some of you will make the most of this vacation time to visit, in family or alone, religious centres in our province, country or even abroad. Many of these are wonderful places where a door has opened between Heaven and earth.
Those who have a child’s heart do not hesitate to use these doors to communicate in a special way with those who have received Heaven’s mission to intercede for us. Some will visit Jesus’ grandmother in Saint-Anne de-Beaupré, some will go and pray Jesus’ foster father at Saint Joseph’s Oratory and, maybe, some will visit our humble Oratory at our convent, dedicated toSaint-Jude, patron saint of hope and Jesus’ cousin.
Whatever the destination, the pilgrim will have to travel and encounter all sorts of adventures: some delightful, some a bit less. We accept the first ones with joy and for the others, we say to ourselves that it is only a pilgrimage and it will not last very long. It is only a question of time before we return to the warmth and comfort of our home.
Exactly like life on earth. It is full of adventures of all kinds. Some filled with happiness, some filled with sorrow. But one day all this will end and we will return where we came from: in our father’s house in Heaven where Jesus «ascended to prepare us a place». In the meantime. We can choose to accept our time of pilgrimage by giving thanks or by rebelling and making our life miserable for us and for those surrounding us. For those who will travel, my prayers will accompany you so that your encounters are fruitful.
