France, Mary, and me

in a side chapel at Rouen Cathedral, I discovered this treasure

On our recent pilgrimage of the great French Cathedrals we encountered countless pieces of religious art.  But as my insightful mother in law MarySue Schriber noted, 

“good art shows you something new that you haven’t thought of before, as distinct from confirming what you already know.” 

I've been pondering on that, and came up with a few images of Mary from our pilgrimage that helped me discover something about the Mother of Jesus, by opening up my memory--and my imagination.

the "hipped" Mary at Amiens

AND at Compiegne--love her stance!

My first draft of  “The Seekers Guide to Mary” was completely journalistic.  I covered everything:  Mary in relation to scripture, history, other faith traditions, shrines and prayers. 

But my editor at Loyola Press kept pushing me, urging me to say it, “in my own voice.”  It was the hardest thing I had ever faced as a writer—and the best thing I've been pushed to do. 

Mary has always been part of my life as a Hispanic Catholic.  But how do I explain that to you?  The process of rewriting and editing that book made me focus on my own relationship with Mary, and it made me work on how to explain it to other people. 

Caen

Crypt chapel, Chartres

Notre-Dame-la-Grande, Poitier

I had to learn that it was—or rather, it is—through my own stories as a youth, as a mother,  with my own family that I can best tell you about Mary. 

I once heard author Madeline L'Engle say at a writers’ retreat that, yes, it's all been said before. But we have to tell it in our own voice.

At a personal level, that’s how Mary makes sense to me. 

the three kings, Epiphany at St-Pierre de Chauvigny

and the Annunciation (back), with demons and angels watching (front)

imagining the Visitation

Yesterday at daily Mass as we celebrated the feast of the Visitation I couldn't help  remembering some of the beautiful images of this feast that we saw on our French pilgrimage. 

Two very different images that caught my attention picture unique scenarios as the two artists imagined this beautiful feast of the encounter... here they are, Mary and Elizabeth, both of them pregnant!

At the Cathedral in Amien, the artist pictured the Visitation as a "contemporary" event. And below, a modern impressionistic rendition inspired by the stained glass windows of the great Chartres Cathedral:

"The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,

you have no further misfortune to fear.

On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:

Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!

The LORD, your God, is in your midst,

a mighty savior;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

and renew you in his love,

He will sing joyfully because of you,

as one sings at festivals."

~Book of Zephaniah, 

Chapter 3: 15-18

our farm home away from home

I've never stayed overnight in a building with a thatch roof!

the road to our farm home

There’s something truly different about staying in lodging with its own individual name, even when I don’t know what the name means!  It makes me feel like I’m visiting a distant relative.

Our farm home away from home, La Pelviniere, is located just outside the village of Champ du Boult—which is near the village of Vire, in the Calvados Region in Normandy. It is early spring here, and everything is green, budding, and right now, very wet.

According to the information on the building, La Pelviniere underwent a complete renovation over 18 months—with final additions done just last year—which transformed the insides of this 300 year old thatched-roof building into a distinctive historic lodging, with completely modern facilities on the inside.

way to our bedroom

michael reading his novel in the sitting area

The bottom line is, we’re not roughing it—and I must admit that I have been very grateful for the central heating the past few days, which have been muggy, rainy, and cold.

 I love the little touches around the house that remind me that this is not your usual house...

the "handle" to my bedroom

The "nightstand" next to my bed, a nitch in the wall

enter -- but mind your head!

a nitch in the kitchen with a stereo & CDs

I do hope before we leave at the end of the week to be able to take a walk in the backyard among the apple trees, which are just-beginning to bloom, and to say hello to the sheep, horses, and chickens that live in the farm next door.

looking out my bedroom window

This whole area is awash with World War II landmarks, history and stories, something we’ll be exploring later in the week, perhaps tomorrow?

Needless to say, no Wi-Fi in our thatched-roof dwelling! But I will post when I can, and concentrate on one aspect or place as we continue on our pilgrimage through the French countryside.

Yesterday we visited Mont-St-Michel, an iconic, imposing landmark about an hour from here. I will post on it soon. Like Chartres, that one place alone commands its own write up!

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NOTE: We heard the news today about the terrifying storms that Norman and Oklahoma City have had the last couple of days -- and the death toll from the tornadoes that went through Moore.  I want to assure you all that you are in our prayers, and we will commend you to Our Lady's care and intercession at every church we go.

my candle of prayer intentions today

Do count on my prayers for you—and thank you for praying us through this pilgrimage journey.