and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit

wall mosaic, Walsingham, England © María Ruiz Scaperlanda

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,

they were all in one place together.

And suddenly there came from the sky

a noise like a strong driving wind,

and it filled the entire house in which they were.

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,

which parted and came to rest on each one of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit

and began to speak in different tongues,

as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

~first chapter of Acts

Come Holy Spirit!

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,

they were all in one place together.

And suddenly there came from the sky

a noise like a strong driving wind,

and it filled the entire house in which they were.

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,

which parted and came to rest on each one of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit

and began to speak in different tongues,

as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

~first chapter of Acts 

I continue to be fascinated by the fields of yellow. Like the yellow arrows pointing the way on the Camino de Santiago, the yellow fields lead us from one region of France to the next. 

I won't be able to keep up regular postings this coming week since we're staying in a remote farm house in the Normandy region where the nearest town is actually a village without a church. This is not McDonald territory! As before, we'll be taking day trips to sights in the region, starting with Mont St. Michel tomorrow. 

I have yet to write or post pictures of Chartres Cathedral. As our guide yesterday noted, Chartres is a book. I promise, I will be quoting from this incredible book as soon as I am able. It requires its own individual entry--or five!

Count on my continued prayers for you, in a particular way for any and all special intentions. Today's candle -- at the image of Our Lady of Lourdes at Notre Dame de Vire parish (Vire being the name of the "big town" near the village near our farmhouse). 

 

at the end of the day

Las Vegas Cathedral

At our parish’s Confirmation Mass tonight, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley challenged the Confirmation Candidates in the pews—and all of us by extension—to live out the Catholic faith in all and every aspect of daily life.

Quoting the now familiar saying by St. Francis ofAssisi, “preach the Gospel, and if necessary, use words,” the Archbishop added, 

“You can’t compartmentalize faith. Live it out at school, at work, with your friends and family, on Facebook and other social media, in everything you do!”

Mary on the hood of a car

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

In her dignity and faithfulness, Mother Mary embodies the heart of this true discipleship. I find great comfort in knowing that Mary understood mystery in her life, the same mystery that as Christians we live out daily, hoping to understand God’s vision and desire for our life.

We know she said ‘yes’ in complete freedom at the Annunciation. She also said ‘yes’ to raising a child who was the Son of God. She said ‘yes’ every time she accompanied him during his ministry. She said ‘yes’ when she saw him suffer and die at the cross. And she said ‘yes’ when the Holy Spirit came to her and the apostles at Pentecost.

She was a woman, like us, who said ‘yes’ daily. And in so doing, she chose to truly LIVE everything, and she chose to live everything with God.   

On the wall of a chapel at Notre Dame University

My take-away: embrace the high and low tides

"And I know what I have to do now. 

I got to keep breathing. 

Because tomorrow, the sun will rise. 

Who knows what the tide could bring?" 

~Tom Hanks' character, Chuck, in Castaway (2000)

Our time at No. Padre Island is coming to an end, and as usual, we find ourselves saying to one another, "do we really have to leave?"

sunset on No. Padre Island

It didn't use to be that my hubby enjoyed the beach even half as much as I do. The sand "everywhere" bothered him, and I couldn't answer Michael's constant question, what can I do now? In fact, one of the greatest birthday presents--and acts of love--that he ever gave me was planning and agreeing to camp on the beach for my 36th birthday. Yes, I do mean tent camping. Nothing is more delicious than going to sleep and waking up to the sound of the waves! And, yes, there was sand everywhere.

But we're older now, and perhaps a little wiser. We come to the beach to actually "do" nothing, both of us--to unwind, relax, and just "be." We no longer tent camp, but we still come to the same area that we discovered together decades ago. We come by ourselves. We come with our family. We come yearly in the summer with families who have been our friends for the vast majority of our lives.

In a very real way, this has become our second home. 

As I meandered up and down the shore these past few days, two types of shells stood out in my bounty: scalloped shells of all colors and sizes, and red shells of all kinds:

scallop shell = symbol for the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage

color red = symbolizes strong emotions; liturgically, it's the color of blood and martyrs--and the color of fire and Pentecost

I'm constantly learning about life and my spirit when I'm at the beach...

But just as not everyday can be a 23 mile day, I can't remain here forever, either.

On this time away, the sea reminded me what it means to be and feel alive, changing and welcoming what God has waiting for me from moment to moment. And how essential it is for my spirit to remain rhythmically connected to nature, and to my own daily high and low tides.

Important notice: 

be sure to read this Sunday's blog post in Day by Day, a Q&A with author Mary DeTurris Poust on the spirituality of food and her new book, Cravings. And -- you could win a copy of her book, as well as enter to win a Williams Sonoma gift card!