As May draws to an end, today those of us at Nazareth House Apostolate, St. Simeon Skete embarked on our annual Last Saturday of May Rosary Pilgrimage to celebrate The Blessed Virgin Mary.
Pilgrimage is a necessary regular event for us.
Today, falling on the Saturday after the vote in Ireland to repeal the 8th amendment, (in other words Ireland voted yesterday to prevent at will, their unborn children in the womb from ever seeing the light of day - as a matter of convenience, a form of birth control), this tragedy which is an ongoing tragedy here in America already, especially made today's pilgrimage even more necessary. The result of this vote and the many implications go way beyond abortion.
Today's pilgrimage as with every exit from our property began with a Hail Mary at the Statue of Our Lady of Grace, for which our parish is named.
Our first stop was at the Valley Hill Shrine.
There we said the opening Prayers of the Remnant Rosary inside the beautiful Chapel in construction.
Periodically as a sacrificial act of love for God, David Stillwell travels from Cleveland to Springfield with his trunk filled with bricks that he made in his basement. He places a row or two on the chapel and returns back home to Cleveland only to make more bricks, travel here again and add another row. He says, "it doesn't matter if it gets finished, it is my acting out of my love for God". Because of its ongoing construction, we felt it fitting to begin the Rosary Pilgrimage within the chapel as the Remnant Rosary which is the Life of Christ is always constructing Christ within us. Jesus your life is living in me.
At the Nativity Scene at Valley Hill, we said the Joyful Mysteries.
From there we traveled to The Dominican Priory, The Parish of St Rose. Wandering through the grounds, I was struck by the millstones about the property. I'd noticed them before but in light of the strong push in the world these days, for the massacre of the innocents in the womb -- the millstones were more distinct.
We began our stop at St. Rose by saying the Reparation Rosary at the Shrine of Rachel - in reparation for abortions and disrespect for life in general.
The changing water into wine mystery at this window
Finishing with The Supper Mystery we began our journey to the Abbey of Gethsemani.
There we prayed the sorrowful mysteries.
upon leaving Gethsemani, I had to make sure to see one of my favorite Icons...
I always like it when Mary wears red.
From here we concluded our Pilgrimage by saying the Glorious Mysteries at the Holy Rosary Dominican Cemetery.
Pilgrimage is a necessary regular event for us.
Today, falling on the Saturday after the vote in Ireland to repeal the 8th amendment, (in other words Ireland voted yesterday to prevent at will, their unborn children in the womb from ever seeing the light of day - as a matter of convenience, a form of birth control), this tragedy which is an ongoing tragedy here in America already, especially made today's pilgrimage even more necessary. The result of this vote and the many implications go way beyond abortion.
Today's pilgrimage as with every exit from our property began with a Hail Mary at the Statue of Our Lady of Grace, for which our parish is named.
Our first stop was at the Valley Hill Shrine.
There we said the opening Prayers of the Remnant Rosary inside the beautiful Chapel in construction.
Periodically as a sacrificial act of love for God, David Stillwell travels from Cleveland to Springfield with his trunk filled with bricks that he made in his basement. He places a row or two on the chapel and returns back home to Cleveland only to make more bricks, travel here again and add another row. He says, "it doesn't matter if it gets finished, it is my acting out of my love for God". Because of its ongoing construction, we felt it fitting to begin the Rosary Pilgrimage within the chapel as the Remnant Rosary which is the Life of Christ is always constructing Christ within us. Jesus your life is living in me.
At the Nativity Scene at Valley Hill, we said the Joyful Mysteries.
From there we traveled to The Dominican Priory, The Parish of St Rose. Wandering through the grounds, I was struck by the millstones about the property. I'd noticed them before but in light of the strong push in the world these days, for the massacre of the innocents in the womb -- the millstones were more distinct.
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| But whoever shall offend one of these little ones who believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. -Mt. 18:6 |
We began our stop at St. Rose by saying the Reparation Rosary at the Shrine of Rachel - in reparation for abortions and disrespect for life in general.
As we entered the Narthex it was comforting to see a collection of diapers which will be distributed to babies in need. Praise God for Life.
Inside the Sanctuary of St. Rose we prayed the Luminous Mysteries:
St. Rose has beautiful stained glass windows. We prayed the Baptism Mystery at this window.
Finishing with The Supper Mystery we began our journey to the Abbey of Gethsemani.
There we prayed the sorrowful mysteries.
upon leaving Gethsemani, I had to make sure to see one of my favorite Icons...
From here we concluded our Pilgrimage by saying the Glorious Mysteries at the Holy Rosary Dominican Cemetery.
