Month of May Rosary Pilgrimage

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.

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.

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

Seeing the divisiveness of the world today, especially in America, a young reporter sought out a Desert monk to receive wisdom on how religion could "fix things".   The reporter tried to be clever and was hoping to get a story that might either generate disagreement or a positive response in order to better the ratings.  However, when asked the question on how to reclaim unity,  and bring people back to God, the monk just answered "Pilgrimage" and turned and walked away.  The Reporter was speechless and stood there, trying to figure out what to do next.

We understand the monk completely. At the Nazareth House Apostolate,  we have always sought to make pilgrimage.

 Throughout history people have made pilgrimages to Holy Places.

Pilgrimage is both a journey and a sacred destination.  Its a conscious effort to journey afar either in search of meaning or as an act of praise, prayer and worship.

"The evolution of modern transportation systems and requirements to fit into work schedules have changed pilgrimage.  Few today would entertain a year -round trip from the UK to the Holy Land, which was the norm in the middle ages - along with all the hardships."  - Dr. Justine Digance of Griffith University of Australia.  In America, even fewer make pilgrimages.

When the monk replied "Pilgrimage"; what he was saying is that if more people began to come apart from the daily bombardment of the media, the political scene and the economy that seek to divide us with the industrialization of horror and doubt and if we instead searched out holy places we would begin to disconnect to connect.  And the connection is a re-connecting to God.  The journey done right makes the arriving rewarding.

The definition of a Pilgrim is a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons.

As you've heard us say so many times here at NHA, it is the walking the path we pray and praying the path we walk.

A pilgrimage is a spiritual journey with a sacred purpose.  It's much more than jumping into the car to go look at Religious Statues.  Its an act of prayer, each step brings us to an intersection of integrating the past, present and future.  Progress is determined by the rest and action.  In our steps, the progress, moving forward is determined by the stability of the rest as found in the foot that holds the weight of the body and the foot that moves forward.  Here we learn to be at home with the ground at our feet.

What do we do on pilgrimage?

"And what I say unto you, I say unto all: Watch." Mk. 13:37

Let us create space dedicated to God in our lives, departing from the ways of the world.  

Pilgrimage

Seeing the divisiveness of the world today, especially in America, a young reporter sought out a Desert monk to receive wisdom on how religion could "fix things".   The reporter tried to be clever and was hoping to get a story that might either generate disagreement or a positive response in order to better the ratings.  However, when asked the question on how to reclaim unity,  and bring people back to God, the monk just answered "Pilgrimage" and turned and walked away.  The Reporter was speechless and stood there, trying to figure out what to do next.

We understand the monk completely. At Nazareth House Apostolate,  we have always sought to make pilgrimage.

 Throughout history people have made pilgrimages to Holy Places.

Pilgrimage is both a journey and a sacred destination.  Its a conscious effort to journey afar either in search of meaning or as an act of praise, prayer and worship.

"The evolution of modern transportation systems and requirements to fit into work schedules have changed pilgrimage.  Few today would entertain a year -round trip from the UK to the Holy Land, which was the norm in the middle ages - along with all the hardships."  - Dr. Justine Digance of Griffith University of Australia.  In America, even fewer make pilgrimages.

When the monk replied "Pilgrimage"; what he was saying is that if more people began to come apart from the daily bombardment of the media, the political scene and the economy that seek to divide us with horror and doubt and if we instead searched out holy places we would begin to disconnect to connect.  And the connection is a re-connecting to God.  The journey done right makes the arriving rewarding.

The definition of a Pilgrim is a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons.

As you've heard us say so many times here at NHA, it is the walking the path we pray and praying the path we walk.

A pilgrimage is a spiritual journey with a sacred purpose.  It's much more than jumping into the car to go look at Religious Statues.  Its an act of prayer, each step brings us to an intersection of integrating the past, present and future.  Progress is determined by the rest and action.  In our steps, the progress, moving forward is determined by the stability of the rest as found in the foot that holds the weight of the body and the foot that moves forward.  Here we learn to be at home at the ground of our feet.

What do we do on pilgrimage?

"And what I say unto you, I say unto all: Watch." Mk. 13:37