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| Immaculate Conception, Salem, MA |
So today is her Feast day, a day to celebrate her as the Immaculate Conception. My church is called the Immaculate Conception, and it was the parish of not only my father, and his parents, but also his father's parents before him. My great grandparents helped to build this church. A generation of impoverished irish immigrants paid for its construction ( a miracle in and of itself), and they dedicated it to Mary.
I love going to Mass, knowing that my father, grandparents and great grandparents all attended Mass here. All our most solemn family events have been held here -- baptisms, marriages and funeral masses. I was confirmed here and stood on the same spot where where my brother and his wife joined in marriage, and the same spot where my father's casket stood in his funeral Mass. I have stood up as a godparent in this building many times. I have prayed here and wept here, and celebrated here one hundred times at least.
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| View from the balcony, Immaculate Conception Church, Salem, MA |
I love that my parish church is devoted to Mary, The Immaculate Conception. I turn to her in so many difficult times, and she is always ever patient, gentle, understanding...always pointing towards her son, whom she so loves. It was Mary who lead me back to my Catholic faith after many years of drifting aimlessly and searching for answers. It was Mary who comforted me when depression was getting the better of me. If you come to my house, my devotion to her is evident in everything from the artwork hanging on my walls, to the statues hidden in corners, to the prayer cards by my bed. She has been there for me, even when I have ignored her.Her love is unconditional and incredibly healing.
For some reason speaking of my incredible love for her and my faith is difficult. Not because I am ashamed or embarrased. On the contrary -- it is because it is so essential to who I am, I find it impossible to articulate its true place and meaning in my life. no matter. I do not believe in preaching. I only strive to be more like her. May my love and devotion to her and to her son be evident in my actions.
Thank you Mary, for all you have done for me! I honor you this day!
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| " I am the Immaculate Conception." |
Hi Keri, yes today is a special day and I was just over at my friends site "Lord Make Me A Saint" and Jamie Jo is just as excited. You should check her site out and get to see her 5 beautiful children as well on the header.
ReplyDeleteOh, Faerie Mama! This post brought tears! I've been reading you for a couple weeks now and you are often on my mind throughout the day. I think you are a wonderful example of what it is to follow Christ.
ReplyDeleteI, too, have a deep devotion to our Lady and often find I just can't do her justice in explaining that deep love, because of her leading me to her Son.
Thank you for sharing your faith with us today. I appreciate it.
It all makes sense now, all that you do, could not be done if you didn't have the faith you have.
Praying for you and all those beautiful children.
BEautiful old church. Our parish has a modern church which I really don't are for at all. The presence just doesn't seem as great in a modern church......When I visited the Vatican it was total awe.....
ReplyDelete"It was Mary who lead me back to my Catholic faith after many years of drifting aimlessly and searching for answers. It was Mary who comforted me when depression was getting the better of me... She has been there for me, even when I have ignored her.Her love is unconditional and incredibly healing."
ReplyDeleteI so agree with your words here. Beautiful pictures of your church.
You have a beautiful church - have to say I envy you.... My church was built in the '60s. Enough said.
ReplyDeleteJust stumbled upon this post when I 'googled' Salem IC to find a picture for my fiancee. Great reflection. My great-grandparents also helped build the church, my grandparents were baptized, confirmed, and had their memorial Masses here as well. My dad and his many siblings also went to the former school and were baptized and confirmed there, and though he has drifted away from the faith at times, he intends to have his memorial Mass there as well. A timeless structure for a timeless faith. Great reflection. While I grew up somewhere else, Salem was always a second hometown for me, and I hope to make it my actual one soon.
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