I understand your decision about the wedding. When I first accepted assignment to language school at Fort Bragg, I knew my mother’s health was declining and there was a distinct possibility that she wouldn’t survive until I returned (as, in fact, she did not). At her funeral, I said that I was doing what she had taught me: that I would not want to prevent my children from growing, just to keep them physically closer to me. You’re following the path of your growth, and you may regret the cost but you decided in advance that it was worth it to you. I honor this.
Your brother clarified to me that he’s feeling an exhilaration at discovering that campus Catholics have the same values and seriousness that he does, but he also confirmed that the power of the Rosary is a significant attraction. I remember, when your mother and I were flying back from the Alaska cruise, we were jammed into these horrible cramped seats and it was a six-hour flight; she was getting so distressed by the physical discomfort that she was approaching hysteria (and I’m not putting her down, I wasn’t doing a whole lot better), and the only thing I could think of — the only thing available to me at that point — was to begin leading her in a Rosary. We focused on that, and it carried us until we were able to change our positions. Not exactly a spiritual breakthrough, but it worked, and one of the reasons it worked was that it had real meaning for us.
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Date: 2006-09-22 04:47 am (UTC)