 Let every heart prepare Him room.
The lights were dimmed and the altar was illuminated by the mass of candles placed around it. I listened to that line over and over again- let every heart prepare Him room. Honestly, I felt like I had been listening to some sort of variation of those words since Advent was remotely near. Hearing the questions, how can we prepare for the coming of Jesus? What do you need to remove in your life to make more room for Him? And if I’m totally honest I was the one asking those questions at least half the time.
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 Bloch, Carl Heinrich, Woman at the Well [Public Domain] via Wikimedia Commons. “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
To be seen. Just those words alone have a mix of connotations for me. It is the ultimate desire of my heart, but also something I run from. A few days ago, I was doing Visio Divina (praying with art) with this image with a group of young adults. What struck all of us was that Jesus noticed this woman. His look is impenetrable. Jesus went beyond the social constructs of the time and spoke to her.  There is a sort of heartbreak about viewing art, especially viewing artwork that really strikes you. Maybe it even cuts you to the heart. Suddenly, you feel the excitement of discovering a new favorite artist or something about the artwork that draws you in: a dark figure that seems to stick out underneath layers of a painting, dialogue in a theater performance that brings you to tears, or a raw poetic lyric that catches you in a hip-hop song. What’s heartbreaking about these experiences is that they can only last for a fleeting moment, or moments, depending on how long you sit with it or how many times you are able to come back to it. It is a temporary experience of beauty that can’t last forever, as much as we want it to. We can’t hold on to that moment when a work of art gets you and draws you in deeper.
 My Dear Sisters in Christ,
On today's feast day, the feast of St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, we are so excited to release our newest book...Behold: The Sorrowful Mysteries. This program in particular was the fruit of much prayer on one of the most difficult parts of our faith, but also one of the most beautiful, redeeming, and hopeful.  I recently moved to New York, and one of the most striking things is the constant stimulation I have felt in this bustling city. My life has been filled with so many new things since moving here, and yet, there has been such a sense of emptiness and lack of being satisfied.
As I ponder the Beatitudes, there is something deep down which makes me uncomfortable. There is an unrest which I cannot silence, no matter how long I may try. “I cried this morning. I know that my Father is sad too. I feel this sadness very much. Why does it have to be so?” “My child, beloved child. I cannot spare you tears. Sometimes, I even wait for them. Then I wipe them and say, ‘do not cry.’ What remains is to await a new maturity.” Radiation of Fatherhood, page 19  My Dear Sister,
I write these words as I pray through my own sorrow. For weeks, I have wanted to write, but have been unable to do so. There has been so much written, and so many emotions expressed, that I desired to pray for words of healing in this time. Our Church is hurting. Christ is hurting. His Bride is hurting. You and I are hurting. We ache. It has been quite a while since we have posted on the blog! I am writing today to share our exciting news of why we have not been able to post as much recently. This past Thursday, I moved to Manhattan, New York City because we are partnering with Frassati NYC (http://frassati.nyc) !!!
For the next year, we will be doing ministry with Frassati and leading a Visio Divina prayer group on Wednesdays. We are so very excited to be leading young women and men in the heart of the city to come to know the Lord more by praying with art.
The upcoming Visio Divina is this upcoming Wednesday, September 12 at 7 PM. If you are in the area, we'd love to have you join us! 7pm: Fellowship/Dinner. Bring your own dinner or come at 6:45pm to order for $7 7:30pm–9pm: Prayer time. Begins with Liturgy of the Hours Evening Prayer. Then reading and praying with Scripture and art. Location: Kolping House. 165 E 88th St S. New York, NY 10128 (Between Lexington and 3rd Ave) Buzz and walk back to the double doors |
