Confession

What started off as a History lesson
Ended in a confession of love
I hide behind my hands
Does she not see the wrinkles on my face
In twenty years I will be an old man
My old body will give out on me
Abandonment will be my final act
My knees ache from all the praying
Is this what my Lord delivers
Anthony, Anthony, say something
Silence
Anthony
My tears tell her everything

Wedding Day Bombing

The white dress my mother made for me
Now is covered in soot
My husband with blood above his brow
Lays at the foot of the altar
Rumble blankets us
Husband and wife
Was this how it was in Pompeii
Rome
Constantinople
The rosary I gripped so tightly
Is now broken
Broken like me

Proposal

It was five degrees that day
With an open collar you came towards me
I was shivering so
Your embrace took me by surprise
Chaste though it was
Right there on the street we confessed our love
As the wind picked up we walked to a church
On bent knee he asked my heavenly father for my hand

Night of His Birth

Before you are the gates of Bethlehem
The journey is nearly over
And your time is fast approaching
Joy engulfs the heart
The tiny baby that blessed your womb will soon be your arms
There is no fear that you and your husband will have no place to stay
God will provide
You belly moves
A star shines brightly overhead
Joseph it is time

Sweet Bread

My hands grow tired from kneading the dough
Over and over I ask Mama Mary to pray for me
The sweet bread has to be right

The house is dark
The sweet bread Mama made is waiting for me
In my white dress, red sash, and a wreath with candles on my head
I wake the house up and deliver sweet bread to my parents and my brother

This is the first year without Mama
St Lucy was her patron saint and on her feast day it became our mini Christmas
I miss her so
The house is dark, the only light, candles
The sweet bread has to be right

Sun Dance

In the pouring rain I stood
As a nonbeliever
The clouds above, dark brooding
Three small children promised the lady would come
Time moved slowly
Frustration brimmed at the surface
I decided to go home
Dry off
Read the paper
Once my watch reached the bottom of my pocket
The rain stopped
Clouds parted to make room for the sun
In that miraculous moment
The sun danced
It looked like a child's toy in the sky
The belief that had been long gone returned
My ties replaced with the collar
The pocket watch replaced with the Rosary
My cynicism replaced with joy for Our Lady

Memorial Mass for Mother Teresa

Today on the feast day of St Teresa of Calcutta, I am reminded of the memorial mass I attended for her in London 22 years ago. This mass, celebrated by Cardinal Hume was truly Spirit filled. I remember kneeling on marble for nearly half an hour and the marble feeling like a cloud. I remember the breathtaking incense and the peaceful silence. Anytime I get bored at mass, my thoughts go back to that glorious London night where I truly got a taste of heaven.

St Teresa of Calcutta pray for us.