Post no 2 - It's Sunday night - 3 more sleeps. The Dragons are the Premiers, outside is grey and wet and there's not much on the tv. Good time to jump online to thank those of you who have already sent messages of support for the trip or have been kind enough to post a comment on the blog. I really appreciate that a lot.
I am beginning to see how much the canonisation of BMM will mean to so many people - Catholic and non-Catholic alike. There is such love and warmth for her. That she is Australian is a factor I guess but I think it is more than that. Maybe it is that she had qualities that Aussies admire: courage, humility, standing up for those with no power or voice, and that she was prepared not to back down to the authorities when she had everything to lose rates her very highly with so many of us. I reckon that even non-Catholics admire her because she did good things for people. Others may never have her personal faith or even be religous at all, but they love her because she brought hope to those who had little or nothing. She had a crack. For me it's more than that and I will write about that at another time.
For now, I just wanted to say a big thanks for the comments and calls. Please keep them coming. I just hope I can give you something worthy of your interest in the days and weeks ahead.
x M.
Rixy,
ReplyDeleteJust a note to wish you well and to congratulate you on the blog!! I'll be following it with interest! Have a great trip and remember to try the coffee and the food as well as sampling the churches!!
Hi Mark
ReplyDeleteGreat job with the blog. You may be interested in the blog from the students of MMC Wakeley in Rome http://we-are-but-travellers-here.blogspot.com/ and the tweets from Rome from Lisa Overton of OLMC http://twitter.com/lisaovertonsyd
Best of luck, enjoy!
Hi Mark,
ReplyDeleteI was feeling a bit out of the canonisation until I read your blog. Now I will be able to “see” and ‘feel” this amazing event through your eyes and heart. It’s never too late (or early) to travel to mainland Europe. My brother took my mother to a Canonisation in October 2002. At the time Mum was 83 years young, had never been O/S and never had a passport! Mum glowed with ‘grace’ and excitement when she returned. It was a momentous event in her life. May it be the same for you!
Warmest wishes,
Mary
Hi Mark,
ReplyDeleteNice blog!!
Enjoy every minute of your time in Rome! I look forward to reading your updates and seeing the photos!
Best wishes,
Sue.
Hi Mark,
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for a wonderful experience in Rome. It is an overwhelmingly breath taking place. Enjoy!
I too have a special connection with Mary M. I wrote to the sisters in N.Sydney when I was 9 yrs old asking for prayers for dad who was ill at the time. One of the sisters responded to my letter and sent me a holy card with a prayer on the back that I prayed each day, and a relic, – a piece of Mary’s clothing. I treasured that relic …. dad kept it beside him till he recovered; I wore it on my clothing at different stages in my life when I needed/wanted Mary’s special guidance – trips o/s, wedding day, birth of my chn; my sister wore it after suffering a stroke at an early age. Mary never let me down and I always felt her spirit during those times. I was devastated 3 years ago when I discovered I had lost it, after 30 years. I just hoped that whoever came across it would treasure it as much as I did. I wrote to the sisters again and they sent out another relic – a piece of the sheeting on which her coffin rested before it was placed in the tomb. It now stays very close to me!
Yesterday I took my chn to Mary Mackillop Place in the hope that they too would appreciate and recognise what a truly special lady she was!
I look forward to experiencing the events leading to the canonisation through your eyes Mark.
Enjoy this historic occasion,
Joanna
Hi Mark,
ReplyDeleteIt will be great to follow your journey through this blog. I also have a special affinity with mary Mackillop - she is actually a distant relative. Our family tree has been done and we found that Mary's mother was the cousin of my great, great grandfather on my father's side. I know it's a stretch but it is fair dinkum.
Anyway, enjoy this special occasion and I look forward to the updates.
Cheers,
Brian
Rixy
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that the first class seat to Roma was adequate!
Thanks for the blog bulletins...it's catching here so by the time Mary gets the big C many more Sydney people (including the schools)will be reading your daily blog.
Had a good meeting with Kathryn this morning...plenty of potental activity with SBS, Channel Ten and papers ...all escalating.
My father still has the 1m x 1m handmade tapestry made by Mary MacK and my great great Aunt. It was displayed during her beatification.
Stay well.
Best to you
Pete