24 March 1980: Oscar Romero, a Life of Courageous Faith

Posted on March 24, 2018 by Virginia

Sometimes faith comes with a price – an expensive exchange if we’re serious about it. Consider Archbishop Oscar Romero, who in faith raised his voice against injustices pervading El Salvador and paid with his life, martyred on 24 March 1980 while celebrating Mass at the Divina Providencia Chapel in San Salvador.

As we remember Archbishop Oscar Romero’s life of courageous faith, the love of Jesus Christ he shared (especially with the poor), and the sacrifice of his life – his voice continues to challenge our world toward justice.

Selected as Archbishop of San Salvador in 1977, he was considered a ‘safe choice’ – an academic. He could have continued comfortably as he was, yet the murder of his good friend, Jesuit Father Rutilio Grande, shook him to stand up for the rights of the poor, which he did tirelessly to all sides of the conflict in El Salvador.

After receiving death threats a few weeks before he was murdered, he said: “Let it be known that it is no longer possible to kill the voice of justice.” May his words continue to stir our hearts with faith that stands up for others, loves without prejudice, seeks mutual understanding, and works toward lasting justice.

Here are a few favorite quotes from Through the Year with Oscar Romero (St. Anthony Messenger Press) to stir our spirits into action as we remember his life today.

“Christianity is not a collection of truths that one has to believe, of laws one has to keep, a list of prohibitions. Christianity is a Person that loved me so much that He demands my love.  Christianity is Christ.”  (November 6, 1977)

“This is the mission of the church: to awaken the spiritual meaning of life, the divine worth of human action.”  (August 20, 1978)

“It is not enough to attend Mass on Sunday; it is not enough to call yourself a Catholic. Appearances are not enough. God is not satisfied with appearance. God wants the garment of justice. God wants Christians dressed in love.”  (October 15, 1978)

“Faith doesn’t only mean believing with the head but also committing your heart and your life.”  (January 7, 1979)

“A civilization of love is not sentimentality; it is justice & truth. True love consists in demanding of the relationships with those we love what is just. There can’t be love where there are lies.”  (April 12, 1979)

“Social justice is not so much a law that orders distribution. Seen from a Christian perspective, it is an internal attitude like that of Christ, who being wealthy, became poor to share His love with the poor. Share what you are & what you have.”  (February 24, 1980)

“If only we realized that the person in need is Christ, the one who has been tortured, the one who has been imprisoned, the one who has been murdered, and if, in the body of each person thrown in so undignified a fashion by the side of the road, we were to see the Christ who was left there, I would wager a golden medal that we would pick him up tenderly and we would kiss him and we would not be ashamed of him.” (March 16, 1980)

“That this immolated Body and this Blood sacrificed for humankind, may nourish our bodies and our blood in suffering and in pain, like Christ, not for its own sake, but rather to give the concepts of justice and peace to our people.  Let us join together then, intimately in faith and hope in this moment of prayer.”  (March 24, 1980)

grace, peace & courageous faith

Virginia

p.s. For those of you unfamiliar with the life of Blessed Archbishop Oscar Romero, click here to read more about his life via The Archbishop Romero Trust.

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beauteous wayside sacraments (quickie quote!)

Posted on March 23, 2018 by Virginia

On this last Friday of Lent, here’s a quickie quote to challenge our hearts.

“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God’s handwriting – a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.”   Ralph Waldo Emerson

cup of blessings (just had to use this pic again!)

grace, peace & wayside sacraments

Virginia : )

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World Water Day: Water! Water! Water!

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Virginia

As we commemorate World Water Day 2018 there is certainly much to celebrate. Since this day began 25 years ago many more people (2 billion) have access to safe water globally. However, 11% of the world’s population still do not have access.

11% of 7.6 billion people. Do the math. That is still way too many people.

There are many reasons for this: drought, arid regions made more arid by desertification, polluted natural water resources, expensive price tags (prohibitive costs of wells & water systems where people live on less than $2.50/day), conflict & water apartheid (swimming pools of oppressors overflow while oppressed people barely have enough to drink.)

Do we think about the scarcity of water as we fill our tubs, wash our cars? Or how ’bout that glass of cold ice water we slurp down when we’re really thirsty (especially after a workout?)

For some folks, that glass of clean water is something they spend hours & hours to bring home (on foot) by bucket.

Then there’s water needed for crops that we need to eat, to live? Ever think about how much water it takes to grow the food we eat? Where water is scarce that is something that must be carefully considered. With water a precious resource there are many ways to make it go further: permaculture, crop rotation, drought resistant crops, better irrigation systems, planting trees to keep the water table working, and conservation.

As a relief & development worker living places where every drop had to count (managing a shower and washing my hair with a 1-liter bottle of water) and at one point coordinating a safe-water initiative for 14 countries during a globetrotting job, Virginia appreciates that water is a lifeline for people & communities.

community water source (unsafe!)

More from a younger Virginia (in a Christmas letter, circa 2000) :

“Visiting communities in areas with lack of safe water access has been a humbling experience. After listening to women in a drought-stricken community of Rajasthan (India) describe the struggle of spending up to 10 hours a day collecting water, they asked me: ‘how do you get water in your country?’ Gee, I just turn on the tap.

You can’t imagine the health challenges, the deaths of children caused by contaminated water. In East Timor I spoke with Aurelia, a 35 yr old who looked like she was 50. After the birth of her daughter, Rosa, she couldn’t breastfeed so the doctors in the refugee camp put her baby on formula. When Auralia returned to her village, the community’s carefully constructed water system had been destroyed, so she made the formula with river water. ‘I had no choice,’ she told me, ‘I knew it was bad water.’ Her baby died 2 weeks later from diarrhea, an ailment solved so simply here that kills over 2 million children a year, most from unclean water…”

To learn more about our current global water crisis, check out this overview on UN Water’s website. The challenges can be overwhelming, but we can do our part to conserve and share water as a precious resource. Run the shower a little shorter, fill the tub 1/2 way, don’t let the kitchen sink run & run. Support a safe-water filtration system for a family or community water source through organizations like WaterAid.

“When you give a cup of water to the least of these, you have given it to Me.” Jesus Christ

If we each put drops – however small – in a bucket, maybe one day that bucket will overflow with safe water for everyone.

grace, peace & water, water!

Virginia : )

 “To defend the earth and to safeguard water is to protect life.” Pope Francis

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peace within…

Posted on March 21, 2018 by Virginia

Today here’s a quote from one of my favorite saints for our hearts to contemplate.

“May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.  May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.  May you use those gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing that you are a child of God. 

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and everyone of you.”    Saint Teresa of Avila

grace, peace & infinite possibilities

Virginia : )

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A prayer for nights (& days)

Posted on March 20, 2018 by Virginia

Last night at a birthday party for a dear friend, one of her childhood friends shared a prayer her godmother taught her when she was young. All of us facing challenges of various shapes and sizes (some rather large) took such comfort in her recited prayer, we asked her to write it out. She said her godmother learned it from Benedictine monks at a monastery in Elmira, NY.

“Now in the fading light of day,
Maker of all to You I pray,
That with Your ever-watchful love,
You guard and keep me from above.

Help and defend me through the night,
Danger and terror put to flight.
Never let evil have its way,
Preserve me for another day.

Father Almighty this be done,
Through Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who in one Spirit I adore,
Who reigns with You forevermore.  Amen.”

With many scary things out there in our whacked out world, paralyzing fears that loom large in our hearts can choke our hopes and dreams – not just at night, but in bright daylight. Methinks this Compline prayer can be adapted for daytime, especially the second part: may God help and defend us in daylight and put danger and terror to flight.

It’s good to remember our Heavenly Father has us in the palm of His hand. Even if we’re walking into (and through) scary ordeals, God’s love is with us – always – so we don’t have to be afraid. (Maybe a little is good to keep us on our knees in prayer.)

Two of my favorite life-long Scripture verses (oft repeated during dark nights, days, months & years) are Psalm 27:1&4.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? One thing have I desired of the Lord, that I will seek after: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.”

Sure, we can ask: ‘Why this? Why me? Why now?’ (It’s ok to have a venting session with God.) But, then we need to let the light of God’s everlasting love be our strength and our salvation, which means to let go of our fears.

To seek the beauty of the Lord around us, with us, within us.

Not such a hard thing to do on good days, but a bit trickier in tough times to seek something beautiful. Something for which to give thanks. A rose in the rubble?

A rose blooming, yet adorned with thorns?

The rose of God’s love for us always blooms, ever-watchful, ever-present, with petals of persevering grace, peace, comfort, mercy, wisdom and hope.

A candle of Divine Light to guide us through dark paths of night – and scary days.

grace, peace & persevering Love (& Light)

Virginia : )

“The Christian wears the sureness of Christ.” Archbishop Oscar Romero, martyr for Christ (August 15, 1917 – March 24, 1980)

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Courageous Creativity

Posted on March 19, 2018 by Virginia

Today we remember Joseph, husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Joseph took care of Mary & Jesus by creating things as a carpenter and whisking them away from danger when King Herod went on a killing spree.

It must have taken a bit of courage fleeing to Egypt – into the unkown, a foreign country – to creatively adapt his carpentry skills to provide for them there.

Back in Nazareth, I’m sure Joseph must have creatively repaired things, too. To make them last a little longer, especially for his poor clientele?

In honor of Saint Joseph, here’s something for our hearts to contemplate today.

Indeed. May Saint Joseph’s faithfulness & courageous creativity inspire us today.

grace, peace & courageous creativity

Virginia 😎

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A Song for Sunday: Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Posted on March 18, 2018 by Virginia

Sunday is (almost) over, so here’s a song from one of Virginia’s favorite music groups to lift our spirits (up & up & up!)

I’ve been a huge groupie of LBM – Ladysmith Black Mambazo – for eons. Making music for more than 50 years, LBM continues to brighten the globe with songs of peace, faith and perseverance fused with their native South African Zulu sounds. You may remember them from Paul Simon’s Graceland – they’ve been around a long time.

(You can click here to read their inspiring story.)

With a stack of LBM CDs (& many favorite songs) it’s hard to narrow down just one, but here’s one of the highest frequency plays (& replays) from their two CD compilation “Ladysmith Black Mambazo & Friends.”

Give this YouTube video a listen and be lifted up by their rendition of Swing Low Sweet Chariot (sung with China Black.) Trust me, you will be blessed!

grace, peace & inspiring music

Virginia : )

p.s. A brief thought to contemplate? As Fr. Peter Naah, one of our Ghanaian priests, said the final blessing at the campus service this morning, he challenged the students: “Don’t let your friends pull you down. You pull them up!”

Great advice for all of us, students or not!

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Saint Patrick’s Day FUN!

Posted on March 17, 2018 by Virginia

As we celebrate the life of Saint Patrick (& all things Irish) raise a glass, let’s spread a little Irish cheer. Sláinte!

Virginia has enjoyed many memorable St. Patrick’s days over the years (Irish fellas often have a thing for red heads?) but the most fun celebration occurred in Tanzania. Yep, that’s right, in Africa!

Meeting an Irish buddy, Catherine, during Swahili studies in Arusha, we became kindred spirits muddling our way through initial challenges in our respective placements. Catherine’s posting in Arusha was sponsored by the Irish government, so a few months after our course she came down to Dar es Salaam to stay over for the embassy’s big Saint Patrick’s Day party. We put on our party dresses hoping to meet some handsome Irish fellas.

Dripping (literally in the African heat) with hopeful intentions, we made our way at the big shindig to our assigned table to find no gorgeous Irish fellas, but a bunch of white-haired Irish nuns.

sigh.

But then things got interesting. On each of the beautifully laid tables (with Waterford crystal centerpieces) the Irish distillery Jamesons thoughtfully provided a complimentary bottle of Irish whiskey. One of the nuns (Sister Mary, the oldest) grabbed the big bottle off our table & whisked it into her tote bag. “I’ve come all the way from Singida. We sometimes need a wee sip of something medicinal there to help us through the night.”

Singida is a remotely rural region of Tanzania. As pictured, I visited our projects several times there, but enjoyed getting back to the bustle of big-city Dar. Sister Mary had served over 20 years there with the Irish order of the Medical Missionaries of Mary.

After eating yummy Irish food and imbibing a few wee draughts of Guinness, we danced and danced(!) Catherine & I left at 3:00AM all tired out, but those white-haired Irish nuns were still cutting a rug on the dance floor.

So, totally, completely fun!

Their jobs were seriously intense. I ran into Sister Margaret numerous times afterward at HIV/AIDS coordination meetings – she managed palliative care for AIDS patients in Dar and the other sisters had challenging medical positions – but these Irish nuns with deep hearts of faith & love also enjoyed life. They knew how to have fun.

I’ve never had so much fun on St. Patrick’s Day – and, to think, with a bunch of nuns!

A blessed & happy Saint Patrick’s Day to all!

 ☘ grace, peace & Irish cheer ☘

Virginia : )

 “The past is in God’s hands, so is the future and the present.” 

Mother Mary Martin MMM

p.s. A little more fun with nuns (from a framed napkin a friend gave me.)

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Friday Failures: Cake! Cake! Cake!

Posted on March 16, 2018 by Virginia

Here we are, another Friday in Lent. Easter is OTW (two weeks to go?) There’s not much time left to cram what we planned (hoped? contrived?) to accomplish during this penitential season.

Those three thick tomes I hoped to read? Not opened, yet. Those optimistically engendered spiritual goals for each day, uh, made once a week vs. daily?

Maybe it’s not going quite as I planned (or you, too.)

Maybe there’s been a tumble or bumbling stumble from the narrow Lenten path of observance, perhaps unintentionally?

That’s me. Maybe I intentionally did something off my Lenten grooves, but forgot it was Friday so unintentionally tumbled on two levels.

Monticello (on a blustery Friday!)

Two weeks ago as my brother and I traipsed around wind-blown Monticello (Thomas Jefferson’s home on a hilltop near Charlottesville, VA) we sought refuge in the lovely café there for lunch. Since this was my brother’s birthday celebratory trip (a short 5-day version vs. last year’s mammoth 3-week road trip) I convinced him to try a piece of the blueberry mascarpone cake that I had sampled with my uncle there last year. (Aroma’s, a local coffee shop, also makes this yummy not-too-sweet cake with huge blueberries and Italian mascarpone cheese.)

See the first stumble? CHEESE. I knew the cake had cheese in it, something not on the vegan diet. While traveling I don’t hyperventilate about cheese, especially visiting southern towns where it can be hard to find something vegetarian on menus.

No big deal – BUT – I gave up desserts for Lent.

When my brother filled up on his big sandwich, he said, “Ginny, you gotta help me eat this cake, it’s a shame to waste it.” Shame. Shame. Shame. I did help (eagerly) and didn’t feel much shame ‘til afterwards when I realized IT WAS FRIDAY!

Not only did I fall down on one of my observances, but as a vegetarian Lenten Fridays of abstinence mean I try to not have treats (of any sort) to make it mean something? Cake does not qualify as bare sustenance Friday fare.

Double stumble, tumble, splat. We were traipsing around Charlottesville and environs to celebrate, so I had to pick myself up and keep going (after a few mercy prayers.)

New day: healthy hummus for me & cream cheese for brother

I hadn’t blown it all Lent, turning down delectable desserts left and right (my brother likes sweets.)  But, ‘ya know what? Each day God’s mercies fall fresh on me (ahd you.) The next day was filled with new opportunities to stay the course (by not eating the dessert course), and the next day, and the next…

Even when Dwight ordered my favorite cheesecake at Cheesecake Factory in Richmond, I was able to let him enjoy every bite!

That’s grace.

“Virginia, enough with the cake, already, we get it – fall down 7 times, get up 8!”

Sometimes when we fall into failure, it’s about more than cake. Most times we don’t intentionally fail, but it happens. It’s part of life. It may sneak up on us like eating cake on a Lenten Friday (realizing after the fact we’ve made a mistake.) Or, it might be something altogether more spectacular when we set out to do something and things drastically don’t turn out as we planned.

Falling down, though, the point is to get back up. Think of Jesus on the Via Dolorosa carrying His heavy cross. Whipped, bruised, battered – He fell down, but kept on going.

“Yes, failure is painful, but without pain there is no living in love. So then, go through the arches of Christ’s pain and enter into the joy of His heart. In the process, there will be many times you will fail. You will fall down flat on your face – even as He did on the way to the Cross. Unite yourself with Him and his passion and keep on going.”  Catherine Doherty

grace, peace & (cake-free) perseverance

Virginia : )

“Christ is the way that leads us, the truth that strengthens us, and the life that restores us to life in Him.”  Saint Ambrose

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March Memories of Mama (& Papa!)

Posted on March 15, 2018 by Virginia

March is a month of precious memories for our family – the March 8th memorial of Papa’s passing, Mama’s March 15th birthday, and their March 17th anniversary.

50 roses on Mama & Papa’s 50th wedding anniversary

Every day I thank God for the gift of their lives, the legacy of their love and faithfulness – how Mama took such tender care of Papa through more than 25 years of quadriplegia in their 58-year marriage and how Papa loved her tenderly, too. (As shared previously, the mush police often ran out of ticket paper!)

Mama & Papa holding hands in their African outfits

My Mama was a steel magnolia, fragile like fine china on the outside but steely strong inside – in her faith, love, determination, encouragement and life. She sacrificed so much. An accomplished violinist when she met our Papa, she put her violin away when she started having us five kids. She would take it out on special occasions, but severe rheumatoid arthritis curtailed her playing in later years.

Mama poured her life out from the deep well of God’s love in her heart that overflowed with generous compassion and care for others.

She served selflessly. She loved and lived with unswerving steadfast devotion. She encouraged & inspired others. She gave of herself generously.

She loved chocolate!

I keep finding notes Mama wrote me over the years. When I worked overseas she sent many cards with encouraging words, written in her precious script. I put them in books & all sorts of places, but what joy to uncover them now.

Going through Mama’s things after she passed, I found several of her prayer journals. In honor of her birthday, here’s a quote and short prayer from one of them (circa 2004) to inspire our hearts today:

“My cloud of battle dust may dim

His vail of splendor curtain Him.

And in the midnight of my fear,

I may not feel Him standing near.

But when I lift my eyes above,

His banner over me is love.”

Gerald Massey

Thank You, Lord for this new day. Thank You for keeping us through the night, guarding our hearts in your peace and love. May Christ Jesus Your Son be my all today, enabling me to know You in my heart as Lord, love You with all heart, obey You & be transformed by You as You enable me to ‘lift up my eyes above’ and know ‘Your banner over me is love.’ 

Thank You, Lord – You are my everything. May I bring joy to Your heart today, pleasing you in all things.

Amen.

(a prayer of Virginia Johnson Woodward, my precious mama!)

Mama, we love, love, love, love, love, love you (& miss you, LOTS!)

grace, peace & March memories

Virginia : )

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