Radio! Plus Twitter

Ladies and gentlemen, I am excited to announce that I have joined Twitter! CHECK IT OUT! Username: @LauraRDeMaria. I will use Twitter as one more way to communicate about the things that matter to me in the world of spiritual exploration and growth. It's lots of fun to find other Catholics online, as well, and share stories and information from all over the world and be able to keep on top of what's happening politically and socially as it relates to the Church. Very exciting times!

I also spoke with John Harper and the Morning Air team this morning, discussing my article, Finding Your True Self in Marian Devotion. The article itself has generated a few comments at the bottom, and I love hearing how other people have been led "home" by a calling to pray the rosary. It really is that simple. 

The radio interview was really more focused on my own path home, as it began with the rosary. It was a brief interview so trust and believe I could have talked on that subject, and more deeply, for an even longer time. Just as a bit of behind-the-scenes, I never actually know exactly what I'll be talking about when I go on, just that the article itself will be the focus point. So it's fun to see what angle John takes and what he is interested in speaking to me about. You can listen to the audio here, starting at 41:45. Will I ever get used to the sound of my own voice via radio or technology? Nah. Also, can I tell when it's John or Glen talking? No, not really, and that's also funny to me. By the way, sorry for the initial technical difficulty, if you listen - we fixed it eventually.

One other thing: it is officially summer. This is my favorite season, and as I write, the sun is setting against a baby blue sky, setting the strands of clouds to pink and periwinkle. The pool below is flickering peacefully with the day's last swimmers slushing back and forth. Did you dance about the maypole today? Or drink in some fresh air? Summer is fast and not lasting - like many good things. Even though I did not get outdoors today, I thank God simply for the fact it is summer and that outside the world is turning to glorious, warm dusk, right at this very moment in time.

Finding Your True Self through Marian Devotion

Originally published in Catholic Stand, June 18, 2017.

I have written before that my spiritual life is owed to Mary. A few years ago, after a long period of lapsed faith, I felt suddenly called to pray the Rosary, which was followed by daily Mass attendance, then Confirmation into the Church, and the rest, as they say, is history.

It is impossible for me to separate my Catholic faith from a love for the Blessed Mother, and yet I know many Catholics – and certainly many non-Catholics – find the idea of praying to Mary, and seeking her intercession, puzzling at best and blasphemous at worst.

As many great saints have acknowledged, the sun cannot be eclipsed by the moon. Marian devotion is just that: the moon that is illumined by and reveals the shining love of Christ. We are called to form a relationship with Mary, a human person who was close to our Lord; this relationship will lead us to closer to Christ, and help us become the true persons God calls us to be...

Being, Serving and Loving Like Mary - read the rest of the article here.

The Story of Tobit

This week has contained some of my favorite readings from the Bible, all within the story of Tobit. This is a great time of year for the daily readings. I think something that is emphasized time and again throughout the Bible is how it's okay to be human - it is in fact necessary for getting closer to God - and no character epitomizes this better than Tobit (though maybe Peter, too).

If you're not familiar with the story, Tobit is a husband and father who is very devout and always looking for ways to help others, including providing a proper burial for his kinsman against the king's wishes. He is really quite aware of his own charitable nature, saying, "I, Tobit, walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of my life, and I performed many acts of charity to my brethren and countrymen" (Tobit 1:3). Not so humble. 

Through a series of events he falls into favor with the ruling class, falls back out, must move his family, and survive. Then one night after one of his charitable acts he sleeps outside, gets poo'd upon by a pigeon and wakes up with a blinding "film" over his eyes. The next series of events involves his wife, his son Tobias, his son's future wife, a massive fish and the angel Raphael who basically makes everything better. You can read a summary of the drama here.

Many people focus on the "film" detail of this story and what Tobit's blindness means, symbolically, but I have always been much more interested in Raphael's role. Once upon a time I read that it is good to pray to the angel Raphael for "good meetings," as he is the agent by which Tobias and his future wife Sarah meet, as well as the one who shows Tobias how to find his way home. Of course during his interactions with the family, Raphael does not reveal himself to be an angel, until they try to give him money for his services, at which point he has to come clean: "I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One" (Tobit 12:15). Okay!

Could't we all use a Raphael? Someone to show up, lead the way, fix the mess and not even want a tip? Then I thought - well, we really do. That's what trust and faith in God is all about. You have Jesus and Mary, the intervention of the saints, your guardian angel and loved ones who have passed on. And, I'm guessing, Raphael himself probably shows up every once in a while, incognito, to smooth your path. Just ask him to - he's very good at it, and I bet he'd be much obliged. He'll even remove the blindness from your eyes (from your life).

Above all he asks Tobit and Tobias to always, always, praise God: praise him in front of others for all he has done in your life. "Do not be slow to give him thanks," he advises (Tobit 12:6). I think Raphael knows what he is talking about. As I have written about before, gratitude is a state of mind, it is a habit, it is an orientation toward God. If all else falls away in your life, what you will have left is a relationship with God, sustained by your direct thanks to him for making you and asking you to be as His. Simply making that prayer of thanks is enough.

May Raphael lead us toward the people, places and things that will help us live our lives according to God's will.