By Cliff Garvey

My personal relationship with the Blessed Mother and her Rosary can be best described as the proverbial “long and winding road.” When my faith journey began more than twenty-five years ago, I was initially very reluctant to ask Our Lady for help and guidance. I feared that a more devotional spirituality would lead me away from Christ. I feared that repeating “pray for us, sinners” over and over again would lead to unexpected consequences. And I believed that I should be in charge of my own spiritual life. Needless to say, fear, pride, and stupidity were my primary motivations back then.

Over the course of long years, however, Mary found her way into my life in unexpected ways. I found a roughly carved, homemade statue of Our Lady in a parish closet that seemed to have been left waiting for me. I listened to a priest who left a lasting impression with a simple homily about the faithful discipleship of the Blessed Mother and the Beloved Disciple at the foot of the Cross. I made a friend, more than forty years older than me, who badgered, encouraged, and pleaded with me to open my heart to the Blessed Virgin. And finally, I met Archbishop Francisco Viti of Huambo, Angola in the confessional booth at the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi.

For the better part of a decade, Archbishop Viti directed my annual retreats in Assisi. He personally met with me every day. He gave me passages from the scriptures to read and remember during times of trial. He celebrated Mass with me and for my intentions at the tomb of Saint Francis. He believed that we were brought together for a reason — that he should be my spiritual father and that I should be his spiritual son. Across a vast ocean, despite our different cultures and races, we are never far from each other’s thoughts and prayers. Wherever we are in the world, we can turn to each other (through the miracle of modern technology) for prayer and counsel.

During our last meeting in Assisi, just weeks before he returned permanently to Angola, Archbishop Viti encouraged me to grow closer to the Blessed Mother. He talked with me about his childhood in Angola; about how he had been forced to work like a slave by building streets in Huambo; and about how he had been taught to pray the Rosary by his own mother. He talked with me about his experi- ences during Angola’s civil war; about violence and destruction and death threats; and about how much Mary meant to him. He told me about how much comfort and strength he took from his relationship with her; and how much closer he grew to the Lord by, through, and with her prayers. Ultimately, he told me with the authority of an archbishop that one cannot grow closer to Christ without knowing his mother.

When he could see that his words were not having their desired effect, he took me by the arm, led me through a series of hallways and dark passageways, and finally opened a narrow door. We walked through the door and found ourselves in the Lower Basilica of Saint Francis, at a side altar dedicated to the Blessed Mother. He pulled a stole from his pocket, placed it around his neck, ordered me to kneel, put his hands on my head, and began to pray in Latin. In all honesty, I did not understand what was happening. For one brief moment, I feared that I was being ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Huambo and that I would be bound for Angola — forever!

Soon, I realized that Archbishop Viti was praying for me and for the intercession of Our Lady, so that my heart and mind would be opened to her love and prayers. I felt deeply consoled, deeply blessed, and deeply grateful. But I still did not fully appreciate what happened that day in the Basilica of Saint Francis. Almost one year later, I wrote to Archbishop Viti and asked him to explain what he had prayed for that day.

He wrote back: “My son, during these last few days, I have been thinking about you and your question. When I anointed you at the altar of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, I said a prayer through which I consecrated your life to Our Lady. It was not from a book but from my heart as a son of Mary. I consecrated you to her as I was consecrated myself at the age of twelve in 1945. The Mother of God has protected me like a mother. Through suffering, illness, and persecution, and in moments when I could not understand my life, I found refuge and comfort in the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” Four years later, this message still takes my breath away.

My journey has been long and it continues now. But that’s how it works. Our journey is Mary’s journey. Our journey with her is the journey of the Church. Just as Mary nurtured the Christ Child born in a manger, she nurtures us through her love and her prayers. Just as she walked with Jesus along the dusty roads of Galilee, she walks with us when we en- counter love and joy, pain and sadness, strength and weakness.

Just as Mary stood in prayer at the foot of the Cross, she stands in prayer with us and for us when we’re happy, when we’re grieving, when we’re healthy or sick, when we’re young, and when we’re near death. She stands with us as she stood with her crucified son: devotedly, lovingly, unconditionally. And just as Mary rejoiced with the disciples when the Lord was risen from death, she rejoices with us when we find joy in life’s simple pleasures; when we reach out to the poor, the sick, and the hungry; and when we grow in prayer, fellowship, and service. This is my journey with our Blessed Mother. This is my long and winding road. What’s yours?

Cliff Garvey
Associate Minister
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: cgarvey@ccgronline.com

CCGR Weekly Newsletter (5-14-17)  
Bringing Home the Word (5-14-17)

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The Assisi Project
Spring Icon Raffle
Now Through June 10th

Now through June 10th, the Assisi Project is sponsoring a Spring Raffle for a beautiful hand painted icon called “Sweet Kisses” which beautifully depicts Our Blessed Mother holding her Son. Throughout the Christian world, icons are venerated as windows into heaven and are known to be powerful instruments of divine grace and miracles. This particular icon was handcrafted in Greece using traditional tempera paint and gold leaf. It was blessed on the relics of Saint Spyridon the Wonderworker, a third century saint whose incorrupt relics are believed to be the source of many miracles. All proceeds from the Assisi Project’s Spring Raffle will be donated to the Saint Vincent de Paul Society. A donation of $1.00 per ticket is requested. We hope to raise $2,000! Tickets can be purchased after various daily and weekend Masses in our churches; at our parish offices; and by contacting Cliff Garvey at cgarvey@ccgronline.com. Thank you for your generous support!