Posted by Joe on his FB 4/8/11

Hi everyone,

I think this will probably be my one of my last updates until Tuesday or Wednesday, but I wanted to just put out a quick note. I want to preface this by saying that I know how religious/spiritual stuff is sometimes really awkward, and I've always tried to avoid it on FB because I don't ever want to come across as belittling someone else's belief system, or as if I have all the answers*. In fact, one of the things that has been completely overwhelming over the last week and a half has been finding the power of people of so many diverse traditions placing me in their thoughts and prayers. As Katie had put out on her FB, we've got people from dozens of different Christian denominations, Jewish friends, Muslim friends, atheist friends, secular humanist friends all exuding the same positive focus, whether you call it thoughts or prayers or something else. And that's a beautiful thing, no matter what you believe in.

So it's with a little reluctance, and with absolutely no slight intended toward our friends of other faiths that I share this story, and a request for a special prayer from those whose beliefs would allow them to do this.

I went to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio this morning to try to center myself a little bit before Monday. For those who don't know of the shrine, it's a place where miracles have happened since 1875. The lower basilica is filled with evidence of these miracles. I visited the shrine for the first time exactly 20 years ago this spring for my TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) retreat during my junior year in high school. My relationship with God changed on that retreat from something rote to something a little more adolescent, if not adult. And my experience of God there in the upper basilica was something probably a little out of the ordinary. Through my youth, I had always entertained the idea of becoming a priest. But during one night on retreat, I felt this overwhelming message come through me: You are supposed to have a family.

Time passed, and the shrine always had a place in my heart and soul. In the summer of 1997, I went to the shrine, and threw out my last full pack of cigarettes, and turned that corner (with fits and starts) of becoming a non-smoker. In the spring of 2000, Katie and I had an accident near the shrine and emerged unscathed, despite spinning a couple of 360s through two lanes of traffic. In 2007, Katie and I prayed over another situation, and emerged stronger on the other side. In 2008, we prayed at the shrine as we expected Mark's arrival. And so on, and so on. Miracles not of the Lazarus variety for us, but every time we have prayed at Carey, our petitions have been answered. Every time.

Throughout the past week, I have had a tremendous battle in my head between acceptance of God's will, no matter what it may be, and the necessity to maintain powerful positive energy. So I went to Carey today in search of God's presence, which I know is everywhere, but has always been particularly strong for us in that place. And I sort of woke up to the idea that it's OK for me to pray for recovery! And it's OK to pray for a miracle! And it's OK to pray to be cured, and it's OK to pray that I might live long enough to know my grandchildren! So I prayed for all of these things today, throughout the basilica. As I prayed at different stations around the church, I came across someone's novena note at the display of saintly relics.

Many of you have asked what you can do to help, and I have rather generically asked for prayers. I'm going to be a little more specific this time, and ask you to say a certain prayer in a certain way, and I truly believe, God put me at that place to see this note, and though I have been hesitant to ask for help, I'm asking now.

A novena is a form of prayer said over the course of nine days. This novena I found while praying near the sacred relics asks the person praying to visit church each day for nine days, and write down the following prayer, and leave a copy of the prayer in the church, and light a candle each day. The prayer reads:

"May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, adored, blessed, and glorified throughout the world, now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I put my trust in Thee."

Again - and I apologize if this comes off like I'm in my classroom giving directions!

1.) Write the prayer on a piece of paper

2.) Go to church

3.) Say a prayer for complete recovery

4.) Light a candle so the prayer might continue

5.) Leave the paper with the prayer on it in the church

6.) Repeat for nine days

For those who are comfortable doing this prayer, I cannot thank you enough, because I know how difficult it is to fit one more thing into our schedules. If you would let me know who you are I want to personally thank you on the other side of this thing.

For those from other faith traditions that are not comfortable with this, I thank you for your thoughts, and prayers, and warm wishes, and positive energy just as intensely as I thank those who can perform the novena. Your prayers and thoughts mean JUST as much to me, and I am so very grateful.

Love to all,

Joe

* I am more aware than ever that this applies to politics as well. I will try really, really, really hard not to engage in political discussions on FB anymore. One of the things I find I just do not care about over the past week and a half is politics... which may not be a good thing for a social studies teacher.