by love i sail: barmherzigkeit

Practically ages ago, we joyfully celebrated the first Sunday after Easter--Divine Mercy or Barmherzigkeit Sontag--and the Beatification (Seligsprechung) of Blessed John Paul II ! What a momentous day!!

We started the day very early by meeting up with a group of over 80 people all gathered to start the first day of a 5 week "Lebendigen Rosenkranz". A tradition that has been continued for several years now (since the Church's 'Year of the Rosary'), each Saturday or Sunday (alternating every week) anyone is free to gather to join a mini-pilgrimage--walking together, praying together, celebrating mass, eating lunch, etc. By the end of the 5 weeks, young and old, Viennese and foreigners alike have walked a loop around the entire city of Vienna--all the while, praying the rosary, especially for the city of Vienna, the souls and hearts of those living in the city, and all those who are suffering. We prayed alongside our neighbors, the Little Sisters of the Lamm, as well as Martin and Agnes Bredl (friends of our's from the very beginning through Bernhard...Agnes has become a really dear friend especially to me), and Katarina, the sister of Maria-Elizabeth who we met over Christmas when we spent Christmas night with their family.

Today we started at an u-bahn station and walked...partly through the city streets, partly through some parks and hiking areas, partly through vineyards, and partly through honest-to-goodness forests until we reached the top of Kahlenberg (the mountain overlooking the city which has debuted in several of my blog posts) and regrouped after several hours of praying and hiking to watch the beatification of Blessed JPII on a big screen in the retreat house and chapel Schonstatt. So thankful for the gift of Blessed John Paul II, for the gift of being able to see the events in Rome, being able to pray in unity with the rest of the universal Church for the intercession of Blessed JPII.

“It is not easy to love with a deep love, which lies in the authentic gift of self. This love can only be learned by penetrating the mystery of God’s love.Looking at him, being one with His fatherly heart, we are able to look with new eyes at our brothers and sisters, with an attitude of unselfishness and solidarity, of generosity and forgiveness. All this is mercy!" (in the homily of John Paul II at the canonization of St. Faustina)

after the "lebendigen rosenkranz", we made our way to the 11. district to visit our friend Aberu (I've talked about her before!). It has been a while since we had seen her (tsk tsk on us...i can't believe we had waited so long!). Christa and three of her kids (Klara, Jacob, and Martin) were going to be at Aberu's to spend the rainy afternoon together as well. It was a beautiful three hours together...listening to the kids play piano, playing "Ente, Ente, Gans" (or) duck, duck, goose (I taught them the game on our first visit and it was an instant favorite!! Now whenever I visit the first thing the kids scream when I arrive is "ENTE ENTE GANS!! Bitte!!"), drinking coffee and visiting with Christa and Aberu, etc.

this afternoon was especially beautiful for us...after Christa had left and the kids were playing in their room, Aberu and Alina and I had some quiet time to just sit together and talk. Discussing the normal things in life is not an easy thing for Aberu of course, but we didn't know how difficult until today when she told us about her life, her living situation, her relationship with her husband, her job situation, in the midst of graceful tears...made graceful by the humble strength of her heart and desire to be a beautiful example to her four little boys.

it was the first real glimpse of the friendship and trust building between her soul and each of ours.

for that little glimpse, shimmering with tears, I am so thankful