I only recently learned the story of St. Isaac Jogues but it was so good of you to share it again with us here. I remember as a child, we learned about the special meaning of using the fingers in a holy way to hold the host and chalice - as a girl, I never thought that I would be able to experience this holy moment
What a beautiful reflection. The priest who witnessed our marriage and who baptized our first three children was Fr. Timothy Murphy. He was no longer young and had been a priest for a long time when I first met him and he's since gone to meet his God face to face. But when he preached he always had a habit of holding those first fingers closed-- as if he'd made that gesture so many times that it was their natural resting position. It's that gesture with the thumb and forefinger closed in a circle as he shakes his hand to make a point that I always think of when I remember him. He was such a wonderful spiritual father to me and to my husband. Thanks for the memory today.
We visited the Shrine of the North American Martyrs last month and prayed at the site where St Isaac Jogues once walked. It was so moving to be in a place where the blood of martyrs was shed and where such a great saint lived and breathed and said Mass and ministered to souls. I love your contemplation of how much those who maimed his hands understood about the importance of those fingers. Something to ponder and meditate on.
I only recently learned the story of St. Isaac Jogues but it was so good of you to share it again with us here. I remember as a child, we learned about the special meaning of using the fingers in a holy way to hold the host and chalice - as a girl, I never thought that I would be able to experience this holy moment
What a beautiful reflection. The priest who witnessed our marriage and who baptized our first three children was Fr. Timothy Murphy. He was no longer young and had been a priest for a long time when I first met him and he's since gone to meet his God face to face. But when he preached he always had a habit of holding those first fingers closed-- as if he'd made that gesture so many times that it was their natural resting position. It's that gesture with the thumb and forefinger closed in a circle as he shakes his hand to make a point that I always think of when I remember him. He was such a wonderful spiritual father to me and to my husband. Thanks for the memory today.
We visited the Shrine of the North American Martyrs last month and prayed at the site where St Isaac Jogues once walked. It was so moving to be in a place where the blood of martyrs was shed and where such a great saint lived and breathed and said Mass and ministered to souls. I love your contemplation of how much those who maimed his hands understood about the importance of those fingers. Something to ponder and meditate on.
Thank you, Melanie. What a beautiful memory about your priest. I have always wanted to go to the Shrine of those martyrs! Maybe one day.
Wow! I did not know this about how the priest holds the chalice. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful insights!