THE MOTHER’S HEART
OUR LADY OF GOOD VOYAGE, PART 2

By Brother Patrick

What happens when we die? When Saint Francis passed from this life, the bells of Saint Stephen’s Church in Assisi began to rang, even though no one was there to ring them. When Saint Francis died at dusk, the larks, who revel in sunshine but shun the shadows of twilight, circled in flight above this hut and sang a song of mourning.

What happens when we die? In the Book of Psalms, we read: “The days of our life are seventy years, or perhaps eighty for those who are strong; even then their span is only toil and trouble; they are soon gone and we fly away (Psalm 90:10).” What happens when we die? In the Book of Ecclesiastes, we read: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2).”

What happens when we die? In his gospel, the Beloved Disciple recounts the words of the Lord Jesus who says: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going (John 14:1-4).”

What happens when we die? What happens when we draw our last breath? What happens when our hearts beat for the last time? What happens when our souls leaves the body? Who shows us the way to the Father’s house? Who shows us to our room in the heavenly mansion? What happens when we die?

In her autobiography, Saint Therese of Lisieux writes: “I remember how often I would say that line from a beautiful poem that Father often recited: ‘The world is but a ship and not your home.'” The ship symbolizes life; the temporary vessel of human existence. Home represents our eternal life with God. Who holds the ship? Who guides our course through life? Who carries us home to God? Our Lady of Good Voyage.

When we walk into our beautiful parish church in Gloucester, Massachusetts, we see her in the sanctuary. She gently carries the vessel of life. She lovingly cradles the Christ Child. She loves this child born of her womb. She loves the children entrusted to her mother’s heart. She loves each one of us: no matter who we are; no matter where we are from; no matter what we believe; no matter what we have done; no matter what!

Cardinal Richard Cushing served as Archbishop of Boston from 1944 until his death in 1970. Cardinal Cushing loved the City of Gloucester and he loved Our Lady of Good Voyage Church. At some point during his long tenure, the cardinal wrote a little book about our church. He says: “Every one of us is a voyager through life. Every one of us needs a guide, a guide dependable and kind. Mary passed through the life and weathered life’s storms. She met many obstacles, but was superior to them all. She is thus a patron not only of those who voyage on the sea, but to all who voyage through life. Her voyage ended when she was taken up into heaven. Please God, may devotion to her bring us the same happy ending, the same home at the end of our voyage through life, the home of her Son, the mansions of heaven. Through her intercessions, may the blessings of her Son be forever ours (57).”

Our Lady of Good Voyage is not just a beacon for fishermen and mariners. She is not just patron of the hardworking immigrants, the faithful families who built and sustain this church in her honor. Our Lady of Good Voyage smiles on us with boundless love. She is our mother. She is our intercessor. She is our patron and protector. She is our escort to eternal life.

What happens when we die? Our Lady of Good Voyage waits for us. With a mother’s heart, forever full of love, forever full of mercy, forever full of compassion, she embraces us. She holds us close. She carries us home. In this spirit, Cardinal Cushing prays:

Guardian angel, watch over us.
Holy Mary, be with us now
and at the hour of our deaths.
Come, Holy Spirit, giver of all gifts,
enlighten our minds, direct our wills.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, be everywhere loved.
Our Lady of Good Voyage, pray for us. Amen.

Glory to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Our Lady of Good Voyage, pray for us!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brother Patrick Garvey is co-founder and spiritual director of the Assisi Project. He is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine, Saint John Seminary, and the Catholic University of America. He is a writer, spiritual director, retreat leader, and university lecturer. He also serves as an Associate Minister in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport in Massachusetts. On October 3, 2023, the Feast of the Transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi, Brother Patrick was consecrated as a diocesan hermit by Bishop Mark O’Connell, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Boston. For more information about the Assisi Project and our ministries with adults of all ages and backgrounds, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com.

__________

ABOUT US

Founded in 2007, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit with friends and followers throughout the world. We are dedicated to helping Christian believers of all ages more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. The Assisi Project is a non-profit, tax exempt charitable organization. Please support our ministry via Pay Pal (see link below) or mail a tax-deductible donation to the Assisi Project, Post Office Box 3158, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01931-3158. The Assisi Project Podcast is produced by the Assisi Project, Inc. Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. May the Lord give you peace!

Support us via PayPal
Follow us on Instagram

This Week’s Homepage
In Memory of Reverend Eugene Alves