Today, December 12th, marks the Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe. It is also the anniversary of the day Sister Marie arrived by donkey to Mary's House for the first time. I can imagine that it must have been a joy filled day for Sister Marie, even after hours and hours riding up a mountain on a donkey! But also I wonder if the experience held for her a new understanding of the enormity that this work of God would entail. Was it on this day in 1891 that it dawned upon Sister Marie for the first time the years and years of struggle and labor that lie ahead of her to answer God's call?...to fulfill the desire God had placed so urgently on her heart to rescue and restore the precious treasure of Mary's House for all future generations to come? Thank you Sister Marie for being faithful and persevering in your Fiat to God's invitation to find, restore and then give to the children of God the House of Mary; a common ground of Marian devotion across religious lines. A hope for peace in these times.
Quick additional UPDATE note: Erin and I are just back from a quick trip to EWTN in Alabama where on December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, we were invited to tape a Bookmark Show with Doug Keck for Fr. Carl Schulte's new book The Life of Sister Marie de Mandat-Grancey and Mary's House in Ephesus. Praise God! Thank you Blessed Mother for this gift on your day.
