Pinching prayers into the polished beads
Of rosary in hand
They stand in row after row
A sea of souls
Bowing at the Basilica' s beauty
Tearful and joyfully rejoicing
The relics of saints
Set before their searching eyes
To spy a souvenir
Of divinity declared
On the backstreet bend
Of a seaside town
My father woke early and often
Sat by the statue of St. Jude
In sunlight serenity
Speaking truths his heart held with relevance
Sure there was a heavenly reward
For the faithful life he led
And at home in a carved out corner
Of a room blessed with belief
He, proud to display a makeshift alter
Where miracles grew from no explained reason
My mother had her reservations
But later in life resolved to receive
The Deacon' s weekly visitation
And put her fate into the highest hands
Before she entered out of her pain
And beyond the life left behind
For her children to confess
Is less about fear, more about faith
In the pocket of pants
Silver medallions
Scapulas strung from dressing room mirrors
Candles and bibles, prayer cards and crosses
All relegating a compassed path
To a greater understanding of what
Cannot yet be conceived
But benefically believed
I know of miraculous mending
Without question...
I have angels and answers
And reflection
And on this day when St. Peter's Sqaure
Basks in pageantry and processions
To the pontiff' s anointing and appointing
Recognizing the good in the common man
I think of my father as one of those good men
And then, of my father's saints
A Catholic's faith life well described in a poetic form. How the saints had been sign posts for your dad and now to you. A great write, Susan.
Susan you have touched this old Catholic's heart. This is so beautiful on every level. Here in my area we have a Minor Basilica. Our Lady Of San Juan, my patron st. Easter Sunday was spent there in prayer and reflection. And at the moment this past week end that pope John Paul ll was cannonized my little Japanese princess grandaughtet was baptized on Okinawa.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
This has always been my favorite of your poems. I continue to share it on Facebook.