Apprentice to the Priest
Sons of the Altar
A tribute to my six sons of the Altar
Sharon M. Willoughby
March 27, 2008

An altar son may desire to serve the Lord
on the altar as an apprentice to the priest.

Before he begins on the altar,
he prepares by loving Christ in his heart.

He grows to know the Lord
by studying his catechism
and by faithfully living a Sacramental life.

Frequent Confession and
reception of Holy Communion,
with an active life of prayer,
prepare him to appreciate the privilege
of serving during the Holy Mass.

Having an understanding of the
Seven Sacraments and
the outward signs of Christ
that impart His grace,
enables the altar son to participate more fully
in the expression of Divine Providence.

As Simon of Cyrene came forth to accompany
the Lord on Calvary,
the altar son is attentive
to the Calvary of the Altar.

His movements of purposeful reverence
may inspire the faithful to realize the effects of
all that is seen and unseen.

The altar son loves closely on the altar.
The altar son loves deeply in the pew.
When he is not serving on the altar,
he is bringing the altar to the pew
in his faith, understanding, prayer,
acts of reverence and piety.
He is a faithful witness
amidst the Mystical Body of Christ.

With the heart of a servant,
he awaits, patiently and obediently,
for the time when he will approach
the altar in thanksgiving and service
to the priest and Holy Mother Church,
all in accordance to the will of the Lord.

He is brother, son, witness, and disciple of Christ.

Love's Degree
By Sharon Marie Willoughby
Divine Mercy Chapel
of the Most Blessed Sacrament
Key West, Florida
Spy Wednesday
March 19, 2008

In the cool of Shadowed Presence,
Love is The Incarnation.

In the swaddling warmth of Promise,
Love is The Manifestation.

In the embers of ashen Wednesday,
Love is The Destination.

In the breeze of palm-ed Sunday,
Love is The Expectation.

In the piercing chill of betrayal Thursday,
Love is The Satisfaction.

In the balmy tears of Peter's denial,
Love is The Revelation.

In the shiver of abandoned Passion,
Love is The Contemplation.

In the blazon trail of Mary's tears,
Love is The Consolation.

In the earth-shaken storm of Crucifixion,
Love is The Consummation.

In the frigid barricade of stone,
Love is The Resurrection.

In the fire of Transforming Mercy,
Love waits in Hidden Presence.

Mary, Star of Hope, Star of the Sea
Our Parish,
Mary Star of the Sea
Key West, Florida
July 2007-2008
Pilgrim Mother Statue in our home
February 2008 for one week
Stained Glass Window in Front of Church

From Pope Benedict's Encyclical "Salvi spe"

49. With a hymn composed in the eighth or ninth century
thus for over a thousand years,
the Church has greeted Mary, the Mother of God,
as "Star of the Sea": Ave Maris Stella.
Human life is a journey.
Towards what destination?
How do we find the way?
Life is like a voyage on the sea of history,
often dark and stormy, a voyage in which
we watch for the stars that indicate the route.
The true stars of our life are the people
who have lived good lives.
They are lights of hope.
Certainly, Jesus Christ is the true light,
the sun that has risen above all the shadows of history.
But to reach him we also need lights close by~
people who shine with His light and so hope for us?
With her "yes" she opened the door of our world
to God himself;
she became the living Ark of the Covenant,
in whom God took flesh, became one of us,
and pitched His tent among us (cf. Jn 1:14)

50. So we cry to her: Holy Mary, you belonged to the
humble and great souls of Israel who, like Simeon,
were "looking for the consolation of Israel" (Lk 2:25)
and hoping, like Anna, "for the redemption of Jerusalem"
(Lk 2:38).
Through you, through your "yes", the hope of the ages
became reality, entering this world and its history.
You bowed low before the greatness of this task and
gave consent:"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord;
let it be to me according to your word" (Lk 1:38).
When you hastened with holy joy across
the mountains of Judea to see your cousin Elizabeth,
you became the image of the Church to come,
which carries the hope of the world in her womb
across the mountains of history.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, our Mother,
teach us to believe, to hope, to love with you.
Show us the way to his Kingdom!
Star of the Sea,
shine upon us and guide us on our way!

March 3, 2008
Sharon