A school with Mary’s presence: “Rosary and Cannoli”
Our first “Rosary and Cannoli” began with 12 guys and Fr. Justin. Every month more guys came, and we’ve had as many as 200! We never imagined this little idea we had with Father would explode into this. Praying to God our Father and Mary to intercede for us and our world is a focal point at Iona Prep. We don’t need to say anything now, and the guys just show up without thinking twice. It’s just impacted the whole Iona Prep community. Now, it’s one of the staples that everyone talks about. And when you walk into the chapel with all of these Iona men, some teachers, and Fr. Justin praying the rosary, you feel Mary’s presence. She is here. And I think she is interceding. – John Capozolli, President of the Italian Club, Iona Preparatory School, New Rochelle, NY

Originally printed in IMPRINT Magazine Spring 2023.

Who I am: Meeting Mary I suddenly knew myself
I came to a place where I said, “I don’t know what it means to be a man.” And it was there, as a Protestant, that I had a sense that Jesus was asking me to go to His mother. And so I made a very careful prayer, “Mary, if you are there, then I want to know what you are all about.” All I can say is this: It was like an instant flash, and suddenly I experienced the full presence of Mary, as woman and as mother. I came to see that truly God had not made a mistake, that I was called to fully enter into manhood. If I didn’t have that openness, that invitation to step towards the person of Mary and to honor her as Jesus honored His father and mother, then I wonder what my life would have looked like today. – James

Originally printed in IMPRINT Magazine Spring 2023.

Fearful: The Rosary
During the Rwandan genocide, Immaculée Ilibagiza hid in the bathroom of a pastor’s house with seven other women. For 91 days, they huddled in silence in this 3×4 foot room. Immaculée prayed the rosary 27 times a day. In her book The Rosary: The Prayer that Saved my Life she wrote, “While enduring unbearable suffering, I received the most beautiful gift I’ve ever gotten: I discovered how to pray the rosary, find the Blessed Mother, and talk to the Lord.” -Immaculée Ilibagiza

Originally printed in IMPRINT Magazine Spring 2023.

Healing painful memories: The sorrowful mother changing my heart
A few years ago I pulled out a holy card with meditations and prayers I had gotten in the mail on Our Lady of Sorrows, and I started praying with this on a daily basis. Painful memories would pop up in my mind. As I meditated on the Seven
Sorrows of Mary, I began to understand my own mother’s suffering, and instead of blaming her for not being what I wanted her to be for me, I felt empathy. Mary is changing my heart, and she’s helping me to see myself and others more clearly. -Jeannie

Originally printed in IMPRINT Magazine Spring 2023.

Praying for our loved ones who are dying: Mary was there
My ma was dying of cancer at Calvary Hospital. I really loved her, and the thought of her leaving of us was so hard. Then one day while I was visiting her, I thought of how in the Hail Mary we say, “Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.” I told the Blessed Mother, “I can’t let her go. So you take her by the hand and lead her to your Son.” The next thing I knew my ma took her last breath right then, and the room was filled with peace. Mary was in that room. She takes our prayers seriously. -Richard

Originally printed in IMPRINT Magazine Spring 2023.

My niece longing for a child: The rose and the baby
My niece was struggling with infertility. She was so distraught. I encouraged her to ask for Mary’s prayers — and my family began praying too. Then one day in November, my husband walked into the kitchen and said, “I don’t know what you have going on, but your statue of Mary is growing a rose.” I looked out the window and there it was — the most perfect rose. “Oh my goodness. Trisha’s expecting.” I can’t explain it, but I knew. I kept thanking Jesus — and thanking Mary for interceding. Later that day, my niece texted me. It was confirmed. She included a sonogram picture of her unborn child. Trisha gave birth to a beautiful baby boy nine months later. -Cindy

Originally printed in IMPRINT Magazine Spring 2023.

One sports arena; four days; 90,000 hungry souls: this was the irresistible challenge and unprecedented gift offered the Sisters of Life and the Knights of Columbus during World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, Spain.

For over a year the Sisters and the Knights worked to prepare the Love and Life Centre, the largest English speaking venue at World Youth Day. As the months unfolded, cosponsors jumped on board – Holy Cross Family Ministries, Salt and Light television, the Apostleship of Prayer, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), World Youth Alliance, and the JPII Institutes – the making of a potential explosion of the new evangelization was in the works.

August arrived and so did we —- 45 Sisters of Life let loose on the sweltering streets of Madrid, teeming with cheering young pilgrims from every corner of the world. As the opening of the Love and Life Centre approached, Sisters switched gears from their usual work of listening to and supporting women in crisis and took up shop in a large sports arena located in the heart of Madrid, looking strangely comfortable decked out with ear pieces and walkie-talkies, assisting production crews and setting up multimedia exhibits. In the midst of all the practical preparations, the real host of the Centre and of World Youth Day – the Lord– arrived with all that He had planned and prepared, and the Palacio de Deportes was transformed into an enormous tabernacle of grace and truth.

From Tuesday, August 16 through Friday, August 19, the Centre was jam-packed with an estimated 25,000 pilgrims each day, from Africa, Iraq, Ireland, Scottland, England, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, India, Mexico, the Philippines, Malaysia, and the United States among other countries. What did they find? A phenomenal microcosm of the culture of life, and of the Church: opportunities to connect with people already deeply in love with the Lord and given to Him in every aspect of their lives; amazing talks that lit the soul on fire – including Catechesis from Archbishop Dolan of New York, Cardinal Pell of Sydney, Australia and Archbishop Miller of Vancouver, Canada; panel discussions and breakout sessions on the most compelling questions of our day with some of the clearest voices of our time – Archbishop Chaput, Bishop Lori, Carl Anderson, Curtis Martin, Jason and Chrystalina Evert, Helen Alvare and Vicki Thorn; “You and Me,” a powerful and eye-opening exhibit on the power of one choice to change the world and the fathomless gift of human life and love. Such a comprehensive union of love and truth could lead the pilgrims in only one liberating direction, and it is no surprise that the
two Eucharistic Adoration chapels were filled to capacity throughout the days; that seventy priests at a time consistently heard confessions of thousands of young people; or that the maternal guidance of our Blessed Mother was discovered anew in an area dedicated to learning to pray her rosary more fruitfully.

In this tabernacle of grace, pilgrims were readied for their encounter with Pope Benedict XVI during the main events of World Youth Day. Thousands of young people heard the transforming message of the Gospel of Life, the dignity of the human person and the call of Jesus to bring his Life to a thirsty world. Thousands learned how to pray and experienced the wonder of having their hearts opened in prayer, thousands went home more confident in the truth of the love of God for them, and with hope that they have a mission, a unique and necessary role to play in the upbuilding of the Church and of the culture of life.

One sports arena; four days; 90,000 hungry souls: this was the irresistible challenge and unprecedented gift offered the Sisters of Life during World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, Spain. And, as with every challenge and gift the Lord offers us on this pilgrimage that is life, we were left more amazed at His presence, goodness and beauty than we could have imagined, and humbly grateful that we can count ourselves witnesses once again to the Risen Lord alive among us. Join us in praying for those pilgrims who came to the Centre, and for our cohosts and co-sponsors, that we may all, indeed and forever, be “planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith.” (the theme of World Youth Day 2011).

Originally printed in IMPRINT Magazine Fall 2011.

You don’t have to look around long to come to the conclusion that we live in a fallen world – we know it so well firsthand! In addition to the gift of free will, we also inherited a state of disharmony within our human nature that leads to trials, sorrow, and pain – some that we bring upon ourselves, and some brought about by others. Because of this, we can find ourselves seeking comfort as the ultimate goal in life. Deep down we realize comfort, as delightful as it may be at times, is not what we were created for. The Lord didn’t come to give us comfortable lives – He came to give us “life in abundance,” (John 10). Life is meant to be a grand adventure, an epic drama; as Mother Teresa said, “Let us do something beautiful for God.” Jesus stirs within us the desire to do something great with our lives.

St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, “We are not saints, because we WILL not to be saints.” In order to achieve the integration and the freedom for which we long – to live “in the glorious freedom of the children of God,” (Romans 8:21) – it is necessary to develop habits of virtue, and to keep our eyes on the goal, which is heaven. In order to make my life a gift to another, I must first be in possession of myself. This is not a passive process, it is necessary to live with intentionality – actively engaging life, not living it as a passive spectator. We desire to be virtuous – but it takes more than that – we need to will it, to choose it, and the strength of our will depends upon two irreplaceable things: God’s grace and my effort to cultivate a life of virtue and to root out vices. Pride, greed, lust, anger, gluttony, envy and sloth will seek to trap us along the way. It is best to be prepared by countering them in advance – by striving to grow in the virtues which directly oppose those vices: humility, charity, chastity, patience, temperance, kindness and diligence.

THE PLAN:
The most successful tasks begin with a plan, and holiness is no exception.

1. Make a plan to root out those things that keep me from loving God and those around me. For example, if you are struggling with pornography, block all pornographic websites, or put your computer in a public place so you won’t be tempted. If you find that texting or social networking sites are leading you into gossip or if it is a constant source of misunderstandings, make an effort to communicate the important things with friends and family by phone or face to face in order to authentically foster and deepen your friendships. For all of the advances in our media and communications-frenzied world, there seems to be very little actual communion between persons. The resulting sense of isolation is the perfect environment for the seeds of a self-centered attitude to develop.

2. Make time for the simple but rich joys of life: eating together as a family, praying with your spouse and/or children, or spending quality time with friends. Take some time to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature, art or music and let them nourish and strengthen your soul.

3. Choose someone reliable to confide in, a friend who can encourage you and keep you accountable. Christianity is based on a relationship with a Person, Jesus Christ, and it is not accidental that He founded a community of believers – the Church. We need to support and encourage each other along the way. We do not walk through this life alone. We walk side by side with friends, and our truest friend, Jesus. It is hard to change our habits, to step away from the things that distract us, weaken us. Even though our “old self” is difficult to live with, the thought of leaving old habits behind can be scarier then inviting the Lord into those weak areas of our hearts. Blessed John Paul II gives us beautiful words of encouragement: “Do not be afraid. It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the refusal to allow yourselves to be ground down by mediocrity, the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society. The future starts today, not tomorrow.”

Originally printed in IMPRINT Magazine Fall 2012.

There are certain images of the more recent Saints who, from pictures, seem to be looking right into our souls. St. Therese, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, St. Maximilian Kolbe – it’s as if they can see a potential in us that we do not yet even see, and their kind look is at once an encouraging exhortation and a reminder of the greatness to which we’re called. That’s what friends are for, and it’s a consolation to know we have such faithful ones in heaven. Friends who are close to the Lord, whether they are with Him in Heaven or following Him on earth, have the happy tendency of seeing us as God sees us, with all the potential and responsibility that implies, and of loving us with His love, which amazes us and sets us free to follow the same path and pattern of true love.

Sometimes our friendship with God grows gently over a lifetime. At other times it begins with a striking experience of the beauty and goodness in life or of creation. Frequently, it is in moments of suffering that we experience God’s presence and light breaking into our lives and with it an invitation to enter into His friendship. God reaches down into our darkness and pain and offers a hand, a way out. Sometimes it requires an act of trust, a leap of faith, at other times His presence is so tender and consoling that following Him seems easy, even irresistible. If we place our hand in His and begin to walk with Jesus, we find our lives begin to change. We want to be better so that we can receive more of Him, and His love draws us out of the narrow confines of ourselves. Gradually our hearts become purified and we find that we are less self absorbed and more other-centered. Before we know it, what began as a spark has grown into a fire in our hearts.

Now there is no turning back. After tasting Godiva there is no going back to Hershey’s without an awareness of what you are missing. Once we have tasted the sweetness of God’s love, our desire for greater union grows until this friendship becomes the defining and driving force in our life. Friendship with God gives us the freedom to let go of the fears and grasping that keep us from opening up to Jesus and receiving all that life brings as a gift and mystery to be lived with Him.

The saints are the great friends of God. By reading about their lives we gain insight into the particularity with which God loves each of us.

Originally printed in IMPRINT Magazine Spring 2011.

Twenty-seven years ago, while working as a police officer in Central Park, Steven McDonald was shot several times and was paralyzed from the neck down. At the time, Steven and Patti Ann were married only eight months; Patti Ann was twenty-four years old and three months pregnant. For months Steven struggled to live, each day Mass was offered at his bed side and his family and friends surrounded him in prayer. Steven and Patti Ann spent their first wedding anniversary in the hospital.
Though Steven was still unable to speak, Patti Ann read his lips as they renewed their wedding vows: their commitment to one another and to God. Cardinal O’Connor became a close friend of the McDonalds. He described them, “They are ordinary New Yorkers…But they are extraordinary too, imbued with the spirit of forgiveness, faith and fidelity to each other beyond earthly measure… their conscious effort to conquer death and hatred with the spirit of life and love ennobles them.”
Their son, Conor, born six months after Steven was shot was baptized by Cardinal O’Connor in the hospital chapel, filled with family and friends. After the Mass, the media was eager to hear from Steven, who was still unable to speak. Patti Ann read a statement that left everyone in the chapel stunned. She thanked everyone for their love and support through a tremendously difficult struggle. Through tears Patti Ann read Steven’s words: “I thank the people of New York for making me a part of their family and for helping me more than I ever could have helped them as much as I tried. I forgive [the boy who shot me] and I hope that he can find peace and purpose in his life. I ask that you remember the less fortunate than I am who struggle for the dignity of life, without the attention and without the helping hands that have given me this life. God bless you all.”
The impact of Steven’s words of forgiveness will ring out into eternity. Twenty-seven years later, the McDonalds have spoken to thousands sharing the power of forgiveness and faith in Jesus. In 2009, following in his father’s footsteps, Conor chose to join the New York City Police Department with the dream of helping people and serving society. Upon meeting Steven and Patty Ann, you are moved by the strength of their fidelity to each other. It makes you want to be a better person because you see in them what you always dreamed possible – a noble love capable of enduring the crucible of suffering. Called through circumstances beyond their control, they have met the challenges of life together, strengthened by their faith and their love and commitment to each other. Their fidelity is not an old, musty virtue; it shines sterling and beckons you higher.
Patty Ann never thought to go back on her yes. She chose not to consider the options the world held out to her. She knew what authentic love demanded, and went for it, and in turn has gained the prize of a beautiful life with no regrets. We had the privilege of interviewing the McDonalds at their home in Long Island.

Steven, tell us about your experience of being hospitalized for such a long time.
Steven: It was an intense spiritual experience. My hospital room turned into a chapel. There were Masses offered for me daily and family surrounded me praying the rosary. Jesus was with us in that hospital room. I have come to believe that in life there are no such things as coincidences only “God-incidents.” Blessed John Paul II said, “In the designs of Providence there are no mere coincidences.” I believe in Jesus because I was raised to; but I know Him because I experienced God in action in those days. God used so many people as His instruments. Always, Patti Ann was there with her loving support.

How did you come to a point where you could forgive the boy who shot you?
Steven: Cardinal O’Connor encouraged me to open my heart to the grace that was there to forgive. I know that forgiveness is something you have to work for at times. You have to live forgiveness every day. The only thing worse than receiving a bullet in my spine would have been to nurture revenge in my heart. Such an attitude would have extended the injury to my soul, hurting my wife, son, and others even more. It took time to forgive and things have evolved over the years. But I can say this: I have never regretted forgiving him.

Patti Ann: When this happened, we never spoke of revenge. None of our family members did either. None of us went to the trial. Our job was to be there with Steven. Through faith, I saw that God had a different plan for all of this. There was a bigger purpose for this senseless act of violence. There are times when you get into a disagreement with family members and honestly, it is harder to let go of that. Cardinal O’Connor encouraged to us be willing to accept the grace that was there for us to forgive. We have seen people destroyed from the inside out when they hold on to anger or hurt. I learned long ago that in order for us to get along as a couple, I had to
let go of anger.

You have been invited to speak to thousands of people, what do you share with them when you speak?
Steven: I speak about the precious gift of forgiveness and pray to receive it. I also share how the moment I was shot, my life changed completely. But people do not have to wait for unusual circumstances to begin a life of faith. I encourage them to grow in their relationship with God and our Blessed Mother. I tell others that their life is important and has meaning, that they are special and a rare creation of God with enormous value. God created them with a purpose and through all eternity no one will love exactly the way they do.

Many people struggle with commitment, especially in marriage. How have you remained faithful to one another and to God?
Steven: We help one another on the journey. It wasn’t always easy. Patti Ann will tell you there were times when I was a real knucklehead. There have been days that are great and others are a struggle. Patti Ann told me early on, we didn’t get married to be divorced. She had a strong upbringing and went to Catholic schools; she was taught well and she stayed on the path Jesus had chosen for her. When we were first married, Patti Ann said we had to go to church. I knew that if I was going to succeed as a husband, a father, or a police officer that I had to come back to the Church. I had to be close to Our Lady. Looking back on the journey, I believe that this is what God intended for us.

Patti Ann: I never thought for a moment not to be with Steven. When I said yes, it was “for better or for worse.” We have been married 28 years and spent it supporting each other. I think it is so important for couples to encourage and help each other be the best they can be: always thinking of the other and what makes that person happy. I think a lot of problems arise in marriage when couples don’t look for the good in the other. We are always changing and growing and you need to help each other in a marriage. Being at home or working outside the house, spouses have to support each other in what they are doing. Help each other become the best person they can be. I think for any relationship, any friendship, but especially in marriage, communication is critical. We make a point to discuss what the other is going through. It’s so important to have the lines open and let each other know what your thoughts and feelings are. I can tell when Steven withdraws or is thinking, and I have learned when to give him space and when to talk.
We share each other’s lives deeply, listening and giving thoughts, feelings, and directions – working together and talking about whatever is going on. For example, when my father passed away 17 years ago, Steven knew my sorrow. He was very supportive and loving and caring.

What would you say to someone who might be going through a trial or struggling to say yes to life in difficult circumstances in life?
Patti Ann: It’s going to be ok. When something like this happens in your life, you don’t think it’s going to be ok. I never imaged we would be having a normal life out of an abnormal situation but we do. We walk by faith and not by sight.
Steven: It takes faith and it takes work. Practicing your faith makes all the difference in life. I don’t want to be separated from God, I want to listen to his voice. Over the years, I know that having accepted my suffering, I received a message of forgiveness and have been able to share it with others. Through the years you have touched so many lives.

What do you make of it all?
Steven: People have come to experience God through us. Sometimes God uses us, without us even knowing it. I know that people have come back to the Church or come back to the faith after hearing us. Others have quit drinking or tried to forgive. Back in 1987 when I came home, I knew my life was going to be very different. And it has been. It’s been very helpful in my journey. Life is so fleeting and then there is eternity. Life is so short. We are sent here to do good with our lives. Love is the way. It is good to be alive. It is very good to be alive. I love my family. I have lived such a wonderful life. I am so grateful I could be with Patti Ann and Conor all this time.

Originally printed in IMPRINT Magazine Fall 2013.