WHEN A PRIEST READ MY SOUL AND TOLD ME I'D WRITE A BOOK ON ANGEL RAPHAEL
We have had heatwave after heatwave here in Los Angeles, it feels like one has multiple hairdryers blowing at all times, and I did the interview with Alvaro mid-morning on a day that was expected to be cool, but it suddenly turned blazing, and I began melting like a wax candle.
I can be so vain. During the interview my hair got sweaty and looked bedraggled, even after all my efforts to tame it. My hair is turning copper in the sun, and I got my feet burned when taking a walk in the sand.
Saint Jerome translated the Book of Tobit from Aramaic into Latin for the Vulgate, and he wrote using his feather-quill pen while living in a hut in the desert. I'm not fit to re-fill Saint Jerome's pot of ink, but he was, like me, a desert hermit. And Jerome's pet peeve was women who are overly concerned with their appearance; I'd have been the object of his most stinging condemnation.
Below is a classic painting of Jerome, bother by his memories of dancing girls. Executed by Francisco de Zurbarán.
Hi Mary,
ReplyDeleteI have never considered having a devotion to this angel, but you might be right—if Padre Pio was devoted to him, it is definitely worth taking into account.
I often watch Alvaro's videos and am especially interested in your wonderful interviews. You truly have the gift of storytelling, and I find your Irish accent so endearing!
I believe a book on St. Raphael would help many people develop a devotion to him.
I completely understand how you feel about the heat. I live in Transylvania—a region that isn't known for extreme heat—but even here in this part of Europe, heatwaves are becoming less and less bearable.
Sorry if this question is too personal, but have you ever considered moving to a cooler place?
I love hearing from you. I think you are a true gift to the Church, especially for Padre Pio's devotees. Keep up the wonderful work!
Yours sincerely,
Catherine
Hello Catherine, Thank you so much for your lovely comment that was a joy to read. Yes, I may move to a cooler place in the future, but actually love the dry, desert heat. I have a good group of friends nearby and Los Angeles is fringed by 75 miles of coastline so I can jump in the sea to cool down. That said, there have been sudden spikes in temperature and a mariologist friend of mine Doctor Keith Berube said this was prophesied by Our Lady of La Salette. I’m living in the unfolding of this prophecy, as are you in Transylvania with the heat waves you mentioned.
DeleteLet’s keep each other in prayer and hopefully I’ll do a good job of the book on Saint Rafael.
God bless and reward you, Mary