I had prepared to write on something entirely different this week from Amoris Laetitia and then I witnessed something so wonderful and beautiful that I needed to write this short reflection.

After morning Mass early this week, after saying goodbye to the people and walking back to the sacristy I saw a young and very pregnant women enter the church, sit down and begin to pray the Rosary, nothing too remarkable in that. When I came out of the sacristy to pray my morning prayers I looked over at the young woman and this was when the blessing blasted through: as she prayed the rosary lay upon her womb as a perfect circle, as if the prayers of Mary were surrounding the little child growing within the mother. I certainly paused wondered and began to ponder this in my heart as I brought my prayers to God.

It is this gift of life given through the procreative act of man and woman that we hear proclaimed loudly and with love. Pregnancy is a difficult but wonderful time. A mother joins with God to bring forth the miracle of a new life. Motherhood is the fruit of a “particular creative potential of the female body, directed to the conception and birth of a new human being”. Each woman shares in “the mystery of creation, which is renewed with each birth”. The Psalmist says: “You knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Ps 139:13).

Every child growing within the mother’s womb is part of the eternal loving plan of God the Father: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you” (Jer 1:5). Each child has a place in God’s heart from all eternity; once he or she is conceived, the Creator’s eternal dream comes true.

Let us pause to think of the great value of that embryo from the moment of conception. We need to see it with the eyes of God, who always looks beyond mere appearances. (#168)

Indeed, let us pause….

As I finished my morning prayer and got up to leave the church I glanced once more at this pregnant mother with the rosary in hand, not encircling the womb as before but draped over the unborn child.

“Pregnancy is a difficult but wonderful time.” Enough said. The gift of new life within the family is always an interruption in the patterns of life. Even when we look forward with great joy to the new member of the family there are many difficulties that can range from little inconveniences to the serious medical and health issues of mother and child. I have spent hours laughing with new parents and other hours praying and listening to the fears and doubts of new life. But whether it is in the former or the latter, the hope of love shines forth and the wonderfulness of the mystery of life grows ever greater as the father and mother looks forward in anticipation to what will be.

Then there is this little nugget placed for our pondering, “the Creator’s eternal dream comes true.” WOW!!!!! You and I, all people great and small are part of God’s dream for a world and peace, hope and love. Amen. Stepping back and being reminded that each of us is part of God’s greater plan, His dream, is mindboggling and invites us to look at life, especially new life, with eyes of blessing. If we can focus on the hope of the eternal dream of God how much different does the world look knowing God’s dreams that you and I are made to be participants in His Kingdom. And more importantly, we are all made to play our part however small or large. And even more, all life helps us to see and trust in God’s divine mercy and love.

Place this in the context of a parent’s love for their child…they dream of a future for their child(ren) that is not mundane but is filled with joy, blessing and hope…how much more so for our Heavenly Father. This dream founded in the protection and blessing of love…a Rosary of prayer encircling new life, a Rosary of prayer growing in love.

God Bless

Fr. Mark