Sometimes Words Fail

Ironic title, right? Be honest, though-there is a lot of truth to it. Sometimes words do fail us.  There are moods, moments, and feelings that cannot in any way, shape or form, be communicated in a coherent manner through spoken or written word. The prime example is during moments of loss. In such times, nothing can fully convey the myriad of thoughts, emotions, and feelings that the person experiencing the loss is going through. Everyone's been there-that instance where nothing but a good scream session or crying spell to a favorite emotional song will do. Contemporary society seems to privilege "talking it out" or journaling. They do have their place. However, sometimes it's ok to express emotion not through writing or speaking, but just being. Wether releasing through that "good cry", dance, song or scream (preferably not AT someone), allow yourself-and others the space to express themselves if such methods are the best suited for the occaision.

"...Sudanese and Congolese who put the roll in the rock..."

(Photo from AmericanCatholic.org)

Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita. Enslaved as a young girl in late 1800's Sudan, she went on to gain her freedom in Italy and become a nun devoted to faith and service. That faith and service lead to Pope John Paul II cannonizing her in 2000.

The best article about her life can be found  at the link below:



http://wau.org/resources/article/re_from_slave_to_saint1/

There is a line in a song that goes as follows:

    

"...frozen, they were stolen,all the kings and the queens- Sudanese and Congolese who put the roll in the rock...".

 Such words couldn't ring truer in Bakhita's life. The "rock" was her faith and her Maker. The "roll" was her steadfastness. Hers is a true freedom fighting story.

Trailblaizer: Mother Mary Lange

Photo: Courtesy of the Mother Lange Guild Website

To celebrate Black History Month, your humble blogger would like to introduce to you Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange, foundress of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first religious congregation of women of color in the Universal Church. Why Mother Lange, you ask? Hers is a little known story within Black, Catholic, and American history as a whole. Here is her story:

/biography.html

For more information on the Oblate Sisters of Providence, go to http://www.oblatesisters.com

Investigation into cause for Mother Lange's beatification and cannonization has been opened. Information is available at http://motherlangeguild.homestead.com