an offering to Our Lady of Charity in Cuba

I recently took a trip of a lifetime to Cuba. So many things happened: I reunited with family, visited the home where I was born, went to Mass at the church where I was baptized, met Pope Francis. It was beyond amazing — a blessing in ways that I don’t even know yet.

One of the highlights was visiting the National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre. I’ve wanted to go on pilgrimage there for many years — a yearning developed over time that matched a growing reconversion to the faith and a consecration to Jesus through Mary some years ago.

I’ve had the pleasure of writing about the Blessed Virgin Mary under this title in a few places online, and most recently, in my book coming out in a few weeks, published by Ave Maria Press. I can’t help but think with that name, it couldn’t have been published anywhere else, right?

I visited the Shrine the morning that Pope Francis left Cuba for his United States visit. Circumstances were such that the Shrine had been locked and secured, and we were the first to enter after the Pope’s visit. The tiny statue of Our Lady was still on the altar, a remarkable opportunity to see it up close!

My small group of family and friends gathered closely around the altar where we prayed, offered our intentions, and received a blessing. It was beautiful, and a privilege to offer not only my personal intentions but to place at Mary’s feet the intentions of so many dear friends, too.

I quickly pulled from my bag a copy of my book, an advance copy my publishers generously provided for me, and gave it to the Blessed Mother as a thanksgiving offering. I have much to be thankful for in the production of this book. My family, especially my husband and children, encouraged me for years to pursue my dream of writing. Writer friends and editors such as Pat Gohn, Lisa Hendey, Sarah Reinhard, Heidi Saxton, Elizabeth Scalia, Greg and Jennifer Willits, and so many others, including dear friends at SQPN.com, who have shared their gifts with me to make me a better writer, all had their names slipped into the book — lovely people who are a part of this book because they are a part of my life.

Placing the book on the altar gave me a feeling of completion, the last thing I had to do to truly complete the project. Now I feel that other adventures await me. And I look forward to them with joy.