A few days ago, a number of us were blessed to make a pilgrimage to the Basilica of our Lady of Guadalupe with the Missionaries of Charity for the first time. It ended up being a longer adventure than we expected. A bus was supposed to come and pick us up at 7:30 but the bus never showed up so we ended up taking public transportation. It was quite a sight, a bunch of young seminarians following all of the sisters through the metro system of Mexico City. Eventually, we wound up joining these massive crowds walking towards the basilica. We ended up walking several miles to arrive there. During this time, we were praying through the mysteries of the rosary. Now by the time we got to the second one, I had walked about 3 miles that day. I was carrying a laptop bag with my coat in it and my back and feet were starting to get pretty sore. I was feeling pretty sorry for myself when I remembered what mystery of the rosary we were praying…the Visitation, when Our Lady traveled not just a few miles but for several DAYS through the heat of the middle east with shoes that were definitely worse than mine carrying not just a backpack but the very body of our Lord to visit Elizabeth. Not only did this realization help to pull me out of my pity party but also renewed my joy as I walked onward towards our Lady because I was able to see how the aches and pains of a long journey was an opportunity to share in her life and the life of her son. It also gave me a prayer I want to repeat to myself for the rest of this trip: “Mary, please help me to see this moment and every moment of this holy pilgrimage as an opportunity to share in your life and the life of your Son.”
-John McFadden