sacra iam splendent
In a place of silence, during meditation and reflection, I ponder the incredible gifts of family and fellowship bestowed on me through the generous sanctifying graces of God which come through the given favors of faith, hope and love.
We are able to partake in a pure, simple love which come forth from God, and this love continues quietly as it is perpetually transferred from soul to soul and back again. This wonderful grace embodied in our hearts comes to us through the intervention of the "Holy Spirit" -- the third part of the divine mystery of the Trinity of God. .
In 1936 a cloistered nun by the name of Sister Faustina (now Saint Faustina) living in Poland wrote in her diary:
"Today I was in heaven, in spirit, and I saw its unconceivable beauties and the happiness that awaits us after death. I saw how all creatures give ceaseless praise and glory to God. I saw how great is happiness in God, which spreads to all creatures, making them happy; and then all the glory and praise which springs from this happiness returns to its source; and they enter into the depths of God, contemplating the inner life of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, whom they will never comprehend or fathom."
It is this same mystery of love which stirs my imagination. As I continue to ponder my role as a mother/daughter/wife, I contemplate the formulation of this "unconceivable happienss" as it exists today in our living world. To daily witness to the Holy Spirit and his gifts as they are introduced into the solidarity of our own flesh and blood. This manifestation of spirit and divine initiative in the work of grace through birth and ancestry, is at the heart of the images contained within this photographic endeavor. I hope the following essay to be a sort of visual prayer of thanks for the Holy Spirit and his intercession and inspiration.
Accompanying text is a hymn written by Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903) entitled "sacra iam splendent", "a thousands lights their glory shed" It is a prayer of devotion to the Holy Family who's feast is honored the first Sunday after Christmas. The devotion to the Holy Family is built around the Gospel accounts of Jesus' life with Mary and Joseph. It is presented in both English and Latin, from the Roman Breviary. Translation by Rt. Rev. Msgr. Hugh Thomas Henry (1862-1946)