You’ll Find It Very Handy

When the guestmaster asked me what my spiritual practice was, I told him, “The Rosary. I’ve been saying that every day for years. I have a great devotion to Our Lady.”

“Would you like to meet her?” he asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, she’s right over there, the door at the end of the cloister.”

“You mean I could have an appointment?”

“No appointment, just go in.” I did. There she was, no mistaking it. She remained in her chair, but her eyes and face embraced me as if I were her infant. Then she spoke my name. That surprised me. Why did that surprise me, when I had been praying to her for so many years? I was speechless. She took my head to her heart.

Then after a bit she began to speak. It was reminiscing. She went back to my infancy, told me about my parents, my childhood, adolescence, then went right up to the present. But she saw it all so differently. It was a total reinterpretation of my life. Finally, she said, “Before you go, I want to give you something. It’s my Amen. You’ll find it very handy. You can use it in all sorts of situations. You can apply it to persons and memories. It will grow with use, and hopefully some day you will say the Great Amen.”

I live now in the embrace of those eyes. Daily I use her Amen. Please pray for me that some day I may dare to say the Great Amen.

‘Tales of a Magic Monastery’ Theophane the Monk