After my last reflection about climbing the Holy Stairs in Rome, I got a little reflection from a friend in Regnum Christi that I thought would be good to share. She was there with the mother of a few Legionaries. This holy woman had cancer at the time. She writes (names changed):
“I have tears in my eyes remembering my experience at the Scala Santa with the Smiths. Mrs Smith died a year ago today and you could not have picked a better story than this one about the Holy Stairs where our Lord shed precious droplets of His blood for our sanctity.
“The Scala Santa was the only thing I wanted to do when Mrs. Smith asked me what would be special to me in Rome. As we approached the 28 steps, she (despite being on Chemo for cancer and cancer had already gone into her bones so she was in much pain), pushed her wheelchair aside and started to go down on her knees to ascend the Holy Stairs in prayer and thanksgiving. I said to her, ‘Mrs. Smith, the local Legionary priest told me that there is a way for you to go around the side or the back so that you do not have to go on your knees.’ She told me that she was fine and wanted to do this. I was being a little mother to her and said, ‘OK, but use the handrail.’ She did and she made it to the top before I did. I was and still am amazed by her strong spirit of determination. The Scala Santa was a place that I felt so close to Christ and His Love; I know that she did too as did the rest of the family.
“God Bless you and I ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to keep you safe with her Mantle.”
How much we each have to thank our mothers for on this Thanksgiving Day weekend.
