The Novena goes on...

We've passed the half-way mark in offering the Novena to Our Lady of the Atonement, and there's something comforting in going to our Blessed Mother each morning, asking her to pray in a special way for our intentions.  All those beautiful titles -- Firm Hope, Shepherdess of the Wandering Sheep, Pillar of Unity, Lily of Israel -- the titles go on and on, and each one an expression of prayerful love for her, the Mother of God and our Mother. 

Each of us has personal intentions we bring to the novena, but the big one -- the General Intention -- is for the speedy implementation of Anglicanorum coetibus.  Of course, we ask that it be in God's time, but I cannot help but hope His time is soon.  Not so much for us in this parish, of course.  We're already safely in the Barque of Peter.  But there are so many who are standing just outside Peter's door.  Their hearts are already inside, and they're eager to be in full sacramental union with the Vicar of Christ. 

The intitial numbers won't be huge -- in fact, I wrote an article about that on the Anglo-Catholic blog -- but for those who are ready to complete the journey now, they're packed and waiting.  And what a day it will be, when we're finally together, in full communion, in the one Holy, Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Church.