On a painfully hopeful day, consolation arrives – new icon of Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy

It has been a painful and hopeful day.  Hopefully painful, or painfully hopeful, I can’t decide.  The needle drifted a to the later as I opened my mail.

First, it is REALLY supposed to be MONDAY in the OCTAVE of PENTECOST.  However, can one object strongly to acknowledging Mary as Mother of the Church?  The Church had it’s birthday on that first Pentecost, so a feast to honor her as the Church’s Mother is a good thing.

Next, a document and a book made me grind my teeth – because they are necessary – but happily that we now have additional resources.

There were some other binomials as well, but today – on this appropriate day – I received something I’ve looked forward to for a while.

Veronica Royal, better half of the guy who shows up on EWTN all the time, painted for me – nay, rather, drew – an icon of Mary, Queen of the Clergy.  Her site is HERE.

I have a strong affinity for this title of Our Lady.  Years ago, I happened upon a lovely old French holy card of her and the image stuck in my heart.

A couple years back, knowing that I have this affinity, some nuns who share this affinity sent me a statue.  I’d very much like to have this statue redone.

Coincidentally, on the day that the statue arrived, I also received a beautiful Missal stand from  from St. Joseph’s Apprentice who is becoming justly famous for his beautiful portable altars… the ultimate gift for a priest.  I’m sensing a pattern.

I’ve also made it a point when I am in Paris to visit frequently the chapel dedicated to Our Lady under this title at one of my favorite churches, Saint-Nicolas-du-Chardonnet in the 5th, which is cared for by the priests of the SSPX. It is simply the best kept and most active – and friendly – I’ve found in the City of Lights. And that is where there was seated a Confraternity of Notre-Dame du Clergé.

And now I have also this.

And, to continue a pattern of getting things on the same day and of priestly protection, or protection of priestly things, today I also received a hard case that will be useful in transporting my chalice back to Rome if I choose to have it refurbished there (where it was made).  I want finally to finish it by adding gems for the roses in the node, which I chose because of the way St. Therese de Lisieux saved my vocation.

But that’s another story.

Thanks to Veronica Royal for the beautiful work.

You can find her site HERE.  And, right now, she is also on the right side bar of the blog.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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5 Comments

  1. Joe in Canada says:

    Those who are totally in the NO used to have the option of celebrating Pentecost Monday even without the octave. Now that is gone.

  2. Fr. Charles A. F. says:

    «The best kept and most active – and friendly – in the City of Lights»? Ahem hem… Don’t say that until you’ve tried them all… There’s still an open invitation waiting for you any time you fancy!

  3. Zephyrinus says:

    Dear Reverend Fr.

    May Our Blessed Lady, Queen of The Clergy, continue to Bless you and all your confrères, in your magnificent Vocation throughout the World.

    In the end, my Immaculate Heart will be Victorious.

    God Bless.

  4. lgreen515 says:

    TELL THE STORY of how St. Therese saved your vocation. Please?

  5. Hidden One says:

    I hope some pope will eventually restore the Octave of Pentecost and make the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of the Church occur in it, as happens with feasts during the Christmas Octave.

    Also, the OF needs proper Commemorations.

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