Posted by The WORD in other words (2010) by Fr Adonis Narcelles Jr. SVD – Germany
“I must be in my Father’s house…” That is why, I have to leave my home and family at the age of 16 to enter the Divine Word Formation Center in Urdaneta, Pangasinan. That is why, I have to stay within the “walls of the seminary” and give up a bit of my freedom in order to be trained as missionary. That is why, I have to tell my friends that I cannot just stay with them as long as I want to because my confreres are waiting for me. That is why, I have to witness my mother shed tears every time I said goodbye after a home vacation, in order to go back to the seminary.
So, I understand why Jesus said to his parents, that he must be in his Father’s house. But the concern of Mary and Joseph was great- that they looked after their son with “great anxiety.” Many parents, teachers and people in authority know the weight of their responsibility towards others. The memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary stresses the significant role of Mary in the life of Jesus, in God’s saving plan and in the life of many people.
This memorial assumed a very special role in my life in reference to the life and demise of my mother, Lily Narcelles. She had literally and figuratively a big heart for her family. She showed her sincere love and concern to us. At the same time, she carried a heart disease which led to the enlargement of her heart. She got a heart-valve transplant.
On August 19, 2007, almost three months after the operation, her own pure heart ceased beating. But not forever. Her memories are always alive, not only in our stories and happy memories, but also in the heart she gave to us, her seven children.
After she died, we found a prayer in her pocket, an excerpt of this “Mom’s Prayer” says: “Thank you for all the things and especially my heart in which you placed magnetic seeds of grace that drew me forever to love.” Yes, her love endures forever; now she is the one telling us: “I must be in my Father’s house…”
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