every year as long as he was able. In 14 years, John has only missed the walk once, due to work obligations. The journey takes him three days. On the first day, John walks about 35 miles, fromWaterbury to Canaan, Connecticut. His brother, James, who is a priest at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury, meets him there. They have dinner together and stay at a bed and breakfast. On Saturday, John covers another 19miles and arrives at Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Sunday morning, John walks the final five miles to the Shrine, where his family meets him for Mass. Ancient pious tradition Walking pilgrimages have a long history in the life of the Church. They were very popular in the Middle Ages, and even today, hundreds of thousands of people follow covering hundreds of miles. While John is intrigued, for now he prefers his solitary walk through the New England countryside. Over the years, John has modified his route to avoid traffic, even though it means spending several hours in areas without cellphone service. Far from causing him anxiety, the isolation gives John a deep sense of peace. “I feel like I’m going into this zone where it’s just me and God,” he says. “It’s a feeling of freedom. This is my quiet time with God.” John has many significant memories of the days he has spent walking: his discovery of an old, ruined Protestant church in the woods where he stops every year to pray; the time he was caught in a rainstorm “out in the middle of nowhere, completely exposed.” (“Now I always bring a rain poncho,” he chuckles.) A conversation with Jesus At home, John sometimes opens St. Faustina’s Diary and focuses on the words in bold letters — those spoken by Christ. Reading those words is “like a conversation” with Jesus, he says. On his annual walk, John continues and deepens that conversation. He may listen to music and Scripture studies, but he always leaves quiet time for dialogue with the Lord. He reflects on his blessings, especially thanking God for answering his and Robin’s prayers all those years ago and giving them the gift of a family. John encourages other Catholics to consider this ancient, pious tradition and make a walking pilgrimage if they can. It will give them a precious opportunity, he says, to step away from ordinary life and connect with the God who loves them and waits for them. “God wants to pour an ocean of mercy if we will only accept it,” John says. “Just trust in God’s mercy, giving your life to Him. It’s really the secret to peace.” While most of us were busy shopping in the days before Christmas, Jean Marie Flanagan of Newburgh, New York, opted instead for spiritual enrichment on a four-day retreat at the National Shrine. “I spent every afternoon in prayer for my family and finances,” she said. “It’s a tangible way to thank the Lord for the great things He’s done in my life.” Jean Marie was married for 36 years, and remembers especially her late husband and one of her five children who has died. “Divine Mercy enables me to unite my sorrow with Jesus,” she said. “It’s very comforting. The Shrine is the place I always venture to maintain my spiritual foundation.” l l l On her discernment journey to become a Salesian Sister of St. John Bosco, Sr. Elfie Del Rosario, FMA (kneeling at left, with her fellow sisters at Corpus Christi Parish in Port Chester, New York), was introduced to the message of Divine Mercy by her spiritual director. “It was a revelation,” she said. “Because of Divine Mercy, I realized that Jesus calls me to Himself regardless of my shortcomings, that His mercy and love really complete me. It’s a very powerful devotion, and I love to share it with others, especially the Chaplet and St. Faustina’s Diary.” Marian Helper • Spring 2022 • marian.org 5 Friends of Mercy
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