Today was ‘Classics Day’ at our high school, which involved the Latin Department Chair donning a toga and laurel wreath and quizzing students on Roman mythology, declensions, and other roads leading to Rome. (Thankfully the afternoon Teacher Pie-In-The-Face event did not make its triumphant return this year. I speak as a victim.)
The school also celebrated a Latin Mass. During the homily, Fr. Jason mentioned that Pope Paul VI summed up his spirituality with three Latin words: Miseria, Misericordia, Magnificat.
Misery, Mercy, Magnifies.*
Three quotes come to mind.
Miseria: ‘Our life on earth is a bad night in an inn.’ -St. Teresa of Avila
Misericordia: “My past, oh Lord, to your mercy. My present to your love. My future to your Divine Providence.” -St. Pio
Magnificat: “What is this feeling that my love will rip a hole in the ceiling?” -Matisyahu
I think my spirituality, and maybe yours, can also be summed up these simple, yet rich terms. No matter how wonderful life is, we often remember the misery of our human condition. From this need, we reach out to receive Christ’s mercy. We are moved to gratitude, barely recognizing our own selves bathed new in the light of Christ.
Friday food for thought.
*Apologies to the Latin scholars that can actually translate these words.
