By Sister Timothy Marie, O.C.D.
There is something compelling about the sea. The vastness of it. The quiet, gentle waves rolling on shore. The rock formations with their panorama of misty spray bursting from the crashing waves. The sparkling of playful sunlight dancing upon its surface. Mother Luisita, our Foundress, often used nature images to impart spiritual truths. And several involve the image of the sea. Here is one that I love.
“Let us go forward, good seamen, our Love is waiting on the seashore.” Notice that Love begins with a capital letter.
To me, life itself is a sea. Beautiful and filled with potential. Hectic, oh so hectic, and filled with worry, frustration, and anxiety. Calm and mellow with satisfaction, fulfillment, and peace. Nervous, tense, and high-strung. And like the sea, we remain through it all . . . yet not unchanged. No, we change.
“We should be like those immovable rocks jutting out into the ocean, so that, when the waves come, they will wash over us, taking away with them all the dust that is on us.”
–Mother Luisita
Lent usually crashes into my life. Didn’t we just celebrate Christmas? We prepared for Christmas. But the season of Lent, at least for me, always takes me by surprise. I think to myself – how in the world can it already be Lent? And I seem to experience this crashing surprise every single year!
So, this year, I’ve thought about Lent and how I could “keep Lent” this year. And I have decided to use Mother Luisita’s words about the waves washing over us and taking the away all the dust on us. They will be my onramp into Lent, and they will also be my anchor to keep me on track during Lent. This year, I am transitioning into Lent with a plan. And I am choosing a patron to be my companion and guide. You can probably guess who. Yes, I’ve chosen Mother Luisita.
This Lent may the waves of the sea remain like background music. May I enter into this season with faith and trust, asking God to again wash away all the dirt that may have accumulated in my life. Isn’t that what Lent is supposed to be anyway? A spiritual cleansing? An inner renewal of spirit? As one of my favorite hymns puts it, “Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me. Mold me. Fill me. Use me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.”
That it may be so is my prayer, my desire, my hope this Lent of 2026.
Mother Luisita, pray for me.
