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The grey morning sky creates a fitting backdrop for reflection as the rain streaks across the window, reminiscent of tears. Within this setting, Effie Caldarola recalls her own experiences, linking the natural world with spiritual contemplation.
Years ago, Caldarola embarked on a retreat on the Kansas prairie at a newly founded center by Father Ed Hayes, a spiritual guide known for his writings. Logistical limitations meant she had to sleep in a tent during the retreat, an experience accented by encounters with wildlife. In a poignant moment with Father Hayes, he noted the rain outside, saying, "the sky is crying, just as you are."
Reflecting on her spiritual journey, Caldarola connects rainfall and tears. Quoting Isaiah, she draws parallels between rain, which "replenishes the earth," and tears, suggesting they might also rejuvenate us. She references St. Ignatius of Loyola, who viewed tears as markers of deep consolation, and highlights the importance of experiencing such emotions in prayer.
As Lent progresses, Caldarola notes the significance of the readings she's encountered. She describes her engagement with the biography "Ignatius of Loyola, The Pilgrim Saint," by Father Jose Ignacio Tellechea Idigoras, which offers insights into Ignatius's transformation from a vain aristocrat to a spiritual leader.
Calderola finds meaning in the Lenten liturgies, noting stories that resonate with themes of humility and forgiveness, such as the prodigal son and Moses at the burning bush. She concludes with the notion that, as with the rain, observing God's presence in our lives brings us to "sacred ground."
Effie Caldarola, a wife, mom, grandmother, and master’s degree holder in pastoral studies from Seattle University, reflects that "we also stand on sacred ground" as we listen to God.
