Blessed are the Meek

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5

As I sat in the back of a full church at my son’s preschool teacher’s funeral, I couldn’t help but wonder what impact this incredible woman had on all of these souls. Of course her family and friends knew her well, but how many people were also there who maybe only knew her from a distance, those who were touched by the impact of her witness, which radiated the meekness, kindness, and gentleness of Jesus.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:29

I feel so grateful that Ana Maria was the preschool teacher for my three youngest children. She was a woman of incredible patience, humility and kindness. These virtues not only guided her in her interactions with the children, but they also were present in her interactions with us parents. Ana Maria did not just act meek, kind, gentle, patient or humble, she was these things, and when you were in her presence you were inspired to be a better person.

Being in the presence of someone who is meek does more than we know. Our world is so obsessed with power and money that the meek are often overlooked and sometimes even trampled upon. But for Ana Maria and all of the other gentle souls out there, meekness has such hidden strength. Being in the presence of a meek soul has the power to soften hearts, it has the power to break down walls and make hearts of stone into hearts of flesh.

A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 36:26

The heart of flesh is one that beats freely. It listens, it feels, and it is open to the Lord. Being in the presence of Ana Maria was an experience of the softening of your heart. Her meekness and gentleness broke down the walls of your own heart and it called you to open up and receive freely. As a preschool teacher this meant that her students were open to learning and exploring new concepts. Ms Ana was also a catechist and her gift of meekness was especially impactful in providing an environment for the children to be open to an encounter with the Lord. In all the things a catechist is able to teach their students, this encounter with the Lord is the most important thing they are called to facilitate.

When I told my 5 year old, who had just finished his final preschool year in Ms Ana’s classroom, that his beloved teacher had passed away, he began to cry. As I hugged him and comforted him, he told me “she was a good teacher.” I agreed with him. He then said, “we should pray for her.” I agreed again and then let him lead us in prayer. It took a few moments for him to gather his thoughts, but once he did he said something like this: “God, protect Ms Ana. Keep her safe. Don’t let any bad people be around her. Let only good people be with her. God, let her be happy. God let her love.” After this prayer I looked over at my 11 year old and he was so surprised by this beautiful prayer that his younger brother just formulated. This is a gift that I attribute in part to being in Ms Ana’s classroom for the past three years. I am convinced that the truths that he was able to formulate in his prayer for his beloved teacher, all came from an encounter with the Lord that Ms Ana was so instrumental in facilitating for him.

Once I heard the news of Ana Maria’s passing from this life to the next, I prayed a Divine Mercy Chaplet for her. When I completed that prayer, I remember seeing in my mind’s eyes that when Jesus brought her into His presence, he led her to the young children who have passed away and are with Him in heaven. I saw the children embrace Ana and there was a joy in that moment that I cannot put into words. I then saw all of the prayers of all of the souls whom Ana Maria had impacted throughout her life rise up and lift her up in a beautiful glorification of God. These prayers came from far and wide, and from multiple generations. The legacy that Ana Maria cultivated upon this earth was there for her. In her meekness, she truly did impact the lives of so many souls on this earth, which became an eternal inheritance for her at the time of her death.

In my last visit to see Ana Maria, she was no longer verbal, she had begun to struggle walking and feeding herself. The disease was progressing quicker than anyone could imagine. As I walked in and saw her sitting on the couch she had the biggest smile. I went to her, bent down to give her a hug, and she embraced me with such affection and love, kissing the side of my head and not letting go. It was one of the best hugs I have ever received in my life, one I will never forget. What she was not able to express in words, Ana Maria fully expressed in our embrace, which was the love and tenderness that the Lord has for each one of us.

After the funeral mass, a good friend of the family spoke. He expressed his condolences and told a few stories about her life. One story he shared was from the final moments of Ana Maria’s life. As she laid in bed, no longer able to eat or drink, Ana fell into a peaceful sleep. She spent the last few days in this state. In the final moments, there was a miracle witnessed, Ana was actually able to speak her final words to her beloved husband Raphael, “I love you” and she passed shortly thereafter. The miracle of Ana’s last words have become the final expression of her meekness, which will be remembered as the incredible strength of her soul.

Thank you Ana Maria. Thank you for your life, for the love that you gave to each and every person you encountered. Thank you for your love for my children and the hundreds of other children and families in this community. I love you dear friend and I hope to see you again one day in paradise.

Prayer for the Holy Souls

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by the bitterness with which His most Sacred Soul was flooded, manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way than through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion.

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

Diary of St Faustina, 1227