Because I spend most of my time behind the editor’s desk, I kind of forget what a rush it can be to sit on the other side.
Then … all of a sudden … it hits: I get to be the author this time! It won’t be in the stores for a few months yet … but I wanted to share my excitement so … here goes: The COVER! I love the heavenly perspective of the angels around the monstrance. It reminds me when the kids were little, when I told them that their guardian angel always wants to go and join the other angels in heaven, bringing their prayers of praise and thanksgiving to God … unless they are naughty, and the angel has to stay behind (since he can’t go empty handed)! OSV persuaded me to cut that one from the book, and since I’m a good little author, I did. But I still believe it’s true. We make our angel happy when we send him ahead with our offerings. And when he has nothing but dusty Cheerios to hand over … Well, I don’t imagine he’s’ too happy about it, do you?
And yet, the great miracle of the Eucharist is that Jesus WANTS to be with us, in our goodness and our badness, in our joyfulness and sorrow, in all the ways we make our tentative way into his presence. “Now we see dimly,” said St. Paul. “But then face to face.” And that’s what I love best about this cover … the joy of heaven at the heavenly feast.
Order in April 1, 2024 at Our Sunday Visitor
