A reflection and prayer on keeping the faith

“Keep the faith.”

My mother Kathleen, who was a child during the Depression, came of age in World War II, had five children, ran a 24-hour diner with my father, and approached her own mid-life crisis by becoming an elementary Catholic school teacher, offered these words of wisdom whenever life brought unexpected challenges. I heard them a lot when I was growing up, and they’ve been coming to mind often in recent weeks with communities across the world facing once unimaginable circumstances that have upended our collective status quo.

While my own faith is rooted in Catholicism, I’ve always interpreted the word as something more far-reaching than one religion. Faith in God—or whatever higher power you embrace. Faith in family. Faith in each other. That deep-seated belief that by being connected to something or someone else, your struggles are shared and you are not alone.

Author Anne Lamott wrote that, “Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light returns.” Faith is believing, with certainty in an uncertain world, that some light will return.

When the very real worries about physical, emotional or financial safety become overwhelming, perhaps the most important thing is to have faith in yourself. You are a member of the Salve Regina family and you’ve got this. Salve’s got this. Sure, it’s a social media hashtag, but I believe with all my heart that it’s true.

So here, in this moment, as we continue with the new normal and the ever-changing landscape that comes with it, I offer a simple Irish prayer, with the hope that better days lie ahead. In the meantime, as my mother Kathleen would say, “Keep the faith.”

May God give you…
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

Offered by Mary Edwards, director of constituent communications and design, Salve Regina University (April 15, 2020)

Each Monday and Wednesday, SALVEtoday will provide a prayer of reflection for the University community to reflect upon during this time of remote living and learning. #salvesgotthis #wellnesswednesdays

Featured photo by Caylee Post ’20