A few weeks ago, Mary Hufnagel, MODG Senior, attended the Three Hearts Pilgrimage in eastern Oklahoma. She wrote a beautiful essay about this two day, 35-mile walk to the Abbey of Our Lady of Clear Creek. Her powerful words remind us of the joy that can be found in sacrificing our own comfort for Our Lord.
Her inspiring essay brings to mind the words of Pope Benedict XVI , "The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness."
Beauty in Sacrifice
Three Hearts Pilgrimage 2023
By Mary Hufnagel
Vexilla Regis prodeunt, fulget Crucis mysterium qua vita mortem pertulit et morte vitam protulit.
The banners of the King go forth, the mystery of the Cross shines, by which Life bore death, and by dying gave us life.
The Three Hearts Pilgrimage took place this year for the fifth time, having been started in 2019 by a small band of boys from the Saint John Bosco Institute in Edmond, OK, for the intentions of a restoration of Christian Culture. This restoration is more important than many may know. A Christian Culture is the basis of a good society, a faithful Church, and a moral government. Over the past few hundred years, our society has become completely Godless. It is time to bring back our Christian values and morals, as well as faith and hope in Our Lord.
This year, the Three Hearts Pilgrimage included over two thousand pilgrims. It has increased by at least five hundred people every year since it started, proving that hope in God, faith in the Sacred Heart, and a return of morality are not completely vacant in the minds of Catholics across the United States, both Traditional and Novus Ordo. Two thousand and thirty-three men, women, and children participated in walking over 35 miles to the Abbey of Our Lady of Clear Creek, making sacrifice for all that we should hold dear as Soldiers of Christ.
The banners of the King went forth as each chapter of pilgrims set out early in the morning of October 13, carrying their banners and flags representing Christ the King, Our Blessed Mother, and many different saints. Happy hearts swelling, faces beaming, feet lifting vigorously, cheers resounding, voices singing, and their eyes on God—what an inspiring sight.
By the time the first day of walking was nearly over, and the first 20+ miles having almost been completed, the smiles were perhaps gone, the feet were more shuffling than lifting gladly, and the voices singing the Salve Regina were somewhat faded. But with hope, the tired pilgrims walked on.
Throughout that long day however, the sacrifice, the beauty, and the faith in God shone in each and every pilgrim. From sharing a snack to carrying a child, from praying a rosary to walking barefoot on the gravel roads, these pilgrims, fanatic as they might seem to modern people outside the Catholic Church, were fulfilling the concept of sacrifice completely.
At the last mile of the first day, the St. John Bosco chapter, which led the other 30+ chapters in the long walk, chanted and sang hymns to Our Lady, who in return aided their weary feet towards the campsite where they would spend the night until resuming their walk to the monastery in the morning.
Finally the destination was in sight. Far down the road could be seen the gate of the field where all would eat and rest. Many pilgrims were already there, having taken the bus from the lunch break after walking in the morning. These began cheering as the long line approached.
And what happened to these worn and weary feet? What happened to the tired hearts, the hanging heads?
Although overcome by fatigue, the pilgrims raised their heads and lifted their feet, and the Wind of the Holy Spirit filled their sails to take them into safe harbor. Cheers echoing, voices lustily singing the verses of Immaculate Mary, and hearts full, the travelers came along the dusty road. The ranks broke, and many began running—sprinting—towards the welcoming gate. More and more came on, and the banners were held high in the midst of them.
Smiles beamed again. Running to food, warmth, and rest—but in a deeper sense, running to Our God and glory. At that moment, we were a Catholic army, charging with light and happy hearts into the battle against evil.
Words cannot express the feelings felt by witnessing these exhausted pilgrims coming into their harbor with elation and triumph. To run like that, to trudge onward when your feet are about to fall off and your shoulders are aching from the straps of your pack, shows one thing, even greater than the wish to reach their place of recuperation—a love for Almighty God. Who indeed who knows His mercy, His greatness, His power, and His love, would not give his life for Him?
Sacrifice is something completely forgotten by our society. In this age when anyone can get anything they want, they would hardly think of giving it up for someone else, and the thought of offering up pain for mere ideals would be ridiculous.
But on the Three Hearts Pilgrimage, sacrifices were abundant. It was seen in the offering up of everyone’s own personal pain and discomfort. It was seen in the countless instances of carrying another’s pack or supporting another—even half-carrying another—up and down the many hills. It was seen in the barefoot pilgrims who limped along the rocky dirt roads. It was seen in the offering of one’s food to other hungry pilgrims, and in the giving of one’s water to another thirsty traveler. It was seen in the prayers offered, the smiles and encouragement given.
It was sacrifice in a full way—and it was beautiful sacrifice.
How often does one stop to see the beauty in the actions and thoughts of other people? Beauty, with sacrifice, is another thing that is sorely missed in our culture. Beauty is not always something material. Beauty can be found in love, in sacrifice, in faith. Anyone driving by the pilgrims towards the end of their long day of walking might be appalled with how awful they looked—dusty, sweaty, grimy, windblown, ragged. But in spite of all that, they were beautiful. They all had an inner beauty that shone forth. Their love for God and for one another took the upper hand. They were absolutely beautiful.
Beauty shone; it could be seen at every moment.
What exactly is beauty? Beauty is something that draws our minds and hearts to God. And nothing could draw our minds and hearts closer to God than to see Him on the altar, to receive Him Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. For this, there were two major Masses said on the Pilgrimage. One was on the first day of walking—a field Mass at noon. The pilgrims gathered in a large hayfield to attend at the Holy Sacrifice—the Ultimate Sacrifice. The sun shone brightly over the beauty of the surrounding nature. Our Lord vouchsafed to come to His servants there, to allow them to receive His Body and Soul into their hearts.
The other Mass was the Pontifical High Mass at the final end of the journey. This end was reached by walking in silence from the monastery gates to the Abbey itself. The church bells were pealing across the countryside, and bagpipers stood on the top of the last hill to pipe a welcome—a battle cry that filled the heart with a righteous love for God and a desire to fight for Him for eternity. All the banners of all the chapters were leading the way for the pilgrims—Vexilla Regis prodeunt… The banners of the King go forth… these were the royal banners, guiding the Christian warriors to their destination.
Mass was offered by His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke, assisted by the priests of the Abbey. The church was filled quickly, and the remaining crowd covered the yard outside.
With blistered feet, aching limbs, weary minds, but an inner joy, the pilgrims knelt to hear Mass and receive Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. Thinking of all they had been through in the past two days, all they had suffered, all they had enjoyed—all this was topped by a feeling of accomplishment and joy in having arrived. They didn’t give up, they finished their course. If one can do that in walking a grueling thirty-five miles up and down dirt-road hills, why would they not try to win their other battles throughout their lives?
Just think of the accomplishment and joy we’ll feel when we reach our Final Destination, and we can say to Our Lord, “I came the whole way; I fought the good fight, I finished my course. I was carried some of the way, I fell back often, and I stumbled countless times—but by Thy Grace I have arrived.”
The way is narrow and hard—the gravel hurts our feet, our muscles ache, and our burdens get heavier—but Our Lord eases our pain and lightens our packs, and so one day we will, by His Grace, arrive at our Final Destination, where there is no pain, and no burdens. With our eyes on God, our heads held high, and our feet lifting with each step, we will approach the welcoming gate, and then we’ll sprint towards it, crying out “For God and King!”
*All Photos submitted by Mary Hufnagel*