Reflections from a Poor Clare Colettine Sister on the Chaplet of Hannah’s Tears
From the heart of a Poor Clare Sister
November 7, 2009
Part 1
The Chaplet of Hannah’s Tears immediately evokes in one the story and imagery of Hannah in the Bible. In (I Samuel 1) we find Hannah pouring out her heart, her longings, pain and suffering into God’s presence, desperately pleading for a child, Hannah knew that her God was the one true source of all life. Hannah knew the place to go, she took her burdened heart and soul into the Temple, to the only one who could truly transform her, and had the power her to give her that fruitfulness, that fecundity that she longed for. Hannah was barren and she longed for life!!! She persevered in prayer and God heard her. She was granted in time the gift of a son, Samuel. Her tears became transformed into joy as she sang her Magnificat (pre-figuring that of Mary’s, The Mother of God). She sang in thanksgiving.
The Lord showed her Mercy and she responded with such generosity by dedicating her son when born to the Temple, to Gods service, she knew in her heart that God wanted him and for his purpose. The Chaplet of Hannah’s Tears is intended to assist those who ‘are broken hearted, who suffer the pains of infertility, difficult pregnancy, miscarriage, still birth and the early death of a child. It is such a prayer of Compassion to offer for another, and such a prayer of trust for any individual to pray.
Perhaps we can also look at the Chaplet of Hannah’s Tears in an even broader perspective. Whether married, single, on living the consecrated life the Chaplet is equally applicable. A consecrated Nun, a Priest, and a single person, are all called to ‘parenthood ‘, for the Consecrated Nun she should be ‘another Mary’. We are all called to fruitfulness and parenthood. The conditions of a desire for fertility, to carry life to term, are equally applicable in the life of the consecrated sister as her ‘sisters ‘ in the world. In this way she can so understand the pain of infertility, difficult pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth and the death of a child.
A ‘Spiritual Mother’ also longs to ‘conceive life’ to nurture, and carry souls within her and pray for them to God, it is as any parenthood a great responsibility, at times intercession, the carrying of another broken person, interceding for grace and life can be a very painful process, and sometimes, despite all efforts, all the prayers, sacrifices and suffering, the person simply does not respond but chooses the path of sin or selfishness. You can say in this sense this is a miscarriage… a stillbirth, because instead of leaping to life the soul has remained against all good reason, against all attempts of prayer to remain without God. Because of this experience a consecrated nun is so able to understand the deep pain, the deep wound that exists when for some reason life at least in this world does not continue. It is for us all a path of trust, that whatever God decides that although we cannot see it is the best…. Hannah must have felt the pain of when she surrendered her only son Samuel to Temple Service; she knew the Lord wanted him! that was painful as well as a joy, because it meant she would not have all those joys that attend raising a child in the intimacy of ones own home, God wanted the child! And somehow too, in a way that we do not understand, sometimes… God simply wants ‘our child ‘, but if the child is in HIM we have nothing to fear for surely then the child has attained to the ultimate Joy and happiness.
We would like to highly recommend the Chaplet of Hannah’s Tears; it was born of love and Compassion. We pray for you all, holding you all and each to God, may he bless you with life!
Chaplet of Hannah’s Tears Number II
After the Initial Focus on the sign of the Cross we now turn to the Immaculata, to Mary. Mary, Queen and Mother of all Life! We gaze upon the blessed and beautiful Miraculous Medal, a medal endowed with so many graces and blessings. Let us recall what Mary revealed to Saint Catherine Laboure, that there were many graces in her hands which were not asked for or claimed, rays of light emulated from Mary’s hands, streams of grace!! Let us in our own need turn to Mary and ask her for those graces that will bring us closer to God and to each other, she is waiting to give them to us, and love offered, should be love accepted!!!!
“O Mary Conceived without Sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee”.
It is a powerful prayer because it takes us to a place where there is no sin! HER HEART! This simple, short prayer draws us into the very depth of her Immaculate Heart, her sinless and pure heart which finally will triumph over all evil and sin.
We offer our Chaplet with and in the presence of Mary, for Jesus, for souls, for life!!!
The Apostolate of Hannah's Tears 