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| Photo by Sarah Holiday, shared by Nuns of Holy Transfiguration |
Dear Parish Faithful,
I have received two new reflections on yesterday's solar eclipse, and wanted to share them with the parish.
First, this from Erin Settles, a wonderful "first-hand" witness! I am further aware that others in the parish witnessed the total eclipse. I liked her description of the great difference between witnessing a total eclipse compared to a partial eclipse. We were impressed with what we saw, but we missed the "real thing!"
Fr. Steven
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Hi Fr Steven!
I just read your email about the solar eclipse, and wanted of offer a few thoughts and observations.
I traveled with Spencer, the kids, and my mother to Indianapolis to be in the path of totality for the eclipse. Spencer and I saw the 2017 eclipse, and were completely amazed, so we knew we wanted to try as hard as we could to see this one. John was only a baby then, and I hoped very much that he would get to see this one, since he is now almost 8 and would be able to appreciate it. I wanted my mom to be able to see it as well. For a while, forecasts were predicting cloud cover for our location, but John and I partnered in daily prayers regarding eclipse visibility, and are overjoyed that the Lord granted our request to have an unobscured view at the moment of totality!
In 2017, I read a quote by someone who said that the difference between a total eclipse and a partial eclipse is like the difference between dying and almost dying. I found that to be absolutely true. Things change dramatically in the last minute before totality, and when 100% eclipse is achieved, you are able to witness something unlike anything I have ever seen. There is a complete metamorphosis in that instant. The sunindeed appears to be “black as sackcloth,” with a stark, white, flower-like corona around it. There are 360 degrees of sunset surrounding you, and stars in the darkest part of the sky. It is an otherworldly vision that causes me, as a Christian, to praise the Creator for gifting us with such wonders.
And as I was praying that my family would be allowed to behold this particular wonder, I also prayed that it would serve as a witness to everyone who saw it that our world has been made “just so.” The type of solar eclipse we can experience on Earth is unique among the planets: our moon is unusually large compared to other planets’ moons, and while it is about 400 times smaller than the sun, it is also 400 times closer to us than the sun, so that the two objects appear almost exactly the same size in the sky. Not only that, but the moon’s orbit allows it to pass in front of the sun in such a way that it covers it precisely, blocking out 100% of its light, while still allowing its ghostly white atmosphere, the corona, to be plainly visible, which is the only time we are able to see it. If one’s mind is open to the idea, a total solar eclipse is a wonderful opportunity to see the fine tuning of what can seem to be a random universe.
My family will remember the eclipse of 2024 as an example of answered prayer, a demonstration of the beauty God lavishes on creation, a testament to His care in ordering the heavens, and a memorable time of excitement and adventure for our family.
Praise be to God in all things!
Erin Settles
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I also received this last night from our good friend, Mother Paula. You may want to look at the photos that the monastic mothers and sisters were able to take. Pretty impressive. I am glad that they made the trip and were able to enjoy the majesty of the eclipse!
Dear family and friends,
Some of us were blessed to travel to a state park in Garrettsville, Ohio east of Cleveland today to see the eclipse in its totality.
We enjoyed hiking on the Rocky trails, having a picnic lunch and then watching the beautiful eclipse.
Hope you will enjoy The photos.
God is wonderful in all his works!
Yours in Christ,
Mother Paula
OMT nuns
Here's the link to our photo album for today
