The Pelican in Her Piety is an ancient Christian symbol dating back to the Middle Ages. The first mention of the Vulning Pelican was in the Physiologus, a bestiary which contained anecdotes about animals and how they reflect deep theological truths. Sometimes the animal attributes presented in bestiaries were legitimate animal behaviors, and other times these characteristics leaned more toward fiction. The intention of these bestiaries was not to share scientific facts, but rather deep theological truths in ways that were easy for people to understand.

It was my first time taking a boy to Mass with me. I had been seriously considering religious life at the time, and was confident that NO human being was going to stand in the way of me and a religious habit unless he be the spitting image of “John-boy Walton” himself: bare feet, book in one hand, writer’s notebook in the other...

He didn’t exist, which was good, because I was going to be a nun.

But this boy sitting next to me in the car on the way to Mass? He brought a book with him wherever he went and wrote at least one poem every single day.

Hmmm…2 points for him, I suppose.

So once again, God had to speak to me through my children.

When I overcomplicate matters….He makes them simple.

And what better way to make things simple than through the eyes of a child? Or in this case…a children’s book….

All of the sudden, the lights in the auditorium went out, save one. And guess who just walked right out of thin air?

Matt Maher of course.

He started singing, and people lost it. I, not knowing who Matt Maher was at the time (a contemporary Catholic musician), just stood there with my mouth agape. All of the adults and chaperones had obviously withheld the fact that an all-out concert was to take place after Mass.

In all honesty, I hardly remember any of Matt Maher’s singing from that evening…but there is one moment I remember clear as day. One that changed my life.