Love Is Stronger Than Death

I was quite amazed at the number of views from a recent video I uploaded entitled 2009 Renewal of Vows . Despite the fact that it was right next to a video entitled Milk! (which at first glance makes my video's title look like 2009 - Renewal of Milk !), I was surprised that it has surpassed the number of views from the Andrea Boccelli Sings Elmo To Sleep. Not that I'm using Elmo as a benchmark, but I decided it was time to give everyone some needed background information about this video.

I was actually inspired to start a collection of video slideshows for my family when I was lying in the hospital bed after having been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure in 2007. My heart was pumping at 25% when the normal ejection fraction should have been around 65%. It was quite a precarious situation and none of my cardiologists could give me and my family a prognosis. We were simply taking it one day at a time.

While I was in a state of surrender, I realized that my children may not fully appreciate the journals and letters I have been writing for them until they are much older. I wanted to leave something that would appeal to both children and adults. In the event our Heavenly Father calls me Home sooner than later, I wanted to leave images of myself with my family, especially images of me with my children.

Our dear Lord was so kind to send me a friend who enjoys photography and another friend who has siblings who could compose and sing beautiful Catholic music. After obtaining their written permission, I began producing a series of slideshows called "Moments of Grace: A Spiritual Legacy". With images and music, I am able to pass on to my children and to my children's children the greatest legacy of all, that is, the richness and beauty of our Catholic Faith.

My heartfelt gratitude goes to Anne Arias for sharing her gift of photography and to Gina Doman, Martin Doman and Alicia Doman Hernon for sharing your gift of music with all of us !

My hope is that you will be inspired to create your spiritual legacy for your own family. It could be as simple as letters in celebration of a sacrament received or simple journal entries every Christmas or New Year. The most important thing is that you are writing with the knowledge that your audience is your children and that they will someday be reading your writings to future generations.

Through your spiritual legacy, your family will always remember the greatest lesson our Lord taught us in His Resurrection, that is, Love Is Stronger Than Death !