I had read a short article about St Mary of Egypt, a woman who lived in the sixth century. Her early life was mostly promiscuous and her behaviour immoral.

Mostly out of curiosity she followed a group of pilgrims to Jerusalem to venerate the cross. When we was not able to enter the church where the cross was, she sought the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Not only was she able to enter the church, but felt drawn to live in the desert.

While in the arid space of the desert, a monk named Zossima visited her, and ministered to her. One day during a visit to bring Mary communion, the monk had discovered that Mary had died. He would reflect on the great conversion and penance that he had witnessed in Mary. This is a wonderful story of conversion and discipleship to be sure.

I have been reading a lot of the writings of John Paul the Great, in particular his Theology of the Body. Our bodies are sacred entities, or beings, that are very much part of our persona. They are not bad, nor is the gift of our sexuality something bad. But to live outside of chastity, prudence, temperance, and charity, hobbles that relationship with God and others. It is easy for us to look at people as things or commodities.

There is a series of books entitled, Jesus Freaks, which portrays the lives of men and women throughout the ages who proclaimed the dignity of the human person, and were often maltreated, tortured, or even murdered for their faithfulness. These folks help us to remember the dignity and integrity that is the life of every man and woman.

Not unlike the icon, we have a deeper reality to be respected and reverenced.