“Good morning, Sister Bernadette!” the chorus of children replied.

“I can see that you’re all ready for our show-and-tell this morning! Who wants to be the first one to tell us about the things that help him to pray to Jesus and to think of Heaven more?”

“Me, me, me!” Julian eagerly waved his hand in the air.

“Alright, Julian. Why don’t you come to the front and tell your classmates about what helps you most to pray to Jesus and think more about Heaven?”

Julian skips to the front of the class and starts to dig for something under his shirt. He strains a little with the chain around his neck to show everyone a shining gold medal. “This is my scapular. My mom and dad gave it to me. It has a picture of mama Mary and of Jesus with His heart sticking out.”

“That’s very nice, Julian. You mean Jesus’ Sacred Heart?” Sister Bernadette smiled. “How does it help you to pray?”

“Yup, the Sacred Heart!” he added. “In the morning, I kiss mama Mary and in the evening before I sleep I kiss Jesus’ heart.” Everyone applauded as he proudly went back to his seat with the medal still dangling outside of his shirt.

Sister Bernadette helps Julian slip in the medal and asked, “Well, who’s next?”

Kathy then showed her picture of the Crucified Lord that she has by her bed side. Anthony displayed his Rosary with beads made from different stones. Susan proudly showed her Rosary bracelet inherited from her grandmother. David came with an iron crucifix that he had bought from his family pilgrimage to Jerusalem the other summer.

And so went the class with each student explaining how these sacred objects and pictures helped them to pray. Sister Bernadette, however, noticed that Thirdy was just sitting in his chair staring at a small dull worn-out box on top of his desk. “Thirdy? What about you? Would you like to show and tell the class anything?”

The usually quiet boy gave Sister Bernadette a rather reluctant look. She smiled and returned him an encouraging nod. The boy slowly slid off his chair, gently picked up the strange box and started to gingerly walk in front of the class. He slowly opens it and carefully lifts out something wrapped in a very crude old clothe.

Everyone started to laugh as Thirdy unveiled the mysterious object. He became nervous and his hands and arms shook as he held a headless statue for the class to see. Sister Bernadette didn’t know how to react. At first she felt worried about how anyone could even think of keeping such a horrible statue. But she rectified, “Children, children! Please keep quiet and let’s listen to what Thirday has to say.”

“Ah…, huh…,” Thirdy stammered. He found it hard to begin especially when his English wasn’t so good and he mumbled eating his words. “Y’guys, y’knew I d’nt huv m’mama.  Coz I wuz small when sh’did. M’pappy wuz mad at d’stat-u, an smatch‘it. E-sed dat preyin t’stat-u d’nt wirk. An e-it d’hed f Mary.”

“But why did he blame the statue for your mom’s death?” Anthony asked.

“E-sed, idols don’t ‘ear, an dat dey’r just superstations.”

“You mean, superstition?” Sally, who had a crush on him, kindly corrected him.

“Ya’ dat one. Thanks…,” Thirdy smiled back at her.

“So why keep it dude? Just buy another one!” David suggested.

“Nah, coz et wuz mine mamas,” Thirdy became teary-eyed as he hugged the statue closer to his chest.

“Well, settle down everyone,” Sister Bernadette interrupted the curious class. “Let’s hear from Thirdy. Okay, Thirdy, how does this headless statue of Mother Mary help you to pray?”

The boy looked at the statue and without taking his eyes off it said, “Ne’er saw me mama. Ne’er knew how sh’luked. Ahn…, also ne’er met mama Mary alive, but y’all knew she’s n’Heaven. Sow, win I prey t’her, I knew m’preyin t’dem two…ahn dey both named Mary also…anh I knew deyr listin t’me...ahn I knew n’Heaven, won day, I will see der faces smiling t’me.”

Sister Bernadette couldn’t believe what she just heard and couldn’t contain herself from crying. The boy had just said the most wonderful prayer from the heart.

When Thirdy finished the class was overcome by silence. It was Sally who broke the sacred silence with her gentle clapping hands to which the whole class gradually joined in. “Thirdy had the best show-and-tell!” they all cheered.

* * *

“The Virgin of Sorrows. When you contemplate Her, look into Her Heart; She is a Mother with two sons, face to face: He... and you. (St. Josemaría, The Way no. 506)