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Words by Korinne McCarthy
We love You, Lord Jesus.
We believe in You, Lord Jesus.
We praise You, Lord Jesus.
We thank You, Lord Jesus.
And we trust in You, Lord Jesus.
Lord Jesus, we trust in You.
From You all good things come.
You are the Light of the whole world.
You are Divine Mercy Itself.
You are Goodness Itself.
And we love You.
And we thank You.
And we trust in You, Lord Jesus.
You are our Light. You are our Way.
You are our Truth in every day.
And from You all good things come.
Amen.
Tribute to Korinne
After several years' struggle with cancer, Corinne McCarthy passed away August 7, 2011. She was eleven years old.
A few years before, Corinne had made her First Communion earlier than her classmates because her health was fragile and doctors did not know if she would be alive on the big day in May. She looked beautiful in her First Communion dress and wore it all day at her First Communion party at her house. Ever thereafter, she always wore her First Communion veil to Mass. It tended to take one's attention away from her pale face and thin, golden white hair which never fully grew back after having fallen out when she was undergoing chemotherapy. Once she began singing in the children's choir, which she dearly loved, Corinne exchanged the veil for the red children's choir robe. Smiling from ear to ear, she would lead the children's choir down the aisle for Communion and then return to the choir loft to join in singing a post-Communion meditation.
Corinne was a child with all that goes with that term, but she was a good child. Maybe her illness made her more respectful of others than many children are. Maybe she was naturally gentle as are her mom and dad. She was also enthusiastic and eager to learn, to sketch, and to help. A few years ago, when our prolife pregnancy center first opened its religious gift shop to make money for the center, as well as to provide religious goods to the community, Corinne sketched and colored some very lovely drawings of birds to sell in the shop so that more money could be raised.
Corinne had a great love of ladybugs and raised them in her house. She could tell you how many she had at any one time. One time she told me that she had something like 128 ladybugs. I don't remember the exact number, but Corinne knew. She would raise them from their eggs and then release them. I wonder if some of the ladybugs I have found in my garden came first from Corinne's ladybug farm.
Ladybugs are known as ladybirds in many parts of the world. They are also called ladybird beetles or lady beetles as they are not true bugs. While there are over 5,000 different species of ladybugs of various color combinations, the most common image is a ladybug with a black head and feet and red wings dotted with black spots. These are the types of ladybugs Corinne raised.
Most species of ladybugs are useful as they feed on aphids, mealy bugs, mites, and scale insects which suck the juices from garden plants.
Ladybugs were originally called "Our Lady's bird" or "Lady beetle" after the Blessed Virgin Mary who, in medieval art, was often depicted wearing a red cloak. The seven spots on the ladybug's wings were said to represent the seven joys and seven sorrows of the Blessed Mother.
Mary's seven joys are:
1. The Annunciation
2. The Nativity
3. The Adoration of the Magi
4. The Resurrection of Christ
5. The Ascension of Christ into Heaven
6. Pentecost (Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and Mary)
7. The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth
These are the mysteries celebrated in the Franciscan Crown Rosary.
Mary's seven sorrows are:
1. The Prophecy of Simeon or the Circumcision of Christ
2. The Flight into Egypt
3. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple
4. Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary
5. Jesus Dies on the Cross
6. Mary Receives the Body of Jesus in Her Arms
7. The Body of Jesus Is Placed in the Tomb
The Blessed Mother, to whom Corinne had a deep devotion, may not mind if we relate her joyful and sorrowful mysteries to Corinne's life. We think of the joy her parents felt when they learned they were pregnant (Annunciation), the wonder at her birth (Nativity), the admiration of aunts, uncles, and grandparents (Adoration of Magi). And then the doctors' prognosis that Corinne had cancer through her body (Prophecy of Simeon), the journeys to various physicians for cures (Flight into Egypt), her almost dying several times (Loss of Jesus in the Temple). The sorrowful mysteries in Corinne's life continue in these past ten days when doctors discovered a lump in her lung pressing on her heart (Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary), Corinne's death (Jesus' Death), the anguish of her parents at her bedside (Mary Receives the Body of Jesus), and the funeral (Jesus' Burial).
We trust that the rest of the joyful mysteries will come true for Corinne. She will rise at the last day (Resurrection of Christ), enter heaven with Christ (Ascension of Christ), receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost), and be crowned a saint in heaven (Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth). Knowing Corinne, I find it impossible to believe that she will not enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, I am personally asking Corinne to intercede for my intentions, even as I pray for her soul.
Corinne leaves behind her parents Jim and Erin and younger siblings Caitlin, Christopher, and Colin. Please keep them all in your prayers. And may God reward you.
Madeline Pecora Nugent
