Barbara Desrosiers
Seraphimatic Contrail
mixed media: polymer clay sculptures, acrylic paint, metal leaf, rice paper and wire on masonite
2002

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness,
My guardian angel paid a visit today...faintly I felt the rush of wind in my soul from his blazing feathers.
and put on the armor of light,
I think that he is always there, soaring above me to clean the currents which roar in my heart, fanning only the light of God for my eyes to behold as the forces of darkness rise to blind my sight. With every swift pass he leaves a few more feathered beacons to illuminate the path clearly before me.
now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility;
He seems to have been here with me since my earliest feelings, a protector from God to keep me safe in this journey to death. How is it that perfection became imperfection for me?
that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead,
Where will my soul be on the day of judgement? Ah, to weave a golden mail of angelic dew to become the armor of God.
we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
I shall never be worthy to meet my Lord, but blessed mystery, I will...I hope then to be covered by showers of golden feathers, made more brilliant by the light of God reflected on their surface. For now, I shall hide under the shadow of these wings and search for the contrails of a holy presence.
Amen.