Michael Corsini, a national Catholic recording artist, led an
intercessory Holy Hour at St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax May 8. The event,
“Spend an Evening with the Merciful Jesus,” was hosted by Project Rachel.
The evening began with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament by
Deacon Marques Silva, director of the Office of Child Protection and Safety.
Father David A. Whitestone, pastor, and Father Stephen J. Schultz, in
residence, heard confessions. Evening prayer was followed by music and
meditation by Corsini. The evening ended with Benediction.
“I believe the Lord commanded us to forgive because he knows it
frees us,” said Corsini. “An act of forgiveness is freedom.”
Corsini played guitar as he gave a reflection on the necessity of
forgiveness. He said that at 22, his
mother told him that he had lost an older brother to abortion.
“As you can imagine my heart went straight to the floor,” he said.
“All of a sudden everything in my life made sense.”
Corsini didn’t expect the grief that followed. “Was it possible
to grieve someone you never knew? Yes, it is,” he said. “I discovered in
my grief and in the profound sorrow of my mother that hidden there in that
wound was a waiting Jesus. It would take a while to heal it and slowly unveil
himself in that wound.”
Corsini is a graduate of Ringling School of Art and Design in
Sarasota, Fla., and earned a master’s of sacred theology from the John Paul II
Institute in Washington.
He spent five years as a member of the Franciscan Friars of the
Renewal. He is married with five children.
He’s worked with Entering Canaan’s post-abortion healing ministry and
other retreats for those suffering with infertility and miscarriages for several
years.
Cynthia Navarro liked the different format of the evening. “It
gave me the chance to meditate and think about (his presentation) in relation
to my own life and what he went through,” she said.
Deacon Silva said having an event like this in May is important
because the week before and after Mother’s Day is particularly difficult for
those who have experienced the wound of abortion.
“This event just focused on his mercy. I think the way it was
done was especially be effective for the women,” he said. “More of what we’re
taught is through the arts and when we can offer that message there and make it
practical it will be all the more effective in transforming hearts and minds.”
