Even though it rained on and off all day, this was a good Friday.
I had a great time on Holy Thursday night. Our Mass was beautiful and after Mass, I went and picked up Joan and we drove to 10 churches. It took us going to ten to find six that were open for adoration. We were able to visit Our Lady of Vietnam, St. John the Baptist in Silver Spring, St. Catherine Laboure in Wheaton, St. Jude’s in rockville, St. Francis of Assisi in Derwood, and St. Andrew’s in Silver Spring. I will not name those who were closed but I felt the three that were, counted as a seventh.
It was so neat, I ran into old friends from Camillus and OLGC as well as Fr. Mike Mellone, who is pastor of St. Andrew’s. I am so glad that I am able to continue this wonderful custom from my childhood. Also around midnight, Dan and Stephanie Poje called me. They knew I’d be out “church hopping” and I was so glad to talk with them – although I had to hand the phone to Joan quickly as we can’t drive and use a cell phone. However, even a short word with them is delightful.
Then we met our friend, Gail Douglas and went to an all night diner and laughted and talked. I got home around 2:00am. I used the c-pap and was asleep in a matter of minutes.
This morning I came to the office around 9am to do some “tweaking” of my talk on the seven last words of Christ. I gave it at St. Anne’s Church over in Tennleytown. There might have been about 70 people there and I gave a reflection and prayer after each Word and we sang a response. We had a cantor and organist and I think it went well.
I got home just in time to hear confessions for an hour and a half. The three o’clock service had already begun when I came out of confessions, so I went and took a nap.
I came back over around 6pm and I was on the altar – but sitting in the choir stalls for the 7pm service. Fr. Jim was presider and Jeff Lewis, our deacon from TC and Spokane, Washington was the homilist. It was very good and a just the right amount of drama. After Mass, one of the ladies told Jeff and me that a small boy sitting next to her, turned to his Dad and said, “I didn’t kill Jesus, why did he say that?” I told Jeff that I would refer such questions to him and I came back to the sacristy.
I also talked with Gerry Hudder today and his leg has improved enough to fly back tomorrow to Arkansas. He spent most of this week in the hospital and I could tell he wants to get home.
I have made arrangements for a few confessions tomorrow, so I am heading over to go to bed.
I, as usual, read this the day after you post. Rocco’s post today is worth repeating, in part, since it is an image I love:
Easter Eve in the breviary’s Office of Readings:
Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.
He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all.” Christ answered him: “And with your spirit.” He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”