I slept last night for almost 10 hours. It was a real treat to wake at 7:00am, turn on the Today Show and then fall asleep again to wake 3 hours later. I am tired a lot and I suppose that is why my doctor told me to go and buy B complex. I did that today and maybe I’ll have more energy.
At noon, I took my oils and went to visit the Cullen family. Mrs. Cullen called me yesterday to ask me to come today and give her mom the Sacrament of the Sick. Her name is Mary Jordan and she is from Scranton, Pa. Her son is also visiting her as I think it will only be a few more days till she goes peacefully home. She was conscious and could speak. I always like the prayer “Lord, in St. James’ epistle, he says ‘if there are ill among you, call for the priest. He shall lays hands on them and anoint them and the Lord will give them peace’.” I think it is consoling for all of us to feel the presence of the Lord and His angels hovering about. We laughed and talk about the Jesuits since the children had gone to their high school and the University. Well not the son, he left to go under the influence of Holy Cross at Notre Dame. It was a lovely visit.
I had the 5:30 Mass and I preached about St. Francis Xavier. There was a portion of a letter he wrote to Ignatius about how he wished he could go to the universities of Europe and encourage young people to come to Asia as missionaries. I talked and prayed for all those young college students who today answer that call by joining the Jesuit Volunteer program. We all prayed for them and former volunteers.
I called Barry Fitzpatrick to wish him a happy St. Francis Day. I have such happy memories of the 8 wonderful years I was chaplain at Good Counsel and worked with the Xavierian brothers and the great community we had there.
It was a very pleasant surprise that today I also recieved my first Christmas card. It was from the Collins family and was a great picture of the four children, most of whom I baptized. I also married Kevin and Quinn. I always enjoy the pictures I get at Christmas and I love to post them on my bulletin board in my office. I think I might have gotten this one so early because I complained to Kevin that I didn’t get one last year. He is dean of admissions at GC now and stopped in to see me when he came to visit our 8th graders before the open house. So now the first and only picture I have so far is up on the wall waiting for company.
I am remembering in my prayers all day today, those wonderful people that God brought into my life through the years at Good Counsel High. May Our Lady of Good Counsel wrap them in the mantle of her love.
I believe the church needs to spend more time instructing the faithful on the Sacrament of the Sick. Maybe your next book????
This former JV is touched that you remembered to pray for Jesuit Volunteers! 🙂