This morning, as we finished the first Mass at St. Anne’s since March 18th, the closing response seemed especially appropriate!
 
Due to the ban on visitation in light of COVID-19, St. Patrick’s Day was the last time we were actually able to have Mass celebrated here. 
 
Yesterday afternoon, we learned that a priest who recently moved in here was interested in offering Mass here on the morrow at 9 a.m.; it would be open to us and our residents. 
 
I’d have to dust off my sacristan hat in a hurry! 
 
I had to make sure the wine and hosts were still good, and change the lectionary and missal from Lent to the twelfth week of Ordinary Time.  I had to find a Mass stipend, and attend to other details. 
 
I guess, I was still a bit rusty because, at 8:58 a.m., Father asked me if I was going to light the candles.  After struggling to light the new lighting taper, I finally got the candles lit.  (Fire Hazard Warning: You cannot blow out a match while wearing a mask.  Make sure to take off your mask before working with matches to avoid burns or uncontrolled flames.)
 
I got back to my seat and remembered that I needed my bell to ring at the epiclesis and consecration.  Back to the cupboards I went!)
 
Other than that, everything went very well.  We felt so blessed to have Mass here once again.  It was wonderful!
 
I really am blessed!  Despite living in a very challenging time, I have so gifted!  Along with the greatest blessing of life and the sacraments, God continues to bless me in so many ways; if only I would remember that more!
 
I’ll share a couple of timely examples:
 
This week, we received a donated Baldwin piano!  We’re having trouble with the electric piano we have, and I’ve been dreaming of a real piano for a while now.  Now, this dream has become a reality!  I’m looking forward to playing it for our residents Sunday afternoon.
 
Also, a friend of ours has offered me the use of her private swimming pool.  This evening, I’m finally going to be able to take advantage of it!  This is very exciting because I’m a little fish (I love the water), but rarely get to swim anymore.
 
As if that weren’t enough for a list of blessings, we are getting company this evening for tomorrow’s board meeting.  I am very much looking forward to a visit from three of our Sisters. 
 
With all of this in mind, especially the blessing of having Mass in our own chapel again, it was with great fervor that I responded to Father’s closing statement: “Thanks be to God!”

This evening, as we were praying vespers, one of the antiphons struck a chord with me, reminding me of a song I learned during my college years: “To the King of ages, immortal and invisible, be all honor and glory, alleluia.” 

This song (paraphrased from 1 Timothy 1), has always been powerful in lifting my heart up in praise.  Since praying the antiphon this evening, now, that song has been coming back into my mind - it’s kind of catchy.  (Sometimes, not being able to get a song out of your head can be a good thing, too.)

I was also struck this evening at how many times the prayers referred to God’s kingship. 
During this time of seemingly unprecedented realities, this “age” of physical distancing, wearing masks, staying home, and rising numbers of ‘confirmed cases,’ it is good to remember that Jesus is truly the king of ALL ages.  He is with us as he promised “even until the end of time.” Also, to quote another song we can remember that “He’s got the whole world in His hands.” 

This is good news which can inspire our hearts to break into praise even (or especially) during the “age” of COVID-19.
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“To the King of ages, immortal and invisible, be all honor and glory, alleluia.”  

This afternoon, I walked over to the convent after a very full afternoon of helping with a big cleaning project.  I wanted to change clothes, and maybe do some laundry while I was at it.
 
I had left my winter coat hanging up in the normal spot, deciding to brave the elements and go out in “just my shirt-sleeves.”  I was happy I did; it was certainly pleasant enough out. 
 
As I neared the convent, I heard the sound of water runner; snow had melted and the resulting water was running down toward the drainage system.  This beautiful sound did my ears good, a welcome sign of hope after a less than uplifting afternoon (or week, for that matter)!
 
I got inside, and while I was accomplishing the mission for which I had come, I heard the sound of a bird singing outside: another beautiful sign of hope. 
 
Amidst so much stress and discouragement in our world at this time, I am thankful for the many beautiful sounds and sights, gifts from heaven.  

If only we could all be more alert to them!

This evening, Sister Elaine shared how fast she felt the week was going.  She works in bookkeeping, and has been busy. Among other things, she has to get ready for the board meeting here on Saturday.  The pressure of the deadline probably has something to do with her feeling that week is slipping away from her.  It can be a stressful time for board members here.

I, personally, have a very different attitude toward these quarterly gatherings.  I have my small part in the preparatory work: cleaning guest rooms and making the reports available electronically shortly beforehand. 

To me, the weekend of the board meeting is always something to look forward to.  We get a change from the normal routine and get a chance to see some of our Sisters again. (Something that happens all too seldom, it seems.) 

To me, this week is going "plenty slow."  I think the fact that I am so looking forward to the visit has a lot to do with this.  Unfortunately, before I know it, it will be over.  :(

I am not criticizing Sr. Elaine's perspective here; "it has it's merits" (to borrow her expression);  I am simply musing on the huge difference perspective makes.

I find this in my personal life as well.  I am preparing a talk on the Morning Offering and Examen Prayer for our next women's gathering.  It has been a powerful reminder to me, and has impacted my interior life - for the better.  Through this preparation, I have improved my own practice of the examen prayer, and have renewed my efforts at looking upon my past day with gratitude.

Facing a North Dakota winter and all the other struggles in this journey we call "life" can make a person focus more on the negative than on the blessings.  It can be easy to fall into this trap.  My renewed efforts at the daily examen prayer have helped me to remember an attitude of gratitude, not only at prayer before "turning in for the night," but during the day as well. 

I certainly am not perfect at this, but at least I’m getting a nudge in the right direction. :)

I pray that each week of my life (not only those leading up to joy-filled gatherings) may be a time when I look ahead with hope, grateful for God's blessings: past, present and future.

This line from one of my favorite hymns (Lord, Who at Thy First Eucharist) has come to mind for me in recent days.  

Saturday, we finished the week of prayer for Christian Unity as we celebrated the feast of St. Paul's conversion.  

This past week, we've had a visitor from out west, a family member of one of our residents.  It has been a pleasure getting to know her a little.  Her willingness to share her Christian faith and her love for our Lord have been an inspiration to me, although she is not Catholic.  

I invited her to join us for Mass Sunday morning, and she said she might do that.  I actually ended up sitting near her for much of the liturgy, although I did have to get up for the reading and psalm, etc.  

As the Mass proceeded, I wondered if she knew that she wasn't supposed to receive Communion, and how to handle this without hurting her feelings or causing a stir.  I really hoped I wouldn't have to do anything, and prayed for the situation.  ​

The whole situation was resolved seamlessly.  At communion time, she stood, watching people, clearly unsure of what to do.  I was able to whisper to her that she could just be seated, and that settled things.  I was grateful.

It is sad, to me, though, that there is lack of unity between Christians, that our brothers and sisters who share our love for Christ and faith in Him, are not able to share also in the richest of His blessings, the other sacraments and especially the Eucharist.  

Please join me in praying for unity of Christians and that our separated brothers and sisters may find the fullness of the faith. 

The words of the above-mentioned hymn can be a beautiful prayer to this end and can provide rich content for meditation.

I know that, officially, it's called Gaudete Sunday, but since my childhood (before I knew the Latin term), I've called it "Pink Candle Sunday."  I so enjoy the rich liturgical traditions of our faith!  We get to rejoice in the midst of our Advent waiting.

Although it was extra work on an already busy day yesterday, I wanted to make the most of things for the morrow's celebration...I ironed rose colored paneling to accent the front of the altar (this proved to be more complicate than I'd anticipated.), and found a rose colored chasuble for Monsignor to wear.  Although, the color is referred to as "rose," it always looked pink to me.  I remember a priest back home stressing the fact that it is not pink but rose. 

In this, I can't help but recall my dad's (whose birthday we remembered yesterday) facetious remark that "real men can wear pink."  (He had a pink shirt, himself.)

This morning,  I dug in the sacristy drawer and found a rose colored chalice veil as well.  I was happy!  (I'd thought we had one, but couldn't remember for sure.)

I hope you, too, rejoice, at this beautiful time of year as we sing, "Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!"

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