Thursday, March 24, 2005
Happy Holy Thursday.
I guess it is one of those holy days that I should come out of with great insights and a deepened faith - but instead I am considering what the coming days will be like for me.
The Holy Thursday Mass tonight was pretty amazing - which is really saying something for my parish, as it tends to be less-than-best liturgically. Although I did laugh at the way the responsorial psalm was arranged and stood in disbelief as they sang some cockamamie version of the Holy, Holy, Holy and the other Mass parts...I was really impressed with the reverence which was shown by the priests when the Blessed Sacrament was transferred from the church to the place where it will be for the "Keeping Watch" part of the evening. I thought it was absolutely beautiful, what with the incense and "Pange, Lingua, Gloriosi" going on - I felt like I was transcended to a new place - which is really what I should be feeling! Then the choir sang a "Keep Watch" song to the tune of not falling asleep and resisting temptation and whatnot - it was really quite impressive. I guess my biggest insights were gained right then and there. It was beautiful. Way to go, big HF, with the incense, Latin and solemnity. Now we're talking.
Tomorrow is Good Friday, and although the family is not so sure about what our pilgrimage will be, it is sure to be better than last year's experience what with sleeping in and chicken soup. Boy was I ever madder than hell. And I would really rather not spend my Good Friday like that. It helped me to focus on the idea that people don't always act the way that we would like them to (which pales in comparison to the betrayal of Christ...but hey...little things are my style). On account of the weather situation going on here (is this some sort of El Nino thing that we are completely oblivious to?) - we've decided to stay around here and go to the Cathedral for the Passion. Should be tremendous. Although I identify with the idea that we are called to be an "Easter people", I do love to meditate on the sufferings of Christ - it reminds me of the boundless love of Christ. Ah, love. It reminds me of the Jennifer Knapp song with the lyric "Isn't love amazing? I forgot how to speak." I find no words to express what I feel when I consider the Passion. Love alone suffices.
An update on the hand situation: turns out it is compression of the ulnar nerve. I kind of figured that. The doctor wants me to go to a neurologist to have a nerve conduction test done. I go to a neurologist in Dubuque on Tuesday. Then we will see what will be done to fix this problem. Looks like it might be surgery. That's ok. I fear not. :) As Sr. Catherine Marie very readily reminded me, "Fear is useless. What is needed is trust." In the flavor of a great Polish saint, I exclaim, "Jezu Ufam Tobie!" (or...Jesus, I trust in Thee).
Alas, bed time draws ever nearer.
Pax et veritas in cor Jesu.
I guess it is one of those holy days that I should come out of with great insights and a deepened faith - but instead I am considering what the coming days will be like for me.
The Holy Thursday Mass tonight was pretty amazing - which is really saying something for my parish, as it tends to be less-than-best liturgically. Although I did laugh at the way the responsorial psalm was arranged and stood in disbelief as they sang some cockamamie version of the Holy, Holy, Holy and the other Mass parts...I was really impressed with the reverence which was shown by the priests when the Blessed Sacrament was transferred from the church to the place where it will be for the "Keeping Watch" part of the evening. I thought it was absolutely beautiful, what with the incense and "Pange, Lingua, Gloriosi" going on - I felt like I was transcended to a new place - which is really what I should be feeling! Then the choir sang a "Keep Watch" song to the tune of not falling asleep and resisting temptation and whatnot - it was really quite impressive. I guess my biggest insights were gained right then and there. It was beautiful. Way to go, big HF, with the incense, Latin and solemnity. Now we're talking.
Tomorrow is Good Friday, and although the family is not so sure about what our pilgrimage will be, it is sure to be better than last year's experience what with sleeping in and chicken soup. Boy was I ever madder than hell. And I would really rather not spend my Good Friday like that. It helped me to focus on the idea that people don't always act the way that we would like them to (which pales in comparison to the betrayal of Christ...but hey...little things are my style). On account of the weather situation going on here (is this some sort of El Nino thing that we are completely oblivious to?) - we've decided to stay around here and go to the Cathedral for the Passion. Should be tremendous. Although I identify with the idea that we are called to be an "Easter people", I do love to meditate on the sufferings of Christ - it reminds me of the boundless love of Christ. Ah, love. It reminds me of the Jennifer Knapp song with the lyric "Isn't love amazing? I forgot how to speak." I find no words to express what I feel when I consider the Passion. Love alone suffices.
An update on the hand situation: turns out it is compression of the ulnar nerve. I kind of figured that. The doctor wants me to go to a neurologist to have a nerve conduction test done. I go to a neurologist in Dubuque on Tuesday. Then we will see what will be done to fix this problem. Looks like it might be surgery. That's ok. I fear not. :) As Sr. Catherine Marie very readily reminded me, "Fear is useless. What is needed is trust." In the flavor of a great Polish saint, I exclaim, "Jezu Ufam Tobie!" (or...Jesus, I trust in Thee).
Alas, bed time draws ever nearer.
Pax et veritas in cor Jesu.
