Hello brothers and sisters:
I’m happy to report that thanks to your prayers I’m feeling much better these days. I’m able to sit up for a longer period of time, about an hour at a time. It’s great to sit up without feeling seasick. I couldn’t keep my head up without feeling as if I were on a boat.
I’m still under doctor’s orders not to move around too much. I’m wearing an oxygen mask, so I look and sound like Darth Vader. And I still need help with hygiene. The doctors have said that I have 23% lung function and 42% kidney function. Those are not bad odds as far as I’m concerned. I know people who live on much less.
The brothers are driving me crazy. I’m about to put some of them up for sale. We need the money anyway. They’re like a bunch of mothers. “Don’t do this. Eat that. This is good for you. That’s bad for you. Don’t reach for that, you’ll fall. Don’t try to move without one of us in the room.” My goodness, what a bunch of drama queens.
Last Sunday I made it to Holy Mass again. I was so happy to be there. I’ve missed most of Lent. One of the brothers reads the breviary for me, but it’s not the same as being in a church filled with people. Though I had to use a wheelchair, I was able to be there. That’s all that mattered to me. It was such a beautiful sermon too. I’m hoping to attend Holy Mass tomorrow as well. One of our brothers is ordained and he comes to celebrate Holy Mass at the main house. But I truly love attending mass at the local parish. There is nothing more beautiful than to see families.
Our local parish is very rich in holiness. The age range at any mass is from newborn to 100 years old. It’s an incredible parish with five priests, four deacons, three religious brothers and about 3500 families of all ages, races and ethnic origins. I just love it. There is a real excitement about liturgy. You see it in people’s eyes as they walk from the parking lot to the church. They sparkle. I call it the spark of holiness. It rejuvenates me. I’m very convinced that the family is the bedrock of the Church and the substrate of the Church is not the Vatican, but the local parish. The Vatican is just the central administration. But real holiness is taking place right before our eyes at the local parish, one person at a time.
Yes, yes, yes, there is always the few who are annoying. You all know who I mean, so why go into a list. But there is the majority who are very holy and inspiring people. When I see a grandma’ in her 80s at mass, I feel a great sense of peace. She is a sign of God’s unbroken covenant. She’s there because God found her first and has kept her in the palm of his hand. He makes the same offer to all of us. We just have to say, “Yes.”
Oops, Br. Jailer (Br. Gerard) is here with a bunch of pills and something to eat. I need to get off now. Sometimes I wonder, “Who’s the real superior of this outfit.” LOL
You are in my prayers, keep me in yours. Above all, pray for children. The world that we are leaving them is no grand prize. They will need our prayers to fix what we wrecked God bless all of you.