UPDATE
The efficacy of prayer : For the interim, Father Allard is too weak to preside.
However as far as concelebration goes, he hasn’t missed one opportunity to concelebrate since December 17, 2009 . Concelebration is always with the chaplain (or his replacement during holidays) and the official Masses at the Institute are celebrated every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday . So despite his weakness, Father Allard continues to concelebrate 3 times a week (I don’t have news on today yet - only up to today).
That little miracle of his presiding on December 18/09 has taught me to never rule out the possibility of his presiding another time. To put everything into perspective though, a week from last Sunday (on January 3rd, 2010) he told me, “I’m very tired now” - meaning not just that day, but tired of slugging it out for almost 10 years of the advanced illness now. It doesn’t mean he’s ready to give up . But it certainly hints that he’s ready if and when the Father finally calls him home… can’t say I’m looking forward to that day :nope: although it will mean that his suffering will finally be crowned with glory :yup:.
When I brought Father Allard Communion on Saturday, January 2nd , he was bedridden the entire day. I reminded him: “Father all those people on the internet who haven’t met you - they’re still praying for you”, to which he replied (the french equivalent of), “Good !..That’s what’s keeping me up - even though I’m lying down”
I’ve had some very good mentors - serving under 4 different Catholic priests/chaplains for almost 14 years. They’ve each in their own way taught me plenty about their priesthood.
But Father Allard is the one who teaches me day-in day-out about Christ the Priest
and the Victim. I could probably fill a book with examples but I’m not quite sure which ones would be permissible to tell to fellow members.
I could give you the example of that same Sunday he said he was very tired - he heard my Confession that day. Because his voice is extremely faint , I have to have my ear very close to him when he is giving counsel/advice during Confession. When I looked into his eyes, it was like looking into an image of Christ crucified, but when he pronounced the words of absolution I could feel Christ’s compassion reaching me . Now I have a totally different way of contemplating, “Father forgive them; they know not what they do.”
He often encourages me to “Entrust yourself to the Blessed Virgin with great confidence …She is our Mother and She is stronger than our sins.” … Is it just me ? or does that sound a little reminiscent of, “Woman behold your son; son behold your Mother ?”
Thanks for all the prayers - kind of says *faithful friends *- doesn’t it ? :grouphug:
Our Father, who art in Heaven
hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will, be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us, this day , our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
AMEN
Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with Thee.
Blessed art Thou amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death.
AMEN
Blessed be your Purity ;
may it be blessed forever.
For no less than God
takes delight in such exalted beauty.
To you, heavenly Queen, holy Virgin Mary,
I offer on this day, my whole heart, life, and soul.
Please look upon our family with compassion
and do not leave us, Our Mother.
AMEN
Here is a pic of the altar Father Allard uses when he presides ( the pic is of it being stored in the sacristy). Height is crucial and so is proximity. With only very limited use of one arm everything he needs must stay within a certain radius. That small Missal on top is used for concelebration while the larger size version (special edition -underneath) is used for concelebration.
For lack of space. most often daily readings and prayers (opening prayer,prayer over the gifts, and concluding prayer) are taken from a large missalette blown up to about 158 % to facilitate reading. You can see some of these papers beside the missals.Prefaces are on separate sheets - some photocopied from the sacramentary - some typed out in large print (built up quite a collection over the years). You’re viewing the altar from the front - Father Allard’s wheelchair is positioned on the opposite side when he’s presiding… but the chaplain insists on storing the the way you see it .
God Bless
