We have a mission in our parish this week being given by John Pridmore, a former London gangster , and his lay missionaries. His witness is amazing. We had a healing night last night and 5 priests were flat out hearing confessions. God is using the most unlikely people. Awsome
I think he conducted a retreat in our Parish a few years back. They all seem very dedicated, bless them.
I drove over to buy a second hand steam cleaner tonight, a lovely evening. The couple who were selling it were I suppose in their early eighties and very sweet and very polite and friendly. They loved the dogs and directed me to a long walk along a disused railway line nearby. As I wandered along I thought of the sweet old couple ; probably married most of their lives children all grown up, living in a nice little hose in a good area. I thought how wonderful it must be stil lto ahve each others company after all those years. How wonderful to have a companion and friend , never to be lost for company and comfort. My mind drifted back to my early teens , I suppose I has about 14 when I made a vow to Our Lady that I would never marry and as it turned out it nearly 50 years later I have kept it pretty well to the letter. I wondered if I was missing something by not having led a life that this pair led? But no, no jealousy here. God is never out down in generosity. In many respects I do not relate to God much different than I did when I was a child. We still close friends and still talk away. I am never lonely ,far from it and am happy with my choice. Buckets and buckets and buckets of graces, oceans of peace and constant fountains of joy. I could well believe I am the happiest person on Earth. But lately there has been a real longing for heaven in my heart. The only thing that really keeps me here is a real hunger for sinners. If I had to stay for a thousand years to save a soul I would, gladly. I love what some of the saints have said when dying about spendng their Eternity doing good on Earth. That is a proper way of occupying ourselves in heaven. Doing good on Earth. But still I feel this huge longing .
Abide with Me was one of my father's favorite hymns Thanks for posting this lovely rendition I did not know all of the lyrics Lovely
Padraig, just curious, was it anything in particular that prompted you to promise Mary that you'd never marry? You must have a great love and devotion to her.
I always did have a great devotion to her. I used to love reading the lives of the saints (still do) and it is clear several of them made a similiar promise. But I think it may just have been a tap on the shoulder from the Holy Spirit to do so. But the word of the Spirit blows so softly it is sometimes hard to guess.
I often think of this hymn at even time when walking in the woods. Also the Bells of the Angelus. They seem made for it.
