BTW, the above is the result of BrianK's input, though currently if you looked out the same window, you'd see half-a-foot of snow!
'Six hours in front of the Blessed Sacrament'. Wow' I believe if we cannot come to Mass that Jesus comes to us. Why? Because he loves us a billion times more than we could ever love Him. This has been the source of the greatest consolation to me.
Would it be that I was as holy as you think! Not so, and am sorry to have left that impression. Other wonderful Catholics covered the first 5 hours. I was there, as usual, for the final hour to adore and close with Benediction... Sometimes I pray for more than and hour, especially if I end up being alone, but...
When the dog was sick and I could not walk him before mass I decided to chance my arm and do an hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament in the monastery Church before Mass. But there is no heating at all in there even at Mass. I started to get really cold and left to pray my rosary outside in the rain. I admire the nuns for having no heating and sticking it out. All the same I hope they have a little oratory inside to do the offices in a bit of heat. Very,very penitential. I think as many spiritual writers have noted we moderns don;t have the true grit for penances like this anymore so I admire the nuns all the more. It is lovely having this time in the dark, alone in front of the Blessed Sacrament it brings me back in time. The acoustics are wonderful and I love to sing. Last night I was singing Veni, Veni Emmanuel in Latin when the nuns came in and turned on the lights. They must have heard me. I took a red face and shut up at once . I wonder if they think I am some kind of eccentric nut the amount of time I am spending in there in the cold and dark, singing away to myself. O come , O come Emmanuel is drop dead gorgeous in Latin by the way.
How wonderful for the Good God, looking down from heaven to find these groups of women , throughout the world at least trying to follow His will. What a consolation to Him for all those who reject Him and the outrages committed against Him. Here at least the baby Jesus has a place to lay His little head.
