I had a lovelly dream last night of flying which I often get and I think nearly everyone gets. In my own case I go up and down, finding myself having to try hard to stay up there. But it is a joyful and freeing sensation even when flying above a deep sea with great waves below. Why do so many of us dream of flying? Well my guess would be it goes back to the Garden of Eden before oaur parents fell into original sin.At a time when, like the angels they could fly. I suspect that is why so many of the saints could levitate (fly) because they returned to a state of innocence and flight. In either case I so look forward to returning to heaven and flying , not only in the sky but between the stars,
I went for the very first time to Mass in a nearby town to the most wonderful Church. I knew at once I was in a very good place because it has a big notice on the door, 'Be silent you are in a house of God!' ...and true enough total silence the whole way through, amazing and such a relief and joy. People were there to praise God and pray. Nothing else such a joy. The second good sign, it was devotional. All kinds of statues and pictures of saints encouraging devotional practices. Again what a joy. Third the tabernacle was front and centre above the altar wereit should be in a place of great honour. Next an Indian priest was in charge. With an Indian priest you can do no better. After mass Adoration and a long half hour homily. When is the last time you heard a half hour homily. Then he heard confessions. Wow! Then the people did Divine Mercy devotions.. It just went on and on. Heaven.
So beautiful. We have a holy priest from India too. I always walk in the Church and finding him kneeling… not on kneelers but on hard floors. I am thinking one day, I may walk in and he will be floating up
The Indians, from Kerala are so good. Whole families, so devout. It's as if they come from another, better World. They remind me of what is possible. For us all. Things don't have to be as they are. We can be better than we are.
Fulton Sheen said a couple of things that cheer me up. He said that although he did do an hour's adoration every morning he did not always find it easy. Sometimes he struggled with finding the time and at others with a great dryness in prayer. It wasn't always a ball for him. When I keep waking up at nights all the time struggling to compose myself and pray I find this a consolation. Also for those in monasteries and enclosed convents it is day by day day by day, everyday the same. I find this is very true in my own life. Just one foot in front of another, day by day.
I think a great sign of a good parish community is a respect for silence. When I hear the sound of silence I know I am home.
A really beautiful day on the beach yesterday. It was so packed and I hate crowds and so wondered far into the dunes and alongside the wide flowing river Bann, not a soul to be seen. Eventually I wandered through the golf course were there seemed to be some kind of competition going on. I got a puncture in a nearby town and my heart dropped when I discovered I had the wrong tools to change the wheel. Plus it was a Sunday in a strange town with the stores shut.What to do? I looked to my right and at the end of a little family working at a van. I wondered down and asked if I could bother something to change the wheel. They smiled and at once produced the right tool. I returned up the alley to my van but at once the man came up the alley and invited me to drive down and he changed the wheel himself while I watched, delighted and so relieved. They were all so young. I would guess the mother and father were in their late teens with two boys I guess two and three years old. The father was a carpenter and was turning his van into a camper. I had no money but offered to go and get some but they were indignànt and refused. I drove off and bought some chocolates and lemonade and candy for them all. They were genuinely indignant that I did this and said it was not necessary. What a blessing. The chances of me breaking down at just this spot must be billions to one. It reminded me how good people can be. I have been praying for them ever since.
There are so many genuinely good people among us. Often quite young as in this case. I had a lovely experience the other day with a young man who was incredibly kind. It warmed my heart. It makes me think of a Gerard Manley Hopkins poem. Not sure of the exact words but I think it begins " The world is charged with the glory of God..." God's grace is everywhere. Touching us all like tongues of flame. God bless that lovely young family.
Poor working people I think are more inclined to help each other out. When people get more money I think they are inclined to be a lot more distant. Not always, but often. It is always the poor who are the strong foundation of the Church. When people get more comfortable they tend to drift away. As we see at the moment.
Sometimes I feel like giving up on Ireland but then I see such kindness all around me in my neighborhood and in total strangers. It gives me hope that God is not finished with us.
I So many good people.. I see a gentleman with snow white hair praying in the morning. I get to Chur c h very early but he is always there before me. It is the little things like his.
The most wonderful and strange thing happened to me this morning when I woke up. For a few moments I totally forgot who I was or where I was or even what I was. All my memories were gone. I was like a new born baby. Then everything suddenly came back to me in a r ush, my name, where I was , what I was. But best of the all it came ba c k to me where I was in the Spiritual Journey and how my whole life hinged on Christ. Life is such a great, great gift. I was like overflowing with joy when I saw this. Life has such intense meaning and purpose.
