Thursday, April 1, 2010

Why churches should be open and the priest be at home

A not infrequent occurrence this afternoon that reminded me of this important fact: two nine year old lads knocked on my door asking if they could pop into the church and say a prayer. Neither is baptised but after saying their prayer, they knocked on my door again and gave me a small amount of money they had found. I have put it in the poor box.

One of the boys has an apostle's name, the one people pray to when they are in desperate need, and he knew this. His mother had also taught him that he should make the sign of the Cross whenever he passed by the church. She must be a Catholic. The other has been round before and is always fascinated by 'that place where you say the things you've done wrong'. Today 'that place' is prepared with the altar of repose in readiness for tonight's Mass.

So say a prayer for these two boys, and others like them in this area, who are open to God but who as yet have not been given the opportunity - for whatever reason - to really get to know Christ and His Church. Their parents are surely doing their best for their children... Given the area they live in (just on my doorstep) these boys may not get the opportunities in life I was blessed with. But if they can just remain open to truth and goodness...

They are clearly well brought up. When I gave them a Rosary each (they had asked how much one would cost) and a Divine Mercy prayer card they said 'Thank you very much, Father.'

Let the little children...

5 comments:

  1. They will always remember today, I am sure. Part of the tapestry of their eternity. God bless them, and you, for being there, as Christ, to meet them.

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  2. Beautiful post, Father. People don't realize how lucky they are to be near a church that's open all the time, until they're not. Lucky them today. Lucky you.

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  3. Will pray for them.
    Our PP leaves the Church unlocked all day. I haven't often had the chance to go up there and take advantage of some quiet time but even just knowing it is there if I ever do get the chance is helpful.

    God bless

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  4. Yes, it's always so discouraging when churches are 'locked' ... and the priest isn't around, although I know they are VERY BUSY so that isn't as much a problem, at least for me. But when a church is locked, it's just a sad reminder of the way the world's gone 'down the tubes' and there's no respect for religion. One church in Omaha has to be locked as the Divine Mercy painting was stolen from there a couple of years ago. One in a smaller rural town has to be locked b/c of vandalism and occultists stealing vestments. Lord have mercy.

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  5. Dear Padre,

    During Lent, God grants extra portions of His graces upon us.

    The two souls that came before you were God asking you “Would you help me save these souls?”

    What a tremendous grace.

    Father Leo Francis McNamara, deceased, gave a thalidomide baby (born with flippers instead of arms and legs) his Priestly blessing:

    “ Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus, + Pater, + et Filius, +et Spiritus Sanctus .”

    The next morning, the child awoke with arms and legs.

    Your Priestly blessing upon them awakened the Roman Catholicism of their Mommy, and her deep regret at having married someone that took her from her Faith, and deprived her children of Heaven.

    God has asked you, “Will you help me save these souls?”

    I will say an extra decade of the Rosary today for you and those precious boys and their Mommy.

    May God our Lord in his infinite and supreme goodness be pleased to give us his abundant grace, that we may know his most holy will, and entirely fulfill it.

    With the assurance of my Holy Rosary prayers for all your good work in the vineyard of the Divine Master, I remain yours truly in Jesus and Mary Immaculate.

    *

    ReplyDelete

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