Morning AB, All……
So there was a snow storm yesterday in case y’all have not heard.
Here in the swamps of Delaware, close to the ocean that I am, we got a total of….oh I’d say about 7 inches.
Yesterday morning there were about five inches on ground. To my great surprise, my daughter, heh, before 7 am, came over and shoveled my front sidewalk and entire driveway!
Girl’s never got up before 9 in her life but I exaggerate.
Then she’s sending me text messages asking if I need anything else and if yon reader might know, she has a restraining order against me issues by the Sussex county family court of NO JUSTICE! She does this crap all the time….what, she wants me to respond to all this so she can throw me in jail?
Anyway….moving on. Thank you AB for doing this thread so reliably, thank you Bray for weekly wisdom, thank yon commenters for astute thoughts and observations.
I am NOT going to church this morning but I am not sure if this is a mortal sin. It’s not that here in the swamps we got a whole lot of snow but in Lewes, where my church is, there’s massive flooding, my garage door is sticking, I have no idea about the roads but this is lower and slower Delaware and I’m betting those roads are snow-covered still if not completely flooded.
Last night they were scrolling every closed church on DELMARVA and not for the life of me do I see “St. Jude the Apostle”. Heh. Father Tom, he’d never shut down mass….I just know this. They had the 4:30 pm mass yesterday and I’m thinking they’ll have all three Sunday services this morning. Easy for him, he just has to get in his car and drive 200 feet to the church.
Anyway, at a later point we shall ascertain just what kind of sin I commit and my appropriate penance.
Speaking of Father Tom….indulge me. He is putting cloths over all the statues for Lent. Anybody remember this? Also there will be NO musical instruments played, although the choir will sing a capella, from Holy Thursday until the beginning of the Easter vigil.
Heh.
He’s got people so riled some of them left the church.
I don’t really care and let’s not forget that little Latin-word singing group he’s got going on, called SCHOLA or some such.
I think it’s cool and hand to God that church has been PACKED since Father Tom has been Pastor, many of the mass attendees NOT EVEN CATHOLIC!
My granddaughter is visiting her mother, my daughter who lives across the street from me, and Kaitlyn will come over tonight and stay with me.
For now I watch the Sunday talk shows and got all darn day to comment.
Be patient with me.
Hi Pat,
Hope you have heat and food and can open your doors enough to let the doggies out now and then (apparently some people had their doors buried in snow, too).
Re daughter: My optimistic side says that was nice and very thoughtful of her.
While I’m not normally pessimistic or cynical and I probably shouldn’t say this, based on what you’ve told about her - wondering if she was trying to hurt herself and blame you. There are a lot of stories about back injuries and heart attacks, etc. due to people shoveling snow.
I hope it’s the former and not the later.
I know you know not to respond to her texts, IMs and calls.
Re church: God would not want you injured trying to get to Mass - I’m obviously not a priest, but IMHO you have a pass today and have not committed any sins. If it makes you feel better, say a couple of Hail Mary’s, Our Father’s, Glory Be’s!
Yes, I remember putting cloths on statutes prior to Easter, think at least some churches still do this. Definitely the crucifix after a certain date. As well as no music, then a huge full-throated choir for Easter :-)
Enjoy Kaitlin tonight!!
Best,
SC
In my (Episcopal) Church, we don’t have statues but we do have a statue of Jesus and it is covered, or veiled, during lent.
My Mom used to tell us if we watched Mass on TV when we were sick or unable to go out that we were covered. I believe this was sanctioned under Pope John XXIII or Paul XI. late 50’s, early 60”s.