I couldn’t sleep in this morning. We’ve had a lot of emotional events in the past few days. Senior night at Fredonia State last night. A flood tide of memories, precious moments with friends we won’t see as much anymore, reunions with old friends. A beautiful cold morning here in Franklinville, New York. Ten degrees above zero. Brother Sun trying to bring some warmth through the clouds. I have a small book, “Work of God”, that I bought last year. It’s a book of morning and evening prayers. I read over today’s morning prayers. I felt the prayer in my head and heart and it brought me back to God. I’ve been amazed at the power of morning and evening prayers. The wisdom and rhythm of the Divine Office has been keeping monks centered for centuries. Beautiful prayer. Beautiful rhythm. It’s God’s rhythm.
Sitting here listening to the fire enjoying the silence and beauty of a Sunday morning. This is a day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. I’ll be going to Mt. Irenaeus in an hour or so. It’s been a couple of weeks since my last visit to “The Mountain”. Last Sunday I went to Mass at the convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Rochester. Going to the mountain after some time away always seems like going home. The thirty mile drive there down busy Route 16, then onto the lazy curves of Route 446 through the valleys of the foothills of the Allegany Mountains and into Cuba then Friendship. Down Route 1 and then Hydetown Road. I slowly wind my way up the hill. My car and I slow down and peace seeps into my bones. I am going to the hill where the Lord lives.
“On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples A feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations;he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.”
The Lord really lives everywhere and in the hearts of all men, but on this mountain and in the person of the Friars of Holy Peace Friary and the community of Mt. Irenaeus I sense that presence very deeply. It’ll be good to get home for a few hours.
May the Lord give you peace.