I found myself on the road once again to Mt. Irenaeus. I’ve been a regular at the Mountain for over eight years now. It’s as much my home as the one I live in most of the time and the friars are as much my brothers as anyone in my family. This morning was one of those lovely spring mornings. The sky was a deep blue and not a cloud to be seen. Brother Sun was brilliant and his rays were warming the air temperature to nearly fifty degrees at 10:45 am as I made my way along Route 275 and then onto Allegany County Route 1. There were a couple of drivers behind me who were in a bit more of a hurry than I. I pulled off on the shoulder and let them pass. I continued to poke along at a leisurely 45 mph and then turned onto Hydetown Road where I slowed even further. Continue reading “Road to Emmaus”
Glory to God in the highest
This morning was beautiful, a radiant spring sun filled my heart with gladness as I drove through the crisp clear mid-twenty degree day toward Mass at Mt. Irenaeus. Upon arriving at the Mountain I noticed a number of vehicles parked in the driveway. I had a bit of trouble finding a parking spot, but soon did and then into the house to bring my offering of orange juice and a dozen eggs for brunch. On my way into the house I met a lovely young lady from the State University of New York at Buffalo who was part of the inter-collegiate weekend that had been held at Mt. Irenaeus. Normally, the Franciscan Retreat Center here is home to local villagers and St. Bonaventure University students, but today that circle included students from University at Buffalo, SUNY College at Fredonia, Alfred University, Nazareth College, SUNY Geneseo and St. Bonaventure University. There were about three dozen of these young men and women. Continue reading “Glory to God in the highest”
Prelude
This morning I drove toward Mt. Irenaeus in with a hint of snow in the air and a pall of overcast. It didn’t look like an idyllic Palm Sunday. Our liturgy began in the library under Holy Peace Chapel. Fr. Dan Riley, OFM blessed the palms and invited us to process outside, along the path and up the steps to the chapel. As we walked we sang, “oh Sacred Head surrounded by crown of piercing thorns, oh bleeding head so wounded, reviled and put to scorn…” It’s a song I remember well from my youth. The words of the song are ascribed to Bernard of Clairvaux. That information was new to me but the symbolism was not lost as I am a frequent visitor to Trappist Abbeys. Continue reading “Prelude”
Brother Sun
I’m enjoying the warmth of the sun and enjoying the view of fresh snow and beautiful blues skies after two days of winter storms. There is a peaceful still here this morning and I’ve been basking in it. Friday night we braved the elements and drove to nearby Ellicottville for a cozy dinner at Tips Up Cafe. It’s my favorite restaraunt in E’ville. Yesterday we drove nearly a hundred miles to Canandaigua, New York and the campus of Finger Lakes Community College to watch Pioneer Central girls basketball compete against Honeoye Falls. Pioneer lost in a close game. Our children thought we were crazy to drive through such weather and road conditions and they were right. We were crazy but we made it safely there and back. I like a little adventure now and then. Without it there is no growth and life is always about growth. I wanted to stop at Polimeni’s Restaraunt in Canandaigua and enjoy another good meal with my wife, but we discovered that Polimeni’s was closed last night and had to settle for dinner at Pizza Hut closer to home.
I’ll be leaving for Mt. Irenaeus soon. It’ll be a lovely ride this morning. Next week is Palm Sunday and then Holy Week. One of my favorite nights in the church calendar is coming. The night we used to call Holy Thursday. I hope to celebrate it with the friars again this year. A dish-to-pass supper at Mt. Irenaeus and then Mass followed by benediction. It’s always a blessed and mystical night for me.