Deacon Paul Marley was the friend with whom I celebrated the Mass, described in the post entitled, "CELEBRATION".
Here in this post, while still commenting on what I had written, he adds his own thoughts, with a special mention of the late Bishop Brewer. Please Read On:
"I recall a story that Bishop Brewer was fond of telling.
It recounts an experience he had in Austria as a young priest. It was
winter time, and he had been invited to say the Sunday
mass in a small Alpine village. Access to the village was difficult,
even by road, as the snows were thick and heavy. Nonetheless, he
managed to get there in reasonable time. The congregation was
relatively small and when mass was ready to begin, the people told him
that the service could not start, because a particular family were not
yet present.
The family ran a small farm at the other end of the valley: the journey to church would be especially challenging in the snow, but there was no doubt they would be coming.
Looking out from the church door, down across the valley, it was possible to see the four members of the family (parents and two young children), roped together and on skis, making their slow but purposeful way across the snow-covered terrain. They eventually arrived and Bishop Brewer was obviously intrigued why they went to such great lengths to get to church. The explanation was disarmingly simple; Herr Mauser said "Fur uns, die masse ist leben!" - for us, the mass is life.
I have often reflected on the depth of that perception, and it seemed especially appropriate when reading your piece on "Celebration". Much of what I think you are striving to achieve in the new blog, much that takes us "along the edge" , comes from seeing even the smallest and most insignificant parts of our lives as worth placing on the altar of the mass.
For it is there that our lives take on purpose and meaning in the fulfillment of divine will, and it is from there that we derive the energy and strength to go forward in surety and confidence.
The mass is life, and the more we can approach it as the pivot of our existence, and open ourselves to the wealth of grace it contains, the greater will be our contentment, as was so readily discernible on the occasion of our "celebration."
The family ran a small farm at the other end of the valley: the journey to church would be especially challenging in the snow, but there was no doubt they would be coming.
Looking out from the church door, down across the valley, it was possible to see the four members of the family (parents and two young children), roped together and on skis, making their slow but purposeful way across the snow-covered terrain. They eventually arrived and Bishop Brewer was obviously intrigued why they went to such great lengths to get to church. The explanation was disarmingly simple; Herr Mauser said "Fur uns, die masse ist leben!" - for us, the mass is life.
I have often reflected on the depth of that perception, and it seemed especially appropriate when reading your piece on "Celebration". Much of what I think you are striving to achieve in the new blog, much that takes us "along the edge" , comes from seeing even the smallest and most insignificant parts of our lives as worth placing on the altar of the mass.
For it is there that our lives take on purpose and meaning in the fulfillment of divine will, and it is from there that we derive the energy and strength to go forward in surety and confidence.
The mass is life, and the more we can approach it as the pivot of our existence, and open ourselves to the wealth of grace it contains, the greater will be our contentment, as was so readily discernible on the occasion of our "celebration."
Without Mass my life would be meaningless. It is a time when I am so close to my Lord and Saviour. A time when I can leave my burdens outside and just wrap myself up in His love. And then the pure joy I have when I receive the Body and the Blood, I am at peace. Mass is such a gift.
ReplyDeleteThank you Pegler family. I remember well the Sunday you turned up at our church for Mass. It's unlikely that we will meet again given the change in both our circumstances, but I will always be grateful for how encouraging you were that day'
DeleteYou followed the example of Acts of the Apostles where visitors to a community are so often asked for "a word of encouragement". Thanks and God bless you all again.