This may seem trivial in the in face of global plandemics, potential world war and a degenerating Church demographic, but good news is good news and I’ve got some.
I’ve been processing boxes of books, some of which have been in storage for a long time.
Last night I opened a box and… EUREKA!
I found a little treasure, a beautiful little prayer book so elegantly printed and bound in Germany before they lost the Faith. Lovely leather and gilded pages, for the use of priests, all in Latin. Essentially, it put into breast-pocket-size the devotional parts of the Breviarium Romanum (more about those later) and some other helpful prayers for priests.
I thought I had lost it. Actually I thought I had perhaps left it in a car that I traded in to VW when they had the “Diesel Disaster”.
There is was. I was like the woman who swept and found the coin she had lost. So I’m inviting you, my neighbors, to rejoice with me.
So, after a really dreadful day I had that happy moment.
Not on the scale of importance like, say, the rise of one party left-wing domination fueled by full-scale cross-border invasion and massive inflation… but still pretty good. It made me smile, and I don’t get a whole lot of that right now.
What is YOUR good news?
I have a new niece born this morning! The first cousin on my side of the family.
It is but a short time ago that the mountain known as the Schwarzenberg here in Pinswang was engulfed in what has become known as the largest mountainside forest fire in recent Tirolean memory. Firefighting forces battled the dangerous wind-blown blaze without pause for four days.
Our home sits on the ancient Via Claudia Augusta; the ancient Roman Road that runs along the base of the Schwarzenberg. Powerful winds fed the flames and sent the line of fire across the face of the mountain and in the direction of our home. Due to the dangers provided by the approaching fire and billowing clouds of smoke, we were, for our safety, evacuated to lodgings at a neighbor’s home.
Now, more than a week after the start of the blaze, the mountain is, for the most part, quiet; the fire for the most part extinguished. Still, between extremely dry ground conditions and high winds that often blow on this side of the village, the many underground Glühnests on the mountain continue to pose threats and firefighters remain on alert should there be a sudden flameup.
We have been returned to our home which, thanks to God, the prayers of so many friends and the tremendous skill of those fighting the fire, came away from this event without suffering any damage.
My good news is that I’ve gotten into a master’s and doctorate program, so I’m headed back to school in the fall! It’s a little terrifying, as I’m in my 40s and am closer in age to the professors than to other students, and it’s going to be quite expensive. But it’ll enable me to pursue something much more in line with my talents and what I enjoy doing than my current job is, and it’ll at least double how much I can earn, so it should pay off in the long run.
Father Z, my joy for today is that you found your prayer book.
Your good news moved me to joy, love and prayer to the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
And Mother Mary and all the Angels and Saints.
Bless you and pray for you daily Father Z.
My joy today was hearing the little voices of the 2 yo and 4 yo across the hall always enthusiastic whether they’re shrieking because they’re overjoyed or wailing and distraught..
Also remembered that a few years ago in Byzantine world, we celebrated Palm Sunday, the Feast of the Annunciation and a Saint I can’t remember in succession because not only does Sunday not trump another feast but we double-down on the Allelulias during Lent.
That is good news, Father!
My good news is that my co-worker survived a potentially fatal if not life-altering stroke. There will be a period of recovery, but his memory and speech are fully in intact. His doctor said he “is a walking miracle” and I concur. Thanks be to God for sparing a genuinely excellent prosecutor, learned scholar, and good man.
Congratulations on finding your lost treasure! That is good news.
For my part, our addition is almost done. We can house an itinerant, canceled priest soon, God willing!
And my husband’s health issues seem to have stabilized, thanks be to God!
Your joy over the book reminds me of mine a few years ago when I found pictures I thought had been lost forever of my First Communion at Our Lady and St. Joseph Catholic School Canvey Island Essex England back in 1955.
More recent good news – my wrist broken back in January seems to be well on its way to healing. We are about to embark on a weekend trip to see my son and daughter in law, that should be fun.
I was able to get to confession yesterday morning at a beautiful church in Coon Rapids, MN while on business. And….as I was preparing to go, my mind opened up to other things I needed to confess that I had long forgotten about. Grazie Spirito Santo for bringing them to mind. Best confession I’ve had in years!
Roller coaster lately, but trying to keep in mind that I notice the bad stretches only because there are at least as many good stretches.
Also, one of my cousins came through with planning an unexpected treat for our mothers – something to look forward to.