Ready or not, up came the sun at 5:36.
Down went the sun at 20:41.
Ave Maria? For the Curia – hah- at 21.
It was the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin.
It was the patron Feast of The Parish™, Trinity Sunday.
Because of the Octave, the Feast of St. Philip Neri was transferred to tomorrow. There had been a Triduum of prayer before the Feast.
Pippo Bbono!
Remember everyone… be good, if you can.
Tonight at 2nd Vespers of the Trinity, we had the commemoration of the 1st Vespers of St. Philip.
During Mass today I watched as a spider, probably from the ceiling – a long way – came zzzzzzeeeeeeeeeiop – all the way down to the floor. I was reminded of the rubrics that instruct priests about what to do if a spider winds up in the chalice after the consecration. That really did happen to me once.
That was a long way to come down. I wonder what it did then.
The street I often walk is still old Rome.
They were just cleaned!
The heat has really come. People are grumbling about August. However it is a humid heat. It is absolutely PUNISHING in Church, which is where – at this time of year – all the moisture goes.
Me, after vespers. Maybe hard to see: virtually transparent from sweat.
I’m pretty sure that I could literally have wrung out my shirt. My surplice was soaked. My cassock… heavens. I used three hankies during Vespers and Benediction for constant mopping out of my eyes and then, after, drank about a liter of water. The others were similarly affected as it went on.
For all the heat outside, “Sub Aquilis” (my apartment) maintains a pretty constant cool temperature. Because of the Giro d’Italia today finishing in Rome, the Centro was mainly blocked out. So, between Mass and Vespers The Great Roman™ came to hang out at my place. He remarked on it right way. No AC but cool. [Lunch, spaghetti with basil pesto and bread.] It helps to have a fan. However, the fan was not for cool, but rather to dry out my cassock. I wanted to hang it out in the patio, but this morning I saw three people, including a priest in a cassock, who had received special gifts from the ******** seagulls, now very active because of their pestilential, verminous hatchlings from hell. They are active in their relentless pursuit of garbage and tourists to dump on. I discern little seagull activity were I am, thanks be to God, but I figured… nah… I’ll use the fan. Tutior pars. In the past, I have tented over the cassock to be sure. But, today, why take a chance?
You had mentioned previously that the Ave Maria bell would mark a time that curial officials would take appointments. Would they do this so late as 21:00, or were they more like Italian meetings with some drinks and pasta?
The news about heat prompts me to vent a bit.
Our bishop has once again scheduled a 5 day retreat for ALL the priests in the diocese, held in another state. This may mean a 12 hour drive for some pastors. He has done this before, miraculously during the week containing first Friday, especially if there are other important dates. He has now impacted the beginning of the USCCB novena. Even though the laity can carry on, no priests will be in their parishes to lead or participate. There are no available priests for Mass or Confession or emergencies. Don’t get hit by a bus this week. He does this sometimes twice a year, almost as if he is trying to make sure people trying to get their 9 consecutive first Fridays will be thwarted. I know God will reward the faithful’s efforts, but still . . .
He has suppressed all Vetus Ordo Masses, and forbidden any priests or deacons to visit the only place the TLM is celebrated in this state. The monks no longer allow visitors, probably out of caution.
This bishop also had no diocesan acknowledgement of the recent year focusing on the Eucharist. However, social justice reigns supreme. I pray for him daily, but how long, O Lord?
Sub Aquilis is a great name for a Roman apartment! I called our former second home in the mountains Offhand Manor.
I suppose your apartment in Rome is on the ground floor and also relatively well sheltered from direct sunlight, Father? I used to live in such an apartment for many years in a certain place in Central Europe, and it was amazing during the warm summer months! With its thick brick walls, it felt like being in my own castle. Always amazing cool room temperature. The only caveat was that the cool room temperature often fooled me into believing that it was similar outside, so I often stepped outside overdressed in what was otherwise very warm and sometimes even scorching hot weather, lol.
Your posts on all these little trials of life are so enchanting Father. Thank you for letting us share them. I try to do the same as St. Thérèse of Lisieux (although I don’t always succeed): thank God for all daily annoyances and mini sufferings, like the ones you mention above. That snubs the Devil too.
Talking of seagulls, I live by the sea so I am very used to their constant raucous cries. It’s true, they are bold and aggressive at this time of year when they have hatchlings to protect. They seem to believe dogs are more of a threat to them than people and sometimes swoop down screeching angrily over my gentle dog when I take her out for a walk. It’s really scary. Some dog walkers take long sticks with them to ward the gulls off.
We live on an island in Massachusetts, North Shore. Sea gulls galore. I refer to them as rats with wings. My wife’s car is blue. They love to attack blue vehicles. We purchased a Fake owl with glass eyes and a rotating head. Worked great. Someone stole it
I fully sympathise, Father. I returned from the Chartres Pilgrimage last Friday, the toughest I’ve ever experienced in almost 20 years – the heat was up to 34°C, blazing sun, little shelter over long stretches. I succumbed and had to fall out in parts, can’t take that heat. Yet, Priests in full soutane and surplice were always with us, hearing confessions, providing spiritual support. God bless them.
20,000 on it this year, as always the average age being early 20s. They’re the ones who’ll encourage me to attempt it again next year – albeit probably on their new shorter route for those who aren’t up to the relentless pace the now much larger numbers dictates. Shoulda done that this year. Pride goeth before the fall (out). Gnothi se auton and all that :-(