Monday, 4/28/14
Our first
reading describes the release of Peter and John from the court of the high
priest. The other disciples had been praying for them in that upper room where
they had celebrated the Last Supper, and where the Holy Spirit descended on
them on Pentecost. There was great joy among them all when Peter and John
returned to them unharmed.
There is a startling
contrast when you compare the Christian flock then and now. Then all of
Christianity fit into one room. Yesterday there were two million of us filling
the court of St. Peter’s and all the side streets of the Vatican.
That was a
glorious turnout for the canonization of John Paul II and John XXIII, but
somehow small groups are more heartwarming. We find pleasure in recalling our
intimate gatherings. You can add yours to mine, but let me bring back some that
have been dear to me.
From 1940 to
1945 those of us belonging to the eight Catholic families on our block left our
homes to gather at one or another of the Catholic houses for a Monday 7:00 P.M.
block rosary for peace. The Protestants who made up the majority on our block
didn’t care much for Catholics, but they liked seeing us pass by for the
rosary. It was something our whole block was doing for peace.
From 1946 to
1947 I was one of eleven boys undergoing the strict regime of a novitiate. When
the discipline was relaxed for Easter Week, and we gathered in our club house
with no source of enjoyment but ourselves, that was more than enough for us.
You must find
that you enjoy kinship with the people who attend the same Mass as you. You
needn’t talk, you just feel good about being there together.
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