An extraordinary Sunday
Sunday is always a special day when you’re in religious life. Being a non-Christian for most of my life, I’ve always looked on it as a day where Christians stalled public life (very few things are open on a Sunday) and where they had to go to Church. Had to go. Maybe there are even quite a few Christians who feel the same way. But when you truly realize the mystery of the resurrection took place that day, the re-creation, you can’t help but want to celebrate it.
And for us seminarians (priests, monks, nuns), we are prepared for it in a special way through our daily prayers. After praying the Friday night office (complines), you move your ribbon back a week to the complines before Sunday. After your Saturday morning prayer (laudes), you move your ribbon to the next Sunday’s page. And then when you pray the Saturday daytime prayer (sexts), you will move the ribbon back a week to Sunday once more. It helps me prepare spiritually and I know: the day is going to come!
Now, why this is an extraordinary Sunday, is because of the people I met today! Archbishop Weisgerber asked me to come over for Mass at his house this morning. The chapel was small, as every house chapel is, but very warm (lots of darker woods) and we had a very “intimate” Holy Mass. I was praising myself lucky when the Archbishop was sitting next to me and talking about today’s Gospel for at least ten minutes. It was because of one of his homilies (sermons) six years ago that I was given the desire to work for the Church, and now here I was, sitting next to him and listening to him preach about our calling.
After Mass, His Excellency revealed to me that he had made reservations at a nice restaurant not too far from his house for brunch. It was the most delicious brunch I think I’ve ever had. We didn’t talk much about the Church at all, but mostly about our families. I find it so remarkable to speak with bishops, because they do not become one for just looking cute. There’s something in their lives that is inspiring to every priest, seminarian or, indeed, every Christian.
After this wonderful morning, I had the opportunity to visit a harpist here in Winnipeg. I got in touch with him, Richard, through the Internet, and Fr. Albert and I had gone to see him play two weeks ago. With only three days left to me before heading back to Europe, I simply had to go and see him. I think I made a great friend. He’s such a remarkable person and he has a great passion for harps. He has some beautiful harps himself, yet the best thing about the visit was, that he played a few things for me. To hear him play and listen about his passion for music was envigorating.
He played some parts of Handel’s Harp Concert in B flat. Maybe you know it from an Organ Concert, but I assure you that it is originally a Harp Concert. This particular concert is the reason I fell in love with the harp. And he played several parts of the concert for me.
Now, a lot of professional harpists do not particularly like this concert, because they have played it so often. Now they’re like “Yeah, that harp concert… yeah, I know it.” or whatever! 
But unlike a lot of other stuff out there, I still think it is fabulous and it is music that can really touch the soul. If you don’t know it, try and find it and listen… there are way prettier parts than the one I just put online!
So, Sunday’s almost over. In a way I am looking forward to going back home. Seeing my family again, the brothers at the seminary and just starting a new year and see where that takes me. There are so many challenges up ahead for me, in my own personal life, that I continue to rely on your intercession for me with God. God bless you all, dear friends!
Share Your Thoughts
Leave a comment to contribute to the discussion
To let us see what you look like, get a gravatar.