“Today has been quite a day!” Fr. Anthony said on the day which the pineboard monastery was destroyed by fire.
This reading that Terry just read from the Rule began with “now.” Each evening at compline—whenever we’re at the [Divine] Office when I’m presiding—at the end of the Office, I like to say the Hail Mary to myself asking Our Lady to bless our community. I say, “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among woman, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now,” and I give the knock, “and at the hour of our death. Amen.” That now is important.
The future is in God’s hands. I mean today has been quite a day! Quite a day. [In reference to the pineboard monastery fire.] I recall the place [the pineboard monastery] where I entered as a novice. I recall the day when I made my simple profession in that chapter room. When I made my solemn profession in [what would become later] the carpenter shop. I was ordained in that particular building. And, now, it’s all in God’s hands.
Michael Alexander, the photographer for The Georgia Bulletin [archdiocese newspaper], was taking photos this morning. He said, “This is a continuation of the Easter fire.” I mean that is a beautiful thought. The Easter fire. And the Easter fire preceded the Resurrection. It preceded the Resurrection. And, “today if you hear his voice…” what day! It is a day which many of us will remember in many different ways. Today. Hodie. Today.
Today Terri Schiavo passed to her eternal reward. And we wonder, Where is justice? Where is the sacredness of life? At noon, I got a e-mail that said that Dom Basil Pennington was in a wreck on Tuesday. He has a broken pelvis, five broken ribs, injuries to his spine. He’s in intensive care. Today of all days. Today, I saw my place of sacredness goes up in flames. And yet, it is all a part of the Easter fire in preparation for the coming of the Resurrection.
We are like children in God’s house. We are like the angels.
I made my promises fifty-some years ago, and on the fiftieth anniversary I wanted to renew my promises in the church. I said I wanted to give witness. And, you know, when it came close to taking those promises, I said it was easier the first time. Because I know what it was all about.
And this is in a sense our Holy Saturday. The blessing of the fire. If you look at today, it is wonderful day. The Lord couldn’t have sent a more perfect day for a fire. Downpour of rain. The smoke was going in the right direction. It didn’t come toward the infirmary. The firemen were out there. Nobody was injured.
It was during Lauds this morning that the Psalms were speaking about God’s thunder. Remember? And God’s justice. God’s in charge. And each one of us says, “How can I make a lifetime commitment?” Don’t ask me. But for now, today, we can do it. Tomorrow will take care of itself. So, live each day at a time.
As Brother Chaminade gave the beautiful talk last night about, What’s your point [of reference]? And I was thinking, What’s my point? I was thinking that whenever I examine my conscience, you can dig up an awful lot of manure if you want to. But when I examine my conscience, I simply say, “Was Jesus pleased with this day?” That’s enough, I think. And to realize that our focal point, as Brother Chaminade said, is love. If you really love the Lord with your whole heart, with your whole soul, with your whole mind, with all your being, you can stand before Him, for now, and say, “I promise for life, now, and at the hour of my death.” When will that be? Who knows? But we trust in God’s mercy during this novena of the Divine Mercy.
