A feast fit for a Queen...
I have officially experienced the celebrations of the 12/13th at Fátima!
It began last night with the international rosary and the candle light procession leading into the international Mass. (throughout the night there are various things--- Adoration, prayers, Mass at 4:30, Lauds at 6:15 and a Eucharistic procession at 7.) I picked back up tis morning with the 9 am rosary followed by the 10:30 Mass. It is so beautiful to see so many people honoring Mary and asking her powerful intercession to her divine Son.
At Mass during the Gloria (which btw was done in Latin!) I was struck, as I usually am, by the words "Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus altissimus Jesu Christe, cum Spirituo Sacto in Gloria Dei Patris" (You alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the Glory of God the Father)... It was such a beautiful thought considering my theme this trip has been growing in holiness. The Lord is the Holy One,!-!: my life needs to be modeled after His (think back to my "live as He lived" entry). The Mass was beautiful, with readings in Portuguese and English and the Gospel in Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, German and Polish. It is just such an indescribably beautiful thing to SEE the universal Church in action-- praying united. It struck me that as I was receiving the Eucharist in Portugal that my good friend Fr. Eric (among others) was most likely proclaiming the Gospel at his parish. I've always found it amazing that the Mass.... Never ends! (it must be lived so let us go forth to love and serve the Lord and one another... alleluia!)...how cool is our God.
Afterwards I worked in the "informatções" office until 6:30. There were many Spanish speakers today! I am very frustrated at how my Spanish has become overtaken by Portuguese and I can't seem to have a Spanish conversation without many mixings of the 2 languages. I've also decided I red to brush up on Italian and then keep learning... After this year with Greek of course. One of the Americans that came in (from NY) said that his grandfather was born in Aljustrel (village where the pastorinhos were born and raised) in 1889 and knew the 3 children and was still living in the area during the time of the apparitions... How interesting is that?!?
Yesterday I was assigned to "A Casa de Lúcia"... I worked with a Portuguese girl names Cátia. (NB she's a college student journalism.) I forgot t sunblock and therefore am decently burnt. I met a wonderful American couple from California. He was taking a picture of her alone in front of the house, and hearing him speak English to her, I asked if they would like one together. The wife (michelle) said "where were you yesterday?!" See, they celebrated 33 years of marriage on Saturday... And have no pictures together as they had no one to ask to take a picture of them. Their son is a Norbertine out in California studying or the priesthood. They were both very encouraged by the "springtime" they see coming in the church. She, as many call us the JPII generation...
At dinner last night I was talking with the other Kevin (seminarian from NJ studying in Rome) and he mentions he was raised in GA. Since SHINE 2001 I've kept Lawrenceville, Ga and the friends I met there in my heart... But I usually don't ask people if they are from L'ville. I decided to ask Kevin where and nearly fell over when he said Lawrenceville. I said "did you go to Collins Hill High?!" to which he was floored... Then I explained. He knew a lot of the people I could remember... And said he hasn't heard the name Collins Hill in so long. OT was another small works moment.
Tomorrow is my "folga" (day off)... Which I plan to get the most of... With sunscreen on! Also--- A week from tomorrow is the flight home!
I can't believe how fast these 6+ weeks have passed! However,
I have remarked to people that Fatima is the part of the trip I was excited for most, but now that I am here all I am doing is longing for the good ole USA... When I'm busy talking to people at whichever location I am at a certain day, praying, and sleeping I don't notice... But when there's no one at my "station" that needs help, on the walk to and from my station and right before bed I get very anxious and long to be in the US. Please say some prayers for my peace in being here (through Our Lady's intercession!)
I apologize if my entries lately are all over the place... It is harder to blog from an iPhone than a desktop. At SVD in Lisboa I was able to take my time, cut and paste, italicize, bold, enlarge etc... Most of you know how I speak anyways so you might be able to "hear" me as you read these entries.
Anyways--If I don't update tomorrow I will try to update again Friday (next folga)... Until then,
Nossa Senhora de Fatima... Rogai por nós...
--KPL
It began last night with the international rosary and the candle light procession leading into the international Mass. (throughout the night there are various things--- Adoration, prayers, Mass at 4:30, Lauds at 6:15 and a Eucharistic procession at 7.) I picked back up tis morning with the 9 am rosary followed by the 10:30 Mass. It is so beautiful to see so many people honoring Mary and asking her powerful intercession to her divine Son.
At Mass during the Gloria (which btw was done in Latin!) I was struck, as I usually am, by the words "Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus altissimus Jesu Christe, cum Spirituo Sacto in Gloria Dei Patris" (You alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the Glory of God the Father)... It was such a beautiful thought considering my theme this trip has been growing in holiness. The Lord is the Holy One,!-!: my life needs to be modeled after His (think back to my "live as He lived" entry). The Mass was beautiful, with readings in Portuguese and English and the Gospel in Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, German and Polish. It is just such an indescribably beautiful thing to SEE the universal Church in action-- praying united. It struck me that as I was receiving the Eucharist in Portugal that my good friend Fr. Eric (among others) was most likely proclaiming the Gospel at his parish. I've always found it amazing that the Mass.... Never ends! (it must be lived so let us go forth to love and serve the Lord and one another... alleluia!)...how cool is our God.
Afterwards I worked in the "informatções" office until 6:30. There were many Spanish speakers today! I am very frustrated at how my Spanish has become overtaken by Portuguese and I can't seem to have a Spanish conversation without many mixings of the 2 languages. I've also decided I red to brush up on Italian and then keep learning... After this year with Greek of course. One of the Americans that came in (from NY) said that his grandfather was born in Aljustrel (village where the pastorinhos were born and raised) in 1889 and knew the 3 children and was still living in the area during the time of the apparitions... How interesting is that?!?
Yesterday I was assigned to "A Casa de Lúcia"... I worked with a Portuguese girl names Cátia. (NB she's a college student journalism.) I forgot t sunblock and therefore am decently burnt. I met a wonderful American couple from California. He was taking a picture of her alone in front of the house, and hearing him speak English to her, I asked if they would like one together. The wife (michelle) said "where were you yesterday?!" See, they celebrated 33 years of marriage on Saturday... And have no pictures together as they had no one to ask to take a picture of them. Their son is a Norbertine out in California studying or the priesthood. They were both very encouraged by the "springtime" they see coming in the church. She, as many call us the JPII generation...
At dinner last night I was talking with the other Kevin (seminarian from NJ studying in Rome) and he mentions he was raised in GA. Since SHINE 2001 I've kept Lawrenceville, Ga and the friends I met there in my heart... But I usually don't ask people if they are from L'ville. I decided to ask Kevin where and nearly fell over when he said Lawrenceville. I said "did you go to Collins Hill High?!" to which he was floored... Then I explained. He knew a lot of the people I could remember... And said he hasn't heard the name Collins Hill in so long. OT was another small works moment.
Tomorrow is my "folga" (day off)... Which I plan to get the most of... With sunscreen on! Also--- A week from tomorrow is the flight home!
I can't believe how fast these 6+ weeks have passed! However,
I have remarked to people that Fatima is the part of the trip I was excited for most, but now that I am here all I am doing is longing for the good ole USA... When I'm busy talking to people at whichever location I am at a certain day, praying, and sleeping I don't notice... But when there's no one at my "station" that needs help, on the walk to and from my station and right before bed I get very anxious and long to be in the US. Please say some prayers for my peace in being here (through Our Lady's intercession!)
I apologize if my entries lately are all over the place... It is harder to blog from an iPhone than a desktop. At SVD in Lisboa I was able to take my time, cut and paste, italicize, bold, enlarge etc... Most of you know how I speak anyways so you might be able to "hear" me as you read these entries.
Anyways--If I don't update tomorrow I will try to update again Friday (next folga)... Until then,
Nossa Senhora de Fatima... Rogai por nós...
--KPL
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