We’re home from a wonderful vacation we spent with our friends in California.  It was more than a vacation – it was spiritual.  The ordination Mass we attended for Fr. Christopher Felix and three other seminarians was, in a word, heavenly.  I can’t think of anything more joyful than an ordination – young men who responded magnanimously to the call of God to offer their lives in His service.  There is no more glorious calling this side of heaven.

Our next Mass was Fr. Chris’ first Mass, which qualified us for an indulgence.  That also was a heavenly affair, after spending the afternoon visiting with friends.  The next day I had the miraculous opportunity to attend the monthly Opus Dei reflection with friends.  I was so happy to see Blythe, whose blog you can read about here.  That was the night that everything the Holy Spirit had already been making more and more clear to me came rushing all at once to a head.  Why is it that I can go for months to Mass and hear good homilies, yet when I visited California, it seemed every homily, talk, and line of thought was directed intimately to awaken me to my spiritual state?  It was good to be exposed to such riches all at once.

Thank you Linda, beloved sister, for your hospitality, and it was beautiful seeing all the family!  It was a joy to visit with Kim and Bill, Cathe and Mando (thanks for your hospitality), Joe and Cece, Laura and Joe, Kathy and Severo, Elizabeth and Victor, Jewell and Steve, in other words: ALL YALL!  It did my heart good to be back in the presence of my holy friends.  Our friendship is marked by our desire to become saints, and I have sorely missed it.  Attending the Opus Dei reflection was amazing.  I have no such resource here.  Loved visiting with Ken Hensley, whose work you can check out here.

FRANKENSTEIN WARNING

Listen my children and you will learn

Not to stay in the sun and burn

On your head a bonnet wear

And do not let your arms be bare

And thus you will not look like me

Whose Frankenstein scar we all can see.