This morning after breakfast I took a long walk through the woods and around the grounds. The snow was lightly puffed up about one inch coating every single branch, twig, and bramble. It was so beautiful! Most of the paths I took were as of yet untrodden since last night’s snowfall. Only one short path had been traversed ahead of me. I like walking where I might fellowship with only (other) wildlife. (Wink.)
I would have walked longer but I didn’t bring the right shoes. I no longer own a pair of running shoes. On my last retreat (in Cohasset), I took along an old pair of Adidas. They were so old the soles were crumbling. I left them in the waste-basket when I left Cohasset. It felt so good to leave behind something spent and used-up, that I thought about what I could bring this time to leave behind! The only thing I could think of was some toiletries, however I hope to give this kind of thing more thought prior to each retreat.
After lunch I went to the neighboring Relic Shrine, Museum, and Gift-Shop. They had just started a twenty-four-hour Adoration, so I spent an hour in prayer. Then I went through the Relic Shrines Chapel, and I prayed at and through the Holy Door of Mercy. The number of relics there is over-whelming. I couldn’t really take it all in; however, I did especially enjoy seeing a relic of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta (who is by now a saint); it was a clipping of her hair. It reminded me of my taking a lock of my mother’s hair on her deathbed.
I didn’t spend much time in the museum. Everything they had there reminded me so much of my own German heritage, albeit Anabaptist! I’m grateful for my heritage, but I don’t need a museum to value it. Also, given that I’m wanting to immerse myself in prayer and to be nourished spiritually, I find that praying in Adoration of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist Who is alive and food for me who is alive, is much more helpful to me right now. Relics and tokens of saints and their memorabilia are to be valued and well cared-for, but for me Living things and persons are SO much more to be cherished and enjoyed
I find it profoundly lovely that Abba should have arranged it that I could be here during a perpetual Adoration. I noticed that there were a few time-slots left blank during the wee hours of the morning. I think I might go back over for one of those hours. There’s where the silence is golden. It’s like being inside Christ’s lung: I feel my breath in sync and sustained with Christ’s, just Being together.
I purchased a couple of prayer cards and a tee-shirt at the gift shop, plus a booklet about the relics; hopefully there will be some edifying remarks within.
More later!
The pictures below are from my walk this morning.
Meridians and Longitudes 