Okay, so how cool is this?

For all you Papist fans out there, a little amusement for a snowbound afternoon:

Holy See (Vatican City State) arrived from wdtprs.com on "Meeting Christ in the Liturgy"

Always good to know there's a little interest...

-- ((((..))))

Breakout

Given the availability of hosts, wine and suitable vessels, holy Mass is thankfully a portable grace for the ordained. It was for sake of the hallowed custom of celebrating the Holy Sacrifice in an appointed and sacred place for the good of the people and for natural means of bodily sustenance that a breakout on foot was necessitated after the blizzard subsided.

My handiwork of Sunday resulting in a driveway clear of snow and free of ice is of no use for extricating the car as the road out remains unplowed.

D., who also lives on the compound, made three runs of 7/10 of a mile each from his house to the road and back with a snow-blower to clear this car-wide path on the main entrance lane into the compound.

Trailing the movements of indigenous creatures is made easy by snowprints.

This is the main road into the compound; as you can see, not high on the county plowing priority list and remaining buried under what began as over two feet of snow.

The deer have no need of plows to get from home to work and back.

After a short hike I discovered that Mattaponi Road was plowed only from Saint Thomas Church Road up to the last descent toward the bridge over the river and the entrance to the retreat center.

Greater telescopic capacity was needed than I possess to give a better view of this feathered sunbather.

Hiking against traffic on St. Thomas Church Road.

Cleared very well for two lanes of traffic and quite dry.

Idyllic winter view of St. Thomas Church

The steeple, roof and gravestones capped in white
V. met me not far from this spot for transport back to the church. Mission accomplished.

Happy Birthday, Sheila

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,

always in every prayer of mine for you making my prayer with joy,

And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
(cf. Philippians 1)

May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May the Lord shed his light upon you,
May the Lord look upon you kindly
and give you peace.

Emergency snow transportation: How to make snow shoes

Snowed in? Can't get to daily Mass? Make your own snow shoes using naturally available materials!

Get the intructions for making your snow shoes here.

Stopping traffic: The "Snownun" of Georgetown

"Stop" and read all about "Sister Mary Snowden" of Georgetown Visitation by clicking here.

Catonsville, MD, Sunday Mass dig-out

This photo just in from brother, Patrick, in Catonsville, MD, as he digs out the family 15-passenger van to attempt the trek to Sunday Mass with wife, Joanne, and six offspring. The family completed their mission successfully by reaching Saint Agnes Church where they attended Mass with about 12 other hardy souls.

For those unable to attend Mass today: Spiritual Communion Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.

Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

"In the sacramental liturgy of the Church, the mission of Christ and of the Holy Spirit proclaims, makes present, and communicates the mystery of salvation, which is continued in the heart that prays. The spiritual writers sometimes compare the heart to an altar. Prayer internalizes and assimilates the liturgy during and after its celebration. Even when it is lived out 'in secret,' prayer is always prayer of the Church; it is a communion with the Holy Trinity."

-- CCC 2655