where does the time go?

I am considering re-prioritizing the way I use time. Ever since I turned 50 time seems to have sped up as though it is a whirling vortex and I am in the center of it. I move through the day, going from one thing to the next, hardly taking a breath, until I arrive home to my cat loudly meowing her discontent at having been left all alone for 12 or more hours. (I tell her I can feel her pain!) I know what's missing: consistent time every day before Our Lord in His house. Yes, I go to daily Mass and I offer little prayers, almost nonstop, as I go about my business but it's not the same. I don't stop and focus entirely on Him for any length of time. I don't listen intently for any length of time to what He would like to tell me.

I had the privilege to go to Confession and attend morning Mass at Transfiguration Church on this, the feast of the Transfiguration, today. The entire time, from the moment I entered the building until I left, was grace-filled. First, I went to Confession. I ALWAYS feel better afterward and today was no exception. At the end of my face-to-face Confession, I introduced myself to the new pastor and told him I was the director of LifeCare Center East. He was so gracious! He said he'd heard so much about me and the center and would like to meet me for coffee soon to talk about how the parish could support us even more than they already are. I felt buoyed by his generous and hospitable spirit!

Next, I discovered that the pastor has instituted an hour of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament before daily Mass. I'd wished I'd come a half hour earlier. What a treasure this was for my heart! What a blessing this was for my weary spirit!

Mass was very beautiful. We sang an opening and closing hymn. Whenever this happens at daily Mass, there comes a second when I wish I'd known ahead of time so I could volunteer to accompany. However, this passes quickly because there is something very lovely about a congregation singing a capella and SOMETIMES I must rest from the duty of leading music at Mass. (Last week, for example, I played for at least one Mass every single day, except Wednesday: Sunday--1 Mass at St. Columba, 1 Mass at the Sisters', Monday--funeral at St. Columba, Tuesday--morning Mass at the Sisters', Thursday--morning Mass at the Sisters, funeral at St. Columba, Friday--funeral at the Sisters, Saturday--evening anticipatory Mass at St. Columba, Sunday--2 masses, one at St. Columba, one at the Sisters'.) Father intoned the Kyrie, then led us in the (spoken) Gloria. He taught us a little about Mount Tabor in his homily, which made me wish I could go there one day. He also said he hoped that, five years from now, the parish would have many vocations to the priesthood come out of it. His goal is to welcome more and more people to the parish and to get to know every single parishioner by name within the next year. I can tell this man is not one to be idle!

One of my favorite parts was when everyone knelt at the Consecration. Historically, the people at this parish have stood and it has always bothered me. Kneeling at the Consecration is a sign of reverence and respect for Our Lord's great sacrifice for us. I believe we should be kneeling! In the latest issue of The Catholic Spirit, our local Catholic paper, our archbishop addresses this very well: http://thecatholicspirit.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4112&Itemid=108

I walked out of the church, feeling as though I was floating to my car. I took myself out to breakfast at a little locally owned diner to continue the celebration of this most beautiful feast day and thought about all that I'd been given in one short hour. I was overwhelmed by God's goodness!