HAPPY EASTER

I truly hope everyone had a Blessed Easter today.  Ed picked me up at 8:00 and drove me to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  Words cannot describe the beauty to be found in this shrine, the pictures I will post will speak for themselves.  What I can say is my Mother called me to her home today.  Last year on Dec. 8, I consecrated my life to the Blessed Virgin on her feast day of the Immaculate Conception.  I gave all of myself to her to do as she pleases with me.  And today it so pleased her to call me  to her shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  To be honest I didn't even know this wonderful place existed.  And I would like to thank Ed for opening his heart to her plea to bring me to her shine, to her Son, on the day of His glorious resurrection.  Words cannot describe the depth of love I felt today to be with her, to be with her Son, to be with my holy family.

As I was in Mass I felt so isolated, even though the Church was overflowing with people.  You had to fight to get a seat.  Lucky for me I fight dirty in regards to the Holy Eucharist and was able to get a seat.  (I'll go to confession later).  I know feeling isolated in Mass is a strange occurrence, especially being there with all my brothers and sisters, and on Easter of all days.  No I felt isolated in two regards.  My first sense of isolation was I felt so exposed in the midst of my brothers and sisters.  Wondering if they knew of my great sins that caused the death of their Lord, leading to the wonderful resurrection we celebrated today.  I felt as if I had the mark of Cain upon my forehead.  As if they all knew it was me.  But our Lord is mercy.  And at the moment I renewed my Baptismal promises I felt a calm wash over me, He washed away the mark I placed upon myself.  (He also took away my crayons.)  The second sense of isolation was in regards of great thanksgiving.  To think that out of all these people Our Lord was coming to me, to rest in me, to love me.  It was an isolation to know that I am one in the crowd.  An isolation that my God is a personal God and loves me as if I was the only person on the earth.  I know He came to all there who received communion, but my Lord and my God came to me....I did not go to Him......what need does He have of me?....who am I?.....I am the one whose sins placed Him on the Cross...and yet He still came to me.....He thirsted for me.  He didn't ask why I did this to Him, He knows my weakness.  No, He came to me with those tender eyes, He came to me with arms spread wide on the cross to embrace me, with head bowed down to kiss me, He came to me with love.

  Ed was a volunteer usher and we were were supposed to meet near one of the side altars after Mass.  (There is probably a 100 side altars in this shrine, it is unbelievable).  He didn't see me and kept walking so I was fighting through people trying to get to him.  I bumped into a man kind of hard and looked back to see it was a priest I nearly knocked over.  I apologized profoundly to him and explained I  was trying to get to my ride.  He just laughed and told me to go on, that it was OK, this place was like a zoo.  Upon reaching Ed we walked throughout the Basilica visiting all the side altars.

After the Mass Ed took me to his daughters for Easter dinner with his family.  It was such a wonderful dinner and I thank them so much for accepting me into their family and being so gracious to me.  Ed really backed me into a corner with my "refuse nothing" maxim.  He asked me to say grace, the maxim kept ringing in my ears and I gladly accepted.  It was a very humble gesture for Ed, the head of the family, to bestow this honor unto me, a lowly pilgrim.  So thank you Ed and his entire family for giving me a wonderful Easter.

 The Knights of Colombus paid for this bell tower.  It cost $1,000,000 to build.  At the time there were 1,000,000 knights, so each contributed $1 for its construction.

 Part of the ceiling

 Another part of the ceiling

 the altar

3/29-3/30

The community did a wonderful job in honoring our Lord at 3:00, in remembrance of Him dying for my sins.  I thank them all for giving me the opportunity to say thank you to our Lord.  There was the liturgy of the Lord's Passion, veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion.  Afterwards I joined the choir for pizza (cheese only of course) and than participated in Tenebrae at 6:00.  I had never attended one before and it was so beautiful.  It is a Christian wake service for our Lord.  I must also say for this small community they have a wonderful and gifted choir.  Afterwards Sammy drove me back to St. Mary's.  The previous night when Deacon Tex dropped me off I said, "Home sweet Home."  Upon which he replied, "I should get you to pay taxes."  Being the cheapskate I am I said, "Nice try but you don't pay taxes."

3/30

Ed, Rose, and Joe came by this morning to pick up the flowers for both churches   Soon after they left Ed returned with breakfast and asked if I wanted to attend Mass with him in D.C., it being a shrine to Mary I gladly accepted.  (If you haven't noticed I love my little Mother very much.  I never fear of loving here too much as St. Maximilian Kolbe explains,  "Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much.  You can never love her more than JESUS did.".)  He then offered to take me to Harpers Ferry in West Virginia.  It's a small and beautiful historic town.  Here are some pictures.

St. Francis church at Tenebrae

The altar at St. Marys

 The building John Brown, the abolitionist, hid until his capture at Harpers Ferry

 This is where the 3 states meet.  The land to the left is Maryland.  The land to the right is West Virginia   And the land to the right where the bridge is entering is Virginia.

 The stairs leading up to St. Peters in Harpers Ferry.  The church is now a mission church and is seldom used.  They hold one Sunday Mass there a week.  As soon as Ed and I got to to the top of these stairs our Lord sent an angel to open the door so we could admire the beautiful church inside.

 That's St. Peter's behind me.

 Stained glass window at St. Peters

 An Episcopal church which was used as a hospital and barracks during the Civil War.  I learned from Ed that St. Marys where I've been staying was also used as a hospital during the war.  And the floor was so stained with blood that they had to paint over it.

 This is called "Jefferson Rock."  Thomas Jefferson described the view from here during a visit to Harpers Ferry in 1783 as, "On your right comes up the Shenandoah, having ranged along the foot of the mountain a hundred miles to seek a vent.  On your left approaches the Patomac, in quest of a passage also.  In the moment of their junction they rush together against the mounain, rend it asunder, and pass off to the sea....This scene is worth a voyage across the Atlantic."  And he was right, remember he can't tell a lie, or was that George Washington?  or am i I lying and making this all up?  Always remember something Abraham Lincoln said, "Everything on the internet is true."

In 1860, the U.S. armory superintendent ordered red sandstone supports placed under "Jefferson's Rock" because it was "endangering the lives and properties of the villagers below."

3/29

I will not speak of myself today, you can come and join me at the foot of the Cross.

What I am going to share I learned from Fr. Ben in the first mission I heard him speak.
The Church has always known and taught that JESUS died of love.  In a spiritual way yes, but what about the physical?  Yes, his even His physical death was a result of love.  How you ask?  When His side was pierced by the lance, it is written in Scripture that blood and water gushed from His side.  Blood and water, what did this mean?  For almost 2,000 years theologians wrestled with this bit of Scripture.  But it wasn't until the 1960's that we were given the wisdom to understand this great mystery.  A group of scientists in France went to discover why people "die of a broken heart."  Now this isn't just a cliche, it is a true occurrence   Throughout history someone has died, and their spouse in perfect health, drops dead three days later.  And every time there is found in the heart cavity blood and water.  What they discovered is that when someone is in love and in grief their heart beats in a certain rhythm, and this rhythm causes more blood to enter the heart than it can push out.  As the heart fills with blood it enlarges to about the size of a soccer ball, and than a strange thing happens, the brain sends an electric current which pierces the heart causing it to explode, and this explosion is so violent, that the blood separates from the water.  So, yes our Lord died from love in the spiritual and physical sense.  And do not forget, when His heart exploded, at that moment, He only had you in his mind.

Second part of the meditation

Must I tell you how, for hours, he hangs between heaven, and earth, bereft of respect, of belief, almost friendless, so terribly alone?
Do you see the huge spikes through his wrists and feet?  do you note the torn knees, the countless lacerations, the great welt on his shoulder, the crown of thorns running into and through his scalp, the puffed lips, the swollen nose?  Do you see how the flies settle in his sores?  How slowly he turns his poor tired head from side to side, like a great heaviness that he can move only be inches and with a mighty effort.
He prays:  'Father forge them..."
He forgives, too:  "I assure you, this very day you will be with me in paradise."
He bequeaths:  "Mother, this is your son."  And to John, "This is your mother."
You are now my child; I am your mother.
He looks at me.  Often has he give me his eyes in these thirty years and more, but never has he given them to me more tenderly.
Do not think that his words come easily.  Each time he speaks, he must raise himself.  He must draw air into his lungs, air to breathe and air to speak.  He pushes his pierced wrists and feet against the nails, holds himself erect, renewing the shooting pains, reliving all the agony.
And note that even in his torment, his words, his thoughts, his prayers are first of all for others.  Only when he has heard their pleas, spoken and unspoken, does he say, "Why do you abandon me?" and "I am thirsty."
Now, one last time, he draws himself erect.  With a great shout, he cries in triumph:  "It is now completed."  "Father...into your hands, I commit my spirit?"
The Sacrifice-The Ransom-the Mass-is over.
And I am glad.  I am glad to hold his lifeless body in my arms.  He has suffered, never to suffer again.
He has suffered for love of his Father.  For him he stretched himself out on the cross.  For him he laid down his life: to magnify the Father, to glorify the Father, to win countless souls for his Father.
He has given to God the complete submission of the human will that men refused.  He has satisfied divine justice by making exact return of that which man and woman have stolen from the Almighty.
My child, give yourself to him; open your heart to his love; unite your will with his so that in all the world there may be but one will, one love:  the will and love of the loving CHRIST.

3/27

Later in the evening Rose and Ed from the parish office came by to drop off flowers for the church on Easter.  Ed was with his granddaughter and he stayed over to chat.  I learned a lot about St. Mary's and the community.  After explaining to him that I would be leaving after Mass on Easter (remember my previous post about planning, and how I need to "try" and be a blank sheet of paper, well here I go planning again), Ed came up with the idea of me joining the Knights of Columbus.  It will be a good network for me as I go across the United States.  He also said I would be a member of their charter, which I gladly accepted, even though this parish will always be in my heart, I would gladly be affiliated with them in anyway I can.  Their meeting isn't until Thursday, but he is going to try to move it ahead to Monday.

3/28

I walked over to St. Francis with all my gear, I'll be staying on the back porch since all the Mass's will be here at St. Francis.  I met up with Ed at the office and he explained that he doesn't think that he can move the meeting ahead, but there is another meeting at another town on Tuesday that he will take me to so that I can be sworn in.  So looks like I'll be staying till Wednesday morning which is fine.  I have nowhere to go except California, but I'll get there when I get there.  I'm at the hip coffee place in the old church right now.  I was going to go to the library but was lazy.  I don't think I've mentioned it yet but this town is all hills.  No that doesn't quite explain it.  The hills are like tiny mountains.  Each one is like the first hill on a roller coaster, and no matter what your always going uphill.  So I was lazy and the coffee house is down hill so I rolled on down.  Don't look forward to going back.

A little meditation taken from the book "My Other Self."  This is Mary speaking of what she saw.  I'll post half today and the other half tomorrow.

"Father, forgive them...."(Luke 23:24)

Your Lord stands on trembling legs, waiting....
His head is bowed.  His strength is gone.  Only the will remains indomitable.
They take the beam from Simon and lay it on the ground.
The final act has begun.
They tear his garments from his body.  His clothing is glued to his back, his shoulders, his thighs and legs, his arms, even his chest.  It has become embedded in the raw wounds and dried blood.
When they rip off his garments, every sore is opened anew.  Pieces of flesh are torn from his body.  Doctors have written about the agony he must have suffered, about the violent shudder that racked his body, wondering that he did not faint from shock and pain.
What they imagine, I see with my eyes.
His executioners lay him on the cross, stretch out his arms, and mark the spots for the nails.
They seize his hand, holding it firm.  The spike is touched to his wrist.  The raised hammer falls and the nail penetrates his flesh.  They drive it fast.
Yes, my child, doctros writing of this have told you how his thumb with a spasmodic movement strikes against the palm of his hand.  They know what this means: the great nerve img in the wrist has been touched.  An indescribable flame of pain has shot up through is arm, bursting like a fire bomb in his brain.  They have told you that the nerve is not completely cut, only ripped, so that the raw nerve itself remains pressed against the spike, leaving this unbearable agony to be repeated over and over with every moment, no matter how slight; and this goes on for hours.
Doctors have written about what they saw in imagination.  You could not bear it if I told you what my eyes beheld.
But this I will tell you.  Horrible as is this physical torment, it is not the worst of my Son's agony.  Mental agony is worse, mental agony that, later on, will bring from his lips, the psalm of desolation:  "My God, my God, why do you abandon me!"
The stretch out his other arm, place the nail, poise the hammer.  I saw his face contorted with inexpressible pain a moment ago.  I cannot bear to watch it again.
But i cannot help hearing the sounds of torture....
They have stopped the hammering.  They are lifting him to his feet, raising the beam to which his arms are nailed.
I know nothing of nerve imgs.  but agony, that I know!  Undiluted pains!  Convulsive torment!
They move him back against the upright stake which they have fastened securely in the ground.  They help him "climb" the stake until, with a sudden effort, they are able to place the beam on top of the upright.
If you could seee how his body sags, how it pulls on the poor pierced wrists, how his head drops forward!
Bending his knees so that his feet are flat against the upright, they nail him fast.
Must I go on to the end?  Have you not seen and heard enough?

3/26-3/27

3/26

Today I walked from St. Mary's over to St. Francis to get my wi-fi card for my laptop.  Now I don't have to take detours to public library's and McDonald's to post my blog.  Upon returning to St. Mary's I saw a bunch of cars in the parking lot.  Going into the house I saw the door to the main room was closed, so I went upstairs so as not to bother the group that was there.  As soon as I got upstairs I heard a woman's voice call my name.  It was Sammy, I met her the first day arrived and is a very sweet woman.  She has quite the sense of humor also.  She explained that it was the prayer shawl group where they crochet prayer shawls to be blessed and to hand out to those in need.  She asked if I wanted to join them.  I said I can't crochet (there are actually a lot of cant's in my life right now.  I can't put a straw into a Capri-sun.  I can't run (will be explained later. (parenthesis within parenthesis within parenthesis, that's a bold move I know.))) but I could work on my prayer rope I'm making for Deacon Tex.  So gathering my yarn I joined the group and had a wonderful time.  It was a very warm and welcoming group of crocheters.  I always put crocheters in the same group as cyclists, but they proved me wrong.  After the group ended they took me out to dinner to an Italian/Mexican restaurant.

3/27

Woke up and headed over to St. Francis, I thought there was a Eucharistic service there this morning.  I left kind of late and had to run.  And I discovered something along the way,  I am out of shape.  You think all the walking that I have done would have turned me into a triathlete,  well at least I thought I so.  But nope, about twenty steps in I'm weezing like the marlboro man trying to get onto his horse.  It was embarassing.  I give up getting in shape.  Boston creme donuts all day every day.  So, I get to St. Francis and there is no service, so I have to turn back and walk (no run, I'm done) back.  I had to stop by the drug store anyways so it was no big deal.  I'm very excited for Holy Week Triduum to begin tomorrow.  At 7:30 tomorrow will be the Mass of the Lord's Supper and Adoration until 10.  And Friday there will be a Liturgy of the Lord's Passion, including Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion at 3:00 and Tenebrae at 6:00.  On Saturday there will be the Easter Vigil at 7:30.  And Easter Sunday I will probably attend 10 AM Mass and afterwards hit the road.

A little prayer for my nephew (and for me, and please take it also.) to get him ready for his first communion.

Lovely lady dressed in blue,
teach me how to pray,
God was just your little boy,
tell me what to say.

Did you lift him up sometimes,
gently on your knee,
and did you sing to him the way mother does to me,
did you ever try telling him stories of the world?
oh did He cry,
do you think He cares if I tell Him things,
just little things that happen,
and do angels wings make a noise?
can He hear me if I speak low?
(hear you whisper)Does He understand me now?
Tell me for you know.

Lovely Lady dressed in blue,
teach me how to pray.
God was just your little boy,
and you know the way.

3/24-3/25

3/24

On Saturday night (3/23) I slept out on the back porch at the house next to St. Francis.  Fr. was in town and using the house so I happily stayed behind the church.  I was going to stay down on the trail but once again Deacon dismissed that idea.  It was a cold night but I have a military sleeping bag which causes me to actually sweat on these cold nights.  Getting up is the only tough part.

Upon waking I waited for Fr. to drive me over to St. Mary's for Mass.  He invited me in to warm up while he got ready.  I attended Mass which was wonderful, especially because today was Palm Sunday  the beginning of Holy week.  People always ask me back home how was Mass?  And I always answer there is no such thing as a bad Mass.  So after Mass I got a ride back to St. Francis and walked to the grocery store to get some groceries.  Upon getting back I began organizing my cart when Deacon called telling me I could come sleep at St. Mary's.  So refusing nothing I walked over there upon finding the door locked.  Someone must have come after Deacon left and locked the door.  So I called him and there was no answer.  It was going to be a cold snowy night but I didn't mind.  I was planning on sleeping on the front porch of the church, I could think of no better place to sleep outside.  Like I said I had my military sleeping bag and my winter clothes since I have them stuffed in a cinch sack and use them as a pillow.  It would have been no big deal at all.  I actually felt bad for Deacon because I knew him being such a gracious man he was going to feel horrible.  But I would have been fine.  How many people are sleeping outdoors without a nice sleeping bag.  And if I'm going to pray for the poor, it wouldn't hurt to experience just a little bit, (even though I know there is a big difference between sleeping outside one night and actually being homeless) but would help with empathy and my attiutde when I come across a homeless person.  But Deacon eventually called and Rosie the sweet secretary came by and unlcoked the door for me.  I scared her since I came from behind the church.  I  was hanging out in the back and was going to come out to the front in dark, that way nobody would see me and call the police.  although I thought that wouldn't be to bad, I would be warm in jail for a night.

3/25

Woke up to about two inches of snow.  You know what? That's the last time I plan a walk across America based on the recommendation of a stupid groundhog.  Seriously doesn't matter if their human or animal they have no clue what their doing.  I'm just going to buy a magic 8 ball, I'll have better luck that way.   I also woke up feeling like crap.  No literally like crap, I ate a whole block of cheese last night.  Don't ask why.  They say there is never too much of a good thing but I beg to differ.  Just ask Taylor Swift about dating.  Anyways,  I was planning once again to go down to the trail, my last package with my wi-fi card should be here today, but Deacon called and said to stay there.  So once again I gladly accepted and I walked up to McDonalds to use interent where I am typing this.

I get many questions as I meet new and intriguing people.  Usually they’re the same inquisitive questions.  One common one is, “do you have your days mapped out?”  In regards to how far I’ll walk that day and where I’ll sleep that night.  And I tell them no I do not, I do have my route planned but other than that I try to leave it to Divine Providence.  I “try” to wake up each morning as a blank sheet of paper and to let God write my story each passing moment.  But I put an emphasis on try, because I fight this approach constantly, even though much beauty and peace can be found within it.  I still find myself looking ahead at my maps and writing down things to do, but just as the day before and every day before that, within an hour my day has completely changed (almost always by the kindness of a stranger and always better than I had thought I planned out.)  But still I’m stubborn and full of self-love, and so I try to constantly apply some white-out, to bump His elbow as He writes, to attempt to proof read His work.  But I need to learn that the most beautiful story in the world is being written if I don’t interfere.  Now it’s not the most beautiful story to you, for you have your own.  No my story is mine, just as the Bible isn’t just the Word of God but is a love letter written by God just for me, and just for you.  This story is always old and ever new.  It is the retelling of the Gospels through my daily life.  Yes, even the death of CHRIST must undergo within me, for without the death there can be no resurrection.  And so if I don’t interfere, if I learn to give myself completely and wholly to God, than I will become what I was destined for, I will become CHRIST.  (many people think we need to imitate CHRIST, but as Fr. Ben says, “It is said imitation is the greatest form of flattery.  But  JESUS doesn’t want nor need your flattery.  Have you ever had imitation crab meat?  It’s horrible.  No, he wants you.  He wants to become you, and you to become Him.”  A marriage of souls.  I believe it was St. Augustine who said, “God became man so that man could become god.”  

The altar at St. Francis of Assisi

St. Mary's church.  I'll have to get the official date of construction, but this church was built by slaves and was orginally for slaves and freed slaves.

I've been staying at the house on the left.

3/22 - 3/23

3-22-13

Deacon Tex came by this morning with his pickup truck and asked if I wanted to go to the monastery in Virginia.  There was a miscommunication (my fault as usual), I thought he was going to drop me off there for good, I didn’t realize he was going to pick me up again.  (Like I said before greatest Deacon ever.)  So having not called the monastery he took me back to St. Francis.  I got my new camera and my solar shower.  I was about to head to the library when Deacon Tex told me the stations of the cross were at noon so I gladly stayed and waited.  About 20 minutes before noon Deacon came over and said he needed a hand in the church.  I get over there and he hands me the altar servor cassock.  I tell him I’ve never been a altar boy and he says wrong answer, your supposed to say yes.  So I say yes and prepare to bear the crucifix during the stations.  He jokingly says now you need a picture of this for your blog, in which I responded, “In the spirit of our new Pope Francis, may God forgive you for what you have just done.”  (He said this in the dinner with the Cardinals after his election).  So we go through the stations with the congregation which was wonderful.  Afterwards I was invited to lunch with a wonderful group attending the stations, we crossed the bridge into Virginia to a little diner.  Upon returning to the church Deacon Tex asked where I was going to sleep.  I was planning on heading back to the canal but once again he quickly dismissed that idea and let me stay there in the parish office.  I was able to do some much needed laundry and play with my new toys I got in the mail. He also gave me a warm winter coat incase there's any cold nights ahead.  I walked to the library which ended up being closed so I headed to the coffee house in town called “Beans in the Belfry.”  It’s where I posted my last blog.  

3-23-13

Woke up and did some reading.  I headed back to Beans in the Belfry to use the internet again.  I have to buy a cup of coffee to use the wi-fi....i can't stand coffee.   But I paid for it so I have to drink......the things I do for my adoring fans.  I stopped by the railroad museum here in town and found a bike shop where I can by some extra tubes incase I get a flat tire along the way.  I look forward to confession and Mass in a few hours.  Other than that nothing to exciting.

My nephew Nolan will be making his first communion soon and unfortunately I will have to miss it.  But I would like to share a bed time story my sister can tell him to get ready.  And no it’s not just for children.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  This is taken from “Holiness is for Everyone” by Marital Lekeux

Once upon a time a king and a queen had an only daughter, named Rosine.  When they died, the king’s sister Maureen (that’s my other sisters name, sorry Maureen I couldn’t resist:  Maureen will now be called Grognon), more homely and wicked than mortal sin, took the title of queen and had the princess abandoned in a dense forest over 500 miles away.

When poor Rosine found herself alone in this dismal place, she wept bitterly.  Her sorrow deepened when, a few feet from her, she saw a snow-white lamb caught in a trap.  The good-hearted Rosine ran quickly to free him.  While tenderly caressing him, she was surprised to here him speak.  “Princess Rosine, I have known you for a long time and I know what a horrible state the wicked Grognon has put you in.”  The princesss became frightened at hearing a lamb speak.  But he quickly put her at ease.  “Rosine, I have magic powers.  I assumed this form to test you.  Now since you have proved your goodness, it is only right that I should do the same.”

With these words, his form changed and Rosine saw before her a prince brilliant as the sun and strikingly beautiful.

“Return to your father’s kingdom,” he said.  “With my help you shall reconquer it.  Here is my ring.  Each time you are in difficulty, look at it, and I shall help you.”

With this, he disappeared.  Rosine felt completely strengthened.  She admired the ring, which was the most beautiful she had ever seen.  All kinds of stones surrounded a large jewel which twinkled like a star.  When she decided to start out, she was embarrassed because she did not even know the road.  Her prince charming’s recommendation came to her mind and she looked at the ring.  Immediately, a beautiful many-colored serpent came toward her and, smiling graciously, invited her to follow him.

She walked a long time, assisted in all hazards by a simple glance at the precious ring.  In hunger, a beautiful golden loaf was offered her, together with a honey comb.  Did a river or a mountain stand in her way, an eagle clutched her in his claws and flew over the obstacle, as quickly as she might have said the “Our Father.”  If she became tired , she would let the diamond shine in her face and immediately she felt refreshed (too tired to pray just stare at my beloved).

When she arrived in front of her father’s chateau, armed troops came riding toward her.  Grognon was behind them shouting:  “Kill Rosine.”  Rosine became very frightened.  She looked at the ring and said:  “Good Prince, help me!”  A great galloping noise was heard behind her.  Many armed knights fell upon the army of the false queen Grognon, routed them, and entered the chateau.  Rosine, almost overcome with emotion, saw the beautiful prince come toward her.  He took her hand and they entered the chateau.  At sight of this, Grognon howled and pulled out her hair.  The she threw herself head first into a well and drowned.

Then the prince said:  “Beautiful queen, you are now freed of your enemy.  If you will accept me as your spouse, we shall reign together over your kingdom and mine.”

The marriage was celebrated with great pomp and from that time on Rosine was the happiest of queens.

That story seems hard to believe.  Yet it is true.  The devil expelled us from our kingdom.  But our very good King, appearing in our midst as a meek lamb, promised to help us in all our difficulties with His power, which far surpasses that of all fairies.  To call Him, we have but to use the talisman of prayer.  Obstacles are smoothed out, strength is given us, our enemies are conquered.  If we persevere until the end in the confidence which He asks of us, we too shall re-enter our beautiful kingdom; our souls shall be His spouses; we shall share in all His goods, and we shall reign with Him for all eternity.

Pictures

                                                                 To all the cyclists out there

                                          Someone was just lazy when they started naming streets

The altar at St. Mary's.  I'll have pictures up later of St. Francis.  St. Mary's was the original church on the outskirts of town.  But when the town was booming and it was the horse and buggy days, the priest was too far away to administer extreme unction so they decided to build a church in town which is St. Francis.

I just thought of a fun fact as I wrote that.  Do you know that there is one sentence that you cannot write in the English language?  I mean you can write it, you can do whatever you want really, but it will be grammatically incorrect.  "There are three to's (nope won't work)too's (nope)/two's(nope) in the English language."  No to/too/two defines the other to/too/two.  I know I just blew your mind.

                          Don't let that sun fool you, this is the day I let my tent get away from me

Thanks for reading.  God bless you.

Rest of 3-19-13

So I headed from the library and was about to get back onto the trail when I decided to call my dad.  In talking I mentioned that I was thinking of buying a nicer camera, I have just one of those basic point and shoots right now.  So, after the conversation I got back onto the trail and there was an incident.  And an incident with whom you may ask?  A cyclist!  I swear they are my sworn enemy; they're my oil to my water, my Sammy Hagar to my Van Halen, my slippers to my birthday suit, my poprocks to my pepsi, my Obama to him caring for human life (ok settle down liberals I know I insulted your king.  But push your feelings aside and ask yourself this question, "Why does the medicine in Obamacare that ends a life free, and the medicine that saves a life costs an individual money?")  So during the incident in which shall not be told I dropped my camera.  I can get it to still take pictures but the zoom function is broke.  So either God was telling me to get a new camera, or my constant clumsiness came through again.

So I get to the campsite where its like monsoon winds.  And yes I will admit my tent did blow away and I was chasing it all around the site like a fool.  Deo Gratias the wind was blowing away from the river.  The site was next to some railroad tracks so got woken up a few times.

3-20-13

So I woke up this morning very excited, for this morning I would be receiving our Lord at a Eucharist service in Brunswick.  Now, Brunswick is about 5 miles away from my campsite so I had to get up at 4:30, pack up all my gear in the dark, and head out as soon as possible to make sure I made it there in time.  It was truly a blessing to wake up that early this morning.  As I was hurriedly packing I happened to look up at the sky and saw a multitude of stars.  I can’t tell you the last time I just took in the beautiful canvas on display for us every night.  I’m always in too much of a hurry doing nothing.  And there were so many stars.  So after packing up I headed out in the dark.  I had to hurry because I thought the service was at 8:30 which thankfully it wasn’t.

So I get into town a little before 8 (and yes I do walk slow but in my defense I did get stopped by a train.  It was only one car but still I did get stopped....you know what whatever man you try walking across the country) making my way to St. Francis of Assisi (how fitting, the name of our new Pope) I locked my cart up behind the church and going to the front of the church saw that the service was actually at 9:00 am.  So I sat on the front steps and pulled out my Rosary.

I have become to cherish these moments that used to be such a bore.  The moments I used to find “boring”, are actually the best times to pray.  It is me who makes them “boring.”  I heard a priest say once that we actually invented the word “boring” with the industrial revolution.  In new human language is there found a word comparable to boring.  Before that time people just moved from one task to the next, like a honey bee from flower to flower.  No hurry, no rush.  Just perform each duty well and move to the next.  Now you are deemed an insufficient worker if you can’t “multi-task.”

So I was able to get through the “Apostles Creed” and was just beginning the first “Our Father” when a car rolled to a stop and the woman asked if I was waiting for Mass.  I said yes and she explained that Mass was actually at the sister parish St. Mary’s (great name) on the edge of town since the Bishop was visiting and offering Mass.  She then offered to take me there which I gladly accepted.  So I hurried into her car and met the most pleasant woman.  Her name was Faye (and she has a beautiful singing voice) and she worked in the parish office which was right next door to St. Francis.  She said she wasn’t going to take that way and at the last second decided to (thank you Mary).

So getting to the church I meet Deacon “Tex” (greatest Deacon ever) and the Bishop.  I’m sorry I can’t remember his name, I was kind of in awe and nervous.  I’ve never met a Bishop before and didn’t even know how to address him.  But the most important part was I got to assist at Mass which was more precious to me than anything in the world.

Before Mass the Bishop noticed I didn’t have a hymnal so he walked over and handed me one.  Now I never used to sing at Mass.  I have a horrible voice and well I can be very prideful, it’s embarrassing.  Well that all changed when I read a story which I will now share.  In a monastery way back when, the monks there of course said the “Divine Office.”  (To those of you unaware it’s the official prayer of the Church in which the whole Church, world-wide prays the psalms as one. )  Now a feast day of Mary was coming up and the “Magnificant” (the beautiful canticle Mary spoke to Elizabeth after God, through Elizabeth, addressed her as the Mother of God.) would have to be sung.  So they were just a bunch of old men with hoarse voices and they wanted to do something special for Mary.  They had good intentions.  So they employed the greatest singer in the land to come and sing on the feast day.  Oh, he sang and it was beautiful.  Afterwards the monks talked amongst themselves expressing their wish the man could sing everyday in their place.  Well the abbott (the man who is voted head of the community) upon going to sleep was awoken by a blinding light in his room.  Blinking his eyes he saw the Glorious Blessed Virgin standing before him.  Speechless he stared, mouth agape.  What could this mean, a visit from heaven (oh I’m sure he thought he was about to be taken to the Third Heaven.)  But she simply stated, “How could you.”  (Not in a mean or demeaning way.  For all she does is gentle.   In a way only a mother can discipline you while loving you at the same time, and when it’s over you don’t know what just happened except you ended up telling every bad thing you did.)  The abbott,  being still speechless,  she continued, “How could you admit the Magnificant?  And on my feast day?”  Now gaining courage the abbott quickly tried to defend himself, “But we did, we hired the greatest singer in the land, and it was for you.”  She responded, “I did not here a word of it, he sang for himself, you sing for me.”  And with that she disappeared.  You better believe those old monks never missed a note after that day.  And I try not to either.  Even though my voice sounds like a lawnmower, it is the voice I was given by God.  And if I use it, and use it with love for Him, well it’s the sweetest melody to him.  Greater than all the singers in the entire world.  And no, I don’t understand it, I’ve heard myself.  But my job isn’t to understand, but it is to accept, and to love.  So I apologize to all of you who get stuck next to me in Mass but you can either deal with it or move because I won’t be quiet anymore.

After Mass there was a breakfast next door at the old priest residence which now functions as a social hall.  I met so many wonderful parishioners there.  Getting a ride back to town I walked to the library to order some supplies to get delivered to the church which Deacon Tex so graciously allowed me to do.  I finally get my solar shower, good by sponge baths (nurse position is still open).

After the library I was walking back to the church and saw Deacon Tex outside.  I was going to set off on my 5 mile hike back to the campsite.  He asked where I was going to sleep and he quickly dismissed that idea and offered me to sleep at the church.  He drove me to St. Mary’s since St. Francis’ was going to have meetings all night since the Bishop had come.  I gladly accepted and slept in the social hall I had been in during the morning, and right next to our Lord in the church.

"I want YOU to say the Rosary every day."  (Our Lady of Fatima; June 13, 1917)

And how did this wonderful day begin, with the Rosary of course.  The Rosary is our greatest weapon.  It is Goliath’s sword.  She asks ALL her children to pray the Rosary, not just little old woman.  And how powerful is it?  One of the many titles of Mary is Our Lady of Victory.  This name came from the battle at Lepanto.  The Turks greatly outnumbered the small Christian force.  The Turks knew the battle was theirs, one of the generals joked they would make the Pope wear a turbine.  Knowing only heavenly assistance could win this battle, Pope Pius V invoked all of Christendom to pray the Rosary for victory.  The Rosary prevailed and the victory was decisive, evidence of the Hand of God working through Our Lady.  At the hour of victory St. Pope Pius V, hundreds of miles away, walked over to the window facing the sea and said, “The Christian fleet is victorious!” and burst into tears of thanksgiving.

“Try to be Me smile and My kind voice for everybody….Smile at everyone.  I’ll make your smile a blessing to others.”  JESUS speaking in the book “He and I.”

One last note.  I try to be CHRIST’S smile for everyone.  Since he can’t smile anymore on earth it’s my job to do it in His place.  So nearly everyone (sometimes I may miss someone if I’m day dreaming) I give a smile and a hello to.  It is unbelievable how many people don’t respond.  They look right at me and just keep walking. I don’t know if it’s because I look homeless to them pushing the cart, and if that is the case I need your hello even more.  I’m still a human being, and you never know, under those rags may be Gods dearest child on earth at the time.   I mean seriously how hard is it?  Try it at home, its two syllables:  Hel – lo.  And that’s it.  Now I will never say you’re going to hell or condemn anyone.  For one, I’m not God.  Secondly, I have enough to do to keep myself from going there to sit here and map out your course, no thanks.  But if your attitude is to refuse to even reach the first syllable of “hel” to a stranger you may just end up there.  But if you live by getting to the second, “Lo” and behold the next thing you know you’re in Heaven.  I ask you my friends, always try to reach the second syllable in all you meet.

“You will not draw to me the souls I long for so greatly by being ill-natured, gloomy, a pessimist.”  JESUS speaking in the book “My Other Self”

3/21/2013

I woke up this morning warm and toasty at St. Mary’s.  I didn’t really do much today; which was a pleasant change of pace.  Deacon Tex came by in the morning and asked if I wanted to stay there another night which I gladly accepted.  He offered to take me and my gear to the Trappist monastery in Virginia, which was very gracious.  But I’m going to have to refuse (I know refuse nothing) but I ordered my supplies to the church and need to wait for them.  So I think I'll stay around here through Easter.  I really enjoy this community, they're so welcoming I almost want to move here.  I'll set up camp on the trail through Holy Week.  I think it will be fitting, like St. John the Baptist I’ll head out into the wilderness to do penance.  (not too much penance, I’m no John the Baptist).  I also took a nap today which was incredible.  I haven’t been able to take one since I began my pilgrimage.  I suffer from sleep apnea, so I stop breathing throughout the night which causes me to wake up, even though I never realize it, and never get a full night rests.  I’m not complaining its my little cross I have to deal with is all, but naps are my friends.  At about 7 o clock I heard the front door open, I was upstairs in the Knights of Columbus meeting room, it’s the warmest room and looked down stairs to see a man.  I wanted to introduce myself but also didn’t want to scare him.  I finally said hello, his name was Robert and he was with the Knights of Columbus, so I had to hurriedly gather my gear and bring it downstairs.  He was very friendly and wished me good luck as he left after the meeting.  Their knights of Columbus has 80 members, I couldn’t believe it.

3-22-13

I'm posting this at the coolest little coffee shop, "Benas in the Belfry."  It's in an old church.  I have to post in a hurry and today was another amazing day so I'll describe all of today in my next post.  I've also changed to putting the actual dates after a positive suggestion, so thank you Betty for that.  And sorry no pics I got my new camera today and its charging up.

Day 18

They made me my own road sign.  (Don't worry park rangers I did it in  Microsoft paint.)

After leaving the library in Poolesville I thought it would be a uneventful and long walk to the next campsite.  I couldn't be more wrong.  I left the library a little later than I had planned and realized I would be racing the dark. It was raining pretty good so I had my rain gear on and set off.  About a mile out of town a car passed me slowly, I get a lot of gawkers as I mosey along, it than turned around and stopped on the other side of the road.  I was given a common question, "Do you have a baby in there?"  And I explained how I was walking across the U.S.  Her name was Laurie and was with her son.  She was a Catholic and was very excited to here about my journey.  The conversation technically was costing me daylight but charity was calling me toward this wonderful conversation so I didn't mind at all.  I gave her my blog and email and set off down the road.  Next I was almost taken out by a VW Bug.  %#%^# Germans.  But I'm not going to let them stop me from my walk.  Was it over when the German's bombed Pearl Harbor?  No.  Every day you walk along roads you nearly get hit.

Just about sundown I saw a SUV approaching over the hill towards me.  All of a sudden I heard what sounded like a gun shot.  After the loud bang the SUV came to a crawl and stopped next to me.  It was a young man about my age and he asked if I had seen it.  I said no, it was raining and I had rain drops all over my glasses.  (the hood to my rain coat is way to big and I can't use my umbrella since I need both hands on my cart.)  He told me it was a deer and asked if it was bad.  I was looking at the front and he said, "no, it's the side."  Upon examination I told him it took off the trim on his door.  I told him I would walk ahead and look for it.  About 30 yards up the road I saw the deer and the piece of trim.  In the meantime he backed up to the area.  (I was so happy the deer was dead, or at least looked dead, I love animals and wouldn't know what to do.  I would want to put it out of its misery but wouldn't know how.  I know it's nature but still I would rather be ignorant of it I guess).  So, he got out and got the piece of trim and I told him and his friend that I thought they were shooting at me, which made his friend burst into laughter.  With a farewell we went our separate ways.

By this time it was pitch black and I had about another 2 miles to the campsite.  I got out my trusty mag lite and continued on down the road.  As I got on the tow path it was so dark you literally could barely see your hand in front of your face.  But I continued along.

"My very nothingness supports me, for I know that God has drawn His greatest works out of nothing."  Henri Marie Boudon.

About a mile from the campsite I stopped and turned off my flashlight.  I stood there in the complete darkness and let the rain fall down upon me.  Above me the sky was overcast so there was no moon, only the dark silhouette of the trees loomed above me, like a canopy.  And at this moment I thought of our Lord upon the Crucifix, drawing all of creation to Him, for it is His.  So I in turn followed suit.  I thrust all of creation away from me, and I drew unto me all that is mine, and I was left there with nothing.  I stood before the Cross; cold, wet, shivering and gave all of myself to Him.  I cannot and will not describe that most precious moment, even thought it was only a instant, for it was a great grace and my secret.  But I will tell you that I learned to glory in my nothingness, for this weakness is my greatest strength.  All I have has been given to me as a gift.  Those who know me may say your not nothing; your intelligent, your kind, your handsome (I tell myself this).  But even if these are true, (which I'm not sure about the others except the handsomeness) they were still given to me.  For without them, without Him I am nothing.  And one day, if I cling to the Cross and never let go, He will make me into something.

After that wonderful moment I couldn't wait to get my campsite.  I wish I could say it was so I could go into some deep contemplation, but it was actually to eat the Apple Jacks I bought in town.  I really couldn't wait.  So I reached the campsite about quarter to nine and set up camp.  It was a cold wet night but I slept good, for my heavenly Mother rocked me to sleep.

Day 19

I walked from the camp site to the town of Point of Rocks where I am now writing this in the town library.

I park where I want, when I want.  Right after I took this photo I heard a car and quickly moved along, it could have been a park ranger, I'm all talk.

Me on the Monocacy Aquaduct

In 1992, a training course was built in the power plant's warm water discharge spillway for the US Olympic Kayak Team.  You can see the rocks, water shot out from the sides simulating rapids.

Day 15-18

"Always be serene and calm.  The river reflects the sky only when it is calm."  Taken from the book "He and I."

Is your soul like this at this moment?

Or, is it like this?

If it is like the Great Falls above, which mine is often, we must change it.  Often I have gotten into the attitude because I got a flat tire, "my day was ruined."  What an idiot I was.  My day was ruined?  Why because I had to do something that the great king, being me, didn't want to do?  How can I reflect the image of our Lord on those I meet if I let my soul and agitations take the better of me.  Like a man with a wild dog on a leash I let my emotions pull me this way and that, all the while I'm just trying to hold onto control; to no avail. I must learn that that flat tire was a grace.  Our Lord is not good, He is Goodness.  Everything, and I mean everything that happens in my life is for my greater good, though I may not see it at the time.  I know on this journey I will face hardships and crosses.  But our Lord will always be there, and will always take the heavier side.  Who do you think had the harder portion to carry during the Passion?  Our Lord beaten and almost broken, or Simon in full health?  I will always be in the place of Simon, no matter how down trodden I may feel.  So in the greatest of sufferings there is that hope.  I'm never alone.


Day 16

I woke up and headed back to the first campsite I was at.  It was only a 4.5 mile hike which to me now is a quick jog around the block.  Upon reaching the site there was one other tent there, a scout leader for a troop from Richmond Virginia.  They were hiking 12 miles to the site and would be there in a couple of hours.  After setting up my tent I decided to give my self a sponge bath in my tent.  (Sorry for the mental picture).  It was the first "shower" since I left the monastery.  I know, its gross but its been cold and well I don't really care what you think.  So as I take my sponge bath two things occur to me.  1.)  this sucks  2.)  I need a nurse.  So in regards to number one I'm going to order a solar shower.  If you don't know what one of those are, they look like IV bags and you hang them from a tree and you can get a 5-7 minute shower.  They're called solar because the bags are black and you leave them out in the sun to warm up for a hot shower.  Now in regards to #2, there is a new job opening.  I know Pete that there was a job opening to be my personal photographer, that is now closed.  Now I have open for a traveling nurse, and no Pete you cannot apply.

Even though the weather called for rain it was beautiful out.  So i did my laundry and than of course the rain came so had to bring my laundry into the tent still soaking wet.  Later in the evening I went over to the boy scouts  (they had all arrived and set up camp) and told the troop leaders to not quiet the kids down for my sake.  Let kids be kids and have fun.  But they told me they were going to actually use me as an excuse to get them to bed early and I told them that would be fine.

Day 17

Woke up and talked with the scout leaders some more.  Was able to score to pieces of sausage and warm up next to there fire which was awesome.  I had to tear myself away.  One of the leaders I met the night before asked my name again and explained he was going to give a talk to the boys and I was welcome to stay.  He told them how proud he was for making the 12 mile hike, (which is really good for boys ranging from ages 11-16, they had full packs not pushing a shopping cart like me).  He asked them what they learned from the experience and told them one of the best parts of adventuring was the people you meet.  They met an ex eagle scout who was hiking 50 miles today and than pointing to me (my cameo) explained I was walking across the U.S. and that these kind of ventures take focus (he doesn't know me that well) and were the type of goals they needed to strive for.  After the speech they began packing up as well as myself.  I talked with the scout leader Mark some more.  He gave me the rest of his food and upon hearing how excited I was to go through the Paw Paw tunnel (a tunnel in the trail that was at its time a great marvel) he explained it was closed.  He pulled out his C and O handbook and explained that there is an old goat path up a mountain.  Now that doesn't sound to exciting.  So Im going to get off the trail and walk around the mountain.  He scanned me the map today and sent it to my email, so thank you Mark.

Heading out I passed two volunteer park rangers, Bud and his wife.  They were super friendly.  They explained to me that the night with all the helicopters was because I slept right under the military flight path.  Makes sense.  And the low flying helicopter?  Well that was the park rangers, someone probably called on me.  Now the only person who could have called was that biker (grrrr.  they are a gang and need to be stopped.)  But as I reflected on that night, as I talked with him the conversation ended quite abruptly   He asked if I was buddhist which always happens when you say monk or monastery  and I said no Catholic and pulled out my crucifix pendant which was just under my fleece.  He got a very strange look on his face and took off down the path.  Conversation done.  And the next thing I know I'm being swooped over by a helicopter   Now I'm not mad at him.  He may have not even called.  But as I mentioned in the beginning, everything is for our own good, even when we our hurt our Lord is so wonderful and powerful he alone can make good come from bad.  Our "enemies" can be our greatest friends.  It is why JESUS called Judas friend and called Peter Satan.  Without Judas there would have been no Passion, no Resurrection, no opening of heaven.  And Joseph in the Old Testament.  After his brothers were going to leave him for dead and than sold him off to slavery.  Well, it turned out pretty good for him in the end, even though at the time it may not have seemed so.  And he welcomed his brothers with open arms, for without them he wouldn't have been where he was.  And what did i get?  a personal flyby checking up on me.  Not to shabby.

Day 18

Woke up today with snow on the ground.  My cell phone was so cold that the battery wouldn't work.  I had to be like a mother hen and keep it close to my body till it warmed up so I could use it.  (Had to call the pizza delivery guy, I'm not going out of my tent it's freezing).  I also had to be mother hen with my clothes I washed the day earlier.  It's so cold they won't dry and with snow and possible rain I can't hang them outside to dry.  Heading to Poolesville again to charge up equipment and send off this blog.


Some pictures

I slept on a bone, I really need to start checking where I lay my tent down better.  the night of the helicopter was a huge stick, more like a tree trunk.

Waking up today got a wonderful treat.

This was a wonderful treat.  As I walked I thought to myself how beautiful this trail must be in the spring.  Not that it isn't beautiful now but it is kind of dreary.  So our Lord decided to take his brush and paint it for me.  So I'll trade the cold for this beautiful sight anytime.

On my way to town today, Day 18