I often mention that part of the Rule for Lay Dominicans is to pray morning and evening prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. Another part of the Rule is that we are to attend daily Mass as often as possible. We are also to pray the Rosary. I pray the Rosary and the Liturgy of the Hours daily, but I haven’t been able to get into going to Mass every day. My parish has a Mass at 6:30 on Monday, Thursday and Friday, but I can’t get myself up and out of the house in time. The Cathedral (behind my office building) has Mass at 7:30 and 12:05, but I start work at 7:30 and I have lunch (which is a team event) at 11:30. I decided to try going to a nearby parish for 7:00 Mass this morning. Mass was lovely, but I was late to work. So much for that idea.
I’m craving a big piece of chocolate cake since Wednesday. Did I mention I gave up sweets for Lent? I try to use each craving as a reminder to pray. I think I’m starting to understand the Bible’s command to “pray without ceasing.”
I need to find time to write. I’m really not much of a writer, but lately, I have felt like I had a lot to say, but I can’t find the time.
Not being able to find time to do things always makes me think of single parents. How do they get things done? I found as a single person, it was very difficult to get any errands done, because when the bank, post office, and doctor’s office were open, I was at work. If you are working full-time and taking care of precious little ones, how do you do it? And what if your child gets sick? St. Helena, pray for single parents!
We have new hymnals at our parish, the St. Michael Hymnal. Our organist/choir director has decided that we, as a choir, should learn every hymn in the hymnal, as well as every Mass setting. This has made for some interesting practice evenings. We go through the music planned for the coming Sunday’s Mass, then we practice anything new for the next three or four weeks. Then we sit down and start going through the hymns in the hymnal. I think he plays them all a bit too fast, but last night we did sing every hymn that we didn’t already know that was designated for Lent.
It was 68 degrees out on Wednesday! That’s quite warm for the last day of February in Central Ohio. It was also sunny and a bit breezy. What a beautiful day. Too bad it has been colder since then, and they are predicting snow for this weekend. Plus, today it is pouring!
I’ve been so busy today! I wanted to publish this by noon, I finished six quick takes by ten, and now I’m about to post at two… hmmm…
Have a great weekend!
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Knowledge Hungry 
That’s an excellent idea to pray every time we are craving something we are fasting from for Lent! A lot better than my typical woe-is-me grumble.
I’m so glad you brought up single parents. I don’t know how they do it, either. I wish there were more ministries within the Church for helping single parents.
That’s a lot of hymns to practice! What a whirlwind!
Oh, 68 sounds lovely! I wish that weather would visit us here in central PA. 🙂
“Visit” is the operative word. Today it was low fifties, windy and rainy with tornado warnings!
I always wonder the same thing about single parents… how they do it financially AND emotionally! I never even thought of offering up prayers for them, though. Awesome idea :).
I didn’t even think so much about how they do it emotionally… They definitely need our prayers!
I saw on another blog in this week’s Quick Takes that you are a returned Peace Corps volunteer. That is so incredibly cool!
Yes. It is pretty cool, isn’t it. It was an awesome experience. I’ll have to write about it sometime.
After days of rain, we finally had sunshine on Sunday. I’m ready for Spring.
I like your idea to pray whenever you crave something you gave up. I’ll have to try and do that.
I *try* to pray when I crave something I gave up… I don’t always do it, but I do think it’s a good idea.