The Visitation

The church never ceases to surprise me.

I went to St. Michael's Abbey tonight expecting to spend some time with Jesus in the Eucharist. Instead, I spent time with the late Father Clement Adalbert Rudney, O.Praem.

I had no idea how this was going to work because usually, at 8:00 P.M., Compline and Eucharistic Adoration begins. Still being relatively new to the church I wondered if Adoration would still take place. It didn't.

It was a blessing to be there, however, because I witnessed a beautiful thing:

Father Hubert Szanto is getting up there in years. He needs a walker and an assistant to get around and his steps are slow and steady. I watched as he made his way up to the casket to pray over Father Clement. Slow and steady Father Szanto made his way around the altar up to the kneeler.

He raised his arm over Father Clement to bless him. Then Father Szanto took his hand and placed it over his own heart and prayed. After his prayer, he finnagled his way around the kneeler to touch Father Clement on the face. The entire scene was such a wonderful, beautiful act of brotherly, familial love. I thanked God over and over that I was there to witness this show of sweet grace.

I spent about an hour-and-a-half in the sanctuary. I prayed the rosary, read the beginning chapters of Luke and decided to browse various sections of the Catechism on death, dying and heaven.

Holy Hour was not what I had expected and I am thankful for this new experience.

For another take, see my other blog.