Our Lord's question of exasperation to Peter, James and John took on new meaning today in the adoration chapel. What, if anything should be done about people who fall asleep and snore out loud on a repeated basis?
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Sadly, I urge you use compassion to these people.
ReplyDeleteI went to the church of my youth, perhaps the greatest church in the diocese. I looked at the life-sized Stations Of The cross, and noticed the chips of paint, falling from the ceiling...lots.
The donation boxes for various causes are locked solid. There is a gift shop (closed when I was there, but NEVER would have been allowed under priests I served as altar boy reciting Latin long ago.
Wanna light a candle? The box for money is locked most fashionably and secure. But if you lean in too far, alarms sound off, of an intruder and a sign on the kneeling rail is typed to tell you this.
The front and back doors are always locked except for announced Masses, funerals, etc. This never once occurred in my youth and anyone could enter any door at any time 24/7.
My huge basilica-like church is now a two-fer, joined with another parish, with a single bulletin, priest, and far fewer Masses. I recall 6,7,8,9,10,11,and 12 Noon masses always standing room only every Sunday.
Go now, and on any given Sunday, your choice is ONE, because the priest has two churches.
Seats are no problem. Probably 80 to 90 % are empty, and it doesn't get much better for Christmas and Easter.
It is a poor section of town, but somehow, Irish immigrants with the clothes on their back, and no potatoes, built a masterpiece 1n 1880, that leaves all in awe as they look at massive altars (5) and stained class to die for.
It is cold here in winter. Folks are locked outside unless there is a scheduled activity.
Homelessness abound and our poverty rate exceeds
25% here. It is a ghost town.
The snoring folks have likely stood in the chill all night, shuffling to stay alive. This is their moment for a tad of heat, nothing to eat. They come in then, because they can; othertimes, church of Jesus is closed to the least among us.
I urge you to let them be and have a moment of their peace. The poor will always be among us, said Christ. But I never heard Him say His church doors would be closed to them far more often than open.
the beginning..........
the rest of the story..........
ReplyDeleteTake the cadence of a snore nearby you, and offer this noise as a praise song from a child of God (he who snores), to the Creator. Soon, the noise you hear will be a pleasing melody, in cadence with a breathing soul, holding the Holy Spirit.
The snore people are jars of clay, but also little temples of God, where the Church universal resides.
I would hazard a guess that few are atheists, as they too have homeless headquarters of their own, and know they would be among the first to be tossed from the presence of Christ, by His followers.
And as you praise in cadence to the snore music provided, remember to ask the blessings of God to surround that person...and you are most likely their only hope for an intercessory prayer on their behalf. Love them deeply.
And, for what it is worth, I have been able to hear a snore all my laugh (especially dad, who could remove plaster from walls with his vibrations of noise). But since I lost my hearing, I hear no snores at all, and would be grateful to do so.
An old M.A.S.H TV series show, had Hawkeye Pierce go blind in an episode, from a nearby bomb blast. The medical folks did their best, wrapped his eyes, and hoped he would see when the bandages came off.
The rains of Korea poured relentlessly outside his tent, but he saw none. I remember him saying as he laid on a tent bed, eyes bandaged shut:
"When I could see, I never realized that the sound of a hard rain hitting the ground and puddles is the same sound as bacon frying".
His sight returned at the end of 30 minutes as the writer's determined.
My hearing has not.
But anyone who has a loss of any kind, deeply appreciates what they used to have, and never noticed they had it when they did.
It came into focus after the loss.
So too with the homeless, the snorers, the poor.
They were once little babies and held by a mom for the first time. Somewhere from that first moment of being cherished, they have become untouchables and unwanted, and shunned.
May a symphony of snores enter the chapel of God.
I think it pleases Him, that the least among us at least show up to his house.
And, if you have a dollar or two, and can spare it, surprise this soul as you pass by, and set it gently in an envelope on his lap (otherwise someone will steal from the poor).
Imagine waking up in the house of God, and being among those who leave with more than they came in with.
That would include the compassionate Samaritan in a Philly chapel, expressing Brotherly Love, in the city where it is best known.
A very beautiful comment and points well taken. I know one of the "snorers". I think he may be caring for a sick family member at home. Perhaps he is up all night and the little cat nap in the chapel is about all the sleep he can get. I don't know the other person. I'm very sensitive to any kind of noise. Maybe that is why God put you in my path, because I dare to complain about what I can hear when you can hear nothing at all. I did my best to offer it up. Any kind of penance or little torture joined to vocal or mental prayer does not go to waste.
ReplyDeleteAlso Keystone, the story of the church of your childhood is sadly familiar. A few years ago thieves actually made off with the poor box in our parish. Now it's welded to the floor. Our church is physically in a good state of repair and attendance, while it could be better, is not as bad as it is in some places. At least it's still open, though I wonder at one point the Archdiocese will close my parishes in my community. None of them are filled to the brim on Sundays and with a dwindling number of priests, I wonder how long it will be before we see more closures. Sad
ReplyDeleteI started going to a local Adoration Chapel about 2 years ago. I too noticed that there were people snoring. At first I thought it was offending God that they would fall asleep. This was when I was just learning about Adoration. As I fell in love with Adoration I began to notice that I too would start nodding off while trying hard to stay focused on prayer. This disturbed me. I thought maybe I need to go at a time when I know I am wide awake and not tired. So one morning I did just that. 10 minutes into Adoration I actually fell asleep! I was mortified! I said to Jesus, "Lord I don't understand what is happening to me. You know why I am here, I just want to be with YOU! Please help me to understand this." Well, I went home that afternoon just to have my dog jump all over me and try to lick me. I quickly snapped at him and he crouched down and looked sad. I felt bad and lifted him up and laid him in my arms. I said to him, "I'm sorry, I know you just want my love and attention!" I then caressed his face and his eyes rolled back and he went limp as if falling asleep. It hit me at that moment, Jesus was telling me that He was doing the same to me in the Chapel and I too could not resist His love and attention! How beautiful is that??
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