Irish Adventures

Did I mention that I threw my back out last Monday? It has gotten progressively better. Sitting at a computer all week writing papers was not the best thing for it. I got up every hour to walk and to exercise it.

This Hotel, really just a guest house, does not have an elevator. Since I am packed for eight weeks of travel, my one suitcase is pretty heavy. There was no help at the hotel, and the diminutive girl behind the counter was a bit smaller than my bag. The experience of watching me haul that thing up four floors in a tiny narrow staircase would have made great comedy if anyone was watching. It should be fun seeing me try to get it down to street level in the morning. I may just toss it out the window.

It took an act of congress, but I got a few extra pillows so I could support my back. TSA had locked my suitcase so it took another intervention to find scissors to open the bag.

The five hour nap followed by a shower have rejuvenated me and I am set for a night of traditional Irish music. I have fond memories of Gogerty's from 1999 and it is only two short blocks from the guest house. My flight to Rome is tomorrow afternoon.

Actually, today would have been an outstanding day to be in Rome. My fondest memories of this morning's mass was the entrance antiphon. I do not remember the exact words, but it went something like this: "They drank the cup of the Lord and became the friends of God." Ironically, the cup was not offered to the assembled faithful. Although I did recieve the body and blood of Christ, the fullest sign was not present.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 12:09 PM link

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Greetings from Ireland

I stopped into this little internet cafe after Mass. It is only 2.50 euro per hour. I arrived in Dublin about 8:30am and took the bus to the hotel. Apparently I could not check in until afternoon. I had been hoping for a nap after finding a church. It is not quite 11:00am yet and I have no where to lay my head.

I asked the girl at the desk where I might find a Mass. She said "what is a mass?" She said there were churches in the neighborhood but everything is closed on Sunday so they probably would not have Mass. I went outside and hailed a taxi who took me to the pro-Cathedral. It was a good thing I took the taxi. It got me there right as Mass was beginning at 10:00am.

The mass, no servers, the priest did all the readings. Graciously he chanted the psalms. He led us in the sung Eucharistic Acclamations. It wasn't terrible. It was a decent homily, He spoke of Peter and Paul but never mentioned the name of Jesus. Mass was over at 10:30am. I plan to hang out, find a pub and get some breakfast, and when 2:00pm come go over to the hotel and take a nap.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 4:54 AM link

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