Thursday, February 15, 2007

A Salute to the Diehards

These last few days of snow and ice have brought out a group of people that don't get the recognition they deserve.

No, I'm not talking about the state, county, and municipal employees who plow the snow out of the way (though they deserve some credit - but not a lot because they do get paid to do this).

I'm talking about that small but dedicated crowd that comes to daily Mass in thousands of parishes around the country, no matter what the weather is like outside. Whether it is raining cats and dogs or (more recently) a mix of snow and ice, it seems like nothing can keep them away from their participation in the Sacred Mysteries. No matter what it's doing outside, when the bell rings for Mass, they can usually be found inside.

How many of them get to church before we Priests do? To do that, how many of them had to get up earlier than we did, clear their cars of snow while the engine warms up, and make an uneasy drive?

So here's to you, dedicated diehard Mass-goers! You remind us Priests what a privilege it is to do what we do (and sometimes take for granted).

Now if I could just get you to sit up front...

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