Daily Thoughts and a Blessing - 08/11/2014

Daily Thoughts and a Blessing: 08/11/2014

Good morning everyone and Monday blessings to all! I hope you had a wonderful Sunday wherever you are at home or on the road like me. Most of you are fast asleep at this time but my little group and I are getting ready to begin another new day in France.

We had a delightful Sunday which centered around our visit to the Cathedral Notre Dame De Chartres. It is a magnificent church and the stained glass is beautiful. We arrive there around 11 am and had about an hour to wander around the Cathedral before we made our way down stairs to the crypt which is the oldest part of the church to a little chapel down there where we celebrated Sunday mass. It was a wonderful celebration and I felt blessed to celebrate in a Cathedral with such a rich history.

After mass we had about an hour and a half to wander around the town and grab some lunch. I found a nice little place and had some French Onion soup, a salad and a refreshing glass of white wine! I sat and people watched which made it a very nice lunch break.

I have stay that while I was in the Cathedral wandering around I paused and lit a candle for all of you. I offered a prayer that God would continue to bless all of you and I thanked God for your presence in my life even if the only place we have met is on Facebook! So please know you where remember in prayer with a lighted candle yesterday at the great Cathedral in Chartres, France!

After our stop in Chartres we made our way northwest to the town of St. Malo which is right on the coast. It is a beautiful walled city and after dinner last night some of us made our way down to the center of town. We just missed the sunset but the sky and ocean were still magnificent!  We wandered for a little while in the old walled city which was alive with people enjoying the late evening. When we arrive at the beach it was just about 10 pm yet still light.

I pause for a little while as I have been at almost every place wondering if my father had passed through this town. Had he stood along this beach and looked out at the ocean thinking of home. Had he pause and offered a prayer for his safe journey and for his young wife whom he longed to return too. The spirit of my father has been very strong throughout my journey!

Well, today we are off early to Mont Saint Michel, then on to Bayeux to see the famous Bayeux Tapestry and finally to Omaha Beach and the American World Ware II Cemetery there. It will be a full day. To get to the monastery at Mount St. Michel you have to climb about 200 steps so with the group we will need to take it slow. The cemetery should be a very moving experience as it is right on the beach. Again I will wonder whether my father passed by these places too! Our journey will end today in Caen where we will spend the night.

Yes it will be a busy day but I am hoping for a wonderful one as I have each morning of our journey and I have not been disappointed yet!

Daily Blessing: I hope your day will start well in a number of hours. For some of you it will be a Monday after a week or so of vacation, for others it will be the beginning of a new work week and for others it might be just new day of vacation. Whatever this Monday is for you may it be blessed with the richness of God's presence in your life. May God touch with his grace of faith, hope, love and joy today. May your day be blessed with the gift of faith filled people, wonderful experience, safe travel and a productive day! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul