A beautiful grotto, featuring a statue of Mary still stood. We got out of the car. "Well, why not have a little service ourselves?" I suggested. "Great idea," they said. So, we had our own little Mass right there. Turned out they were Australians and the wife knew her catechism cold. She led us in a decade of the rosary and a few other prayers I, as a convert, did not know. B, of course, knew the whole thing in Latin. He is the only person I know who actually speaks Latin. Can you believe that?!
What a beautiful moment, holding our own Mass with complete strangers who quickly became kindred spirits. Jesus was definitely present. Turns out they were there to watch their son do iron man, as we were to watch son-in-law Colin. Also turns out both finished within three minutes of each other. And hadn't the husband, John, played on the Australian national rugby team...another family sport. We intend to keep in touch. Another man joined us to pray and we asked him to take a picture, here is it:
Thanks to John and Margaret Weber for helping us say Mass in Kona!
Glorioius story. In more ways than one. Too bad there are not more people of deep faith.
ReplyDeleteDid you see that we now have a North American Indian Saint. The Vatican was all aglow yesterday. I too speak Latin and miss the mass
not being in Latin. I remember when I was 18 bicycling all through Europe - every country the Mass the same and you felt part of it .
Hugs, B.
Were it still in Latin, I, who almost failed it in high school, would not be very enthusiastic! Never "got" Latin.
ReplyDeleteOne other anecdote about Margaret and John is that they were high school sweethearts. "He dropped me," she said, "and married someone else." Turned out his wife died and he sought her out again. "This time I'm not letting her get away," he said. Too adorable!
People often go back to first loves when they lose a spouse in later years. Those loves are so strong and always in the back of your mind, don't you agree?