God give me strength...

Every now and again in the life of a priest - as with everyone else - there come various days that you simply dread, not because anything significantly difficult will occor, but simply because it will take every once of energy - and then some - to make it through the day. Today is one such day.

The day began with Mass at 6:30 a.m. followed by an expected request for the Sacrament of Penance, which is, of course, always a good way to begin the day. Actually, that's two days in a row now that that has happened...I hope it keeps up.

The rest of the day - barring any other unforeseen happenings - looks as follows:

10:08 a.m. - Class with my sophomores, the topic of which is yet to be determined.

11:00 a.m. - Class with my juniors, continuing our discussions on Baptism

12:00 p.m. - Lunch

1:00 p.m. - Meeting with a man to discuss the possibility of electrifying our bells (we have three real bells in the tower named Mary, Gabriel and Aloysius)

2:00 p.m. - Meeting with a parishioner

4:00 p.m. - Meeting with a couple for a wedding

5:30 p.m. - Music boosters association fish fry

7:00 p.m. - Stations of the Cross followed by Benediction

8:30 p.m. - Confessions for a De Colores retreat twenty minutes away from the parish

Each of these appointments is a joy in and of themselves, but all taken together will tax me greatly, both physically and spiritually.

I'm particularly intrigued about the bells. Being rather frightened of heights, I have not been in the bell tower, although I very much want to climb up there today to have a look around. I very well might... And if I don't I'll send a camera up with whoever climbs the fifty-feet vertical ladder.

I humbly ask your prayers for continued energy and stamina...