I went to church today. It’s funny how the need to go to a place of peace and comfort and prayer becomes overwhelming when tragedy strikes.  To be in a place where everyone is together for the same purpose – prayer, a belief that there is still a higher purpose – is all I could think about yesterday, when the reality of what happened started to sink in.  We went to what may be our new parish in San Clemente, Our Lady of Fatima, which also seemed so appropriate because it was Our Lady of Fatima who appeared to three children in Portugal. Whether you want to believe that or not, or the Miracle of the Dancing Sun, it is still just a nice thing to think about a lovely woman greeting little children.

What I heard at Mass today was comforting.  “Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The Lord, your God, is in your midst.” Zep. 3: 14-18   and  “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:4-7  Here again, believe or don’t believe, I don’t really care, but really it’s no different than any ancient “non-religious” ideas: be at peace, it’s all beyond our human understanding, don’t even try.  Just be at peace.

It was what I SAW at Mass today that gave me the most comfort.  It was 9 a.m. Mass, typically a family Mass at most parishes.  So there were lots of children.  Everywhere I looked I saw parents with their arms around their elementary school children.  This is not so unusual to see especially during homilies.  But today was different in one great respect: usually it is mothers who are doing the cuddling.  Today it was fathers.  Fathers with their arms around their little boys.  Fathers stroking the hair of their children.  Fathers whispering with smiles to their daughters. Fathers letting their children doze on their laps. Throughout the Mass.  Fathers with their heads deep in their hands during Communion.  It was something to see and it was noticeable.

So I went to Mass.  Mission accomplished.  I will go now and sing the second choral concert of the season.  Gloria in excelsis Deo!