So last weekend the air conditioning went out in the church. Of course it was the hottest week of the year. This always seems to happen on the weekend during the hottest week of the year. So we had a plan. We were not only going to install new air conditioning (man is that expensive), we would also fix the old one so that if it EVER went down again, we would have a back up.
We were only waiting for a part to arrive and all would be well. Regular calls to the trucking company informed us that everything was RIGHT ON SCHEDULE and that by Friday, worshipers would be able to return to their pews in the comfort of artificially chilled air.
Then, at the last possible moment, the company said, "Did we say on time? We meant to say that it would late." Of course that got my liturgical underwear in a bind and so told John our facilities manager to order emergency air conditioning in the form of a truck. They came and pumped cool air into the church all weekend for less that the amount we lost in the collection the previous weekend because people went elsewhere to avoid the stifling church.
I didn't get to enjoy the free holy sauna the previous week. "Sweating with the saints!" I was in Steubenville in the air conditioned recreation center having Mass with hundreds of youth. But I do sympathize with those, particularly those with breathing difficulties and other ailments, who need the cooled air. I get that those extreme temperatures can be dangerous as well as uncomfortable.
7 comments:
Don't forget that going to confession gave a whole new meaning to being in the hot seat.
Father,
Thanks for being aware of the problem that high temperatures cause, especially for those over 65.
New research shows that we cool our bodies thought dilation of blood vessels near the skin as the heart pumps blood to the skin.
The volume of blood being pumped can put an enormous strain on the heart of older individuals, putting them at risk of a heart attack.
Air conditioning is no doubt why people are living so much longer now.
Being pregnant and sitting somewhere with stifling heat can be pretty bad, too. Fortunately our parish hasn't had any issues with the A/C going out this summer, but we have found that going to a Mass on a Saturday night is a good way to make me feel like I'm going to die. For some reason our church seems to turn the a/c to freezing for daily Mass and warm summer day for weekend Masses.
I think Father understands and has empathy for the elderly, the ill, the pregnant, and the very young who probably found reasonably chilly air at St. Hilary last week. He still provides a much needed reminder that sometimes we too must carry Christ's cross. Other times, we must be uncomfortably hot for an hour a week.
Thanks Anthony. Yes.
Believe me, NOBODY thinks more of the inventor of AC than me. He should be canonized. But sometimes being without it reminds us how very privileged and blessed we are.
While I empathize with those who have genuine health issues, for the great majority it's just a comfort thing. None of the churches/chapels we attend have AC, so I just think like Fr.'s first cartoon- it was probably pretty 'uncomfortable' on the Cross. And I'm only sweating water...
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