Photo by Craig Adderley on Pexels.com
" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/stephanieverni.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/pexels-photo-1652302.jpeg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/stephanieverni.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/pexels-photo-1652302.jpeg?fit=960%2C960&ssl=1" src="https://i0.wp.com/stephanieverni.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/pexels-photo-1652302.jpeg?resize=960%2C960&ssl=1" alt="selective focus photography of lighted candles on table" class="wp-image-25097" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/stephanieverni.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/pexels-photo-1652302.jpeg?w=1300&ssl=1 1300w, https://i0.wp.com/stephanieverni.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/pexels-photo-1652302.jpeg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/stephanieverni.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/pexels-photo-1652302.jpeg?resize=1024%2C1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/stephanieverni.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/pexels-photo-1652302.jpeg?resize=190%2C190&ssl=1 190w, https://i0.wp.com/stephanieverni.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/pexels-photo-1652302.jpeg?resize=768%2C768&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/stephanieverni.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/pexels-photo-1652302.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/stephanieverni.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/pexels-photo-1652302.jpeg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/stephanieverni.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/pexels-photo-1652302.jpeg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/stephanieverni.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/pexels-photo-1652302.jpeg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/stephanieverni.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/pexels-photo-1652302.jpeg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/stephanieverni.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/pexels-photo-1652302.jpeg?resize=1140%2C1140&ssl=1 1140w, https://i0.wp.com/stephanieverni.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/pexels-photo-1652302.jpeg?resize=75%2C75&ssl=1 75w, https://i0.wp.com/stephanieverni.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/pexels-photo-1652302.jpeg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />I didn’t take a photo in the church, but this was the feeling.This February weather has certainly kept us all on our toes. Last night, my husband and I went to mass as the winds began to pick up after a heavy downpour of rain. The wind was whipping, and as we made our way into mass, people were holding on to their hats.
The priest for our 5:15 p.m. service, Father Erik, warned us that the lights had been flickering in the building we are currently using as our church, while our actual church is under renovation. Situated in the gym on the campus of our school, yet turned into a temporary holy place of worship, the lights flickered. Father Erik instructed us that should the lights go out, he would continue to go on and finish the mass. It’s a good thing he prepared us.
About three-quarters of the way through his beautiful homily, the lights went out. We were sitting in the dark, the light of the candles on the altar and the bit of light that was visible through the front windows our only sources of light.
As Father continued to receive the gifts and then bless the Eucharist, sitting there in the dark, the candles glowing, I became moved to tears. Actual tears. I was instantly transported to what it must have been like in Jesus’s time as He taught and built relationships in candlelight…as Jesus said the words of the Last Supper among glowing candles. I pictured the scene from The Chosen at Matthew’s house when Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners and brought them hope. It felt the same to me last night in that candlelit church. Ironically, the message of the homily was to “hang on to hope.” It was moving.
And so, with our beautiful team of musicians, one on guitar, one on piano, the songs at the end were sung a cappella, which again, made it one of the most memorable masses I’ve ever attended. I won’t soon forget that moment. My husband said the same.
Wouldn’t it be beautiful to attend candlelit masses more often? The Holy Spirit was certainly working for our good last night.
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About the author:
STEPHANIE VERNI is the author of THE ONES CLOSEST TO YOU, THE LETTERS IN THE BOOKS; FROM HUMBUG TO HUMBLE: THE TRANSFORMATION OF EBENEZER SCROOGE; BENEATH THE MIMOSA TREE; INN SIGNIFICANT; LITTLE MILESTONES; THE POSTCARD; and ANNA IN TUSCANY. She is also a co-author of the textbook, EVENT PLANNING & MANAGEMENT: COMMUNICATING THEORY & PRACTICE. Currently an adjunct professor at Stevenson University Online, she instructs communication courses for undergraduate and graduate students. She and her husband reside in Severna Park, Maryland, have two children, and a little boat that makes them immensely happy.
