“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
We thought we had mixed up the times when we arrived at St. Franziskus, our new parish church. The car park was half empty, and there was almost nobody outside the
St. Franziskus in Hamburg-Barmbek
doors. Yet, it was just three minutes to 11, three minutes to the start of Christmas mass. Turned out we had arrived at the right time, just that German, or Hamburg, Christmas mass is different. Hamburg is mainly protestant and catholics are in a minority here which might explain, at least partially, that there were just about 40 people looking lost in a big, beautiful church, with the most beautiful organ with, literally, all whistles and bells you could imagine. And they really showed it off. The faithful gathered for mass were from all corners of the world, with some Germans here and there. The priest was Polish. And together, we sang 15th century German religious songs, as well as more recent, 19th century traditional Christmas songs. The kids were asking whether I was sure this was a catholic church, with LOADS of singing and organ playing, and a service taking more than an hour. We followed the German mass in the official mass books which had all the texts in German and, in parallel, in Latin – just in case. It was nice to be at mass, but it was, definitely, different.
Pádraig this morning had a guided self-wash, or something like this:) As there was a nurse this morning, with only two patients to look after, she decided to take time to help him to wash himself. She took his hands and guided them. While he still has no, or very little, movement in his arms and hands, and could never have done this himself – the sense of touch and movement, and knowing what he was doing, must have been so positive and new, after so many months. Doing this with Pádraig takes skill, care and time – and the believe that is does endless good to him.
The doctors here had midnight calls with thorax specialists in the Universitätskrankenhaus Eppendorf (UKE), just ten minutes from here, to discuss the CT they had done with the contrast agent. They feel that he needs an operation that would take out bullae, air-filled cavities within the lung tissue, that allow air from the lungs to enter the thoracic cavity, leading to the lung to collapse. It’s all a bit new and we still need to find out more, tomorrow from an Oberärtzin, and then from the thorax surgeons in the UKE. This procedure should allow them to avoid the pleurodesis they had been talking about before. The UKE is one of Germany’s leading hospitals which is the good news. The bad news is that he would have to travel again, though by land in an ambulance and only for 10-15 minutes. The current plan is to bring him to the UKE on the 29th and operate on the 30th. He would stay there for about a week – but all subject to confirmation.
Imagine – all this happening between Christmas Eve and Christmas day…
One of Udo’s paintings on a wall of the hotel (you’ll notice: Udo is a singer)
Today, we had a lovely brunch and are staying in a really nice hotel in Hamburg (home of Udo Lindenberg:), thanks to really really good friends who wanted us to have a relaxed and lovely Christmas. It did the trick. It still has been the most difficult and stressful Christmas of our lives, with all sorts of expected and unexpected hurtful moments – but we are pulling through and will come out at the other end full of hope and expectation for better days to come.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Today’s German Music Tip
Rolf Zuckowski, Dezemberträume (1993). Brings back memories from long drives through snowy landscapes with three kids in the back of the car singing along.
What’s hot
Heavenly peace
What’s cold
Operations
The German word/phrase/verse of the day
Nichts haut einen Seemann um…
Twitter: @forPadraig
#caringforPadraig
web: http://www.caringforPadraig.org
Hospi-Tales 
Hello, Reinhard. I’m very glad to hear that nurse helped Pádraig. As for the possible operation … very stressful for Pádraig (and yourselves), but if it did the job it is meant to do that would be great.
You possibly arrived in Ireland after the days of ‘the quick priest ‘. This person has disappeared, replaced by ‘the priest ‘ (if there is one). ‘The quick priest ‘, true to his name, said Mass quickly and (as should not have been the case given the significance of the Mass for believers) was liked for it. I myself was at Easter midnight Mass on the Isle of Man some years ago, and I felt I truly knew the meaning of the words ‘for ever and ever’.
But the Isle of Man priest was right to give the ceremony its full value. We do not understand why things are the way they are. In Pádraig’s case, it is completely incomprehensible. Somewhere and some day, we will understand. With best wishes. Louise.
Hello Louise, I got to know the quick priest during the summer I spent in Dublin before Pat and I got married. She worked in town in a summer job, and I learned English (still at it). One morning, I had an hour to fill in and thought, I’d go for mass. When that was finished, I still had 50 minutes of free time – completely unexpected. My Irish family explained to me later that day, that people just didn’t have the time for a ‘German’-type mass on their way to work in the morning. So it had to be quick. And singing, of course, was a protestant thing. – As for planning and understanding, there is this Yiddish proverb I shared so often, but which I look at now in a completely different way: Der mentsh trakht un Got lakht.
Hello, Reinhard. That was a very quick priest indeed. Having read your latest post on the blog, I don’t think the Hamburg tourist office will be offering you a job any time soon! And though of course I’m not familiar with Yiddish the import of that saying is immediately obvious. I am very conscious that Pádraig’s accident took place six months ago today. I will be going to Mass for him later today, either in Phibsborough or (if my cousin Máire is free to meet for coffee) in town. And thinking of him and all of you, as always. With best wishes, Louise
What wonderful news about the progress of Pádraig. It is so important that he starts to “remember”, any tiny thing is a “big step”. About the operation, well if it has to be done,.. it is also good that you get over it soon. We wish you all the best.
I am sure it is the right thing.
Besos, Ana y familia
Yes, Ana, we have become very humble and un-demanding. Speed almost doesn’t matter, it’s the direction that has to be right.
Yes, Rolf, we use to listen to his songs one day after the other. Alicia and Marta loved his music so much that at some point I even dared to write him and my kids received a postcart of him. Dezemberträume, ja!!!
The thing about these ‘Träume’ is that they become real!
yes they come true even if it takes time and that time seems often eternal, but it comes. I am always so imprest by the fact that even though we are so far away we have done so many things in the same way..Wir drücken die Daumen!!!!!