Living in Spain, and in my case the old center of Madrid, allows me to indulge in a personal spiritual pleasure: the early morning Mass. Since the day here tends to end later than in America, we get out of bed a little later too. Office hours in general start at nine am or later. Early morning Mass in my case is at 8:30 a.m., in a wonderful oratory a mere five-minute walk from my home.

What a wonderful way to start the day!

And if I can’t get there every morning, it’s never less than two or three times a week, and always on Fridays.  There aren’t many of us, maybe six or eight, but you know that those present seek God in a personal way. Often it’s my good friend Father Napoleon who officiates. (His parents probably didn’t think their son would become a priest.  An Argentinian Pater I know says he once came across a Father Lenin).  His five-minute sermon always packs a punch and gives you something to think about in the day ahead.

Another regular, a young soldier, refers to the morning Mass as “Necessary Nutrition for the Soul and Spirit,” and I suppose he sums it up pretty well. I am grateful that my work schedule allows me this now important part of my daily spiritual discipline.

On Sunday, I have the full, old, sung Latin Mass as a centerpiece. But the quiet, low-key, humble little early morning Mass makes a great breakfast for a hungry soul on Friday morning.