Today, for the first time since about 1965, I attended a high Tridentine Mass. The church echoed with the “birdsong” of babies. Everywhere I looked little girls and teenagers knelt with bowed heads like modest little brides. Yes, many white-haired geriatrics like yours truly knelt among them, but we represented the minority. What a scenario. It brought tears to my eyes and a leap to my heart...not to mention a longing. How I wish I could occupy a little cell next door and make this my parish home. Instead, I will return to my Novus Ordo parish tomorrow where Sunday Mass will end with a social hall throng of laughing, chatting parishioners oblivious of the presence of the Lord of the Universe.
During the homily I thought of my parish. The priest spoke about the temptations of Christ described in the Gospel and related them to our own “voluntary” and “involuntary” temptations. The “voluntary temptations” are those we choose and God, he said, will not help us with those. How foolish to deliberately place oneself in an occasion of sin. It set me thinking about what situations I choose that cause me temptations to sin. How ironic when what came to mind was Sunday Mass at my parish. Last week I had to put my fingers in my ears after Communion when the childrens’ choir sang a song accompanied by the guitar.
Really?
Must we go back to the liturgical horrors of the guitar Mass? I left the church agitated and angry, not only over the guitar, but the scandal to the children. Do we really want to train our children up in the worst of liturgical music that sounds either like a cabaret club or a hootenanny?
At any rate, I decided that at least next Sunday I’m going to the TLM at St. John the Baptist in Front Royal where I can hear the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in peace and without agitation. It’s a sacrifice because we usually host a Sunday family brunch and the Mass timing won’t work. But Lent is all about sacrifice, so I’ll be praying for a creative alternative that allows us to celebrate family, but God first! I’m sure the Lord will provide one since he never fails when we put Him first.
I hope this first Sunday of Lent filled your heart with as much peace and joy as mine did.
Thank you for this, Mary Ann!
ReplyDeleteLove it - love it - love it!
The idea is to blur the border between the sacred and the profane, Mary Ann. Sacred come from "separated" --separated for a divine purpose. Our ancestors knew that difference between "musica sacra" and "musica profana" one does not use the chalice of the Mass to drink some wine at the dinner table. NOT knowing the difference cost the king of Babylon his kingdom (and his head -- See Daniel chapter 5.)
ReplyDeleteI am one who is now convinced that this is part of the satanic attack that seeks to destroy and replace all that is holy in the Church with an abomination. The next step seems to be the consecration of hosts made with whatever is available regionally, yucca (manioc) in the Amazon, maize in Mexico and the Antilles, etc. That will be their undoing, just like in the days of the King of Babylon.
What?! You haven't attended a TLM High Mass since 1965?! I can't believe it. I would attend one EVERY Sunday if it was available to me. As it is now, I drive 50 minutes each way on Sundays to attend the TLM. . .it is usually a Low Mass but perhaps once per month they have a High Mass. The TLM is the most reverent and transcendent Mass there is!
ReplyDeleteThere's no high Mass anywhere near us. St. John the Baptist has a low Mass every Sunday 45 minutes away. I'm not sure where we'd have to go to attend a high Mass. The Mass we attended yesterday was near our daughter's in a Pittsburgh suburb -- a little far to travel from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
ReplyDeleteSt.Peter has a TLM Monday,Wednesday,Friday at 11:15. It's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Char, I'll have to come some day. Fr. Beres is wonderful! I'm jealous. An hour is a long way to drive for daily Mass.
ReplyDeleteWe should all let our bishop know that we are willing to travel far in order to attend mass, at the very least, by a non-homosex priest. He should not be viewing these men as assets.
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