Five years ago today

Spring Cleaning

Because you know you missed hearing it at Mass today ...

What did we see? Holy Thursday edition

Kind of a mixed bag:

CA deacon in a dalmatic

CGood vestments

CThe Roman Canon

CO Salutaris

CReadings proclaimed nicely

CWe got to sit by some well-behaved Koops

CNo Servant Song

CNice procession to the chapel at the end

CFather very firmly announced that there would be silence in the nave and all the hallways.  He went around after "reminding" offenders. 

CPeople actually were silent in the church!

CThere was a full house

DDancing girls but Cthey didn't dance for some reason (they just brought up the gifts)

DGod and Man at Table are Sat Down :-(

DThe drama queen Our Father

DDramatic lighting effects 

D80's music choices Cbut good execution

DWrong Psalm

DWe saw the feet of seven people being washed.  (7 men, women and children.  What the heck?)

Vatican rebuffs Obama ambassador picks

The Obama administration has put forward three candidates for consideration as US Ambassador to the Holy See but each of them have been deemed insufficiently pro-life by the Vatican, commentator Massimo Franco says. Source

To help clear up some of these disagreements, a meeting between the Pope and the President is seen by some as a matter of urgency, particularly in view of Obama’s campaign pledge to build consensus between both sides of the pro-life debate. Failure to do so will confirm what some Vatican officials already suspect of Obama: that his talk of reaching out to all sides was empty talk, designed to deceive. Source

Wow.

One morning in March

I had some free time this morning and was able to go to Mass and Rosedale before I had to pick up Nick. (So here's a brief, random photographic summary.)

When did Epiphany put those giant screens in? I don't remember seeing them before. It was like everything I don't like about sports bars (but with a crucifix). Very bad. I would take the most obnoxious tambourine Mass at St. Paul's before sitting through this one again.
Yes, Father had to turn around during Mass to sing what he didn't have memorized. This in no way counts as ad orientem.
We were told by the giant screens to sing "Come dance in the forest, come play in the field." This will not be on my iPod >:-(
Fortunately, the day perked up when I saw the cutest dress ever at White House, Black Market.
... and a guy repairing the elevator. Nick, you were wondering what it looks like under there. The guy I talked to said it's just a big conveyor.

Indulgences (and Fr. Jon) in the Strib

Indulgences: What's old is new again

That opinion is supported by postings on Internet blogs, where people write about finding "a sense of comfort, connection and renewed hope" and the security that comes from "reclaiming historical traditions in a time of uncertainty."

"We're seeing a resurgence in the interest of traditional piety, especially among the young," said the Rev. John Paul Erickson, director of the Archdiocese's Office of Worship.

At the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, student after student confirmed Erickson's view.