A Special Christmas Eve Mass
Sometimes a Liturgy/Mass will be especially memorable; Tonight was one of those times. This church is a model example of what an American Catholic Mass experience can be when it is done as it was intended to be-- beautiful, quiet, peaceful music; a priest who lives his ministry with quiet power and authority that is evident in his manner and speech--one who knows how to get across the important balance of repentance and mercy; a music director who chooses and prepares catholic liturgical music the way it was meant to be done--simple beauty; people who live the Gospel and their faith all coming together to share all of the above...
It's times like these when I know why I love the Catholic Church.
After having walked out of a few Masses due to things like electric bass guitars, electric guitars, drums; music directors who choose difficult hymns that are not singable and speakers who speak with disturbing tones of voice-- it is, simply put, a joyous experience to experience a Mass where the liturgical preparation and setting matches the sacredness of the celebration of the consecration of the bread and wine and Gospel proclamation.
Tonight, the choir sounded like voices of angels with the quiet accompaniment of non-amplified instruments--flutes and acoustic guitars, etc...; The priest spoke with the quiet power and authority of the Gospel and Church that so many catholic priests do so well, and the Gospel was read clearly and with authority by folks who were not there to hear themselves talk, but to glorify God.
This is one reason why I feel there should be stricter guidelines for the Mass to encourage and nurture powerful, beautiful experiences like tonight and to discourage people from trying to turn the Mass into a loud Protestant jam session.
I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in a powerful transforming way tonight--It would be very difficult to return to a life of sin if someone was to fully enter the sacramental life of the Church in a church where the presence of Christ is so real in the ministry of the Church and the priest, people and liturgical experience...
Negative influences on my body, mind and soul melted away as the Mass progressed leaving an experience of and appreciation for God's holiness and peace and a desire to grow closer to Christ and turn from sin. This was the height of a special Christmas season, like climbing a mountain and enjoying the view from the top, and then hiking down in the setting sun.
If this can happen to someone like myself who is barely a part of the life of the Church, think of what it could be like to fully encounter God within historical, sacramental christianity the way it was meant to be...
Life is short; Now is the time, as the saints remind us, to accept God's invitation to holiness...
Asking for your prayers--
Sometimes a Liturgy/Mass will be especially memorable; Tonight was one of those times. This church is a model example of what an American Catholic Mass experience can be when it is done as it was intended to be-- beautiful, quiet, peaceful music; a priest who lives his ministry with quiet power and authority that is evident in his manner and speech--one who knows how to get across the important balance of repentance and mercy; a music director who chooses and prepares catholic liturgical music the way it was meant to be done--simple beauty; people who live the Gospel and their faith all coming together to share all of the above...
It's times like these when I know why I love the Catholic Church.
After having walked out of a few Masses due to things like electric bass guitars, electric guitars, drums; music directors who choose difficult hymns that are not singable and speakers who speak with disturbing tones of voice-- it is, simply put, a joyous experience to experience a Mass where the liturgical preparation and setting matches the sacredness of the celebration of the consecration of the bread and wine and Gospel proclamation.
Tonight, the choir sounded like voices of angels with the quiet accompaniment of non-amplified instruments--flutes and acoustic guitars, etc...; The priest spoke with the quiet power and authority of the Gospel and Church that so many catholic priests do so well, and the Gospel was read clearly and with authority by folks who were not there to hear themselves talk, but to glorify God.
This is one reason why I feel there should be stricter guidelines for the Mass to encourage and nurture powerful, beautiful experiences like tonight and to discourage people from trying to turn the Mass into a loud Protestant jam session.
I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in a powerful transforming way tonight--It would be very difficult to return to a life of sin if someone was to fully enter the sacramental life of the Church in a church where the presence of Christ is so real in the ministry of the Church and the priest, people and liturgical experience...
Negative influences on my body, mind and soul melted away as the Mass progressed leaving an experience of and appreciation for God's holiness and peace and a desire to grow closer to Christ and turn from sin. This was the height of a special Christmas season, like climbing a mountain and enjoying the view from the top, and then hiking down in the setting sun.
If this can happen to someone like myself who is barely a part of the life of the Church, think of what it could be like to fully encounter God within historical, sacramental christianity the way it was meant to be...
Life is short; Now is the time, as the saints remind us, to accept God's invitation to holiness...
Asking for your prayers--
