Odd Blister Situation

Hard to know how this happened--I blame a faulty liner in my shoe--but while dancing Sunday night, I developed a blister on the bottom of my second toe on my right foot.  It got worse when I went for a 45-minute run yesterday (one of the longest runs ever in my entire life, but it felt good), and then it became a lovely pink open blister and I limped around my apartment yesterday evening.  I don't like putting Band-Aids on blisters, so I'm just waiting for it to heal up today and not going running.

Finding Images

This blog post is a post about finding images to use on your blog or website that don't violate copyright law.

Step 1: Go to Google Advanced Image Search.  How?  Either Google "Advanced Image Search" or just use the link.

Step 2: In the last box, "usage rights," click the drop-down and select whichever one is appropriate for your use, such as "free to use and share," for non-commercial sharing.

Step 3: Do your search and find some images!

How Important Is the Mass?

Here is a common objection against the Tridentine (or Extraordinary Form) Mass and those who go to it: there are so many problems and needs in the Church today, including evangelization, catechesis, social justice, etc., that it doesn't make sense to place so much emphasis on and invest so much energy in the liturgy.

To be clear, this objection can come from those who have a strong prayer life and habitual devotion to God, so a pat answer about adjusting one's priorities doesn't solve it.  My question in response, though, is, "Why do we have to choose?"

Why do we have to choose between having a beautiful, solemn liturgy and having a mission to evangelize the world?  Why do we have to choose between taking part in the call to social action and being a member of a traditional parish?  In fact, do we have to choose between these extremes at all?

I wonder if, instead of listening to God's call, we're allowing stereotypical categories to pigeonhole us into the kind of Catholics we are.  We're evangelical, charismatic Catholics, so that means we needn't bother with Latin or all those small-t traditions. We're traditional Catholics, so let's forget all that social justice stuff and solidarity with the poor. We're mainstream Catholics, so let's not get too invested in any one thing. Why do we have to choose?

I hate labels. I have yet to find a case wherein labeling someone as a certain "kind" of Catholic is beneficial to the community in general. Personally, I go to an FSSP (Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, hence Latin Mass) parish, but I don't feel the need to call myself a traditional Catholic or "traddie," and it vaguely bothers me when people categorize me in that way.

At the same time, I obviously feel a certain solidarity with the members of my parish, many of whom act in the stereotypical ways that "traddies" are supposed to act--but these are my brothers and sisters. If you're Catholic, they're your brothers and sisters too.  So you might rail against traditionalists and I might (though you'll never find me doing it) rail against praise and worship-y charismatics, but what does that achieve? Who are we helping by stereotyping our brothers and sisters in Christ?

To try to wend our way back to the main topic of this post, I hope that we can center the question of how important the Mass is in our lives squarely in our personal prayer life and our relationship with God, without reference to our brothers and sisters, who we must assume are doing their best to follow God's call in their lives.   Each person's relationship with God is unique and beautiful, and He whispers in each of our ears invitations meant for us alone.

We must be open to exploring how God wants us to worship, adore, thank, praise, and petition Him in the Mass, particularly in the Sunday liturgy.  We cannot fear the unfamiliar or set up barriers between ourselves and other Catholics next to us in the pews of whatever Mass we attend.  Rather than choosing a label, let us choose to give God the very best and trust Him to make of us what He wills.

Happy Endings

I fail to see the beauty of a failed romance. To me, if the people don't end up together, it's not beautiful or romantic.  It's kind of sad and pathetic.  Either they didn't know themselves well enough or the other person well enough, or basically it was some convoluted tale of human choice gone awry and emotions getting the best of everything, and to me that's the antithesis of the good.  A good love story is when people overcome challenges to grow in love and virtue and they end up committed in the sacrament of matrimony, striving to love each other and love God more every day.

Jar Musings

Looking at some jars, I started to wonder: if a dead bug were in your pasta sauce, how would you ever know?

Negativity

The best thing to do when you're feeling negative is to spill it all over the Internet.  Oh wait, no, that's actually not right.

Introducing Yourself to the Latin Mass

The Mass is like a pool of water, crystal clear and deep.  If you pay attention only to the surface, you will mainly see your own reflection.  On the other hand, if you look down into the water, you will behold the treasures in its depths.

If you've never been to the Latin Mass, the best thing you can do to prepare for it is to go to your regular Mass--but don't go like you always go, sort of glazed over and half-steeling yourself for whatever irritating thing the priest might say or do.  Instead, go prepared to peer into the depths of the mystery before you.  What is happening when the priest moves to the altar or says a particular prayer?  What does the order of the prayers and the readings in the Mass mean?  Ponder these things in prayer.

Then, when you go to the Latin Mass, do the same.  Carefully observe what goes on at the altar of sacrifice.  Realize that each movement the priest makes has a meaning, that each prayer (no matter how incomprehensible the language might be to you) falls in a specific place and serves a specific purpose in light of the Mystery of Christ's self-immolation.  I don't recommend that you follow your hand missal or red paperback pew missal slavishly for your first time.  Rather, recollect that the Mass you attend in Latin, in the older (extraordinary) form, is simply the first standardized liturgy, the one from which the Mass you attend in your parish originates.

As you actively watch and take in the Mass in the Extraordinary Form, it is handy to keep in mind some specifics.  First of all, you must be aware that the majority of the prayers in this form of the Mass are pronounced in a low voice or silently by the priest.  You might miss the exact beginning of Mass, because the Introductory Rites start at the foot of the altar and continue for some time (and when first the priest, then the altar boys, bow for an extended period, it is when each in turn are praying the Confiteor, the "I confess to almighty God," which you too may pray along with the altar boys who recite it for you).  When in doubt, make the Sign of the Cross.

After the Kyrie, Gloria, and Collect (introductory prayer), the priest will proclaim one reading, in either the Old or New Testament, depending on the season, and then a psalm verse, which either the choir will sing or the priest will recite; after that, all will stand for the Gospel, which will be proclaimed from the opposite side of the altar.  According to custom, the reading and Gospel may be repeated in English before the homily.  The Creed will follow the homily and then immediately the Offertory: the Offertory prayers will take some time and you may either read them along with the priest or interiorly bring your gifts to the altar and prepare yourself for the transubstantiation about to occur at the priest's fingertips.

When the choir sings (or the priest recites) the Sanctus, you know the Eucharistic Prayer is beginning--if it is the choir singing, the priest will silently begin the Eucharistic Prayer underneath the chant.  When the bell rings once, it is the moment just before the Consecration, the "Hanc igitur," at which point you must focus your attention on the Lord.  After the Consecration, the rest of the Mass is taken up with preparing for the Holy Communion.  If you are to receive Communion, you will go up and kneel at the communion rail, tilt your head up, open your mouth and slightly stick out your tongue; the priest will pray that the Body of Jesus Christ preserve your soul unto eternal life as he places the Host on your tongue, and will supply your "Amen" so you may remain silent and receptive.

These are just a few thoughts that might help you prepare yourself to go to your first Tridentine Mass, and I hope you find them helpful.  By no means are they an exhaustive review of the Mass, nor do they show you how to use a hand missal effectively (something you will either have to muddle through on your own or, better, get a knowledgeable friend to sit with you at Mass and help you) or explain at any length the beautiful prayers of the Mass.  There are riches here that will take you more than one experience to discover.  I believe that anyone who comes to the older form of the Mass with an open mind and a prayerful heart will come to understand its beauty and timelessness, so please do give it a chance!