Today at Mass

Wow.

Today we used the new translation of the Mass for the first time. There were the expected little confusions in the responses, but over all everybody dove right into it with enthusiasm. The most difficult bit was, as expected, the reflexive “and also with you”. Francine even messed this up once while she was looking directly at the worship aid where it said “and with your spirit”.

The one time that everybody got it right was the one time it was a sung response, rather than a said response. There’s a lesson there.

Hearing the poetry of the prayers was a delight. The part that moved me the most deeply, however, was a bit of a surprise to me. When Father Delmore said simply, “the Mystery of Faith”, it was at that moment that I felt as though the whole of the Heavenly Host was praying with us, was standing amazed at this sublime mystery.

Who knew?

After Mass, I was pulled aside by one of the Church ladies. You know her, she or her sister worships at your parish. Of an indeterminate age (but proud of her grandchildren and great grandchildren), dressed in her finery for Mass with an appropriate hat, prayerful, holy, and blunt as a brick. In short, the no-nonsense foundation of most communities.

She pulled me aside and said, “you need to march right down to the Bishop and tell him to make you a deacon.”

How do you respond to that? I think I said, “yes, ma’am.”