I sat down to think about writing and realized that I am not ready to express my deep thoughts about the ordination I attended last week. I can say it was a joyful and lengthy event. I can say that I attended with an eight-year old, a six-year old, a three-year old and a one-year old, and that none of them melted down over the three hours. For them, as for all of us, the time for behaving included the long drive to get to the cathedral, and then the wait for Mass to start, since you either got there early or you didn’t get there at all. I heard of three different priests who had seats but couldn’t find parking and ended up going back home. Afterwards a reception held in a very crowded hall at least allowed these small children to move around, but all the food was eaten early on. And yet, they were good until they were taken away.
For a lovely view of ordination in three and a half minutes watch this.
Monday morning, after a huge Saturday celebration and a huge Sunday celebration, was looking a little fraught. The new priest mentioned Sunday night that he hadn’t been able to procure a host to say Mass, and would have to hop out the door, first thing. Ugh. The road we live on is death at 8 a.m.
Encouraged by my daughter I took plain flour and fresh water in a three to one proportion, mixed up some dough, rolled it out as flat as I could, cut out some circles, and cooked them in my waffle maker. It’s also a pizzelle maker; the plates can be reversed and that’s what I did. I have never made pizzelles but the plates are quite flat and I thought that would help the situation.
With no salt, I expected something odd but the result was a little sweet, not too tough, and quite flavorful. It provided the necessary material for the first home Mass but it also broke with a very crackery powdered effect. Not to worry. The corporal and purificator were put to careful use and then soaked before washing. Then someone went out, peacefully, and bought some proper hosts. They were evidently not hard to come by but communion wine, actually labeled as such, is practically impossible when you aren’t associated with a rectory. Regular wine with no additives is licit so it was used.
I wish I had a table that was the right height and had the right size top for a home altar but at the moment we are just being highly creative. The altar cloth is a lovely embroidered tea cloth made of delicate fabric with counted embroidery stitches. It’s from my wonderful Aunt Mary who died twenty years ago. The cloth is probably fifty or sixty years old. Maybe more.
The readings have been from 2nd Corinthians on ordinary days. Two big saints slipped by, Saint Barnabas, son of encouragement, and Saint Anthony of Padua. We also had a votive Mass for peace, which I gather can be chosen on any ordinary day. I observed long ago that any given Mass has a plethora of excellent lines to choose from as a takeaway. Here are two that I specially loved last week.
“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:3
All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory …2 Cor 3:18
And while I was reading stuff from The Pillar, an online newsletter, they mentioned two pilgrimages I never heard of. I hope no-one gets hurt doing these. One is this week in Emmitsburg, and one is in August, in England (with a link but no picture).
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