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December 27, 2006
What did you hear?
Advent IV and Christmas edition - let's hear from all over!
We'll let Gashwin get you started - he was in Delhi for Advent IV:
The beautiful cathedral was almost full, with a riot of multicolored shawls draped around the women, the men in jackets or sweaters. A line of penitents lined the left and right naves, where priests sat behind small screens labeled “English/Malayalam,” hearing confessions. It’s a practice I’ve encountered in Italy – this was the first time I was seeing it in India. I’m a little ambivalent about the whole thing – smacks way too much of “sacramental magic” in my opinion (“get your confession in to get your Eucharist.”). It’s approved by the Holy See, however, and, it was nice to see so many people lined up for confession!
snip
Mass ended with a Marian hymn, and, as seems to be normal in India, the bulk of the congregation remained behind in silent prayer. I slipped out a few minutes later. Outside the gates a host of hawkers had set up shop, with a variety of Christmas-ware spread out on tarps on the ground, mainly cards and tinsel. I picked up two Santa hats for the niece and nephew (she wanted Rs. 35 each. I absolutely loathe haggling; however, it is after all a question of izzat [honor], so I brought the price down by five rupees each.) and got into one of the waiting rickshaws.
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Comments
On Sundays I usually confession before Mass. Until recent decades most people did.
Posted by: dymphna at Dec 27, 2006 9:44:20 AM
Advent IV at Cincinnati's St. Rose along the Ohio River. The 10:30 AM Mass, usually packed to the gills, was somewhat sparsely attended. That the church offered Christmas Vigil Masses at 3, 5, and 7 later that day probably had much to do with it. The Mass itself was what's usually offered by St. Rose: tasteful hymns, reverent liturgy, and a jolly priest-celebrant. Unlike Advent I, which featured chanted ordinaries, there was no Greek or Latin.
Christmas morning at our parish church. Our pastor incensed the altar, creche, and assembly, as he always does at Christmas, and delivered a solid homily on why Christmas ought to be a prayerful, joyous time, not necessarily a sentimental one. The new children's liturgical choir debuted and sang a collection of (mostly) traditional hymns. In years past, we have attended the Vigil Mass, but our parish priest advised against it that morning. "I'm expecting a lot of 'two-fers' at that Mass. You might consider going tomorrow."
Posted by: Rich Leonardi at Dec 27, 2006 9:44:31 AM
dymphna - While it's not entirely clear, I suspect Gashwin's scene involves confession during Mass.
Posted by: Alice at Dec 27, 2006 9:52:09 AM
In the far western suburbs of Northern Virginia, Arlington Diocese...
On the 4th Sunday of Advent, the priest gave a wonderful homily on the Visitation, how we more often need to make a gift of ourselves and our presence to those around us, how just being present with an elderly parishioner or a young child of divorce or someone struggling with illness can be more meaningful than any purchased present. Because it was the 7 am Mass, there was no music. The altar was still relatively bare as it had been throughout Advent. A large Christmas tree (12-14 feet) was off to the left of the altar and decorated with what looked like handcrafted ornaments by the children of the parish. It was lovely! The attendance definitely exceeded the typical Sunday with visitors or folks who normally went to one of the later Masses.
For Christmas, I attended the 8:30 am Mass which was well attended, but not packed. Music was provided by an organist and a single cantor. She led the congregation in Christmas hymns before the start of the Mass. The Gloria was done to the tune of "Gloria In Excelsis Deo". The prayer was broken up into verses and the refrain was the refrain from the hymn. During the Eucharistic Prayer (sorry, don't recall which one was used), the priest asked everyone to sing, "O come let us adore him (x 3), Christ the Lord" (the last two lines of each verse of O Come All Ye Faithful) during the elevation following the consecration. It was surprisingly reverent. People actually sang together and you had a sense that it helped them focus on the Real Presence. I know it impacted me in a powerful way.
The altar was decorated with numerous red poinsettas. One thing that struck me as odd at first was that there was no nativity on the altar -- it was in the narthex instead. Most parishes I've belonged to almost always have a nativity scene in front of the altar. (Our daily chapel does have just such a set up.) However, after the consecration, I understood how much more powerful it was to focus on His Real Presence for the Mass. Incense was used during the Mass.
It was a beautiful Mass.
Posted by: Cathy M at Dec 27, 2006 10:11:41 AM
Advent IV: Holy Cross, Champaign, IL. Father did his usual reverent Mass. The adult choir sang the Hassler Dixit Maria as a meditation at Communion, which I thought was a nice touch.
Christmas: Immaculate Conception Byzantine (Ukrainian), Palatine, IL. The liturgy was *ahem* just divine, thank you. :)
Posted by: Nicholas at Dec 27, 2006 10:12:31 AM
Advent IV, Saturday night at Nativity of Our Lord in Broomfield CO. Very liberal parish that I usually avoid at all costs but ended up there. Church in the round, happy clappy folk band singing songs I had never heard of. The deacon gave the homily although neither my wife nor I could discern what it was about and it ended with him asking us all to repeat after him in wishing Jesus a happy birthday. The distribution of the Eucharist still took a long time even though half of the congregation appeared to be EME's.
Christmas midnight mass at our home parish St Louis in Louisville CO. Traditional hymns sung by a chior with piano accompaniment(?). Incense of the altar, creche, and assembly, quite crowded for a small parish on a street that still had a foot and a half of snow covering it from the blizzard last week. Our pastor gave a nice homily based on the fact that the kids are dissapointed when they are given the role of shepards for the nativity play but how this is an important part and we are all called to be like the shepards and be witnesses for Christ. Overall a very nice Mass.
Posted by: Colorado Catholic at Dec 27, 2006 10:16:04 AM
At St. Patrick's in New Orleans, midnight Mass according to the old rite. I served as MC. Mass was preceded by a solemn procession to the BVM altar, where the image of the Holiday Baby was retrieved and thence carried slowly and with great reverence down and up the aisles, to be deposited in the crèche before the Sacred Heart altar. "Silent Night" was played on violin and sung by the whole congregation during the procession (most and beautiful and moving); after deposition of the Bambino in the manger, we struck up a hearty "Adeste Fideles". The choir and soloists (with full orchestra) sang Haydn's "Lord Nelson Mass", which is very nice music, but somewhat drawn out -- a rare treat for special liturgies, but you wouldn't (or at least shouldn't) want it every Sunday. The church was quite full (folding chairs in the narthex received some of the overflow), and beautifully decorated with crèche, festive hangings and tapestry, and a beautifully embroidered frontal on the high altar (the post V2 "versus populum" altar having been dismantled and moved out of the way for the occasion). The homily dealt with the idea of God's making Himself small for the sake of our salvation. Mass ended about 1.40.
Posted by: Romulus at Dec 27, 2006 10:26:19 AM
The principal Sunday morning Mass for Advent IV at our registered parish was somewhat sparsely attended, of course some folks hadn't dug out from the blizzard yet and parking was problematic. Good homily on how we should emulate the Blessed Virgin in carrying Jesus with us and bringing Him to all our activities and associates. Encountered a pretty good newish song from a most unexpected source. It's called "Christ Circle Round Us". Text is based loosely on the "O" antiphons and tune derived from "Salve Regina". Because of the influence of the older works, it's more reverent than most of the stuff written in the past fifty or so years.
Christmas Day we attended noon Mass at the parish nearest our house as they had done a better job of clearing parking. The young associate was celebrating his first Christmas as a priest with infectious joy and enthusiasm. It was great to see the excitement that an eight-year-old brings to Christmas applied specifically to the mystery of the Incarnation. Fittingly his message was that we should carry the joy and wonder of Christmas with us at all times. Sang the old faves (Adeste Fideles, Joy to the World, Hark the Herald Angels) and a Gloria with the refrain based on "Angels We Have Heard on High". Very well attended Mass. After Mass we went up to pray at the creche and noticed a family preparing to have their young one baptized after Mass.
Posted by: Gregg the obscure at Dec 27, 2006 10:30:35 AM
"While it's not entirely clear, I suspect Gashwin's scene involves confession during Mass."
I don't mean to sidetrack the thread, but this practice, in which confessions are heard before Mass and even into the beginning of the Mass, ending usually during the readings, is continued even at such a place as St. Dominic's in Washington, DC, a huge and magnificent old church, which, however, has been subjected to the iconoclastic indignity of having its high altar torn out and a sort of plain burlap (?)-covered screen erected instead. The Dominican priests who offer Mass there daily seem to me to be guided by a wondrous mixture of contradictory liturgical impulses, old and new.
Posted by: Little Gidding at Dec 27, 2006 10:41:06 AM
IV Sunday: standard Advent Mass--honestly, don't remember the homily or anything, because it was one of those that resonates at the time, and helps with prayer, but doesn't stick with you later. Sang O Come Emmanuel and Lo a Rose Ere Blooming. Altar had trees up (we had lots of 'em) but not the poinsettas or creche or anything like that. Pastor put a "special appearance" in at every Mass on Sunday to make sure everyone realized that Sunday Mass and Christmas Mass were two different things.
Christmas--Midnight--Gold fiddleback chasuble and lace alb, incense, baby Jesus already in the creche (earlier Children's Mass) sanctuary COVERED in trees (w/ lights, no ornaments) and poinsettas. Father (Pastor) gave the Pope's homily...with very minor changes (reduced the number of the examples of charity and added a joke). Did not sing 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman' (a personal favorite) but did many standards--Adeste Fidelis, Joy to the World, What Child is This...others (we do an hour of carols before Mass--some congregation, some choir).
Posted by: nab at Dec 27, 2006 10:45:20 AM
Christmas morning mass at St. Mary's Monastery in Petersham, MA. It was very quiet. No smells and bells, no homily. Just the office of lauds, followed by a short mass. It was sparsely attended. All of this was very much appreciated by me- pregnant, sick with a cold, and coming off of a long weekend on call for my practice.
Posted by: Mary Russell at Dec 27, 2006 10:53:48 AM
Advent IV -- 9:30 AM with the choir. Christmas -- 9:30 AM with the choir. This year, one of our choir members who volunteers with a low-wattage radio station arranged to broadcast the Mass. I don't know how it worked out, though, as most of my family was either out of town without Internet or at Mass somewhere else at that time! I didn't end up singing midnight Mass due to various contretemps, which was just as well considering that my half-hoarse voice was one of the strong sopranos next morning! We sang a bunch of stuff beforehand as well as the Mass, though to be honest I probably enjoyed the very simple Praetorius "Jubilate Deo" the most.
Midnight Mass was apparently packed with extremely quiet, tired people, and the 3 PM and 5:30 PM Vigil Masses were apparently packed too. 8 AM had the normal 8 AM crowd, and 9:30 looked like it was going to be empty until 5 minutes before Mass, when a zillion people arrived.
I wish _we_ had Confession on Sunday. Between being horribly sick almost all month and having no transpo -- right after doing something not so nice -- I never did get to go to Confession all Advent, so no Communion for me. Depressing.
I know it would be preferable not to have Confession _during_ Mass when it comes to people _attending_ that Mass, but OTOH, if people who usually would slough it off are getting inspired to go confess, it would be a shame to shut them out. Grab 'em while the Holy Spirit's got 'em.
Posted by: Maureen at Dec 27, 2006 11:15:27 AM
Advent IV Mass featured organist with tenor solo. Uninspiring, with the organist playing throughout the Consecration!!! I came late, so didn't go to Holy Communion --disappointing.
"Midnight" Mass at 10 PM: a selection of carols before Mass accompanied by very soft, discreet guitar, quite well done IMO. Organ solo bridging carols and opening of Mass -- choir chattered non-stop throughout. Opening song "O Holy Night" -- supposedly mandated by our pastor, unmemorable homily, choir sang Handel's Hallelujah Chorus as closing. Church beautifully decorated, don't know how crowded, as the organ loft is upstairs. On the whole, OK, but could have been so much better!
Posted by: Anonymous at Dec 27, 2006 11:36:42 AM
Forgot to mention the title of the music during Consecration: "Amazing Grace" followed by "Edelwiess" ... No wonder I've been sick since yesterday!
Posted by: Anonymous at Dec 27, 2006 11:40:38 AM
Advent IV - novus ordo vigil Mass in the diocese of Madison Wisconsin. VERY crowded wonderful reverent Mass with a great young priest. His homily was focused on how in preparing this last day for Christmas we should focus on Mary and increase our Marian devotions. He made quite the point of repeating that it isn't Christmas yet!
Advent IV Tridentine Mass Sunday morning at St. John Cantius in Chicago (yes, I go to both Novus Ordo and Tridentine often). Fabulous as always - however there was a noticeably smaller crowd.
Midnight Tridentine Solemn high Mass St. John Cantius in Chicago.
It was PACKED. I read somewhere that the building seats 2,000 and I would say we were getting close to that number.
Lovely carols started at 11 but I was a bit sad that nobody seemed to be singing along. Of course, the choir and orchestra were so wonderful that it is a bit intimidating... but I really like to sing Christmas carols.
Mass began with some a procession to place the Christ child in the manger and it went on from there with seemingly every smell and bell that can be included in a Mass. It was very POD (in a good way).
There was Bishop and seemingly dozens of alter boys in full regalia and plenty happening for the whole 2 and a half hours of Mass (which followed an hours of carols - it was a long night).
I will admit that at about 1:30 am I started to have fantasies about the emergency granola bar in my car.
The homily was quite good - speaking out against materialism on Christmas eve is always a good thing in my book.
On the topic of confession during Mass - I go during Mass often at Cantius and prefer it to the 'confessions available from 4-4:15 on Saturday at most local Parishes.
Posted by: mary martha at Dec 27, 2006 11:41:41 AM
St. Joseph Parish
Muskgee, Oklahoma
We had a wonderfully solid and joyful set of liturgies for Advent VI and Christmas. On Saturday due to the larger number of people lined up at the confessional, confessions were heard right up until the start of the vigil Mass at 5:30pm (a similar situation happened the week before on Advent III). Attendence was far higher than average for the vigil Mass. We had only one liturgy on Sunday morning for Advent VI. Attendence was lighter than the night before, but more than what I expected. One of our permanent deacons preached on the need to do God's will, with Mary as our example and guide. There were tradition Advent hymns with organ and cantor. A brass quintette provided special music for both litugies.
The vigil for Christmas begin at 5:00pm in English and was repeated at 7:00pm in Spanish. The 5:00pm crowd filled the church! Incense was used liberally for the nativity scene, altar and Gospel reading. Traditional Christmas hymns with organ and cantor led the music. For the homily I invited the children to come forward to the steps in front of the altar. Emphasizing the Trinity and the Incarnatinon, I preached a brief homily on the theme that Jesus is God's gift of Love that is with us after all the other gifts have been used and forgotten.
For the vigil Mass in Spanish the church was about half full. This was, however, a larger turn out than in the past, due largely to the efforts of a transitional deacon from Mexico who is doing a pastoral year in the parish. He proclaimed the Gospel reading and preached the homily. Lots of incense and Christmas hymns mostly tranditional to Mexico led by a vocal choir and guitars.
Our hand bell and vocal choirs began the caroling and hymn singing at 11:30pm. Attendence at Midnight Mass was greater than last year, close to a full church. Lots of incense, the Proclaimation of the Birth of Christ and the chanting of the Gospel reading was included in the liturgy, as were organ, cantor and flute. Hopefully the homily pushed some buttons: From a Christian viewpoint Christmas is not a children's holiday. Giving credit to the author Michael O'Brien, I preached on the theme that the birth of Christ is an act of a loving God who is intolerent of letting evil consume us. This act challenges us to respond with lives of holiness and faith in a culture that at times seems headed towards neopaganism.
For the one Mass on Christmas Day attendence was light compared to the other liturgies, which is the norm for this parish. Again, incense, the Proclaimation, tradition music, etc., were is use, with organ and trumpet.
Other items of note: EP I was used for all the liturgies. This year we remembered to kneel during the Creed at "born of the Virgin Mary and became man". However, it did seem to be a bit ackward. As usually, the decorations were wonderful and the celebration of the Word Made Flesh joyful and reverent.
Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Fr. Bryan at Dec 27, 2006 11:47:41 AM
Another Colorado report:
Sunday vigil mass at Spirit of Christ, Arvada, CO. More reverent than is its habit. I was jarred by an odd rendition of the Kyrie, which ended in the words "Kyrie, Christe." Two titles in a row didn't seem to work, and I have never heard "Lord Christ" used in English. Good homily reflecting on how to welcome Christ into our lives and how to turn our snow-shoveling into Christ-witnessing acts.
Christmas Eve Vigil at St. Anne's Shrine, Arvada, CO. Very reverent and beautiful, a solid cantor accompanied by a pianist. Homily delivered by a retired veteran priest, excellent and eloquent. He doesn't flinch at using words like "internecine."
My evening was disturbed during communion when I thought I saw at least one young women pocket a host, as perhaps did her friend behind her. Being at some distance, I lacked the moral certainty(and perhaps the moral courage) to do anything about it. In situations where that kind of certainty is present, one ought to alert the ushers, yes?
Posted by: Kevin Jones at Dec 27, 2006 11:55:27 AM
IV Advent:
At the south parish, only the bare creche was set up, it was populated after the last Mass, and the greenery and (white) pointsettias put out for the 4 pm Vigil Mass. At the north parish, almost all the Christmas decorations (including red pointsettias) were up, except for il Bambino in the creche. This time, the lights on the trees were off (last week, I turned them on, unknowingly "breaking tradition").
During Advent at both parishes, we used antiphonal introits, in English, from the Psallite collection from Collegeville. The collection is, from all reports, uneven, and these antiphons are not always translations, but sometimes, substitutions. That said, these were pretty good. This one did come close to the Latin, Rorate Coeli . . . Let the heavens rain down the Just One.
I used a Penitential Rite I composed last year, in which the three tropes leading to "Lord, have mercy/Christ have mercy/Lord have mercy" were derived from the Rorate Coeli. (If someone asks if that's permitted, it seems to me it is: the GIRM and the Missal both allow for tropes other than those provided to be used, and it also allows for the antiphon, if not used as such, to be incorporated into the introductory remarks, if any.)
The Offertory was Ave Maria -- that is, the 1960 Dan Kantor composition. The closing hymn was "The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns," which has such a great final verse, that I waited to process out to assure we got all the way through it: "The King shall come when morning dawns/And light and beauty brings:/Hail, Christ the Lord! Thy people pray,/Come quickly, King of kings."
Christmas
Unfortunately for me, between the last Mass of Advent and the first Mass of Christmas, I came down with something nasty in my stomach, and I was barely able to offer the 4 pm Mass, and proved unable to offer the midnight. I was very disappointed.
I did have incense at 4 pm, with blessing of the creche after the Babe was placed there, and we had Adeste Fideles with (one) Latin and English verses. But I omitted chanting the Gospel and the Eucharistic Prayer. Yes, I did use the shortest one (II), and did so again on Christmas morning. The children's choir sung at 4 pm, and nicely, but I can't recall what they sang. I wore gold vestments.
The music program for Midnight was very good, I saw it and heard part of it at rehearsal: many traditional hymns, including several very ancient ones, including "Of the Father's Love Begotten"; a part of Haydn's Gloria (sung before Mass -- patience!), and the proper Introit for Midnight, in Latin -- the first time that's happened at these parishes in who knows how long?
I was planning to chant the "Roman Martyrology" that begins, "On the 25th Day of December," as well as pert near everything else; what the retired priest did I didn't ask, but he did say church was packed and the music awesome.
I had 9 am Mass, was just strong enough to offer it. Lovely, simpler music on the piano; maybe it just fit my mood, but I found it very soothing and personally thanked the pianist for helping me feel better. Very low-key Mass otherwise, as I sat down for everything I could, including proclaiming the Gospel and my homily (the latter which is proper to do, although unusual). No incense, almost no chanting on my part.
(P.S. I'm back to normal today.)
Posted by: Fr Martin Fox at Dec 27, 2006 12:00:20 PM
Oh, as for my homilies...
The first two are at my web site (click my name); the one I gave on Christmas Day was extemporaneous. The ideas I recall mentioning were:
* Everything we look for from God we've received in Jesus Christ. He is the fullness -- the Light.
* Noteworthy that God chose to come as a baby, in humility, not how we'd probably have called for it to happen. God must think he'll ultimately gain more this way.
* Many Christians all over the world have little to celebrate but the Light himself, and that is enough.
* You and I must be Light-bearers; our world needs it, and if we ask, he will fill us with himself.
Posted by: Fr Martin Fox at Dec 27, 2006 12:05:42 PM
Peoria Cathedral of St. Mary, Sunday night -
Before Mass, one of the Masters of Ceremonies (Chris K for U of I alums) read a meditation from St. Augustine.
The Diocesan Director of Worship (again, for U of I folks, Fr. D) then came out to welcome everybody to the cathedral and to explain that the relics of the Nativity that the diocese possesses would be processed in and invited everybody to venerate them following Mass.
Ordinarily I'm not big on pre-game chatter, but that was a nice touch and a great catechetical moment on relics.
I think a group of four male cantors chanted the Christmas proclamation ("I think" because I was standing in the hall trying to keep my almost one-year old Charlie from diving out of my arms).
The homily was a comparison of the worldly kingship of Emperor Augustus vs. Christ's humble kingship. Bishop Jenky arguably beat the point to death, but it was a good homily.
The music was shared between the cathedral choir and the cathedral schola. All traditional hymns. All very well done and joined in heartily and joyfully by the congregation.
I can't recall too many specifics, as what I mostly heard was Charlie screeching in my ear... :)
Posted by: Papa-Lu at Dec 27, 2006 12:07:46 PM
Holy Family in St. Louis Park Minnesota is the kind of parish that so vindicates the Council's idea of renewal that it often makes me forget that there is a very troubled Church out there somewhere. The pastor, Father Thomas Dufner, though 52 and therefore technically too old to be one of "John Paul's army" is very like that--passionately Catholic, orthodox without even trying, but without a whiff of musty or rebellious traditionalism.
The parish has more and deeper lay involvement, and more "Christian community" than any I have ever experienced. This includes the lay-run Catholic school that is utterly, overflowingly, abundantly, lovingly Catholic: the kind of place where Catholics seem like evangelicals at their best without seeming like Protestants at all. Lots of hugs from teachers and Jesus's name ringing through the classrooms and halls all day.
What's that you say? The whole Church isn't like this? There were some problems after the council? What were they?
Meant to write what Christmas mass was like. Well that's what it was like. Also in the 4 PM family mass, which involved about 100 parish children doing a silent (except for hymns at key moments) nativity pageant during the gospel my daughter was an angel and I was the head of a camel. Very reverently and beautifully done in a children's mass sort of way, with the exception that there is an old parish tradition that the camel should misbehave on the way up the aisle. Who am I to break with tradition?
Homily had one striking note for me. The pastor said he did not really understand grace even as a young priest. It was only when he was much older and had a rich experience of failure behind him that he really understood what he meant to turn his life over to Christ and depend on his grace. I'm 50 and it resonated very powerfully with me. A great Christmas present.
Posted by: Richard Vigilante at Dec 27, 2006 12:09:01 PM
Little Gidding and I attend the same church:
"St. Dominic's in Washington, DC, a huge and magnificent old church, which, however, has been subjected to the iconoclastic indignity of having its high altar torn out and a sort of plain burlap (?)-covered screen erected instead. The Dominican priests who offer Mass there daily seem to me to be guided by a wondrous mixture of contradictory liturgical impulses, old and new."
No kidding! The 8 a.m. Mass for Advent IV was a little strange, as the church was already decorated for Christmas (that was OK--how could it not have been), and the cantor, eucharistic ministers, and much of the congregation showed up in red and green "Christmas clothes" (this struck me as very strange--did they think that since Advent IV was on Christmas Eve, the Advent IV Mass "counted" for fulfilling their obligation?)," so the only signs of Advent were the celebrant's purple chasuble and our Advent wreath, which had been missing for the first three Sundays of Advent, made a belated appearance. The sermon, on the Visitation, wasn't bad ("two holy women"), but the recssional hymn was the made-ludicrous-by-Steve-Colbert "King of Glory," which has zilch to do with either Advent or Christmas.
Midnight Mass was the usual St. Dom's combination of the beautiful and the ridiculous. There was a carol sing before Mass, which was very nice, but the Mass itself was also turned into a carol sing--three carols alone during Communion--which was distracting. Good things: the blessing of the creche before Mass, and the singing of the Christmas Proclamation from the Roman Martyrology, which is always thrilling (that thing dates back to the 4th century!). Also a very beautiful contemporary arrangement of "Puer Natus est in Bethlehem" by a soloist and the choir--I plan to find a recording. Our choir, by the way is a hoot: from the bassoonist/oboist, who had dyed her hair red-and-green striped for Christmas to a young-babe singer who showed up in a slinky black cocktail dress and 1940s-style black cocktail hat to another singer who looked just like St. Peter in a monk's robe, flowing locks, and full white beard to the trumpeter, who showed up in full military dress uniform, including white gloves. Our church's fine old Roosevelt organ in the choir loft got played for once (the Hallelujah chorus after the recessional, which was the rousing and appropriate "Joy to the World").
But I really don't like singing the Gloria to the tune of "Angels We Have Heard on High"--it's weird. As was the carol overload during the Mass. Furthermore, at every Christmas midnight Mass, our pastor insists on singing the Consecration to the accompaniment of little organ riffs, turning this sacred part of the Mass into something resembling a Las Vegas lounge act. Furthermore, this Christmas, he asked us all to stand during the Consecration. I knelt instead, which was churlish, I know, but, like Amy, I hate the political implications of standing during times when it's traditional to kneel: all that Liturgy 101 garbage about kneeling being undignified or medieval or whatever.
Still, there is always something endearing about the mess of the lovely and the awful that is St. Dom's, especially at Midnight Mass on Christmas. The church is never full because our parish is so diminished, thanks to stupid urban renewal of the 1950s, which depopulated a once-thriving parish. It's "here comes everyone"--the good, the bad, and the pathetic.
Posted by: Charlotte Allen at Dec 27, 2006 12:09:24 PM
St. James Parish, St. Joseph, MO
Advent IV - both morning Masses were fairly quiet (limited musicians) - parishioners sang O Come, O Come Emmanuel v. 4 acapella
church was decorated - all except poinsettias and baby Jesus! Trees were not yet lit.
Silent thanksgiving after the final blessing - priest and servers knelt at the gate of the Communion rail (no closing hymn - but the previous 3 weeks we had been singing Alma Redemptoris Mater)
Christmas Eve 430 Vigil, standing room only, candles, cross, 2 torches - no incense (asthmatic's Mass) Traditional Christmas hymns.
Christmas - Midnight, a few standers, procession began on the 12th stroke of the church bell, Incense, Cross, Candles, 4 torches, 2 seminarians, 1 infant-bearer, priest. Opening hymn - O Come All ye Faithful w/ refrain in Latin. Placed Baby Jesus, incensed Crib, incensed altar, Christmas proclamation followed by Gloria.
other bonuses: incense, candles and torches formed an honor guard (of sorts) during Euchristic prayer, incensed and rang the church bells at the elevations. All was fitting for the Solemnity of the occassion. Deo Gratias
Posted by: Fr. Totton at Dec 27, 2006 12:15:49 PM
Both Masses were at my sister's parish in Queens, St. Nicholas of Tolentine. Medium-sized crowds for both days. The adult choir sang, fairly traditional hymns.
I really couldn't understand the homily either time. The presiding Priest was African and he had a very thick accent, and the acoustics there are not the best. Something about a smelly manger. I don't mean to pick on the man because he did an admirable job, but I get the sense that this is a recurring problem. My brother-in-law absolutely hates it because he gets nothing out of Mass there because of the language barrier. Granted he's a non-Catholic and thus may not be as drawn to the other elements of Mass. But I think it would help if the Priest kept his homilies shorter or maybe wrote them out and practiced in advance.
Again I don't write this to belittle the Priest, but it's not good to have an almost impossible to understand homily being said every Sunday.
Posted by: paul zummo at Dec 27, 2006 12:26:25 PM
I know I'm off topic a bit here but could someone here answer a question that has been disturbing me for some time now?
Are priests allowed some flexibility when it comes to the words of the Eucharistic prayer? For example, our pastor always says: "On the night He was betrayed ... He broke the bread, PASSED IT AMONG THEM and said ..." The thing that I notice is that he uses the phrase "passed it among them" instead of "gave it to his disciples". On Christmas Eve, we had a different priest who says "He broke the bread, gave it to his FRIENDS and said ..."
I can remember when I used to be able to say the Eucharistic prayer in my head along with the priest because it was so familiar to me after hearing it week after week for so many years. Now, I never know what the priest is going to say. Most of the words in the Eucharistic prayer seem different to me.
I've asked a couple of priests and one of them said that changing the words could make the Eucharist invalid. Another priest said that as long as the words "This is my body" are used and the priest has the right intention, the Eucharist is valid even if the preceding words were changed(although he said that they should use the proper words)
Did the prayers change and I'm just not aware of it? Am I nit-picking? I don't want to worry about this if it's nothing to worry about.
Again, sorry to change the topic. Don't answer if it messes things up. It's just that this happened on Christmas Eve and I was rather disappointed about it.
Posted by: Lisa at Dec 27, 2006 12:34:50 PM
Lisa,
if it was as you describe, it sounds like it was valid (the actual words of institution "this is my Body" were not changed) but highly illicit. A good rule of thumb: all prayers should be prayed verbatim unless the Sacramentary provides for options (i.e. "in these or similar words")
I once knew a priest who rearranged the Eucharistic prayer so it became a story ABOUT Jesus rather than a prayer in his name, addressed to the Father. I had some serious misgivings about that one.
Posted by: Fr. Totton at Dec 27, 2006 12:39:22 PM
Lovely 10 a.m. Mass on Christmas morning at our parish, St. Mary in downtown Lincoln. Four "tween" girls came out and took turns reading the nativity story, and then welcomed everyone to Mass. The processional began with everyone singing "Silent Night" while more school children bringing the shepherd and sheep figurines to our large manger scene at the front, followed by a boy lugging the rather heavy St. Joseph figurine, a girl staggering under the weight of the St. Mary figurine. Then three boys with candles (my own Zooey was one of them) accompanied another boy with the Baby Jesus statuette.
Mass was full of incense and chants (some in Latin) and all my favorite Christmas hymns, sung by the school choir quite well. The homily was remarkably similar to Pope Benedict's Christmas Day homily, but I don't know if that was by design or not (our Fr. D is an excellent homilist). Everyone was on their best behavior, even my two-year-old. The only thing that marred it for me (and likely made the day for others) was at the very end, just before the final blessing, a fourth-grade boy with a fine voice warbled his way through "Mary Did You Know?" -- a song I find dishearteningly Protestant in its open denial of the Immaculate Conception, but I'm probably overly sensitive, being a convert.
Posted by: Sparki at Dec 27, 2006 12:48:33 PM
DuPage County, Illinois
=======================
Advent IV and Xmas Day Mass had the standard happy-clappy stuff, with a few traditional Xmas hymns and carols thrown in to appease seasonal sensibilities.
Much more to my musical liking were the hymns and anthems offered at a local Episcopal church, which I attended with my English ( Anglican ) spouse. The choir provided a very good rendering of "The Lamb" by Tavener; it's modern and not really Christmassy, but somehow did fit in nicely. Very lovely also was a rendition of "Silent Night", which the choir director said was apparently a "restoration", much closer to the original work of the Austrian composers. Its main differences were its almost waltz-like tempo, sonding also somewhat like a Germanic "oompah" band, AND its repetition of the refrain "Sleep in heavenly, etc."
The Catholic sermons weren't especially memorable. The Episcopal priest's sermon was interesting in making the point that Christianity's notions of incarnation are a reminder that it is in some sense a materialistic religion, and that modern commercialism has hijacked and grossly distorted the religious aspects of materialism.
Posted by: Ed at Dec 27, 2006 1:10:24 PM
Fr. Totton,
Thank you for reassuring me about the validity of the Eucharist. That gives me the peace of mind I need during mass.
I agree that it would be nice if the priests would pray the prayers verbatim so that no one questions the validity of the sacrament.
I guess it's up to the bishops to work on this.
Posted by: Lisa at Dec 27, 2006 2:45:50 PM
Re: "Mary, Did You Know?"
The song attempts to deny the Immaculate Conception, but actually supports it. Yes, Jesus' death on the Cross saved Mary from original sin at the moment of her conception, and allowed her to exercise her free will in remaining sinless; that is the ancient teaching.
Posted by: Maureen at Dec 27, 2006 2:47:40 PM
We got to sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus at the Christmas Day Mass I attended.
That was a first for me.
Posted by: Brandon at Dec 27, 2006 3:20:25 PM
N.B. The local Ukrainian rite parish St. Basil's, here in Edmonton, always has confessions during Mass. It's a lifesaver that way, since getting teenagers to confession isn't so easy. Most people who hear of it are surprised and even more surprised to find out it's a perfectly legitimate practice. The more I see of it the more I feel that it really fills a spiritual gap in a lot of people's lives. Of course, you need a certain type of church architecture to allow it. At St. Basil's the confessionals are at the back so lining up doesn't disturb the liturgy. And you need an extra priest.
=======================
St. Thomas More, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Fourth Sunday of Advent 9:00 AM and Midnight Mass
Beautiful. The choir and musicians at Christmas at this church is professional-quality, and I presume some of them are professional musicians. During Mass, they sang a number of the more traditional pieces that the congregation could sing along with. But before Midnight Mass, for a half hour before, they performed a bunch of complicated choral pieces and set them within the narrative of the Nativity. So first a reader would read about the Annunciation, then there would be a piece about it, and so on. Their performance of the Magnificat was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes, listening to the words. I wish I knew the author of the setting. I thought it was a wonderful idea, to be able to use magnificent music that might not work in Mass as an aid to getting people into the reverential mood *before* Mass. The sermons were very good too, with Fr. Sylvain quoting from the Pope's reflections and explaining them to the congregation.
Posted by: Eileen R at Dec 27, 2006 3:50:00 PM
Holy Cross, Lake Stevens, WA
Advent IV, went to the 11 am Mass with just my eldest child, sick baby at home with Dad and sisters exhausted from previous day's travel. About 30-40 people there. The 9 am was probably packed. Opening hymn was "Gentle Woman," which is not my favorite, but it was sung a capella, so definitely the best I've heard it sung (without annoying synthesizer background music). Homily was about comparing the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth with our strained family relations that come with the holidays. Such as the relative who makes inappropriate comments at the table, the one who picks a fight, drinks too much, doesn't believe in God anymore (and always has something to say about it)...etc. Which was fine, except our priest seemed to be saying that he thought Mary and Elizabeth got on each other's nerves as well because of the lengthiness of Mary's visit to help out with Elizabeth's baby. Is that possible? Doesn't Mary being sinless sort of rule out being impatient and angry with anyone? I could see Elizabeth finding fault with Mary (incorrectly of course) but shouldn't the point of the homily have been to try and emulate Mary (patience, love, devotion to those who are difficult) rather than just say, yeah, even the Blessed Mother had grumpy days too? Am I wrong?
Christmas Eve, 4 p.m., just five hours later... Visiting brother ill with flu, baby still napping with bad cold, husband at home, me at Mass with all three daughters and somehow ending up sitting behind the altar with the children's choir for the entirety of the Mass. Music: Children sung most of the music, entrance song was "The Little Drummer Boy." Pageant was also during the beginning of the Gospel, before the priest did the reading, but after we sung the Alleluia. This was very awkward, there has got to be some better way to do this, added to which that only the first three rows likely could see the children since we don't currently have an elevated area under or around the altar (still in the junior high cafeteria).
Homily: honestly, I don't remember much, I was trying to keep the children in the choir from whacking each other with shepherd's staffs.
Other: I don't know where the breakdown in planning and communication occurred, but obviously something was wrong. The children's choir director kept whispering to the music director (her husband) and the priest during the Mass, seemingly adding elements to the Mass on the spot. "Like, hey, wouldn't it be cool if we got a little boy and girl to carry the baby Jesus up during the offertory and had you bless the creche with holy water?" (This is after we'd already had the children's choir process in with the baby during the opening hymn. So she had to walk across altar, grab the baby figure, get a boy and girl--who had no idea what they were doing or that they'd be asked to do this--and send them back around the congregation.) There were other little things like this. Just weirdly distracting and made it look like the priest was just clueless about how things were supposed to be happening when really it seemed to be poor planning on the music department's side of things. Added to which, we had the most non-liturgical decorations ever surrounding our very proper nativity scene and Christmas trees--the props from the parish's "Polar Express" children's event (a giant lit north pole and plywood mountains), which while probably inappropriate, was at least festive, and hey, we're in a cafeteria after all, so I guess any kind of decorating is an improvement.
Sigh.
I love the people at this parish, but the music and overall way the liturgy is run drives me batty.
Posted by: LeeAnn at Dec 27, 2006 4:12:16 PM
Confession during mass was common practice in the Bad Old Days, pre VII. My little rural parish had them on Saturdays between 3 and 7, and then during all masses on Sundays.
The consummate sinners waited until the very last minute to be shriven so as to not mess up their chances for drunkenness and debauchery on Saturday night.
Probably a memorial to Constantine's last-minute baptism.
Posted by: Jimmy Mac at Dec 27, 2006 4:25:04 PM
My wife and I are visiting family so we attended the Midnight Mass at a different parish. Little did we know that we were about to attend "Jesus Christ, Superstar". The liturgy was structured as a musical. The Eucharistic Prayer and even the words of consecration were sung by the priest. He had a good voice, but it sounded like a lounge singer crooning away. The customary swarm of extraordinary ministers distributed communion. Afterwards, the priest sung a song written from the perspective of Mary and Joseph (I think it's called "Change the World"). It sounded like a solo love song from a musical. Although the priest was absolutely sincere, I couldn't resist anymore at that point and I gave in to the giggles. My wife and I were in shock. Had we really participated in the holy sacrifice of the mass, or were we audience members at a performance?
My question is the following: did we merely disagree about matters of taste or were we presented with a God in this liturgy that we did not know--a God that is not the God of Scripture and Tradition?
Posted by: Brad C at Dec 27, 2006 5:31:04 PM
Re: Jimmy Mac.
Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if the practice of confession before Mass was, in "the Bad Old Days," as you ironically (I hope) call it, the result of two considerations. First, many people couldn't just hop in their non-existent SUVs and tool over to church any time they felt like it. Hitch up the wagon, anyone? And spend a half day or more going into town to the church? On Sunday, okay, but at other times? Difficult. And second, I do believe that people really were concerned that they receive Holy Communion in as virtuous a state as they could be in, whether or no they had ever been drunken or debauched in their life.
Posted by: Little Gidding at Dec 27, 2006 6:12:22 PM
Sparse 10:30 Advent IV at home parish (a welcome novelty for my non-Catholic hubbie who dislikes the usual crowds at such children's masses) and 11 hours later beautiful Midnight Mass preceded by Carol Service at neighboring parish (ours doesn't schedule it at midnight). Hand bells used with organ during liturgical prayers rather than just for hymns which was new for me. Homily on a visit to Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem punctuated by a whapping thump to the ambo at the end of "Verbum caro factum est .. HIC !!" (the Johannine Gospel inscription at the site of the cave) enforcing the reality of the incarnation in space and time, supported by remarks on the sabbatical pilgrimage of fellow Philadelphian, Episcopal priest Phillips Brooks, that inspired the carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and the great wisdom to be found in singing all the verses of beloved Christian hymns - the mystery of salvation from Nativity thru Triduum/Assumption:
"...No ear may hear his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in."
emphasizing His Real Presence here on the altar in Eucharistic species, ending with Pentecost the Lord abiding with his Church in verse 4:
"...O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel."
and peppered with personal recollections of this Irish American pastor's participation of Midnight Mass in the Holy Land accompanied by Israeli shelling of the hills around Bethlehem and explanations of the reason for the sunken door lintel (to prevent a repeat of marauding Ottomans on horseback pillaging the church's valuables)!
Rattlingly good!
Posted by: Clare Krishan at Dec 27, 2006 7:25:07 PM
I attended Advent IV and Christmas Day Mass at St. Ambrose parish in Annandale, VA-- a suburb of Washington in Fairfax county and in the Arlington diocese. It's a contemporary, church-in-the-round from the 70s, but they did a somewhat commendable job inside with statues, stained glass, candles and so on.
On both occasions the pastor was celebrant and ad libbed quite a lot at the greeting. I think he also may have been changing words in the collects and prefaces, because at times they seemed even too simplified for ICEL standards. On Advent IV he spoke to some length about the BVM, and on Christmas his sermon was of the "real meaning of Christmas" variety. All things considered he was a good speaker.
The celebrant chanted none of the Mass parts proper to him, which was a shame because the music was really quite good at both Masses. We sang a wonderful old German Catholic choral from the Collegeville hymnal on Advent IV-- "O, Savior Rend the Heavens Wide," and the choir sang the Victoria "Ave Maria" and Handel's "And the Glory of the Lord" from Messiah. The Mass Ordinary was Proulx I think. On Christmas Day the choir sang the Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei from a Mass setting by an 18th centruy composer named, according to the program handed out, Franz Richter. They were accompanied by a chamber orchestra of strings and oboes along with the pipe organ. It sounded Baroque and contrapuntal and was really beautiful and well done. Some men of the choir also sang the communion chant antiphon as well. There were also of course the standard carols.
Posted by: Matt M. at Dec 27, 2006 7:47:09 PM
Mignight Mass at a parish in my wife's hometown in Ulsan, South Korea was a religious experience. The Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei were all sung in Latin─ well, not the Kyrie─by a heavenly choir. Two special guests, Buddhist monks, were seated in the front row.
Posted by: The Western Confucian at Dec 27, 2006 7:57:23 PM
Back from a week with my elderly parents.
As for Christmas Mass, I will report from St Kilian's in Farmingdale, NY, as it were, where I was visiting as is my wont when I visit my parents.
Christmas Day, 9:30 AM. The Pastor explained his choice for the Mass of Dawn, and I had to detach from my preference for the Mass of the Day, as it were. The church was not packed to the gills, but about 2/3 full and fairly bustling. The homily was not very memorable, but for the unfortunate decision of the pastor to begin it with a joke (I will forego a rant), and a poor one that did nothing to advance the point of the homily (if you must do a joke, it had better advance the point of the homily, please). The pastor did a notably graceful thing of inviting the congregation to join in prayer for those Christians around the world who were unable to celebrate Christmas or were only able to do so in fear of violence. The general intercessions also gracefully remembered those for whom the day was marked by sadness or strife (something that triggered me to pray for those of the living for whom this will be their last mortal Christmas).
Hymnody:
Processional: O Come All Ye Faithful (without Adeste Fideles; I encourage more music directors to interpolate the Latin verses, which many are familiar with, even non-Catholics)
Offertory: The First Nowell (why not wait until Epiphany for this? When this was a more German Benedictine-inflected parish, Good Christian Me Rejoice was more common and always drew a roar from the congregations' throat)
Communion: Silent Night (sigh; sorry, I am a snob about that one; also, it is daytime...); followed by Angels We Have Heard on High (which I would recommend for the recessional hymn instead of the usual suspects; there is no Christmas hymn that is better sung in Catholic congregations in my experience)
Recessional: Joy To The World (in the past couple of decades, this seems to have been superceded by Hark The Herald Angels Sing and moved to Epiphany's recessional, so I was a bit surprised).
Song leader had a good voice, but continued the unfortunate practice (since the expansion of the old church a decade ago) of using sound system to lead when the people were singing, thus effectively oversinging them. His natural voice was powerful enough not to need amplification for this purpose, but I suspect no one has thought of the simple solution of turning the microphone away when leading the people's parts, as it were (it's common not to think of this, it seems).
Posted by: Liam at Dec 27, 2006 8:23:12 PM
"The Eucharistic Prayer and even the words of consecration were sung by the priest."
Um. Well. That's the way it's supposed to be.
Mind you, I'm sorry the style of the music apparently wasn't all that suitable.
But yes, a sung Mass is the more solemn form, and is supposed to be even more worshipful of God than a spoken one. When the Mass is sung, we imitate more closely the style of Heaven's eternal Mass, which is all around us at every Mass, and is sung by God, the angels, and the saints.
Posted by: Maureen at Dec 27, 2006 9:24:31 PM
Brad:
In partial reply to your question, singing the Eucharistic Prayer, in its entirety, including the words of consecration, is a legitimate option recommended (more than allowed) in the Missal; chant notation is provided for the four main Eucharistic Prayers, including the Roman Canon.
That's all I can offer in re: your post.
Posted by: Fr Martin Fox at Dec 27, 2006 9:28:03 PM
Midnight Mass. Every seat taken in this very large and very old traditional church in the Akron, OH area. Choir began singing at 11:15 when the church was already half full.
Acoustincs in this one are abysmal. Still the choir chose to sing unfamiliar hymns. Most of the congregation must have had the same problem I had in not being able to understand what they were singing because the din of conversation nearly drowned out the choir.
Guy behind me explained to the woman with him, loudly enough for me to hear every word clearly, that there were FOUR people in the restroom line ahead of him. Guy next to me was discussing medication with the woman next to him. Four people in front of me all carried on a conversation together at one point.
Priest not only requested that we introduce ourselves to our pewmates, but also wanted us to tell them a little bit about ourselves too.
What I remember best from the homily was the priest talking about the fact that a congressman had taken his oath of office on a Koran. I seem to recall that he was talking about the need for everyone to just get along. He mentioned that there were many nationalities in the congregation.
The three kings were already placed in the manger scene at this church.
We did get to sing one traditional Christmas hymn for the recessional. Everyone hung around until all of the verses had been sung.
Priest requested applause for the choir at the end of Mass.
On the way home, husband threatened to start attending the schismatic church.
Posted by: Carrie at Dec 27, 2006 9:45:56 PM
Beautiful midnight Mass. New choir director has done wonders with the same group of people the old one directed, only this time we were drawn into the liturgy by the traditional hymns, some in Latin, Panis Angelicus, and Silent Night after communion done in a capella. Any other time I would have thought we were being entertained. Not this time. A very holy and awe-inspiring experience.
Incense to bless the altar, the creche, and the people. Pastor was close to laryngitis and did not preach, nor did the assistant who had preached at the previous Mass. We were "treated" to the deacon who takes the liberty of walking back and forth in front of the people, gesturing, and with a smug self-satisfied look that makes me ill. Too theatrical.
That was the only disappointment in an otherwise stellar liturgy.
Posted by: Anonymous at Dec 27, 2006 10:20:59 PM
Advent IV: &:30 a.m. parish in a Maryland suburb. No music at this hour, as usual. Christmas greenery was in place along with the Advent decorations, but the lights on the greens weren't turned on. The priest gave a homily connecting John the Baptist's instructions from the Advent III Gospel with the excesses of Christmas clothing, food, etc., and recommended that we give without worrying about whether we are responsible for others' lack.
Christmas: Midnight Mass at the National Shrine in DC. The rector of the Shrine always gives a speech at the end of televised (EWTN) masses such as this one, in which he thanks people for the "meticulously executed" liturgy, and that is what we depend on the Shrine for. Everything is done right, the music is fabulous, there's no rushing...but boy is it long!
We arrived at 9:00 p.m. and sat in almost the last pew of unreserved seats in the front section. While the carillon, the organ, and the choir played and sang for 1/2 hour each, we whispered Bible stories to the little kids until they fell asleep.
Mass began at 10:30 with a procession to the crib, where the celebrant (apostolic nuncio) prayed and incensed the crib. Then the procession went to the sanctuary. Did you know Adeste Fidelis has nine verses? When the Kyrie began, the time was five minutes to eleven.
We knelt at the lines of the Creed describing the Incarnation.
Mass ended about 1:00 a.m. Our 7yo, who'd slept from the first sign of the cross to the final blessing, rubbed his eyes and said, "You told me it would be a really long mass, but it was only about five minutes!" We finally got home about two, but it was worth it to hear the 12yo exclaim breathlessly, "Oh, Mama, that was twenty times more glorious than a regular parish mass!"
Posted by: Anne-Marie at Dec 27, 2006 10:22:18 PM
Off-topic:
A 1959 children's book beautifully illustrating Luke's account of the nativity has been posted.
http://wardomatic.blogspot.com/2006/12/first-noel.html
Hi-res scans are available through the flickr link there.
Posted by: Jim C. at Dec 27, 2006 10:52:14 PM
Epiphany of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church
Roswell, GA
9 p.m. Christmas Eve Divine Liturgy
The liturgy was packed -- husband and I were coming from Christmas celebrations with his family, so we slipped into the very back pew moments before the Little Entrance. We sat next to a family with four children under the age of six, all dolled up for the holiday. They were really precious and very well-behaved throughout, which is always a treat to see!
The cantor led us in "O Come, All Ye Faithful" during the Little Entrance, but that was the only traditional Christmas carol sung. He also chose to use some fancier responses, which nobody in the congregation knew, instead of the responses we normally sing, and he ended up singing solo during those spots. The responses, however, were beautiful.
The homily was a pastoral letter from our bishop read to us by our priest. It was well-written, but not terribly memorable.
Distribution of the Eucharist took longer than usual -- Father had to go back to the altar and refill the chalice twice due to the number of communicants. (Even so, it still didn't detract from the reverent attitude of the congregation...I wish the campus ministers at school who argue that the faster the Eucharist is distributed, the better the students' behavior will be, would come and see little five- and six-year-olds standing and waiting patiently and reverently, knowing that they await something special and sacred. But that's neither here nor there.)
He also used the long forms of all the prayers, which was a real treat. The prayers in the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom are beautiful enough in their short forms, but the longer forms add an even deeper sense of sacredness to the liturgy.
Posted by: Scherza at Dec 28, 2006 9:25:15 AM
Christmas Day, the priest gave a little homilette and the seminarian gave a reflection. It's posted here: http://www.thekeysaremightier.com/homilies/deston_christmas.htm The Mass was bilingual, English and Portuguese. Music was good, too. Interesting to hear carols in Portuguese.
Posted by: Stella at Dec 28, 2006 9:43:22 AM
From New York City.
Fourth Sunday of Advent at Our Saviour Church.
Following an theme that each of the Sundays of Advent cause us to think of one of the 4 last things in turn, Fr. Rutler preached about Hell.
Music mostly chant, with some polyphony and motets. Excellent organ playing. As always lots of incense, not just in occasions of use, but also amount.
No Extrodinary Ministers of Holy Communion, which means since their second priest was reassigned communion takes a long time. Perhaps nearing the "excessively prolonged point", not that the service itself is too long, but that it feels like communion has "taken over" the rite to a certain extent.
Then lunch at a nearby diner with friends and then home to bed, because I was working from 2 AM to 10am Christmas Day.
Didn't get up in time for a Mass During the Night.
Christmas Day mass at St. Michael's Russian Catholic Chapel.
I finally figured out the best way to get directly there from work by subway.
I think it may have been the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, rather than that of St. John Chrysostom, because of Christmas falling on a Monday, but I can't yet tell the difference.
The music was that of the Liturgy and was, like the Liturgy itself, partly in English and partly in Slavonic.
Fr. Russo gave a very interesting sermon on the teachings of the Fathers about the gifts of the Magi.
There was of course the prominent smell of incense, but I was struck by another pleasant smell I couldn't quite place until the very end, when I realized it was the smell of beeswax, which is smelled far too infrequently these days in most Churches.
Then upstairs for coffee and cookies, the previous times I had been there had all been in Advent, which is for Russian Catholics a fasting season so before there had been bread instead of cookies and a non-dairy creamer instead of milk (soy-milk perhaps?).
Posted by: Samuel J. Howard at Dec 28, 2006 9:57:42 AM
Amy, thanks for the link! Just to clarify, at the Mass I went to on Advent IV, confessions were being heard during Mass (which is what my aside about "not being so sure about this" was about), and, if I recall correctly, went on even after the homily, until (during?) the Consecration. As I'd mentioned, I've encountered this practice in Italy, but never in India (which I've visited a lot more often). I've never really seen it in Bombay (which I'm most familiar with) yet, and at a Mass in Pune (near Bombay) this summer, a quip was made about the lack of people going to confession. I suspect the number of people going to confession regularly has also dropped in urban India, but that this being Christmas, a lot more people avail of the sacraments than normally.
Posted by: Gashwin at Dec 28, 2006 10:59:51 AM
This is after reading Paul Zummo's comments:
I used to go to the Italian language mass at Santa Rosario in D.C. partly because I couldnt 'understand the homily. I got to listen to the beautiful Italina language and didn't have to get annoyed at any less-than-inspired preaching. A twofer.
Posted by: sue at Dec 28, 2006 1:59:28 PM
Advent IV at a downtown church in a small Mississippi city and Christmas Vigil at a suburban parish church (both in the Jackson diocese):
The homily for Advent IV was on how to be a Marian disciple of Christ and 3 essential elements: Metanoia, trust and fidelity. The music was forgettable (I've forgotten it!), but I do know that we sang the Kyrie in Greek, with English intercessions, while the advent wreath was being lit. The church was lavishly decorated with red poinsettias, a creche display (without the manger), and something I don't think I've ever seen before -- a red and green (holly, perhaps?) garland draped over the Crucifix.
The Christmas Vigil Mass we went to was the children's Mass, and Father called all the children up to the altar for his homily. The children who went up were all pre-K, it looked like, and the homily -- a Christmas story -- was a bit above their heads, I think...but it's hard to hold the attention of kids that age. The music consisted mostly of traditional Christmas hymns ... O Come All Ye Faithful, O Little Town of Bethlehem and Joy to the World ... all sung by the Children's Choir, with a really outstanding boy soprano as the cantor. The instrumentation was a bit more elaborate than usual, with a couple of violins, a trumpet, tympany drums, organ and piano ... maybe more, I'm not sure. Decorations included red poinsettias around the church and a red amaryllis at each of the four points of the altar.
Posted by: Sissy K at Dec 28, 2006 3:20:42 PM
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Carmel IN
Advent IV at 12:30 PM was dispatched at top speed without any music. The assistant gave an excellent sermon on the meaning of Christmas being an exchange of gifts--God gives us a share in his Divine Life by taking on our humanity. Undecorated Christmas trees and unoccupied creche were already up in the sanctuary, as there was only a two hour break between this Mass and the first one for Christmas.
The last Christmas Mass at 11 AM was well-attended, with many people having to sit in the narthex. A small choir of small children with small voices sang carols on the altar steps before Mass. Older grade school girls were the cantors. The propers were from Mass During the Day except the Psalm which was from Midnight Mass. The pastor emeritus gave a solid, longer than usual homily reviewing basic Christology while tying the Manger to the Cross. Apparently he feels Easter and Christmas are good times to catechize Catholics who seldom go to church.
Music included the Gloria sung to "Angels We Have Heard on High", "Away in a Manger", and "Joy to the World" for the recessional.
A little off topic but I wonder how many newspapers are still willing to say "Merry Christmas" on December 25? The Indy STAR used "Peace on Earth" as its front page banner while a locally owned furniture company dared to say the forbidden words in a strip ad at the bottom of the page. The STAR did run the Christmas Gospel of Luke inside on front page of the "Living" section. Before Gannett bought out the local owners, the Gospel was always on page 1. Otherwise, the most religious message to appear in the Christmas issue was in a fully page institutional ad from the Hobby Lobby chain of craft stores that was a frank effort at evangelization.
Posted by: Sandra Miesel at Dec 28, 2006 5:12:48 PM
