Double Duty

Normally, if a lay person has a formal role during the liturgy (i.e. cantor, lector, acolyte), that is the only duty which is performed.

At the 11:15 AM Mass today, normal had to be thrown out an open stain glass window.

When it came time to proclaim the readings, everybody realized what was never apparent during the procession.

There was no lector.

It was rather awkward moment.

What to do?

Well, the priest looked around, seeing who may have been there to cover. When he glanced over to his left, where the choir loft was located, he had his answer.

I was the cantor. I made eye contact with him and mouthed, "I'll do it." I gathered the book I use for the Responsorial Psalm and Gospel Acclamation and went to the ambo.

Fortunately for me, I had four things going for me. First and foremost, the Spirit was with me. Second, I assisted at a Vigil Mass in another parish, so the readings were still fresh in my mind. Third, I have had plenty of practice proclaiming "cold", doing it sometimes as many as three times a week during two cycles of Advent and Lenten weekday Masses a few years ago. Finally, I had done this unexpected "double" before, so I was not in unfamiliar territory.

I finished my parts of the Liturgy of the Word. After the proclamation of the Gospel, I went back to the sacristy and retrieved the General Intercessions and announcements. When the Liturgy of the Eucharist began, I went back to the cantor's podium for the rest of Mass.

I think everybody was grateful I did volunteer. I received a few compliments afterward; nice strokes to the ego, but I was just glad to have done it. Believe me, I wasn't looking for praise.

I thank God for giving me the ability and the courage to assist in worshiping Him on such short notice.

I hope it doesn't happen again for a long time.

Lent's Tripod

Prayer. Fasting. Almsgiving.

On these actions the season of Lent is built.

Once again, Ash Wednesday is upon us. We begin 40 days of spiritual introspection, repentance, and renewal. The Church creates a time for us to seriously and sincerely focus on our relationship with God and how we can grow closer to Him. What we do and how well it is done can only be measured by how willing we are to use the graces He gives us. While grace can come through any means, it is these three acts which are the main conduits for the next 6+ weeks.

These acts have a common thread. They require us to empty ourselves, to become open, to be able to receive and be filled. They ask of us to have nothing between God and our hearts. They demand an honest accounting of what is within us so that God can remove what barriers there are to Him.

And it starts with a conversation.

Is that not, at its most elementary level, what prayer is? But, how deep is that conversation? God is continually revealing Himself to us and our selves to us. How are our listening skills? Is it more "Thy will be done" than "my will be done"? When we ask Him to "teach us to pray," are we docile? Are we able more and more to hear the Word? Are we malleable clay in the Potter's hands? Are we becoming what we were made to be--children of God?

Once that conversation is in progress, this on-going dialogue between Creator and creature, a response can come.

Enter fasting. It is a realization that God is our all, the "pearl of great price". In order to have Him, we must begin to make room. Closed fists can never hold anything but the fingers curled against the palms. While the finite can never hold the infinite, there cannot be "no room at the inn". We begin to carve a hollow for the He Who is hallowed. We make space to be filled. We create a place for this Guest at our table so the fasting now is worthy of the feasting later.

Now we have true abundance; again we must respond.

Enter almsgiving. It is true we can't give what we don't have. Now, we have it. Because He has shared, we must as well. And we must give as abundantly as He did; we must follow the example of the widow's mite. Love is not love unless it is given away.

And then we continue the conversation with Him.

And then the process starts anew.

Beyond Lent. Into Easter. Into the rest of our lives.

A Month Of Sundays

Did I mention I was going to be busy during the 11:15 AM (and other) Masses at St. Olaf the next few weeks?

I made a mental review of my liturgical duties until Easter (including this past Sunday).

This is the list:

• January 24--Choir and Cantor
• January 31--Cantor
• February 7--Choir and Cantor
• February 14--Lector
• February 17 (Ash Wednesday)--Choir
• February 21--Choir and Cantor
• February 28--Cantor
• March 7--Choir
• March 14--Lector
• March 21--Choir and Cantor
• March 28 (Palm/Passion Sunday)--Choir
• April 1 (Holy Thursday)--Choir (Cantor TBD)
• April 3 (Easter Vigil)--Choir and Co-Cantor
• April 4 (Easter Sunday)--Choir (Cantor TBD)

There is a remote possibility I may be a Lector for April 2 (Good Friday), but that schedule has not been made.

No excuses for me not assisting at Mass!

Another Kind Of Prospect

I have mentioned this happening before.

Another athlete is doing the same.

God bless all our seminarians.

Pray for more.

We Shall Gather

Another January 22 is almost over. For the 37th. time in our nation's capital the Culture of Life and Culture of Death clashed in their annual ritual of marches marking the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, the two decisions made by the United States Supreme Court legalizing abortion on demand. The passion and zeal on both sides of the issue are as strong as ever.

The past 365 days were witness to some remarkable events which continued to fuel the fire and fan the flames. The current administration placed key poor-(pro-) choice supporters in critical cabinet positions, among other actions to support this overtly poor-(pro-) choice president's policy. A leading practitioner of abortion services was murdered. A Catholic nun was discovered to be an escort for an abortion clinic. There are plans in the works for building the largest abortion clinic in this country. And the passage of health care reform in this country seems to hinge on whether or not federal funding for abortions will be provided. There's never a dull moment, is there?

At times I wonder if battle fatigue is apparent. I wonder if arguments for and against are falling on deaf ears because they have been repeated so much and perhaps are sounding like empty rhetoric. Has everything been said about the subject? Is there nothing new under the sun? Or does our society wish this topic would just disappear?

Not in my lifetime. Especially since, for the first time, polls indicate those who are "pro-life" now have the majority viewpoint, albeit by a slight margin. The tide of popular opinion seems to be in our favor.

So, the battle will continue. Today is the day when batteries are recharged, the banners will fly high and proud, and each side will continue to make its case in the public forum. Tomorrow, the grassroot efforts and behind the scene events will continue, each side seeking an advantage.

I may not live long enough to see this issue resolved. But, I still need to continue doing what I can to bring it to closure. I still need to choose life.

Our Humanity, Our Future

The adage goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words."

Mark Shea add a few of his own to a photo of his granddaughter and the resulting post is a reminder of what the day is about.

Hide And Seek

Krush reminds us today is National DeLurking Day. This annual event in the 'blogosphere is designed for those who read 'blogs to leave a comment and let us know they have visited. With some affection these guest are called "lurkers", just hanging around. (Groupies for 'bloggers?)

My comment section is open. I welcome you to leave your remarks and suggestions on what could make this infinitesimal corner of the universe a better place to be. Speak the truth in love else it will be deleted.

Working Vacation

In my own small way, I am part of the "reform of the Reform". With my educational background in music (both at the undergraduate and graduate levels), I want to hear meaningful and worthy song in liturgy. This, at times, has put me at odds with some of my lay colleagues at a local level in terms of taste and appropriateness; but, not being in any kind of leadership position, I have had to "go along to get along". I can say I am very pleased with what we attempt to do at St. Olaf, as the music director and I are of the same general mindset.

But, as the saying goes, I have to be the change I want to see. To that end, I will be here. While I have had a minimum amount of exposure to chant, this will be an wonderful opportunity to learn more. I wrestled with the decision of whether or not to go, but I opted to take advantage of the opportunity. (The only drawback is I am taking "red eyes" through Denver and Atlanta to get there.)

A fedora doff to Anastasia Crosswell, who posted this on her Facebook page. As this is in her backyard, hopefully we will be able to meet each other in person.

Back late Saturday night. Time to me to fly.

First Song, Again

We should know this quite well by now.

Whatever your memories of 2009, may you hold them with the proper due respect.

May 2010 be full of blessings, joys, and life.

Happy New Year!

Janus' Annual Visit

For those of you who are regulars to this infinitesimal corner of the universe, you know I have a motto which developed on this day in 2005.

Go Forward.

What does it mean? At the very least, it is to not regress, lose ground, or acquiesce what I want to become. At its core, it is to progress, grow, mature.

It is now four years later. I ask myself the question which candidates for political office sometimes pose to the voting public. It is the one quiery which begs for an answer.

Am I better off now than I was then?

Right now, I really don't know what the best answer is. Being my harshest critic (unlike the advise from "Desiderata"), I also realize I have to have a balance between what is going well and what room for improvement is needed. But, as a priest had pointed out to me once in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, my honesty is my salvation.

While I have never experienced the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, I understand one of the foundations is to be sincerely honest while looking into your soul. That I seem to do well. And so, with the final hours of 2009 passing, what do I see?

As with all of us, a mixed bag of results.

The blessings given by God to me in the form of challenges the past 48 months have been received in various degrees. I would be foolish to say I am the same as I was back then. I have changed. There has been the good, the bad, and the unresolved (and sometimes all three at once). It is still being sorted; puzzle pieces are not yet in place. I cannot say which way the scale is tipped.

Yet, we all live with uncertainty. Nothing is finished or final until our last day. Like the Parable of the Rich Man's Harvest (Luke 12:16-21), beware when we think we have got it made.

At times it seem I am back at square one. My search for meaningful, consistent, gainful employment is just about at a standstill. My prayer life is as dry as the desert. There is just a underlying feeling of unease about my life.

So, where do I go?

There is only one answer:

"Come to Me...."

And isn't that what it really means to Go Forward?