Waiting for Patience

The last time I was at the doctor I was talking about my health, which was great, and I mentioned that I wanted to make some changes to be healthier (read: smaller). I prefaced my question with something that I know to do which is to lose weight: exercise more and eat less. Dr. W confirmed it is really all about math - more calories out than in. Her advice wasn't just "eat less, exercise more." It was actually more helpful, take the next year and make a different lifestyle change every month and in a year your life will be different. I really took that to heart and when I got home, I made a list of 12 habits or lifestyle changes that I wanted to undertake. I gave myself credit for a few that I had started a while ago that were great changes that I felt made a huge difference. At the end of the year I will probably have made about 7 or 8 overall changes but some of them were steps to bigger things. They are small steps that have made a huge difference in my life. I'v...

I've been thinking about this topic for a while, knowing my own journey which I wrote about at length the past few months as well as where people are. While visiting with my family in Texas last week the subject came up again and I was silent because I'm not exactly sure how to articulate what I really think. I was saying how I prefer to attend Mass in the morning rather than Saturday evening vigil. There's nothing wrong with the Vigil, but for me, I like morning Mass - which is a new development in the last year - I used to sleep in and go at 5pm on Sunday evening. Don't get me wrong, I still love sleeping, but morning Mass is different than Sunday evening Mass. Anyway, someone said they prefer the Saturday vigil because it's more casual. They can come in their jeans, sneakers, t-shirts - no judgement if it's been a few weeks or months since they've been there. Overall more casual - and that frankly the Lord doesn't care what we where, just that we...

Over the course of the last six weeks , I've been sharing my journey from "no latin ever" to where I am now. I wanted to conclude with why I think preserving, attending, and cherishing the Old Rite of the Mass is important. This can be applied to anything we do in the Mass actually, so even if you don't want to attend a MEF or don't have one around, this can apply to your Mass going experience as well. I try to attend Mass in the Extraordinary Form in my parish when I can, but this amounts to maybe 2 times per month, maybe. So that's 2 out of 25 Mass experiences a month, not even close to a majority, not even a number that is statistically significant. However, appreciating the Mass in this form has helped me to appreciate the Mass in the Novus Ordo  as well. Why? Because it is beautiful. I was thinking of this verse from Philippians 4:8 as well: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pu...

A little over a month ago Fr. C told me he was doing a Requiem Mass for a woman who was not a parishioner but who he had visited to give Last Rites to the week before. He said it was just going to be our Organist, the husband who wasn't Catholic, and maybe a few others and that I was invited if I was interested. I've been to many funerals - and now working at the parish I've gone to many funerals of people who I never knew either because it was the only Mass time that worked for me that day, there were few people who were going to be in attendance, or a variety of other reasons. So I decided to attend Maureen's funeral Mass out of pure curiosity for the Requiem Mass in the Extraordinary Form. I don't know all of the ritual that goes into the rite because it was my first time and additionally, it's a very rare experience; however, I can tell you that it was absolutely beautiful. I can say that not knowing a word of what was said. It's so hard to describe....

Today we continue my journey toward an appreciation of Latin and Mass in the Extraordinary Form. To read about the other parts check out  one  and  two  and three . Just a reminder that this is my personal journey, not a comprehensive discussion of the theology. The progression of my thoughts is following the pattern of change that happened at my parish here in Charlotte as well as my own personal experiences and thoughts. The next big thing that happened after changing the way we distribute communion (see part three ) was an incorporation of Latin responses into the Liturgy accompanied with an overall shift in the style of music that accompanies our Liturgy. To begin my appreciation for music in Latin I have to travel all the way back to when I was in choir during Elementary School with Ms. Kronenwetter and Mrs. Herzing (my distant cousin). Fr. Ananias came to our parish when I was in 3rd or 4th grade and he wanted us to sing in Latin. So during the season ...

Well, here I am again to continue my series on my journey to an appreciation of the Latin Mass in the Extraordinary Form and the overall use of Latin in the Liturgy. If you are just stopping by and want to read the first two parts, check out one and two . This week I'd like to explore two things that both happened at our parish around the same time and were stumbling blocks for me. The first was the ceasing of distributing communion under both species at all Masses. The second was the addition of a kneeler in front of the altar to be used as an option for the reception of communion. At our parish, as with many large churches in this area, we had distribution of communion under both species. This necessitated the use of many ministers - 14 for each Mass for our parish, in fact. Additionally, because of the flow issues created by the area of the choir with the Organ, a Piano, and many people, one quarter of our parish received communion by going to the back of the church. Basica...

As I began last week - here's installment number 2 in my Latin & Me  series ... read part 1 here . Do with it what you wish, this is my journey - rooted in the Catholic Church's law governing Liturgy within the context of my personal experience at my parish. I will be the first to say that no one's personal explanation would have swayed me nor do the Church documents serve to change my heart. It is well documented - and even  beautifully explained  by my pastor if you want to read it for yourself. Following is my personal account of how my heart was converted. Over a year after my first Latin Mass experience, we had a change of pastor at our parish. We did not have an associate, but are where Fr. Kauth is in residence. His influence brought the issues surrounding Latin Mass back around to the forefront of my mind. We went through many changes to our Liturgy and the way we worship at the parish. One woman who I know very well once said to me, in the middle of...

I work in the office at a Catholic Church, and although there are many complains about the style  of our parish, one in particular comes forth most often and rubs me the most. I think it rubs me the most because I use to be the one on their side and have come to a great appreciation for the side I am on now. So in an effort to explain to me 5 years ago and all of those naysayers of today, I'm going to share about my relationship with Latin by writing about my experience of faith as I've grown in an understanding and appreciation of the use of Latin. Do with it what you wish, this is my journey - rooted in the Catholic Church's law governing Liturgy within the context of my personal experience at my parish. I will be the first to say that no one's personal explanation would have swayed me nor do the Church documents serve to change my heart. It is well documented - and even beautifully explained by my pastor if you want to read it for yourself. Following is my persona...

What this post was going to be called: "Things You Learned in 2nd Grade and then Forgot (probably)" I think about these things a lot, probably more than I should.  Mostly every time I'm at Mass and am distributing communion.  Last week at our young adult Spirituality Group we were discussing something about how to receive communion regarding the communion rail at a neighboring parish we were going to be going to Adoration the following week.  It was then solidified that there are a LOT of things we were taught in 2nd grade when we first received communion that we were expected to retain for.ev.er!  There is no other time when this happens in our lives.  You're told something at the age of seven.  Then never reinforced again, not really.  Some Religious Education classes talk about the big things again, but since you learned it in 2nd grade, you don't need to really learn it again because there's more stuff to learn. I'm reminded of these things...

I have always had an opinion ... well, yup that sounds about right - but today I wanted to reflect on the language of the Mass.  I attend the Novus Ordo in English on a regular basis.  Until a few years ago I would have no idea what that even was and would have responded with - "Um, you mean - Mass, in English, what else could there be?"  Well, many people would still say that ... there are only certain circles of Catholicism that would even have any idea what I'm talking about when I use those Latin words. I always thought that going to the Latin Mass was terrible for one reason: "I cannot understand anything they are saying, and it's very difficult for me to participate when I don't know what's happening."  That is no longer why I don't attend (and in general I don't think it's 'terrible' ever - I mean, Jesus comes - body, blood, soul, and divinity so it can't be all bad!).  Why has my opinion about my reason changed? Th...