Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Archbishop Carlson's Survey for Catholic Education

The Archbishop is seeking response to a brief 3 question survey about Catholic Schools in the St. Louis Area.

Survey

I firmly believe in the necessity of Catholic schools and believe it is the responsibily of all Catholics to support Catholic schools.  I went to Catholic school for 12 years and really believe my successes are due to that.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

St. Jude - Overland

Happy New (Liturgical) Year!

As the semester is winding down, I'm feeling particularly swamped and hopeless.  I decided to visit St. Jude, who happens to be the patron saint of hopeless causes.  I went to the 10:30 am Mass.

St. Jude was built in 1953 and I get the feeling it was supposed to be a temporary church that became permanent, like Cure of Ars.   If you take out the altar it could pass for a banquet hall.  The stained glass windows however were installed in 1986 and were designed by Brother Mel Meyer and made by Emil Frei Associates.

Father was very personable and friendly.  He saw me taking pictures before Mass and asked if I was putting the camera away during Mass.  Of course.  Hence there are no pictures of Father's lilac vestments.

There was a deacon/adult male server.  I'm not really sure what his role was other than server.  He wore some triangle shaped thing like you see on Gospel choirs.  It wasn't a stole.  It wasn't a dalmatic.

The choir was up front to the right of the altar.  There was an electric organ to accompany the music.
Music:
Opening:  O Come O Come Emmanuel
Presentation of Gifts:  Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Communion:  was sung by choir "Waiting in Silence"
Recessional:  City of God

There was incense at Mass!  Father blessed the Advent wreath and gave us an extra blessing at the end.  Father used Eucharistic Prayer II and there were bells at the Consecration.  At the Elevation, Father said My Lord and My God three times.  The Precious Blood was not distributed.

The homily was essentially about death.  Time passes quickly and we stand as if we are in a doorway.  We have moved closer to our rendevous with Jesus.  We do not know what the new year will bring.  It could be the End Times or it could be our own personal death.  We live in hope though.  We live in hop that we will see Jesus face to face.  We hope that the year was pleasing to God (uh oh).  That we have grown and made progress, putting away imperfections.  We hope the new year is pleasing to the Almighty.  What is really important is our relationship with God.  The Church, in the reading today, remembers the time in the world without Christ.  What was life like back then without Him?  (short.  hard.  icky.)  There was no mercy and no compassion.  You were judged solely on content of character.  Isaiah cries out to God to DO IT!  Fulfill the Promise!  Advent is about time.  The wreath is a glorified clock.  Our lives are burning up like the candles.  Death is a passage.  We will be judged.  For the older generation, that was terrifying.  The same Christ that judges us gives us hope.  Christ will tell us "Not Bad" and "Good Job" (uhm.  That's very affirming of Him...).  During this time, the Church reminds us to STAY AWAKE!  Everyday is an opportunity.  Don't sleep through it.

Pictures:
St. Jude 

Anniversary Chalice and incense

 
St. Jude Shrine and Relic

View From the Back Pew

Tabernacle

 
Advent Wreath

Station VIII

Uhm. Flowers!

River?
Measles?

A Rose!
Must be for Mary!

It's a plant.


I have seen a pagan symbol just like this....

Farming on the Sun

Think I have a quilt pattern just like this

Jacob's Ladder?

Jesus and the Beanstalk

Thorns?

Plates of Oranges?

Mary and Jesus





Link:
Information from St. Louis Archdiocese

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Ste. Genevieve du Bois

Hello!  Happy Feast of Christ the King!  I had planned to go to Christ the Savior in Brewer but I overslept.

Instead, I attended the 11 am Mass Ste. Genevieve du Bois in Warson Woods.  It's a very nice modern church.  One thing I really liked was Ste. Genevieve du Bois was portrayed in numerous spots.  Many churches I have been to don't have anything regarding their patron around which is rather sad.

The music was accompanied by a guitar.
Opening:  To Jesus Christ Our Sovereign King
Offertory:  God We Praise You
Communion:  Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
Recessional:  City of God

The Responsorial Psalm was Psalm 97:  The Lord is King, which wasn't listed as an option.  The Gloria was spoken but the Our Father was chanted.

Father used Eucharistic Prayer II and there were bells.

The homily focused on the Gospel and the story of the two thieves and how they viewed the man in the middle, Jesus differently.  One looked to escape, the other to forgiveness  The good thief never knew Jesus before the crucifixion but still recognized Jesus and asked for forgiveness.  We are like the thieves. We have the choice in how we react.  For example, some people will be inattentive to this homily (oh snap.) while other will be inspired.  Father talked some more but I've been under a lot of stress with graduate school and my dissertation that I kind of didn't pay attention (ooops).  Father told a story about a man trying to save a scorpion in the river.  The man kept trying to save the scorpion but the scorpion kept stinging him.  An observer happened by and called the man a fool.  The man was like why should I deny my nature or the scorpions nature?  It is Jesus' nature to save.    Which thief are we?  Are dying to sin or dying in sin?  (I think I have the wrong preposition...of maybe?)

Pictures:
Ste. Genevieve du Bois


Plaque above Main Door

View From the Back Pew
On the altar is a seminarian named Craig, from a diocese in
Western North Dakota.
He's really sweet and will be ordained Deacon in June.
He'd like us to pray for him.  
We will won't we?
And all of our seminarians!

Mobile above Altar

Ste. Genevieve du Bois

St. Jude
Patron Saint of my Dissertation.

Mosaic Cross 
Holy Oils

Ste. Genevieve

The Four Evangelists 

St. Louis

Fruits of the Holy Spirit (see paragraph 1832)

Resurrexit sicut dixit
He Has Risen As He Has Said
(Thanks Fr. Cory!)

Station VIII:  Jesus Meets the Holy Women

 
Relics
St. Terése A j, St. Genovefea V, St. Andre Bobola M (it's what's on the tag)

Links:
Website of Ste. Genevieve de Bois
Pictures from Rome of the West

Friday, November 19, 2010

Old St. Ferdinand Shrine

Thursday was the Feast of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, one of the patrons of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.  St. Rose Philippine Duchesne actually lived in the Metro St. Louis Area.  The church she worked and lived at is known as Old St. Ferdinand and is now a shrine.  On Thursday, November 18, 2010, the Shrine held a Mass to celebrate.

When I walked into Old St. Ferdinand, I noticed there was not a free-standing altar.  I hadn't gotten to the Shrine all that early, so I was a little perplexed.

The music was accompanied by a guitar and a piano in the sanctuary.  Music:
Gathering Song:  Gather Your People
Presentation Song:  Servant Song
Communion Song:  Song of the Body of Christ; Dona Nobis Pacem
Song of Sending:  City of God

Imagine my shock when Father came out carrying the chalice and wearing a fiddleback vestment!  Father proceeded to offer the Mass ad orientuem (facing the same direction as the people) and at the high altar, with all the things I have seen at the two Latin Masses I have attended.  Two things I noticed very quickly. It was such a huge cognitive dissonance between the music and the way Father was offering the Mass.  The music just didn't fit.  It wasn't that it was hymns/songs versus chant, it was the text of the songs.  The  Song of the Body of Christ, while lovely, is rather trite (and sappy).  Then as soon as Father started the Penitential Rite, my head started itching and I'm like...my head...is naked....oh dear.  The way Father celebrated the Mass was so different, I felt I had to be different as well.  I landed running out to my car for my mantilla.  Needless to say, I have a feeling this is what the Vatican II reforms had in mind.  I liked this mix of old and new the best.

Father, who is a Benedictine Monk from St. Louis Abbey and in charge of the Oratory of St. Augustine and St. Gregory the Great, gave an awesome homily.  I've heard 2 of his homilies and they have both been excellent.  Father talked about how the Church begins to focus on the life to come in November as the liturgical year comes to a close.  November is focused on All Souls, but the month begins with the great feast of All Saints.  The Saints are those that have reached the end of human purpose, which if you remember your Catechism (Baltimore) is "To Know Him and to Serve Him"  The saints are like us.  They, as St. Timothy says, have run the race and have kept the faith (Has been informed it is St. Paul who said it, said it to Timothy.  Thanks!) .  The saints love us in perfect charity and are united in Christ.  The Saints are more than good role models.  Father mentioned he had a particular devotion to St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, but that he can't imitate her.  He is a priest, not a nun.  He is a man; she a woman.  Rather, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne is praying for him (and us) in a particular way.  The Saints are more than a history lesson.  As Americans, we are not so much into history.  Europe is steeped in Catholicism, especially martyrs.  St. Rose Philippine Duchesne knew the saints and was connected to them.  We in America have so few recognized saints that we do not feel as closely connected to them.  When we come to a Saint's shrine, we feel closer to that Saint and their intercession is stronger.  The Saints pray for us and their love for us never ceases.  When we come as pilgrims, miracles occur.  Miracles are things that change our lives.  St. Rose Philippine Duchesne shows us Christ and His Sacred Heart.

Needless to say, Father used Eucharistic Prayer 1 and there were bells.

Pictures:

Window above doorway

St. Stanislaus K.

Corner of Church
 
Model of Original Church


VIII:  Jesus Comforts the Holy Women

View From the Back Pew
Mark, of Rome of the West, informs me that it is
 St. Valentine under the altar.

Candle Tree
aka old school lighting

Bells

Convent Altar

 Bedroom of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

Traditional Habits of Women's Religious Orders


Links:
Website of Old St. Ferdinand Shrine
Pictures from Rome of the West

Sunday, November 14, 2010

St. Gertrude - Krakow

Hello.  The feast of St. Gertrude is November 16, so I headed out to St. Gertrude in Krakow.  I attended the 10:30 am Mass on Sunday, November 14.

The exterior of St. Gertrude is old school with the interior being all new and modern.  Mass was full with  many families.

I think a younger choir, like a youth choir, sang at today's Mass from the choir loft.  They were very solid.  They were accompanied by a piano or guitar depending on the song.
Music:
Opening: In This Place
Offertory:  Fly Like A Bird
Communion:  We Will Rise Again
Recessional:  In the Day of the Lord
The Gloria was spoken.  The Responsorial Psalm was Lord You Will Show Me the Path of Life.  The mass setting was very contemporary.

Father used Eucharist Prayer III and there were bells at the Consecration and the servers used patens at Communion.

Father's homily started out talking about the Temple in Jerusalem and how it was destroyed.  For the Jewish people, their lives were tied up in the Temple.  We experience disasters.  These things are bound to happen.  Don't be afraid.  Perservere it will work out in the end. Today's a gift.  If our values are set straight, we are in control.  Father then talked about St. Pope Gregory the Great and how he was an awesome Servant of the Servants of God.  When we are in trouble, look at what we have, what is possible and what can be done.  By your perserverance we secure our lives.

Pictures:

St. Gertrude

Above the Door

Mission Cross

Military Flags

Baptismal Font

View From Back Pew

Altar

St. Gertrude, St. Ann and Mary

St. Joseph, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Monica, Christ the King

Pieta

Window above Sanctuary


Holy Spirit
in Choir Loft

Jesus Speaks to the Holy Women






Banners of different saints the Confirmation Candidates took for names


Links:
Website of St. Gertrude
Pictures from Rome of the West