Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Article on Stained Glass
In the above video, you will find pictures of stained glass windows. Some of the them were taken by Mark over at Rome of the West and a couple might actually be mine! The video goes with this article Stained Glass and the Book of Revelation by Msgr. Pope in the Archdiocese of Washington, DC.
I love stained glass :) after my dissertation is but ashes in the firepit, I want to learn how to make it.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
St. Monica - Creve Coeur
Good Afternoon.
Yesterday (8/27) was the Memorial of St. Monica. Today (8/28) is the Memorial of her son, St. Augustine (Quite the bad boy he was. Why St. Monica is patron saint of mothers...*she knows*). I attended the 11:30 am Mass.
The Church is modern and in a cross shape. The arms of the cross are short though.
The music was accompanied by a guitar.
Music:
Entrance: Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service
Presentation of the Gifts: We Love This Place O God
Processional Hymn (aka Communion): Now We Remain
Closing: Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service
Father used Eucharistic Prayer II and there were chimes/gong at the Consecration.
Homily:
The dominant image in the Catholic Church is that of Jesus Christ crucified. Why do we show Christ crucified? He is not on the cross, He has risen. In the Cathedral, in the front is a large crucifix. As you leave, above the door is a jeweled cross representing the Resurrection. Last week, Jesus praises Peter. This week, Peter argues with Jesus begging Him to avoid the suffering; avoid Jerusalem. This connects with the temptation of Christ in the desert. Christ is invited to take the easy way out. Jesus instead says to take up the cross and follow. Why? The Cross is an expression of God's limitless love for us. Being a follower of Christ will cost. It is not an easy walk; it is a commitment. We need to embrace true sacrificial love and giving of ourselves. Willingness to do for others without limit. Being a Christian is not about an emotional high. It's not about feeling good. Sacrificial loving is true life and how we find true joy. We are invited to sacrifice. What is the cross I have to take up to follow You in Your way of loving?
St. Monica has made available to families booklets describing the new Mass translations.
And on a completely unrelated note, long time readers will know that I have a basset hound named Jake. On Tuesday he was diagnosed with Lymphosarcoma which is cancer.
Pictures:
Links:
Website of St. Monica
Exterior Photos from Rome of the West
Yesterday (8/27) was the Memorial of St. Monica. Today (8/28) is the Memorial of her son, St. Augustine (Quite the bad boy he was. Why St. Monica is patron saint of mothers...*she knows*). I attended the 11:30 am Mass.
The Church is modern and in a cross shape. The arms of the cross are short though.
The music was accompanied by a guitar.
Music:
Entrance: Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service
Presentation of the Gifts: We Love This Place O God
Processional Hymn (aka Communion): Now We Remain
Closing: Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service
Father used Eucharistic Prayer II and there were chimes/gong at the Consecration.
Homily:
The dominant image in the Catholic Church is that of Jesus Christ crucified. Why do we show Christ crucified? He is not on the cross, He has risen. In the Cathedral, in the front is a large crucifix. As you leave, above the door is a jeweled cross representing the Resurrection. Last week, Jesus praises Peter. This week, Peter argues with Jesus begging Him to avoid the suffering; avoid Jerusalem. This connects with the temptation of Christ in the desert. Christ is invited to take the easy way out. Jesus instead says to take up the cross and follow. Why? The Cross is an expression of God's limitless love for us. Being a follower of Christ will cost. It is not an easy walk; it is a commitment. We need to embrace true sacrificial love and giving of ourselves. Willingness to do for others without limit. Being a Christian is not about an emotional high. It's not about feeling good. Sacrificial loving is true life and how we find true joy. We are invited to sacrifice. What is the cross I have to take up to follow You in Your way of loving?
St. Monica has made available to families booklets describing the new Mass translations.
And on a completely unrelated note, long time readers will know that I have a basset hound named Jake. On Tuesday he was diagnosed with Lymphosarcoma which is cancer.
Pictures:
St. Monica
Mary
Baptismal Font and Easter Candle
And Jesus with bizarre eyes and posing like
Richard Nixon
St. Monica
View From the Back Pew
Station VIII
Baptism of Jesus
Transfiguration?
Repent
The Wedding at Cana
I Have Been Sent to Proclaim a Year of Favor of the Lord
But I don't know who it is
The Last Supper
Jesus
Not sure who the dudes at the bottom are.
Links:
Website of St. Monica
Exterior Photos from Rome of the West
Sunday, August 21, 2011
St. Cronan
This morning I needed to help a friend with cat wrangling so I needed to go to a church that was close and had Mass at the right time. The Archdiocese's Mass Time search is broken so I couldn't find a slacker Mass in the evening. Which means I landed up going to St. Cronan which is in The Grove, a uhm more *colorful* area of the city if you take my meaning. It also is near what used to be known as McRee town, a depressed area of the city. St. Cronan is known for their social justice focus. I actually know some former St. Cronan's parishoners who felt the parish was not liberal enough.
I met the pastor before Mass and he was proud of the fact of how simplistic the Church was on the inside. The Church is over 130 years old.
The music was provided by a guitar, violin and flute. The musicians were up in the Sanctuary.
Opening: Give Thanks to the Lord
Offertory: There is a Longing
Communion: Let Us Be Bread
Closing: Canticle of the Sun (and a lot of people sang this one)
Father didn't wear a chasuble, but just an alb and a stole. A clay chalice was used as well.
The adlibbing started from the beginning. The Sign of the Cross had stuff add, such as the Spirit that sustains us. The Second Reading was from Paul to the People of Rome (so I guess the Romans not living in Rome don't count?) And in a first, the Gospel was adlibbed. Yes indeed. Jesus is not the Son of Man, but the Anointed One. I believe that changes the meaning of the passage somewhat... Father used Eucharistic Prayer II and didn't adlib the Consecration.
The Gloria and the Nicene Creed were omitted. In one of the hymnals (Gather BTW) I found a Profession of Faith. All references to male were omitted as well as any references to authority. If you'd like to see this gem, I can of course share it.
At the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Father invited us to gather around the altar. At least I think that is what his hand motions indicated. 5 or so people came up.
Hands were held at the Our Father and the Sign of Peace was a free for all. And nobody (but yours truly) knelt for the Eucharistic Prayer. Everyone stood.
Let's talk about the homily shall we?
Father did not give the homily. A guy in a purple polo gave the homily. He asked us if we have keys. Keys are power. The readings are about leaders and power, especially bindings and loosing. The Government has been too binding in the past with slavery, women, illegal aliens. The Hierarchy of the Church has been too binding as well. The Institutional Church has been binding towards gay and lesbians, divorced and re-married Catholics, and women. (My eyes...they roll) The guy's sister got a divorce and the family had a funeral for the marriage. (Wha?) St. Cronan's parishoners have loosed themselves from the Institutional Church (mmmhmmm I see) Former parishoners have loosed themselves from organized religion and have found some spirituality (mmmhmmm). What are we bound by? What are we willing to loose?
Oh. And when I went up to Communion, there were chunks/crumbs of bread in the flat ciboria thing along with the hosts.
Pictures:
Links:
Website of St. Cronan
I met the pastor before Mass and he was proud of the fact of how simplistic the Church was on the inside. The Church is over 130 years old.
The music was provided by a guitar, violin and flute. The musicians were up in the Sanctuary.
Opening: Give Thanks to the Lord
Offertory: There is a Longing
Communion: Let Us Be Bread
Closing: Canticle of the Sun (and a lot of people sang this one)
Father didn't wear a chasuble, but just an alb and a stole. A clay chalice was used as well.
The adlibbing started from the beginning. The Sign of the Cross had stuff add, such as the Spirit that sustains us. The Second Reading was from Paul to the People of Rome (so I guess the Romans not living in Rome don't count?) And in a first, the Gospel was adlibbed. Yes indeed. Jesus is not the Son of Man, but the Anointed One. I believe that changes the meaning of the passage somewhat... Father used Eucharistic Prayer II and didn't adlib the Consecration.
The Gloria and the Nicene Creed were omitted. In one of the hymnals (Gather BTW) I found a Profession of Faith. All references to male were omitted as well as any references to authority. If you'd like to see this gem, I can of course share it.
At the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Father invited us to gather around the altar. At least I think that is what his hand motions indicated. 5 or so people came up.
Hands were held at the Our Father and the Sign of Peace was a free for all. And nobody (but yours truly) knelt for the Eucharistic Prayer. Everyone stood.
Let's talk about the homily shall we?
Father did not give the homily. A guy in a purple polo gave the homily. He asked us if we have keys. Keys are power. The readings are about leaders and power, especially bindings and loosing. The Government has been too binding in the past with slavery, women, illegal aliens. The Hierarchy of the Church has been too binding as well. The Institutional Church has been binding towards gay and lesbians, divorced and re-married Catholics, and women. (My eyes...they roll) The guy's sister got a divorce and the family had a funeral for the marriage. (Wha?) St. Cronan's parishoners have loosed themselves from the Institutional Church (mmmhmmm I see) Former parishoners have loosed themselves from organized religion and have found some spirituality (mmmhmmm). What are we bound by? What are we willing to loose?
Oh. And when I went up to Communion, there were chunks/crumbs of bread in the flat ciboria thing along with the hosts.
Pictures:
St. Cronan
Easter Candle and Baptismal Font
View From the Back Pew
Station VIII
St. Cronan
There are 4 St. Cronans. 3 were bishops. All were Irish.
All were Pre-Congregation.
Links:
Website of St. Cronan
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Assumption - O Fallon - Chapel
Assumption in O'Fallon still has their old church standing. This is what the interior looks like.
Assumption Chapel
View From the Back Pew
Holy Spirit Detail on Ambo
The Pieta
Station VIII
Rose Window
St. Anne and Mary?
Annunciation
Queenship of Mary
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