I headed out to St. Rose of Lima in De Soto for 11 am Mass. When I walked in, I noticed it was nearly decorated for Christmas. Father later mentioned that the Church was featured on a Christmas house tour and that's why most of the decorations were up.
Music was accompanied by an organ in the choir loft.
Mass Setting: Mass of Creation
Opening: O Come O Come Emmanuel
Offertory: organ music
Communion: Bread, Blessed and Broken
Closing: The Coming of Our God
Interestingly, the servers were wearing purple cappa things. They looked like the brown over habits? you see on Dominicans.
Father used Eucharistic Prayer III and there were bells at the Consecration.
The homily was rather interesting. Ever since God created the human race we have had free will. We have the ability to ignore God because of it. This gift brings on guilt at times as we have done wrong. The guilt is because we have done wrong. Throughout the Old Testament and history we see what happens when people choose wrong. In the First Reading, the people know they have messed up and need Divine assistance to save them. This season is to prepare us for the coming of Christ. Salvation is for all of us. We benefit from in our lives. Advent used to be a time of penance to prepare for the great feast of Christmas. It's why we still use purple. Now it is a time of happy anticipation, a time of looking forward towards the birth of Christ. Self-denial is profitable and good at any time but it is especially good at Advent. We recognize our infidelity to God. We are all in this together. Advent is a good time for a good Confession. We should celebrate Christmas very well in all ways, including Confession. It's a shame Christmas has gotten so commercial. Giving gifts is not out of order when we do it charitably and unselfishly. It is though if we do it with the expectation of getting something in return. Because God gave us the greatest gift of all. Free will and we can turn against God. But He still sent His Son to save us. God gave us the Sacraments especially Reconciliation which we can use again and again to make peace with God.
Pictures:
St. Rose of Lima
Mary and the Child Jesus
Mary and Child Jesus
Why yes, she is holding the church...
View from the Back Pew
St. Francis de Sales and St. Marcella
Immaculate Heart of Mary
Sacred Heart
St. Joachim and St. Anne
St. John and St. Luke
St. Mark and St. Matthew
Pope John Paul II and St. Michael
St. Peter and St. Paul
St. Rose of Lima and St. Theresa
Sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist and Penance
Sacraments: Marriage, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick
Station VIII
Links:
Website of St. Rose of Lima
Photos from Rome of the West (notice the difference!!!)
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