Sunday, November 27, 2011

St. Rose of Lima - De Soto

Happy Liturgical New Year? Did we all remember to say "And with Your Spirit!"  I didn't realize we said it so many times during Mass...

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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