Count Your Blessings at Christmas

Blessed Christmas to all.

 

Lead kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
Christmas blessings and prayers to all.

 

I walked up to Midnight Mass last night instead of driving. It seemed a nice Christmassy quiet thing to do and I had plenty of time. It is about half an hour through city streets from my home. I admit I was a bit nervous doing so as times have changed. Plus no big guard dog the size of a small donkey and as fierce as a wolf to guard me. But all went well.

They sang hymns in English and Latin before hand. I wanted to join in with the choir but we Catholics are as bashful as anything when it comes to singing ,at least here in Ireland so I sat and enjoyed. The best part was when two young women sang , 'O Holy Night'. Sublime.

The Latin Mass is wonderful. I loved them Blessing the crib and when the bells rang at the Gloria. The Golden heavy vestments, the incense , the whole deal. For me who was not used to it it seemed very long which I admit for me at least a bit of a trial. I think many be going on two hours in all? In some ways I still don't fit in altogether well. There was me, for instance in jeans and t shorts and everyone else in their Sunday best. Half dozing and tired with the length . Also I know I don;t always buy into the narrative, the black and whiteness of things. Life has taught me that things are often not so simple. That there are some things we cannot in this World be quite sure of. That often we must content ourselves with a level of mystery. Of simply saying we do not know. So sometimes at the Traditional Church I admit I find myself something of a stranger, passing through.

But it was a delight to be there. Not only in a Spiritual sense but a human one. It was like stepping on a magic sledge and going back to the days of my childhood. They say the sense that stirs our memory best is our sense of smell and the thick clouds of incense were like a doorway to heaven for me. So many memories of a childhood long lost.

 

Jesus said something interesting to me this morning. I just heard that the Russians had bombed the Ukrainian capital , Kiev, this Christmas Day. I was annoyed with this and thought to myself that they could at least have had a truce for Christmas . But Jesus pointed out to me that this was not the way He looked at it. That He didn't want bombing on any day at all , that He didn't really want wars at all, from anyone. I suppose too they were bombing away in Gaza and other places. Poor people.

 

I hadn’t heard this.

 

If they could get it down to an hour would be great but it might not be possible if following all the rubrics.

 

No. It would be like trying to speed up Beethoven, it is what it is.

 

I went to the early morning Mass at the Adoration Chapel. It was so beautiful. The lovely Vietnamese nuns had decorated everything so exquisitely. The creche especially. A tapestry of the Nativity hung on the opposite wall. The altar covered in rich gold brocade. A very reverent Novus Ordo--and like you Padraig it opened up corridors of memory for me. It wasn't the Latin Mass but it was solemn and joyful and rich with love and Adoration and gratitude. Truly " Joy to the World"

I love the Latin Masses of my childhood especially Midnight Mass but like you I don't if I could do 2 hours any more. I am very grateful to have reverent Masses available.

It is 17 degrees Fahrenheit this morning with snow crunching underfoot and flurries coming down.
The family arrives at 1 pm for presents and merriment and the feast. I feellike Mrs Cratchit
My joy would be complete if any of them went to Church but I fear they did not. I know they did not but with God all things are possible.....
One day.....

 

Beautiful Padraig!!

 

That is the pic I use on social media...wow. thank you for the flutter in my heart