Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:6-7



Monday, April 21, 2014

My Oh My, what a weekend!









What a weekend we had. It was a whirlwind. If it was even a glimpse of what a wedding will be like, I had better grow some stamina.

The weekend started started first thing Saturday morning with the last retreat at the Newman Center and ended with family and the "big kids" leaving last evening.

The Vigil was a beautiful Mass. I have mentioned here before that the "style" of music and prayer at the Newman Center is not what we are accustomed to, nor what we would seek out, but the Vigil was beautiful in a way that was mostly surprising in a very good way. The liturgy was the full Vigil, not one part was left out -- seven Old Testament readings with a psalm between each and a prayer by the celebrant. Much up and down and up and down, but mostly very beautiful. The Gloria was followed by a New Testament reading and then the Gospel and a homily. Following were the baptisms of three young adults and a child. Not quite full immersion, but kneeling in the water and water poured over the head. It was wonderful. Father was standing in the water with them and gave them all big hugs afterward. He, I'm sure, was as wet as they were.

Following Baptism, Taylor and three other candidates renewed their Baptismal vows along with the congregation (or assembly as they say at the Newman). Then the four candidates and four baptized were Confirmed. Taylor chose the name Lucy, by the way. Just before Communion, Taylor made certain she knew what she should do to receive on the tongue. She was the only one, I believe. I was very touched, as Doug, Faith and I all receive on the tongue. She said she did not want the precious body to touch her hands. She was very nervous about "doing things right" which I thought was sweet.

The entire experience was all very, very moving, and though there are some parts of attending Mass at the Newman Center which are not my favorite, I have to say just being there, with a packed house of mostly college students, who chose to be present at the very long celebration of Our Lord's Resurrection, was awesome (and I use that word in all seriousness). There really are no lukewarm Catholics there. They come, not because they are fulfilling a Sunday obligation, but because they love God, their faith, and the Spirit truly moves them.

When we arrived home, very late, somewhere around 1 a.m., we exchanged "favorite part, least favorite parts?" Taylor's favorite part was being Confirmed while the choir (which pulled out all the stops and was truly amazing) chanted Veni Sanctus Spiritus (I don't think I had ever heard Latin at the Newman before that moment, one thing we truly love about our home parish). My favorite part was the singing of the Litany of Saints. Oh my goodness, it was beautiful, just listening to all the names of those wonderful men and women in heaven whom I have come to count on so very much. Each of us had different favorites, some more than one. We won't go into the "least favorites." {wink}

By the time dinner was served last evening, with Doug's mom and brother and his family, I was ready for bed. My ankles and feet are so swollen (still from the medication I stopped taking) that I can barely get shoes on. Fortunately, this is spring break week (yay!) and I am relaxing -- totally (except laundry and feeding these people who insist on not eating cold cereal or eggs and toast at every meal {wink}).

Prayers for a blessed Octave for you, and I'll be back this week with some pictures (though I never got a picture of all of us before the Vigil as Taylor and I had to be there an hour earlier than everyone else -- shame on me).







17 comments:

  1. Oh, Barbara, I love the Litany of Saints. That can move me to tears! Reason #968 why I love being Catholic ;)
    Your summary of mass there and the blessings you found in it, unexpected blessings, reminds me to be more open to the mass we need to attend this coming Sunday. It isn't at our parish, but we will need to attend it because of the time we will be arriving back home. :)

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    1. I am often put off (to put it nicely) by a Mass that is extraordinarily different from mine at my home Parish. It took me a long time to warm up to the Newman Center Mass, but what helped the most is knowing that the college students are 100% there. Not under the watchful eye of mom and dad, and they participate 100%. Many are so very reverent. I would not choose it for my parish but it was a good experience for me. Good to come to accept something different as valid.

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  2. Love the Litany of the Saints too (especially during an ordination Mass, goosebumps) Put that feet up while you can, there are five littles over here wanting a playdate replay ;-)

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    1. When is the replay? Faith wants to be there!

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  3. Sounds like a beautiful Mass!

    I spent the first part of our vigil Mass trying to keep Tommy from lighting Meggie on fire, trying to keep Penny from lighting herself on fire, trying to keep Evie from her nightly scream fest, scolding Tommy to quit scratching his poison ivy, shushing Penelope, wondering why it was so danged hot in here, checking to make sure I wasn't on fire, wondering how I ended up with all the the little kids, jiggling the baby in the corner, jiggling the baby outside because it was so danged hot in there, finally coming back in when she fell good and asleep, and being very thankful when we finally got to the Eucharist. But everyone else enjoyed it very much. :-)

    Welcome to the Church, Taylor!

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    1. Gosh, and to think I was worried about setting myself on fire (or Taylor's hair as she stood in front of me during the renewal of the Baptismal vows).

      PS did you receive a package?

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    2. Saturday, and it's beautiful. Thank you! Official card to follow. :-)

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  4. I'm so happy that it was beautiful! Did the kids end up appreciating it? The Litany is one of my favorite parts and I was thrilled to be asked to sing part of it this year.

    Congratulations to Taylor!

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    1. I know I have heard the Litany before, but the woman who sang at the Newman did a beautiful job, and the congregation sang so strongly. Also, the elect to be baptized were walking through the aisles while Father processed and blessed with holy water.

      Did I tell you they baptized a former Buddhist? She is from Thailand and at the university. Very sweet.

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    2. Sarah, PS in answer to your question, I'm not sure. I know, I know, in my heart that they were not happy about the seven readings and psalms. The other parts keep it moving, and the fire, which was inside the church, was amazing, but the Liturgy of the Word was over an hour long. I wish we had taken them when they were young. They would have known what to expect and it would have been familiar.

      Taylor, Doug and I plan to go next year at our parish.

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  5. Sounds absolutely beautiful. I love it when the choir goes all out. I had the same reason for choosing to receive on the tongue, back when I became Catholic when I was 18. We haven't been to very many vigils since having little kids, but when they are older, I hope we can go again.

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    1. Elisa, I highly recommend you start early (taking the boys to the Vigil). I think it's something most children have to learn to love (see my comment above). It might be difficult when they are young, but I wish we had gone every year. It's so worth the effort.

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  6. Wow! Everything sounds like it was so beautiful! I am deeply touched by our new Catholic sister's faith and reverence, Barbara! How proud of Taylor you must be! Perhaps *she* will be the one to get your other children to appreciate the Vigil in time! Wouldn't that be just how God works?! ;-)

    My 10yo went to the Vigil with my mom this year. She really liked it. We were not up for taking all 6 this year, but I think you make a good point not to wait too long to bring them. We attended the Holy Thursday Mass and Good Friday liturgy with everyone, which was a first. We've split up in previous years. So, I guess we are working out way up!!

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  7. I haven't attended mass since I graduated from high school. But I still listen to Gospel and Church music at home all the time. I love this kind of music, quite soothing.

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  8. So glad to read all turned out well. It went ok for my family, too. Most of the kids fell asleep (my sisters 2yo & 4yo did NOT sleep, but they slept in the next morning just a bit longer!). My favorite is the readings and the progression through our history...and I'm thankful for the up and down because it keeps us moving.

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  9. We started the Easter Vigil here in Hamilton outside the church; the weather was absolutely perfect! I, too, love the Litany of the Saints, but I really loved that our Deacon Jeff did a beautiful job of singing the entire Exsultet. I don't think he had ever sung it before that. We had one new Catholic, a new mom. I had a part in being a catechist for the beginning of her RCIA, and was there to support her and to call her to come forward with her sponsor. She and her husband will be presenting their baby girl for Baptism this coming Sunday. What a blessing it must have been for you to be there with Taylor! So happy for you all! Happy Easter!

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  10. Congratulations to Taylor first of all!! And how sweet is it that she cares enough to not want to touch Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament? She gets it...she knows!!!! That is amazing, and you and your family is to thank for that! (we receive on the tongue too...can you tell?) (not that it's wrong to receive in the hands, the church says it's OK, so it is)

    You better get lots of rest before that wedding, it will be much more exhausting! (just saying,because my mom just went through it in the fall with my brother)

    So happy for all of you!

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I appreciate your comments -- sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself!